The Track Meet

List On Fire [Repost]

2009-01-06T22:07:00.001-08:00

Finally I've compiled what I think to be my top 100 songs of 2008. It wasn't easy, and I can almost guarantee a change or two will come, however I think my overall choice and placement is satisfactory.

Last year my list contained only a single song by each artist to allow for more variety, however upon reflection, I feel that quality suffered at the hands of quantity. If Vampire Weekend wrote 10 amazing tracks this year (and they did), they should all make the list.

Judge away -- I'm unabashed in my love for pop music, and all things aurally pleasing.

***UPDATE: According to my Cease and Desist letter, there can be no more links. I'm sure you can find them all somewhere...

01 Sex On Fire, by Kings of Leon
Easily the most affective song of my year; holds some symbolism, and passed my "Did-It-Make-The-Hair-On-M

y-Body-Stand-Up?" test on it's first try. (Very few do.)

02 Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, by Vampire Weekend
Definitely the most versatile song the year, with equally great and diverse reworkings from The Teenagers, Radioclit, and the name-checked Peter Gabriel himself. (See for yourself!)
Also: Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit Re-work
Also: Teenagers Remix
Also: Hot Chip + Peter Gabriel Cover

03 Street Lights, by Kanye West
Right up there with Sex On Fire in terms of punch-you-in-the-gut raw emotion. So very real. (And it's co-written by Esthero!)

04 Isn't It Obvious, by Emma-Lee
Isn't it obvious how much I love this song? Lots of personal meaning, and great end of summer listens.

05 White Winter Hymnal, by Fleet Foxes
What can I say about Fleet Foxes that hasn't already been said? Catchiest lyrics of the year.

06 Rock With U, by Janet Jackson
I can't understand how this wasn't a huge hit for her comeback bid. I devoured it's blip-filled goodness whole. (Great video too.)

07 Some Constellation, by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
I can imagine having found this in the summer instead of winter, it may have been my official summer song. It yearns for the patio at night, and so do I.

08 A-Punk, by Vampire Weekend
I had some doubt as to whether I should include this, considering it was released in 2007; but the actual album was '08, plus I didn't fall for the song like I did Oxford Comma (which I did disqualify), until this year.

09 Revelry, by Kings of Leon
Basically the same song as Sex On Fire (chord-wise), just slower with more woo-hoo's, which make me feel good inside. (Plus I can play it on guitar!)

10 Green Light (Afrorganic Remix), by John Legend
Really cool turn production-wise for Legend, enlisting Andre 3000. The remix is even better than the original, adding a deep reggae-vibe.

11 Make It Mine, by Jason Mraz
A serious dark-horse. I wouldn't have initially considered it one of my favorites, but according to iTunes, it's my most listened-to song. (And it's great.)

12 Works For Me, by The Twelves
Cool dancey track from my favorite DJ/Remix team of the year.

13 Money, The Undisputed Heavyweights
Amidst their demise this year, we're left with a flirtation with greatness. A song that never left my rotation from May - December.

14 Kim & Jessie, by M83
So I just found this last night, and it's one of those songs you only need to hear once to love. Brilliant.

15 You Can Never Go Back, Jon McLaughlin
It's like sugar-coated Electric Light Orchestra. The poppiest of anything here, and I'm not ashamed to say I found it via the playlist at Abercrombie & Fitch.

16 Electric Feel, by MGMT
It took a live show for this song to really hit home, but now I see how electric it really is.

17 Right As Rain, by Adele
My second highest played song of the year, I believe.

18 All My Friends, by The Main Drag (LCD Soundsystem Cover)
Last year's song of the year gets an awesome heartfelt indie re-working. Really soft and sublime.

19 Mansard Roof, by Vampire Weekend
A soca beat beneath some great indie rock. These guys can do no wrong in my eyes. Only at #18, and they've already got 3 entries!

20 Forever, by Chris Brown
Had my best DJing moment of the year while spinning this song at a wedding, waaay out of town at 3am, to a room full of great people.

21 Time to Pretend, by MGMT
Some of the best lyrics of the year for sure. Plus I don't think any song is as instantly recognizable, thanks to the chiming chorus.

22 Bleeding Love, by Leona Lewis
I'm not a huge Leona Lewis fan, but I can't deny how well-written I think this song is on so many levels. A real guilty pleasure.

23 We Are Not A Football Team (Acoustic), by Minus the Bear
I'm always a fan of heavily electronic-based bands going acoustic, and Minus The Bear blows their original out of the water on this EP.

24 Walcott, Vampire Weekend
(It goes on and on...)

25 Make My Day, by Common and Cee-Lo
Really unique beat pressed against Cee-Lo's unmatchable vocals on the chorus. This song actually makes my day every time I hear it. Fingers crossed it's a single.

26 Kilometer, by Sebastien Tellier
The sexy Frenchman goes the distance on this one (pun entirely intended). The synth delivers some raw sexuality every time I hear it.

27 It's Your Touch, by The Black Ghosts
28 The Kids Don't Stand A Chance, by Vampire Weekend
29 Throwin' Shapes (Acoustic), by Minus the Bear
30 You Could Write A Book, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
31 American Boy, by Estelle and Kanye West
32 Crying, by TV on the Radio
33 One, by Vampire Weekend
34 Kids, by MGMT
35 The One Who Loves You Most, by Brett Dennen
36 Figured Me Out, by Jamie Lidell
37 I'm Yours, by Jason Mraz
38 Another Day, by Jamie Lidell
39 Blindsided, by Bon Iver
40 Viva La Vida, by Coldplay
41 Clothes Off, by Gym Class Heroes
42 Manhattan, by Kings of Leon
43 Bruise Easy, by Emma-Lee
44 Seventeen, by Kings of Leon
45 Let It Be Me, by Ray LaMontagne'
46 Sun Also Rises, by Fleet Foxes
47 Paranoid, by Kanye West
48 Good Time, by Brazilian Girls
49 It's Over, by John Legend
50 Blue Ridge Mountains, by Fleet Foxes
51 Beat Control, by Tilly & The Wall
52 Ragged Wood, by Fleet Foxes
53 Closer, by Ne-Yo
54 Boston, by Vampire Weekend
55 I Believe, by Q-Tip and D'Angelo
56 Use Somebody, by Kings of Leon
57 Dance Wiv Me, by Dizzie Rascal and Calvin Harris
58 Bounce (Mansion Remix), by MSTRKRFT
59 Notion, by Kings of Leon
60 That Sinking Feeling, by Emma Lee
61 Family Tree, by TV on the Radio
62 Let It Rock, by Kevin Rudolf and Lil Wayne
63 Club Thing, by Yoav
64 Not Gonna Teach Him (The Twelves Kickmix), by Black Kids
65 Dancing Choose, by TV on the Radio
66 Dinosaur On The Ark, by Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit
67 Always Where I Need To Be, by The Kooks
68 Call Me Up (Immuzikation Blend), by Chromeo and Skyy
69 Hearts On Fire, by Cut Copy
70 Live High, by Jason Mraz
71 Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), by Beyonce
72 M79, by Vampire Weekend
73 Robocop, by Kanye West
74 Whoa, by GRUM
75 Paper Planes (Rumpshakerz Remix), by MIA and Alan Astor
76 Campus, by Vampire Weekend
77 All Summer Long, by Kid Rock
78 Love That Girl, by Raphael Saadiq
79 Brew Barrymore, by Diplo
80 Everywhere, by Common
81 Everybody Nose, N*E*R*D
82 Sidestep, by Robin Thicke
83 Sleeping Sickness, by City & Colour
84 Gettin Up, by Q-Tip
85 Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac Cover), by Vampire Weekend
86 Warwick Avenue, by Duffy
87 Stay With Me (By The Sea), Al Green and John Legend
88 Pork & Beans, by Weezer
89 Coldest Winter, by Kanye West
90 You Are The Best Thing, by Ray LaMontagne
91 Golden Age, by TV on the Radio
92 Supreme Being, by Amazing Baby
93 Calabria 2008 (MIMS remix), by Enur
94 With You, by Chris Brown
95 Welcome To Heartbreak, by Kanye West
96 An Older Man, by Emma-Lee
97 Graveyard Girls, by M83
98 Never Just A Dream, by Emma-Lee
99 Skinny Love, by Bon Iver
100 Luv, by Janet Jackson

Cease and Desist

2009-01-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

So it took writing just 3 blogs to get my first "Cease and Desist".

The internet is not a truck, nor is it free. Boo-urns. I'm all for copyright, and I guess I was a little abusive in this case, but it was for a worthy cause! (I think...)

This is what they had to say:

Blogger has been notified, according to the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), that certain content in your blog infringes upon the copyrights of others. The URL(s) of the allegedly infringing post(s) may be found at the end of this message.

The notice that we received from Eric Green of Destined Enterprises, with any personally identifying information removed, will be posted online by a service called Chilling Effects at http://www.chillingeffects.org. We do this in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Please note that it may take Chilling Effects up to several weeks to post the notice online at the link provided.

The DMCA is a United States copyright law that provides guidelines for online service provider liability in case of copyright infringement. We are in the process of removing from our servers the links that allegedly infringe upon the copyrights of others. If we did not do so, we would be subject to a claim of copyright infringement, regardless of its merits. See http://www.educause.edu/Browse/645?PARENT_ID=254 for more information about the DMCA, and see http://www.google.com/dmca.html for the process that Blogger requires in order to make a DMCA complaint.

Blogger can reinstate these posts upon receipt of a counter notification pursuant to sections 512(g)(2) and 3) of the DMCA. For more information about the requirements of a counter notification and a link to a sample counter notification, see http://www.google.com/dmca.html#counter.

Please note that repeated violations to our Terms of Service may result in further remedial action taken against your Blogger account. If you have legal questions about this notification, you should retain your own legal counsel. If you have any other questions about this notification, please let us know.

Sincerely,

The Blogger Team

I'll post the actual C&D when it arrives, and I'll also repost the Top 100/List On Fire, sans links.

[Sorry kids.]

My List Is Fleet-ing...

2008-12-27T22:15:00.000-08:00

So I may have posted my "Top 10" list prematurely. I'm guessing it had more to do with the time constraints that Hypemachine put up if you wanted to be included in their annual Zeitgeist (which I did, because I'm all about validation, but more importantly lists).

I've been combing the blogosphere reading other lists, as well as those on the major music sites (Pitchfork, Spin, Rolling Stone, etc) to catch up on all the awesomeness I missed out on, because there is surely too much good music out there to hear it all.

And I definitely missed a big one.

Pitchfork's readers named a song, White Winter Hymnal, the song of 2008, which I balked at pretty harding, considering I'd only heard it in passing at one point (on the aformentioned Hypemachine). I'd only even seen the band's name, Fleet Foxes, surface with the likes of Bon Iver, whom I wasn't sold on either despite their glowing reviews, and I'd be lying if I hadn't written them off as folky indie-cred crap. You know exactly what I'm talking about. (We can smell our own.)

With the amount of music available by way of the interwebz, it's tough to spend much time on a single record you've kinda psyched yourself up to dislike in the first place (the same scenario I blame for most people's negative reaction to Kanye's record); so why bother?

Well, some of it is amazing.

As I wrote my list, I spun Fleet Foxes' record for the first few times, glancing at it more than giving it a real look. Upon my first full listen, I came to see what all the fuss was about: Fleet Foxes had crafted a genuinely warm record for the winter (despite it's Spring release; timing is everything). Acoustic in nature, with harmonies carrying the weight of a past rich in Brian Wilson and the sunshine of his Beach Boys, mixed with the cold, airy, echo-laced production of a church recording. It's all very serene, nostalgic and innocent inner-child-revealing (and of course, indie-sensible). The record puts me in a great mood every time I've listened to it (I'd put the play count at about 20 full listens, plus repeat listens of my favorite tracks, like White Winter Hymnal. While I wouldn't consider Hymnal to be my favorite song of the year (a la Pitchfork), it's simplicity, lack of pop-structure (no verse-chorus-bridge here, just a refraining round) and "ooh-oooh's" wreak of genuine heartfelt music making. This isn't a pop record, nor would it ever stand a chance at commercial radio play, but it will welcome itself as the background to your winter season (or any other time you play it). And my guess is the Fleet Foxes loved every minute of creating it (as do I).

If the music doesn't sell you on that feeling, the liner notes will. While reading them today (after finally getting ahold of a physical copy of the disc for myself...it made for a christmas present or two on my behalf), I had a teary, emotionally personal moment. While waiting in the car, alone, outside of a Shoppers Drug Mart, I read the most sincere confessional concerning our youthful memories and how important a role music can play in it. It said something along the lines of all the memories we have of ourselves as children are derived from pictures and video collected; our recollections are shot from the same angle as the camera, which is a fear I've shared only with myself until this moment.

Differently, however, was the story when it came to music. Music carries no visual component, just an aurally pleasing/heartbreaking sound that can instantly transport you anywhere: to the first time you danced with a girl, drove your parents car, or felt something break your heart. Beautiful, and entirely fitting to the sound and feel of this record. A must have, as far as I'm concerned.

Plus HMV is stocking and selling it for $10.
Support the music you love -- Buy it!

High Bit-rate Samples:
White Winter Hymnal
or
Blue Ridge Mountains
---------------------------------------------
The updated "Favorite 10 Records" 2008 list:

01 Vampire Weekend, by Vampire Weekend
02 Fleet Foxes, by Fleet Foxes
03 Only By The Night, by Kings of Leon
04 Feed The Animals, by Girl Talk
05 808s & Heartbreak, by Kanye West
06 Pershing, by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
07 Dear Science, by TV on the Radio
08 Never Just A Dream, by Emma-Lee
09 We Sing We Dance We Steal Things, by Jason Mraz
10 Oracular Spectacular, by MGMT

(Bumped to Honorable Mentions: Universal Mind Control, by Common, which had really been inserted on a whim based on my initial state of shock from it's freshness. It hasn't sustained as well on repeat listens, though Make My Day will be in my top 20 songs of the year without a doubt.)

Favorite Records '08

2008-12-15T23:48:00.000-08:00

I've got to give it up for music in 2008; there are easily 40 records I throughly enjoyed. The year was full of surprises, from a series of impressive debuts (Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Fleet Foxes), to mainstream break-throughs (Girl Talk, Kings of Leon, TV on the Radio), and unexpected twists in hip-hop (Kanye West, Common).

01 Vampire Weekend, by Vampire Weekend
For all of their supposed over-hype, I still enjoy this record every bit as much as I did the day I bought it. In January. I can't pick a single track to call my favorite because they're all that good. (But I will anyway...)
Download: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

02 Only By the Night, by Kings of Leon
A stadium-sized rock record, no doubt influenced by their tours with Pearl Jam. No song floored me the way "Sex On Fire" did the first time I heard it.
Download: Sex On Fire (or just turn on the local rock radio station, where it's over saturated)

03 Feed The Animals, by Girl Talk
While perhaps not as good as Night Ripper, you can't doubt the fact that Girl Talk is the most interesting DJ to watch in the business. This is a party of a record, even for those who aren't into the mash-up scene; anyone can have a good time picking apart the littany of samples of your favorite songs.
Download: Still Here

04 808s & Heartbreak, by Kanye West
I've already said my piece about this record. It's great, and ultimately refreshing.
Download: Street Lights

05 Pershing, by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Sweet and saccharine, the easiest listening album of the year. The flavor of the Beach Boys and the indie sensibility of The Shins, with the down-to-earth production of your very own living room. Seriously.
Download: Some Constellation

06 Dear Science, by TV on the Radio
Found this while traversing the HypeMachine for something new. And it was exactly what I needed. Diverse and full of layers, from organic rock to drum machines and exotic reverb, this record gets better with every listen. There is so much to hear. I suggest some serious high-fidelity headphones. You'll see what I mean.
Download: Crying

07 Never Just A Dream, by Emma-Lee
I've also already pronounced my undying love for Emma-Lee (and her music). Anyone looking for breezy AM radio gems will be more than sufficed. The silkiest vocals in town.
Download: Isn't It Obvious?

08 We Sing We Dance We Steal Things, by Jason Mraz
A nice comeback album after his sophmore slump. I'm Yours is worth the price of admisson alone, but repeat listens will have you jamming to Make It Mine, Live High, and Butterfly, as Mraz gets back to his soul-driven roots.
Download: Make It Mine

09 Oracular Spectacular, by MGMT
It took me a while to come around; I called them over-hyped before I took the time to actually feel them out. After watching them open for Beck, I bathed in the awesomeness that was Electric Feel, and the ubiquity that was Time To Pretend. Much more depth than I'd anticipated.
Download: Electric Feel

10 Universal Mind Control, by Common
Quite possibly more surprising a twist than Kanye's record. Common makes a full-fledged leap into electronic production, from drum & bass to hard synths and back to laser-esque chirps, Universal Mind Control shows there might still be more to come in the stale state of hip-hop. The track Make My Day is infinitely catchy and uplifts me every time I hear Cee-Lo on the chorus.
Download: Make My Day

Honourable Mentions Worth Listening:::
Sexuality, by Sebastien Tellier
Evolver, by John Legend
Saturdays = Youth, by M83
In Ghost Colours, by Cut Copy
The Way I See It, by Raphael Saddiq
Konk, by The Kooks
Jim, by Jamie Lidell
The Black Ghosts, by The Black Ghosts

*All tracks are posted for previewing purposes only. Please support your favorite artists, and buy the music you love.