(Click 'READ MORE' below to check out our 25-11)
25- Metric - Twilight Galaxies
Emily Haines has a way about her that kind of makes you fall in love. The poetic rock star and her band Metric released another satisfying album this year. 'Twilight Galaxies' gets the nod, but choosing just a few songs from this album to represent it was as tough a decision as any.
Emily Haines has a way about her that kind of makes you fall in love. The poetic rock star and her band Metric released another satisfying album this year. 'Twilight Galaxies' gets the nod, but choosing just a few songs from this album to represent it was as tough a decision as any.
24- Fanfarlo - I'm A Pilot
I hate to keep drawing the comparison, but this is the best Arcade Fire song I heard all year. (It's not a bad thing).
I hate to keep drawing the comparison, but this is the best Arcade Fire song I heard all year. (It's not a bad thing).
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23- Mumford and Sons - White Blank Page
The London folk scene has been the root of some exciting new things lately. At the top of that pack is Mumford and Sons' recent trail-blazing release. A hearty album with tracks like the passionate, angst-filled 'White Blank Page' catapults the Mumford family band amongst the ranks of London folkers like Noah and the Whale.
The London folk scene has been the root of some exciting new things lately. At the top of that pack is Mumford and Sons' recent trail-blazing release. A hearty album with tracks like the passionate, angst-filled 'White Blank Page' catapults the Mumford family band amongst the ranks of London folkers like Noah and the Whale.
22- Monsters of Folk - Baby Boomer
This band comes just as advertised, and the ironic name only proves it. Indie-folk favorites, the likes of Conor Oberst and M. Ward churn out a state-of-the-art folk sound in this collaboration.
This band comes just as advertised, and the ironic name only proves it. Indie-folk favorites, the likes of Conor Oberst and M. Ward churn out a state-of-the-art folk sound in this collaboration.
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21- Bear Quartet - Millions
Bear Quartet is a Swedish band that has been consistently making music for two decades now to minor acclaim and minimal commercial success. 'Millions' is a stand-out track off their latest, but I wouldn't expect the quintet to break from their under-selling mold anytime soon.
(Embed not available, but you can listen to 'Millions' here. )
Bear Quartet is a Swedish band that has been consistently making music for two decades now to minor acclaim and minimal commercial success. 'Millions' is a stand-out track off their latest, but I wouldn't expect the quintet to break from their under-selling mold anytime soon.
(Embed not available, but you can listen to 'Millions' here. )
20- Passion Pit - Moth's Wings
What a bizarre voice squeezed inside such fun, dance-inducing melodies. We've come a long way from to the polished recording of the five-piece band's album Manners. In 2007, lead-singer Michael Angelekos was performing the song's solo with only his lap-top as a romantic gift to his girlfriend for Valentine's day.
What a bizarre voice squeezed inside such fun, dance-inducing melodies. We've come a long way from to the polished recording of the five-piece band's album Manners. In 2007, lead-singer Michael Angelekos was performing the song's solo with only his lap-top as a romantic gift to his girlfriend for Valentine's day.
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19- Califone - Funeral Singers
Much like Mumford and Sons or Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, comes Califone's lo-fi indie folk that puts the onus on the mood and emotion of the music. The album is actually a companion to a film 'All My Friends are Funeral Singers' written and directed by band frontman Tim Rutili.
Much like Mumford and Sons or Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, comes Califone's lo-fi indie folk that puts the onus on the mood and emotion of the music. The album is actually a companion to a film 'All My Friends are Funeral Singers' written and directed by band frontman Tim Rutili.
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18- Muse - Undisclosed Desires
Does Muse lose points for being polished and popular? Not in my book. 'Undisclosed Desires' still knows how to push all the same buttons.
17- Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)
I remember driving around my hometown having just gotten my driver's license and playing a taped recording I had gotten off a friend of some unknown rapper named Jay-Z. I must have listened to 'Reasonable Doubt' until that tape was worn to dust. More than a decade later, Jay-Z is far from an unknown, but with tracks like 'Empire State of Mind' he's still the best.
Does Muse lose points for being polished and popular? Not in my book. 'Undisclosed Desires' still knows how to push all the same buttons.
17- Jay-Z - Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)
I remember driving around my hometown having just gotten my driver's license and playing a taped recording I had gotten off a friend of some unknown rapper named Jay-Z. I must have listened to 'Reasonable Doubt' until that tape was worn to dust. More than a decade later, Jay-Z is far from an unknown, but with tracks like 'Empire State of Mind' he's still the best.
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16- Animal Collective - My Girls
There's something truly refreshing about this song. Though Animal Collective has all but been crowned kings of an experimental, indie-rock movement, the group doesn't seem to be turning their noses up to anyone. They're just a couple of dudes from Baltimore who go to work and have mouths to feed just like the rest of us. 'My Girls' shows us just that- as innovative or experimental as their sound is, they're just trying to provide for their families too. Did I also mention that this song might blow your mind?
There's something truly refreshing about this song. Though Animal Collective has all but been crowned kings of an experimental, indie-rock movement, the group doesn't seem to be turning their noses up to anyone. They're just a couple of dudes from Baltimore who go to work and have mouths to feed just like the rest of us. 'My Girls' shows us just that- as innovative or experimental as their sound is, they're just trying to provide for their families too. Did I also mention that this song might blow your mind?
15- Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource
The problem with having so many songs from one artist on a list? You start to run out of things to say without repeating yourself. 'Two Doves' and 'Stillness is the Move' were both amazing songs from Bitte Orca but it's their man-eating album-mate 'Cannibal Resource' that stole the show.
The problem with having so many songs from one artist on a list? You start to run out of things to say without repeating yourself. 'Two Doves' and 'Stillness is the Move' were both amazing songs from Bitte Orca but it's their man-eating album-mate 'Cannibal Resource' that stole the show.
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14- Blakroc - Ain't Nothing Like You (feat. Mos Def and Jim Jones)
One of the year's more ambitious projects was released late in '09 to varying results. The Akron-based rockers (The Black Keys) have been at it for years. On this effort, they teamed up with a slew of young hip-hop talent to create a hybrid album. No doubt, it was more successful than most (see also Lil Wayne) attempts, and the track featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones stands out above the rest.
Blakroc: Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) Ft. Mos Def and Jim Jones from Jonah Schwartz on Vimeo.
One of the year's more ambitious projects was released late in '09 to varying results. The Akron-based rockers (The Black Keys) have been at it for years. On this effort, they teamed up with a slew of young hip-hop talent to create a hybrid album. No doubt, it was more successful than most (see also Lil Wayne) attempts, and the track featuring Mos Def and Jim Jones stands out above the rest.
Blakroc: Ain't Nothing Like You (Hoochie Coo) Ft. Mos Def and Jim Jones from Jonah Schwartz on Vimeo.
13- Matt and Kim - Daylight
Their music may not be calculus, but the couple gets the maximum effect out of their two instruments.
Their music may not be calculus, but the couple gets the maximum effect out of their two instruments.
12- The National - So Far Around the Bend
No official release in '09 from The National (But it sounds like we may get one in 2010!) but the band was in top form in this track from the Dark Was the Night compilation.
No official release in '09 from The National (But it sounds like we may get one in 2010!) but the band was in top form in this track from the Dark Was the Night compilation.
11- Our Book and The Authors - Watch Me
I'll take another moment to remind you how underrated this Montreal-based band is. Maybe the auto-tuner threw people off, but songs like 'Watch Me' prove a nice balance.
I'll take another moment to remind you how underrated this Montreal-based band is. Maybe the auto-tuner threw people off, but songs like 'Watch Me' prove a nice balance.
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