1. Kishi Bashi - Bright Whites
I just found this one yesterday while trawling through old episodes of "All Songs Considered" Tiny Desk Concerts on NPR's Youtube channel. This album version is nowhere near the bizarre, prodigious, musical arts-and-crafts session that Kishi puts together for NPR, but it is a lot easier to sit back and enjoy. Not having any sort of comprehension of the Japanese lyrics laced throughout, for me they add a level of whimsy. They conjure up images of running on beaches or hang gliding or riding unicycles or something.
2. The Parlotones - Push Me to the Floor
These guys, while massively popular in their home country of South Africa, were just sort of languishing in global obscurity since 2003. Until they showed up at SXSW this year and were able to jump off of the acclaim that earned them to begin touring with Coldplay. I don't know why I decided to start giving you their biography rather than just make comments on the song. Probably something to do with not really having much to say and wanting to show off that I know something about something.
3. The Love Language - Stars
I somehow end up wending my way to this song every time that I listen to music because it is perfect. I love that it's about a girl named Kathleen because how often do you hear a song for a Kathleen. I love the yearning twang of the guitars. I love their peaking voices all layered and staggered over top of each other. It makes me think of a circle of men on a porch, howling at the moon. Night delivers cold shivers. And so does this song.
4. The Mountain Goats - Going to Georgia
Quite obviously, this is not the album version, but to me it is so much better. Even though he trips over one of the lyrics, you have to know it's because he's just so into the ferocity and the passion of the song. The words have to be almost yelled because that's how important they are. The lines:
The most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway
is that it's you
and you're standing in the doorway
are such goosebump-inducing characterizations of the simplicity of something being remarkable; something being perfect and right and awesome. Then the downward curve of "SMIIIIILE" and the slight quaver of "when you ease the gun from my hand". Everything about everything he says with this song is amazing to me and then you add the forceful, driving strumming of the guitar and all that comes out of me are sighs of satisfaction, jealousy, inspiration, and rage.
5. Brian Lopez - Montjuic
Brian Lopez took the inspiration for this song from the long, broad hill that overlooks the harbour in Barcelona, Spain. I couldn't necessarily tell you how one draws inspiration from a hill, but you can dwell on it while you give the song a listen.
6. The Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
I can't remember where exactly I heard this song for the first time, but I know that it has become one of the default songs I share with people when they cry out for new music. Who doesn't love eerie, harmonized imitations of screeching birds or meandering accordion woven over the world's oldest-sounding guitar? I think this song is so unique and just the right mix of upbeat, pretty, and haunting. Plus it comes with a quirky stopmotion video. What's not to love?
7. Annuals - Always Do
This one tends to end up playing immediately after Stars by The Love Language. I couldn't tell you why, but they've just always gone hand in hand for me. They don't sound the same, they're not really about the same things, but I guess they just both have that note of desperation and painful wanting. But the mix of the pedal steel guitars and the cacophony of crash cymbals and the almost Brand New-esque screaming at the end...ugh so goddamn listen-to-able.
8. Frightened Rabbit - Fast Blood
I think that there was brief period when I would have claimed this was my favorite song by Frightened Rabbit. Then it was Backwards Walk. Then it was Old, Old Fashioned, then Keep Yourself Warm, then Modern Leper, then Good Arms vs. Bad Arms. And I have to admit that I completely forgot that this song even existed until I tossed Midnight Organ Fight on shuffle last night and had my heart seized and mangled and broken and mended by this song. And then again for the rest of the night and some of this morning. Listen to the lyrics and try to count how many goosebumps break out on your arms.
midnight organ fight
yours gives into mine
it's all right
and the fast blood
hurricanes through me
How. Fucking. SEXY is that? I was riding the bus this morning and letting the words make love to my ears and that bit just tears me up. I wanted to make out with the window and ravage the seat in front of me (calm down, I was the only one on the bus). But yeah. Good freaking song.
9. Sharon Van Etten - Much More Than That
K so I couldn't help veering off back into my depressing music. And I really don't have much to say about this song. I think sometimes it's my life. I can tell you I always pictured Sharon as like this little, pixie-looking girl. She's looks more like Winona Ryder in Beetljuice gained some weight. Not that that's a thought that needed to make it's way into this...article? It was really just all I had to say.
10. Joanna Newsom - Does Not Suffice
Joanna Newsom is brilliant and bizarre and unsettling and a genius. This is a great song. She has better songs. But this is the first of hers that I heard and the one that sent me tumbling down the rabbit hole of needing-to-always-be-listening-to-music-by-Joanna Newsom. It may, though, be one of the saddest relationship songs ever written. So that's something.
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