Music Under Fire

Okay, you've waited long enough... Here are my top 10 songs for 2007.

See Part 2 (10-25)
See Part 1 (26-50)

1. Wilco - Impossible Germany (buy on iTunes)(video)

"Unlikely Japan..." This song carried through the year for me. From the album release back in May, up until now still, I find myself listening to this song, the highlight and apex of Sky Blue Sky. For me, the songs that make draw me in the most are those with variation; no repetitiveness, but a catchy diddy nonetheless. "Impossible Germany" has all of these elements. From the soft rock beginnings of the song, with the beginning melody we hear from beginning to end, to the change-up midway through the song. The song takes its turn into the instrumental part, something like that of a 15 minute Phise jam out. This is what makes this band and this song so strong: the band's musical talents alone are entertaining. When no words are required, the voice of the music speaks vibrantly here. I love the soft style of this song, but throw in Jeff Tweedy's vocals and putty in the hand of Sky Blue Sky's best song.

Live @ Austin City Limits


2. The National - Mistaken For Strangers (buy on iTunes)

The crassness of telling someone they're "mistaken for strangers by their own friends" is something that's never been so blatantly damaging to ones ego. I would loathe the person this was written after. The deep, dark guitars, the empty moonlit feeling this song portrays along with the unbuttoned, door-slamming feeling you get from listening to Berninger sing is surreal to say the least. After such a big year from The National, the band has picked up a slew of new fans brought on board largely in part to this track alone. With other songs such as Apartment Story and Start A War, you get a feeling for the Springsteenesque story telling and heavy lyrics sung with such meaning. As my #2 pick for the year, this song should come as no surprise to most indie-rock music critics.

3. Athlete - It’s Not Your Fault

A trendy pick, Athlete's latest and proudest album in 2007 was chock full of electonica dib-dabbing and microscopic touch-ups that made it all well worth the wait since Tourist. "Its Not Your Fault" caught me off guard with the imminent jazz breaks mixed with a melodically pleasant piano. Pott's vocals are also pleasantly accompanying the smooth song flow here. So why so high up? Athlete is one of those bands that just keeps growing and growing, building on what they've done in the past. Now on their third album, its a beautiful sight to see where they've ended up. The transition from album to album, from song to each consecutive song all blended together to make this one my favorite on the album. Although there is very little classic style, the drums and finalizing anthem at the end of the song really made this worth all of the time I've spent listening to Athlete over the years. I'm truly proud of them.

4. Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You (buy on iTunes)

Again, I'm a sucker for these slow songs, especially when it comes down to Band of Horses. Whether its the rickety guitar reverb or the slowed down singing style of this song, I got all sorts of wrapped up in not only this song, but this album as well. My close follow up for this could have been "Is There A Ghost", which was the first song I heard off of Band of Horses' MySpace page about a month before the record was released. I was just as glad to discover this one when October finally rolled around. But the overall relaxed approach to music, the genuine messages and nothing to get all riled up about made for zero band controversy and just beautiful music, just as serene as their album cover depicts.

5. Shout Out Louds - Normandie (buy on iTunes)

The quick kick, snare, kick, snare was an eye opener for me, not that this had never been done before. But when the lighthearted seaside beach riff mixed with Adam Olenius' depressed sounding lyrics, the combination stuck gold. Perhaps this is something no other band has going at the moment, a singer who so eerily sounds like a rock star from the past. I'm talking about I'm talking about Robert Smith's vocals (The Cure), the voice that killed the world. The extreme differences in overall lighthearted rhythms and melodies mixed with Olenius' voice was something I had yet to hear throughout all of 2007 and is still working wonders for the band.

6. Aqualung - Pressure Suit (buy on iTunes)

"Pressure Suit" is a glorified UK love song, with a new age resonance and talent coming from only one man who created this years masterpiece, Matt Hales. I'm not sure of his obsession with underwater gagetry, but the theme was very similar to his past works. After leaving 5 years in between albums, the most striking song was this one. Not only was I impressed at how much Hales had matured from one album to the next, but for the first time, Aqualung impressed me. Most likely the largest reason Aqualung is noticed is in part to the UK singer/songwriter label, which has been carried by so many greats, has also been compared to Hales. So now that Aqualung is in the media revolver, we can expect more coming from this solo-talented artist.

7. Spoon – You’ve Got Yr. Cherry Bomb (buy on iTunes)

Its a bit redundant to put 3 songs in your top 50 for the year coming from the same album, but that's just how good Spoon was this year. "You've Got Yr. Cherry Bomb did just that, capping off my favorite track from their stunning album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. What else there to say? There's no reason not to buy this album. Not only has this band been kicking for 12 years, but now, Spoon is here to stay in a different sense. Believe me when I tell you this, but this album will be remembered years from now, so at least you can jump on the boat and be one of the first... erm, 10,000, to truly justify the greatness of what's been done here. This song marks the pinnacle of this album and although is debatably the best song, surely has a memorable kick and classic rock/ motown beat feeling to it.

8. Apartment – Fall Into Place (buy on iTunes)

"Fall Into Place" is one of those songs that is a gateway song to other artists of the sort, and always has sales to follow the one great song on their album. I don't want to put down Apartment for an album that didn't live up to this song, but then again, that is why this particular track is in the top 10. From the entrinquing beginning melody, to the harmonizing all the way to the end of the song, I enjoyed the transitions in the song from the breif instrumental breakdowns to the simplicity laid down through the lyrics. This song pleased me so much, I went out and bought the album on iTunes. I can't say any of it is nearly great enough to follow up this one, but any band would be pleased to conjure up a song as good as this.

9. Radiohead - Reckoner (buy on iTunes)

Quite possibly the most anticipated album this past year, that no one even expected so early and with it came an onslaught of praise. Not to say In Rainbows saved Radiohead's career, but a definate resurgence of allegiance has now followed. With "Reckoner", the complex beginning beat followed by layers of synths and unexpected rhythmic changes made this one as unique as the band itself. Being a big Radiohead fan myself, I would have ranked this #1, but had to times it by the bias factor, holding this one in the top 10 for a strong sumber 9. I couldn't be any happier with owning this song alone; it fits so many moods I often find myself in and accompanies the album beautifully. A close second on this album would have been "Apreggi/Weird Fishes" and "Jigsaw Falling Into Place". Thank YOU once again, Radiohead.

10. Rogue Wave – Lake Michigan (buy on iTunes)
As far as 'new' goes, this song was unlike anything else I've ever heard. The quick spoken verses, a crowd of happy clapping, and the nicely built up start to the song, were just a few of the refreshing elements built into this song. Rogue Wave has seemingly been one of the most loved indie groups this year. This song especially has it all. The guitar breakdowns, the mood brighteners, the memorable refrains and all of the feelings of a lazy Friday with nothing left to enjoy the weekend bottled up into it. This song is one many of my playlists for this past year and should be on yours too.