Top 65 Songs of 2005: 65-26
NOTE: I added a header because I thought this post lacked visual pizzazz, I hope you all can deal with that (and if Pitchfork can have a cool header, then so can I).
First of all, HAIL TO THE REDSKINS, who just beat the Bucs to advance to the second round of the NFC playoffs for the first time since 1999. Secondly though, and much more applicable to this site, here is the first of two features on the Top 65 Songs of 2005. This list counts down from 65 (Days Of Static) down to 26 (The Cloud Room’s “Hey Now Now”) in a fairly sparse (one-to-two sentence description, no album/single art) format, while tomorrow you’ll be presented the second half of the countdown, the Top 25 Songs of the year, complete with more in-depth descriptions and album/single artwork. Furthermore, my New Year’s resolution is to only post MP3-format sound files now, so I went through the tremendous effort of converting all my M4A files to my MP3 files, for this post and for all of the M3 posts, so when it says MP3 it actually means MP3, as I’ve rethought my stance and made GWFAS an equal-opportunity blog. Also if the link after MP3 says ‘Download Video’, ‘right click > save target as’ on that link to download the video. All downloadable videos are Quicktime-compatible (.mov or .m4v or .mp4 files) unless indicated otherwise. However, if the link just says ‘Watch Video’ then that means you must click to follow the link as I do not have a downloadable version of the video available (and obviously, if you have a downloadable version of the video in question, as always, I’d be eternally grateful if you could send it to me somehow). I can’t necessarily present a logical argument for every song on this list, but for the most part it just feels right for me, and I hope no one will have too much of a problem with it to enjoy it.
65. “Drove Through Ghosts To Get Here” - 65 Days Of Static - MP3
A haunting piano number from the up-and-coming kings of post-rock.
64. “Spine of the Curve” - Stan & Mack - MP3
The first-ever track from two of my best friends, Stan and Mack, written on Lucy Vincent Beach in Martha’s Vineyard, chronicles and perfectly captures that distinct feeling of the ephemeral euphoria of summer.
63. “Oh Yeah” - The Subways - MP3
62. “Did You See The Words” - Animal Collective - MP3
Most accessible track from freak-folk extroadinnaires’ fantastic 2005 sophomore release, Feels.
61. “Be Mine!” - Robyn - MP3
Hands down one of the finest pop-songs of 2005, from Sweden’s little known (stateside at least) R&B/pop singer Robyn, challenging current Europop-queen Annie’s throne. Look out for those strings samples, that’s where they’ll get you… that’s where they’ll always get you.
60. “Galaxies” - Laura Veirs - MP3 - Download Video
This track from Laura Veirs features the catchiest synthesizer squiggle this side of The Shins, and if there’s one way into my heart, it’s with a catchy-ass synthesizer squiggle (ladies, take note).
59. “The Great Escape” - We Are Scientists - MP3 - Download Video
58. “Area” - The Futureheads - MP3
The first taste of what The Futureheads’ sophomore effort might sound like, “Area” shows great promise (and more of those lovable dueling vocals) and could have easily been the third-best track on the band’s ‘04 self-titled debut, which says a lot considering that album’s fantastic singles and critical acclaim.
57. “Middle Of Nowhere” - Hot Hot Heat - MP3 - Download Video
56. “Dance, Dance” - Fall Out Boy - MP3
55. “Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have…” - Panic! At The Disco - MP3
F.O.B.-clone (plus synthesizers) Panic! At The Disco’s best song from their debut album, “Lying” features the same driving rhythm section and anthemic choruses (”Let’s get these teen hearts beating faster, faster!”) that made Fall Out Boy famous.
54. “Black Horse And The Cherry Tree” - KT Tunstall - MP3
53. “Tribulations” - LCD Soundsystem - MP3 - Download Video
LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy unleashes his (in my opinion) catchiest single yet, riding a driiiiving synth line that commands the listener’s attention from start to finish.
52. “God Is Going To Get Sick Of Me” - Aberdeen City - MP3
Again, it’s all about the synth line here. Boston up-and-comers Aberdeen City (signed to my dear friend Kathryn Arffa’s cousin’s Dovecote Records label) turn in what would otherwise be a decent alt. rock song, but keep an ear out for the incredible synth line over the chorus. I still don’t exactly understand why God is going to get sick of him, but then again I really don’t care with a synth line as addictive as this one.
51. “Destroy Everything You Touch” - Ladytron - MP3
More driving synths and high-octane electronica here, courtesy of Liverpool electro-foursome Ladytron, with their hottest single of the year, “Destroy Everything You Touch”. Just wait until the instruments drop out for that split second of suspense at the 3:33 mark before they bring the vocals, synths, strobes, and sex back in for the kill in the last minute of the song.
50. “Landed” (Strings Version) - Ben Folds - MP3
49. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” (Remix ft. Jay-Z) - Kanye West - MP3
Kanye’s darkest, most intriguing beat yet + what is possibly Jay-Z’s finest verse ever = the hip-hop track of the year. It’s just too bad I don’t enjoy rap more.
48. “The Denial Twist” - The White Stripes - MP3 - Download Video
47. “Goodnight Goodnight” - Hot Hot Heat - MP3 - Download Video
46. “Cold Hands (Warm Heart)” - Brendan Benson - MP3 - Download Video
Perhaps the twinkliest song of the year, this song rides that twinkly-ass keyboard line from start to finish to pop perfection.
45. “I Believe In Symmetry” - Bright Eyes - MP3
The second-best track on Bright Eye’s lo-fi electronica experiment, Digital Ash In A Digital Urn, sees Oberst further exploring the themes of life, death, and the “arc of time” that are repeatedly established and brought up throughout the album, comparing the complexity of human life with the simple life of instinct that an insect leads.
44. “The Mixed Tape” - Jack’s Mannequin - MP3 - Download Video
43. “Feel Good Inc.” - Gorillaz - MP3 - Download Video
42. “Love Is A Number” - White Rose Movement - MP3
The latest British buzz-band to be given the prestigious Paul Epworth production treatment (Epworth also produced UK dance-rock heroes Bloc Party, The Futureheads, and The Rakes), White Rose Movement looks to cash in on the current new-wave dance-rock craze, and does so in grand form here, as this track was named #40 on P-Fork’s Top 50 Singles of ‘05 list as well as being named the outright single of the year by To Here Knows When.
41. “This Is The Dream Of Win & Regine” - Final Fantasy - MP3
One of two incredible stand-out tracks from Arcade Fire violinist and string-arranger Owen Pallet’s 2005 debut, Has A Good Home, I actually enjoy this song more than the Dntel track from which it takes its name.
40. “Use It” - The New Pornographers - MP3 - Watch Video (WMV)
39. “Fake Palindromes” - Andrew Bird - MP3
38. “Outlines” - Clor - MP3 - Download Video
Thinly-veiled sexual metaphors (”One way or another gonna get into your outline, gonna get in from the outside, you never know, it might just feel right”), curiously out of place motivational pep-talks (that “each of us is special in our own unique way” bridge?) and general electro-pop goodness are abound in this four and a half minute slice of synthesized bliss from Clor.
37. “Take It Easy (Love Nothing)” - Bright Eyes - MP3
36. “The Jessica Numbers” - The New Pornographers - MP3
I heard somewhere that the rhythm section of this song (or something) is based on the fibonacci code? Can anyone enlighten to me as to this statement’s truth? Regardless though, another flawless pop song from The New Pornographers.
35. “Holiday From Real” - Jack’s Mannequin - MP3
The perfect soundtrack to the last days of summer before the chill and responsibility of fall set in.
34. “Inaction” - We Are Scientists - MP3 - Download Video
Hands down the catchiest lyrics and vocal structure of any song in 2005.
33. “The CN Tower Is Dead” - Final Fantasy - MP3
32. “Pelican Narrows” - Caribou - MP3
Dark, but - don’t worry - still danceable piano lines and handclaps come together to form the best track on the artist formerly known as Manitoba’s ‘05 offering, The Milk Of Human Kindness.
31. “Jezebel” - Iron & Wine - MP3
30. “A Town Called Luckey” - Rilo Kiley - MP3
One of only two new songs from Rilo Kiley in ‘05 (this, along with “American Wife”, was a b-side on the Portions For Foxes CD-Single), “Town Called Luckey” is a striking departure from the band’s normally light-hearted indie pop fare. It’s an entirely new sound for the band, featuring wonderfully dark instrumentation, and I’d be thrilled if this was any indication of the direction the band has decided to go with future material. The “storm cloud, hurricane” bit at the 5:17 mark is one of my favorite moments from any song this year.
29. “C-C (You Set The Fire In Me)” - MP3 - Watch Video (WMV)
Up-and-coming London multi-instrumentalist Tom Vek shows his promise on the finest single from his ‘05 debut, We Have Sound, featuring Vek’s distinct vocals over driving miltaristic percussion and twinkling keyboards.
28. “For Real” - Okkervil River - MP3 - Download Video
All the angst and exasperation of Okkervil’s Black Sheep Boy comes to a head on “For Real”, so much so that I jumped in my seat nearly every time I heard those sharp power-chords come in at the 0:40 mark until I finally got used to it around the ninth or tenth listen. And, I mean, there’s a wurlitzer solo (I think), what’s not to love?
27. “Marching Bands Of Manhattan” - Death Cab For Cutie - MP3
26. “Hey Now Now” - The Cloud Room - MP3
The perfect song to usher in springtime and build up anticipation for summer was also the shining moment from The Cloud Room’s self-titled debut.
Stay tuned for the Top 25 of the Year, complete with artwork, more in-depth analysis (if that’s your thing) and easier-on-the-eyes presentation.