Hello, friends! My good pal Jack Bzowski over at Alien Blogato recently made a list of his top 10 songs of the last ten years. This made me think about mine. However, I then realised this was a near-impossible task, so I instead made a list of some of my favourite bands from this decade and then picked one of my favourite songs by each. It's a very subjective list, hence the ton of pop-punk, but enjoy anyway!
10. Hit The Lights - Make A Run For It
Hit The Lights aren't exactly original, but they're very good at what they do. This track, the final on their first (and best cos then the original singer left and his voice was pretty distinctive) album, has everything that's great about them; a killer opening riff, heading into the energetic verse, before heading into the frantic "cut, cut, cut to the chase" pre-chorus and then a singalong, anthemic chorus; something every pop-punk strives for but many fail. They're an incredibly tight band and this song was a fantastic way to end their album.
Other Recommendations: Talk Us Down, Bodybag, Speakers Blown
9. Say Anything - Eloise
Say Anything's album "In Defense of the Genre" dominated my speakers in 2008, with its awesome blend of different styles. This, the self-titled follow-up, has a more catchy, pop style, but that helps it for some songs, such as this one, the typical "you're bad for me and we're breaking up, bitch" song taken to an extreme. Singer/songwriter Max Bemis pours everything into his vocals and lyrics, and it shows. The piano motif that occurs throughout this song is very nice etc, and..I dunno you just feel the emotion. UH-OH RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS ALREADY THIS IS GONNA GO WELL
Other Recommendations: Plea, Died a Jew, In Defense of the Genre
8. You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colours
You Me At Six are another mostly unoriginal band, but once again they're so good at what they do I have to forgive it. They're also British, so representin'. This song, the title track on their first album, is one of my favourites because...well, I'll try not to sound like a bitch, but it's one of the ones where the lyrics speak to me, or at least remind me or certain situations. It also has that aggressive style I love.
Other Recommendations: Gossip, Always Attract, The Rumour
7. Panic! at the Disco - Camisado
Panic's blend of emo pop-punk and dance/vaudevillian stuff ignited the scene back in 2005, when their debut album was released. Many hate it, and I can definitely see why, but it's definitely my thing. This song particularly impresses me because...well, it's about guitarist Ryan Ross's father, who was dying of cancer at the time. Ross gets out his daddy issues as harshly as possible with the lyrics ("You're a regular decorated emergency"), and the music is a nice mix of energetic pop-punk and the whole synth thing (the second verse and its use of glitchy electronica stuff is the highlight IMO).
Other Recommendations: The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage, Build God Then We'll Talk, Folkin' Around
6. Drivemouth - Corrosion
Had to represent my homeboy somewhere in this thing. Drivemouth's The Imperfectionist isn't exactly a well-known album, yet it's one of the best of the last year. Telling the story of (without spoiling it too much) a blissfully tortured artist, it mixes dreamlike acoustic tracks with harder rock songs. I've picked this track as my highlight because it's incredibly peaceful, genuinely lovely, and has hilariously awesome use of a xylophone. This guy deserves to go places.
Other Recommendations: This Kid, The Imperfectionist 2, Enduring During
5. Brand New - You Won't Know
Brand New started off as an above-average pop-punk band, but over 8 years and 4 albums have proved themselves to be one of the defining alternative rock bands of this generation. This album, their third, is arguably their opus, and I've picked this song because it has everything that makes it so great; a slow, atmospheric buildup that culminates just over a minute and a half in with an epic outburst of emotion. The lyrics are great - "They say in heaven there's no husbands and wives", Jesse Lacey sings in the bridge, and it has a morose mood to it - like if Morrissey screamed more and stuff.
Other Recommendations: Seventy Times 7, Guernica, Sink
4. The Decemberists - Eli The Barrow Boy
Fuck, that really is a terrible album cover. ANYWAY, The Decemberists are probably the best of the "Pitchfork acts", mixing folk-rock with what Wikipedia tells me is called "baroque pop", using many classical instruments in their music. Singer Colin Meloy is possibly the nerdiest entertainer in the world, writing lyrics about old-style sailors and maidens and whatever, yet when you see him live you get the feeling this is what he was made for. I chose this song as it's short yet displays everything the band are about. It's also one of their most evocative songs, and depressing as hell.
Other Recommendations: Sixteen Military Wives, The Mariner's Revenge Song, The Rake's Song
3. Frank Turner - The Ballad Of Me And My Friends
Getting this out of the way now; Sleep Is For The Week is Frank's worst album. Start with Love, Ire & Song, and then if you like that check out Poetry of the Deed. Frank Turner is on his way to starting a revolution among British teenagers, his underground folk-punk music speaking to enough people to get him signed to Epitaph Records worldwide. I can always count on him to inspire me.
I picked this song, despite the album it's from, because of its message, which is absolutely perfect. It brilliantly encapsulates being a teenager in the UK, playing open mic nights and drinking and just celebrating fucking living. "If you're all about the destination, then take a fucking flight", Turner sings, and it's enough to get any kid to call someone up and do something.
(Actually a live version, but the version on the album is live anyway, and it just makes the song all the more powerful.)
Other Recomendations: Try This At Home, I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous, Dan's Song
2. The Gaslight Anthem - Wherefore Art Thou, Elvis?
Another bad cover. I swear these guys is TRYING to make me look bad but anyway The Gaslight Anthem are fucking fantastic. They mix influences from the sort of Social Distortion/Cheap Trick old-school punk style with Bruce Springsteen, and it's an amazing blend. They sound like a band who have everything thrown at them but still made it through just to write and perform these songs. They're amazing. This song is from their 2008 EP, Senor and the Queen, which is my favourite thing they've done - each of the four tracks is sublime - although I would recommend starting with their second full-length, The '59 Sound. I chose it because it's just...well, fuckin badass. This is one of those songs I find it really difficult to describe how I like, but just...listen to the pre-chorus, with the "ba ba" stuff in the background, and the way it goes into this aggressive, world-weary chorus. It's fantastic, and these guys deserve every success.
Other Recommendations: Casanova, Baby!, High Lonesome, Meet Me By The River's Edge
1. Fall Out Boy - Hum Hallelujah
Might as well get this over with; I think Fall Out Boy are the best band in the world. I have no idea why. Every note they play, every line sung, just makes me feel something no other band can manage. The music, the lyrics, the production is exactly how I like music, down to the last detail. It's sort of embarrassing, but I'm gonna just pretend like my taste in movies makes up for it and move on.
I picked this song because it's fantastic, but also because it has a lot of their best qualities. You see Pete Wentz's penchant for idiotic lyrics "We're a bull, your ears are just a china shop" as well as effectively emotional ones "I thought I loved you, it was just how you looked in the light". Patrick Stump belts out lines with his distinctive voice that so many hate but that I can't get enough of. Boy's awesome. It's not one of their more experimental songs, musically, but it has the brilliant melodies they're known for. So yeah, Fall Out Boy are my favourite band of the last ten years, and this is one of my favourite songs of the last ten years. DEAL WITH IT LOL at least it wasn't Coldplay.
Other Recommendations: Tell That Mick He Just Made My List Of Things To Do Today, Sophomore Slump Or Comeback Of The Year, "From Now On, We Are Enemies"
So that's the end of the list! I hope you all enjoyed it and that at least one person was influenced in some way. Thanks for reading.
1 comment:
Admittedly I only know three of the artists and none of the songs (I'm not so into popular music nowadays :O) they are wicked bands (Brand New, Panic! and Fallout) so good job! I couldn't possibly pick 10 top tracks so kudos to you my friend!
However, check out my 'sporting moments of the decade' post if you are interested! http://joeldavidmurray.blogspot.com/2009/12/sporting-moment-of-past-decade.html
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