Best Of 2007: The Songs

My best of 2007 album list has been giving me ulcers since the day I posted it. Should I have included Of Montreal? What about Múm; that was a great album? Steve Earle's latest wasn't as good as his previous work, but I'm thinking maybe I still like it better than numbers 39 and 40 on the original list. Lists are hard. That's why, instead of doing a list of my top 10 favorite songs, that will most surely expand until I end up with something weird like a top 53, I'm simply going to limit this post to an orderless list of 10 songs that completely blew my mind this past year. So here goes:

I Am John by Loney, Dear

The only song on my order list that I will give a ranking to is this indisputable (in my mind) number one. What makes this song so great for me is simply the way it makes me feel. It starts off so delicate and sweet sounding. But the mid song build up is always money in the bank as far as I'm concerned, and when the voices are layered and layered beyond belief, what may sound cheesy in a Def Leppard song, is total euphoria in this case. It simply touches on every emotional nerve in my over sensitive synapses. This is more than a song, it's a celebration of life.

Download: I Am John mp3
Video: I Am John youtube

You! Me! Dancing! by Los Campesinos!

While staying in 'celebration of life' mode, Cardiff's Los Campesinos! has crafted an infectious danceable ditty that has reached a certain level of popularity thanks to the phenomenon / aggravation that is myspace. I like this song because it makes me dance. 'Nuff said.

Video: You! Me! Dancing! youtube
Photo by Grace deVille

Walk Tall; Talk Sweet [Breathe Deep] by Reily

There's a lot to be said about simplicity, but there's also a lot to be said for a song with a whole bunch of everything going on. This song falls in the latter category, being a huge cage match battle of voices that caused me to fall in love with the band earlier this year. Sadly, Reily is no more, but keep your eyes and ears out for their first offspring, Bass Lions. Rumor has it that there are more children to follow as well.

Video: Walk Tall; Talk Sweet [Breathe Deep] youtube
Photo by Brian Emmanuel

Fake Empire by The National

Some of my hoity toity friends would rather choose one of Boxer's deep album cuts, but at the risk of being captain obvious, Fake Empire has to be the choice for me. In the words of a friend, the horns on this one will make you rethink the purpose of life. Haha!

Video: Fake Empire on David Letterman youtube

Girl In Port by Okkervil River

Choosing just one song from The Stage Names is no easy task but Girl In Port simply encapsulates all that I love about this band and Will Scheff in particular. The literary prose in the song lyrics coupled with Will's emotive singing makes this the indie song for the thinking man (or woman.)

Video: Girl In Port (Will Scheff solo acoustic version) youtube

Rag And Bone by The White Stripes

Some things cannot be faked and Jack White's bluesy old time vocal spoken word riffing is the real deal. When I first heard this song I must've put it on repeat about 70 times. It had me shaking my head in disbelief at just how authentic the guy sounds. Mainstream or not, I'd like to welcome you back, Meg and Jack.

Video (sort of...): Rag And Bone youtube (This is actually just a still picture of the band while the song is playing but it's the only place to hear it online without getting in trouble.)
Photo by Patrick Pantano

Backed Out On The... by Kevin Drew

Sorry Kev, you're all well and good but what makes this song an indie rock assault to the senses is the presence of J. Mascis' instantly recognizable guitar work. The video is what every music snob wishes their house party would look like.

Video: Backed Out On The... youtube

My Hands, My Plans by Fox Jaws

Carleigh Atkins' voice possesses a raspy heart that has the ability to take an average song and make it cataclysmic. She does this with several 'ordinary' songs on the album, but when she does it to pop music gold like this, it's even better.

Video: My Hands, My Plans live at the Talk Is Free Theatre youtube
Photo by Sarah Hobson

You Vs Them by The Hero Cycle

Honestly, choosing only one song by this amazing band was really hard to do. I've sort of created a personal rule for my album's list that EP's don't count. But the truth is, that Lakes and Ponds is one of the most solid releases of the year. All five songs are perfect, and subconsciously, I may have chosen You Vs Them simply because it's the song that lasts the longest. I'm really really hoping that we see a full length in the near future and that the full length makes them big enough that we see them coming to Toronto. I just gots ta see 'em!

Listen to You Vs. Them on their myspace page.

I Was A Daughter by Basia Bulat

Piano. Strings. Pounding drums. A flawless voice. And the most hyperactive handclaps I've ever heard in my life. Need I say more?

Video: I Was A Daughter live at Schuba's youtube
Photo by A. Von Seckendorf