It's far easier to pick five great songs from the 1950's when there were only, like, ten albums released every year (half of which belonged to Frank Sinatra) than it is to choose five great songs from within the past couple years as there are literally hundreds of thousands of LPs and EPs and singles and samplers and CD-Rs currently being produced. So, after a painstaking narrowing-down process, here are five completely awesome songs from 2005.
Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers
This is a rockin' catchy little ditty, but if you pay attention to the lyrics you'll find something terribly sad going on. I'd explain it all to you but listening and experiencing the story yourself is half the fun. I will point out that all the verses save the last are told in first person present tense. The last verse is told in first person past tense, effectively (and tragically) concluding the song and story. Adding another layer of finality to the song is the fact that it appears on Sleater-Kinney's final studio album, The Woods.
El Perro Del Mar - Party
Instead of sad lyrics sung to an upbeat tune, here we have happy lyrics set to a sad tune. "Come on over, baby, there's a party going on." Yeah! "Be-bop, Be-bop-a-lula." That's right, rock it like Gene Vincent! But before you include this onto the rockin' portion of your party mix you should first consider the moderately slow tempo, the moderately lo-fi recording, and the moderately wispy vocals of Sarah Assbring. Moderate, yes, but catchy as all get-out. I don't know about you, but this song gets stuck in my head for days at a time.
Discover America - Green Eyes
Chris Staples... with beats and loops! But his lyrical wit and his unique take on love songs remain. Also unique, at least compared to Staples previous efforts, is the feel of this song. There are several layers of electro-thumpety-thump underlying everything and it creates an interesting, almost-but-not-really foggy atmosphere. Lyrically this is a song about that unapproachable ultra-hip scene goddess who (the twist!) is not as snobbish as you might think. She's not impressed, but she's so polite.
Christian Kjellvander - Drunken Hands
Kjellvander is Sweden's answer to Richard Buckner, but in my world I can accept them both. Also acceptable are songs that begin quietly and conclude loudly -- "build-up" songs. "Drunken Hands" begin with Kjellvander's deep and warbled voice setting a mid-western scene. He goes on to describe something I can't put my finger on (but still very obviously bleak) as the music builds behind him. The final minute is head-nodding bliss, a surprising guitar-chug that could go on forever.
Animal Collective - Grass
Some Animal Collective songs go on for dozens of minutes. I can't handle that. There's only so much ambient pseudo-earthy rhythmic indie whateverness I can take in one sitting. But this... clocking in at just under three minutes, "Grass" is absolutely perfect and is a great song to fire you up if you ever need to run a race or wrestle a gorilla or sprint through a brick wall. I have absolutely no idea what this song is about, but like good poetry there's a sensation and/or indescribable imagery painted by the words. Couple that with the unique sound of the song itself and you've got yourself a tune that is experienced rather than just heard.
Sleater-Kinney - JumpersThis is a rockin' catchy little ditty, but if you pay attention to the lyrics you'll find something terribly sad going on. I'd explain it all to you but listening and experiencing the story yourself is half the fun. I will point out that all the verses save the last are told in first person present tense. The last verse is told in first person past tense, effectively (and tragically) concluding the song and story. Adding another layer of finality to the song is the fact that it appears on Sleater-Kinney's final studio album, The Woods.
El Perro Del Mar - PartyInstead of sad lyrics sung to an upbeat tune, here we have happy lyrics set to a sad tune. "Come on over, baby, there's a party going on." Yeah! "Be-bop, Be-bop-a-lula." That's right, rock it like Gene Vincent! But before you include this onto the rockin' portion of your party mix you should first consider the moderately slow tempo, the moderately lo-fi recording, and the moderately wispy vocals of Sarah Assbring. Moderate, yes, but catchy as all get-out. I don't know about you, but this song gets stuck in my head for days at a time.
Discover America - Green EyesChris Staples... with beats and loops! But his lyrical wit and his unique take on love songs remain. Also unique, at least compared to Staples previous efforts, is the feel of this song. There are several layers of electro-thumpety-thump underlying everything and it creates an interesting, almost-but-not-really foggy atmosphere. Lyrically this is a song about that unapproachable ultra-hip scene goddess who (the twist!) is not as snobbish as you might think. She's not impressed, but she's so polite.
Christian Kjellvander - Drunken HandsKjellvander is Sweden's answer to Richard Buckner, but in my world I can accept them both. Also acceptable are songs that begin quietly and conclude loudly -- "build-up" songs. "Drunken Hands" begin with Kjellvander's deep and warbled voice setting a mid-western scene. He goes on to describe something I can't put my finger on (but still very obviously bleak) as the music builds behind him. The final minute is head-nodding bliss, a surprising guitar-chug that could go on forever.
Animal Collective - GrassSome Animal Collective songs go on for dozens of minutes. I can't handle that. There's only so much ambient pseudo-earthy rhythmic indie whateverness I can take in one sitting. But this... clocking in at just under three minutes, "Grass" is absolutely perfect and is a great song to fire you up if you ever need to run a race or wrestle a gorilla or sprint through a brick wall. I have absolutely no idea what this song is about, but like good poetry there's a sensation and/or indescribable imagery painted by the words. Couple that with the unique sound of the song itself and you've got yourself a tune that is experienced rather than just heard.
