Not all of these tracks are singles, but since iTunes killed the single I don't think that really matters too much. That's right iTunes killed the single - it didn't save it like so many would have you believe. Singles are 7'' records with one track on side A and another track on side B. They aren't CDs with the same song remixed 6 times, and they certainly aren't 1s and 0s on the internets. iTunes has simply made it OK to shop for individual songs instead of albums. So really iTunes is killing the single and the album at the same time, which is mighty fucking impressive. I don't want to sound like I'm trashing on Apple because I love that company so much I could fuck it...in fact I own not one but two iPods and bring you Bottle of Bread from one of them futuristic shiny iMacs. That said, the iTunes music store is pretty damn lame, and if Apple abondoned it tomorrow I wouldn't complain.
Anyway, these are my favorite SONGS of 2005. Like I said, some are singles, some are just album tracks. There are 20 of them, and here they are, comments where appropriate:
20. Boards of Canada - "Dayvan Cowboy"
Mostly because of the way it changes gears halfway through. This is the most stunning track on their altogether very good 2005 album.
19. Wolf Parade - "Shine a Light"
Marches along and builds up a tremendous head of steam. Like the other great tracks on Apologies to the Queen Mary, this has an undeniable anthemic quality.
18. The New Pornographers - "The Jessica Numbers"
The reverse-machine gun intro is perfect.
17. M. Ward - "Radio Campaign"
More people should listen to M. Ward. This guy evokes nostalgia for old-timey Americana like nobody else working today. His latest album is a small masterpiece for the way it conjures memories of a time its listeners can't possibly remember.
16. Dirty Three - "Doris"
This isn't your older brother's Dirty Three. "Doris" draws attention to itself because of its "rock" orientation. This is the best purely instrumental track of the year, and this was a good year for instrumental music.
15. Fiery Furnaces - "Here Comes the Summer"
From their EP, which isn't an EP at all. Not sure if this counts since I think it first appeared as a B side in '04(?), but I need some Furnaces on this list, and they aren't getting on through the shitty grandma album which I honestly can not even remember the name of.
14. Arctic Monkeys - "A Certain Romance"
"I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" is the single that got caused such a stir in the autumn of '05, but I prefer this track, which is just a lot more interesting and evocative. I don't know if they are the "next Clash," but this track is vaguely Clash-esque, and they pull it off. I especially enjoy the killer guitar soloing towards the end.
13. The Hold Steady - "Stevie Nix"
The epic centerpiece of their fine '05 album.
12. Spoon - "Sister Jack"
Gimme Fiction is one of '05's toughest growers, but "Sister Jack" is perhaps the one track on the album that is instantly likable. I find that more than most songs, this one benefits from being played as loud as possible.
11. Feist - "Inside and Out"
Totally unexpected Bee Gees cover. A great mix of 70s kitsch and modern French electro, yet it doesn't come off as ironic in any way. This is a great track, unlike anything else on the album. Feist had a good year with the American release of Let it Die and the new BSS album which she appears on. This track makes me want to find a nice Canadian woman and drink espresso with her in a Montreal cafe or some other nonsensical thing.
10. The National - "All the Wine"
All the swaggering arrogance that rock n' roll is supposed to be.
9. Clay Your Hands Say Yeah - "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"
Out of nowhere, Pitchfork declared these guys to be the biggest thing in indie rock in 2005. They weren't completely wrong. This song is their strongest - perfect summer time guitar shit.
8. Iron and Wine & Calexico - "History of Lovers"
Iron and Wine released 2 EPs worth of material this year, and collectively they represent Sam Beam's strongest work to date. "History of Lovers" is a departure from the usual Iron and Wine aesthetic, and makes a listener hope that more collaborations with Calexico will follow.
7. Bloc Party - "This Modern Love"
Most lists put "Banquet" in this spot, but I prefer this track. Maybe its the naked honesty in the lyrics, or the hook which isn't the hook you first expect, but I think mostly its the way Kele Okerere sings "breaks me" near the end.
6. Wolf Parade - "I'll Believe in Anything"
The vocal on this track is out of this world, but even that is overshadowed by the wall-of-sound moments in the second half. Absolutely exhilarating from start to finish.
5. White Stripes - "My Doorbell"
Having mastered the blues, the White Stripes try their hand at classic soul. Can't you hear Mary Wells singing this? Definitely the best Stripes single since the White Blood Cells album.
4. Okkervil River - "For Real"
Anthemic, rocking, and dark. The rest of the album doesn't hold up as well as I hoped it would, but I never get tired of hearing this song.
3. The New Pornographers - "The Bleeding Heart Show"
I think this is the best thing they've ever done. Anyone who says "Since U Been Gone" is a "perfect" pop song needs to listen to this track. The "hey na" ending gives it the instant classic status.
2. The National - "Mr. November"
Hard to believe the arrogant prick of "All the Wine" wrote this song as well. Not only is this a great track on its own, but the content of the lyrics cast a new light on the other songs on what is one of the year's best albums. This album closer makes you want to instantly listen to whole thing again. If "All the Wine" is brash, cocky, rock 'n roll, "Mr. November" is the introspective flipside.
1. Art Brut - "Emily Kane"
Bruce Springsteen says that the subtext of all rock music is "I like you, will you please pull your pants down." In "Emily Kane," Eddie Argos is playing into that long tradition by proclaiming is love for the childhood sweetheart he hasn't seen in 10 years, 9 months, 3 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, and 5 seconds. Poor guy doesn't even know where she lives. You don't expect guys working in the punk tradition to be as emotive as Argos is here, but he's wonderful at it. With any justice, schoolkids on buses will be singing Emily's name for years down the road. BEST SONG OF THE YEAR! TOP OF THE POPS!
So those are the best songs of the year. Notice the lack of Kelly Clarkson and Mariah Carey. I'm not one of those hipsters who will lump in "Shake it Off" with the truly serious shit you see above. Now, I'm not too cool for big tittied pop stars, but that shit's a different animal. There's a time and place for mindless bubblegum pop, but Bottle of Bread aint it.
Tomorrow: A run down of archival releases/reissues/comps/box sets
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