15×15 lists: ABOUT | MUSE | SINGER-SONGWRITER | GUILTY PLEASURES | RADIOHEAD | BEST SONGS PT 1 | PT 2 | PT 3 | PROMISING
(The image is from Wordle. Thanks Wordle.)
Nothing like a few vacation days to get the ol’ elielioh caught up. I have to admit, this whole 15×15 list was a little ambitious, especially since I’d hoped to finish them up before the Naughties ended. I’ve done five. I assure you, though, faithful reader, that I actually have all of these lists mapped out, and I will ride this biatch out.
That being said, this list isn’t really about the Naughties. It’s a compilation of songs from bands that debuted late in the Naughties, who I predict we’ll look back at in ten years as being some of the best bands of the Teenies. (I’d argue for this to be the official name of this decade, but apparently porn has a stranglehold on the term).
So… now that I lost half of you who surfed to porn, I should mention that this isn’t what I think the list is going to look like in ten years. Obviously many new artists will surface over the coming years. Also, quite honestly, I’d put Radiohead as the odds-on favorite, of bands that exist now, to be the best band of the next decade. (BTW, is everyone enjoying how I’m treating completely subjective matters like science?) I’m thinking Arctic Monkeys and M.I.A. are the other current artists that we’ll be talking about most in ten years.
So, here’s the list, alphabetically:
“Atrophy” by The Antlers – Nothing starts a great list off like… the saddest song you ever heard, a somber story of someone in hospice care. Oy. Really though, it’s an amazing song, and part of an even better (as a whole) concept album called, appropriately enough, Hospice. Also, this song is really two songs.
“Gila” by Beach House - This is one of two songs that it pained me to leave off the “Best Songs Period” list. Baltimore represent.
“Flume” by Bon Iver
“Vanished” by Crystal Castles
“Never Stops” by Deerhunter
“Trashcan” by Delta Spirit – Listen for the trashcan.
“Old, Old Fashioned” by Frightened Rabbit
“The Boys Are Leaving Town” by Japandroids – These days, you don’t see a lot of good fuzzed out emocore punk rockers.
“Kids” by MGMT
“Say Aha” by Santigold – This is the other song that it pained me to leave off the “Best Songs Period” list.
“Green Rain” by Shugo Tokumaru – How does one dream up stuff like this? Seriously!
“Campus” by Vampire Weekend – Don’t make the same mistake I did, partially dismissing them because they seem at first glance like a bunch getting by on kitsch more than talent. But really, there’s song-writing and song-execution talent here. Think Paul Simon. (I think this means so far so good with my predictions.)
“You Can’t Say” by White Denim
“Crystalised” by The XX – An easy choice for my favorite new artist of 2009.
“Tightrope” by Yeasayer – One of my five(ish) favorite song from 2009.
