Top Tracks of 2009

Polvo

Alright, here's my annual attempt at ranking my favorite tracks of the year. I'm sure the list will be completely different in a month after I've had a chance to read all the different lists the interweb provides. Enjoy.

Honorable Mention: Screaming Females – “Bell”; Flight Of The Conchords – “Sugalumps”; Morrissey – “It’s Not Your Birthday Anymore”; Phoenix – “1901”; Sonic Youth – “Sacred Trickster”; Black Moth Super Rainbow – “Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Shine”

20. Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions – “Blanchard” – The Mazzy Star front woman returns from the dead 15 years later. Fade into you, indeed.

19. Tortoise – “Prepare Your Coffin” – The COOLEST band in the world.

18. Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – “Anchors Dropped” – I was sad that The Oxford Collapse broke up, luckily these guys sound very similar.

17. The Submarines – “Waiting For A War” – My buddy Mike used to live in the residence above the male half of The Submarines, John Dragonetti (aka Jack Drag) in Somerville, MA so I owe him a big thanks for introducing me to this band.

16. Thao with The Get Down Stay Down – “When We Swam” – I saw Thao last month at the Black Cat. She can’t be but five feet tall but holy crap, once she gets going she’s a one woman wrecking crew.

15. Dirty Projectors – “Stillness Is The Move” – OK NPR, I’ll give you credit for convincing me to listen to this one.

14. Andrew Bird – “Fitz and Dizzy Spells” – The highlight of a really great album, Noble Beast.

13. Spoon – “Got Nuffin” – Like I’ve stated before, Britt Daniel is this decade’s Paul Westerberg.

12. Polvo – “Lucia” – This is my Stairway to Heaven of 2009.

11. Superchunk – “Learned To Surf” – The best thing they’ve done since 1995’s Here Where The Strings Come In.

10. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes – “Home” – The crew on NPR’s All Songs Considered wouldn’t stop talking about this band after SXSW, but surprisingly (or not, depending on your NPR proclivities) this song is great.

9. The Mountain Goats – “Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Grace” – This Darnielle cat can write some seriously good songs even when he’s copping from the Bible.

8. Telekinesis – “Coast of Carolina” – For what it’s worth, this was Carrie Brownstein’s song of the year.

7. The Very Most – “Today It Is Even Better” – The second best pop song of the year next to #5.

6. The Thermals – “Now We Can See” – The best sing-along chorus of the year.

5. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – “Young Adult Friction” – see #7.

4. Animal Collective – “My Girls” - It has taken years for me to give these guys a chance. This song was the breakthrough.

3. Neko Case – “This Tornado Loves You” – Best live show of the year (4/8/09 at the 9:30 Club, WDC). Amazing song about a tornado falling in love with a child.

2. Bon Iver – “Blood Bank" – Recorded during the For Emma, Forever Ago session it would have battled for best song on that album. How’d it get left off?

1. Polvo – “Beggar’s Bowl” – I was eagerly awaiting the return of Polvo after their 12-year layoff and those of us who were patient were rewarded with an amazing collection of songs on In Prism highlighted by “Beggar’s Bow”. If “Lucia” was my “Stairway to Heaven” for 2009 then “Beggar’s Bowl” is my “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. Driving bass, odd time signatures, four musicians who can play the shit out of their instruments ~ Viva la rock mathematique!