Most Influential 2004-2005
Wow, an update! Big one, too. Well, it's a little late, but here's my annual "most influential artists list" (with songs by each) Here's the list, and down below is comments with lyric quotes.
2004-2005:
Bright Eyes: Poison Oak/The Difference in the Shades (tie)
Rilo Kiley: The Absence of God
Cursive: A Gentleman Caller
Modest Mouse: Cowboy Dan
Elliott Smith: Pitseleh
Pretty Girls Make Graves: Bring it on the Golden Pond
Belle and Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister
Quasi: the Poisoned Well
Tilly and the Wall: I Always Knew
Q and not U: Nine Things Everybody Knows
Bright Eyes: Poison Oak/The Difference in the Shades (tie)
Bright Eyes was #1 last year and hasn’t really moved. Conor continues to amaze me, his lyrics are unparalleled in my opinion. As far as the songs, I really couldn’t decide. Poison Oak has more recently been my favorite, it is off one of the two new albums, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. It’s beautiful and is the source for my newest AIM name…but The Difference in the Shades has had more staying power. Away messages from more than one part of this song…quoted it at random. I just love them both.
"And I never thought this life was possible
You’re the yellow bird that I’ve been waiting for
The end of the paralyses
I was a statuette"
"But these are days we dream about
When the sunlight paints us gold
And this apartment could not be prettier
As we danced up there alone
And this TV's old
The color's fucked
Do you see the difference in the shades?
But the green's still close to green, my love
And I believe we are the same
And we'll stay like this, all gold and green
Light collects and projects your heart on a movie screen
And if you close your eyes we will always be
The way we were that night you crawled inside of me
And you slept in my blood"
Rilo Kiley: Absence of God
Like Bright Eyes, Rilo is holding the same spot it did last year. I still love Jenny and Blake despite their popularity, and their new album, while not stellar, was quite good. This song was one of the two best off More Adventurous, the other being the title song. Frug was a close second for me, although off their first album, but I decided on this one since it’s been my anthem for quite some time now, and it’s proven to be very true for me.
"And Rob says you love, love, love and then you die
I've watched him while sleeping and seen him crying with closed eyes
And you're not happy but you're funny and I'm tripping over my joy
But I just keep on getting up again …
And Morgan says, maybe love won't let you down
All of your failures are training grounds
And just as your back's turned you'll be surprised she says
As your solitude subsides"
Cursive: A Gentleman Caller
I already loved cursive and I had owned this CD for a while, but I really listened to it driving to school this year. With the windows rolled down, screaming these lyrics I realized the genius that is Tim Kashner. I think this is an amazing thematic album, it all fits together almost like an opera.
"Your gentleman caller,
well, he's been calling on another
he loves his forbidden fruit.
And as it dribbles down his chin
he cries, 'Baby, I've been drinking with some friends! Now how 'bout a little kiss...'
Bad boy!
Rub his nose in it!
What a mess
and he's playing dumb
'Doo do doo...'
'I'm not looking for a loverm
all those lovers are liars...
I'd never lie to you
You say you want to get even?
Yeah, you want to get
your bad man good?
Well, are you in the mood?
You bad girl!
Does it feel good being bad?
And getting worse?
'Doo do doo...'
But in the morning
on the sober dawn of Sunday
you're not sure what you have done
Who told you love was fleeting?
Sometimes men can be so misleading
to take what they need from you
Whatever you need to make you feel
like you've been the one behind the wheel
the sunrise is just over that hill
the worst is over
Whatever I said to make you think
that love's the religion of the weak
this morning we love like weaklings
the worst is over.
The worst is over."
Modest Mouse: Cowboy Dan
Not much for the ever-so-popular Float On, I did discover the amazing band that Andy is so devoted to. Like my boy, it took me a while to realize the brillance of this song, but once I did, I fell. The slower section towards the end just mesmerizes me, and all the rest is incredible too.
"Standing in the tall grass
Thinking nothing
You know we need oxygen to breath
Everytime you think you're walking you're just moving the ground
Everytime you think you're talking you're just moving your mouth
Everytime you're looking you're just looking down"
Elliott Smith: Pitseleh
This has emerged as my favorite Elliott Smith song, although I Didn’t Understand is a close second. This one embodies the melancholy he was know for. I’m still absorbing his last album, let you know about that one next year.
"i'll tell you why i don't want to know where you are
i got a joke i been dying to tell you
a silent kid is looking down the barrel
to make the noise that i kept so quiet
i kept it from you, pitseleh
i'm not what's missing from your life now
i could never be the puzzle pieces
they say that god makes problems
just to see what you can stand
before you do as the devil pleases
and give up the thing you love
but no one deserves it
the first time i saw you i knew it would never last
i'm not half what i wish i was
i'm so angry
i don't think it'll ever pass
and i was bad news for you just because
i never meant to hurt you"
Pretty Girls Make Graves: Bring it on the Golden Pond
I saw them open for Deathcab and they have since become a favorite surpassing the main act. I hate to admit that I enjoyed this song for almost a month before I knew the lyrics. It just has a great pace, good for getting me going before work. After I finally looked up the lyrics I liked it even better. They’re simple, but true.
"All we are, all we are, all we are
Is trying not to fall into line
All we are, dealing with, what we got
And trying not to fall into line"
Belle and Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister
I sort of rediscovered this album and in especial this song…very nicely written.
"Hilary went to the Catholic Church because she wanted information
The vicar, or whatever, took her to one side and gave her confirmation
Saint Theresa's calling her, the church up on the hill is looking lovely
But it doesn't interest, the only things she wants to know is
How and why and when and where to go
How and why and when and where to follow"
Quasi: The Poisoned Well
The ironic thing is I haven’t really listened to this CD in months, but for a while it was extremely influential in my life, getting me through a hard time by providing the appropriate feelings for me.
"You only hurt the one you love
That may be true
But better said, you only hurt the one who loves you
We went through hell
Just to get to hell
Die of thirst of drink up form the poisoned well
I kept the things inside
At least I never lied
I'm not trying to document my suicide
You won't live long
But you may write the perfect song
Please excuse those who choose to not play along"
Tilly and the Wall: I Always Knew
Similar time period to the one above, helped me get over a certain person.
"Separate the ones who know you
From the ones who couldn't bother
To see you for all that you are
And deep down I always knew
All the times I thought that I loved you
It was just an easy answer
It was make believe
But I still believe that this heart will learn to love"
Q and not U: Nine Things Everybody Knows
This CD is also a nice, high-energy one, this song has also seemed meaningful to me at times.
"congratulations!
now put the knife back in the medicine cabinet.
no contest(-ation).
now put the knife back."
2004-2005:
Bright Eyes: Poison Oak/The Difference in the Shades (tie)
Rilo Kiley: The Absence of God
Cursive: A Gentleman Caller
Modest Mouse: Cowboy Dan
Elliott Smith: Pitseleh
Pretty Girls Make Graves: Bring it on the Golden Pond
Belle and Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister
Quasi: the Poisoned Well
Tilly and the Wall: I Always Knew
Q and not U: Nine Things Everybody Knows
Bright Eyes: Poison Oak/The Difference in the Shades (tie)
Bright Eyes was #1 last year and hasn’t really moved. Conor continues to amaze me, his lyrics are unparalleled in my opinion. As far as the songs, I really couldn’t decide. Poison Oak has more recently been my favorite, it is off one of the two new albums, I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. It’s beautiful and is the source for my newest AIM name…but The Difference in the Shades has had more staying power. Away messages from more than one part of this song…quoted it at random. I just love them both.
"And I never thought this life was possible
You’re the yellow bird that I’ve been waiting for
The end of the paralyses
I was a statuette"
"But these are days we dream about
When the sunlight paints us gold
And this apartment could not be prettier
As we danced up there alone
And this TV's old
The color's fucked
Do you see the difference in the shades?
But the green's still close to green, my love
And I believe we are the same
And we'll stay like this, all gold and green
Light collects and projects your heart on a movie screen
And if you close your eyes we will always be
The way we were that night you crawled inside of me
And you slept in my blood"
Rilo Kiley: Absence of God
Like Bright Eyes, Rilo is holding the same spot it did last year. I still love Jenny and Blake despite their popularity, and their new album, while not stellar, was quite good. This song was one of the two best off More Adventurous, the other being the title song. Frug was a close second for me, although off their first album, but I decided on this one since it’s been my anthem for quite some time now, and it’s proven to be very true for me.
"And Rob says you love, love, love and then you die
I've watched him while sleeping and seen him crying with closed eyes
And you're not happy but you're funny and I'm tripping over my joy
But I just keep on getting up again …
And Morgan says, maybe love won't let you down
All of your failures are training grounds
And just as your back's turned you'll be surprised she says
As your solitude subsides"
Cursive: A Gentleman Caller
I already loved cursive and I had owned this CD for a while, but I really listened to it driving to school this year. With the windows rolled down, screaming these lyrics I realized the genius that is Tim Kashner. I think this is an amazing thematic album, it all fits together almost like an opera.
"Your gentleman caller,
well, he's been calling on another
he loves his forbidden fruit.
And as it dribbles down his chin
he cries, 'Baby, I've been drinking with some friends! Now how 'bout a little kiss...'
Bad boy!
Rub his nose in it!
What a mess
and he's playing dumb
'Doo do doo...'
'I'm not looking for a loverm
all those lovers are liars...
I'd never lie to you
You say you want to get even?
Yeah, you want to get
your bad man good?
Well, are you in the mood?
You bad girl!
Does it feel good being bad?
And getting worse?
'Doo do doo...'
But in the morning
on the sober dawn of Sunday
you're not sure what you have done
Who told you love was fleeting?
Sometimes men can be so misleading
to take what they need from you
Whatever you need to make you feel
like you've been the one behind the wheel
the sunrise is just over that hill
the worst is over
Whatever I said to make you think
that love's the religion of the weak
this morning we love like weaklings
the worst is over.
The worst is over."
Modest Mouse: Cowboy Dan
Not much for the ever-so-popular Float On, I did discover the amazing band that Andy is so devoted to. Like my boy, it took me a while to realize the brillance of this song, but once I did, I fell. The slower section towards the end just mesmerizes me, and all the rest is incredible too.
"Standing in the tall grass
Thinking nothing
You know we need oxygen to breath
Everytime you think you're walking you're just moving the ground
Everytime you think you're talking you're just moving your mouth
Everytime you're looking you're just looking down"
Elliott Smith: Pitseleh
This has emerged as my favorite Elliott Smith song, although I Didn’t Understand is a close second. This one embodies the melancholy he was know for. I’m still absorbing his last album, let you know about that one next year.
"i'll tell you why i don't want to know where you are
i got a joke i been dying to tell you
a silent kid is looking down the barrel
to make the noise that i kept so quiet
i kept it from you, pitseleh
i'm not what's missing from your life now
i could never be the puzzle pieces
they say that god makes problems
just to see what you can stand
before you do as the devil pleases
and give up the thing you love
but no one deserves it
the first time i saw you i knew it would never last
i'm not half what i wish i was
i'm so angry
i don't think it'll ever pass
and i was bad news for you just because
i never meant to hurt you"
Pretty Girls Make Graves: Bring it on the Golden Pond
I saw them open for Deathcab and they have since become a favorite surpassing the main act. I hate to admit that I enjoyed this song for almost a month before I knew the lyrics. It just has a great pace, good for getting me going before work. After I finally looked up the lyrics I liked it even better. They’re simple, but true.
"All we are, all we are, all we are
Is trying not to fall into line
All we are, dealing with, what we got
And trying not to fall into line"
Belle and Sebastian: If You’re Feeling Sinister
I sort of rediscovered this album and in especial this song…very nicely written.
"Hilary went to the Catholic Church because she wanted information
The vicar, or whatever, took her to one side and gave her confirmation
Saint Theresa's calling her, the church up on the hill is looking lovely
But it doesn't interest, the only things she wants to know is
How and why and when and where to go
How and why and when and where to follow"
Quasi: The Poisoned Well
The ironic thing is I haven’t really listened to this CD in months, but for a while it was extremely influential in my life, getting me through a hard time by providing the appropriate feelings for me.
"You only hurt the one you love
That may be true
But better said, you only hurt the one who loves you
We went through hell
Just to get to hell
Die of thirst of drink up form the poisoned well
I kept the things inside
At least I never lied
I'm not trying to document my suicide
You won't live long
But you may write the perfect song
Please excuse those who choose to not play along"
Tilly and the Wall: I Always Knew
Similar time period to the one above, helped me get over a certain person.
"Separate the ones who know you
From the ones who couldn't bother
To see you for all that you are
And deep down I always knew
All the times I thought that I loved you
It was just an easy answer
It was make believe
But I still believe that this heart will learn to love"
Q and not U: Nine Things Everybody Knows
This CD is also a nice, high-energy one, this song has also seemed meaningful to me at times.
"congratulations!
now put the knife back in the medicine cabinet.
no contest(-ation).
now put the knife back."