oh god, this took me so long to do
Hey, here's my top 25 songs from the past ten years. If you want to disagree with anything or argue my placing or whatever, that just means you'll have to post your own, so take that into consideration.
1. The Mountain Goats - No Children [It has a staying power like no other song I know. I've been singing it, yelling it, screaming it since 2003 and I don't expect to be stopping any time soon.]
2. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) [The song that singlehandedly ushered me into my current music tastes. Who knew all of these odd elements could come together to make a rock song? It has a fantastic beat, beautiful instrumentation, and endlessly chantable lyrics. No matter what anyone says about the Arcade Fire, good or bad, they started a damn revolution.]
3. The Blood Brothers - Giant Swan [Brutally efficient. This song could be 10 minutes longer, but it's an exercise in restraint and pinpoint demolitions. I miss the Blood Brothers, but this is perhaps the finest "swan song" of the past decade.]
4. Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day [The best short story on Illinois. I still fight back tears on the umpteenth listen.]
5. Ween - Gabrielle [Best "normal" song they've ever done. I don't know when it was recorded, but it was released in 2005 so I'm counting it.]
6. mclusky - To Hell With Good Intentions ["My band is better than your band." About time someone said it. As true now as it was in 2002.]
7. Opeth - Ghost of Perdition [Some people think the addition of a synthesizer killed Opeth. I see "Ghost Reveries" as more of a pinnacle of their proficiencies as a band. They are working at full capacity eight seconds into the first track on the album.]
8. Sunn O))) - Alice [Much like Opeth's "Ghost of Perdition," this is their game-changer. Unlike Opeth, they haven't released a total letdown after showing their full potential. This is where this band was going all along and it makes so much sense: of course the two endlessly droning guitars need to be backed by horns and strings. I can't believe I didn't see it earlier. Brilliant.]
9. Wilco - Jesus, etc. [Heartbreaking every time. Another one of those songs with crazy staying power.]
10. Band of Horses - The Funeral [If you say you don't like this song, you are lying. If you believe you don't like this song, you are lying to yourself.]
11. Atmosphere - Always Coming Back Home to You [Got me over my hip-hop phobia. Thanks, Slug.]
12. Tool - Lateralus [It hasn't stayed with me as long as some other songs on this list, but it's beautifully constructed. I'd wager more went into crafting this song than any other.]
13. Okkervil River - Westfall [Quintessential murder ballad that includes a mandolin. This deserves a spot next to "No Children" for its staying power.]
14. Death Cab For Cutie - We Looked Like Giants[This song ushered me through a dozen or more unrequited loves. Nuff said.]
15. Ratatat - Wildcat [I've resisted a dozen or so instrumentals but this one deserves its spot on this list. This song improves my attitude at any task.]
16. Spoon - The Underdog [Don't know what to say. Listen to it, you'll get it.]
17. Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed [Maybe a bit trendy, but this song caught me on first listen the way few other songs have. Astounding sense of self-awareness from these kids, delivered with an energy lacking with the fogeys.]
18. The Flaming Lips - Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung [how many ways can I say the word "epic?"]
19. Iron & Wine - Jezebel [Slow and steady, the simplicity is what sells me on this. Too beautiful.]
20. High on Fire - Blessed Black Wings [This song is the definition of "stoner metal" for me. Sleep, The Melvins, they have a lot of great songs, but this is as good as it gets in the genre for me.]
21. Interpol - Obstacle 1 [Everyone likes NYC. This song is better.]
22. Neil Hamburger - The Recycle Bin [Joke entry? I don't even know. Honesty mixed with humor and an astounding amount of profanity.]
23. The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl [OK, seriously, who didn't fall in love with The White Stripes after this song? I shouldn't include this because it's too obvious. For the same reason, I can't leave it out.]
24. St. Vincent - Paris is Burning [She's a crazy-good guitarist and she writes songs like this? Marry me!]
25. Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine [but Death ?o baby]
Sad omissions: Ben Folds, The Weakerthans, Cake, Clutch, Carissa's Wierd, Daft Punk, Cursive, Sleater-Kinney, Modest Mouse, Godspeed You! Black Emperor [oh man, Sleep], Sunset Rubdown, The Melvins, Islands. Maybe they'll find a place in the Albums list. Maybe not.
1. The Mountain Goats - No Children [It has a staying power like no other song I know. I've been singing it, yelling it, screaming it since 2003 and I don't expect to be stopping any time soon.]
2. Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) [The song that singlehandedly ushered me into my current music tastes. Who knew all of these odd elements could come together to make a rock song? It has a fantastic beat, beautiful instrumentation, and endlessly chantable lyrics. No matter what anyone says about the Arcade Fire, good or bad, they started a damn revolution.]
3. The Blood Brothers - Giant Swan [Brutally efficient. This song could be 10 minutes longer, but it's an exercise in restraint and pinpoint demolitions. I miss the Blood Brothers, but this is perhaps the finest "swan song" of the past decade.]
4. Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day [The best short story on Illinois. I still fight back tears on the umpteenth listen.]
5. Ween - Gabrielle [Best "normal" song they've ever done. I don't know when it was recorded, but it was released in 2005 so I'm counting it.]
6. mclusky - To Hell With Good Intentions ["My band is better than your band." About time someone said it. As true now as it was in 2002.]
7. Opeth - Ghost of Perdition [Some people think the addition of a synthesizer killed Opeth. I see "Ghost Reveries" as more of a pinnacle of their proficiencies as a band. They are working at full capacity eight seconds into the first track on the album.]
8. Sunn O))) - Alice [Much like Opeth's "Ghost of Perdition," this is their game-changer. Unlike Opeth, they haven't released a total letdown after showing their full potential. This is where this band was going all along and it makes so much sense: of course the two endlessly droning guitars need to be backed by horns and strings. I can't believe I didn't see it earlier. Brilliant.]
9. Wilco - Jesus, etc. [Heartbreaking every time. Another one of those songs with crazy staying power.]
10. Band of Horses - The Funeral [If you say you don't like this song, you are lying. If you believe you don't like this song, you are lying to yourself.]
11. Atmosphere - Always Coming Back Home to You [Got me over my hip-hop phobia. Thanks, Slug.]
12. Tool - Lateralus [It hasn't stayed with me as long as some other songs on this list, but it's beautifully constructed. I'd wager more went into crafting this song than any other.]
13. Okkervil River - Westfall [Quintessential murder ballad that includes a mandolin. This deserves a spot next to "No Children" for its staying power.]
14. Death Cab For Cutie - We Looked Like Giants[This song ushered me through a dozen or more unrequited loves. Nuff said.]
15. Ratatat - Wildcat [I've resisted a dozen or so instrumentals but this one deserves its spot on this list. This song improves my attitude at any task.]
16. Spoon - The Underdog [Don't know what to say. Listen to it, you'll get it.]
17. Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed [Maybe a bit trendy, but this song caught me on first listen the way few other songs have. Astounding sense of self-awareness from these kids, delivered with an energy lacking with the fogeys.]
18. The Flaming Lips - Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung [how many ways can I say the word "epic?"]
19. Iron & Wine - Jezebel [Slow and steady, the simplicity is what sells me on this. Too beautiful.]
20. High on Fire - Blessed Black Wings [This song is the definition of "stoner metal" for me. Sleep, The Melvins, they have a lot of great songs, but this is as good as it gets in the genre for me.]
21. Interpol - Obstacle 1 [Everyone likes NYC. This song is better.]
22. Neil Hamburger - The Recycle Bin [Joke entry? I don't even know. Honesty mixed with humor and an astounding amount of profanity.]
23. The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl [OK, seriously, who didn't fall in love with The White Stripes after this song? I shouldn't include this because it's too obvious. For the same reason, I can't leave it out.]
24. St. Vincent - Paris is Burning [She's a crazy-good guitarist and she writes songs like this? Marry me!]
25. Ra Ra Riot - Dying is Fine [but Death ?o baby]
Sad omissions: Ben Folds, The Weakerthans, Cake, Clutch, Carissa's Wierd, Daft Punk, Cursive, Sleater-Kinney, Modest Mouse, Godspeed You! Black Emperor [oh man, Sleep], Sunset Rubdown, The Melvins, Islands. Maybe they'll find a place in the Albums list. Maybe not.