Top 10 2007: Songs

TOP 10 SONGS OF 2007

10. Oasis "Lord Don't Slow Me Down"

The single from the DVD of the same name, "Lord Don't Slow Me Down" shows that Oasis still has life left in them and a whole new sound for which to fiddle with. Most people know Oasis as fourth-rate Beatles, but lately they've been working a lot more Kinks and Rolling Stones influence into their material. The result is darn near perfect, since the attitude and swagger of Oasis fits more with dirty blues than meticulous pop.

9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Sealings"

This song from the Spider-Man 3 soundtrack is full of so much overwrought emotion, much like the movie. The guitar riff in the song sounds so thick and strong, and Karen O's voice is powerful.

8. Lil Mama "Lip Gloss"

Is this the best mainstream single of 2007? Yes (I didn't hear "Umbrella" until August or later, so whatever to that song). The beat is as perfectly executed as successfully skipping school and the bravado Lil Mama spits is as strong as a linebacker.

The video is here, since it's not embeddable.

7. The Futureheads "Broke Up The Time"

Aaahhh I love the Futureheads! This song is so exciting! Aaahh! And coming off of News & Tributes which was accurately described by the band as the "moody second album," this is a raucous reassurance that the third album is going to be explosive!

6. M.I.A. "Paper Planes"

This is such a cool song. It's so laid back and effortless, and proves just how innovative M.I.A. is. Mixing this mid-90s West side groove with the chorus of "Rump Shaker" with gun fire and cash register ka-chings is unlike anything else I've heard this year and it is so M.I.A.

5. Of Montreal "Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse"

Of Montreal released the most infectiously pop-tastic concept album about falling into the pits of depression this year, and "Heimdalsgate" was a great single from it. Not to mention a video indicative of the over-the-top and fantastical stage show they have started to put on this year. Except Barnes keeps his wang in check, unlike earlier this year in Las Vegas.

4. The Hives "Tick Tick Boom"

I nearly died when I finally saw the Hives this year, first from excitement and second from the crazy crowd. They released one of the most rip roaring kick ass singles I've ever heard. I mean, listen to those CHORDS. They're so SIMPLE but so EFFECTIVE! The shear power the Hives manage to put behind their songs is what differentiates them from every other punk band that has existed. They back their songs with smarts, cockiness, and amazing musicianship. They are the tightest band performing right now.

3. Apples in Stereo "Energy"

This was the year of the Apples. They released a new album after a five year hiatus that reaffirmed their position as indie rock royalty. "Energy" is such an uplifting song, the simplicity in the lyrics make them universal and thus so personal. The Apples can get away with the elementary because of the earnestness Robert Schneider feels for what he's singing.

2. Feist "1234"

Okay, I guess this is the best mainstream single of 2007. From out of nowhere that Canadian chick who sings with Broken Social Scene (now that's one inaccessible band) got in an iPod commercial, a springboard that launched her to SNL and The Today Show. And with this song, she deserved it. It's so classic, already, sounding like it existed long before it was released. The buildup in it is perfect, starting with a simple acoustic strum to a full blown banjo-riffic closer. And the lyrics, much like "Energy", are both simple and tear jerkingly effective.

1. The Go! Team "Grip Like A Vice"

Since I first heard this song back in June, it's been a winner. The spiky guitars, the MIDI hand claps that are faster than humanly possible, the dynamic keyboards, the booming double bass drums, and the sampled rap parts from 80s super MCs Sha-Rock and Lisa Lee that tear through the cacophony with such a solid delivery up until the song explodes at the end. It's the perfect song, an adventure for your ears. Watching a YouTube video doesn't do it justice, so buy the album Proof of Youth. It might be my album of the year....maybe.

TOP 10 SONGS OF 2007 NOT RELEASED IN 2007
(a.k.a. top 10 songs I heard for the first time this year)

10. Joy Division "Interzone" 1979
I got pretty upset towards the end of this year and figured out why Joy Division are so popular. This is the catchiest (is that word applicable?) of the bunch.

9. Led Zeppelin "Immigrant Song" 1970

Would you believe that I never owned a Led Zeppelin song before I bought this one on iTunes after hearing it played at UCB every Friday night during my internship? Yep.

8. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich "Hold Tight" 1966

A good song from the bad half of Grindhouse.

7. Camera Obscura "Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken" 2006

Adorable video and breezy pop that I'm a sucker for.

6. The Blow "Parentheses" 2006

I saw The Blow open for the Apples in Stereo last year and they put on one of the most entertaining shows I've ever seen. It's just one girl, alone, singing and dancing with all her heart and having way too much fun while her "bandmate" sits off stage and plays the tracks on his Mac book. It was awesome.

5. Electric Light Orchestra "Turn To Stone" 1977

Another song played at UCB often. I started listening to ELO because Rob Schneider said they influenced the new Apples record. Guess what? They totally did.

4. Jonathan Fire*Eater "When the Curtain Calls For You" 1997

Angular and spastic indie rock pretty much a decade before it was hip.

3. T.I. "What You Know" 2006

One of the best rap songs of all time. The beat is seriously epic. I think of Lord of the Rings when I hear this song, that's how epic it sounds.

2. The Kinks "This Time Tomorrow" 1970

I'm so glad they have the part of Darjeeling Limited this song is featured in. It's where I first heard the song and it goes so well with it (I think it starts cutting to other footage a ways into the clip, so it's not totally faithful). I had written off the Kinks past 1969, but this track from 1970 proved to me that their genius extended a couple albums past Arthur.

1. The Buzzcocks "Ever Fallen In Love?" 1979

Just watch it. This song is a classic through and through and has stood the test of time and will, forever, until music becomes an instantaneous emotion downloaded into your brain.