10. Lykke Li - Dance. Dance. Dance.
I haven't heard a more feminine voice since the dawn of time. These intricate melodies drip with nectar from the heavens - she's a precious soul who articulates well within these musical boundaries.. the undertones speak to the most primal of beats in my bee bop heart and laced with her coy voice - this song is one of the best. I can't wait to intimately know this album, as it is a newcomer to my list.
9. Girl Talk - No Pause
As it is, I know it won't do Greg Gillis justice if i call him a genius, but words fail me for this man. Let it be known that I am a filthy, filthy person who never can be described as lady like -- one of the main reasons why I can't get enough of missy elliot -- the sample Work It in No Pause really plays to the true me. Another history making segment in this song is when New Soul's beats camouflage so well under Eminem's nastiness, that's when a person knows that this song was meant to be.
8. The Tallest Man on Earth - Sparrow and Medicine
I can listen to this song any time, any place. A lot of albums are a place-in-time kind of inspiration, but this is an anytime kind of music. The percussion, faint and wonderful in the background, busy and consistent, really holds the whole thing together for me. I don't know why - but it's a thing i hear in my blood -- and the lyrics make me want to move to a farm and start tilling land and praying to the God of it all.
7. Frightened Rabbits - Good Arms vs. Bad Arms
The first 35 seconds of this song captivates all of my attention - it makes me all kinds of melancholy in probably the best way ever -- in the i can't decide kind of way. Scott Hutchison's voice is very difficult to descirbe - this song made it's debut in my life at a weird time... which might be the biggest tug on my heart to add it to my list.
6. Fleet Foxes - Meadowlark
Robin Pecknold's voice is pure and promises me down home and out in the sticks inspired lyrics. I want to say that this song is muddy with a pristine clarity, but i'm afraid all of those words will get lost in translation, but i'm going to say it anyways. Everything about this song is a hushed, and serious kind of folky that makes my heart fly with the wind. No one really has to say anything about this band... honestly.
5. Death Vessel - Block My Eye
Does this song remind anyone else of Christian Siriano? This entire song just puts me in mind of him. It's odd. But the moment i realized that i loved Christian Siriano, it made my skin get goosebumps and this song has the effect, too. Every. Time. I. Hear. It. I sing very loud to the song in my car - it's the most beautiful love song that's sang by a girl that is actually sang by a boy. The lyrics "moth eaten moon" destroys everything i know about the english language: it's amazing and makes me wish i could fashion words similar to this... Death Vessel makes me want to be a better person... not really, but kind of.
4. She and Him - Black Hole
Zooey, Zooey, Zooey. That twang takes me far away... there's a terribly wonderful, nearly sultry aspect to this woman's voice. It makes me want to run through a creek with bare feet and also do jumps in the air. Her voice does that to me, it's sick. They pull on folky themes and as far as i'm concerned, do it with grace and ease.
3. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
I know what you all are going to say... and yes, the vocorder might be over done in the hip hop world, MIGHT. T-Pain brought it around commercial hip hop and tons of artists picked it up, and carried it, ran away with it and never looked back. Kanye, however, did those things with an amazing artistic vision. I don't know what that vision is, because really, he's a genius, but what i'm saying is... this song mixes with the chemicals in my heart and my soul explodes.. The thing about Kanye is, I can never get enough of him. Ever.
2. The Avett Brothers - Murder in the City
Sometimes, i try to tell people who i love that i love them. It's hard to sometimes -- i can't find words. It's difficult to say things that make us cry when it's about love and family and what loving family is all about. This song does that. It does it well. I can't stand it -- i cry and cry and cry when this song is on. It's raw and is as serious as the warm ground in august. When my grandfather's dad died, everyone was a mess... for various reasons, but my papa was very sad.. i told him once when we were on the phone and he was talking about his dad and how much he missed him, i said to think that "there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name" - and i meant it. and we both cried. and that's what amazing songs do -- they make you feel from the core of your being and it sends vibes, grabs everyone within ear shot and kisses them on the forehead.
1. Estelle Ft. Kanye West - American Boy
TA DA! As soon as i heard this song, it was my number one. I don't need to explain why. i mean, just listen to it, more than listen, feel it. My heart pumps these beats, my veins resonate with the dancey jive... Kanye's break down makes me LOSE MY SHIT -- and maybe, just maybe his cocky little attitude places this byotch right at number one.
Those are Avett Bros. are pretty sweet.
ReplyDeletehey erica, goood list!!!!
ReplyDeletethanks, aaron. what can i say?
ReplyDeleteThat Lykke Li picture reminds me of susan gilkey...I downloaded that album on accident and deleted it. I guess I should give it another shot.
ReplyDeleteLike that Tallest Man, Like them F-Foxes, And I definitely second scott on the avetts. I tend to forget about their existence and I shouldn't! Does everyone here love that last track of them as kids just talking with thier dad from "Emotionalism?" That album should probably have been on my last years tops.