Another 'double take', this time following the theme of 'series of sleazy guys interrupting the search for Mr. Right'. A common theme for female singers, indeed, but there's a few similarities here.
I don't want a rich man, but I don't want a poor man either. I don't want a genius, but I don't want an idiot either! Is it too much to ask for somebody decent? Something that might last for longer than an evening?
Can't knock em out, can't walk away, try desperately to think of the politest way to say, "Just get out my face, just leave me alone, and no you can't have my number." "Why?" "Because I've lost my phone."
Released within a year of each other (2006 and 2007 respectively) by budding British pop chanteuses, each of these songs landed on their excellent debut albums. One artist was a staple in my LastFM Top 10 for a long time, and the other had multiple slots down on my Top 100 Songs of 2007 post. Both are cute, even if one ended up with much more media attention than the other.
Both songs deal with two specific annoying-guy incidents while hinting at more in the chorus, one's given up on finding anyone decent while the other is losing hope. Both even quote their guys extensively; one song is their conversations with the sleazes, and the other is mostly monologues from their 'dates from hell'.
(Note: When comparing their debut albums, I begin to start thinking Nicole is the good twin to Allen's just plain mean twin. You've also got two songs preaching doing what feels right: Nicole's hopeful "Go With the Flow" and Allen's don't-listen-to-the-old-fogeys "Take What You Take"; and two kiss off songs about unsatisfactory boyfriends getting the boot: Nicole's reluctant goodbye, "Na Nighty", and Allen's vicious sendoff "Not Big". Just sayin', it's interesting.)
One artist I've fallen head over heels for recently is Remi Nicole, whose debut album My Conscience & I landed late 2007. She's young and very fun to listen to. Her latest video for new single 'Rock'n'Roll' showcases her great sense of humour: The song is all about her being black getting her pigeonholed by labels, and the video visualises her lyrics hilariously. I especially love the rapper. You'll know what I mean when you watch it.
Getting into some real gems here, with heavy hitters like Andrew Bird, Dragonette and The Pierces starting to surface. The lower ranks were pretty light of them, but that's mostly because they found themselves in a lot of higher spots. I considered limiting things to 1 per album, but then I realised this way was just plain more honest. Also, I've started including music videos where appropriate (athough I'm holding one back as I've already written a Music Video Showcase to post at a later date for it).
Anyhow, onto the list...
40. Andrew Bird - Imitosis (Sendspace link) Album: Armchair Apocrypha
A song I only really discovered after falling for the remix, this is a wonderful song about the mysteries of science. Andrew Bird shows off his intelligent lyricism here, telling stories of cells, mitosis and bunsen burners, all words one might have found in a science clasroom instead of one's iPod. That said, the music is far from neglected here - in fact, the Marriott Hotel chain used just instrumental pieces from this song (and others from Bird's repertoire) for their commercials. You fall in love with the music, which I have trouble properly describing in words, and begin to pay attention to the lyrics. That's when he gets you.
39. Straylight Run - This is the End (Sendspace link) Album: The Needles the Space
A quiet, lullaby-like song that opens with glittering sounds and soft vocals from female vocalist Michelle DaRosa, and continues in this quiet, calming tone with other voices joining in occasionally, for the chorus mostly. It's a quite simple song, but also quite beautiful. I've heard that the band only recently started giving DaRosa lead vocal spots, and I'm of the opinion that might be the band's best move. While male vocalist John Nolan isn't bad, DaRosa has a gorgeous voice, and his works best when supporting hers. Tracks like this highlight that fact magnificently.
One of the first Dragonette tracks that caught my attention, this song features lead vocalist Martina Sorbara taking on the guise of a mistress and, of course, loving it. Just like in songs like Take It Like a Man, she's the one with the confidence, playfully telling her beau to 'try not to blush'. She loves, not the man or being with him, but merely the danger and excitement the situation affords her. Sorbara's significant other here barely factors into the equation at all, and that's the way we like it.
37. The Pierces - Boring (Sendspace link) Album: Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge
Where the previous song was about joy from a taboo, this is all about the ennui that comes from the excess of it. A song that perfectly ties into our age of celebrity and starlet fever, this needles the Paris Hiltons of the world. When you can have everything, there's nothing left to excite you. This really is the ultimate 'be careful what you wish for' song. Not only this, but the way its sung, with the utter apathy extending even to the climax where even their life dreams, once realised, have become 'boring'. And yet, the music and the style of the singing keep it from being boring itself.
36. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Me and My Imagination (Sendspace link) Album: Trip the Light Fantastic
Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows how to make you dance, whether in a club or in your chair, and this, Trip the Light Fantastic's second single, is no different. A song about leaving an element of mystery in order to keep a relationship fun, it draws on the feeling of the 'thrill of the chase', something well translated in the music. This makes my feet tap like crazy every time I give it a listen.
35. Mika - Grace Kelly (Sendspace link) Album: Life in Cartoon Motion
This song is apparently born out of Mika's frustrations with labels' attempts to pigeonhole him into this or that sound, ironic considering some of the criticisms levelled against him for being too 'cookie cutter pop'. However, I am not one of those critics, as I thoroughly enjoy a good listen to Mika, and this is the song that pulled me in (while waiting to watch Spiderman 3 in theatres - the power of advertising!). It's delightfully bouncy and loud in all the right places, and easily applied to the common relationship issue of changing one's partner to suit one's own needs as easily as Mika's original meaning. It's a great song for walking, and (if I don't have a headache) can usually make me grin.
One of my biggest 2007 regrets is not buying the total Die Romantik debut album (of which this is the titular song), as every song from it is excellent. This follows the waltz beat, with the usual great vocals and intriguing sound. It makes me think of waltzing in a pitch dark ballroom, every dancer so well practised that they never, ever touch. Chills down my spine every time.
33. The Pierces - Lights On (Sendspace link) Album: Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge
When I describe The Pierces as 'wicked', this is one of the songs that I'm thinking about. Shameless, the protagonist is seductive and dangerous, capturing the hearts of men with a wink. My cousin Marelly compares their voices here to Gwen Stefani and sometimes it does sound like Gwen at her best. The song is so sexy, and yet oddly hilarious as well. Perfect partner to any Dragonette track.
32. Remi Nicole - Rock'n Roll (Sendspace link) Album: My Conscience & I
I have a lot of tenderness in my heart for Remi Nicole, a young black singer who fought attempts to 'r'n'b'-ize her or pigeonhole her into hiphop. While many of her lyrics show potential for growth, this song is one of her delightful best, detailing her attempts to just be herself in a music scene that doesn't want her if she doesn't rap. She's just so damn cute, and I'll forgive a lot for the pure enjoyment I get outta this track. Even if, to me, she sounds a little more like pop than rock. Who cares as long as it's good?
I found this gem via the gallant Zeon's blog (on the sidebar). At first, I wasn't sure, but then I fell hard for this song. The ethereal 'ah aaaah' in the background early on, the downbeat disco beat, and Paris' beautiful vocals translating her beautiful sadness from word to song. The lyrics are also very nice, with the lead line, "Don't say you love me, for a start, or you will be a boy with a broken heart." Like the above Narcissist's Waltz, I can practically see this song in my head, and it breaks my heart every time.
All of these have been on my 'can't stop playing' list at one point or another, excepting Narcissist's Waltz, which had to wait until I fell in love with two other Die Romantik songs to get noticed. If you enjoy these songs, I urge you to checkouttheiralbums!
And we're on the cusp of the latter half of the best of 2007, getting to the juicy stuff...
60. Arcade Fire - My Body is a Cage (Sendspace link) Album: Neon Bible
A quiet, mournful song with the organ, quickly becoming an Arcade Fire trademark, playing in the background. The song grows in intensity gradually, finally blasting to life in the last half of the song. The best work here, though, is the lyrics, pathetic, mournful and intriguing, describing the inability to dance with 'the one I love' with the titular metaphor. Metaphors actually get some nice airtime here, making up the bulk of the lyrics of the song.
59. Mika - Relax, Take It Easy (Sendspace link) Album: Life in Cartoon Motion
Mika's first single before 'Grace Kelly' exploded, it's more low-tune and often more palatable than his more colourful fare. The sound is quite interesting, layers of low beats behind the tale of fear and paranoia set out in the lyrics. Mika's on vocal good form here, instead of the sometimes-grating effect his other songs have. Even with this darker song, there's a great beat under the song that allows you to move to it.
The best of the same-titled album, this song about the mechanics of love has very interesting lyrics. Murphy doesn't shrink from using larger words. In fact, considering the purpose of this song (science's attempts to explain the concept of love) they fit in perfectly, and it's an interesting lyrical choice. Beyond that, though, it's a well-crafted song with a great beat to it.
57. Rilo Kiley - Close Call (Sendspace link) Album: Under the Blacklight
Under the Blacklight was a disappointment. I can only preface this with mentioning that, as Rilo Kiley should be taking up multiple spots in my top 10, instead not even making it inside the top 50. It's not the most disappointing - I love Nellie McKay more, and Obligatory Villagers didn't even get one in the top 100. That said, this song, about the dangers of 'money for sex', isn't bad. Lyrics are enjoyable, and Jenny Lewis can rarely do wrong by me.
56. White Rabbits - While We Go Dancing (Sendspace link) Album: Fort Nightly
Great beat, which belongs to a song about dancing. The lyrics translate the joy of dancing quite well, telling about dancing the night away instead of sleeping through it. Vocals are great, ranging from contempt for the one staying home showing clearly to enjoyment of the act. Because, it clearly asks, who would want to pass on having such a good time?
55. Sia - Buttons (Sendspace link) Album: 'Buttons' single
I love Sia. Sadly, her album 'Some People Have Real Problems' didn't come out until 2008, but happily this single was released within the confines of 2007. It's a song about paranoia and being a little crazy, and while not Sia's best it's still damn catchy and her voice is still great.
54. Remi Nicole - Dates From Hell (Sendspace link) Album: My Conscience & I
A favourite of mine from Lily Allen's 'Alright, Still' album last year was 'Knock'em Out', a song about avoiding being hit on by sleazebags. I've been theorising that Remi Nicole is like Allen's less spiteful but just as spunky cousin, and this is as close to a comparison as one can get. Nicole's song is less nasty and more of a lament for the state of men and dating, but it's just as charming, and that's all it needs.
53. Patrick Park - Life is a Song (Sendspace link) Album: Everyone's in Everyone
The legendary OC-ender, Patrick Park's 'Life is a Song' is a nice tribute to life in general. While tearing down hypocrites who preach heaven and fear death, it reminds us that life is good, and death is inevitable, and that that's okay. Fear is the enemy here, as Park tells us to live in the moment instead of constantly attempting to live a risk-free existence that can't last forever anyway.
52. The Pierces - Ruin (Sendspace link) Album: Thirteen Tales of love and Revenge
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and while The Pierces' protagonist here shows an icy demeanour, her rage is evident in the lyrics, claiming that 'all I want is for you to come to ruin'. She doesn't cry to herself, instead wishing evil upon the one who has wronged her, and doing so beautifully.
A subtle anti-war song, focusing on long-lost empires that self-destructed under their own weight while dropping in brief mentions like 'Haliburton attache cases' that hint where his real message is directed. Regardless of that, this is a wonderfully-crafted song, building and building subtly throughout, gaining in momentum all throughout the song without building to a significant explosion. Not 'Apocrypha's best, but close, and it was a heartbreaker to drop it from the Top 50 in the end.
So, that's another set down as we approach the larger numbers... Remember, though, all of these songs are damn good. There's plenty of songs that didn't even make it into the top 100! :) That said, though, with the next set we enter the big leagues!
We're just starting to gain some momentum. so I'm gonna cut to the chase and keep going...
80. Remi Nicole - Right Side of Me (Rapidshare link) Album: My Conscience & I
A really sweet love song about feeling accepted and loved, even at her worst. It's so honest, very downbeat and low and showcases Remi's voice and lyrics instead of the music. I enjoy the little dialogues Remi relates, and when she finally says, "I think you're amazing," we believe that she does.
79. Tori Amos - The Beauty of Speed (Rapidshare link) Album: American Doll Posse
I fell in love with this song through a live version, actually, which moved a little slower and forced Tori to sing normally all through the chorus, something I initially disliked, but have grown to love. The lyrics and her vocals here are spine-tingling, and her piano is, just as always, beautiful. While this album has been slow to grow on me, this song readily demanded to be acknowledged.
78. Klaxons - Golden Skans (Rapidshare link) Album: Myths of the Near Future
One of the catchiest songs of the year, it spread through the blogs like wildfire. I have no idea what it means, but it doesn't really matter to you when you're listening to it and getting caught up in its craziness. Kicks off like one of the bands titular klaxons, demanding your attention as it pounds forward, then
77. Rilo Kiley - Smoke Detector (Rapidshare link) Album: Under the Blacklight
I have to admit, as a Rilo Kiley song, this is disappointing; in fact, the entirety of Under the Blacklight was. It should have crammed itself all into my Top 20 instead of straggling down here in the 70's. That said, if I forget what this should be, I enjoy Jenny Lewis' fun vocals and the not-bad lyrics.
76. Bowerbirds – Human Hands (Rapidshare link) Album: Hymns of a Dark Horse
Another quiet Bowerbirds song, wonderful in its simplicity. They showcase their environmental focus here again, speaking about how despite the danger nature may pose, there is no hate; that is unique to humanity, a fact we should be both ashamed and proud of. We are different, Bowerbirds tell us, and it's up to us to realise how to use it for good and not evil.
75. Spoon - The Ghost of You Lingers (Rapidshare link) Album: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Unlike Spoon's usual style, this song is genuinely creepy, with vocals quite and sounding distant and far away like a ghost's, while the music itself pounds on relentlessly. Impressive atmosphere used here, to great effect. Few songs do creepy well, and I like how this one does it.
74. Mgmt - The Youth (Rapidshare link) Album: Oracular Spectacular
From intriguing newbies to my collection, Mgmt (sometimes called 'The Management') bring a song with layers that is quite mysterious as to its meaning. I believe it's about the core value differences between our generation and those before us, though I can feel a note of paranoia here as well. It makes me curious, and either way it's a fun listen.
73. Tegan and Sara - Soil, Soil (Rapidshare link) Album: The Con
For a long time 'The Con's redeeming note in my eyes, a really sweet song about waiting on a call from someone important. 'Buried in my yard, a letter to send to you. And if I forget, or God forbid die too soon, hope that you'll hear me, know that I wrote to you." Those lines, the desperation and sadness within them, caught my heart in a big way and held there whiule the rest of the album grew on me.
72. Remi Nicole - Go Mr. Sunshine (Rapidshare link) Album: My Conscience & I
Bookending young Ms. Nicole's oddly similar spots on this section of this list is this wonderful anthem to summer, the song that introduced her to me and got me excited for her debut (which I ended up loving). It's full of just those little details you love about summer. I'm expecting this song will be on every commercial imaginable.c
An oddly tender, if at first seemingly nonsensical, song from a band I often associate with, well, songs I don't like too much. The self-perspective the protagonist shows here is impressive, and it's a nice song about the regret of the destruction of a relationship. Regret fills every word of this song, pours through it. It seems remarkably mature for a band that too often fills their songs with screaming and/or whining.
Just remember, if you love any of this music, I urge you to checkitoutelsewhere! A lot of these artists are still growing, especially Dragonette, Bowerbirds, Remi and Mgmt, who all just released their debut albums in 2007. Apologies for posting this section late. I may post the next today to catch up.
As the new year begins, I figure it's the best time to reflect on last year's best of the crop. I know undoubtedly this list is not perfect even in my opinion; there are a number of albums I have yet to break in properly, one of which I know almost for certain would land a Top 10 spot. That said, after weeks of preparing for this list, while watching others add theirs to the pile in December, here it is (tentatively): My top 10 albums of 2007.
A stunning debut album from gorgeous singer Alison Sudol, whose voice immediately captured me in "Rangers". After hearing it, I needed her album in a way I've needed few before it, and hers was one of the albums I anticipated most this year. While not every song is to the same quality, the music is still beautiful. "The Minnow and the Trout", though it feels oddly like the theme of a Disney movie, hits me in all the right places; and "Almost Lover", the sample track, is one of the most beautiful songs of the year.
This album, from one of my favourite Canadian artists, was indeed a grower as many declared it. Sitting for a long time at #17 on my list, only in recent weeks has it started to grow on me. It's full of good songs - "Soil, Soil", "Floorplan", "I Was Married" - and has one genuine hit in "Back in Your Head", which was the subject of my last Track Showcase. The thing that landed this album the list, however, is that every track is pretty damn listenable, even when you don't want to bother listening to the lyrics.
Number 8: Scala & Kolacny Brothers's "One-Winged Angel" Sample Track: "The Beautiful People" (Sendspace link) Buy link: Amazon, Amazon.ca
This Belgian girl's choir, whose gorgeous contemporary covers I've loved since first hearing them, released an album that included this shockingly impressive cover of Marylin Manson's "The Beautiful People". I'm not a fan of Manson (his style is my antithesis), but I enjoy this cover very much, and it gave me a chance to enjoy some of his incisive lyrics. This album also includes covers of Damien Rice, KT Tunstall and Radiohead, all worth checking out.
An indie darling from the moment of its release, Arcade Fire has been sadly one of my neglected albums. Again, this is only one that rocketed into the top 10 once I started paying any amount of attention to it. "Intervention", the sample track, is just plain epic. "Keep the Car Running", "No Cars Go", "My Body is a Cage", all excellent tracks that make this even better than their debut.
My favourite artist, whose music has become a regular feature on my iPod. Though not nearly as amazing as "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" (which would have grabbed top spot), this album is a worthy successor, with "Heretics", quite possibly one of Andrew Bird's best songs (and definitely the most catchy). As I've shared "Heretics" before, I've included "Imitosis", a darker, gorgeous song I've only recently started listening to thanks to the brilliant remix I've previously posted. While I'd suggest "Eggs" before this any day, I urge you to get this album anyway. It's worthy of being an Andrew Bird album, and I can give no higher praise. Well, except maybe a spot on this list higher than 6, but it's still excellent.
Another great debut following Alison Sudol's, Remi Nicole is very much following in the footsteps of Lily Allen, coming on as maybe her less-bitchy, just-as-funny sister. Tht's not a bad position to be in at all, as 'Conscience' is an excellent album full of songs with intelligent lyrics and generally good music to go with it. "Go Mr. Sunshine" is a great tribute to summer, one that allows for negative aspects that only make it, and the song, more charming; "Dates From Hell" is a shot at those men, probably some of the same assholes encountered by Ms. Allen on her album last year; "Rock'n Roll" is a great look as Nicole herself, while taking a dig at the stereotype of 'black artist = r'n'b or hip hop'. Pretty much every song here is a fun listen.
These guys know how to make a beat. Every song on this album, from best to not-so-best, can at least get me bopping a little in my chair. The sample track, "While We Go Dancing", showcases this: It's got a great beat, without being overtly poppy or cheery. Much of the album follows this vibe, making for a great 41 minutes of listening. Also check out "Navy Wives", probably my favourite 'Rabbits' track.
After discovering Park via The O.C., as many of his listeners must have, I decided to seek out his albums. I found this, his newest album and an accomplishment indeed, holding a scattering of excellent tracks. I've previously shared "Life is a Song" (which most of you probably already had anyway) and "Pawn Song", so the sample is "Sant With a Fever", an interesting song that showcases Park's interesting songwriting.
Eleven songs, all but one are amazingly catchy. The one thing I can say about Dragonette that, despite the sexual subjects of most of their songs, they aren't a band about sex. Well, they are, that's undoubtable - what other band would dare to have songs from the POVs of a prostitute, a mistress and a student seducing a teacher on the same album? - but the true meaning is joy. Joy of life, joy of sex, just utter joy, something no watered-down Britney or Christina will ever properly capture. Every song, despite my normal distaste for 'slutty music', makes me bring, and that's because you can just feel the fun that lead singer Martina's Sorbara's having. This isn't a serious album, and that's exactly why it's endearing.
Number 1: The Pierces' "Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge"
Thirteen tales from these delightfully devilish sisters, whose harmonizing voices and clever lyrics have captured my heart forever. Their music is haunting, with witchy ("Sticks & Stones"), teasing ("Boy in a Rock and Roll Band"), insanely rich ("boring") and vengeful ("Ruin") protagonists showcased in each and every song. Their dreamiest song, a rumination on the concept of "Three Wishes", is possibly their best. However, one of the stars of their album is "Secret", a song about the dangers of trusting your secrets with anyone, finally hammering it home that, "Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead".
NOTE: All music provided is purely for preview purposes, and we urge you to download responsibly and buy albums from the artists you like. This project is purely our way of helping spread the word about our favourite artists and, in our small way, help them out the best we can. Hurting their business is the exact opposite of our intentions here.
If an artist has concerns about anything being made available on this blog, feel free to contact us at thebringerofsong@hotmail.com and we'll be happy to take it down.
Alden (The Alden): A 17-year-old Canadian male who initiated the blog, Alden loves music. A lot. Many of his favourite singers and bands use instruments like the piano and violin over the common guitar-based band template, and values vocals and lyrics over instrumentation. Practically worships Andrew Bird.
Marelly (Wendy77): Alden's cousin, who keeps him in line and polices his tastes to make sure he doesn't embarrass himself in the indie hipster scene. Will have her own blurb soon, she promises.
PAST BLOGGERS
Jordan (CitizenofBalance): Joined Alden at tBoS in early January 2008, Jordan's interests cover a very different spectrum to his blogging partner. Prefers to listen to such genres as heavy and progressive metal, doom, psychedelic and underground Hip-Hop. Was last seen on a quest into the heart of psytrance. Exited February 2008.
