Wow. A lot to say today. A lot of things going on in my mind since yesterday's appointment when we found out that we're having a girl. (See the other blog for pics ... and a song!)
I've got a lot of work to do here today, though, so I'm not sure I'll get to put down my thoughts any time soon.
But here's the music post I was promising. Link at the bottom to a large (100+ megs) zip file with all the songs. Of course, after listening to the songs you should destroy the mp3s and go buy all of the albums. That goes without saying, doesn't it?
So... this is a list that I took a little care in compiling. I'm not saying these are the best songs of the past year, or that this is the order in which I would rank them. These are the tunes that I kept finding myself listening to over and over again on the iPod. The ones that, when I'd see the artist's name pass by, would make me u-scroll and head back up to listen for the tenth time that day. At the bottom there's a link to a zipped file with all the tracks. Merry Christmas!
"Atlantic" — Keane (from Under the Iron Sea)
Not sure if this is my favorite tune of the new album, but it's got a kind of grandeur (love the drums) and scope that is a welcome change from their sometimes too-twee first album.
"Feels Just Like it Should" and "Black Devil Car" — Jamiroquai (from Dynamite)
I couldn't decide between these two head-bobbing, butt-shaking tunes. Justin Timberlake brought sexy back? Give me a fucking break. Saying something is true ain't nothing compared to the dirty funk of "FJLIS." As with most of Jamiroquai's stuff, I can take or leave most of the album, but these two scratch a funk itch.
"The Good Day" — Elbow (from Forget Myself cdsingle)
I had to put something by the lads in here. Their last album came out last year, but this single came out in 2006 and it's a great, fairly straight-forward rocker that was fan-fucking-tastic in concert. One of the best concerts I've been to, which only solidified my überfandom for these guys. Truth be told, the album this is a b-side from is probably still my most-played album this year as well.
"Hey Now Now" — The Cloud Room (from The Cloud Room)
These guys opened for Elbow when we saw them this Summer. I downloaded several tracks of theirs before going and this was the one that stood out and has stuck since. The lyrics make no sense, but I don't hold that against it. The new tunes they played at the concert show a much more interesting future ahead for them, I hope. (Meaning: I might want to actually get their entire next album instead of this one song.)
"How We Operate" — Gomez (from How We Operate)
These guys are the shit. They just get better and better. "HWO" is a good melding of their sometimes awkward experimental tunes and straightforward rock-pop.
"Dear Old Song & Dance" — Tim Easton (from Ammunition)
Easton's latest album is a lo-fi minor disappointment, but this is a great song about his late break with drugs and alcohol.
"Upside Down" — Jack Johnson (from Sing-Alongs & Lullabies for the Film Curious George)
Yeah, it's a kid's album. Yeah, it's unabashedly sunny and cheery. You got a problem with that? Yeah? I'm sorry. Listen to this song, and maybe it'll cheer ya up.
"Time Bomb" — The Format (from God Problems)
This is one of those tunes that I randomly came across on a music blog sometime this year. Bombastic pseudo-ELO pop that I find I never listen to less than twice in a row when I put it on.
"Chinese Translation" — M. Ward (from Post-War)
Stumbled on this when someone sent me the link to the video, which is beautiful and fits the song like a ... Chinese glove? Anyway, apparently most of the world has known about M. Ward for several albums. The full-length this song is from is very good, if you like music that sounds as if it was pulled through a hole in space-time from about sixty years ago, with a modern folk tinge.
"In My Arms" — Snow Patrol (from Eyes Open — UK bonus track)
The Snow Patrol is about as Emo as I'm willing to go. They're mopey, yes, but they have some crunch in their guitar. This is a b-side that is more subtle and interesting than the new album it wasn't on.
"When You Were Young" — The Killers (from Sam's Town)
Fun pop-rock. A bit unescapable if you see Mtv at all (I watch it at the gym without sound). Don't think too hard about this one.
"Three More Days" — Ray LaMontagne (from Til the Sun Turns Black)
Ray's new album is pretty mopey and downtempo. There's nothing wrong with that, especially as we launch into Winter. But this track is a welcome upbeat aside. Love his voice. Love it. I command you.
"Consolation Prizes" — Phoenix (from It's Never Been Like That)
From my favorite Summer album this past year. A bunch of French kids who make playful rock. I grabbed their latest album because of their great track on the Lost in Translation soundtrack. Good sun-drenched tunes.
"The Crane Wife 1 and 2" — The Decemberists (from The Crane Wife)
I love this album. Sure they're hyper-literate and, at times too dry and smart for their own good, but something clicked for me with this one. And this track is a fantastic 11:26 telling of the title story. Base a movement of songs on an obscure Japanese folk tale? Why the hell not?
"Death is the Road to Awe" — Clint Mansell (from The Fountain OST)
I've only had this soundtrack since the day after I saw the movie, but I've listened to it at least once a day since. It echoes the angst and sorrow of the film, and this track — which plays during the climax of the movie — gives me chills every time it reaches the explosive ending. ymmv.
Download ChristmasMix2006
No comments:
Post a Comment