The Top 5 Songs of 2010 (So Far...)

We're officially halfway through 2010, and damn there was some good music that came out!  Here's the best of it.

5. "Infinity Guitars" by Sleigh Bells, from the album, Treats - I could throw down a lot of criticism on Sleigh Bells for their repetitive music and meaningless lyrics, but instead I choose to love every bit of the dance rock madness that they put out. "Infinity Guitars" stands tall above the rest for the last 40 seconds only. A distorted, bass-heavy breakdown that shatters all preconceived notions of what "heavy" music really is. God, I love it so much! Speakers up as loud as they can go, people! Don't half-ass this stuff!

4. " Up in the Dark" by The New Pornographers, from the album, Together - The New Pornographers have always had a pretty tight sound, but they've rarely sounded as perfect as they do on this standout track from their awesome new album. The vocal back and forth between Carl Newman and Neko Case obviously steals the show here, but the rest of the band are playing their hearts out as well. Few songs have been able to illicit such joy from me, but this one does it without missing a beat.

3. "One Touch" by LCD Soundsystem, from the album, This is Happening - James Murphy has never been one to shy away from long-ass tracks, but even an 8-minute dance song seems like he may be pushing it a bit. On paper, at least, because "One Touch" is not only one of the catchiest songs of 2010, but one of the most consistently captivating ones as well. Between the unparalleled production and the artist's engaging wordplay, there's so much to love about this song and almost nothing to hate.

2. "Flash Delirium" by MGMT, from the album, Congratulations - When I reviewed Congratulations a few months ago, I was quick to point out that it's a very difficult album to get into. After a few weeks of letting it digest, I handed it a 7/10 rating and went on my merry way, not realizing that the album wasn't yet finished with me. Since then, Congratulations has become a frontrunner for "Album of the Year" and "Flash Delirium" plays a large role in that. According to my iTunes, I've logged over 45 listens to this song in the last 3 months alone and I'm still not tired of it! If you haven't heard it at least 5 times, you're missing out There are always new things to discover.

1. "Zebra" by Beach House, from the album, Teen Dream - I first listened to Teen Dream at the beginning of the year when it released. It wasn't until several months later when I would cross paths with it again. During that second run through, this song stuck out and it hasn't left me yet. Every other song on this list is an upbeat, fun track. That really speaks a lot to what I've been into this year. The fact that "Zebra" - a methodical, passionate, ballad by any standard - takes top honors here is a testament to its brilliance. It is one of the most beautifully simple songs I've ever heard, and I'm in love with it. You should be too.

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Spring Break Road Trip 2009

I generally approach the road trip playlist with a particular method. There are, to me, three essential types of music that need to be heard on the road (Indeed, some music is simply better on the road). These three types of music are:

- Americana-eque, upbeat, folk-country, indie music. Henceforth referred to as “Type A.”
- Solemn, introspective, sometimes-sad, but personally helpful music. Best listened to alone. Henceforth referred to as “Type B”
- Upbeat, sing-along, pop music ranging from beach pop to indie pop. Henceforth referred to as “Type C”

There is a pattern to when I make a playlist, and it usually involves rotating the three types of music, and interspersing them with “Wild Card” songs from genres like rock, hip hop, R&B, or 80s pop. Another thing that really matters to me is albums. If I’m on a long road trip, I tend to listen to full albums rather than setting the iPod to shuffle and letting it run wild. Granted, there are times when this is acceptable, appropriate even, but for the most part, I enjoy solid albums on the road.

With that in mind, here is my recommended road trip playlist for Spring Break 2009. At the bottom of this playlist are several recommendations for substitutions should you find a particular album disagreeable.

Road Trip 2009

Stage One: You have just left your city, town, or college campus to embark on a journey across America. Make your phone calls now. Reception will be hit or miss the rest of the way. This is an exciting journey, and you will need some music to get you pumped up for the long journey ahead. Might I suggest a wild card to start this whole thing off?

Recommended Wild Card Album – Our Lady Peace: Happiness is not a Fish that You Can Catch

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Stage Two: You’ve now been on the road for about 45 minutes and unless you live near the Eastern Seaboard, you’re far removed from any metropolitan area. Time to get the rotation started. Start with your Type A, follow it with a Type B, and then with a Type C. Here are my recommendations:

Recommended Type A Album – Band of Horses: Cease to Begin
Recommended Type B Album – Loney, Dear: Dear John
Recommended Type C Album – Pop Levi: Never Never Love

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Stage Three: Two to three hours have passed now, and if you’re lucky you’ve already reached your destination. But what if you’ve still got several hours to go? Let’s mix it up to keep things interesting.

Recommended Wild Card Mix – The Killers – Now you may not like The Killers, and that’s perfectly understandable. If you don’t, substitute them for another selection from below. If you’re down for some Brandon Flowers action, however, play the following mix or, if your options are limited, just the album Hot Fuss.

1. “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine”
2.“Mr. Brightside”
3. “Change Your Mind”
4. “Human”
5. “When You Were Young”
6. “Somebody Told Me”
7. “Midnight Show”
8. “Spaceman”
9. “Everything Will Be Alright”

Recommended Type A Album – Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
Recommended Type B Mix
1. A.C. Newman – “Take On Me”
2. Jaymay – “Sycamore Down”
3. Bright Eyes – “Land Locked Blues”
4. The Elected – “Sun, Sun, Sun”
5. The Shins – “A Comet Appears”

Recommended Type C Album – The Postal Service: Give Up
Recommended Type A Album – Conor Oberst: Conor Oberst
Recommended Type B Album – Nick Drake: Pink Moon
Recommended Wild Card Album – The Mars Volta: Frances the Mute

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Stage Four: For all intents and purposes, you should be entering the final phase of your road trip. This is where things start to get exciting again. The music should reflect that, right? Of course it should!

Recommended Type C Album – Rooney: Rooney
Recommended Wild Card Album – The Streets: The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living
Recommended Wild Card Mix – This is the final stretch, folks. Roll down the window and smell the sweet beach air, growing more and more potent by the minute. Play this mix:

1. Amadou & Mariam – “Magosa”
2. The Bird and the Bee – “Love Letter to Japan”
3. Wham! – “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go”
4. MGMT – “Kids”
5. Wallpaper – “The Remix”
6. CSS – “Move”
7. Apples in Stereo – “Same Old Drag”
8. Beck – “Hell Yes”
9. Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
10. Crystal Castles – “Courtship Date”
11. George Harrison – “Got My Mind Set on You”
12. Talking Heads – “Once In a Lifetime”
13. The Lonely Island – “Jizz in my Pants”
14. K–Os – “FlyPaper”
15. Of Montreal – “Id Engager”

This mix is really going to vary based on your own personal preferences. Play music that gets you amped up and feel free to mix around the songs. Just be sure to end your road trip with a good mix rather than a single album. Also, try to keep “Id Engager” as the final song of your trip. Play it as soon as you pull into your destination. It’s always a good one!

So that should do it: the perfect playlist for your 10 hour road trip! As always, feel free to mix up the albums to suit your needs. Just keep the pattern in tact and you should have an enjoyable road trip, filled with the ups and downs of life (le gay). Should you want more recommendations, here you go:

Type A
Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Revisited
Bright Eyes: Cassadaga
Built to Spill: Keep it Like a Secret
Death Cab for Cutie: Plans
The Decemberists: The Crane Wife
Eagles: Hotel California
Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
Headlights: Kill Them With Kindness
The Honorary Title: Anything Else but the Truth
Loney, Dear: Loney, Noir
Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther
Plants and Animals: Parc Avenue
Rogue Wave: Out of the Shadow
The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow
The Wrens: The Meadowlands

Type B
The Notwist: Neon Golden
Radiohead: Kid A
Sigur Ros: ( )
Slint: Spiderland
Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans

Type C
Fiona Apple: Extraordinary Machine
Architecture in Helsinki: Places Like This
The Bird and the Bee: Ray Guns are Not Just the Future
Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs
Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Lily Allen: It’s Not Me, It’s You (Songs 1 – 5)
Mates of State: Re-Arrange Us
Metric: Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?
Of Montreal: Satanic Panic in the Attic
The Unicorns: Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone
Wallpaper: T.Rex EP

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 11

This week, then next week, then no more weeks of the Perfect Summer Soundtrack.  Not really that sad at all, actually.

The High School Friends Playlist

So for a lot of you, summer is a time to leave your college campus and return home for the summer.  And what's the bast (or worst) part of returning home?  Getting to see all your high school friends again, and being able to reminisce on the "good times."  Of course, there's nothing better to help reminisce than all of that shitey music you used to jam to back in your parent's old Ford Taurus.  

Face it, the music you listened to in high school sucked.  But being the nice guy that I am, I've decided to compile a good portion of it here.  The first 8 songs on the playlist are the songs you probably loved in high school.  The rest are what you should've been listening to.  More than anything, this just makes me feel old.  When I was in high school, Bill Clinton was still president of the United States and Coldplay was some British band that only my sister's ex-boyfriend had heard of.  How times change!

Week 1 - Rooney's Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)
Week 2 - The Picnic Playlist
Week 3 - Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (Road Trip Sing-a-longs, House Parties, Frisbee Tossing)
Week 4 - The 4th of July Party Playlist
Week 5 - The Pump Me the F*** Up! Playlist (Mountain Climbing, Fight Clubbing, Wakeboarding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Murdering, Running)
Week 6 - The Elected: Sun Sun Sun (Road Trip)
Week 7 - The Bike Ride Through the Country Playlist
Week 8 - Incubus: Morning View (Skateboarding, Surfing, Beach Trip, Road Trip)
Week 9 - The Water Aerobics Playlist

Week 10 - The Boy Least Likely To: The Best Party Ever (Hipster Parties, Road Trip, Biking, Frisbee-Tossing, and Running Through Sprinklers)

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Moods - Introspective

Hey, what is this feature?  Oh, it's Moods, the feature where I pick a specific mood and then build a playlist off of that.  Nice!  I almost forgot it existed.

Ever get in one of those moods where you just have to sit back and self-evaluate; where you sit back and ask yourself those really deep questions that you try to avoid most of the time?  That, friends, is called "introspection" or "the examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional process."  It can be quite helpful in determining who you are, who you want to become, and what you want out of life.  

But introspection has it's drawbacks too.  For example, I don't think a person is capable of being introspective when an *Nsync song is playing in the background.  You'll either a.) start dancing and singing along (guilty), or b.) jump up to turn that shite down!  Either way, you're getting out of the zone.  To stay in the zone, I usually require a song with no words - an instrumental.  That way,  I'm not distracted by catchy hooks or someone else's introspective thoughts.

So with that in mind - you guessed it - here's a playlist of instrumental songs that should keep you in that introspective mood long enough to figure out why exactly you're still dating that rather annoying, though inexplicably hot girl that you just can't stand, or why you constantly feel the need to be the center of attention.  Deep stuff, people. Don't screw it up!

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 10

Sad but true; there are only 3 more weeks of this silly series (not to mention, your summer) left to enjoy. So let's get on with it.


The Boy Least Likely To: The Best Party Ever

Recomended Activities: Hipster Parties, Road Trip, Biking, Frisbee-Tossing, and Running Through Sprinklers

There are parts of me every year that think, "Ugh, here comes summer again!" But I live in Houston where things can tend to get a bit steamy. Most people invite the sunny season like Scott Stapp (with arms wide open ;) ). Why? Because when people think about summer, they think about fun! Even as we get older, we still associate the summer months with vacations, trips, and - though it hardly matters -no school!

And if this 2005 album by The Boy Least Likely To can be described by just a single word, it would be "fun." Oh sure, there are bouts with insecurity and fear, but when your fear song is titled "I See Spiders When I Close My Eyes," you can very well be certain that you won't need to bust out your razors to get the full experience. It's a wonderfully joyous album that will absolutely make for the best party ever, assuming that everyone in your party shops exclusively at vintage clothing stores. If they don't, you might want to go ahead and dust off that Lil' Wayne album you swore you'd never listen to again. That seems to be pretty hot with the kiddos these days.

Week 1 - Rooney's Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)
Week 2 - The Picnic Playlist
Week 3 - Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (Road Trip Sing-a-longs, House Parties, Frisbee Tossing)
Week 4 - The 4th of July Party Playlist
Week 5 - The Pump Me the F*** Up! Playlist (Mountain Climbing, Fight Clubbing, Wakeboarding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Murdering, Running)
Week 6 - The Elected: Sun Sun Sun (Road Trip)
Week 7 - The Bike Ride Through the Country Playlist
Week 8 - Incubus: Morning View (Skateboarding, Surfing, Beach Trip, Road Trip)
Week 9 - The Water Aerobics Playlist

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 9

Here's an odd one, folks.  I've worked in a gym over the last few years and I've learned a thing or two about what people want to hear when they want to work out.  The oddest mix of the bunch belongs to the Water Aerobics crowd who mainly resort to bad disco music.  Disco Inferno?  No thanks.  Here's a playlist for the Water Aerobics crowd.  Please try something different for a change!

The Water Aerobics Playlist

So, I know, this isn't really my target audience.  Where I work, the majority of people who do Water Aerobics are white and over the age of 60.  But I've taken that into account when assembling the playlist.  Some of the songs were more popular in their heyday than they are now.  None of the songs are so "over the top" that they will flat out hate it, nor do any of them contain profanity or suggestive themes.  But it is music that any hipster can appreciate.  So even if you're not planning on turning 60 soon, it's still a great playlist.

Week 1 - Rooney's Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)
Week 2 - The Picnic Playlist
Week 3 - Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (Road Trip Sing-a-longs, House Parties, Frisbee Tossing)
Week 4 - The 4th of July Party Playlist
Week 5 - The Pump Me the F*** Up! Playlist (Mountain Climbing, Fight Clubbing, Wakeboarding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Murdering, Running)

Week 6 - The Elected: Sun Sun Sun (Road Trip)

Week 7 - The Bike Ride Through the Country Playlist

Week 8 - Incubus: Morning View (Skateboarding, Surfing, Beach Trip, Road Trip)

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 7

Again, I'd like to reiterate that unless you have all of these songs on your iPod or have rigged up some ingenious contraption that allows you to carry your laptop on your bicycle, this playlist may just be a waste of time for you.  At the very least, you can close your eyes and imagine the scene while sitting at your desk.  Totally your call on that one.

The Bike Ride Through the Country Playlist

Allow me to preface this playlist by noting that while I have been through the country, and have in fact ridden a bike, I have yet to combine the two into one awesome, soothing experience.  But having knowledge of both parts of this one activity gives me enough of a reason to post this playlist.  It's got the predictable highs to keep you going, as well as some accompanying lows that will hopefully allow you to better appreciate your surroundings.  

Week 1 - Rooney's Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)
Week 2 - The Picnic Playlist
Week 3 - Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (Road Trip Sing-a-longs, House Parties, Frisbee Tossing)
Week 4 - The 4th of July Party Playlist
Week 5 - The Pump Me the F*** Up! Playlist (Mountain Climbing, Fight Clubbing, Wakeboarding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Murdering, Running)

Week 6 - The Elected: Sun Sun Sun (Road Trip)

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 5

5 weeks in and I've only just come to the conclusion that the traditional idea of summer involves a bunch of outdoor activities.  This makes listening to a playlist almost a completely unreasonable idea, unless you are awesome enough to take me at my word and download all these songs and pop the onto your PMP or iPod-esque device.  And let's face it, if you were awesome, that's exactly what you'd be doing.

The "Pump Me the F*** Up!" Playlist

Recommended Activities: Mountain Climbing, Fight Clubbing, Wakeboarding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Murdering, Running

This week, I've decided to feature another great playlist.  Its name is taken from my Zune, on which I name my playlists all sorts of clever things.  The "Pump Me the F*** Up!" playlist is the one I listen to when I'm working out, running, or doing anything that requires me to be energetic and focused.  It's basically a lot of rock music.

And while my playlist also includes some more energetic Mates of State songs and 4 to 5 iterations of "Music is my Hot Hot Sex," I understand that that may not energize some of the more testosterone-filled readers out there.  So with one exception, the playlist is made up of some pretty rockin' songs.  They rarely have lulls, and will therefore most certainly rock your balls clean off.

Whether or not you were actually looking for music to do that - well, that's irrelevant.

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Moods - Patriotic

Sometimes you don't need to wear an American flag lapel pin to show your patriotism.  Sometimes expressing your dislike of unjust wars, or questioning the motives behind those wars is just as patriotic, though probably more so.  Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Patriotic Playlist.  Full of songs of true patriotism.  Even if some of the artist aren't from America....

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 4

Well, I'm back from vacation and things are getting back to normal around here. That means that it's time for another post for our Perfect Summer Soundtrack series. This week's post is monsterous!

The 4th of July Party Playlist

America celebrates its independence this Friday, and there will be plenty of festivities to celebrate this occasion. Personally, I'll probably be laying low. But for those of you out there who are throwing - or attending - a bitchin' house party, I've assembled my largest playlist to date!

88 songs. That's how long this one is. How that translates into minutes, I have no idea. Though considering how imeem is prone to shorten some songs down to 30-second clips, I'd have to imagine that it would be a bit shorter than some would like. Like any good party mix, it's filled with upbeat songs (though nothing too overwhelming), conversation-starters (oh, who is this?), and even a few quiet songs that stay out of the way to let you actually have that conversation.

If you happen to be throwing a party this Friday with a bunch of hipsters, plug this one into the stereo system and let me know how it goes. I'm interested in finding out just how amazing this playlist is. Oh, and set it to "shuffle."

Week 1 - Rooney's Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)
Week 2 - The Picnic Playlist

Week 3 - Of Montreal: The Sunlandic Twins (Road Trip Sing-a-longs, House Parties, Frisbee Tossing)

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Perfect Summer Soundtrack - Week 2

In our continued mission to give you, the reader, something good to listen to in almost any situation or mood, we have been kind enough to begin our Perfect Summer Soundtrack feature.  Every week, we'll give you music to get you through all of your summer activities, be they tame, exciting, or somewhere in between.  We always have you covered!  You should know that by now.

The Picnic Playlist

Quite the conundrum we have here, ladies and gentlemen.  For as great as picnics are, there's almost so way to take your computer to the park with you to jam on this playlist; unless, of course, you live in one of the handful of cities with municipal wi-fi.  In which case, lucky you.  But assuming you don't, you'll have to either resort to downloading (be it illegal or iTunes...I won't judge) or spending a ridiculous wad of cash getting all these songs together.  Personally, I'd opt for the downloading route.

So without any further ado, I give you the picnic playlist; a collection of 20 songs that will make even the most mundane, bologna sandwich taste like a bitching Quizno's Black Angus sub!*  And if you're lucky, and happen to be going on a picnic with a member of the opposite sex, you might as well go ahead and pack some rubs.  This playlist will totally get you laid.**  Enjoy!

*Results not typical.
**Results extremely typical.

Week 1 - Rooney's Self-Titled Debut (Beach Trip, Road Trip, Skateboarding)

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Sometimes Change Is A Good Thing...

Hello, me again. Long time, no see right? Actually, it's only been a week. I took a week long break so that I could attend to matters outside the scope of Audio Overflow. However, I'm back and this time, we're going to try something different. That's right, a change. This change however is not necessarily permanent or even temporary. I may in fact get horrible responses from this post, but as the saying goes, "You never know until you try". So, while putting a retro review aside for a week, but still maintaining partial alliteration, I give the first and what may turn out to be the last...Random Rant.

So, what is a random rant exactly? Well, it's pretty much my time to weigh in on a topic of music; any topic is game. However, it's important that we get lots of feedback on this post. Good, bad, agree with the rant, disagree, "no more rants, only retro reviews"... it's a topic discussion, only I get 95% of the floor to say my piece, so if you aren't down with my piece, please let us know.

The topic for today (and I'm sure Cale will hate this) is Christian Music. Religious themed lyrics aside, what is it in particular that makes this genre so particularly bad? Is it the cheesy Jesus lyrics? Maybe... The mostly terrible musicianship? Extremely likely... The lack of pure "un-God-given" talent? I've never figured out what makes the horrible quality of Christian music stand out when flipping through radio stations. It is not like rap, where there are beats, country, where there are drawls, or classic rock with awesome guitar solos. Those genres can be stumbled upon on any radio station and instantly, you know what you are listening to because of the distinct sounds. Yet, Christian music can be made up of all of the previously mentioned sounds and is still a genre defined purely on the basis that every song deals with the same subject, "Christianity". So the question is, if those sounds can be good on a secular radio station, what is it about them in Christian music that makes us laugh, cringe, or avoid the genre altogether?

Growing up listening to Christian music, as that is how I was raised, meant that I have heard it all. Nothing I ever hear in the genre surprises me. When I hear music that is completely devoid of all talent, in other words, what Britney Spears is to pop, I have to cringe. After all, who would really let someone make a song, let alone an album that bad? Did their manager/producer feel obligated to let them continue to make music because it was about a subject which is considered "wholesome" by most American standards? Or was it simply because they felt like they were good musicians? It's unknown, but based on the fact those songs are out there, I can only assume both. Examples of these "so-called musicians" can be found on the play list below. They will include, but are in no way limited to "Carmen", "Twila Paris", "Point Of Grace", "Avalon" and "Nate Sallie". These artists span several generations, but each are bad in there own way, especially Nate Sallie who debuted with a Gavin DeGraw meets Maroon 5 hit, which I firmly believe to sound like complete balls.

On the other hand, there is a glimmer of hope at the end of the Christian music warp zone. It appears in the form of innovative Christian music which may or may not contain the words "God" or "Jesus". Music that is first and foremost good music, served with a side of ministry. I believe that the artists in the Christian genre who have the ability of any secular musicians have the potential to bring back fans the genre may have previously lost. These musicians play just as well or better than others in different genres, the vocals are more distinctive, but not to the bad extent, and the lyrics are deeper than just "thank you Jesus". As the religion of Christianity moves towards a more post modern approach, so do the lyrics. They approach new levels of intimacy, beauty, and depth than both Christians and non, can appreciate. Noteworthy artists that appear in the play list such as, "Robbie Seay Band", "Matt Brouwer", "David Crowder Band", "Evangeline", and "Brandon Heath" have all achieved genre respect from me and deserve to not be lumped into the categories of the previously mentioned.

So how do we answer, "why is Christian music typically so distinctive and so bad?" Well while Christian music has been around for hundreds of years, it has been radio played a lot less than most. I believe that it has growing pains like any other genre, only we've been alive through most of these pains. I believe the genre has both atrocity and outstanding ability, depending on what side of the fence you're on about the subject. There's no denying though that the 2nd half of the playlist is worlds better than the 1st. As you listen to the playlist, no matter what your religious preference, I want you to ponder over the ever growing genre (that's right, despite some of your desires, it won't go anywhere). Determine for yourselves why some Christian artists get airplay when they likely couldn't get it elsewhere and the others who deserve the airplay haven't gotten the attention and respect they deserve within the music industry. Just food for thought...

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Moods- Unfocused

Sometimes you just don't have the patience or focus for a 18-minute long play epic rock track.  So I've made a playlist with 20 songs, none of which are longer than 1:59.  It'll go by quick, just like you like it to.  Just like this introduction.

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The Top 5 Songs of 2005

I was blogging about music as far back as 2003.  But they were on different blogs, sites, and pages that are now either completely forgotten about, or just plain dead.  On January 24, 2006, a few months before I started Audio Overflow, I posted The Top 20 Songs of 2005 to my myspace blog.  But I just listed the songs, without explanations.  I'm surprised how well this list held up too.  I pretty much agree with the Top 5 still, so that's why I've decided to post it here.  Of course, this time, there are explanations.  Not like it matters.  You won't read them.

#5:  Death Cab for Cutie - "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" - The shining star on Death Cab's 2005 album and major label debut, Plans, was undoubtedly this song.  About love that transcends the boundaries of this life, "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" is arguably the most beautiful Death Cab song of all time.  Simple, poetic, and gorgeous, you can't help but love every bit of this song.  Its place on this list is well-deserved. 

#4:  Sufjan Stevens - "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us" - A song with such a silly name should never be this serious, but leave it to Sufjan Stevens to do the exact opposite of what we'd expect.  This timeless story of childhood friendships, loss, and regret is incredibly poignant, and one of the best songs on the Illinois album.  To many, it went unnoticed as "John Wayne Gacy Jr." and "Chicago" stole the show.  But for me, it remains one of his greatest achievements as a songwriter, and easily one of the best songs of 2005.

#3: Bright Eyes - "Land Locked Blues" - Conor Oberst released two albums in 2005, and this was the best song on either one of them.  I'd be willing to say that it's probably his best song, which for a guy with such an extensive catalog is saying quite a lot.  With stunning lyrics, somber guitars, and convincing vocal performances, there's nothing to not love about this one!  Take this line, for example:  "Greed is a bottomless pit/ and our freedom's a joke, we're just takin' a piss/ and the whole world much watch the sad comic display/ if you're still free start runnin' away/ cause we're coming for you!"  It's followed by a triumphant trumpet solo, which only heightens the impact of it all.  This is truly a perfect song.

#2: Stars - "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" - This story of two one-time lovers meeting again through chance and reliving old memories in a single night is quite the tale to tackle.  But Stars has never been one to let a difficult subject stop them from making beautiful music.  The lead-off track to Set Yourself on Fire, this is easily their strongest song to date.  Torquil and Amy harmonize beautifully as they sing, "Live through this and you won't look back," oh...and the rest of the song too.  If you've never heard it, shame on you.  I've provided a streaming version below to get you up to speed.

#1:  Sufjan Stevens - "John Wayne Gacy Jr." - In 2007, I made sure that each artist only had one song on the year-end list.  However, prior to all of that, it was never an issue.  That's why Sufjan has two songs on this list.  And can you blame me.  With an album as perfect as Illinois, you can't help but fill the list up with his songs.  Sufjan's song about serial killer, John Wayne Gacy, is a chilling tale, accentuated by the fact that Sufjan draws comparisons between himself and the killer ("In my best behavior/ I am really just like him/ look beneath the floorboards/ for the secrets I have hid").  His vocal performance is unfathomably strong.  They grab you and take you for a ride.  Will you be sympathizing with the killer by the song's end?  Will you be thinking Sufjan is a weirdo?  Either way, you simply can't deny the beauty of this song.  It is easily the best song of 2005, and by far the strongest on Illinois.

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Moods - Frenetic

I'm doing this week's Moods all Jill style.  That includes a definition.  That's what makes it awesome!

Frenetic - adj. - fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.

So if you just so happen to be in a frenetic mood today, here's a playlist to make sure you stay that way.  Each song has its wild and uncontrolled moments, and each is sure to please.  So enjoy this playlist, person.  I worked hard on it.  Kinda.

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Moods - Heartbroken

So you've just had your heart broken.  What do you do now?  Well, if you're like most people, you crawl up in the fetal position and listen to some music.  Or you get hammered.  Or you kill yourself.  For the purposes of this post, let's just say you do the first, okay?  Here's a playlist to help you in your troubles.  There's some songs in here that you can totally relate to in your vaginal state.  There's also a few that should bring a smile to your face.  When it's all over with, get up and get back out there.  Then come back to this playlist in a few months, or whenever it happens again.  

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Moods - Poetic

So Death Cab for Cutie Week marches on here at Audio Overflow. Today's Moods playlist is less a mood and more of an adjective, though I suppose they're both the same thing. As many of you are well aware of, Ben Gibbard is one of my favorite lyricists of all time. His words can be clever, touching, depressing, and vivid; and they almost never disappoint. So in honor of this man's pen, I've decided to make today's playlist a collection of what I feel are some of Death Cab for Cutie's most poetic lyrics. They're not always the best songs, but these words are beautiful. Hopefully that will be enough for you.

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Weekend Recommendations (5/10/08)

Cale's Recommendations

My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges

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This summer is going to be huge for music.  Naturally, I've been spending the last week combing over all the greatness due to release soon.  In the next month alone, we'll see releases from Death Cab for Cutie, Mates of State, Ladytron, My Brightest Diamond, and of course, My Morning Jacket.  Their new album, Evil Urges, is absolutely ridiculous.  For the most part, it stays true to their southern rock roots, but there are other times when the music is so WTF-inducing that you can't help but have the widest grin imaginable.  Get it.

Death Cab for Cutie:  Narrow Stairs

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My Brightest Diamond:  A Thousand Shark's Teeth

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Erin's Recommendations

John Mayer:  Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert

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What I love about this album is that John Mayer’s talent is simply overwhelming. His blues influences and style help to make this live album a pleasant listening experience as opposed to just another “recorded concert”. It is a great album with a ton of good songs and a really awesome cover of “I Got A Woman”. If you didn’t think John Mayer was talented before, you’re sure to see the magic now!

John Mayer:  Room for Squares

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The Beach Boys:  Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of the Beach Boys

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Moods - Whimsical

A few weeks back, I posted my "Goofy" playlist.  This week's playlist is "Whimsical."  What's the difference?  Well, for starters, when I think of whimsy, I think childlike or playful.  Goofy can be an assortment of things, but whimsy is always fun!  And who doesn't love fun?

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Weekend Recommendations (5/2/08)

Cale's Recommendations

Plants and Animals: Park Avenue

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I just started jamming to this CD this past week, and I'm loving every single minute of it! This CD manages to take the best features of indie rock and blend it flawlessly with classic psychadelic rock. The end result is something that, to me, sounds truly unique and endearing. With clever lyrics and amazing performances from everyone in the band, this CD won't disappoint.

Sufjan Stevens: Seven Swans

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Tilly and the Wall: Bottoms of Barrels

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Erin's Recommendations

Various Artists: Garden State, Music From the Motion Picture

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I know that there are those out there who say, “It’s a soundtrack, so it won’t be that good”, but this is not just a soundtrack… It is an eclectic mix of songs that are pieced together so nicely, to create a true work of art. This is mostly an indie soundtrack, though Simon and Garfunkel make an appearance. You can definitely expect a retro review of this one…

Sia: Some People have Real Problems
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Queen: Greatest Hits Volume 1 & 2
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