Gabo’s Top 10 Songs Of 2009
Written by gzabriel on Monday, 28 of December , 2009 at 4:30 pm
I almost made this a top 10 albums list, and I almost had enough top albums to fill the spaces. But in the end, I figured that naming Zombielicious or Moderat my favorite album, simply because I listened to them the most, and excluding the “real” best albums (Girls’ Album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, Bitte Orca, Veckatimest) would be somehow wrong. I also felt I had more to say about the songs of this year than the albums. So here goes.
10. Miike Snow - Animal
Miike Snow put out an awesome album this year, which, I must confess, I didn’t listen to enough. Burial, Black and Blue, A Horse Is Not a Home, are all great songs, but none surge with the youthful and naïve energy of Animal, whose offbeat stabs still deceive my perception of where the fuck the downbeat is to this day.
Yes it’s true, this song is basically this song, which is a little disheartening when you realize that all A-trak and Armand Van Helden have added is a few drum samples and chopped up the arrangement. Honestly though, the blatant sampling is so tongue in cheek and so joyful (see: the music video) in its acknowledgment of a funk classic that I can’t help but forgive it. This song has the proven potential to make everyone from everywhere boogie, and for a dance track, that’s a pretty good achievement.
8. Major Lazer - Pon De Floor
I remember seeing a video of Diplo and Switch playing this at Fader Fort at SXSW and being half perplexed and half in love with this strange new riddim. The military snare rolls? The pitchbent vocal sample? What the hell does pon de floor mean? Why is the kick drum not 4/4? All of these questions and more raced through my head, but I knew I needed the track. It may have aided in creating a certain acceptability in having the drop of a tune be nothing but a squeaky synth line with a big kick drum (to be fair, we had it coming. [I'm looking at you Crookers and Harvard Bass]) but Pon De Floor still gets me as excited as it did the first time.
7. Joy Orbison - Hyph Mngo
Joy Orbison was a big name this year, and his remix of Love Cry almost made this list, but in its place is Hyph Mngo. With its 2step percussion, unintelligibly chopped vocal sample, and pulsating organ swirls, Hyph Mngo captures a certain nocturnal energy that is just infectious. Even in the height of dubstep/brainfeeder fever, the jilted percussion seems fresh, and the bass is huge without being overwhelming and aggressive. There’s a certain mastery to the way Orbison weaves these decidedly familiar sounds into something that feels so fresh and organic, and I’m really looking forward to what else he has up his sleeve.
6. Siriusmo - High Together
Speaking of fresh, remember when you first heard Justice? Remember how “new” Waters of Nazareth sounded at the time, and how mind blowing those huge distorted monsters of synthesizers were (dwarfed only by the huge stacks of fake Marshalls). I feel that way about High Together. I’ve always known Siriusmo was a freaky funky genius of a German, but never has it been as startling as when I heard High Together. Instantly there was this gap created between Siriusmo and all other Justice wannabe’s, and frankly, all other dance music. High Together is alive and beautiful, and I hope that magical “first listen” quality never disappears.
5. Simian Mobile Disco - Audacity Of Huge
It happened with a few other tracks this year (Who’s There, Pon De Floor, Jeffer, Bangkok) that sensation of “I have to have this right now”. Usually however, that sensation fades mere moments after you acquire the track in question, Audacity of Huge defies that for me. Chris Keating’s surreal, bizarre, and badass lyrics still pulse with as much swagger and groove as they did when I first watched sneakers dripping silver paint (or crank). James and Jas’ production is as crisp and impeccable as ever, and the song just works, and boy does it work.
4. Guillaume and The Coutu Dumonts - The Pussy Shepard
A very late addition to the list, and to be honest, a strange one. I stumbled upon this track over here and quickly fell in love. It may not sound like much at first, the eclectic percussion section led by a looping bongo and cowbell, but once that organ comes in; heaven. Suddenly the track sounds like the clouds just parted, and the sun is an understanding soul singer telling you the secrets of the world and happiness as you lay post-nap midsummer on the first day of your rebirth as a member of the church of eternal groove. I don’t really know what the vocalist is saying yet, but it’s impossibly moving. Even though the song is over 10 minutes long, it doesn’t last long enough, and by the time those subtle yet soaring organs fade, you’ll be wanting to hear it again.
3. Erol Alkan & Boys Noize - Waves (Chilly Gonzales Remake)
The original was really awesome, true, but what professional entertainist Gonzales brings to this collaboration by two dance music giants far surpasses the original. It’s so simple that it’s remarkable I haven’t heard it before, a piano remake of a dance track, and it’s executed perfectly. The arpeggios of the original, squiggly and anemic on their own, become anthemic and ethereal skeletal structures for Gonzales to play around with his ridiculous piano chops. Add in some haunting backing vocals and bingo, perfection.
2. Florence And The Machine - You’ve Got The Love (The xx Remix)
It takes a lot for a remix to make its way into the number 2 spot for best song of 2009, but this one has a lot going for it. The xx’s album was one of my favorites this year, and though I admit not listening to Florence and The Machine’s, I can safely say that this is better than both their respective outputs. The off kilter percussion skitters around while the sultry vocal interplay between the xx’s Oliver and Romy coupled with the poignant instrumentation of a harp and bells take this track to another level. Evocative, haunting, and catchy, you’ll get shivers when you hear those chimes slooooowly fade in.
1. Big Boi ft Gucci Mane - Shine Blockas
I couldn’t believe it when I first heard this song, how could something be this good? It was absolutely amazing, the type of song that makes you feel on top of the world. Many many listens in, and it’s still the same feeling. The euphoria is indescribable, I love this song. FREE GUCCI!
Category: Miscellaneous
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