Merry Melodies
Yes, it's the list you've all been waiting for. After much deliberation and evaluation I feel confident in presenting to you, my dear friends and readers, my year-end music mix!
Presenting...This Is My Truthiness, Tell Me Yours: The best songs of 2006!
1. Joel Plaskett Emergency - "Nowhere With You"
Who says Zellers commercials aren't useful? Okay, I admit that's where I first heard this song and I'll also admit it's a rip-off of Slade's "Run, Run Away." But it's so damn catchy! And it mentions catching the Dartmouth ferry in the first verse. So it wins.
2. The Guillemots - "Trains to Brazil"
I did not "get" this song until I heard it for about the fourth time. It's certainly not as immediate a song as our lead-off track but once you've warmed up to it it's irresistible. It reminds me a bit of Dexy's Midnight Runners ("Geno" era, not "Come on Eileen" era) with more jazzy horn breaks. "Trains to Brazil" is one of the most joyful and life-affirming songs of the year. I just might have to go back and have a closer listen to the band's other songs. Trivia fact: It's dedicated to Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian shot by the London police earlier in the year after he was mistaken for a terror suspect.
3. We Are Scientists - "This Scene is Dead"
Another "grower" of a track. These guys put on a great show with Art Brut in October.
4. Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
I know this is probably on a lot of people's lists and it's overplayed in a lot of circles. And I must admit it was a tough call between this and the band's other standout track of the year, "Let's Call it Off." But this one wins out thanks to the impossibly cute boy-girl dynamics with guest vocalist Victoria Bergsman from the Concretes.
5. Hot Chip - "Boy From School"
No, not "Over and Over." I prefer this track, maybe because I heard it first. Really great harmonies and smooshy electronic beats on this one. Beautiful. Incidentally, this is the start of the "indietronica" section of the mix…
6. Junior Boys - "In the Morning"
More delicious moody indietronica from…Hamilton? I guess you have to find something to pass your time with.
7. The Knife - "Silent Shout"
Creepy dark electronica from Sweden. In a good way.
8. Scissor Sisters - "I Don't Feel Like Dancing"
Best Elton John song of the year!
9. Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
I consider Amy Winehouse one of my best music discoveries of the year. She's dangerously close to being the chick version of Pete Doherty, only substitute alcohol instead of smack. Oh, and probably anorexia. Still, her album Back to Black is one of the best of the year. Potent mix of jazz, soul and R&B filtered through a modern disposition. Amazing stuff. Also recommended from the album, the tearjerker "Love is a Losing Game." I don't think you can get this album in Canada yet but if you ask me nicely I might hook you up.
10. Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
This song shocked me when I heard it at the gym. A gritty soul stomper that wouldn’t be out of place in the '60s.
11. Lily Allen - "LDN"
This was another artist who it was hard to choose just one track from. Other contenders included "Smile" and "Knock 'Em Out." Any of them are just so damn fun and happy. You almost forget she's singing about crack whores and old ladies getting mugs. My favourite part is when she rhymes "Tesco" with "al fresco." I'm frankly baffled as to why the record companies didn't push this record in North America over the summer because these tracks deserve to be blasted from every shop and car stereo. (As I'm sure they were in Britain…)
12. The Sounds - "Tony the Beat"
This band's previous record was fun Blondie-esque punk-pop but the music didn't stand up to repeated listens for me. On the strength of this mature, multi-layered single I may have to check out the new album. Groovy!
13. The Long Blondes - "Once and Never Again"
The Long Blondes are a band I wanted to like. It was clear I should like them, since they write the kind of post-Britpop observational pieces tailor-made to my musical tastes. But all their previous songs were just ever-so-slightly lacking that special "oomph" to win me over to sing their praises. But on this track the band and singer Kate Jackson finally lets it rip and find a catchy melody to boot.
14. The Pipettes - "Pull Shapes"
I feel confident calling this BEST SONG OF 2006. I can't understand how anyone could dislike this song. It's like hating baby puppies and kittens.
15. The View - "Wasted Little DJs"
The catchiest song of the year with the most hard-to-sing title.
16. The Kooks - "She Moves in Her Own Way"
Their album Inside In/Inside Out played like a mix-tape of Britpop bands. A little Kinks here, a little Supergrass there. And yet it still managed to sound fresh and exciting. I love this track because it
17. I'm From Barcelona - "We're From Barcelona"
They're not from Barcelona, they're from Sweden. No, I don't get it either. This song is probably too twee for most people's tastes. But I'm running with a "happy happy" theme this year, in case you hadn't guessed already.
18. Belle & Sebastian - "Another Sunny Day"
All hail the reining kings of indiepop.
19. Voxtrot - "Trouble"
However, Belle and Sebastian better watch their backs because this band nipping at their heels. Their songs have more catchy hooks in the first 30 seconds than the entire catalogue of most bands. My only question is: When does the full-length album come out?
20. Camera Obscura - "Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken"
Best answer song of 2006 to Lloyd Cole & the Commotions' "Are You Ready to be Hearbroken?" I had this song stuck in my head for about two week straight this year.
21. The Dears - "Whites Only Party"
Like the Long Blondes, The Dears sometimes lack that special something that allows me to love the. I had high hopes for the Gang of Losers album after hearing this lead-off single, which sounds like its channeling Morrissey's rockabilly period. Turns out the album wasn't as solid as this track. But speaking of Moz…
22. Morrissey - "You Have Killed Me"
Morrissy's ill-reasoned boycott of Canada due to the sealhunt meant I felt okay about not buying his album and downloading it instead. But guess what? It wasn't that great anyway. Still, this is one of his best songs in years. According to my last FM stats it's my most-played song of the year. I'd have to agree.
23. The Gothic Archies - "The Abyss"
What would one of my year-end lists be without a Stephin Merritt-related contribution? From his collaboration with Lemony Snicket.
24. Carla Bruni - "Those Little Things (Cest Petits Riens)"
Another album I discovered this year was Carla Bruni's Quelqu'un m'a dit but that was released in 2004 so I guess that means I can't include any of the tracks on this list. Fortunately she contributed this track to the Serge Gainsbourg tribute album. Many questioned the point of an album of English versions of Gainsbourg's songs but this translation is stellar and is reminiscent of early Leonard Cohen. And Bruni's sultry voice is absolutely killer.
25. Euros Child - "Circus Time"
The former Gorky's Zygotic Mynci frontman released a strange album this year that was made up of his usual beautiful folk-psych songs and weirder short experimental filler. This is one of the highlights of the album, which is reminiscent of the quieter moments from one of my favourite records of all time, Gorky's Barafundle.
Tally by Nationality:
England: 8 (Artists 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 22)
U.S.A: 5 (Artists 3, 8, 10, 19, 23)
Sweden: 4 (Artists 4, 7, 12, 17)
Canada: 3 (Artists 1, 6, 21)
Scotland: 3 (Artists 15, 18, 20)
France: 1 (Artist 24)
Wales: 1 (Artist 25)
Presenting...This Is My Truthiness, Tell Me Yours: The best songs of 2006!
1. Joel Plaskett Emergency - "Nowhere With You"
Who says Zellers commercials aren't useful? Okay, I admit that's where I first heard this song and I'll also admit it's a rip-off of Slade's "Run, Run Away." But it's so damn catchy! And it mentions catching the Dartmouth ferry in the first verse. So it wins.
2. The Guillemots - "Trains to Brazil"
I did not "get" this song until I heard it for about the fourth time. It's certainly not as immediate a song as our lead-off track but once you've warmed up to it it's irresistible. It reminds me a bit of Dexy's Midnight Runners ("Geno" era, not "Come on Eileen" era) with more jazzy horn breaks. "Trains to Brazil" is one of the most joyful and life-affirming songs of the year. I just might have to go back and have a closer listen to the band's other songs. Trivia fact: It's dedicated to Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian shot by the London police earlier in the year after he was mistaken for a terror suspect.
3. We Are Scientists - "This Scene is Dead"
Another "grower" of a track. These guys put on a great show with Art Brut in October.
4. Peter Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
I know this is probably on a lot of people's lists and it's overplayed in a lot of circles. And I must admit it was a tough call between this and the band's other standout track of the year, "Let's Call it Off." But this one wins out thanks to the impossibly cute boy-girl dynamics with guest vocalist Victoria Bergsman from the Concretes.
5. Hot Chip - "Boy From School"
No, not "Over and Over." I prefer this track, maybe because I heard it first. Really great harmonies and smooshy electronic beats on this one. Beautiful. Incidentally, this is the start of the "indietronica" section of the mix…
6. Junior Boys - "In the Morning"
More delicious moody indietronica from…Hamilton? I guess you have to find something to pass your time with.
7. The Knife - "Silent Shout"
Creepy dark electronica from Sweden. In a good way.
8. Scissor Sisters - "I Don't Feel Like Dancing"
Best Elton John song of the year!
9. Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
I consider Amy Winehouse one of my best music discoveries of the year. She's dangerously close to being the chick version of Pete Doherty, only substitute alcohol instead of smack. Oh, and probably anorexia. Still, her album Back to Black is one of the best of the year. Potent mix of jazz, soul and R&B filtered through a modern disposition. Amazing stuff. Also recommended from the album, the tearjerker "Love is a Losing Game." I don't think you can get this album in Canada yet but if you ask me nicely I might hook you up.
10. Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
This song shocked me when I heard it at the gym. A gritty soul stomper that wouldn’t be out of place in the '60s.
11. Lily Allen - "LDN"
This was another artist who it was hard to choose just one track from. Other contenders included "Smile" and "Knock 'Em Out." Any of them are just so damn fun and happy. You almost forget she's singing about crack whores and old ladies getting mugs. My favourite part is when she rhymes "Tesco" with "al fresco." I'm frankly baffled as to why the record companies didn't push this record in North America over the summer because these tracks deserve to be blasted from every shop and car stereo. (As I'm sure they were in Britain…)
12. The Sounds - "Tony the Beat"
This band's previous record was fun Blondie-esque punk-pop but the music didn't stand up to repeated listens for me. On the strength of this mature, multi-layered single I may have to check out the new album. Groovy!
13. The Long Blondes - "Once and Never Again"
The Long Blondes are a band I wanted to like. It was clear I should like them, since they write the kind of post-Britpop observational pieces tailor-made to my musical tastes. But all their previous songs were just ever-so-slightly lacking that special "oomph" to win me over to sing their praises. But on this track the band and singer Kate Jackson finally lets it rip and find a catchy melody to boot.
14. The Pipettes - "Pull Shapes"
I feel confident calling this BEST SONG OF 2006. I can't understand how anyone could dislike this song. It's like hating baby puppies and kittens.
15. The View - "Wasted Little DJs"
The catchiest song of the year with the most hard-to-sing title.
16. The Kooks - "She Moves in Her Own Way"
Their album Inside In/Inside Out played like a mix-tape of Britpop bands. A little Kinks here, a little Supergrass there. And yet it still managed to sound fresh and exciting. I love this track because it
17. I'm From Barcelona - "We're From Barcelona"
They're not from Barcelona, they're from Sweden. No, I don't get it either. This song is probably too twee for most people's tastes. But I'm running with a "happy happy" theme this year, in case you hadn't guessed already.
18. Belle & Sebastian - "Another Sunny Day"
All hail the reining kings of indiepop.
19. Voxtrot - "Trouble"
However, Belle and Sebastian better watch their backs because this band nipping at their heels. Their songs have more catchy hooks in the first 30 seconds than the entire catalogue of most bands. My only question is: When does the full-length album come out?
20. Camera Obscura - "Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken"
Best answer song of 2006 to Lloyd Cole & the Commotions' "Are You Ready to be Hearbroken?" I had this song stuck in my head for about two week straight this year.
21. The Dears - "Whites Only Party"
Like the Long Blondes, The Dears sometimes lack that special something that allows me to love the. I had high hopes for the Gang of Losers album after hearing this lead-off single, which sounds like its channeling Morrissey's rockabilly period. Turns out the album wasn't as solid as this track. But speaking of Moz…
22. Morrissey - "You Have Killed Me"
Morrissy's ill-reasoned boycott of Canada due to the sealhunt meant I felt okay about not buying his album and downloading it instead. But guess what? It wasn't that great anyway. Still, this is one of his best songs in years. According to my last FM stats it's my most-played song of the year. I'd have to agree.
23. The Gothic Archies - "The Abyss"
What would one of my year-end lists be without a Stephin Merritt-related contribution? From his collaboration with Lemony Snicket.
24. Carla Bruni - "Those Little Things (Cest Petits Riens)"
Another album I discovered this year was Carla Bruni's Quelqu'un m'a dit but that was released in 2004 so I guess that means I can't include any of the tracks on this list. Fortunately she contributed this track to the Serge Gainsbourg tribute album. Many questioned the point of an album of English versions of Gainsbourg's songs but this translation is stellar and is reminiscent of early Leonard Cohen. And Bruni's sultry voice is absolutely killer.
25. Euros Child - "Circus Time"
The former Gorky's Zygotic Mynci frontman released a strange album this year that was made up of his usual beautiful folk-psych songs and weirder short experimental filler. This is one of the highlights of the album, which is reminiscent of the quieter moments from one of my favourite records of all time, Gorky's Barafundle.
Tally by Nationality:
England: 8 (Artists 2, 5, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 22)
U.S.A: 5 (Artists 3, 8, 10, 19, 23)
Sweden: 4 (Artists 4, 7, 12, 17)
Canada: 3 (Artists 1, 6, 21)
Scotland: 3 (Artists 15, 18, 20)
France: 1 (Artist 24)
Wales: 1 (Artist 25)