14. Cry When You Get Older – Robyn – I could’ve chosen “Dancing With Myself” but it is overeferenced. If Ke$ha had some of Robyn, she would not be so easy to dismiss: this is a pure pop stoke disguised as a synth pop anthem,
13. Jersey City – Hilly Eye – It sounds like art rock but the drum loop suggests a dance song that changed its mind. In searching for a comparison, the drums are very Joy Divisional.
12. We Belong Together – Randy Newman – This is a secular hymn dressed up as a movie soundtrack stuffer for kids who will never learn better.
11. The Suburbs (Cont) – Arcade Fire – It sounds like a full orchestra going full monty and a minute and a half it should felt slight and it doesn’t. Wim’s vocal is, gasp, soft and it haunts the album absolutely.
10. Open Book – Kevin Greenspon – My appreciation for all things Greenspon is already documented. A high spot for an artist so uncompromised I am surprised he doesn’t chane his name to GYLPH.
9. The Beautiful Child – Kelley Ryan – this song is so beautiful it seems to ache with the thwartedness of life. This is an example of a beautiful song on a beatiful album that somehow got lost, Tricked out with the least gratiouttous use of strings, Kelley sounds so deep into her feelings, it is like she is singing in her basement,.
8. Only Ray Of Sunshine – Wesley Wolfe – Written for his wife and so complete in its anhedonia and his uxiorious feelings. It seems liked it is ripped out of him. So does the rest of Storage.
7. How Long – Ramona – It would be an important song if all it did was introduce Ramona. But it more than that, it is the great long lost Blondie song of your life channelled through Buddy Holly.
6. I Am A Robot – Marina And The Diamond – It sounds like a robot, like a rock song machine with a heart. And it inckudes an aphorism, written in the mid1800s by Frenchman Andre Gide: Better to be hated than loved for what you are not. Amen
5. Our Whole Lives – The Hold Steady – Possibly their greatest song, it towers over Heaven Is Forever. Filled with rings, dings, spooky girls, and a virginity successfully handed off. And then they visit his Pastor.
4. I Can Change – LCD Soundsystem – I had this as my alarm call for months than I began to feel depressed when I woke up. LCD’s best moment is filled one oneness that merges into loneliness even though the girl is standing in front of him.
3. Speak Now – Taylor Swift – When I first heard this I was immediately certain that her soon comesame named album was simply waiting for the critical establishment’s head off before we bowed in awe to Princess Taylor. It wasn’t to be but damn if this song does touch deep. Why? Because of “You need to hear me out…”
2. Runaway -Kanye West – The fastest nine minutes of your life. It deserves some sort of award for excellence.
1. A More Perfect Union – Titus Andronicus – Because I am first and foremost a rock fan, a rock song so shockingly perfect was bound to wear me down…. except it didn’t wear me down. I loved it from the moment I heard it. We will live forever or die from indifference to genius.