sum the greater

Howdy peeps! I’ve had this mixtape fairly well...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:49:00 -0800

Howdy peeps!

I’ve had this mixtape fairly well organized for a week or so, but hadn’t fully realized its glory until a weekend trip to Muir Woods. On the way out, we rocked our way through the first eight and a half tracks, then chilled out to the second eight and a half on the ride home. It was almost as glorious as the woods themselves. As you may have noticed on some of the other mixtapes, my taste can be quite eclectic. The first half of the mix is fairly heavy on female singers, falsettos, and heavy beats, whereas the second half favors more traditional guitar rock. One of the coolest parts (ok, maybe I’ve just listened to it too much) is that it sounds great on a loop :)

Anywho, hope you enjoy as much as I do. As always, don’t be afraid to let me know what you think!

<3 / ∑>

1. Jonsi – “Go Do”

This song has been blowing my mind the last few weeks. Jonsi is the lead singer and creative driver behind Sigur Ros (who I’ve honestly never been a huge fan of), and he’s now releasing his first solo record, supported by what appears to be an incredible tour. This track, like the rest of the record, features vocals and instruments meant to invoke nature as a driver of the same emotions music evokes. Even without thinking of it in such detail, the song is flat out marvelous.

2. Marvin Gaye – “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”

I jumped in my cousin’s car last weekend just as this track started and immediately asked who it was. Marvin Gaye? Really? It sounds so fresh! I guess the tastiest grooves never go sour.

3. Wild Beasts – “We still got the taste dancin’ on our tongues”

I got to see these guys at The Troubadour a couple weeks ago and got everything I was hoping for out of the show – I had struggled to get into their recordings precisely because they’re so complex and out there, but putting a human face to it and watching them construct the sounds was truly magical. As the name might suggest, they sound like what might happen if Mew lived with wolves for a year.

4. Evan Voytas – “I Run With You, Spirit Animal”

More great space-pop from Silverlake, CA’s Evan Voytas. He’s been on so many mixtapes I’m running out of things to say, except that the video for this song is freaking nuts (in a good way).

5. The Blow – “True Affection”

My friend was drunkenly spinning records after a night on the town recently, and out of nowhere this track came on. All conversation stopped, and a new level of afterparty erupted. Catchy, soulful, clean – does it get any better?

6. Wildbirds & Peacedrums – “Doubt/Hope”

The first few times through this song I definitely failed to realize that what feels like a full-bodied track is actually just a single girl singing alongside a drummer. Rarely is so much done with so little. Color me impressed.

7. Sleigh Bells – “Ring Ring”

This one comes in by request from my big brother, who recently heard another Sleigh Bells track on the radio. Sure enough, they’re blowing up (apparently working with MIA, among others), and rightfully so.

“Wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces. / What about them? / I’m all about them”

8. Hesta Prynn – “Can We Go Wrong”

Hesta Prynn has probably been on as many mixtapes as Evan Voytas, and I’m running out of things to say about her as well. Suffice to say I’m stoked to finally catch a live show at SXSW.

9. A B & The Sea – “Yellow Haired Girl”

Things are going well for the A B & The Sea guys, as they unlocked this second track off their EP within a week of launching a cool campaign where they’ll give away more music as more people join their mailing list. They also recently played an awesome set to close out Noise Pop with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. More goodness on the way.

10. Say Hi – “Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh”

Seattle’s Say Hi (formerly Say Hi To Your Mom) have been around for the better part of a decade, and gems like this are almost expected at this point. Don’t believe me? Listen to more.

11. Dr. Dog – “Shadow People”

Like a lot of people, I am unbelievably excited for the new Dr. Dog record. They rightly draw comparisons to The Beatles, and I’ve only heard allegorically of their magical live show – hoping to change that next month :)

12. Tame Impala – “Half Full Glass Of Wine”

Discovered this one through the inimitable yvynyl. Heavy guitar rock from Perth, Australia. I think my head might explode if I saw these guys share a stage with fellow Australians The Drones.

13. The Appleseed Cast – “On Reflection”

This track is pulled from the soundtrack to 72 Musicians, an incredible film (which you can get free for at least another couple hours) made by my friend and coworker Bob and designed to answer the eternal question of why we sacrifice and do stupid things for the sake of music. It’s a moving documentary with interviews of, well, 72 musicians in Kansas, and also includes some amazing music like this.

14. Beloved Rogue – “Daysleeping”

Beloved Rogue has to be my favorite music to magically appear in my inbox since starting this blog. I never really counted myself as a fan of shoegaze, and barely of ambient music, but there’s something really cohesive and heavy about this EP that I just can’t get enough of. You can get the EP free from their website.

15. Rodriguez – “Inner City Blues”

No, this isn’t a cover of the Marvin Gaye song from earlier on the playlist, just a happy coincidence of names. I got this track from a mixtape my friend at Ears Of The Beholder put together and dig it’s bluesy vibe. He’s somewhat of a mythical figure, forgotten by a generation of Americans but a cult favorite in South Africa. Check out more of his tale here.

16. Portugal The Man – “The Dead Dog”

Alaska’s Portugal The Man have evolved somewhat from haunt-rock into a more traditional rock sound, and their songwriting continues to improve as well. They were part of the first show I ever saw at The Troubadour, and I would love to see them again. Their newest record, American Ghetto, is a favorite in our office.

17. Band Marino – “Every Time I Make A Girl Cry I Know I’ve Done My Job”

Yes, that is the title of the song, and yes, it is one of the best titles ever. Sadly, the band is no more, but this gem lives on. I probably played this song more than any other when I had my radio show in college, and I’m still not sick of it – the concept is hilarious, and the songwriting impeccable. What more can you want? Check out more of their tunes, in memoriam.

Hey all - I’m not sure quite what to say about this mix...

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:56:00 -0800

Hey all -

I’m not sure quite what to say about this mix — it’s definitely all over the place. Then again, I have been, too. I’ve been out of town two of the last four weekends, and had friends in town the other two (to say nothing of work and helping on the A B & The Sea campaign). This mix has been traveling with me, though — I wrote half of the below descriptions while on a bus heading the wrong way after the Noise Pop Pre-Party, then had to stop at the end of the line (which happened to be on the opposite side of the city from home, right next to the ocean…oops). At any rate, I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

<3 / ∑>

1. The Golden Filter – “Hide Me”

After a couple years of leaked demos and remixes blowing up the blog scene (numerous #1s on Hypem, three of the top 50 downloads of 2009 on Stereogum), The Golden Filter have finally announced their debut full-length, Voluspa, which arrives April 14^th. This is the lead single and can be downloaded free for an email or a tweet on their website.

2. Marina and the Diamonds – “I Am Not A Robot” (Penguin Prison Remix)

Penguin Prison is back with another killer mix, this time of a Marina and the Diamonds song that is beyond catchy in its own right. Stuck somewhere between trance, dance, and straight up pop, this song is perfect for nearly any situation.

3. Get Well Soon – “5 Steps / 7 Swords”

I’m not shy about being a sucker for horns, and there are plenty of those in this dark tune.

“If we set sail now / we’ll make it to heaven or hell before dawn”

4. Givers – “Up Up Up”

Borrowing very heavily from Vampire Weekend’s afro-pop influences, Givers write catchy yet soulful tunes with both male and female vocals offering playful harmonies. Don’t be fooled by the first couple minutes – these kids aren’t shy on the guitars, either.

5. Micachu – “Calculator”

I’ve been struggling for a year to find an accurate way to describe Micachu, and I still haven’t come up with anything. They’re mathy, playful, jazzy, and outright ridiculous, yet somehow wind up back at catchy pop. How? I’m not quite sure, but that’s what fascinates me about them. Their live show consists of everything from ukuleles to vacuums to racks of empty bottles and trash can lids.

6. Chapeau Claque – “Das Karussell”

Lalala French circular madness lalala

7. Rye ‘n Clover – “Black Hoodie Dreams”

Another one for the “should’ve been on the Juno soundtrack” files.

8. Lissie – “Everywhere I Go”

I have been harboring a not-so-secret obsession with Lissie the last couple months. There’s just something so earnest about her (incredible) voice and songwriting. Cannot wait for her debut LP this Spring.

9. Dawes – “When My Time Comes”

My best friend and I went to a Dawes concert a couple weeks back and perhaps the most apt description of the experience came from my friends mouth: “I think I get how people in older generations can like Bruce Springsteen.” We weren’t the only ones there getting excited either – I spotted members of Port O’Brien and A B & The Sea amidst the mixed crowd. They closed with this track and the entire venue erupted in song together. The experience has since made me feel like the production on this track falls flat, because it really is a song for a community to shout at the top of their lungs together.

10. Cloud Control – “Gold Canary”

This song has been growing on me since my first listen, to a point I find myself humming it repeatedly throughout the day. Sydney’s Cloud Control write a lot of uptempo songs, so the song is already a bit of an anomaly. The chanting juxtaposed with the howling vocals creates incredible textures in an otherwise simple song.

11. Josiah Wolf – “The Trailer And The Truck”

Xylophones, muted horns, and a whole lotta percussion. Need I say more?

12. Wakey! Wakey! – “Twenty Two”

I’ve been getting emails about these guys for months, but hadn’t given them the time of day til recently. Turns out this song is a jam, and the rest of the record ain’t too shabby either. It’s definitely an easy and familiar sound, but the use of a single word for the chorus is pretty damn cool.

13. Darwin Deez – “Bad Day”

The first couple times you hear this song, you’ll laugh along with it. After a few more listens, you’ll be singing along to every word, possibly even with someone in mind (or not — I cannot get enough of this track, and I harbor no spite for anyone).

14. Anders Ponders – “Slowest Motion Miracle”

I think what drew me into this song was the concept of “pacifists on the attack” and the ideal of “bring(ing) another golden age.” Naturally, such change doesn’t happen quickly, hence “the slowest motion miracle.” For now, they sing.

15. Caribou – “Odessa”

Ontario’s Caribou are back with a new record and an even more polished sound. Something about the beat reminds me of the early nineties, or at least what they must have felt like to a twenty-something back then. That may be totally misguided, but I mean it as a positive.

16. The Tindersticks – “Falling Down A Mountain”

I was browsing through recent Topspin releases a few weeks back and stumbled upon this gem. Everything about it is just so smooth, in spite of its driving tempo. Oh, and HORNS!

17. Erik Hassle – “Nothing Can Change This Love”

Add another name to the list of outstanding white male soul singers seeming to emerge in the last year or so. Sweden’s Hassle croons with the best of them, and I’ll let him say the rest.

And so it begins… We had a great release party last night...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:46:00 -0800

And so it begins…

We had a great release party last night for A B & The Sea, and now it’s time to get the music out there to the masses. For free! We’ve designed a campaign to reward fans for the spread of the band’s music. How?

Easy: The more fans who sign up for the band’s mailing list, the more tracks the band will give all the email list subscribers for free. In other words, if you get your friends to sign up, you both get more music.

We’ve set up thresholds, so the first song will be free to anyone entering their email, the second song will be unlocked at 500 emails, the third at 1000, the fourth at 2000 (and maybe a bonus or two after that, who knows). Fans also have the ability to share and embed the widgets just like a YouTube video to maximize the spread. Want to do that? Use the button above, or copy and paste this code onto your blog or web page:

As always, be sure to let us know what you think.

<3 / ∑>

PS - New mixtape coming SOON! Just been busy getting everything together for this :)

A B & The Sea - “Bone Dry” A B & The Sea...

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:00:00 -0800

A B & The Sea - “Bone Dry”

A B & The Sea (listen to demos and watch a couple live videos here) hail from San Francisco via Wisconsin (no, I didn’t know them before they moved out). They play insanely catchy, harmony-rich pop songs reminiscent of The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Shins. Oh, and they make teenage girls cry when they talk to them (no joke).

We’re helping premiere a very cool campaign with these guys (more details to follow), and will be hosting a listening party tonight using software called MixApp, which allows friends to listen to music together online (think chatrooms but with the ability to stream music together). I’ll be at the studio with the band during the party, so consider yourselves all invited to the (digital) studio.

The A B & The Sea EP premiere will be at 8pm PST (11pm EST), but we’ll be streaming mixtapes (including a debut of #14) from sum the greater before and after.

To join the listening party, use this link to sign up for MixApp: http://mixapp.com/invite/87c8395de6
Then join the room “sum the greater” anytime tomorrow evening.

Facebook invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=312900741379&index=1

The campaign will kick off immediately following the listening party, so as of around midnight EST you’ll be able to get the first single, “Bone Dry,” for free from http://abandtheseamusic.com (it currently re-directs to their MySpace profile, but that will change :) ).

Stay tuned for much more greatness.

<3 / ∑>

stg mixtape #13 Well hello there! Sorry to keep you waiting so...

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:16:39 -0800

stg mixtape #13

Well hello there!

Sorry to keep you waiting so long for the next mixtape, but hopefully it will be worth the wait. It’s been raining a bunch in San Francisco, so I’ve spent a lot of time indoors and being introverted, and this mix is reflective of that. It’s generally a little slower and softer than the last (with occasional ROCKYOURSOCKSOFF just to purge any sort of “comfortable” feelings you may have felt coming on), but hey, we can’t always go out and party (or can we?). I found these songs to take me on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, both musically and lyrically, and I hope I’m not alone in that.

Like what you hear? That’s what the “Embed” and “Share” links on the streaming player are for. Go ahead, they don’t bite. And if you don’t like what you hear (or if you just want someone to talk to on a rainy day), drop us a line.

Oh and don’t forget to click the “Download Now” link on the top-right side of the page to get the MP3s.

<3 / ∑>

1. Field Music - “Measure”

This is the title track off Field Music’s newest album, and brings out their best qualities with textural layer of strings, guitars, bass, and drums.

2. My Robot Friend - “By Your Side” (feat. Dean Wareham)

New York’s My Robot Friend is something of a mysterious character, apparently performing in an elaborate light-up suit and possibly involving pyrotechnics. Beyond that, all I can tell you is that the music is damn good. More here.

3. Faded Paper Figurines - “North By North”

I was going to write that this Postal Service-esque band should blow up among the Grey’s Anatomy-watching crowd, then I noticed they’ve had songs on the show twice. Regardless of whether or not you fall in that demographic, this song is just plain lovely. More here.

“To islands on the sea / lands I’ve never seen / things will get calmer—follow me.

4. Beloved Rogue - “Capital Sense”

These guys sent me their EP a few weeks back and it’s been in constant rotation ever since. They seamlessly meld elements of shoegaze with heavier rock, and even a hint of pop sensibilities leaks in. If this came out in the early to mid 90s, it would blow up. I’m hopeful it still will. Get the EP free here.

5. Your Nature - “Sands”

Long time listeners know how strongly I feel about this band — pretty sure this is the fifth track to be featured in mixtapes. For those who haven’t been listening as long, you can now catch up quickly as the band just released their debut EP for free from their website.

6. Free Energy - “Dream City”

Philly’s Free Energy are due for a big bump in the blogosphere pretty soon — their classically-styled rock’n’roll songs are just flat out catchy. Listen to some more here and look out for their debut record soon.

7. Modest Mouse - “Satin in a Coffin”

I had largely ignored this song until seeing Modest Mouse in Dublin in December. They absolutely slayed it. They’ll be writing and recording a new album pretty soon, and I, for one, can’t wait.

8. Librarians - “Hard To Unwind”

This one comes courtesy of our friends at Ears Of The Beholder. They’re proof that good things can actually come out of West Virginia! Listen to more here.

9. Small Black - “Despicable Dogs” (Washed Out Remix)

We alluded to this remix when we posted the original back in October, but it just seemed to fit here. They’ve since done a remix in return, and made iTunes list of artists to watch in 2010. Rightfully so.

10. The Smiles and Frowns - “The Echoes of Time”

Simple and beautiful, this two-piece creates incredibly intimate songs. If one just isn’t enough, listen to more here.

11. Summer Dregs - “Bones”

I was going to write something about how this sounds like an opening credits song for one of those nerdy romantic comedy shows you secretly like, but then I noticed their MySpace only has about a thousand plays, and that needs to be rectified immediately. GO! PLAY! LISTEN!

12. Angus & Julia Stone - “And The Boys”

Tender tunes from down under, as Angus & Julia Stone will break and mend your heart all day long. Check out much more goodness here.

13. Said The Whale - “Holly, Ontario”

At first I was turned off by the incredibly simplistic guitar that pervades through the song, but then I realized it actually serves to amplify the lyrics. Oh, Canada. More here.

14. The Low Anthem - “Charlie Darwin”

This track stuck out when I was trolling through all the artists attending SXSW last year, and I can’t believe it’s taken this long to find a proper spot for it on a mixtape. They recently played a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR, which played perfectly into their intimate feel. Watch that here.

15. Isbells - “As Long As It Takes”

Don’t know that I’ve posted about a Belgian act before, but hey, here ya go. I don’t even know how to pronounce any of the cities on their tour. But at least there’s more music here.

16. EELS - “In My Younger Days”

EELS tunes are strange and powerful beasts — they’re depressing nearly to a breaking point, yet at the same time there’s an overwhelming optimism that pervades. In this little ditty, E laments growing old, losing a love, etc, but still manages to come through a-ok, a testament to human fortitude.

17. Real Estate - “Beach Comber”

Whoa, since I last checked in with these guys, they’ve blown up. But rightfully so. Clean guitar riffs, plodding drums, and lovely vocals make for a pretty swell package. Check em out here.

18. All Smiles - “Fall Never Fell”

Jim Fairchild was in Grandaddy for over a decade, then when they broke up he began his own project called All Smiles. He now also plays in Modest Mouse, but continues to write, record, and play as All Smiles, often with help from famous friends. This track comes from his latest EP of the same name, which you can stream and buy here.

sum the greater mixtape #12 Howdy! Welcome to a brand...

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:41:32 -0800

sum the greater mixtape #12

Howdy!

Welcome to a brand spankin’ new year full of wonderful music that we’re more than happy to bring you. In the spirit of spreading the love, we’ve decided to try something new. See that playlist up there? It’s got “Embed” and “Share” buttons on it, so you can share it allllllll over the internets. Plus, when you and your friends click the “download mixtape” button in the right column of the blog, you’ll instantly get all the mp3s for free. How does that sound? Good? Ok, let’s party.

<3 / ∑>

1. Douster - “King of Africa”

I love what Radioclit is doing in bringing African sounds to the dance halls of the world, from their work in The Very Best to the Saga Africa EP this track comes from. How can you go wrong with a brilliant remix of the theme from The Lion King? Makes me want to dance every time.

2. The Very Best - “Get It Up”

More tribal/dance hall fusion from Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya, this time with the help of M.I.A. and Santigold.

3. Yeasayer - “ONE”

This is very quickly becoming my favorite track on Yeasayer’s new album, Odd Blood.

4. Vampire Weekend - “Cousins”

I was admittedly a bit concerned that “Horchata” was a sign that the rest of the new Vampire Weekend record, Contra, was going to be contrived and just plain annoying, but I’m happy to tell you it’s not. This track brings almost a surf-punk feel to the table, and the rest of the album doesn’t disappoint (though it doesn’t blow you away either). You can stream the whole record here.

5. Darwin Deez - “Radar Detector”

New York’s Darwin Deez describes himself as “indie rock with a side of calisthenics,” and that description seems pretty apt.

“you and i buy star maps and drive my car around los angeles / you and i buy star maps and ding dong ditch a televangelist”

6. Ellie Goulding & Starsmith - “Sleepyhead” (Passion Pit Cover)

Ellie Goulding is pretty much a lock at this point for breakthrough artist of 2010, with help from stars like Lily Allen, but that in no way means we should stop enjoying every beautiful sound out of her mouth. I really enjoy this cover precisely because it feels more organic than the original, and that’s something of a departure for the girl who is generally known for electronic-heavy dance tracks.

7. Dirty Projectors - “Ascending Melody”

This song, along with another, was on the blog this week as a free download. It was recorded at the same time as Bitte Orca, but didn’t fit the storyline of the record. It has everything you’ve come to know and love about Dirty Projectors (the somewhat jagged girls’ voices, the jangly guitar interspersed at somewhat awkward intervals) plus a kinda funky breakdown.

8. Rogue Wave - “Good Morning”

I hardly recognized this as Rogue Wave the first time I heard it, and it’s taken a few listens to sink in, but there’s no denying it’s a quality track.

9. Free Energy - “Free Energy”

Yes, this song was written in 2009, not the 1970s. Yes, it still rules.

10. Wolf Gang - “The King And All Of His Men”

London’s Wolf Gang brings an undeniable catchiness to this and their other singalong-ready tracks. Appropriately, there are undertones of Queen mixed in as well. Tune into a few other tracks as well here.

11. Screaming Lights - “Champagne Socialist”

More catchy (but slightly heavier) brit-rock? OK! More here.

12. Old Canes - “Little Bird Courage”

Lawrence, KS has to have one of the most consistent small-town music scenes in America. Old Canes continues in that tradition. Lead singer Chris Crici is also in Appleseed Cast, who are well worth your time. More here.

13. Meeting Of Important People - “Brittney Lane Don’t Care”

I “leaked” this mix to my friend Britti (real name “Brittany Layne”), who immediately picked up on this track and was baffled by their ability to write a song about her without knowing her. So, er, this one goes out to Britti.

14. The Golden Filter - “The Hardest Button To Button” (The White Stripes cover)

Yes, I do very much love The Golden Filter, but perhaps most impressive about them is their ability to break the mold of electro/disco/dance-rock and cover/remix pretty much any song known to man and truly make it their own. Big things coming from this band.

15. Truman Peyote - “New Wife New Life”

Not quite sure what to make of the fact that they’re “sold out” of a CD-R release of their first record, but there’s no denying this band’s potential. This track is like a dance version of a sea chantey. How can you go wrong?

16. Boy Omega - “Black Metal Fairies”

They’re from Sweden. If you follow this blog, that’s pretty much all you need to know.

17. Monarchy - “Gold In The Fire” (demo)

Okay, so maybe the whole second half of this playlist was dedicated to a desire to find myself late at night in a deep, dark, underground London dance hall. Anyway, you can keep the party going with more Monarchy here.

18. Oh, Mountain - “Bear’s Beat”

Arguably the best interlude in recent memory. Don’t listen to me, just breathe for a second.

19. Fyfe Dangerfield - “When You Walk In The Room”

You may (but probably not) recognize Fyfe from The Guillemots, but he’s breaking out on his own in style with his debut LP, of which “When You Walk In The Room” is a shining example of the mix of pop and soul. Tune in here.

20. Sister Suvi - “American”

Sister Suvi will go down as the practice grounds for the brilliant bands that now are Tune-Yards and Islands. We love the ashes of the band, so how could we not love the (unfortunately now-defunct) band?

“I’m an American / I want to rip you to shreds just to make sure you love me”

Dirty Projectors - “Ascending Melody” Happy Monday!...

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 10:26:00 -0800

Dirty Projectors - “Ascending Melody”

Happy Monday! Two new tracks from Dirty Projectors are here for your enjoyment. These were originally recorded during the Bitte Orca sessions, but just didn’t quite fit with the rest of that album. As an added bonus, 20 people who download will be chosen at random to receive a vinyl copy of the “Ascending Melody” single. What are you waiting for? Enter your email below to join the band’s mailing list and get “Ascending Melody” and “Emblem Of The World” free!

#1 - Dirty Projectors - “Stillness Is The Move” It...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:15:13 -0800

#1 - Dirty Projectors - “Stillness Is The Move”

It has to be somewhat difficult for an avant-garde band like Dirty Projectors to transform into the creature that produces this sort of diva-level female fronted track, but their execution is impeccable. Better yet, it fits into the (outstanding) album seamlessly. Perhaps the biggest difference between previous records and Bitte Orca is the emphasis on the female vocalists to play the characters while the guitarist/male singer focuses on crafting the story around them, and no better song is an example of that move than this one. Smart, innovative, and beautiful, this track is undoubtedly deserving of our #1 spot.

Teaser: as a special treat, we will have two new, free tracks from these guys in the next week. Stay tuned for greatness in 2010!

#2 - Miike Snow - “Animal” I’m sure I’ll...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:09:38 -0800

#2 - Miike Snow - “Animal”

I’m sure I’ll get some notes arguing this isn’t the best song on the album (and the beauty of the album is that ANY song could be here), but I’d ask those folks what the first song to get them hooked on Miike Snow and wager the majority of responses landed here.

“I change shapes just to hide in this place / but I’m still, I’m still an animal”

#3 - Yeasayer - “Ambling Alp” A musician friend of...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:53:47 -0800

#3 - Yeasayer - “Ambling Alp”

A musician friend of mine recently said he didn’t think Yeasayer had the commercial potential of Phoenix. I’m very hopeful that this track (and forthcoming album) will prove him wrong, even in spite of its egregiously NSFW video. Sure, it’s a little weird (and sure, the singer’s voice warbles a bit), but the catchiness and positive message outweigh all the rest.

“Stick up for yourself, son / Nevermind what anybody else done”

#4 - Phoenix - “1901” I remember hearing a ton of...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:50:20 -0800

#4 - Phoenix - “1901”

I remember hearing a ton of people making a big fuss when Phoenix released this track for free through their website, and I couldn’t help but think, “But wait, no one’s really even heard of Phoenix.” Well, now they have, and largely thanks to this song. Crazy how the buzz machine works — again proving rule #1 of generating buzz: don’t suck.

#5 - Micachu - “Golden Phone” Prior to seeing...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:46:03 -0800

#5 - Micachu - “Golden Phone”

Prior to seeing Tune-Yards, Micachu was easily my favorite live act of the year. Their songs are brilliant precisely because they turn the elements of pop songs on their heads to create even better pop songs. More specifically, they play prepared guitars, ukuleles, wine bottles, trash can lids, and even vacuums, but manage to create incredibly coherent sounds.

#6 - Animal Collective - “My Girls” Contrary to...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:44:00 -0800

#6 - Animal Collective - “My Girls”

Contrary to Animal Collective albums of the past, Merriweather Post Pavilion offers numerous tracks, including this one, that stand up on their own as pop gems. Sure, all the instrumentation is electronically looped, but the song structure, melodies, and harmonies are all out of a more traditional playbook, just with the band’s special touch.

#7 - Grizzly Bear - “Two Weeks” This song and album...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:44:12 -0800

#7 - Grizzly Bear - “Two Weeks”

This song and album have gotten an absurd amount of love this year, but at least in the case of the song it’s well deserved. I can’t say I like the album, but this track’s arching vocals and syncopated rhythm section complement the keyboard melody impeccably.

#8 - Your Nature - “Cherokee Blood” Another...

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:44:00 -0800

#8 - Your Nature - “Cherokee Blood”

Another incredibly young, incredibly mature band, Your Nature’s debut EP would have holes in it were I listening on vinyl. Everything about this song screams authentic rock’n’roll and just feels natural. Can’t. Get. Enough.

#9 - Fever Ray - “Triangle Walks” I became enamored...

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:43:26 -0800

#9 - Fever Ray - “Triangle Walks”

I became enamored with this album early in the year and haven’t let go. It’s chilling and haunting, but at the same time incredibly rich and beautiful. It also carries an heir of truly international music — Swedish singer singing in English to European synths marked with Japanese chimes.

#10 - Local Natives - “Sun Hands” I would say...

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:08:21 -0800

#10 - Local Natives - “Sun Hands”

I would say I’m biased as I’m lucky to call these guys friends, but I heard this song before they were my friends and it sold me on the band. Harmonies + crescendos + rolling basslines and drums = WIN! If you get to see these guys live, hang onto your hats for this epic.

#11 - Tune-Yards - “Hatari” This song wins not only...

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:19:33 -0800

#11 - Tune-Yards - “Hatari”

This song wins not only for its catchiness, but also for its unbelievable vocal display (needs to be seen live to truly grasp her power). It is a shining example of Merrill’s ability to fuse pop with some tribal sensibilities that I have no idea where she picked up. If you leave this countdown learning nothing else, learn this: you absolutely positively must see Tune-Yards live if you have the opportunity.

#12 - Harlem Shakes - “Sunlight” Another track that...

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:15:16 -0800

#12 - Harlem Shakes - “Sunlight”

Another track that just flat out feels good. Bask in its glow.

#13 - Islands - “Tender Torture” I said previously...

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:14:25 -0800

#13 - Islands - “Tender Torture”

I said previously that Islands was impossible to truly love (and also nearly impossible to ignore), but this song gets as close as they come to being soulful. Layering soul on top of their already impeccable pop sensibilities makes for a potent songwriting recipe.

“I’ve seen some great things / but I don’t want to see anything / if I can’t see you”