Spotify
Rdio
Previously:
100-91,
90-81,
80-71,
70-61,
60-51,
50-41,
40-31
30. Sloan - Cleopatra
A few years ago, before they ascended to prominence, Local Natives recorded
a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia" in the back yard of the house they were living in as they wrote
Gorilla Manor. The atmosphere is raucous and upbeat, smiles abound and the group just seems to be having so much
fun as they perform a song about the end and mending of a relationship. Subject matters aside, the same mood is what I associate with this song. I can picture a group of friends sitting together in a cellar or smoky bar and just cranking this one out. The production values are obviously too high for this to be literal, but if you stretch your mind a little, can you feel that? This veteran Canadian group - whom I'd heretofore not heard of, somehow - sound like they're just having fun, and the song responds in kind.
29. Arkells - What Are You Holding On To?
Long live the shuffle beat. What is otherwise a song that's got plenty of energy and (to be repetitive) fun vibes on its own is energized by a shuffle beat that, to me, just feels criminally underutilized in modern alt and indie rock. It's an immediate energizer, and works in perfect tandem with the hip-shimmy vocal style. I use "toe-tapper" a lot when it comes to songs with this kind of vibe, but really, trying to listen to this one without feeling your shoe instinctively swinging up and down might prove difficult.
28. Cymbals - Erosion
Another emerging theme in this list is the sheer amount of songs that channel that '80s new wave/Brit-pop vibe, which is taking me by surprise the more I realize it as I go down the list. Here, that Cure-inspired guitar sound powers a darkly moving, synth-sprinkled track about the dissolution of human interaction via the internet age.
27. La Sera - Hour of the Dawn
A lighthearted indie rock track that shimmers like the reflection of the sun in the ocean waves. Katy Goodman's solo project perseveres in the face of the break-up of the Vivian Girls to great results, as the warm feel of this song endures even into these cold winter days and nights. Goodman's vocals are light and full, the guitar playing is really great - including a solo that, rather quietly, became one of my favorites of the entire year - and the feel-good nostalgia of the lyrics all make for enjoyable listens, play after play.
26. Ed Zealous - 147
In the race for "track on this list with the most energy," this one wins in a near runaway. It's loud, it's brash, it's soaring, it pushes its own limits in trying to be hyper synthpop and dance; it's a busy song, easy to get overtaken by and lost in when its chorus hits. We're not quite talking Japandroids-level hype, here, but this track does manage to channel a lot of "rah rah" in all its volume.
25. Alvvays - Next of Kin
In keeping with the trend of describing these tracks as feelings, Alvvays contribute a sunny, day-in-the-park song in "Next of Kin," a shining bit of laid-back guitar pop with just a bit of haze around the edges. What this band manage to do so well, on this and other tracks from this year's self-titled effort, is push that easygoing feeling without sounding bored or boring. That's a fine line to walk; often, you hear claims that Real Estate drift too far into that "boring" niche (even though I'm not one to make said claims), but Alvvays steer clear of any danger of falling into that grouping.
24. Night Beds - Head For the Hills
Somehow a leftover from 2013's solid
Country Sleep, "Head For the Hills" is the best thing Night Beds have ever done, or at least rivals "Ramona." Winston Yellen's voice is strong, emotional; the musical build-up with strings and slide guitar conjure images of some vast plain at dusk, with the titular hills somewhere out in the distance. It's an expansive track that at once feels powerful and immediate, with Yellen inviting you to experience something very personal.
23. Bombay Bicycle Club - So Long, See You Tomorrow
Speaking of build-up, the finale title track off BBC's wonderful album is perfectly placed, a true album finisher that wraps up all of the ideas and sounds from the tracks that came before into a beautifully rendered song that starts soft and finishes in a satisfyingly layered cavalcade of sound. It's not the most immediately captivating song, but a patient listen will be rewarded before long.
22. Trust - Joyland
There's really no easy way to describe Robert Alfons's voice. One minute, it's Frankie Valli; the next, it's Ian Curtis. "Joyland" finds Alfons living more in the Valli range than Curtis and, on first listen, it almost makes the track sound goofy. A pulsing bit that some describe as "darkwave," a term I'd never heard and don't really understand and so disavow beyond this point, Trust's anthemic-sounding disposition actually suits Alfons's voice pretty well. It's understandable if his singing style just completely alienates you, but if the shoe fits, wear it. As an aside, Canada continues to be well-represented on this year's list, cranking out their fair share of memorable music in 2014.
21. The Sunshine Underground - The Same Old Ghosts
A smart, accessible piece of electronic dance music that deftly utilizes audio channel balance to create a track that never quite feels steady in spite of its otherwise straightforward construction, TSU have produced a track that, in a different world, probably turned into something of a minor hit. Instead, it can't even be found on YouTube at the moment. Complementing a punchy groove in its verses with a chorus that reaches for the ceiling, "The Same Old Ghosts" is deserving of more recognition than I can give it. (Note: Song link is Spotify)
Next:
100-91,
90-81,
80-71,
70-61,
60-51,
50-41,
40-31, ...
20-11,
10-1
