Previously:
120-101,
100-91,
90-81,
80-71,
70-61
Spotify Playlist
60. Cloud Nothings - Modern Act
In a more anthemic turn than I'm used to hearing from Dylan Baldi's outfit, here's "Modern Act," the musical equivalent of a tire bouncing down a hill. The song almost sounds like it's starting
in media res and we're just being thrust into the action. "I want a life, that's all I need lately," Baldi barks, and all of a sudden we're reminded (in the midst of tons of other distractions these days) that self-care is still important. And working through a bout of lonerism can be one way to work toward achieving just that.
59. Rainer Maria - Suicides And Lazy Eyes
I picture myself in the audience at a show whenever this song kicks in. The lights have just gone dark from the song before, and out of the nothingness come these drums, pounding out a couple measures before the guitar erupts and the stage lights flare back on. It's the breaking of a new day, one where you wake up both before your alarm
and with a spring in your step. Maybe you're waking up on a Saturday with an alarm set to Never o'clock...but the point still stands.
58. The New Pornographers - Whiteout Conditions
The first of two New Pornos tracks in this block of 10 feels like the best track from between the
Challengers and
Together sessions that was too peppy for the former and too rock-y for the latter. It's right at home on an album packed full of Newman/Case-led songs, and though Dan Bejar's absence is felt, this collection of songs feels a bit more cohesive (if slightly less colorful). Newman's tongue twisting on the verses is deft, and Case and Calder provide a change-of-pace breather in between his takes.
57. Fleet Foxes - If You Need To, Keep Time On Me
You know those programs that stretch audio files out to crazy-long lengths? The ones that can make Justin Bieber tracks seem like
wonderfully cosmic masterpieces? Imagine if a fraction of that effect was applied to the ideals behind Fleet Foxes' music, the folksy melodies and harmonics left intact but the music emptied out just enough to add a layer of sobriety and solemnity to the proceedings.
Crack-Up was initially received in the way a lot of The National's music often gets received; but seeing as Robin Pecknold's group hadn't laid the groundwork of being a super-heady, slow-burning musical troupe, I know my first reaction was a bit of "...ok but where's this album's 'White Winter Hymnal?'" Given time, though, this track (and the album as a whole) reveals itself to be something of a gentle lullaby, a band's nuanced take on what had become a well-established musical trajectory.
56. White Reaper - The World's Best American Band
Think Elton John's "Bennie And The Jets," only with 150% more electric guitar and probably pyrotechnics and a synth instead of a piano, and you might have the start of an idea of how much fun this song is. Some of its lyrics come off as an ode to the lifestyle that might be espoused by the guys in Spinal Tap; some of its riffs sound like they could've been played by KISS in the 1970s; all of it has dirty-knuckle style and oozes fun.
55. Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
When Japandroids are at their best, they do this: Spend only as much time as is absolutely necessary to set up the rah-rah ideology that's sure to follow. Instead of
Celebration Rock-type fireworks, here we have guitar feedback and a drum roll fade-in before everything begins churning in double time. Some of it's a little on-the-nose ("I used to be good, but now I'm bad" closes out the chorus), but the music still makes you feel like you can run through a brick wall or two...if you wanted to, anyway.
54. Frightened Rabbit - Rained On
With due apologies to my girl Julien Baker, the best song on the three-song EP FRabbit released this year is actually one that
doesn't include her. In typically dreary fashion, the Scot rockers have produced this highlight that soars and hits the ceiling while still addressing the customary somber themes of Scott Hutchison's lyricism. I particularly like the closing line, though: "If California needs a drink, I'll be joining her for one." It's a touch ironic to be talking about California in a song called "Rained On," but I think that's what I enjoy so much about it.
53. Alvvays - Plimsoll Punks
Oh, you thought you were gonna get another slice of dream pop based on that jangly intro? Not so fast, my friend. Instead, we get something closer to pop-punk that works at a tempo more on the lines of "Adult Diversion" than "Party Police." Oh, but then that bridge hits and...we're back to dream pop? Nope, chorus kicks it back to the more pop-punk gear. It's a bouncy track - in more ways than one, clearly - and the title seems to poke fun at the type of person who'd try to act hard while wearing semi-posh slip-on shoes. They probably deserve it.
52. The New Pornographers - Play Money
Neko, man. She's something else. The track that immediately precedes No. 58 above has Neko Case taking the helm for lead vocal duty, and she delivers a vintage performance. It's a track clearly best-served by having her at the forefront. since my image of she and Newman swapping respective roles in this track would leave it significantly worse off. Its turn into disjointed oddball territory toward the end pushes it back on this list, but shouldn't let us discount Neko. Because, Neko, man.
51. Mac Demarco - My Old Man
Speaking of "* man," Mac Demarco and "My Old Man!" This track is stylistically in line with a lot of Demarco's
2 oeuvre: Generally a bit sleepy, hazy and chill. Hell, this one almost feels like it should have a bongo mixed in somewhere. For whatever reason, I hear this guitar part and think of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Breaking the Girl." I mean, they're not all that close to being the same song, yet here we are. Anyway, weird RHCP comparisons aside, Demarco comes across here as a bit more mature as he describes a bit of ennui that comes with aging. It's grown-up stuff boxed in that signature Demarco cloud of smoke.
Next:
50-41
