#5. The Sweet Science

After blasting onto the music scene with their critically-acclaimed “All Hour Cymbals” back in 2007, Brooklyn rockers Yeasayer put together their latest album with all the urgency of a DMV clerk. While the band busied themselves with touring, partying, and posing for the obligatory “uninterested band leaning against a wall” group shot, music fans from Red Hook to Fort Greene could only fill the intervening months by growing moustaches and pretending to really like Animal Collective. So it was that 2010’s “Odd Blood” was one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and its lead single “Ambling Alp” is the #5 song on our countdown.

#5. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

Unlike so many songs, “Ambling Alp” is actually about something: boxing. The song’s title is a reference to Primo Carnera, an Italian-American heavyweight champion who earned the nickname “The Ambling Alp” due to his impressive height. The avuncular adages and grandfatherly advice that comprise much of the lyrics are homage to lead singer Chris Keating’s grandfather, a one-time journeyman boxer. They hearken back to a day when men were men, doctors recommended cigarettes, and Communists were a threat other than in the realm of political hyperbole.

Musically, Yeasayer come into the bout in fighting shape. This bouncy track is all about the percussion, and  the drums open up with a flurry of combinations guaranteed to leave the listener dazed and on the ropes from the opening bell. The distinctive swinging feel is evoked by the usage of 12/8 time, wherein each beat is broken into three parts instead of the usual two. Anchored by this unique meter, the soundscape is further punctuated by sound effects from rushing water to something that sounds like C-3PO burping.

Against this dynamic backdrop, the vocals cut out cleanly and surely, unafraid to go toe-to-toe with the one-two punch of the driving beat and relentless keyboards. The cumulative effect is Tyson in his prime: a first-round knockout. "Ambling Alp" is a feel-good song that, while it may not have shaken up the world in 2010, shook my subwoofer with enough frequency to earn the title of #5 song of the year.

#6. You can call him Francis

As Winston Churchill (or was it Lisa Simpson?) once said: Francis Farewell Starlite is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. Upon first viewing the iconic video for his 2008 single "The Top" during a trip to San Francisco this past March, I felt many things: curiosity, wonder, profound confusion, and maybe even fear.  I had to know more. Once I saw this take-no-prisoners rehearsal video from his grimy basement apartment, I was utterly hooked, and even started wearing Jerry's laptop as a hat to better hear every revelatory note .

Hearing Francis for the first time

Hard as this may be to believe, Francis Farewell Starlite was not his birth name, though it is his legal name now. Formerly known as Abraham, Francis studied musical composition and piano performance at Wesleyan. His tightly composed and cleanly executed tracks reflect that classical training as well as another oft-cited influence: "The Elements of Style" by Strunk & White. This penchant for conciseness and simplicity, coupled with his melodic sensibility, manifests itself in a lot of short, pleasant, nice-to-listen-to songs - something of a rarity these days. 


In choosing a song from Francis's 2010 album "It'll Be Better" for the Countdown, I was spoiled for choice. The album was probably my favorite release of the year; the songs drip with honesty and emotion, and the compositional creativity in every track is a testament to the wide range of influences Francis is drawing on (he eschews comparisons, but artists and critics have nonetheless invoked Prince, Phil Collins, James Dean, James Brown, Joe Cocker, and Peter Gabriel in trying to describe his sound and stage presence). For me, however, the album's high point is undoubtedly "Darling, It's Alright."

#6. Francis and the Lights - Darling, It's Alright


This song is quintessential Francis. Strunk & White implore the writer to "omit needless words," and Francis has done just that in this tight 2:23 track. "Prefer the standard to the offbeat," they suggest - and indeed the song starts conventionally, with Francis singing Huey Lewis-esque over the piano and a simple drum backing before building steadily. "Work from a suitable design," Strunk & White say, and here Francis has his master stroke: two verses, a quick refrain after each, and then a breakdown taking it all the way home.

Ah, the breakdown - the Situation to this song's Jersey Shore, lending it a whole new level of profundity and intensity. The bass line reaches up into the cosmos whence Francis arrived in an escape pod from Krypton so many years ago, while the drums align with his impassioned singing for maximum effect. Songs like this one are best seen live - and at the show I caught back in April, Francis had the small crowd hanging on his every Godfather of Soul-inspired gyration. A musical icon perhaps arriving on the scene 20 years too late, Francis and the Lights have the #6 song of 2010.

Left to right: Me, Francis, Mike T. and Paul at the Middle East in Cambridge

#7. The Fundamental Beat of the Universe

#7. Toro y Moi - Low Shoulder

Toro y Moi is the polyglot stage name of Chaz Bundick, South Carolinian producer and DJ extraordinaire, whose dance-pop tour de force “Low Shoulder” comes in at the #7 spot on the Countdown. I first got acquainted with Toro y Moi’s unique style and mastery of the soundboards last year when he remixed Washed Out’s “Feel it All Around.” On that track, and others like this year’s excellent “You Hid,” Toro y Moi weaves deftly between hi- and lo-fidelity, creating a sensation of floating and detachment from reality – life as a permanent dreamscape.

On “Low Shoulder,” he weaves somewhat less subtly between pumping the jams and pumping the jams, creating a sensation with symptoms similar to acute funk syndrome and chronic head bob-itis. If this song does not make you want to get down like James Brown, seek medical attention immediately, as you could be in dire need of a groove marrow transplant. 

In the first few bars of the track, the keyboard comes in with what can only be described as the fundamental beat of the universe – the first jams God put on his 8-track player after he turned on the lights. Soon accompanied by a thumping bass line, hand claps, and soaring synths, the song builds in less than thirty seconds to a full-blown dance party in a box. It’s the type of sonic explosion that needs to be blasted through speakers to be fully appreciated – save the earbuds for the subway.

By the time the song reaches its mini-breakdown at the 2:15 mark, it’s clear that Toro y Moi is fully in control of the jam sandwich that he has created, served up on a party platter, and washed down with a pre-prohibition Four Loko. His show at the Middle East in Cambridge this past May was canceled after somebody stole his laptop in Brooklyn – occupational hazard of hipsterdom - but I’ll see him next time he’s in town, and you should too. Making the best beats out there right now, Toro y Moi was a no-brainer for the Top Ten of 2010.

#8. The "Real Estate" Boom

In these troubled times, Americans have been rocked by the realization that even that most reliable of economic redoubts - home ownership - can be as volatile as your Lehman Brothers mortgage-backed securities. Personally, I have built a foundation for long-term wealth on Blockbuster stock, a great tech company (Boo.com), and investments in the next big thing in home entertainment: "LaserDiscs." But regardless of the direction of the housing market, you can't fail with this hot tip: for hockey-stick growth potential, positive cash flows, and consistently excellent quarterly performances, stick with Real Estate in FY2011 and beyond.

Real Estate almost lost the chance to be on this Countdown, as their self-titled debut came out in late 2009. However, they took a break from a busy summer of touring to release a 7" single in October, which comes in at the #8 spot.

#8. Real Estate - Out of Tune



From the first few chords of this track, I could tell that the band hadn't strayed too far from the laid-back, chilled-out grooves that had made Real Estate one of the best albums of 2009. The bandmates come from New Jersey, where the beaches' lack of beauty is exceeded only by their lack of cleanliness. In spite of this, the simple guitar riffs and steady, increasingly persistent drumming (which occasionally snaps into double time) evoke the best days of summer, when the rhythm of the waves hitting the sand and the faded music blending with the sounds of the beach hypnotize you into thinking that maybe it could all go on forever.

Like a Hoodsie cup with that wooden stick for a spoon, "Out of Tune" is a simple summer treat that keeps you coming back for more. Only one album in, Real Estate have established themselves as a band with a timeless sound and a knack for transforming good vibes into good music. Stick some sand to the bottom of a sweaty Corona bottle, sit back, and enjoy.

#9. Number nine, number nine, number nine...

Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine...

And now, for something completely different, we turn to “Thieves” by She & Him. “She” is Zooey Deschanel, an actress who I am only familiar with as Uncle Andy's crazy ex-girlfriend Kat in Seasons Two and Three of Weeds. I've yet to block out two hours of my undivided attention to watch "500 Days of Summer," her romantic comedy with the guy who played the sad little kid in "Angels in the Outfield."  But while she may not have made my Oscar shortlist, her work as one half of She & Him has landed her and Him firmly in the coveted #9 spot on the Top 10 of 2010.

Grammatical objections notwithstanding, "Him" is M. Ward, a singer-songwriter who has been kicking around the independent music scene for the better part of the decade. He handles most of the musical heavy lifting - writing and arranging the songs, as well as playing the instruments - then wisely gets out of the way for Zooey to sing the melody on their best tracks. 

M. Ward has cited Johnny Cash as a major influence, but I hear more of June Carter Cash in "Thieves," the best song off She & Him's second album Volume Two. Zooey's hint of a country twang (presumably affected, as she hails from LA) imbues the song with a classic American pathos, heightened by the simple, plaintive character of the lyrics:

And I know / and you know, too / that a love like ours / is terrible news / but that won't stop me crying / no that won't stop me crying over you

#9. She and Him - Thieves



The song builds to its climactic high note, which is delivered with unexpected intensity. At that moment, you can practically see the heartbreaking bastard driving away on a windswept highway in his '72 Chevy while Zooey looks on forlornly from a dust cloud, choking on the bitter taste of too many words left unspoken. Or not.

Either way, there's something beautiful about Zooey's voice and the simple, elegant structure of this quintessential American love song - one of the best of 2010.

#10. The Countdown Begins

The end of a year, which is the impetus for this Top Ten countdown, is a good opportunity to consider the profoundly arbitrary nature of our concept of time. The breakdown of 365.2564 revolutions of Earth around the sun into units of twenty-four, and then further into units of sixty, is just the tip of the iceberg. The true arbitrariness derives from the fundamental fact that our concept of time is based on the orbit of our measly planet around our relatively average sun. The utter narcissism inherent in such a conception should be plain to any unbiased observer. The “end of 2010” then is noteworthy only in an arbitrary, geocentric framework that will undoubtedly make us the laughingstock of our interstellar neighbors when they arrive to colonize us. 

Speaking of arbitrariness and narcissism, I shall now begin to list my Top Ten songs of 2010 in countdown form for dramatic effect. Just what subtle harmony or delicate transposition will succeed in separating #7 from #8? Only time will tell. Without further ado, let the countdown begin.

#10. jj – My Way

My sister Caroline will love this because, like our Olympic bandy-playing au pair Malin circa 1993, jj is Swedish. The band is comprised of some guy named Joakim on the keyboards and a breathy singer named Elin, who just barely missed out on being the most famous Elin of 2010. 

jj make electronic, poppy covers of hip-hop songs with varying degrees of success; this one is a hit. Leaving aside the really creepy Charles Manson dialogue in the intro, the song takes off running with a dance floor-ready beat and Elin’s vocal stylings over swelling keyboard vibes and even some chirping birds. 

Finally, the coup de grace: an auto-tuned, syncopated interpolation of a verse by the Best Rapper Alive, Lil’ Wayne, from an otherwise forgettable 2005 collaboration with Trina. Joakim brilliantly tunes Weezy’s vocals to his keyboard riffs, creating a pretty awesome effect that hits its aesthetic apex around the 2:00 mark.

The end result is a super-catchy, danceable jam of a song that is a credit to the imagination and deft execution of jj both on the synths and behind the microphone. A worthy kick-off to the Top Ten of 2010.

The Best of the Rest: Honorable Mentions

As I so painfully learned at 8^th grade basketball tryouts, not everybody can make the cut. But while my only solace was a good cry in the back of my mother’s minivan, these lucky also-rans will get a little time to shine. Here are some of my favorite songs of the year which, though they didn’t quite make the Top Ten squad, should still get some quality reps with the JV. 

Morning Benders – Promises

I first heard San Francisco band The Morning Benders in February, a couple of weeks before I flew out to San Francisco for a Patton Tower reunion. This is a really nice song; it's the jazz sensibility in the percussion that really stands out - the drummer's "jazz hands" (not to be confused with spirit fingers). If you like this, check out their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.”

How to Dress Well and cokc dokc - Ready for the World

I’m mainly impressed with this song because of the ridiculous high note that comes in at 2:11. It’s like a sound I used to make by transposing the keyboard up an octave and tweaking the note-bender all the way up to get an extra half step, then hitting the high C – truly ear-splitting.

Reflection Eternal – Just Begun

This track gave me hope that the new Reflection Eternal album just might be as memorable as the original Talib Kweli/DJ Hi-Tek record in 2000. That wasn’t to be, but this was still a great jam, with the added bonus of including Jay Electronica (more to come from him on this list).  

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - 40 Day Dream

Like my beard, this song grew on me over the course of the summer and soon found itself firmly rooted in my repertoire. A great song to sing along to.


That's all for today. Next time, see what tracks are lucky enough to earn that varsity jacket, walk the storied halls of Blogosphere Academy with their heads held high, and date cheerleaders while giving lesser songs swirlies in the math building bathroom.

The countdown begins...

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to make a blog...

Whereas, friends near and far have recently requested that I do more to share some of my musical discoveries with them;
Whereas, I have a lot more time on my hands than I expected to, the Harvard Kennedy School notwithstanding;
and Whereas, reading blogs and Twitter has become part of my life whether I like it or not;

RESOLVED, that
I will henceforth endeavor to post and link to some of my favorite new songs on this blog for the world's listening enjoyment.

Fear not: despite the name, this blog will be utterly devoid of political punditry, claims as to which contemporary politicians are or are not Nazis, or discussions of Bristol Palin's possible 2036 Presidential campaign. I do, however, reserve the right to make repeated reference to George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

So sit back and enjoy - I plan on kicking this off with a countdown of my Top Ten Songs of 2010, which I will be putting up between now and New Year's Eve once I get the hang of the whole blog thing.


In the meantime, I leave you with a song that I just heard this morning by way of Gorilla vs. Bear... it's Brooklyn-based Twin Shadow (who is doing a show at the Middle East in Cambridge a week from today), remixed by South Carolinian producer Hard Mix... Not likely to crack the year's Top Ten, but guaranteed to get your head bobbing unless your boogie bone is broken.

Twin Shadow - Savannah Howl (Hard Mix Remix)