The Tops Series: Songs

My music lists are appearing sooner than Jon Fox's because I don't need to contend with him. Here is a very narrow list of what I believe the most powerful, meaningful, beautiful, and ear-pleasing songs were this past year:10. "Rococo"-Arcade Fire, The Suburbs: This song makes me wish to buy a tape player and the accompanying vinyl. It has that classic look that begs to be spun. Most of all, it`s catchy.9.

"Things"-Frightened Rabbit, The Winter of Mixed Drinks: Maybe it`s the Scottish charm, but the principal singer just kicks ass, like a Kurt Cobain/Sting/the lead singer of The Proclaimers hybrid. And the call is challenging lyrically; not in the bad sense, but in the sensation that it`s worth listening to. And sometimes I'm only a mere man.8. "Lemonworld"-The National, High Violet: At first this call was one of my least favorite on the album, but as the class went on it grew on me like fingernails on a fresh cadaver. It was noticeable to me that I comprehended the call when I started using "cousins and cousins" as a whole of measurement.7. "All Delighted People"-Sufjan Stevens, All Delighted People EP: Made me reminiscent of the original "All Delighted People" Sufjan never officially released, and after hearing to it a few times I take to take it is probably better than the original. Sufjan crooning "all delighted people promote their manpower" is such a fitting language for him. He really is an optimistic voice; a part of brightness in a fairly dark industry.6. "Christmas in the Room"-Sufjan Stevens (2009 but should count anyway because I didn`t know about it until a week ago), Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Vol. VIII: Infiniti Voyage starring Sufjan Stevens: Sufjan again. He`s a renaissance man. This song took me by surprise. First of all I wasn`t expecting more Sufjan Xmas tunes, and it is a bit unfortunate that he intends these albums for his friends-not the universal public-but they still end up being leaked onto teh interwebs. As far as this song goes, however, I am thankful for the leak. This may easily be Sufjan`s best original Christmas song. It holds the form of powerfully intimate emotion that actually only exists in the coldness of winter. And the promises Sufjan makes to his romantic partner in the call are heartfelt and innocent and beautiful.5. "England"-The National, High Violet: It is blatantly obvious that Sufjan was a piece of the output of this song, as it recalls "Concerning the UFO sighting_" from Illinois. The sole way I can draw this call is by calling it haunting. I like haunting. I also appreciate repetition when it`s used for effect. In this song, repetition is used for effect. It really allows the hearer to marinate in around of the regret the singer feels in the heat of a complete relationship.4. "Vesuvius"-Sufjan Stevens, Age of Adz: Don`t blame me for all the Sufjan, blame the man himself. Write him a letter and assure him to finish writing such transcendent songs. "Vesuvius" not only carries such an enticing tune, but the subject matter has the form of literary depth that one should look from a top 5 song in a given year. "Sufjan, follow your heart," he sings, while at the same time recalling images of that destructive mount of fire, cutting swathes through Pompeii and distressing the everyday Roman lifestyle with its tremors. The collocation of Vesuvius shaking up the normalcy of an empire and of Sufjan feeling tremors in his own spirit is a strong image, especially while it interacts with such an epic composition.3. "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks"-The National, High Violet: I don`t mean this is my favorite song from the album musically (that would probably go to "Afraid of Everyone" or "England"), but it contains both emotional and literary significance in my mind. It is simultaneously my wedding song and the clawed-to peak of an otherwise purposefully cynical album. The call is a lament, but affords even the smallest bit of hope. In fall of the Christmas season it recalls a bleak and sin-ridden world on the day of Christ`s birth. Hope. People might not make known how hope would be fulfilled, but there was a new covenant in the works, and that would change everything. "Vanderlyle" leaves us on the threshold of promise with the ring of passion in our ears; there is still love.2. "Suburban War"-Arcade Fire, The Suburbs: I love songs that tell a story. This call is the fable of the suburbs, and it leaves room at the end; it is making us look to get out what happens in the suburban war. To a baby of the suburbs all of my life, I resonate with this song. Most importantly I remember putting this strain as number two for the class is paying court to The Arcade Fire for what they did this year. "Suburban War" is the MVP of a stellar album and, in my mind, the best sounding song of the year. The driving beat of the song digs into the soul. And anyone who has gone through changes, who has undergone any transformations in his or her life, will assess the chorus of transfer at the end of the song.1. "I Wish To Be Well"-Sufjan Stevens, Age of Adz: In the grand strategy of things this call is an unlikely choice as the best song of the year. It starts off awkwardly and does not do much to pass the auditor in until over two minutes in. But to a mortal who exalts Sufjan Stevens over all other artists, to somebody who has persisted through almost the entire artistic journey till today, to a comparatively young follower of Christ in a sentence of transition, this song signifies faith, desire, and the often painful and ever ongoing work of sanctification. I think I can also observe the brilliant musical escalation as the song proceeds. When Sufjan and his backup singers tuck into the 2nd half of the song like a feed of truthful aspiration-bearing in judgment the remainder of Sufjan`s work-the consequence is an explosively commanding climax to his entire career.