Mittwoch, 9. Jan 2008, 6:17

Hey all!
Here's the "largely awaited" part four.
Enjoy.

70. Radiohead - All I Need
Further proof that Radiohead are rarely, if ever, at musical fault- especially when they’re making the music that they want to make as free agents. This is a beautiful number, probably my favourite song on the In Rainbows record. It has a spaced out, almost cinematic vibe that is a nice progressive statement of the album as a whole. Thom Yorke, again, fits the song perfectly.

69. Interpol - The Heinrich Maneuver
On a fairly disappointing record (Our Love To Admire), this song stood out head and shoulders above its counterparts on the album. Another infectious hook, Paul Banks showcasing his Ian Curtis/Michael Stipe lovechild vocals, is what made this song the Amercian summertime alt-anthem that it was. Worth checking out, too, is the video- you always pick up something new upon every viewing.

68. Josh Pyke - Sew My Name
Fewer musicians this year released music that was just plain lovely as Mr. Josh Pyke. Finally dropping his debut album in “Memories And Dust”, this gorgeous little love note was a highlight for its simple instrumentation and perfect vocal harmonies. Something Ben Lee could have done if his latest album didn’t suck so much.

67. Animal Collective – Peacebone
Obviously not the best song of 2007, but my god it was one of the weirdest. Whurrs and buzzes bring in the song along with the best non-sequitur of the year (“Bonefish”? “Boneface”?). While all this is happening, we somehow find the song itself in the middle of a ridiculously catchy 6/8 stomp that was, basically, a skullfuck to anyone who has never experienced experimental music. Confused? Scared? Wait until you hear “Strawberry Jam”- Animal Collective are just getting started.

66. Serj Tankian - Empty Walls
System of a Down are one of my all-time favourite bands, so it was going to be very hard for anything Serj Tankian released on his debut solo album, Elect The Dead, to not make my list. This track, the second single, stood out for me in particular- its soft-loud contrast in the verses and chorus, the multi-layered vocals of the bridge and the excellent video clip, creating excellent metaphors and drawing very clever parallels between the war and child’s play.

65. Josh Pyke - Fed And Watered
Josh Pyke is an excellent lyricist, despite occasionally becoming prolix. This flaw is proudly presented on his behalf in this song- but somehow, he makes it work on this song- a fast-paced and catchy tune that also showcases Josh’s love of vocal range- from the high-pitched “ahhhhh”s to the lower key bridge. If Josh keeps making songs like these to go on albums like “Memories and Dust”, he could well become the next Paul Kelly.

64. Jimmy Eat World - Big Casino
The Jimmy boys came back in a big way in 2007 with the excellent “Chase This Light”. You can argue if you like, but to me there were very remote few better opening tracks in 2007 than this. The urgency of the guitar, the anthemic guitar and the completely soaring chorus with Jim Atkins the driving force- to put it simply, the haven’t sounded this big or this great since Clarity.

63. Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
If “The Back Room” saw English darlings Editors playing clubs and small venues, then “An End Has A Start” should have seen the band bound for the stadiums- at least, so the confidence and soundscapes found on the record would have you believe. This isn’t a bad thing, of course- the production was excellent and this song, in particular, saw the band better themselves completely.

62. Bloc Party - Hunting For Witches
One of the defining riffs of 2007 comes from this, another cut from Bloc Party’s amazing second record. While Lissack melts his fretboard, Kele preaches to all who will listen about a daunting future of Britain, torn apart completely by terrorism and racism. If you needed any reason why Kele Okereke is an amazing songwriter, then it can most certainly be found here.

61. Queens Of The Stone Age - Sick, Sick, Sick
Dark, sexy, confident, brooding- only one rock song had the winning combination of all four of these characteristics in 2007, and it was, unsurprisingly, Josh Homme and co. Massive guitar chug kept the backbone of the song, while everything else from random synth bleeps to Julian Casablancas was thrown in for good measure.

Thanks everyone!