Is it list-making season already? Seems like it comes earlier every year. But there's a chill in the air, a twinge in my right hip, and a little voice in my head saying, "Compile an arbitrary list of your favorite songs. Put that list on the internet. Force your friends to listen to it."
And we'll get there. To be more precise, we'll get there on December 6, the day my 100 Songs for 2010 will be available on CD and (for the first time) hopefully available for immediate download. Fingers crossed. In addition, starting the same day, we'll count down the list five at a time, hitting #1 on Christmas day. So, if you're home celebrating with your family, and you just have to tell someone how badly you want to punch Tallest Man on Earth in the face ... please come here and do so in the comments.
Between now and then, I'd like to take a look at some songs that didn't make the list this year, but that I still enjoyed quite a bit. Today, we're starting with the easiest of the cuts: those great 2010 songs that, um, weren't actually released in 2010.
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We've discussed the flaws of my 100 Songs for 2009 list several times already. There are inexcusable omissions, to be sure: Bon Iver's "Blood Bank," La Roux's "Bulletproof," Japandroids' "Young Hearts Spark Fire," Woods' "Rain On." For the most part, those were songs that I was at least distantly aware of in 2009, but just never really paid attention to, and my list was poorer for it. You could probably come up with another 100 Songs just as good as the ones on my list. I'm aware of that.
In addition, though, there were plenty of songs from 2009 that I just never heard at all, didn't know about ... they might as well not have existed. And so, when I discovered them in 2010, I quickly added them to the "Contenders" list ... only to find out they were 2009 releases.
But I still think you should hear them.
Mayer Hawthorne - "Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'"
The best Motown song since Motown. If Pandora could isolate songs just like this one, I would listen to that station on a loop for the next several months.
Also, Mayer opens with this one at his live shows (and, at Outside Lands, he brought out back-up dancers for this song only). It's a bold move because, wow ... you're not topping this. It's not an insult to Mayer. NO ONE is topping this.
Vivek Shraya - "In/Out"
I had a whole rationalization in place for why I just HAD to include this song on the 2010 list. It was nominated for the 2010 Polaris Prize. It was featured on Hype Machine radio in 2010. It was ... um ... blogged about in 2010.
But ... no. It's a 2009 song. But it's so incredibly good. You shouldn't have to wonder. And I shouldn't have to ask.
Mumford & Sons - "Little Lion Man"
Released in the U.S. in 2010, but internationally a year earlier. For some reason, Ilana was adamant that this meant it was ineligible for the 2010 list. And, since it probably would have found a spot in the bottom quarter of the list anyway, I guess I'm okay with that. Solid tune, though. Also, you know what's great about being a hipster? Well, if you're this guy, it means you can call this song "a little too Christian for my tastes" despite the fact that it uses the F-word in the chorus.
Every person on the internet is completely insane.
Joey Ryan & The Inks - "Shame On Me Once (Shame On You Twice)"
Minneapolis! Chuck recommended this one, featuring former members of The Exchange, a band all of my Minneapolis friends were madly in love with when it existed. And, with excellent catchy songs like this, it's easy to see why.
fun. - "All the Pretty Girls"
Another great Curt recommendation. Not sure why that guy doesn't have his own music blog yet. I guess having an actual column in an actual newspaper is enough for him. Whatever, man.
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