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The links on this page are to YouTube videos of
various songs (mostly "singles"; many of the indie-pop style)
that I enjoy. Starting in 2009, I decided to stop adding to an increasingly long (perhaps ridiculously-long) list, and instead focus on releases from a given year. I won't call this a "best of" list, since I don't listen to enough artists to claim I've found the top songs of a given year. Rather, this is just a list of (albums and) songs released in a certain year that I've enjoyed. Many of the songs are by artists from the U.K., most of whom I learned about by listening on-line to 6Music on BBC Radio (thanks British taxpayers!). Where possible, I've linked to official videos posted by the relevant music company. If you choose to listen to any of these songs, I hope you enjoy them. [P.S.: it's the songs, not necessarily the videos, that appeal to me.] |
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Six Albums from 2010 Arcade Fire: The Suburbs Jenny and Johnny:1 I'm Having Fun Now Laura Marling:2 I Speak Because I Can Local Natives: Gorilla Manor Standard Fare: The Noyelle Beat Two Door Cinema Club:3 Tourist History |
and a sample song from each: "We Used to Wait" (Montreal) "Big Wave" (Los Angeles) "Goodbye England (Covered in Snow)" (London) "Camera Talk" (Silver Lake, California) "Philadelphia" (Sheffield, England) "Something Good Can Work" (Northern Ireland) |
| Thirty Other Songs from 2010* | |||
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New(ish) U.K. (and Ireland) Artists:
Erland and the Carnival: "Trouble in Mind" (various U.K.) Johnny Flynn (with Laura Marling; live): "The River" (London) Kurran and the Wolfnotes: "Your Four Limbs" (various; England based) Slow Club: "Giving Up On Love" (Sheffield, England) Smoke Fairies: "Hotel Room" (Chichester, England) Frank Turner: "Try This At Home" (England (born in Bahrain)) Villagers: "Becoming a Jackel" (Dublin, Ireland) New(ish) U.S. Artists: Avi Buffalo: "What's It In For?" (Long Beach, California) Best Coast: "Boyfriend" (California) Maps & Atlases: "Solid Ground" (Chicago) The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: "Heart In Your Heartbreak" (NYC) Warpaint: "Undertow" (Los Angeles) Athens/Atlanta: Allison Weiss: "Fingers Crossed"4 (now Brooklyn) The Orkids: "Paper Dolls" (now Atlanta) |
Established Artists: Belle and Sebastian: "Write About Love" (Glasgow, Scotland) Cee Lo Green:5 "F*** You"6 (warning: expletives!) (Atlanta) The Futureheads: "Heartbeat Song" (Sunderland, England) I Am Kloot: "Northern Skies" (Manchester, England) Interpol: "Barricade" (New York) Jonsi:7 "Go Do"8 (Iceland) Manic Street Preachers: "Just The End of Love" (Blackwood, Wales) Maximum Balloon:9 "Groove Me" (NYC; now LA) Shakira (ft. Freshlyground): "Waka Waka"10 (S: Columbia (Fg: South Africa)) Teenage Fanclub: "Baby Lee" (Glasgow, Scotland) Vampire Weekend: "Holiday"11 (New York) Laura Veirs: "July Flame" (born Colorado; now Portland) Yeasayer: "Ambling Alp" (Brooklyn, via Baltimore) World: Afrocubism: "Para Los Pinares Se Va Montoro" (Cuban and Malian musicians) Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate: "Sabu Yerkoy" (both Mali) Khaira Arby: "Aigna" (Timbuktu, Mali) |
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Notes: * This list has been slightly changed since it was originally posted. 1. "Jenny" is Jenny Lewis (ex of Rilo Kiley); "Johnny" is Johnathan Rice, who has put out solo albums. 2. Several of the young British Isles artists included here — Laura Marling, Erland and the Carnival, Villagers, Johnny Flynn, and (probably) Kurran and the Wolfnotes — come out of the "underground folk" movement (which also includes Mumford & Sons and Noah and the Whale). 3. This group was originally on my song list, rather than my album list. That was because I didn't hear their whole album until 2011. One heard it, I moved the group here. 4. The song "Fingers Crossed" was released prior to 2010; the video, however, is from 2010. 5. Cee Lo Green has also been a member of various groups, including Gnarls Barkley. 6. Clean version: "Forget You" (and live). 7. Jonsi is a member of Sigur Ros. 8. As heard in a Ford Explorer commercial. 9. Maximum Balloon is David Sitek, who is a member of TV On The Radio. 10. Waka Waka was the official song of the 2010 World Cup; it's also the third-most-viewed-ever video on YouTube. 11. As heard in Honda commercials. |
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A Dozen Favorites from 2009 Bat For Lashes: "Daniel" (Brighton, England) Camera Obscura: "French Navy" (Glasgow, Scotland) The Cribs: "We Share The Same Skies (Yorkshire, England) Death Cab For Cutie: "Meet Me On The Equinox" (Bellingham, WA) Florence and the Machine: "Drumming Song" (London) Gossip: "Love Long Distance" (Searcy, AR/Olympia, WA) Charlotte Hatherley: "Alexander" (London) Local Natives: "Camera Talk" (Silver Lake, CA) Metric: "Sick Muse" (Toronto/New York) Morrissey: "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" (Manchester, England) The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: "Young Adult Friction" (NYC) Tinariwen: "Lulla" (Tuareg people; Mali) |
Eight Runners Up Lily Allen: "The Fear" (London) Animal Collective: "My Girls" (New York) Fleet Foxes: "Mykonos" (Seattle, WA; 2009 re-release) Mariachi El Bronx: "Cell Mates" (Los Angeles) Reverend and the Makers: "No Soap (In a Dirty War)" (Sheffield, Eng.) The Very Best: "Warm Heart of Africa" (Malawi & London) Allison Weiss: "Fingers Crossed" (Georgia) Yeah Yeah Yeahs: "Zero" (New York) |
| Pre-2009 | |||
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Those Dancing Days: (Sweden) "Home Sweet Home" (2008) "Hitten" (2008) "Run Run" (2008) Amadou and Mariam: (Mali) "Ce N'est Pas Bon" (live; 2008) "Beaux Dimanches" (2005) "Le Realite" (live; 2005) Maximo Park: (Newcastle, Eng.) "Our Velocity" (2007) "Books From Boxes" (2007) "Girls Who Play Guitars" (2007) "Apply Some Pressure" (2005) "The Coast Is Always Changing" (2005) "The Kids Are Sick Again" (2009) Belle and Sebastian: (Glasgow, Scotland) "The Blues Are Still Blue" (2006) "I'm A Cuckoo" (2003) "Wrapped Upu In Books" (2003) I'm From Barcelona: (Sweden) "We're From Barcelona" (2006) "Collection of Stamps" (2006) "Paper Planes" (2008) The Decemberists: (Portland, OR) "O Valencia!" (2006, live) "16 Military Wives" (2005) "The Soldering Life" (2003) Long Blondes: (Sheffield, Eng.) "Once and Never Again" (2006) "Weekend Without Makeup" (2006) Emma Pollock: (Glasgow, Scotland) "Adrenaline" (2007) "Acid Test" (2007) Editors: (Birmingham, Eng.) "An End Has A Start" (2007) "Munich" (2005) Charlotte Hatherley: (London, Eng.) "I Want You To Know" (2006) "Summer" (2004) Sambassadeur: (Gothenberg, Sweden) "That Town"* (2007) "The Park" (2007) Tilly and the Wall: (Omaha, NE) "Rainbows In The Dark" (2006) "Sing Songs Along" (2006) Habib Koite: (Mali (west Africa)) "Wassiye" (1999, live) "Batoumambe" (2001) "Africa" (2007, live) Wombats: (Liverpool, Eng.) "Let's Dance to Joy Division"2 (2007) "Moving to New York" (2007) Death Cab for Cutie: (Bellingham, WA) "I Will Possess Your Heart" (2008) "The Sound of Settling" (2003) "Title and Registration" (2003) Dengue Fever3: (Los Angeles) "Seeing Hands" (2008) "One Thousand Tears of a Tarantula"** (2005) Dogs Die In Hot Cars: (Fife, Scotland) "Godhopping"* (2004) "Lounger"* (2004) "Apples & Oranges"** (2004) "I Love You Cause I Have To" (2004) Florence and the Machine: (London) "Dog Days" (2008) "Drumming Song" (2009) "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)" (2009) Operator Please4: (Gold Coast, Australia) "Just a Song About Ping Pong" (2007) "Leave It Alone" (2007) |
Camera Obscura: (Glasgow, Scotland) "Let's Get Out Of This Country" (2006) "French Navy" (2009) "Honey In The Sun" (2009) Bat For Lashes: (Brighton, England) "Daniel" (2009) "Pearl's Dream" (2009) "What's A Girl To Do?" (2006) "Prescilla" (2006) Royal Treatment Plant: (England) "Undercurrent" (2008) "Half As Much" (2008) Kaiser Chiefs: (Leeds, Eng.) "I Predict A Riot" (2005) "Never Miss A Beat" (2008) Lily Allen: (London) "The Fear" (2009) "LDN" (2006) Coldplay: (England) "Viva La Vida" (2008) "Life In Technicolor II" (2009) Reverend and the Makers: (Sheffield, Eng.) "Heavyweight Champion of the World" (2007) "No Soap (In a Dirty War) (2007) Tender Trap: "Fireworks" (London; 2009) Dancer Vs. Politician: "Justin Fairborn"** (Athens, GA; 2008) Toubab Krewe: "Maliba" (N. Carolina; 2008; live; acoustic) Critical Darlings: "Happy Here And Now" (Athens, GA; 2008) The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: "Young Adult Friction" (NYC; 2009) Army Navy: "Saints" (Los Angeles; 2008) Arcade Fire: "No Cars Go" (Montreal; 2007) Animal Collective: "My Girls" (New York; 2009) Metric: "Sick Muse" (Toronto/New York; 2009) Noisettes: "Wild Young Hearts" (London, Eng; 2009) Art Brut: "DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshakes"** (London, Eng; 2009) The Last Shadow Puppets: "Standing Next To Me" (Eng.; 2008) Tinariwen1 Chert Boghassa (live) (Mali (Tuareg people); 2005) Ham Sandwich: "Keepsake" (Kells, Ireland; 2008) Kate Nash: "Foundations" (Dublin/London; 2007) Polly Scattergood: "Please Don't Touch" (Colchester, Eng.; 2009) Aberfeldy: "Love Is An Arrow" (Edinburgh, Scotland; 2004) Frank Turner: "Reasons Not To Be An Idiot" (Bahrain (of Eng. descent); 2008) The View: "Same Jeans" (Dundee, Scotland.; 2007) Saint Etienne: "Side Streets" (Eng.; 2005) The Coral: "In The Morning" (Wirral, Eng.; 2005) Mystery Jets: "Two Doors Down" (Twickenham, Eng.; 2008) Captain: "Frontline" (London, Eng.; 2006) British Sea Power: "Waving Flags" (Brighton, Eng.; 2008) Alela Diane: "White As Diamonds" (iPortland; 2009) Emily Smith: "May Colven" (Scotland; 2008; live) Noah and the Whale: "5 Years Time" (London, Eng.; 2007) Helen Love: "Debbie Loves Joey"** (Wales; 2004) Graham Coxon: "Bittersweet Bundle of Misery" (London, Eng.; 2004) Candie Payne: "One More Chance" (Liverpool, Eng.; 2007) The Go! Team: "Doing It Right" (Brighton, Eng.; 2007) Rodrigo y Gabriela: "Diablo Rojo" (live; Mexico; 2007) Chairlift: "Bruises"** (Bolder, CO & Brooklyn; 2008) Santogold: "Lights Out" (Philadelphia; 2008) Okkervil River: "Lost Coastlines" (Austin, TX; 2008) Fleet Foxes: "Mykonos"* (Seattle, WA; 2008) The New Pornographers: "Sing Me Spanish Techno" (Vancouver; 2005) Shugo Tokumaru: "Parachute" (Tokyo, Japan; 2008) Pony Up!: "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" (Montreal, Can.; 2006) Remi Nicole: "Rock N Roll" (Eng.; 2007) Camille: "Ta Douleur" (Paris, France; 2005) I Am Kloot: "Over My Shoulder" (Manchester, Eng.; 2005) Delgados: "Everybody Come Down" (Glasgow, Scotland; 2004) Sons & Daughters: "Gilt Complex" (Glasgow, Scotland; 2007) Regina Spektor: "On The Radio" (New York, born Russia; 2006) Laura Viers: "Don't Lose Yourself"* (Seattle; 2007) The Shins: "Australia" (Albuquerque, NM; 2007) Dr. Zeus: "Kangna" |
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| Older | |||
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Johnny Clegg (and Savuka):
(South Africa) "Asimbonanga" 5 (live) "Scatterlings of Africa" "Great Heart" (live) Elvis Costello: (Liverpool, Eng.) "Radio, Radio" (1978) "Pump It Up" (1978) "Mystery Dance"** (1977) "Oliver's Army" (1979) "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding)" (1979) "New Amsterdam" (1980) "45" (2002) Suzanne Vega: (Santa Monica, CA & New York) "Marlene On The Wall" (1985) "Solitude Standing" (1987) "Left of Center" (1986) "In Liverpool" (1992) "Blood Makes Noise" (1992) "Last Year's Troubles" (2001) "Frank & Ava" (2007) "Zephyr & I" (live; 2007) R.E.M.: (... um ...) "Radio Free Europe" (19) "Maps and Legends" (19) "Fall On Me" (19) "Cayohoga" (19) "Welcome to the Occupation" (1987) "Orange Crush" (live; orig. 1988) "Losing My Religion" (1991) "Man On The Moon" (live; orig. 1992) "Electrolite" (live; orig. 1996) "Imitation of Life" (live; 2001) "Bad Day" (live; 2003) "Supernatural Superserious" (2008) Stone Roses6: (Manchester, Eng.) "She Bangs The Drum" (1989) "Elephant Stone" (1989) "Waterfall" (1989) Housemartins: (Hull, Eng.) "Happy Hour" (1986) "Sheep" (1986) Teenage Fanclub: (Scotland) "Sparky's Dream" "The Concept" (SNL) "Ain't That Enough" "What You Do To Me" Blondie: (New York) "Dreaming" (1979) "Picture This" (1978) "One Way Or Another" (1978) "Sunday Girl"7 (1978) "Hanging On The Telephone" (1978) "Maria" (1999) The Smiths: (Liverpool, Eng.) "Ask" (1986) "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" (1986) "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" (1984) Morrissey: (Manchester, Eng.) "Every Day Is Like Sunday"8 (1988) "First Of The Gang To Die" (live; 2004) Joe Jackson: (Burton-upon-Trent, England) "I'm The Man" (1979, audio and video out of synch) "On Your Radio" (live, song from 1979, performance 1980s) "It's Different For Girls" (1979) "Stepping Out" (1984) "Home Town" (live on Carson, 1986) "Awkward Age" (live on Jools Holland, 2003) Inspiral Carpets: (Manchester, Eng.) "Saturn Five" (1994) "She Comes In The Fall" (1990) "This Is How It Feels" (1990) "Bitches Brew" (1992) Lloyd Cole and the Commotions: (Buxton, Eng.) "Rattlesnakes" (1984) "Lost Weekend" (1985) "Jennifer She Said" (1987) Undertones: (Derry, Northern Ireland) "Teenage Kicks" (1979) "My Perfect Cousin" (1980) Midnight Oil: (Australia) "My Country" (19xx) "Beds Are Burning" (19xx) "In The Valley" (19xx) Rockpile9: (England) "Heart"** (1980) "Teacher, Teacher" (1980) Nick Lowe9: (Suffolk and London, Eng.) "So It Goes" (live; 1978) "Cruel To Be Kind" (1979) Dave Edmunds9: "Girls Talk" (London; 1979) Billy Bragg: (Essex, England) "You Woke Up My Neighbourhood" (1980) "Sexuality" (1980) Pretenders: (London (via Akron, OH)) "Brass In Pocket" (1980) "Talk Of The Town" (1981) "Back On The Chain Gang" (1984) "Middle Of The Road" (1984) Fountains of Wayne: (New Jersey) "Survival Car" (live; orig. 1996) "Bright Future In Sales"** (2003) "Valley Winter Song"* (2003) |
Lush:
(London, England) "Ladykillers" (1996) "500 (Shake Baby Shake)" (1996) "Single Girl" (1996) Echo and the Bunnymen: (Liverpool, Eng.) "Seven Seas" (1984) "The Killing Moon" (1984) "The Game"** (1984) Peter Gabriel: (Eng.) "Solsbury Hill" (1977) "Games Without Frontiers" (1980) David Bowie: (Brixton, England) "Rebel Rebel"* (1974) "Young Americans"** (1975) "Sound and Vision"** (1977) "Modern Love" (1983) The Clash: (England) "London Calling" (19xx) "Train In Vain"** (19xx) The Jam: (England) "The Eton Rifles" (19xx) "Going Underground" (19xx) "That's Entertainment" (19xx) "Town Called Malice" (19xx) "Beat Surrender" (19xx) Pulp: (England) "Common People" 10 (1995) "Disco 2000" (1995) Kate Bush: (Kent, England) "Hounds of Love" (1985) "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" (live; 1985) Hayley Westenta: (Christchurch, New Zealand) "Wuthering Heights"11 (2003) Bluetones: (Eng.) "Slight Reurn" (19xx) "Bluetonic" (19xx) The House of Love: (London) "The Beatles and the Stones" (1990) "Christine" (1988) Catatonia: (Cardiff, Wales, U.K.) "You've Got a Lot To Answer For" (1996) "Game On" (1998) "I Am The Mob" (1998) The Go-Betweens: (Australia) "Streets Of Your Town" (1988) "Was There Anything I Could Do?" (1988) "Right Here" (1987) Department S "Is Vic There?" () U2: "Get On Your Boots" (Ireland; 2009) The Dream Academy: "Life in a Northern Town" (London, 1985, live) The Cure: "Friday I'm In Love" (Crawley, Eng; 1992) The Waterboys: "The Whole of the Moon" (London, Eng.; 1985) Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians: "Heaven" (Cambridge, Eng.; 1985) Squeeze: "Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)" (London; 1980) XTC: "Mayor of Simpleton" (Swindon, Eng.; 1989) Echobelly: "Great Things" (London, Eng.; 1995) Boo Radleys: "Wake Up Boo!" (Liverpool, Eng.; 1995) The The: "Beat(en) Generation" (London, Eng.; 1989) The La's: "There She Goes" (Liverpool, Eng.; 1988) The Divine Comedy: "Everybody Knows (Except You)" (Londonderry, Ire.; 1997) The Sundays: "Here's Where the Story Ends" (London; 1990) Boomtown Rats: "I Don't Like Mondays" (Ireland; 1979) Mull Historical Society: "Watching Xanadu" (Mull, Scotland; 2001) Aztec Camera: "Oblivious" (; 1983) Gene: "As Good As It Gets" (England; 1999) Eddie & the Hot Rods: "Do Anything You Wanna Do" 12 (London, Eng.; 1977) The Teardrop Explodes: "Reward" (Liverpool, Eng.; 1981) Martha & the Muffins: "Echo Beach" (Canada; 1980) The Wonder Stuff: "It's Yer Money I'm After Baby" (Eng.) Tom Robinson Band: "2-4-6-8 Motorway" (Cambridge, Eng.; 1978) Television: "Marquee Moon"** (New York; 1977) Stevie Wonder: "He's Misstra Know It All"** (Saginaw, MI; 1973) Flamin' Groovies: "Shake Some Action"** (San Francisco; 1976) Marshall Crenshaw: "Someday, Someway" (Detroit; 1982; live) Bangles: "Hero Takes a Fall" (Los Angeles; 1984) 10,000 Maniacs: "Like The Weather" (New York State; 1987) Peter Tosh: (Westmoreland, Jamaica) "Stepping Razor"* (1977) "African"** (1977) Prince Buster: "Whine and Grine" (Kingston, Jamaica; orig. 1968/this version 1998) Specials: "Rat Race" () English Beat: "Save It For Later" (Birmingham, Eng.; 1982) Mighty Mighty Bosstones: (Boston) "The Impression That I Get" (1997) "Rascal King" (1997) Sugar: "If I Can't Change Your Mind" Carpenters: "All I Can Do" (Downey, CA; 1969) Osmonds: "Crazy Horses" (Ogden, UT; 1972) The Ides of March: "Vehicle"* (Chicago; 1970) The Association: "Windy" (Los Angeles; 1967) Easybeats: "Friday On My Mind" (Sydney, Aus; 1967) Smokey Robinson & the Miracles: "Tears Of a Clown"** (Detroit; 1967) Eddie Floyd: "Knock On Wood" (recorded in Memphis (Stax); 1967) Dusty Springfield: "Son Of a Preacher Man" (England; 1969) Sam Cooke: "Wonderful World"** (Mississippi, 1958) The Cyrkle: "Red Rubber Ball" (Pennsylvania, 1966) Dobie Gray: "The "In" Crowd"** (Texas, 1965) Del Shannon: "Runaway" (Grand Rapids, MI; 1961) Petula Clark: "Downtown"** (Epsom, Eng.; 1964) Benny Goodman (Swing Band): "Sing, Sing, Sing" Ziggy Elman (Swing Band): "And The Angels Sing"** Glenn Miller (Swing Band): "In The Mood" Duke Ellington (Swing Band): "Take The `A' Train" Count Basie (Swing Band): "One O'Clock Jump" Gilbert and Sullivan: "When I Was A Lad" |
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Footnotes: *. Not an official artist video. **. Just audio. 1. Here's some background information on Tinariwen; it's quite a story. 2. One of the lines is "Let's Dance to Joy Division" ("let the love tear us apart") is a reference to the Joy Division song "Love Will Tear Us Apart". 3. The band is from Los Angeles. The singer is originally from Cambodia; she sings many of their songs in Khmer. 4. Operator Please originally formed for a high-school battle-of-the-bands contest. 5. The song is inspired by Nelson Mandela; on YouTube, click "(more)" for the lyrics. 6. While the Stone Roses were never well known in the U.S., their debut album is considered to be one of the all-time best British rock albums. In this poll, for instance, it's ranked as the all-time greatest British album. 7. Alternate versions of Sunday Girl. Live ... with bagpipes (live) and in French. 8. A quick listen to the lyrics, and a thought about the images they call to mind, will tell you just how truly bizarre it is that the lyric of this song is used in an NFL commercial. 9. Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds were both members of Rockpile; they both play on each other's solo releases. Also note that "Girls Talk" was written by Elvis Costello. 10. Amazing live cover of "Common Peple" by William Shatner (!), Joe Jackson, and Ben Folds. 11. Hayley Westenra's version is a cover of the Kate Bush original. 12. There's also a great live version of "Do Anything You Wanna Do" on YouTube. |