Pop Rocks!: Episode 3.11: BEST POP SONGS OF 2007!!!
Oh what a year it has been for indiepop! And given my compulsion for listmaking (and evenmoreso, the amount of joy I take in doing Casey Casem-esque countdowns), I have a list of my 15 favorite pop songs of 2007. The first hour of the show were some very honorable mentions:
The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour (Challengers)
Immaculate Machine - Jarhand (Immaculate Machine's Fables)
Mammoth Life - At Once (Kaleidoscopic Art Pop)
Robert Pollard - Nicely now (Coast to Coast Carpet of Love)
BOAT - Period, Backslash, Colon (Let's Drag Our Feet!)
Loney, Dear - I Am John (Loney, Noir)
Boyracer - When You Were Mine (Jukebox Vol. 1) (Prince/Cyndi Lauper cover)
Fishboy - Minus Two (Albatross)
Hallelujah the Hills - Wave Backwards to Massachusetts (Hallelujah the Hills)
The Weakerthans - Tournament of Hearts (Reunion Tour)
The Clientele - Here Comes the Phantom (God Save the Clientele)
Taken by Trees - Lost and Found (Open Field)
Okkervil River - Plus Ones (The Stage Names)
Art Brut - Pump Up the Volume (It's a Bit Complicated)
Caribou - Melody Day (Andorra)
#15: Immaculate Machine - "Dear Confessor" from "Immaculate Machine's Fables"
Since seeing Immaculate Machine open for the New Pornographers a couple years ago, I've had a soft spot in my heart for them. Their music is just so full of joy and they seem like such nice, genuine people. And I think that comes through in the music. And the hook in this song gets caught in my head for days after hearing this song.
#14: Cloud Cult - "Take Your Medicine" from "The Meaning of 8"
I randomly picked up this album at music staff months ago and though it was really good. And really sad, considering that it's mostly about the death of the lead singer's son. But the songs are still really, really catchy, and this one was on repeat for a while this year.
#13: Tullycraft - "One Essex Girl" from "Every Scene Needs a Center"
The new Tullycraft record snuck up on me, and I wasn't prepared! On first listen I was a little let down but after three I was sold: it's another great Tullycraft album! And this song is so so good. It makes me feel wonderful.
#12: Electrelane - "To the East" from "No Shouts, No Calls"
I didn't get into Electrelane until a few months after we had the new album in rotation at the station. And as soon as I heard it all the way through, I rushed down to Love Garden and picked it up on vinyl. It's not the sort of pure indiepop that the show was designed around, but goddamn, the songs are so pleasant! They make me feel like any good pop songs should.
#11: Andrew Bird - "Plasticities" from "Armchair Apocrypha"
Andrew Bird knows how to write great songs. It's uncanny how good he is, and this is probably my favorite track from "Armchair Apocrypha." That voice! Those violin loops! That nice catchy chorus! Mmm!
#10: The Weakerthans - "Civil Twilight" from "Reunion Tour"
If ever there was an album I was conflicted about, it was "Reunion Tour." According to iTunes, I have listened to it 40 times. Add in the number of times I've listened to it in the car (probably 15 or 20, it was in the CD Player for a long, long time) and it umm, adds up. But yeah, at first I thought it was kind of bad. I was unimpressed. I'd accepted the more pop-oriented production sound of "Reconstruction Site" (breaking from the gentler sounds of "Left and Leaving") but the gloss on this record was just too much for a while. And the songs didn't hit me as hard. But listen after listen everything sort of pieced itself together and I think it's definitely one of the most coherent records of 2007; telling a loosely connected story of Winnipeg. And this song, about a bus driver whose route takes him past his ex-lover's house at civil twilight, is a perfect example of John K. Samson's ingenious songwriting that makes me fall to pieces.
#9: Get Him Eat Him - "The Coronation Show" from "Arms Down"
This album is a bit mediocre, but this song (which features Charles Bissel from the Wrens on guitar) is just a perfect, compact pop song. One that digs into your brain in the best way, beautifully catchy.
#8: Hulaboy - "Gay Boys On Your Battlefield" from "The Genius of (the) Hulaboy"
So, I first heard Hulaboy (which features Stewart Anderson of Boyracer) on Alternative Flashback last Spring and frantically searched out their records. So I listened to "The Genius of (the) Hulaboy" thinking it had come out in the mid 90's only to find out that it had come out in January. The late-80's/early-mid-90's alt/college rock sound here is impeccable. I was fooled, and am really happy that I get to put this song on the list.
#7: Of Montreal - "Du Og Meg" from "Icons, Abstract Thee" EP
While Of Montreal put out their masterpiece, "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?" in January, their pop gem this year is on the supplemental EP released shortly after the record. While the album details the breakdown of Kevin Barnes' relationship with his wife, this is a gorgeous song about their falling in love and eventual marriage.
#6: Voxtrot - "Firecracker" from "Voxtrot"
I think Voxtrot were feeling a lot of pressure to put out a full-length after releasing three stellar EPs over the last two years. And instead of taking their time, I think they appeased the hype surrounding them and quickly put out an LP. An LP that was really...not very good. There are a few great songs on it, though, An EPs worth, and while "Firecracker" doesn't quite live up to the earlier stuff, it's still pretty damn catchy and good.
#5: The New Pornographers - "My Rights Versus Yours" from "Challengers"
This album (along with Spoon) was the soundtrack to my summer. Everytime I got in the car I turned it to this song, AC Newman's departure from his "idiosyncratic" indiepop and into more adventurous territory. Maybe not more adventurous, but it was something new! More subdued, less immediate but ultimately, incredibly gratifying. This is just a beautiful song.
#4: Spoon - "You've Got Yr Cherry Bomb" from "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
As I said, Spoon was one of the soundtracks to this summer, and this was the song of the summer. A quick, catchy, earthshattering pop song. Everything a pop song should be put out by one of America's premiere rock bands. This song is perfect.
#3: Jens Lekman - "The Opposite of Hallelujah" from "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
Oh Jens! Oh your new LP is so good! So delightful! I'm running out of things to say, I just love this album to pieces.
#2: Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position" from "The Magic Position"
So Patrick Wolf stopped with the whole broody goth thing and put on some bright spandex and started making fucking amazing pop music. And this song caught me completely off guard. "Is this the same Patrick Wolf?" I thought! Glorious, that's the only word I can find for this tune! And the bit with the Major Key playing in the background commenting on the lyrics! Fantastic!
#1: Los Campesinos! - "You Throw Parties, We Throw Knives" from "Sticking Fingers Into Sockets"
Sure, the song is incredibly simple, a bit childish, and catchy as all hell, and while it might not be the best song of the year, for this show, this is it. This is everything that I had in mind when I started the show. It's pure joy packed into a little over two minutes. A bunch of kids from the UK playing up the hooks for all their worth and putting out amazing pop tunes. This is pop at its purest, most unadulterated, and best.
The New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour (Challengers)
Immaculate Machine - Jarhand (Immaculate Machine's Fables)
Mammoth Life - At Once (Kaleidoscopic Art Pop)
Robert Pollard - Nicely now (Coast to Coast Carpet of Love)
BOAT - Period, Backslash, Colon (Let's Drag Our Feet!)
Loney, Dear - I Am John (Loney, Noir)
Boyracer - When You Were Mine (Jukebox Vol. 1) (Prince/Cyndi Lauper cover)
Fishboy - Minus Two (Albatross)
Hallelujah the Hills - Wave Backwards to Massachusetts (Hallelujah the Hills)
The Weakerthans - Tournament of Hearts (Reunion Tour)
The Clientele - Here Comes the Phantom (God Save the Clientele)
Taken by Trees - Lost and Found (Open Field)
Okkervil River - Plus Ones (The Stage Names)
Art Brut - Pump Up the Volume (It's a Bit Complicated)
Caribou - Melody Day (Andorra)
#15: Immaculate Machine - "Dear Confessor" from "Immaculate Machine's Fables"
Since seeing Immaculate Machine open for the New Pornographers a couple years ago, I've had a soft spot in my heart for them. Their music is just so full of joy and they seem like such nice, genuine people. And I think that comes through in the music. And the hook in this song gets caught in my head for days after hearing this song.
#14: Cloud Cult - "Take Your Medicine" from "The Meaning of 8"
I randomly picked up this album at music staff months ago and though it was really good. And really sad, considering that it's mostly about the death of the lead singer's son. But the songs are still really, really catchy, and this one was on repeat for a while this year.
#13: Tullycraft - "One Essex Girl" from "Every Scene Needs a Center"
The new Tullycraft record snuck up on me, and I wasn't prepared! On first listen I was a little let down but after three I was sold: it's another great Tullycraft album! And this song is so so good. It makes me feel wonderful.
#12: Electrelane - "To the East" from "No Shouts, No Calls"
I didn't get into Electrelane until a few months after we had the new album in rotation at the station. And as soon as I heard it all the way through, I rushed down to Love Garden and picked it up on vinyl. It's not the sort of pure indiepop that the show was designed around, but goddamn, the songs are so pleasant! They make me feel like any good pop songs should.
#11: Andrew Bird - "Plasticities" from "Armchair Apocrypha"
Andrew Bird knows how to write great songs. It's uncanny how good he is, and this is probably my favorite track from "Armchair Apocrypha." That voice! Those violin loops! That nice catchy chorus! Mmm!
#10: The Weakerthans - "Civil Twilight" from "Reunion Tour"
If ever there was an album I was conflicted about, it was "Reunion Tour." According to iTunes, I have listened to it 40 times. Add in the number of times I've listened to it in the car (probably 15 or 20, it was in the CD Player for a long, long time) and it umm, adds up. But yeah, at first I thought it was kind of bad. I was unimpressed. I'd accepted the more pop-oriented production sound of "Reconstruction Site" (breaking from the gentler sounds of "Left and Leaving") but the gloss on this record was just too much for a while. And the songs didn't hit me as hard. But listen after listen everything sort of pieced itself together and I think it's definitely one of the most coherent records of 2007; telling a loosely connected story of Winnipeg. And this song, about a bus driver whose route takes him past his ex-lover's house at civil twilight, is a perfect example of John K. Samson's ingenious songwriting that makes me fall to pieces.
#9: Get Him Eat Him - "The Coronation Show" from "Arms Down"
This album is a bit mediocre, but this song (which features Charles Bissel from the Wrens on guitar) is just a perfect, compact pop song. One that digs into your brain in the best way, beautifully catchy.
#8: Hulaboy - "Gay Boys On Your Battlefield" from "The Genius of (the) Hulaboy"
So, I first heard Hulaboy (which features Stewart Anderson of Boyracer) on Alternative Flashback last Spring and frantically searched out their records. So I listened to "The Genius of (the) Hulaboy" thinking it had come out in the mid 90's only to find out that it had come out in January. The late-80's/early-mid-90's alt/college rock sound here is impeccable. I was fooled, and am really happy that I get to put this song on the list.
#7: Of Montreal - "Du Og Meg" from "Icons, Abstract Thee" EP
While Of Montreal put out their masterpiece, "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?" in January, their pop gem this year is on the supplemental EP released shortly after the record. While the album details the breakdown of Kevin Barnes' relationship with his wife, this is a gorgeous song about their falling in love and eventual marriage.
#6: Voxtrot - "Firecracker" from "Voxtrot"
I think Voxtrot were feeling a lot of pressure to put out a full-length after releasing three stellar EPs over the last two years. And instead of taking their time, I think they appeased the hype surrounding them and quickly put out an LP. An LP that was really...not very good. There are a few great songs on it, though, An EPs worth, and while "Firecracker" doesn't quite live up to the earlier stuff, it's still pretty damn catchy and good.
#5: The New Pornographers - "My Rights Versus Yours" from "Challengers"
This album (along with Spoon) was the soundtrack to my summer. Everytime I got in the car I turned it to this song, AC Newman's departure from his "idiosyncratic" indiepop and into more adventurous territory. Maybe not more adventurous, but it was something new! More subdued, less immediate but ultimately, incredibly gratifying. This is just a beautiful song.
#4: Spoon - "You've Got Yr Cherry Bomb" from "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
As I said, Spoon was one of the soundtracks to this summer, and this was the song of the summer. A quick, catchy, earthshattering pop song. Everything a pop song should be put out by one of America's premiere rock bands. This song is perfect.
#3: Jens Lekman - "The Opposite of Hallelujah" from "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
Oh Jens! Oh your new LP is so good! So delightful! I'm running out of things to say, I just love this album to pieces.
#2: Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position" from "The Magic Position"
So Patrick Wolf stopped with the whole broody goth thing and put on some bright spandex and started making fucking amazing pop music. And this song caught me completely off guard. "Is this the same Patrick Wolf?" I thought! Glorious, that's the only word I can find for this tune! And the bit with the Major Key playing in the background commenting on the lyrics! Fantastic!
#1: Los Campesinos! - "You Throw Parties, We Throw Knives" from "Sticking Fingers Into Sockets"
Sure, the song is incredibly simple, a bit childish, and catchy as all hell, and while it might not be the best song of the year, for this show, this is it. This is everything that I had in mind when I started the show. It's pure joy packed into a little over two minutes. A bunch of kids from the UK playing up the hooks for all their worth and putting out amazing pop tunes. This is pop at its purest, most unadulterated, and best.
posted by Ian at 11:39 PM
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