my top songs of 2005

Let's get a few things straight before we get this party started. I did not buy an extraordinary amount of cds this year - probably about 10 total. And I was not disappointed by any of them. It's hard making a list of the best, especially since some songs seem to stick to me like glue for a few days, after which I get over them. So maybe this isn't the best, but a small sampling of some music I really liked over the past year. In chronological order of when they came into my life.

The Blow - Hey Boy
This is admittedly cheating - this song is actually from an album released in 2004, but I did not really hear and appreciate this song until early 2005. Dancy, poppy, and all too relateable, this song is the perfect "Learning to Be a Loser Theme Song" as Khaela herself calls it. I wrote more about it (and other songs like it) here, on my wordier, partially abandoned blog endeavor.

Sleater-Kinney - Jumpers
The first time I heard "The Fox", I found it really grating and I wasn't too excited about hearing the new Sleater-Kinney. But those girls turned me around in the end... The Woods is fabulous. Not to mention, seeing them live again this summer reminded me that they are the hottest band ever. Period. No argument. Were it possible, I would have 10,000 of their collective babies. But enough swooning! "Jumpers" always struck me as particularly haunting ever since I read the New Yorker article that inspired it. And I have still been somewhat obsessed with articles about suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge. I still often get chills when I listen to this one.

Hockey Night - For Guys' Eyes Only
I bought this cd right in the middle of the summer, and it pretty much exemplifies summer fun. It makes me want to clap my hands and jump around.

Sufjan Stevens - The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!
Although the whole album is a gem, this song eventually stood out as the strong point for me. It's just so pretty and moving, the way it builds and falls continuously. And, I think it's cute that he sings about wearing legwarmers.

Fiona Apple - Parting Gift
I'm not sure how many times I played this in my car over and over again (back when I could), but it was enough to memorize it. Now that I'm driving in silence I still sing it because, baby, I've got it down.

The New Pornographers - Sing Me Spanish Techno
Yes, it's true, I have a huge weakness for finely crafted pop songs by bands that have multiple musicians who can shine on their own. I love that the lyrics are somewhat nonsensical, and yet everything about it works.

Best Pop Songs That I'm Not Going To Upload Because You Should Have Heard Them Already, Unless You Live In A Cave
Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone

Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
Yeah, that's right. It's good. Love the tubas.


Worst Pop Song of the Year (and quite possibly of all time)
Black Eyed Peas - My Humps
When I first heard this song completely with my sister I said, "This song is awful." She thought I was referring to the lyrics and the message, but I meant the actual song by itself. The beats are bad, the melody is non-existant, and listening to Fergie sing about her lady lumps is not at all cute or sexy in any way. I'm willing to look past bad lyrics if the song is good, but I cannot find anything good about this one.