dont make lists

#2 - LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends

I think this song already means so much to so many people that writing about it feels like the most useless exercise in the world.

#3 - UGK - International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You)

One of those rare megatracks that despite having heard it a few hundred times, I will never fail to adore. Like, say, Born To Run or more recently What’s My Name? the first 3 seconds can’t fail to make me burst into a grin that won’t leave until the relatively awful song that will follow, no matter what it is. SO, I TYPE A TEXT…..

And like Kanye’s 2010-defining Monster, each heavyweight featured has a verse that completely slays. But unlike Monster, no one outshines the rest ala Nicki Minaj, the twin members of both Outkast and UGK are at their absolute best making every second of the track equally classic.

#4 - Michael Giacchino - Flash Forward Flashback

First of all, I’d like to recommend for anyone reading to watch LOST. More than listen to anything ever posted on this blog - including the number one. To stop reading and getting spoilt and start, rightaway, on the greatest story ever told.

Oh man. I’m not sure where to start. Controversially, I think television might be the greatest art form. Excellent tv combines so many talents that are often only present once in others. Writing, as opposed to film, is given the opportunity to be far more expansive; plot and character development are able to be more nuanced and detailed. Then there’s the art of acting, cinematography, direction. Not forgetting where Mr Giacchino comes in, the art of writing music.

LOST for me, while far from perfect, is the greatest realisation of those elements together. Writing that fully understood the format it was working in and used it to full potential, season openings and climaxes that were never less than profound, moving and thrilling, each season used to explore themes that not only are important to the bigger picture of the story, but of the human condition. An ensemble cast of characters well acted, well developed, totally believable in their own motivations and actions. Terry O Quinn, Michael Emerson, and Elizabeth Mitchell being three stand outs of a legion of skilled actors. Jack Bender often pulling out the best directing television has seen. 

Then there’s the music, which for me, is absolutely pivotal to the success of the show. Had anyone else taken Michael Giacchino’s place, i’m certain it wouldn’t be nearly the same show. It’s a good oppurtunity to point out here that Giacchino has a number of pieces worthy of this list outside of LOST, most notably the heartbreaking score for Up (had anyone else done the soundtrack I’m certain there’d be 1/10th of the tears), as well as other Pixar soundtracks The Incredibles and Ratatouille. But back to his work on LOST, as every great scene is made more incredible by his composing. Every character giving a beautifully fitting theme; Jacob’s, Charlie’s, Ben’s, Jack’s, Locke’s and Claire’s proving the highlights. And then there must be honourable mentions to pieces such as Life & Death, Moving On, and There’s No Place Like Home in particular.

Moving strictly on to this piece though, it’s just one of the cogs in LOST’s most perfect scene, and undoubtedly my favourite scene in anything.

#6 - BARR - Half Of Two Times Two (Newer Version)

Lyrically, I can’t think of any better records over the past decade than BARR’s Summary. This is the closest thing the record has to a pop song I suppose, and i’m pretty sure i’ve heard this a thousand times now.

eyes closed eyes open eyes closed eyes open eyes closed eyes open eyes closed eyes open eyes closed eyes open

#21 - of Montreal - The Past Is A Grotesque Animal

I’ve been doing pretty well lately with writing a semi-sufficient amount in regards to my favourite songs, but quite frankly I think only think only the words “oh man” will suffice.

#23 - John Maus - Do Your Best

Oh man, John Maus. Last summer I spent a lot of nights listening to Jeff Mangum’s WFMU archives of the weirdest sounds imaginable, over 24 hours of material and there was no consistency but it was nearly all awesome if almost totally ungoogleable. Due to that inconsistency I can’t really say that John Maus is at all representative of the music you’d find on those radio shows, but for me he sounds like a manic depressive genius half-singing over the more ambient tracks there (though the music is far from ambient). This is a pretty absract and ridiculous description but I think it’s as close as anyone can come to describing the batshit world of John Maus.