Paste’s Top 50 Songs for 2010 Resampled – Part 5 of 5 (Day Two)

The final 9 songs of Paste Magazine’s top 50 from 2010.  Yesterday, we started with number 50 (start here) and truthfully, there were only a couple of nuggets until we got up to the teens.  This morning tells a different tale.  Everything’s been three stars and above, stars given out from me with no particular rubric. 

If you picked up and followed these threads, throw a comment on a particular track in the comments or mention something on Facebook.  Without further interruption, the final nine …

9. Titus Andronicus - “A More Perfect Union”

This song warms up to you, no doubt aided by some killer guitar rifts 1:10 into the song.  The tip of the hat to the “cruel New England weather” was a nice touch.  Two chords in I wondered how this got into the top 10, but having listened to the song three times now I’m a believer.  This would rock in a concert.

8. Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Tom Waits - “Tootie Ma is a Big Fine Thing”

Who said big band is dead?  Not these guys. 

7. The National - “Bloodbuzz Ohio”

Hi.  5 Stars.  Nuf said.

6. LCD Soundsystem - “Dance Yrself Clean”

Masha and I were talking about this one.  It doesn’t seem like a top 10.  This song is blasé until 3:10 but that seems a long time to wait for non-blasé to kick in. When it does kick in, it’s a lot of electronica and yelling.  Seems like the whole thing could’ve been condensed into a 2 minute version.  

5. Frightened Rabbit - “Swim Until You Can’t See Land”

I can picture the bar singing this song in unison, pints of Guinness held high, little Nick making with Mary in the corner and everyone happy. 

4. Sleigh Bells - “Tell ‘Em”

Might be the toughest one yet to rate.  Emotionally charged song, not much melody, but a lot of percussion and timed vocals. Really funky dance club high. I’ve tuned it up a couple of times so it has to be catchy. 

3. Janelle Monae - “Tightrope”

Another tune I’d easily put on repeat. 

2. Mumford & Sons - “Little Lion Man”

This album has been on repeat … for the last 6 weeks.  Oh little star of Bethlehem … 5 times to these UK triumphs.

1. Cee Lo Green - “Fuck You”

Well, here we are.  And you didn’t let me down Paste.  I’m headed to lunch now, project done.  I’ll be humming fuck you all afternoon.  And thanks 2010.  You were good to me.

Paste’s Top 50 Songs for 2010 Resampled – Part 4 of 5 (Day Two)

What started as a small quest is now nearing completion as I go through Paste Magazine’s top 50 songs of 2010 and analyze them for their awesomeness or suckdom. This is day two of the project (start here), and we roll right into the teens …

19. Florence & The Machine - “Dog Days Are Over”

Wow, good start for day two.  A strong female vocal lead empowers this guy like a triple espresso but it’s packaged with a little foam and a nice solid cup.  Overall, it’s a sip you look forward to.  I’m curious about the rest of the album.

18. Jonsi - “Go Do”

Moments of Irish tap, moments of natural peanut butter oozing off a table. Hard to categorize this one.  Still sticky on the hands though, so it’ll be hard to reach for more than two stars. 

17. Arcade Fire - “Sprawl II”

Clean up the peanut butter and put it back in the shelf.  This song is clean, crisp, fresh losing a half star only because it’s not as great as the rest of the album.

16. Broken Bells - “The High Road”

I wish I had one of those California houses with the giant glass windows overlooking the valley and the leather covered square tables with the little divots.  I’d use my remote control to crank this guy, pop open a cold one from the mini fridge, and tell my lady how fantastic my day in the biz was. (Note to Broken Bells though, it needs a more fantastic ending) 

15. Lissie - “Little Lovin”

Soft strings and Patsy Cline voice slowly build into native American chanting K.T. Tunstall style. Wasn’t my style but not otherwise horrible.

14. Robyn - “Dancing on My Own”

This is a fun one, bouncy, very Katy Perry (no pun intended). 

13. Caribou - “Odessa”

Electronic, with some sort of Zamphyr-like winds in the background there’s still a good rhythm and cadence to this one.  Not sure I’d queue this one a bunch of times though.  Hard to say, seems to grow on me like the fur on a caribou antler.

12. Phosphorescent - “It’s Hard to be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)”

Crashing, trumpet strong, almost big bandish tribute to Alabama.  I like the approach here and I want to hear more from this group. 

11. The Middle East - “Blood”

I’m loving the teens.  Everything’s been pretty solid and this song’s no different.  Another band to learn about.

10. Kanye West - “Runaway”

Taylor Swift loses in this battle. This is a great song. 

And so we wind down the teens and head into the single numbers.  I have to say yesterday was slow and at times not very rewarding but today’s been a great song day.