Top 11 of 2005

Okay so, as promised, here are my top eleven individual tracks for 2005 (haha I almost wrote 2004). Don't forget to check in tomorrow for my top ten albums of 2005. I know I like to drag it out. Watch out cuz this post's pretty long.

11. SPOON-"I SUMMON YOU (DEMO)"
Yeah this is the demo version. No I'm not being a twat, I just like the sound of Britt Daniel and a guitar on this track. It sounds a lot more real and everything. I'll always love anything Spoon does, and this year's Gimme Fiction did not disappoint.

10. SLEATER-KINNEY-"EVERYTHING"
Again, not trying to be snooty here by providing a B-side from their "Entertain" single. When I heard them play this at SXSW before the album came out, I knew I'd love it the most off of the album. Sadly it didn't make the album. It very well could have. It sounds as good as anything on the album. It's magnificent. Maybe even "Entertain Pt 2," except it doesn't have as much fury as there is disgust in Carrie Brownstein's voice (or maybe it's Corin Tucker, or maybe it's both. My sister's going to kill me).

9. THE JUAN MACLEAN-"GIVE ME EVERY LITTLE THING"
I don't really know what it is about the song, but it's great. The music video's pretty awesome. It sounds a little techno-y but stays away from it by just a little bit. I love the sounds on it, like they're from space. Pretty much anything Juan Maclean does sounds like it's straight off a spaceship dance party.

8. OKKERVIL RIVER-"FOR REAL"
I know this probably should be higher on the list, but you can be rest assured that it's my favorite rock track of the year. It's just so...intense. I love this whole album a lot, and this is one of my favorite tracks ("Song of Our So-Called Fried" is probably tied at second with "Black"). I'm pretty sure all of you have this downloaded, but if you don't, DOWNLOAD IT NOW. I told you so.

7. JOSE GONZALEZ-"CROSSES"
Chris introduce me (and probably a lot of others) to Jose Gonzalez a couple months ago and I fell hard. This track is so beautiful, I think even more so than "Heartbeats." It's just soo beautiful and heart-breaking. Fantastic. Can't wait to hear more from Gonzalez.

6. THE DECEMBERISTS-"ELI, THE BARROW BOY"
I first heard this track last year when the band was touring in support of Her Majesty the Decemberists. I have a poor recording of it on cassette tape and love listening to it. It was just Colin solo and I think he said it was his first time playing it live. He messed up on one of the verses and it was funny. Anyway I couldn't wait for this song to be on the new album (I knew it was going to be it's just too great to leave off) and I wasn't disappointed with the studio version.

5. THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS-"THE BLEEDING HEART SHOW"
One of the greatest songs this year (duh). I loved Twin Cinema and this song is the greatest song on there. I love so much when the song picks up and from there on in it's heaven.

4. JIM YOSHII PILE-UP-"SILVER SPARKLER"
I love it. This song hasn't left my mp3 player in months. So beautiful. Doesn't hurt that Jamie Stewart sings a few harrowing "Oh my God"s. Greatest song for fall/wintry weather in the world. There I said it.

3. THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO-"BE GENTLE WITH ME"
Cutest song of the year! I am always singing it in my head. If Morrissey wasn't so sad and would write cute upbeat music, he'd be right along the lines of BLLT. My favorite lyric this year comes from this song "I'm happy if you're happy but it breaks my heart." I can't get it out of my head and I don't want to.

2. SUFJAN STEVENS-"THE PREDATORY WASP OF THE PALISADES IS OUT TO GET US!" (c/o Everything But)
Okay this is the most beautiful song. I like it about 20 times more than "Casimir Pulaski Day," which I like quite a bit. The soaring ending and the hurt in Sufjan's voice is so awesome.

1. LCD SOUNDSYSTEM-"TRIBULATIONS"
A lot of people don't like this track so much but I think it's stupdendous. Like "Silver Sparkler," this track will probably always always remain the last song on my mp3 player. It's a great ending to any mix. The throbbing synth drives me crazy! In a good way. James Murphy done good again.