Dec 31

Top Songs of 2009: #6 Neko Case — This Tornado Loves You

Posted by Ryan Toohil in Music

I got into Neko Case when I heard her sing with The New Pornographers and was like “crap, she’s awesome.” Then I started grabbing her music and realized “Holy Jebus! She is awesome.”

And her newest album is no different. It’ll probably win some Grammys and she’ll finally get the notoriety she deserves and folks will get to hear her belt out awesome songs. In this case, it’s a song about what would happen if you fell in love with a tornado and it basically f’d you up. So take that.

(p.s. While you’re at it, you should probably listen to this song from 2006. Then you’ll basically go buy all of her stuff. You can thank me later.)

Hold On, Hold On — Neko Case

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Dec 30

Top Songs of 2009: #7 The Decemberists — The Rake’s Song

Posted by Ryan Toohil in Music

You either like or loathe The Decemberists. That’s probably even more true after they released their rock opera.

Me, I like them even more. Where else can you hear a pop song about infanticide? And, oh jesus, this song is amazing live.

Yep, ’tis good.

The Rake’s Song — The Decemberists

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Dec 29

Top Songs of 2009: #8 Dear Leader — Barbarians

Posted by Ryan Toohil in Music

Pretty much every time Boston-based Dear Leader releases a new album, one of their songs makes my year end list. This year is no different. 2009’s Stay Epic is a more melancholy album, reflecting (I think) the melancholy of a post-Obama election where the realities of governing, and the time and effort required to overcome the inertia of an electorate beaten down by a crappy economy.

It’s a slower album, without anything that breaks out quite as much as “Everyone Looks Better in the Dark“, but it has some great tunes.

Tops is this one.

Barbarians — Dear Leader

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Dec 29

Top Songs of 2009: #9 The Thermals — Now We Can See

Posted by Ryan Toohil in Music

When the first chords and “oh way ohwooohwoah” hit during the opening moments of the Season 2 finale of Chuck, I was hooked. It was one of those moments when both a show and a song are made better by the coupling.

“Now We Can See” by The Thermals is this odd mix of pop and garage rock (garage pop?) that sounds like music you shouldn’t like, but you get completely sucked in. The songs all sound very similar, they’re low-fi and grungy, but underneath it all are these pop hooks just trying to get out.

This is the song where they get out the most, and it makes the #9 spot on my list.

Now We Can See — The Thermals

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Dec 29

Top Songs of 2009: #10 The Everyday Visuals — Florence Foster Jenkins

Posted by Ryan Toohil in Music

The first Boston band in the top ten list proper (a hint that maybe there’s a second? Third?), The Everyday Visuals incredibly catchy pop harmonies resonate a bit stronger in a world where Fleet Foxes can have such a massive impact. If you haven’t heard TEV, the first time you listen, you’re going to think to yourself “Wow, I could completely imagine these guys being out of the 60s and singing Beach Boys tunes.”

And then I’ll blow your mind and tell you how they’ve covered Pet Sounds in its entirety (I will pay you money if you can find me a recording of that).

While you are unblowing your mind, take a listen to “Florence Foster Jenkins.” It’ll make you feel better.

Florence Foster Jenkins — The Everyday Visuals

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