My Poproks

In keeping up with my quarter year list for Q1, I present my official quarter year list for Q2 (April - June). You’ll notice Maths + English on this list, as I’ve stated that I am officially counting this as a 2008 release (came out digitally in ‘07, as well as officially in the UK). You may also notice Coldplay’s #2 spot (deal with it), and as hard as it was to leave off The Black Keys release, these titles just stood out to me a bit more in the past couple of months.

1. Portishead Third
2. Coldplay Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
3. Lil Wayne Tha Carter III
4. Sigur Ros Meo Suo i Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust
5. Santogold Santogold
6. Duffy Rockferry
7. N.E.R.D. Seeing Sounds
8. The Cool Kids The Bake Sale
9. Dizzee Rascal Maths + English
10. Jim Noir Jim Noir

So, The Idolator posted their first quarter Top 10 list, and while I disagreed with it for the most part (I’m just not on board with the Hot Chip thing), I feel pretty inspired to make my own.

You’ll notice my #1 (ehem, ugh. Oh God, I suck. But fuck it, I love it), and also #3 (I vowed that the Kate Nash album would count for 2008 according to My Poproks). Also, still on the fence as to whether Maths + English will count for ‘08 as well, but it isn’t out officially in the US until next month.

A few of these will definitely be making the year-end list.

1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
2. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple
3. Kate Nash Made of Bricks
4. Liam Finn I’ll Be Lightning
5. The Gutter Twins Saturnalia
6. The Whigs Mission Control
7. Yael Naim Yeal Naim
8. MGMT Oracular Spectacular
9. Kaki King Dreaming of Revenge
10. Helio Sequence Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Oh, don’t look so offended! By “poor people,” I mean everyday working stiffs like you, me, and everyone else besides your boss’s boss’s boss. Over on Poor People Like Pizza, we’ve been discussing the things that your employee (a poor person) likes and dislikes about the daily grind. One thing that poor people love to do is sing along to songs in bars! That’s why we’ve compiled a Top 10 list of the songs that poor people love (especially when they’re in a bar on Saturday night, doing their best to mask the reality that is their weekly 9-5 with alcohol and denial).

10. “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen

Ah, a classic. A staple in rugged, blue collar, hard-working Americana. Though this is actually the most bold and unabashed musical expression of Anti-American sentiments ever made (Got in a little hometown jam/So they put a rifle in my hand/Sent me off to a foreign land/To go and kill the yellow man), people still love to embrace this as a flag-wavin’, football lovin’, campaign rockin’ American Bar Song. Expect this to pop on the jukebox relatively early in the night (let’s say, 10:35PM on a Saturday/8:45PM on a weekday). No one knows any lyrics besides the actual line “Born in the U.S.A.,” so it’s not as much of a drunken sing-a-long as you would expect (but still deserves a place on the list). Poor people love Bruce!

MORE…

In celebration of EMI’s nonsensical Radiohead Greatest Hits release…

While I’d like to take a stab at the tracklisting for the Greatest-est Hits, it seems a pretty easy task. Creep: The Best of Radiohead….featuring “Creep,” etc. Too easy. This was a true challenge that required much deliberation, and I’m very satisfied with the outcome. That’s enough of a foreword, don’t you think?

10. “You and Whose Army”

Since it’s release, Kid A had a solid hold as my favorite Radiohead album. Recently, however, Amnesiac has snuck up from behind and threatened to de-thrown its electronica predecessor. I can attribute this come-from-behind assault to its haunting piano riffs, dramatic endings, and marginally more concise lyricism (I honestly have no idea what any song on Kid A is about. I think it has something to do with the end of the world). “You and Whose Army” is exactly what makes Amnesiac much more than a “Kid A B-side album” (that assessment still makes me cringe). As the drums crash in to Yorke’s first declaration of “We Ride Tonight,” the world spins out of orbit; the ocean’s part; the sun blackens; Kid A becomes enraged with me. Oh, I’m getting carried away. At 3:11, it is the shortest track on the album (aside from the instrumental “Hunting Bears”), and is second only to…well, you’ll see.

9. “Jigsaw Falling Into Place”

I feel like this is my sleeper pick; sort of like giving Herbie Hancock the Grammy for Album of the Year (but…not). Shall I say ‘the underdog,’ rather? At first listen, Jigsaw didn’t grab me as a Rainbows favorite. I found “All I Need” and “Videotape” to be the strongest tracks, but - thanks in part to the incendiary music video…incendiary - it has grown on me like a Radiohead fungus. It’s downright chivalrous; the catchiest, most fast-paced, balls-out rock song the band has done since “Paranoid Android.’ It dares you to go on and let it out. GO ON AND LET IT OUT.

8. “The National Anthem”

This bassline is a monster; an evil and annihilative monster; not quite experimental, or prog, or electronic. Not reminiscent of old Radiohead, and barely a glimpse of this new, fearless Radiohead to come. The closing brass arrangements are enough to drive a sane person crazy. “The National Anthem” is it’s own anomalous being.

7. “Just”

After recent obsessive listenings of Mark Ronson’s rendition of “Just” (single released this week in the UK), I’ve rediscovered my love for this song (including the mindfuck music video - above). “What did he say that made all of those people lie on the ground?” is the often asked (and never answered) question. Probably, “You know, Radiohead is going to make electronic music mainstream.” I guess that would be pretty shocking at the time? This is a classic rock song; a staple in Radiohead history. While The Bends, surprisingly, left me with an abundance of tracks that I could not choose from, I was able to narrow it down; a painful and time-consuming process. As I crossed “Planet Telex” and “Street Spirit” off of the list, a part of me died.

6. “No Surprises”

I remember watching this video late at night on MTV (when MTV used to…you know), and thinking of how disturbing Thom Yorke was. As he sang ironically of a calm existence; a life with “no alarms,” he is suffocating himself with a number of things. Drowning in his sorrow. Etc. This video shook me to the core. There wasn’t much to it, but it was everything the song was trying to convey and much more. Though the song has taken on a sort of political meaning of late, it’s a pretty quintessential Radiohead tune about love, death, etc. “I’ll take a quiet life/a handshake of carbon monoxide.”

5. “Karma Police”

A classic in every sense of the word. One of the most definitive alternative songs of the 1990’s, or possibly ever. A video to change all videos. Destined to be an archetypal “first song I learned on guitar” for generations to come. I’m actually at a loss for words.

4. “Pyramid Song”

This song scares me. The essence of every aspect of this recording is perfectly haunting; from the subtle array of back-up vocals to the jazzy cymbal roll that leads into Phil Selway’s drums. This song has only recently climbed my list, and was without doubt getting the 5 spot or better on this countdown. There is so much more to Amnesiac than it was given credit for; not only in that the tracks are not even remotely of “b-side” caliber, but in that the songs do distinguish themselves from Kid A tracks. This is the best song on the record, and it knows it. It’s a snob, really. The production is epic, and the lyrics are some of Thom’s most jarring; “I jumped in the river and what did I see?/Black-eyed angels swam with me/A moon full of stars and astral cars/All the figures I used to see/All my lovers were there with me/All my past and futures/And we all went to heaven in a little row boat/There was nothing to fear and nothing to doubt.” I mean…

3. “2+2=5 (The Lukewarm)”

In retrospect, it’s quite possible that Hail to the Thief was the most impactful Radiohead album in my life. It’s all because of that Greenwood guitar that loops in agony; like it hurts to be those notes. One of the best “first songs” of any rock album ever; “You can scream and you can shout/It is too late now/Because you have not been payin’ attention.” The idea of this, lyrically, sums up Radiohead in a nutshell/sums up music in a nutshell/sums up life in a nutshell. Two and two always makes a five. January has April showers. You can swat ‘em like flies, but the buggers keep coming back. It’s the devil’s way now. There is no way out. Etcetera, Etcetera.

2. “Fake Plastic Trees”

The Bends seemed to be over-flowing with acoustic guitar ballads (Don’t leave me high and dry, et al), But “Fake Plastic Trees” is an acoustic ballad like no other. It’s the type of love song that says all of the things that you have never been able to articulate. She looks like the real thing, but she’s fake. Fake plastic love, Fake plastic anything. You could pretty much put the words “Fake Plastic” in front of any noun, really. It’s going to be perfect. It’s just a four-chord-no-frills rock song, yet something about it sets it apart from every other song to ever use these notes. The lyrics are real. The music is real. There is nothing fake about this.

1. “Everything In Its Right Place”

This song is bigger than Radiohead. It’s bigger than you. Fear this song, inferior human. Everything you want to be, want to know, and want to forget is within this 4 minutes and 11 seconds. This song defines that moment when you realized nothing was going to be the same ever again; that moment when you knew the rumors you had been reading about were true; the moment Radiohead stopped being a band and started being Gods. That electric piano synth sound will be with you for the rest of your days. All that C sharp and E flat. The chords resonate through the very fiber of your being.

“There are two colors in my head” Yorke teases.
You’ll never guess which.

You know what I mean. Let’s just do this.

10. “Pop, Lock and Drop” by Huey feat. Bow Wow and T

Pain
More St. Louis hip hop…think Nelly, but more annoying.

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9. “It’s Me Bitches” by Swizz Beatz

Easily one of the most irritating hip hop beats ever. What is that and why does it make me want to punch babies? I really dig that “Money in the Bank” song, but this is unreal.

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8. “Big Things Poppin’” by T.I.

The radio edit of the album version, “Big Shit Poppin’”…either way=annoying. Blah Blah Blah.

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7. “We Fly High” by Jim Jones featuring T.I., and Diddy

What you’ve got here…is a lot of people who can’t sing. Sure, sometimes that’s endearing - and even Diddy gets away with it most of the time - but this is just wrong.

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6. “Cyclone” by Baby Bash featuring T-Pain

T=Pain makes quite a few guest appearances on this list, (regardless of the fact that I shamelessly enjoy “Buy You a Drank”…a lot). T-Pain? Mildly annoying. Baby Bash? Mostly annoying. That synth effect on this track? Stab Me Through The Eyes Annoying.

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5. “Kiss Kiss” by Chris Brown

Lovey dovey? Wouldn’t anyone automatically lose points for that? I don’t care how big this song is or how many people just love it. It sucks and it’s annoying. And I’m over this warped Cher-Believe vocal thing.

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4. “Throw Some D’s” by Rich Boy
The halfway decent Kanye remix aside, the entire concept of this song is annoying. I had no idea what “throw some d’s on it” even meant until after I’d heard this track about 18 times. And believe it or not, it did not become less annoying once I found out.

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3. “Ay Bay Bay” by Hurricane Chris

Why why why why why why
Why?

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2. “This is Why I’m Hot” by Mims

Even though this isn’t that bad of a track (all things considered), I find it impossible not to put it at #2 or possibly even #1 on this list. It’s just that annoying.

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1. “Walk it Out” by Unk

In any other universe, “2 Step” would have been on this top 10 list. But I couldn’t even give Unk the honor of placing him in my blog twice. I know there’s some significantly annoying songs missing from this list (”Party Like a Rockstar,” “Crank That,” “Buy You a Drank”), but in the end I’d have to admit that these songs are catchy and aren’t that bad (Besides, Travis Barker’s “Crank That” remix is oddly badass). They also are all essentially the same exact song as “Walk it Out” (really, think about it) just with a better hook. Walk it out walk it out walk it out walk it out. It just keeps on going. And going. It’s one of the biggest songs of the year, and we should all be ashamed of it.

Even if you hate these. You’re a member of the human race, and this is somehow your fault.

This may have been the trickiest year end list I’ve done in a long time. Not only was I stuck staring at a list of over 20 albums that needed to be narrowed down to 10 (I don’t fancy a top 50), but I almost made a last minute switch for the #1 spot. There seemed to be a lot of great albums this year that were amplified by hype alone, but a good majority of them actually deserved it. Much of this list consists of big releases, because that tends to be how I like it. There are no live albums with rarities by bands that broke up 5 years ago (I’m looking at you, Pitchfork). This is Poproks, after all.

Close calls:
As I am Alicia Keys
Writer’s Block Peter Bjorn and John
Finding Forever Common
Wincing the Night Away The Shins
Songs About Girls Will.i.am

10 The Reminder Feist
2007 was Canadian singer/songwriter Leslie Feist’s year. Not only was “1234” the most talked about Ipod commercial theme since U2 debuted “Vertigo,” but it gave the song a ridiculous boost in the charts (peaked at #8 on the Hot 100) and also caught the attention of The Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (the Grammys, I mean). The song’s video made VH1’s Best Of countdown for ’07, and Blender Magazine named it one of the Best Indie Albums Ever. Etc. etc. etc. Everyone loves this album, and they should. Feist’s folky artistic style coupled with her pop sensibility make it hard to believe that 2004’s Let it Die wasn’t just as popular (though it did pretty well in Canada). There’s not much to elaborate on. It’s a simple record about simple ideas, and it’s beautiful.

9 Favourite Worst Nightmare Arctic Monkeys
Here it is, the album I least expected to see on my Top 10…The band that I love to hate…The band whose debut made it’s way to #5 on the NME Best British Albums Ever list (ahead of London Calling and Revolver, mmk?). The band that is bigger than Jesus. Well, I just can’t help but love this band, and I just can’t help but love this record (in fact, it’s probably better than the #5 Bestest Ever debut, and that scares me). Arctic Monkeys are just fucking fun with a lot of fucking attitude. And they make me want to break things and say “fucking” a lot. Possibly with a British accent. This is simply infectious as hell. Make no mistake, Arctic Monkeys are as good as everyone says they are (well, almost everyone).

8 The Cool Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco’s oddly un-concept-like concept album, The Cool, is a late comer that shot up to this list upon first listen. What with thought provoking subject matter, an UNKLE sample that rocks the universe, and choruses that would be at home on a Radiohead record, it’s pretty hard to listen to this without being impressed. Even the most hardened hip hop foe would walk away from this record with a new favorite rapper. Lupe pushes the envelope on all sorts of levels, and leaves you wondering if you can even catagorize this as a hip hop album.

7 Boxer The National
I don’t think The National will ever release a record again that doesn’t sore to the top of every critics’ list there is (except Rolling Stone, what’s up with you guys this year?). Boxer is another perfect record from one of the most under-rated bands in music. Matt Berninger’s dark and sorrowful lyrics match his dark and sorrowful voice all too well. You wouldn’t want an angel watching over/surprise, surprise they wouldn’t wannna watch/another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults.” Berninger’s exceptionally unconventional, original, and thought provoking words mixed with flowing piano and guitar highlight every last track. It was impossible to even pick a favorite (but will settle on the opener, “Fake Empire”). On this, their forth album on Beggars Banquet, every aspect of the band’s songwriting only gets better. I’m excited just thinking about their next.

6 Panic Prevention Jamie T
From the first second that you hear that half-assed drunken guitar lick kick-start Jamie Treay’s Mercury Prize nominated debut, it’s very hard not to love it. The 21 year old South London native was hailed as a One Man Arctic Monkey by NME (hardly ever hyping anything worth the hype), who tripped over themselves to award him the Best Solo Artist award only 3 weeks after the album’s January release. You won’t know what it is that you love about Panic Prevention, but you’ll love it none-the-less. Many young artists of the UK music scene work tirelessly to appear to not give a fuck, but Jamie T is not even trying. He’s not even thinking about trying. He truly doesn’t give a fuck and it transpires wonderfully through this record. The music and vocals are a bit sloppy at times (and seem to be mostly first or second takes), but only just enough so that you understand that nothing on this record is an accident. Take that however you’d like.

5 American Gangster Jay-Z
This record is a staple in hip hop; one of the best rappers ever making the kind of record that he was born to make. Jay-Z is an American gangster. Every song on this album is perfectly produced, every string effect and drum sound complimented with impeccable flow that only Jay could deliver. Between The Neptunes, Diddy, and Nas, everyone else who managed to be a part of this release is at the top of their game, giving Jay-Z’s 10th #1 record an overflow of 5 star tracks. Jay’s best album ever? I’m not sure yet (The Black Album just won’t let go), but it’s a definite possibility.

4 Neon Bible Arcade Fire
This record is incredible. I almost want to just leave it at that (of course I won’t). While it’s not quite the masterpiece that their debut Funeral may have been, Neon Bible would have been the breakthrough record of the year had it not been the dreaded “sophomore follow-up.” It’s hard to put your finger on the band’s sound; as it’s not blatantly or obnoxiously “indie,” and at times sounds more like the best of Springsteen or Bowie. And even though Win Butler arguably lacks the cool of these acts, something about his nervous quiver of a voice and his larger than life presentation on stage make this band seem much bigger than the sum of it’s many parts.

3. Kala M.I.A.
Nobody else makes music like this. Fortunately, that’s only one of a million reasons to love M.I.A. At first listen, I favored her debut Arular. But the more I listen, the more I start to change my mind. This album may quite possibly combine every genre of music that there is - and hardly within the confines of pop genres (though, they’re all in there); From an indie driven Clash sampled hip hop anthem, “Paper Planes” (one of the best songs of 2007 - if not the best) to the Bollywood-style techno of “Hussel.” I don’t really know what this is, and I dare anyone to try and box it. World-techno-afro-rap-indie-electro? Fuck labels. M.I.A. is beyond it…and she’s, coincidentally, a badass mofo.

2 In Rainbows Radiohead
What can you say about this record that hasn’t already been said? Forget the Pay What You Want Self Release That Shook the World, this record would have shaken the world regardless. The long (long) awaited follow up to 2003’s Hail to the Thief was…and I hesitate…well worth the wait. Granted, you were able to get your theoretical hands on this theoretical album just days after it’s release was announced (not to mention boxsets and webcasts and codes, oh my) , but between Yorke’s solo project and Greenwood’s avant-garde film scores – this album was “anticipated” for quite a while. Again, it was worth it. The catchiest pop of The Bends meets the creepiest moods of Kid A, and the combination is somehow as good as both. It was hard not to make this Album of the Year, but…

1 Graduation Kanye West
It would seem typical that I would pick this as my favorite record of the year (seeing as the logo for this blog is the image from the cover of Kanye’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing mixtape), and…well…I guess it is pretty typical. Honestly, I don’t see how you can put another record above this and have a valid reason for it (Edit #1: OK, maybe Rainbows). This was the biggest and best album of 2007, hands down (Edit #2: It was close). Show no mercy. Every word, even when placed awkwardly, is placed just so for a reason; Every sample transformed into Louie Vatan Don perfection. I doubt Kanye will have any award snubbing to bitch about next year…and rightfully so. This isn’t even his second best, and it still takes my Album of the Year nod by a landslide (Edit#3: a mild landslipe). Who cares how cocky you are when you are this good?

Pretty self explanatory…the first in a series of Best Of Lists for 2DOUBLE07; The Top 10 Hit Singles of 2007 (UK Charts included, cause I said so). For the record, there will be no partying like a rockstar, cranking that, or buying you a drank. I do not have money in the bank, and I do not walk it out (in short, no Ringtone Rap allowed). I also don’t care how many hits Daughtry has…they’re all awful. I’m just gonna go ahead and say no Idols allowed, either.

Close Calls:
“Roc Boys” by Jay-Z
“Smile” by Lilly Allen
“Wake Up Call” by Maroon 5
“Last Night” by Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole
“Apologize” by Timbaland feat. One Republic

10. “Grace Kelly” by Mika

Peaked at #1 on 9 charts, including the UK. Peaked at #2 and went platinum in Australia
I know I’m not the only one who ran around for a month singing “Why don’t you like me, why don’t you like me?” to strangers on the street. OK, maybe not strangers…but really, this is the catchiest damn single in a while. This could have easily been Elton’s big hit off of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. Mika’s a crazy boy.

9. “Gimme More” by Britney Spears

Peaked at #3 on the US and UK Singles Charts, #1 on the Euro 200
Despite the horrifying display at the VMA’s, a really awful music video, and the general fact that Britney has lost her mind, her “comeback” album Blackout actually isn’t that bad. Like, at all. Thanks mostly to Timbaland’s protege, Danja, “Gimme More” is one of Britney’s best singles since “Baby, One More Time.” Even though everyone says they can’t stand this song, they love it. Love it.

8. “Stop Me” by Mark Ronson feat. Daniel Merriweather

Peaked ar #2 on the UK Singles Chart, and #1 on the UK Download Chart.
British DJ Mark Ronson re-invented many UK chart-toppers on his album Version, but the best by far is the Euro-dance interpretation of The Smiths’ “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before;” A combination of the original, remixes, The Surpremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” and the voice of Australian dance singer Daniel Merriweather. “Stop Me” is by far the most interesting hit single this year.

7. “I Got It From My Mama” by Will.i.am

Peaked at #31 in the US, and #6 in Finland? (who knew?)
Will.i.am’s Songs About Girls could possibly be my sleeper for the Top 10 Albums list. “I Got It From My Mama” is a short and sweet, heavily dance influenced track that manages to be intelligent while still being completely pointless. Which, if you ask me, is the perfect formula for a great pop song. ‘Cause if a girl real ugly 9 times outta 10 she ugly like her Mama.

6. “Lovestoned/I Think She Knows Interlude” by Justin Timberlake

Peaked at #1 on the US Dance Chart
If there was a way to swing the Grammy performance of “What Goes Around” as a hit single for this year, I would do it. Never-the-less, “Lovestoned/I Think She Knows” is more than worthy of the top 10, and the ambient second half is hands down the defining moment of his recording career. Just crown this boy The King of Pop and call it a day.

5. “Umbrella” by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z

“Umbrella” peaked at #1 on almost every chart on Earth
Rihanna is a badass.”Umbrella” was not only the biggest hit of the year, but it was undoubtedly the most covered song of the year as well. It doesn’t really matter how you play it, it’s gonna sound amazing. I don’t really know what else to say about it. It’s all in the “ella, ella.” Ay ay.

4. “Foundations” by Kate Nash

Peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart
Top 10 Album? Kate Nash’s UK August release of Made of Bricks (which peaked at #1 on the album charts) actually happened ahead of schedule because of the popularity of the Piano-pop single “Foundations.” Think Lilly Allen…but better. Great lyrics. A great hook. There should be more hit songs as good as this one. The album is set for a US release in early ‘08.

3. “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani feat. Akon

Peaked at #1 on the US Pop Chart and Euro Hot 100
I’ll admit, I’m more partial to Gwen Stefani than any other pop star ever. Gwen could release an album of her reading The LA Times Arts & Leisure section to Baby Kingston, and I’d get two copies and a Deluxe Edition. All of that aside, “The Sweet Escape” is one of the best pop songs of the last 10 years, and you’d have to take a lot of time out of your life to convince me otherwise. They’ll be doing that “Yee hoo” at sporting events for a long time to come.

2. “No One” by Alicia Keys

Peaked at #1 on every US chart there is, debuted at #1 on the Hot 100
Is it overboard to say that this is one of the best pop songs ever written? By some miracle, I’m still not sick of it by any means. Every single track on As I Am is a possible hit, and “No One” is just an unstoppable monster of a love song. There’s no denying this song. Don’t even try.

1. “Stronger” by Kanye West

Peaked at #1 on the US and UK Singles Chart
Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, etc. This Daft Punk sample went a long, long way. His head may be the size of the effing moon, but he is one of the few artists that is actually as good as he thinks he is. Surely, Kanye West makes perfect hip hop tracks in his sleep.

I know, it’s only December 1^st, but we all know it’s been Christmas Season since the Halloween candy went on clearance. So, for the first Poproks Top 10 list, I decided to compile a list of the best Pop/Rock Christmas Songs. Only a couple of these songs aren’t complete originals. I also included 5 Close Calls, because I couldn’t possibly not credit them with a spot in this post.

Close Calls:

The Smashing Pumpkins “Christmastime”
*Not one of the more popular…featured on A Very Special Christmas Vol. 3. Listen here (and watch the silly fan video)
Paul McCartney “Wonderful Christmastime”
Chris Martin “Have Yourself a Merry Little Chrismas”
No, really. Have you heard it?
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers “Christmas All Over Again”
Run DMC “Christmas in Hollis”

10 Elton John “Step Into Christmas”
“Welcome to my Christmas song.” I love this man.

9 U2 “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)”
Bono.

8 The Kinks “Father Christmas”
“If you’ve got one, I’ll have a machine gun/So I can scare all the kids down the street.” Um. Amazing.

7 Mariah Carey “All I Want For Christmas Is You”
Whatever. You love this song, and you know it.

6 The Pretenders “2000 Miles”
The best part of this song is that it doesn’t sound like a Christmas song at all. You know what I mean.

5 Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas”
Is Bono’s one line the highlight for anyone else? Bono.

4 Wham! “Last Christmas”
I think I heard this song sung by 4 different artists in 4 different stores while shopping in midtown yesterday…and I never got sick of it.

3 The Waitresses “Christmas Wrapping”
I consider it one of my greatest accomplishments in life to be able to sing every word to this. Fun.

2 Bruce Springsteen “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Will Santa bring me a new saxaphone? Only one song could possibly top this…

1 John Lennon “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”

Have you ever wondered what your opinion would be on the Top 10 Best Albums Ever if you spent absolutely no time at all to think about it? I recently joined the Facebook group Top 10 Albums. I literally joined, scrolled through some of the votes, and posted my picks within 5 minutes. I wanted to know what would happen if I just tossed out the first 10 great albums that came to mind. Of course, they’re not in order. That would have taken another hour. Looking back at the list, some of the choices are really interesting. I could almost stand by this list as if I spent hours on it; days even. (more…)

I’m not going to sugar coat this at all. I was in the park with some friends, and we started discussing the state of popular modern rock music. We couldn’t help but notice how much of it is….bad. Personally, I rely more on the strength of modern Hip Hop and Pop radio to get me through the day. Of course, there are always exceptions, and this list developed into a very complicated and asterisk laden mess.

Here are the rules:

• Only bands who have released an album within the last 5 years may be on the list. Greatest hits and solo records do not count. This may explain the absence of such acts as Creed, but fortunately for us.. Limp Bizkit is still eligible! (May even get bonus points for replacing the “s” with a “z” in Greatest Hitz. Uh uh, don’t forget the Wes Borlandless 2003 gem Results May Vary…That’s for sure.

• The band must have been a major label artist within the last 5 years. Meaning, if a band made a completely respectful and artistically evolved album with no budget on Basement Band Records after a major label run, they are still eligible.

• One decent song does not exclude you from the list. An asterisk will be placed next to any band with arguably one decent song. Two decent songs may still earn you a slot in the ‘Runners Up’ list.

• The list was narrowed only to bands from the United States. Oops, and Canada.

• Canoodling a Hollywood It Girl on Sunset or claiming on Howard Stern that you ate one out does not exclude your band from the list. Fred Durst, I’m looking at you…again.

• The more successful your band, the more likely you are to be on this list. Really, who’s buying all of these records? It’s like that joke about Creed. They’ve sold a billion albums, but can’t get anyone to admit to it! I had to cut many bands off of the list, because they simply didn’t make a big enough impact for us to care, or haven’t yet. Ex: Trapt, Finger Eleven, Alien Ant Farm, Adema, Hinder. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Seether, Avenged Sevenfold (c’mon, I know you hate them too), etc. (more…)