(10) "Sometimes" by Miami Horror
Aside from having the best band name ever, Miami Horror just makes solid summer dance music. It's like Daft Punk and the Avalanches had a kid...and that kid wasn't nearly as cool as his parents but will still a solid dude.
(9) "Time" by Hans Zimmer from the Inception Soundtrack
Obviously the most iconic part of the soundtrack is the "BWaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmm" sound when the road all of a sudden curves up but I'm a big fan of the ending song, when Jack Dawson is getting off the airplane and going through the airport. Starting at the 2:30 mark the song gets really good. I also like playing this song while I clean the house or cook; it makes mopping the floors or cutting vegetables seem like an epic and dangerous task.
(8)"Diplomat's Son" by Vampire Weekend
Easily my favorite song from VW's second album and probably tied with "Walcott" and "M79" as my favorite VW song. I drove around Oldham county with sun roof open and windows down listening to this song on repeat. Definitely makes me want to be a fucked up rich kid who vacations in the Northeast on the summer AKA a Kennedy.
(7) "Tell 'Em" by Sleigh BellsHow can you not get pumped after hearing this song!? If Tom Brady had listened to this before the Pats playoff game we would have a Patriots/Bears Super Bowl (yeah Brady getting pumped for that game has no effect on the Bears beating the Packers but a guy can dream, right?"
(6) "I Just Had Sex" by the Lonely Island --
"i think she was a racist / doesnt matter i had sex" enough said
(5) "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn
As anyone that has ever lived with me knows, I am a sucker for poppy dance music and Robyn is replacing Lady Gaga and Madonna as my favorite. She is pretty big everywhere aside from the U.S. but that will change this year. Also this is the first time I have seen the music video...not the biggest fan but I am totally stealing her drum move at the 2:42 mark as my go-to dance move.
(4) "Derezzed" by Daft Punk
I was a big fan of the movie but the music made it a million times better. Listen to this album the next time you're on an elliptical or treadmill and it transforms your workout into something amazing. Running to this soundtrack is better than most sex [side note: not really sure if this poorly reflects my love life/sexual prowess or just makes me sound like a nerd....leaning towards both]
(3) "Sorrow" by the National
Tim insisted we see the National while at Bonnaroo and I've been absolutely hooked since then. They're like the Smiths except the the singer is actually good and he has a last name. Just kidding. Not really, the Smiths are about as overrated as the American version of the Office. But back to the Nationals. This song has slowly replaced "Mr. November" as my favorite National song...I don't know if it is because I completely relate to it or because it slowly crescendos but the payoff is more emotional than a giant sonic climax or what. But beautiful and haunting and oddly upbeat if you are a hopeless romantic.
(2) "All Of The Lights" by Kanye West
I love everything about this song. And the first time I heard it I thought MJ referred to Michael Jordan...yeah, I'm dumb.
(1) "Lost In The World" by Kanye West and Bon Iver
Yes I can have the top two songs be from the same album. Especially when it's the best album of the year (even the twats at pitchforkmedia thought so, too). When I first read that Bon Iver was going to be on the new Kanye album I was intrigued, confused, and excited. But the result is better than I could have imagined. I think starting at 2:22 is so beautiful and reflective and that's something you can't often say about Kanye's music. During the snow storms I'd drive around the Highlands listening to this song on repeat and the imagery outside mixed with the narrative of the story was...well...cool for lack of a better word. And to think our president called him a jackass.