This is How We Balk on the Moon

30. Escort- All Through The Night

(Escort) 

            Two things: no matter if the track is a bit long, the opening bass kick followed by “Giveittomesayitomeworkitwithmeifyourereadyimabouttopop” is the best introduction to a song this year. Secondly, the music video utilizes the Muppets far better than anything since A Muppet Christmas Carol.

29. LCD Soundsystem- All My Friends

(DFA) 

            Everyone loves this song, and I do think I may have to be in my thirties to appreciate fully, but it’s still pretty heart-wrenching to hear James Murphy break out of his reserved tone to intently ask the listener “where are your friends tonight?” Personally, I would probably guess that they are probably watching VH1 reality shows while eating Tostino’s Pizza Rolls.

28. Jay-Z – American Gangster

(Roc-A-Fella) 

            In my book, I feel like S Dot Carter and Just Blaze have consistently collaborated for some of the best work in each of their careers. This one’s no different, as Blaze lays down a beat very similar to last year’s “Show Me What You Got,” but this time Jay-Z doesn’t spit a lyrical clunker. Instead, his flow glides like Jordan from the foul line, never losing any steam while also comparing himself to Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, and even Kanye’s jaw. It would be easy to give this spot to the solid single “Roc Boys,” but this is Jay and Blaze’s second chance, atoning for the mostly whack Kingdom Come, and like letting Dwyane Wade grab his own rebound, there’s little chance of it not going in the second time. It takes two basketball similes to make a thing go right.

27. Black Kids- I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You

(Self-released) 

            There have been a few moments in my life when an ex has asked me to teach their new boyfriend how to dance with her. I never had a good excuse, so I’d walk over with my tail between legs and offer a few pointers on the Charleston, the Chicken Noodle Soup, and the like. Now, with the help of the Black Kids, I just need to direct their attention to my iTunes and pump this bouncy track, and POOF- no more free lessons.

26. General Public vs. Rihanna- Tender Umbrella

(Party Ben) 

            I was a bit shocked that “Umbrella” blew up as much as it did, since I never loved it. But pair it with one of the undeniably best 80s pop songs in General Public’s “Tenderness,’ as Party Ben did, and now you’re on some David Blaine shit. They compliment each other perfectly, as Rihanna’s elongated “eh-eh-eh” fits in with the post-chorus guitar line in a moment of glorious synchronicity. Monster mash-up. 

25. Yeasayer- 2080

(We Are Free) 

            I can’t exactly pinpoint what this sounds like (besides the 25^th best song of the year),  but it does the trick when it comes to quasi-roots rock. When the whole band starts singing near the middle of the song, something inside me crinkles and lets it seep into my pores, the raw unadulterated emotion overcoming any Fleetwood Mac comparisons that may steer me away from truly grooving to it. 

24. Simian Mobile Disco- I Believe

(Wichita Recordings) 

            I believe…that this could be…what I need…to believe in over-hyped indie dance acts.

23. The Field- Everyday

(Kompakt) 

            I never fell in love with The Field’s highly-lauded full-length, but the hype is all good when it comes to “Everyday.” It comes the nearest to replicating a trip to another world (not a trip to a “Different World,” which Nick at Nite provides nightly), touching a bit of the infinite while simultaneously making your life seem very small. The vocal loop seems to gently nudge the listener towards the pearly gates of musical bliss, and one comes to think that maybe this is what it sounds like after you die, as you bolt across different planes of existence. Maybe it just sounds like a Swedish hipster dance party.

22. Kanye West- The Glory

(Roc-A-Fella) 

            Spent enough time writing about “Yeezy” (fuck off) a few months ago, and my opinion hasn’t changed, but despite my pertinacious stance I will give credit where it’s due. One of the his best productions, “The Glory” takes strings, piano, and a choir and creates a swirling background for him to spit his usual self-conscious/egotistical prick shtick. I do compliment the fact that when he says he wants to be compared to Big, he includes Pun and L in addition to Biggie Smalls.  How thoughtful, ‘ye.

21. Animal Collective- Fireworks

(Domino) 

            There was a great day this past summer when my housemates and I threw a party during the day and it turned into a full-fledged water gun fight, eventually devolving into boys against girls. Naturally, the duders topped the dudettes, not before I was sneak attacked by two of my housemates who threw a bucket of water on me from our roof. Afterwards, we all were soaked and thrust our attention towards the Slip n’ Slide for a bit, before the beer and the heat consumed us all, forcing us inside to dance and drink more. This song wasn’t played that day (we mostly heard Mystikal- I was DJing, of course), but I when I look back with fondness to that day, it’s become more and more soundtracked exclusively by this song. Why, I’m not sure, besides the fact that it’s the kind of song you’d you love to hear beside your fondest memories from the past year.