Hottest 100 Review Part 2
February 5th 2010 03:00
Hey guys - Adam here - and I'll continue my review of the Triple J hottest 100 countdown.
In this post I'll go through #80-#61 and provide a lowlight and highlight for the section.
#80 - Dizzee Rascal - Holiday - I'm not a rap/hip-hop man, but I like Dizzee, especially his early stuff, for the man has attitude. Holiday isn't as inaudible or as 'fuck you world' as anything on the first album, but it's very easy to listen to, and he still has a little something extra that sets him apart from the stereotypical rapper. I like the song, and I like the man.
#79 - Yves Klein Blue - Getting Wise - Behind Polka and Make up Your Mind as my third favourite track off their debut album - Ragged & Ecstatic - and is pretty well universally liked. A lot of piano, a big rousing chorus and this track is a very good one.
#78 - Tame Impala - Remember Me - Nothing like a bit of psychedelic rock. Fairly repitive lyrically, but a very good dance song, with a thumping beat.
#77 - Jet - She's a Genius - Was bound to get in. It's old school Jet, and even if its not one of my favourites off their new album Shaka Rock, it's what the public most identifies Jet with. An old school rock track that the purists who grew up on a diet of heavy hitting rock find most enjoyable.
#76 - Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension - The Lead singer of the Strokes gets in to the count off his solo work. Electro sounding beat, and his voice sounds a lot more commercial than in his work with the Strokes. Different, but I like it.
#75 - Wolfmother - New Moon Rising - More old school rock. The most popular track off their new album, Cosmic Egg - and was always bound to get in. High energy guitar and drum beats and complete with Andrew Stockdale's unique voice. Old school rock at its finest, and one to really head bang to.
#74 - Art Vs. Science - Friend in the Field - No where near as energetic as the three pieces two main hits Flippers and Parlez Vous Francais, but lyrically, is probably their best track. A much slower tempo, but Art Vs. Science are enjoyable regardless. If you've only heard of Flippers and Parlez Vous Francais, check this one out.
#73 - MSTRKRFT (ft John Legend) - Heartbreaker - Very electro, with a poppy sound the whole way through and more oh oh oh's than you can poke a stick at. Not as edgy as what I'd normally listen to, but I can certainly enjoy it, and relate to the lyrics.
#72 - Sia - You've Changed - Poppy with an electro, hand clap beat the whole way through. Sia has a very good vocal range and the difference in her songs is truly astounding. I'm not a huge fan of the song, but I admire Sia and her versatility vocally. Check out the film clip - it's a whirl of colour and action.
#71 - Bertie Blackman - Byrds of Prey - My favourite track off Bertie's new album where she goes very electro. She's got an amazing voice and the synth compliments the chorus very nicely. A great track.
#70 - Animal Collective - My Girls - If you haven't heard of Animal Collective, check them out - experimental or even physchedelic pop best describes them. My Girls is a fantastic track from their new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, which features perfectly used back up vocals and a real change of tempo. I love it.
#69 - Death Cab for Cutie - Meet me on the Equinox - The song being used on the second Twilight movie killed it for me a little bit, but it's still a great track lyrically - the slower side of what I listen to normally.
#68 - The Prodigy - Omen - Electro, or Dance Punk as it has been described - enters the count yet again, this time courtesy of the Prodigy. Big Electro build up, and it's a great dance track, even if limited vocally.
#67 - Washington - Cement - There's only one song on the countdown that makes swearing in a song sound cooler - and it took out number #1. I'm in love with this track, and Washington as a whole. She has a fantastic voice, is a mean piano player and lyrically, her songs connect with me like few others can. Check this one out. Do it.
#66 - Illy - Pictures - Illy is a rapper I really enjoy, and the female backing voice on this track compliments it perfectly. Illy paints pictures through his lyrics - and if you haven't heard of him check him out - you'll be hearing more from him later.
#65 - Eskimo Joe - Foreign Land - A real feature of their new album Inshalla - and given a lot of airplay commercially. Power chords and very intriguing lyrics, written as a reaction to Heath Ledgers death. The weird wind instrument you hear is a turkish instrument called a zurna, and it compliments the song very well.
#64 - The Middle East - Blood - They won the Unearthed Comp a few years back, and I love their sound. This is my favourite tune from their EP. Check it out before they get huge - because they will. Great use of instruments, and the folkish sound, and dramatic build ups are used to great effect. Comparisons to Arcade Fire are not far off the mark.
#63 - Karnivool - All I know - Very heavy rock, with Ian Kenny's amazing, floating, melodic voice. I love his work with Birds of Tokyo, and although I'm not as into Karnivool, I can certainly appreciate why they're so widely loved. This is as not as heavy a track, and a real favourite of mine.
#62 - Bloc Party - One More Chance - Most of you will know of Bloc Party's sound. Kele Okereke's very distinctive, very english voice, compliments the electro sound of the song superbly. It's very electro, but very enjoyable.
#61 - Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks - An amazing song, from my co-collaborator's favourite band. How do you describe Grizzly Bear? Psych-folk or simply alternative? It doesn't matter, for they produce great music, and the backing vocals here compliments Ed Droste's fantastic, floating vocals.
Highlight of the section: The mix of amazing music. Great electro and rap tracks, along with some of my favourite indie rock and alternative tracks. This section houses the widest variety of the lot, so spend an hour or so listening to the lot on youtube - for you'll find at least a few songs you'll love. If I had to pick a song I was stoked made it to here, it's Blood by the Middle East. They're just starting to get the recognition they deserve.
Lowlight: I couldn't find one. Most tracks very good lyrically, or had something to bop along to that made them very different to other tunes floating about.
Only 60 to go.
Adam.
In this post I'll go through #80-#61 and provide a lowlight and highlight for the section.
#80 - Dizzee Rascal - Holiday - I'm not a rap/hip-hop man, but I like Dizzee, especially his early stuff, for the man has attitude. Holiday isn't as inaudible or as 'fuck you world' as anything on the first album, but it's very easy to listen to, and he still has a little something extra that sets him apart from the stereotypical rapper. I like the song, and I like the man.
#79 - Yves Klein Blue - Getting Wise - Behind Polka and Make up Your Mind as my third favourite track off their debut album - Ragged & Ecstatic - and is pretty well universally liked. A lot of piano, a big rousing chorus and this track is a very good one.
#78 - Tame Impala - Remember Me - Nothing like a bit of psychedelic rock. Fairly repitive lyrically, but a very good dance song, with a thumping beat.
#77 - Jet - She's a Genius - Was bound to get in. It's old school Jet, and even if its not one of my favourites off their new album Shaka Rock, it's what the public most identifies Jet with. An old school rock track that the purists who grew up on a diet of heavy hitting rock find most enjoyable.
#76 - Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension - The Lead singer of the Strokes gets in to the count off his solo work. Electro sounding beat, and his voice sounds a lot more commercial than in his work with the Strokes. Different, but I like it.
#75 - Wolfmother - New Moon Rising - More old school rock. The most popular track off their new album, Cosmic Egg - and was always bound to get in. High energy guitar and drum beats and complete with Andrew Stockdale's unique voice. Old school rock at its finest, and one to really head bang to.
#74 - Art Vs. Science - Friend in the Field - No where near as energetic as the three pieces two main hits Flippers and Parlez Vous Francais, but lyrically, is probably their best track. A much slower tempo, but Art Vs. Science are enjoyable regardless. If you've only heard of Flippers and Parlez Vous Francais, check this one out.
#73 - MSTRKRFT (ft John Legend) - Heartbreaker - Very electro, with a poppy sound the whole way through and more oh oh oh's than you can poke a stick at. Not as edgy as what I'd normally listen to, but I can certainly enjoy it, and relate to the lyrics.
#72 - Sia - You've Changed - Poppy with an electro, hand clap beat the whole way through. Sia has a very good vocal range and the difference in her songs is truly astounding. I'm not a huge fan of the song, but I admire Sia and her versatility vocally. Check out the film clip - it's a whirl of colour and action.
#71 - Bertie Blackman - Byrds of Prey - My favourite track off Bertie's new album where she goes very electro. She's got an amazing voice and the synth compliments the chorus very nicely. A great track.
#70 - Animal Collective - My Girls - If you haven't heard of Animal Collective, check them out - experimental or even physchedelic pop best describes them. My Girls is a fantastic track from their new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, which features perfectly used back up vocals and a real change of tempo. I love it.
#69 - Death Cab for Cutie - Meet me on the Equinox - The song being used on the second Twilight movie killed it for me a little bit, but it's still a great track lyrically - the slower side of what I listen to normally.
#68 - The Prodigy - Omen - Electro, or Dance Punk as it has been described - enters the count yet again, this time courtesy of the Prodigy. Big Electro build up, and it's a great dance track, even if limited vocally.
#67 - Washington - Cement - There's only one song on the countdown that makes swearing in a song sound cooler - and it took out number #1. I'm in love with this track, and Washington as a whole. She has a fantastic voice, is a mean piano player and lyrically, her songs connect with me like few others can. Check this one out. Do it.
#66 - Illy - Pictures - Illy is a rapper I really enjoy, and the female backing voice on this track compliments it perfectly. Illy paints pictures through his lyrics - and if you haven't heard of him check him out - you'll be hearing more from him later.
#65 - Eskimo Joe - Foreign Land - A real feature of their new album Inshalla - and given a lot of airplay commercially. Power chords and very intriguing lyrics, written as a reaction to Heath Ledgers death. The weird wind instrument you hear is a turkish instrument called a zurna, and it compliments the song very well.
#64 - The Middle East - Blood - They won the Unearthed Comp a few years back, and I love their sound. This is my favourite tune from their EP. Check it out before they get huge - because they will. Great use of instruments, and the folkish sound, and dramatic build ups are used to great effect. Comparisons to Arcade Fire are not far off the mark.
#63 - Karnivool - All I know - Very heavy rock, with Ian Kenny's amazing, floating, melodic voice. I love his work with Birds of Tokyo, and although I'm not as into Karnivool, I can certainly appreciate why they're so widely loved. This is as not as heavy a track, and a real favourite of mine.
#62 - Bloc Party - One More Chance - Most of you will know of Bloc Party's sound. Kele Okereke's very distinctive, very english voice, compliments the electro sound of the song superbly. It's very electro, but very enjoyable.
#61 - Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks - An amazing song, from my co-collaborator's favourite band. How do you describe Grizzly Bear? Psych-folk or simply alternative? It doesn't matter, for they produce great music, and the backing vocals here compliments Ed Droste's fantastic, floating vocals.
Highlight of the section: The mix of amazing music. Great electro and rap tracks, along with some of my favourite indie rock and alternative tracks. This section houses the widest variety of the lot, so spend an hour or so listening to the lot on youtube - for you'll find at least a few songs you'll love. If I had to pick a song I was stoked made it to here, it's Blood by the Middle East. They're just starting to get the recognition they deserve.
Lowlight: I couldn't find one. Most tracks very good lyrically, or had something to bop along to that made them very different to other tunes floating about.
Only 60 to go.
Adam.
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Comment by Alexander Bennetts
Noise & Words & Things & Shit
My Girls was one of my favourite tracks of 09. I don't think I'll ever get sick of it. Or that whole album. Thanks for the Dappled cover, it was certainly lyric-focussed which I liked, but they got a few of the lyrics wrong
I actually really liked a lot of stuff from the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack, but the Death Cab is one of my least favourites from the album. Have you listened to the soundtrack? Indie rock circle jerk at its finest.
Really like that Grizzly Bear song. Gotta run.
~
Comment by Whiz-Kid
Melodic Youth
Really did enjoy the Dappled Cities cover of My Girls, I heard it before the Animal Collective version actually and think it sounds more polished, but still has the alternative vibe that AC have.
Yeah the soundtrack is really good I agree - was a feature album on Triple J during late 2009. They stated they didn't endorse the film, but there was kick arse music on there. I agree - but anything affiliated with New Moon is not something I'm going to endorse haha.
The Grizzly Bear song is my favourite from their 2 albums, and the film clip is truly weird. Check it out.
Thanks for the comment.
Adam
Comment by Alexander Bennetts
Noise & Words & Things & Shit
I'd be ready to endorse the New Moon soundtrack. The movie is a complete non-entity in my eyes. It sucked, complete balls, but that doesn't tarnish my enjoyment of the music. Spectacular cuts from Thom Yorke and Grizzly Bear. It may have even been at the peak end of my Top 10. I sure listened to it a lot.
Comment by Anonymous
the majority of reviews appear quite shallow, and follow the same formula, and thus become boring. i shortly grew tired of the bagging and tagging of each track into a broad genre, and to be honest, i couldn't really care how much you like each one. you don't read every professional album review in magazines wrapping up with 'i love it' or 'different, but i like it'.
anything mildly electronic based is 'electro', even used multiple times per sentence. mstrkrft not as 'edgy' as pop indie.. maybe expand and explore into their back catalogue, admittedly heartbreaker being one of their more commercial adventures.
my advice: stick to reviewing music you've listened to more than twice and start reading more professional reviews to advance your own writing style.
Comment by Whiz-Kid
Melodic Youth
I'm reviewing the count - and I haven't listened to every track thousands of times.
Besides stating the genre and how much I liked it how else can viewers know what I think of the songs, what category it fits under and whether they'd like it?
All criticism taken on board, and all my album reviews and the like have been listened to and dissected over a large period of time. The Countdown, not so much. There's songs I like, and songs I don't. And most of that boils down to whether I like the genre, or if a song is overly commercial or not.
It is through writing that I'm expanding my musical vocab, and hopefully will have more words to describe electro influenced music in the future.
As for listening to music and reading articles, it's the only way you learn, and something I do a lot of.
Adam