The Best Songs of 2009

The highly anticipated “Best of 2009″ list from BowlingStone has finally been completed.  Before getting into the songs, I have a number of disclaimers that need to be mentioned.

• Mother Mother would be on this list twice if  ”O My Heart” was released this year.
• I’m also surprised that Joel Plaskett is not on the list.
• I don’t have a metric that allows me to quantify songs.  This list should be called “My Favorite Songs of 2009″ but that does not sound very authoritative.
• This list was originally a top 5.  It was changed to a top 10 after I realized how many great songs came out this year.  Today it was changed to a top 15.
• “Old World” by Meatdraw, “Let’s Dress Up Again” by The Coward and the Pelican, and “Requiem for a Scene” by Brasstronaut were last minute cuts, but I still love them.

15. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Drain the Blood

The 6th song off the The Rural Alberta Advantage’s debut album Hometowns delivers a heavier sound than expected. I fell in love with the track at the 1:07 mark, when Nils Edenloff’s vocals and Paul Banwatt’s drumming decided to turn the knob to 11. The Rural Alberta Advantage is the only band to make this list twice.

14. Green Go – Brains for Breakfast

The Guelph, Ontario indie-rock quintet Green Go released one of the most entertaining songs of the year with Brains for Breakfast. It’s hard not to be enamored by a song that opens with “Wake up your body, wake up your head. Let’s eat brains for breakfast, let’s eat brains for breakfast” belted out with such passion.

13. k-os – I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman (featuring Saukrates & Nelly Furtado)

The first time I heard this song I was mid-breakup, and I latched on to the chorus almost immediately. The song can be found on Canadian rapper k-os’ fourth full-length album Yes!. Though I wouldn’t consider myself a Nelly Furtado fan by any means, she does well to steal away a good portion of the song for me.

12. A.C. Newman – The Palace at 4 AM

I first heard Carl Newman’s The Palace at 4 AM early in 2009, and immediately called it my favorite song of the year. Had I of discovered it more recently, it’s likely it would be much higher on the list. The song is another fantastic display of Newman’s distinctive delivery and song writing ability.

11. Japandroids – Young Hearts Spark Fire

The garage/noise-rock duo of Brian King and David Prowse stormed the scene this year with their debut full-length release Post-Nothing. Young Hearts Spark Fire probably takes home the award for best lyric of the year with “I don’t wanna worry about dying, I just wanna worry about those sunshine girls”.

10. D-Sisive – Die In Amsterdam

2009 marked my return to the hip-hop music genre. D-Sisive was one of the artists that won me over this year with his first full-length release “Let the Children Die”. Die In Amsterdam allows Derek Christoff to display not only his song writing ability, but a surprisingly passionate singing voice.

9.  Dan Mangan – Robots

Dan Mangan’s infectious anthem Robots took home CBC Radio 3’s Bucky Award for Best Song of the Year this year.  With the lyric “Robots need love too”, the first single from Mangan’s sophomore full-length release “Nice, Nice, Very Nice” won over the hearts of many this year.

8.  K’naan – Take a Minute

Somali-Canadian hip-hop artist K’naan’s sophomore release Troubadour was arguably the best album to come out of Canada this year.  I’ve heard arguments that it should have taken home the Polaris Prize this year, and that it was snubbed of a Grammy nomination.  Regardless, it is a fantastic album and Take a Minute is a fantastic song.

7.  Pink Mountaintops – Vampire

The shoegazing/psych-rock ensemble Pink Mountaintops released their 3rd full-length album “Outside Love” this year.  In the highly sought after 4th position was the best song from the album Vampire.  ”You can suck out the blood but you cant kill the heart of my love” will be remembered as one of the best lyrics of the year.

6.  Great Lake Swimmers – Pulling on a Line

Tony Dekker and the Great Lake Swimmers released their 4th full-length album “Lost Channels” this year; the album would eventually land on the Polaris Music Prize short-list for best Canadian independent album of the year.  Pulling on a Line was the standout track from the album and displays the depth of Dekker’s song writing abilities.

5.  Gentleman Reg – To Some It Comes Easy

“It’s too late, but I hope and pray for a co-misery.  ‘Cause in time, I’m gonna drink myself into a nursery rhyme”.  Reg Vermue came up with one of the most memorable lines of the year in To Some It Comes Easy.  I became completely smitten with the song when I saw this performance of it.

4.  Islands – Switched On

Things got really muddy during the #5 to #1 portion of this list; all 5 songs could probably be in the number 1 spot.  Switched On cracked the top 5 by being the only song I listen to that got my bass-head friend Luke dancing on my couch today.  Opening harmonies reminiscent of Animal Collective, and Nicholas Thorburn’s vocals, make this track a classic.

3.  The Rural Alberta Advantage – Don’t Haunt This Place

Don’t Haunt This Place from The Rural Alberta Advantage occupied the position of “best song of the year” for 5 months this year.  Ultimately it was beaten out by nothing more than proximity to the writing of this list.  Nils Edenloff’s vocals, Paul Banwatt’s drumming, and Amy Cole’s harmonies all came together beautifully in one of the best songs of the year.

2.  Think About Life – Havin’ My Baby

I’ve been back-and-forth over the #1 and #2 songs.  7 minutes ago I had this song as #1, but on a final listen it landed in #2.  Havin’ My Baby is without a doubt the best song from Think About Life’s second full-length release “Family”.  The sampled tune, Martin Cesar’s vocals, and the passionate lyrics create an undeniable masterpiece.

1.  The Wooden Sky – Oh My God

Aaaaaaaand the best song of the year goes to Oh My God from The Wooden Sky.  If anyone is surprised by this selection, you have not listened to this song enough.  A fantastic vocal, simple but powerful instrumentation, and a captivating story make this song my most listened to track of the year.