Top 10 Singles (so far)

1. The Decemberists “16 Military Wives“–At a typically fantastic concert here in Bloomington, after the loud-mouthed drummer made a rude comment about the quality of a locally-owned restaurant’s food (which they got for free), Colin Meloy smoothly segued into the introduction “America is serving the world burnt pancakes,” then into this, the only artful anti-war song released this year.
2. Bloc Party “Banquet“–Take the drums, for instance. An more hyper version of Blondie’s “Atomic” fills its way toward the best staccato rhythm since, well, “Take Me Out.” The Colonel Blimp video is “hands-down” great, too.
3. Gorillaz “Dare“–My girlfriend loves this song–she says it sounds slow–like the batteries are running out. Probably has something to do with Shawn Ryder.
4. Spoon “I Turn My Camera On”–Gimme Fiction’s answer to Kill the Moonlight’s “Stay Don’t Go,” Girls Can Tell’s “Everything Hits at Once,” and Series of Sneaks‘ “Metal Detektor”–a distinctly singular, slightly unnerving, and instantly memorable track that manages to poke its head out from the others.
5. Architecture in Helsinki “Do the Whirlwind“–This half-year’s “Kitchen Sink” award for most disparate pallette of sounds tossed skillfully into a song. It’s Aborigi-neat!
6. Robert Pollard “Dancing Girls and Dancing Men”–Technically, From a Compound Eye still doesn’t have a release date, but this gem stands up to recent GBV tracks “Glad Girls,” “Back to the Lake” and “Useless Inventions” in terms of unrelenting rhythm.
7. Black Mountain “Modern Music“–Barely edges out “No Satisfaction,” and finishes second to “Whirlwind” in the “least intrusive use of saxophone” category.
8. Fiery Furnaces “Here Comes the Summer“–The Voicebox! It’s back! 4 on the floor! It’s back!
9. LCD Soundsystem “Movement“–”Without the bother/Of all of the meaning”
10. Of Montreal “So Begins Our Alabee“–Another irresistably jaunty plea for companionship, like last year’s #1 single “Disconnect the Dots.” Once it begins, it can’t get back to that chorus quickly enough, and thank goodness for that. And NPR did a story.

And, just to keep with tradition, here’s last years list (expanded to 20):

1. Of Montreal “Disconnect the Dots“
2. Belle and Sebastian “Your Cover’s Blown”–And here I thought there was nothing more to do with a Doobie Brothers riff.
3. The French Kicks “One More Time”–The hippest song of the year, perfect for a weekend bar-hopping montage.
4. Kanye West “Through the Wire”–I found myself incessantly repeating the verse, “He must got an angel/’Cause look how death missed his ass/Unbreakable/What you thought they call me Mr. Glass?”
5. Air “Alpha Beta Gaga“–This year’s “Kitchen Sink” award-winner. Sounds like a commercial theme promoting a factory that makes clouds.
6. Blonde Redhead “Equus”–It doesn’t necessarily fit in with the rest of the album (especially the slick first 33 seconds). Which means it’s a perfect first single, perfectly placed at the end of the album.
7. Animal Collective “Leaf House”–So that’s where Bobby McFerrin went!
8. RJD2 “1976“–Anyone who properly puts Latin horns over a hip-hop beat is aces with me. Cypress Hill, I’m looking in your direction…
9. Arcade Fire “Une Annee Sans Lumiere”–The most evocative song on a remarkable album–this year’s best conceptual piece.
10. The Walkmen “The Rat“–The simplest, most appropriate, and best video of the year.
11. The Futureheads “Carnival Kids”–The best punk single of the year, evoking a young Paul Weller.
12. Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”–The second best punk single, evoking a young Franz Ferdinand.
13. The Hidden Cameras “Doot Doot Ploot”--A very guilty kitschy pleasure, one with which I constantly annoyed friends by repeating ad nauseum, calling them homophobic if they didn’t sing along.
14. Secret Machines “Nowhere Again“–That “David Watts” rhythm gets me every time.
15. Scissor Sisters “Take Your Mama Out“–See #13.
16. The Go! Team “Ladyflash”–First listen, magnificent! Tenth listen, magnif! Twentieth listen, mag…two minutes too long. Fortieth listen, #16 of 2004.
17. Cornershop “Topknot“–Largely unnoticed British 7″, that thankfully reverts back to the infinitely more in(dian)teresting.
18. Dios “Starting Five“–The sounds of children playing, a lightly strummed acoustic guitar, a shaker and tambourine, and, of course, the wordless falsetto “Oooh oooh oooh” of the chorus.
19. 50 Foot Wave “Bug“–Kristen Hersh gets laryngitis screaming like Marianne Faithfull chasing a mugger.
20. The Helio Sequence “Everyone Knows Everyone“–The best Beta Band track of the year.