Following up last week's album of the year listing is this week's Record of the Year award for 2005. And the winner is...
1. "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" - Arcade Fire
It was about last year at this time that I first heard this song on Sirius Left of Center. Over two months had passed since the debut full-length from the Canadian band - Funeral - was released, and the hype machine was in full gear. I wasn't yet on board, though, having downloaded "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)" and "Wake Up" without being overly impressed. Once I heard "Tunnels" though, I realized how wrong I was. From the glorious opening twinkling of bells and piano, undercut by a subtle guitar that resonates with a collapsing bass beat to accompany the first words from Win Butler, this song just grabs hold and doesn't let go. It's somewhat ethereal for the first minute and a half, completely evoking the winterscape described in the lyrics of the first verse... "And if it snows, then it snows in my neighborhood. And if my parents are crying, then I'll dig a tunnel, from my window to yours." The percussion comes in at this point, and the beat grows, slowly building to an explosion at the 2 and a half minute mark...
Then we tried to name our babies, but we forgot all the names that, the names we used to know. But sometimes we remember bedrooms, and our parents bedrooms, and the bedrooms of our friends. Then we think of our parents, well what ever happened to them!
The rhythm and melody explode together at this point, Win's straining voice equaling the wonderful musicianship until the songs fades out in a chorus of noise and low cooing. It is a song that begs to be blasted, and really doesn't work as well except at high volume. And it is absolutely the perfect winter song. And my #1 record of 2005.
Download Arcade Fire - "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)".mp3
Read on for the rest of the list...
Record of the Year 2005 List
2. "Chicago" Sufjan Stevens
You know what I learned last week? After spending the past year pronouncing his name "Suf-gen" (like it's spelled), I heard someone on Sirius Left of Center speak the proper pronunciation "Soof-yan", which you know, should not be held against me. I mean, couldn't his parents name him Mark or Joe or something? And it's not like I've heard anyone that I know speaking about him or anything. But I do feel a little embarrassed, since Soof-yan just won my 2005 Album of the Year last week, and now has the #2 record, the blistering third track from that album, "Chicago".
3. "For Real" Okkervil River
Despite the horribly disturbing artwork on this (and all) of his releases, singer Will Sheff has crafted a masterpiece of a song with the second track off his latest release Black Sheep Boy. The song continues in his traditional gothic, dark poetic vein, but surpasses anything he's ever written, with a much more upbeat and pulsing rhythm and truly gorgeous melody.
Some nights I thirst for real blood, for real knives, for real cries.
And then the flash of steel from real guns in real life, really fills my mind.
And I really miss what really did exist when I held your throat so tight.
And I missed the bus as it swerved from us, almost came crashing to its side.
See my post on The Next Arcade Fire to see the full lyrics and download Okkervil River's "For Real"
4. "First Day of My Life" Bright Eyes
A beautiful ballad by a mostly acoustic Conor Oberst, with a lilting melody that leaves his voice front and center, belting out a subdued love song with the very best of them. Sort of the exact opposite of "For Real".
5. "We Both Go Down Together" Decemberists
Download Decemberists - "We Both Go Down Together".mp3
6. "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" Stars
Incredible lyrics about reuniting with an old flame who has moved on, even if you haven't, highlight this leadoff track from the third full-length by the Montreal bandmates, Set Yourself on Fire. The opening verse is pure poetry, backed by a deep cello and echoing violins surrounding the perfect delivery of the first line "God that was strange to see you again."
7. "Rebellion (Lies)" Arcade Fire
More Arcade Fire. This one is just a raucous as "Tunnels" and just as fully formed, but doesn't have quite the epic breadth of the former track. It does have the persistant percussion and awesome lyric "People say that you'll die faster than without water. But we know it's just a lie. Scare your son, scare your daughter."
Download Arcade Fire - "Rebellion (Lies)".mp3
8. "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" Sufjan Stevens
The full name of this second top 10 track from Soof-yan is "Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part 1: The World's Columbian Exposition / Part 2: Carl Sandburg Visits me in a Dream". And stranger than that title is that the title is what the song is actually about. And even stranger than that, it's a truly incredible song. Did I mention it was on the Album of the Year.
9. "Born on the Cusp" American Analog Set
The band is mostly known for having songs and albums that sound very similar to each other, and this track from Set Free is no exception. But when they do it right, it's pure pop beauty. And this single is absolutely wonderful.
10. "Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day)" Broken Social Scene
I have no idea what this song is about, and the video certainly doesn't clear it up at all. But it's a really great track nonetheless. All swirling guitars and excellence.
And the rest of the Top 30:
11. "Marching Bands of Manhattan" Death Cab for Cutie
12. "Shine a Light" Wolf Parade
13. "This Modern Love" Bloc Party
14. "I'll Believe in Anything" Wolf Parade
15. "Sweet Troubled Soul" Stellastarr*
16. "The Loving Sounds of Static" Mobius Band
17. "Glosoli" Sigur Ros
18. "He Lays in the Reins" Calexico and Iron & Wine
19. "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" The Hold Steady
20. "Easy/Lucky/Free" Bright Eyes
21. "Hey Now Now" The Cloud Room
22. "It Dawned on Me" Calla
23. "Cold Wind" Arcade Fire
24. "Hoppipolla" Sigur Ros
25. "Gold Mine Gutted" Bright Eyes
26. "Pull the Curtains" Grandaddy
27. "Abel" The National
28. "Wordless Chorus" My Morning Jacket
29. "Baby C'Mon" Stephen Malkmus
30. "You are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son" Wolf Parade
And for those interested, here are the previous year's winners...
2004 "Evil" Interpol
2003 "The Shy Retirer" Arab Strap
2002 "PDA" Interpol
2001 "Crystal" New Order
2000 "Hum" Sheila Divine
1999 "We're in this Together" Nine Inch Nails
1998 "Believe" K's Choice
1997 "Willing to Wait" Sebadoh
1996 "Goldfinger" Ash
1995 "Live Forever" Oasis
1994 "Believe" Dig
1993 "Regret" New Order
1992 "One" U2
1991 "Losing My Religion" R.E.M.
1990 "Pictures of You" The Cure
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