Here are the rest of the "great" singles of 2005 in super condensed form. School's kept me from finishing this and well it's almost the end of January, so it's time to throw this up, clean up my hard drive, and move on. Remember, these are all GREAT.
Architecture In Helsinki - "Do The Whirlwind"This sounds like the sort of thing I'd try to make if I were a musician and knew a lick about such things.
The Cardigans - "I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer"KILLER INTRO. I loved this song so much I bought one of their old albums used on a whim. Like most everything else I've heard by them, it was underwhelming.
Benjamin Diamond - "Let's Get High (Alan Braxe remix)"On par with the Soulwax remix and Stonebridge song in cheesiness. Just drown me in a wash of synths and all will be forgiven.
Do Me Bad Things - "What's Hideous"The clash of styles is bewildering.
The Field - "Thought Vs. Action"Hypnotic exploration of tension/release. Best single this year by someone not named Girls Aloud.
Freeform Five - "No More Conversations (Richard X remix)"The vocal hook reminds me of "Windowlicker" though it really sounds nothing like it.
Girls Aloud - "Biology"I was unsure about this at first, but I guess you listen and learn. Best single of 2005.
Girls Aloud - "Long Hot Summer"Shining example of why Miranda Cooper is today's top pop lyricist.
The Go! Team - "Ladyflash (Hot Chip remix)"Ancient, I know. I just saw them perform the original song on Top of the Pops. They're like a less Euro, slightly more inhibited Junior Senior, which is still good.
Interpol - "Evil"Sorry, this one has been around forever as well. Released as a single January 2005.
Kaiser Chiefs - "I Predict A Riot"If I had to listen to this regularly on U.S. radio, I think I'd probably hate it. I don't know if liking this constitutes admitting my own bias or just forcing myself to be fair. Anyway, this is a "great" song, and despite what anyone says, NOT BRITPOP.
The Killers - "Mr. Brightside (Thin White Duke remix)"Don't like The Killers much, but I must admit, the singer does have a flair for the dramatic. The vocals and keyboards really are the best parts of "Mr. Brightside". If you strip out everything else, especially the dumb lullaby riff, and tweak it to give it a little more gravity, "you've really got a chance to do something special". Sorry, invoking my inner Mike Shanahan again.
Justus Köhncke - "Elan"I wouldn't mind having this on vinyl.
Lethal Bizzle - "Forward Riddim 2"Like the kinetic energy of The Mask transduced strictly to sound.
Low - "California"The most affecting guitar band around.
Kylie Minogue - "Giving You Up" / "Made Of Glass"A couple of highly underrated Xenomania tracks that make it here partially on their A-side/B-side status. It sounds crazy, but I would actually shell out the ten dollar import price for this. There's something to be said for finding that perfect two side release.
The Mogs - "Kelly Blame (Electric Light Version)"The guitar bits remind of Saint Etienne's "Girl VII". The rest of it is just the usual repetitive synth noodling that I always fall for. What can I say, you like what you like.
Out Hud - "One Life To Live"Twitchy and spastic, it sounds like someone should be dancing to this, but I can't imagine how anyone would actually go about doing it.
Rachel Stevens - "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)"The thrills in the beginning were so obvious and immediate I was convinced that a month down the road this would inevitably end up sounding pretty pedestrian. Not the case.
Sway - "Call My Name (feat. Wonder)"Pushes the "suffocating paranoia" sort of sound as far as it can go without crossing over into the "so sinister it's laughable" department.
Three 6 Mafia - "I Gotta Stay Fly (feat. Young Buck, 8 Ball, MJG)"Strip away the vocals and this kind of sounds like the final level of an 8-bit side scroller.
Trick Daddy - "Sugar (feat. Ludacris and Cee-Lo)"I read a review for this that marveled at how pretty the harmonies are. I fully concur.
Vitalic - "My Friend Dario"A total badass lightning storm of a song.
Will Young - "Switch It On"The male version of "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)" in that whenever hearing it again, I'm always surprised I still love it. Bonus points for the video, which is a wildly entertaining homoerotic Top Gun spoof.
