Top 20 Songs of 2007, Parts 1 and 2

I meant to start this yesterday, and promptly forgot, so parts 1 and 2 will be tonight, part 3 tommorow, and part 4 Friday. This weekend/next week will bring my Top 10 albums of the year, done in two parts. Enjoy!
(Also, as usual I'm upping each song [and linking to those with exceptional videos] listed here individually, but I gather I may also post an up of a collection of all 20 for convenience. That is, if anyone cares.)

20. Feist - 1234
I was almost not even going to include this song, but you really have to. This year’s “Little Indie Song That Could” (see: “Young Folks,” “Float On,” etc.), “1234” was without a doubt the crossover hit of the year. Between appearances on pretty much every late night show, the Today show, and of course, the iPod commercial, we’re all probably just as sick of this song now as we were when we started hearing “Young Folks” in American Eagle. But if you remember way back to when you first heard Feist’s delicate vocals over those banjos, you can almost see yourself really, really enjoying the hell out of it and thinking, “Man, I don’t know how commercial radio doesn’t eat this up.” Careful what you wish for.
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19. Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction (Sexual Eruption)
This was a landmark song in that it was the first time someone managed to sound MORE sleazy than R. Kelly, and it makes too much sense that Snoop Dogg would be the one to do it. Call it “post-disco” if you will, the smooth synths and hard beat create a perfect bed for Snoop’s vocodered swoon (and, man, I swear, the vocoder is making a SERIOUS comeback between this and Black Moth Super Rainbow). Of course, it wouldn’t be a Snoop-joint if he didn’t lay down some killer up-tempo rhymes, and he more than delivers, with some great, creepy self-hyping in the back. My one beef comes during the last chorus, where Snoop feels the need to whisper “orgasm” in between lines, as if the repetition of “sexual eruption” over moaning sound-effects didn’t give us a hint what the song was about already. Make sure to peep what's also probably the best music video of the year.
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18. Bodies of Water - Doves Circled the Sky
Like Arcade Fire with a Jesus-powered flavor injection, Bodies of Water craft some serious anthems. “Doves Circled the Sky” is the best example of this from their album Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink. They actually make good use of the whole "gang of singers" trend, as the four founding members are all confident, capable singers. The lyrics about “I’s and IV’s and V’s” over I’s and IV’s and V’s, rolling drums, and bouncy piano soar, certainly make a case to give oneself up to the Lord. Still not convinced? Wait for the bridge, set off by some ridiculously high notes before charging full-force until its close.
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17. White Stripes - 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues
I think some people dismissed the White Stripes latest album, Icky Thump, too easily, and this song is one of the primary reasons. "300 M.P.H." could’ve sat alongside other greats within their best effort Elephant. It’s classic Stripes, unless you think classic Stripes is De Stijl, in which case, well you’re probably sore out of luck. The White Stripes have certainly changed. They’re much less of the punky blues that defined their early records. Starting with White Blood Cells, they started adding the chops of great all around rockers, even good popsters, with varying results. Get Behind Me Satan had me convinced had completely convinced the Stripes had not only lost the path, but were far lost in the woods. They reel it in here, evident by "300 M.P.H."'s clean verses and short explosive punches. Its a great balance of their talents, sweet ballad and fiery rocker rolled into one great package. Besides, the last line sounds like something nearly any bluesman from the 30's could’ve said.
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16. Deerhunter - Spring Hall Convert
If there was an Inside Edition for indie-rock, Bradford Cox of Deerhunter would be its Lindsay Lohan. Sure, being a complete weirdo can do a lot for your PR, but you do need the chops to back it up. “Spring Hall Convert,” from Deerhunter’s Cryptograms album, is enough to keep these guys afloat itself. The reverb-washed vocals give way to swirling guitars, anchored by pounding drums. The whole thing starts spins around your head so much after about a minute until its end that you almost lose track of everything that's going on. After being immersed in the beautiful mess, you forget every stupid comment Cox has ever made, until he makes another. Then, repeat.
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15. Devendra Banhart - Seahorse
makes his pitch for his own “ Another perpetual weirdo (though in a more lovable and less jackass kind of way), BanhartFreebird” on this cut off “Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon.” Banhart begins with the usual fingerpicked acoustic goodness we’ve all grown to love, with some light accompaniment that hearkens back to Cripple Crow numbers like “Now That I Know.” But Banhart isn’t content to be light and pretty forever, as the song shifts into fleshes out with brushed drums, jazzy piano, organ and more. After the wonderful vocal breakdown, the song pushes forward until it reaches its breaking point - at which Devendra breaks out the Skynard and goes for some sweet riffage. “I’m scared of ever being born again/If its in this form again,” Banhart sings. Well no duh, we all know he’d be much happier in the 60's.
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14. Flight of the Conchords - The Most Beautiful Girl In The Room (live)
Dare I say it.....Flight of the Conchords are...more...funnier.....than Tenacious D. There, I got it off my back. I’ve been wrestling with the thought for some time, but it seems to make sense. FotC are sharper and wittier, but still with a good sense of dumb humor. “The Most Beautiful Girl” is the perfect example, blending overt one-liners with enough dryness to make it seem perfectly natural to call a girl so beautiful she could be a waitress. They’ve also got a great sense for the music, crafting a perfect soft-rock evoking soundtrack to their comical tale. And where else but from a pair of jokester New Zealanders are you going to hear “kabob” in a song?
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13. Dan Deacon - The Crystal Cat
If there ever was music that sounded like Attention Deficit Disorder, its Dan Deacon. His spazztic mess of electronic drums, synths, and absurdist vocals makes for one of the funnest songs of the year. You think you’re a normal human being, but when you listen to this song and start screaming along with the pitch-bent chorus and dancing around like you’re having a seizure, you’ve entered Deacon’s Nickelodeon-On-Acid world. There’s definately something to be said for making music as effecting as that, and as he gives us a moment to catch our breath at the end of the song before launching into the coda with added bravado, it gives you a second to appreciate how well he does what he does.
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12. Cheeseburger - Tiger
“Tiger” is, in my opinion, the best song to get ready for a night out to. I can say without embarrassment that on numerous occasions I’ve gotten dressed while yelling “I’M A TIIIIIIIIGERRRR!!” into the mirror. It’s obvious to look at AC/DC for inspiration for the few-chord guitar stomp and simplisitic drums, but the vocals take equal parts Iggy Pop and Mick Jagger for their own swagger, essentially turning “Tiger” into your best classic rock mixtape in one song, and perhaps even better.
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11. Liars - Sailing to Byzantium
Reverbed percussion? Check. Falsetto vocals? Check. Eerie vibe? Check. So much of the Liars personality is in this song, yet they’ve managed to make it sound like nothing they’ve ever done before. Discarding insistant tribal drums for a straightforward trip-hop beat and adding in layers of synth, guitars, percussion, and more, Liars balance the chill with the chaotic. The result is one of their catchiest and best tunes yet. Plus, the sweetest keyboard breakdown of the year. Can’t beat that.
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