Galkin’s Top 115 of 2009, Part 1

January 15, 2010

So Tripp and I made our “Top 10 Albums of 2009″ lists (and a few others which will be posted eventually).  Oh but that Galkin, he went one step further, and created his Top 100 – nay, Top 115 – songs of the year.

So I’m going to publish this list as a four-part piece over the next few weeks, and I’ll be putting every song on here for you to listen to.  Great work Galkin, so everyone reading, enjoy:


Here are my top 115 songs of the year. Why 115 you ask? Well mainly because I just listened to way too much music this year and there were bands/songs that I felt deserved some recognition that I couldn’t bear to cut. So instead of cheating and having 15 ties to include them all, I just expanded the list.

There are a couple more things to keep in mind. First, I only included songs that appeared on albums that were released in 2009 or songs that were singles from upcoming albums being rereleased in 2010. As such, there are things you won’t see on the list even though they were prominent in 2009 (Kings of Leon for example; Only By The Night was released November 2008).  Second this was really hard. Not so much to simply choose all the songs I liked from the year (although that took plenty of time itself), but more so to figure out some way to put them in any meaningful order. I did my best and finally settled on an order I can live with.

If I were to do it again in a week I’m sure I would go back and move things around.

115. Black Eyed Peas – “I Got A Feeling (Mr Vega Dirty NY And Chi-Town House Remix)”
I got a feeling the songs on the list will get much better – I promise…but heard it enough this year during fun times that it stuck.

114. Asher Roth – “I Love College”
Ok, I lied. Not a good song, but who didn’t find themselves singing it in the back of their heads?

113. The Swell Season – “In These Arms”
Real list starts now…Once stars started a band in real life too with positive results

112. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – “Young Adult Friction”
One of the best song titles of the year

111. Neko Case – “People Got A Lotta Nerve”
New Pornographers singer knows how to do it solo too

110. Girls – “Lust For Life”
“Hell Hole Ratrace” got more end-of-year critical praise, but I enjoyed this one more

109. M. Ward – “Never Had Nobody Like You”
List had to have something with Zooey Deschanel in it. C’mon now, you know me better than that.

108. YACHT – “Psychic City”
Really long, really slow song with almost as much speaking as singing. Somehow it works.

107. Lady Gaga – “Bad Romance”
She just keeps on producing radio hits – pretty impressive

106. Boys Like Girls – “She’s Got A Boyfriend Now”
Pop punk is still very much in the repertoire

105. Dirty Projectors – “Stillness Is The Move”
Found the Dirty Projectors a little overhyped, but they do have a cool sound

104. Cartel – “Let’s Go”
This is the Cartel I’m used to. Let’s just forget the previous album ever existed.

103. Silversun Pickups – “Panic Switch”
Solid first single from their follow-up album – songs are too long though

102. Jay-Z – “Empire State Of Mind”
Got tired of it, but still a very good song…any and all knockoffs for other cities are lame

101. Dashboard Confessional – “Belle Of The Boulevard”
Chris Carraba – still plugging away with his Emo rock that knows how to cut to the core of me

100. Lily Allen – “The Fear”
Definitely keeps it real – that’s why I like her…and she’s cute

99. Just Jack – “Embers”
One of the many songs discovered through Gossip Girl

98. Jason Derulo – “Watcha Say”
Blatant use of another song, but at least he picked a good one

97. Bon Iver – “Blood Bank”
Looking forward to a new album next year

96. Imogen Heap – “First Train Home”
Not as catchy as “Hide and Seek” as featured on “Watcha Say”, but nice little song off the new album

95. Two Tongues – “Wowee Zowee”
Second best duo side project song of the year

94. Miley Vs Notorious – “Party And Bullshit (In The USA) (Hathbanger Mix)”
Opposite ends of the spectrum come together for pure delightfulness

93. Tommy Sparks – “She’s Got Me Dancing”
Second best song used in an Apple commercial

92. The XX – “Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)”
Remix makes a good song better by making it a little faster

91. Tim And Jean – “Come Around”
Passion Pit knockoff which means they’re the next big thing. And they’re only 15 and 18 yeas old, respectively.

90. 3OH!3 – “Don’t Trust Me”
Don’t trust a ho. Never trust a ho.

89. Franz Ferdinand – “No You Girls”
Familiar sound, but nothing wrong with that

88. John Mayer – “Heartbreak Warfare”
Nobody has more “heartbreak” songs for someone who gets so many girls

87. Cage The Elephant – “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked”
Will be seeing them in 5 years on VH1’s One Hit Wonder show of the 2000s

86. White Lies – “Farewell To The Fairground”
Just a solid rock song – not much else to say about this one

That’s it for now.  Enjoy these songs, and check back for more soon!


Looking Backward to Look Forward

January 1, 2010

Why don’t we start the new decade by recapping 09?  Here are the Weird Jim Top 10 Albums of 2009.  You’ll see some stuff that I have talked about previously, as well as some new stuff that is just now making its way onto the site.

Additionally, keep an eye out over the next few weeks for some more top 2009 (and 2010!) lists from Galkin and Tripp, as well as some increased activity in 2010 as they help me keep WJM a little more active!  Now without further adieu:

10) White LiesTo Lose My Life

Heard about these guys in a 2009 albums to watch, and they are awesome.  They talk about death and emo-y stuff like that a little too much for my taste, but they usually keep it upbeat and fun – so it’s acceptable, right?

White Lies – To Lose My Life

9) Miike SnowMiike Snow

Heard “Burial,” loved the song.  Heard “Animal,” convinced of his talent.  Great album – can’t wait until he comes to DC.

Miike Snow – Animal

8 ) Harlem ShakesTechnicolor Health

The upbeat and uplifting song “Strictly Game” got me through some tough times (at work haha) earlier in the year, and I’m so glad I got to see them live before they broke up…

Harlem Shakes – Strictly Game

7) Dave Matthews BandBig Whiskey and the GrooGrux King

One of his best albums ever (that’s right, I said it), although sometimes gets a bit heavy on the electronic guitar for me.  I tend to love Dave for the jazziness of the group, especially his live stuff, but this album is still just really great.

Dave Matthews Band – Shake Me Like a Monkey

6) Matt and KimGrand

The most exciting music I’ve ever heard made by just two people on a keyboard and drum set.  Amazing.  Seeing them live from 10 feet away was one of the most fun concerts I’ve been too.  Julie, if you’re reading this, I still need those damn pictures.

Matt and Kim – Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare

5) PhoenixWolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

First album was good, second album is freaking great.  Unfortunately missed seeing them when they came to DC, but apparently it was pretty awesome.  I love this album, and I love how they’re on a Cadillac (I think that’s the right ad?) commercial now.

Phoenix – 1901

4) DiscoveryLP

I routinely go to this album immediately upon turning on my iPod.  Usually (as it’s an unfortunately-short 30 minutes long) I listen to the whole thing before finding something else.  I especially love how their cover of Jackson 5 came out nearly-instantly after MJ died.  Loved seeing this LP for sale at the Ra Ra Riot concert.

Discovery – Swing Tree

3) Passion PitManners

If I don’t go to Discovery upon turning on my iPod, I usually end up on Passion Pit’s Manners.  Almost every song on this album is amazing, and like Harlem Shakes they got me through some tough times earlier this year.  And some tough commutes nowadays!  Love how they’re now on a Palm ad.  And I know that I’m sounding like a broken record at this point, but seeing them in DC from 20 feet away was simply incredible.  Tripp saw them at ACL, but I’m sure it just didn’t compare to The Black Cat.

Passion Pit – Little Secrets

2) Dirty ProjectorsBitte Orca

I’m not bitter that Tripp bailed on our seeing the Dirty Projectors in DC.  No really, I’m not, I promise.  Even though we had tickets to the sold out show and everything.  The music on this album is just incredible.  The girls’ singing is amazing, the songs are new and different, and I can’t get enough.

Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is The Move

1) Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

This album came out a year ago (literally), and it was sort of the beginning of a musically-experimental trend for me.  I listened to MPP, and I liked a couple of songs.  After 5 or 10 more listens though, I was in love with this album.  And that was in January 2009.  Every time I put this on, I get giddy haha.

All that, and the amount of times I’ve listened to this…and I just noticed a few days ago that the album cover is an optical illusion.  Fitting…I think every time I listen to this album I hear something new, and that’s why this is easily my album of the year.

Animal Collective – My Girls

Happy New Year everyone.  Hopefully everyone had a great 2009, fun holidays, and here’s to a sweet 2010.

And while we’re talking about 2009 listening habits, take a look at this simply amazing document/analysis from Last.fm.  You’ll see some familiar names :) Enjoy