What clever rubric explains my selection of songs for the year 2014? There is none. I’m usually satisfied with a tried and true playlist, even if many of the songs are a few years old. That said, our interconnectedness through social media exposes us to a variety of songs we may not discover on our own otherwise, making it virtually impossible for anyone to stay too far removed from the contemporary. And being that the new year is right around the corner, here are five songs that stood out for their own particular reasons.
1. Sylvan Esso – “Coffee”
The opening chords sound like unmusical pulses of sound that managed to pattern themselves into something pleasant, like the echoes from a hollow, metallic handrail carelessly tapped as someone goes down the stairs. This sound floods the room before a lone bass-drum kicks in, followed by a lightly accenting synth, and then an oddly timed xylophone.
Amelia Meath’s vocals create a soothing and hypnotic feel. The lyrics outline an encounter and its dialogue expressed through dance that is ultimately futile but necessary. The song is all atmosphere and a tad haunting.
2. Behemoth – “O Father O Satan O Sun”
Think heavy and grandiose, operatic even while staying clear of the ridiculous. The vocals belong to some demon general leading his army to war, probably against Christianity. “O Father O Satan O Sun” is the kind of Death Metal song that makes you want to shamelessly grow your hair long, ensconce yourself in studded-leather, and head-bang until Odin returns.
The production quality is great. The drumming is impressive and has drawn comparisons to a Death-Metal-equivalent Neil Peart. Their ability to incorporate organs for dramatic effect without sounding hokey is also to their credit. Score Card: 6, 6, 6
3. Stitches – “Brick in Yo Face”
“Brick in Yo Face” is a bizarre and shameful indulgence. It requires you to temporarily remove your frontal lobe and give into its ominous, four-note groove – a groove which could’ve been concocted by a one-armed chimp with Parkinson’s.
Stitches is what happens when you take the formula for a gangster rapper, with all its nefarious connotations, and beat the listener over the head with it. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself yelling, “I LOVE SELLING BLOW!” along with the song, because if you are a sucker for simple and catchy beats you’ll wind up listening to this more than once. And for a real horrific treat, try watching the video.
4. Big Sean ft. E40 – “I Don’t Fuck With You”
Staying on the ridiculous and over-the-top is “I Don’t Fuck With You.” No, this isn’t an iconoclast’s rebuff to a venal polity and banal culture. It is the shortest route between heartbreak and recovery: it’s about a girl; and confessing to the world that you don’t give a fuck about her. And confessing it over and over and over again in the vulgarest way possible. And yet you can’t help wondering, If Big Sean really didn’t “give a fuck,” then wouldn’t this song NOT exist?
5. Childbirth – “I Only Fucked You as a Joke”
If the names Sleater Kinney, Bikini Kill, and L7 mean anything to you, then you’ll enjoy Childbirth. (Ha! The last clause wasn’t even meant to be funny, but I’m sure that’s at least partly why they chose the name.)
There are no metaphors, no analogies in their lyrics. No overflowing of emotion. It doesn’t even sound like regret when she sings “ohhh…I hope I’m not pregnant.” Every line is declarative. The same is true for the music, a minimalist three-piece. Shapiro’s vocals remind me of an annoying girl at a bar shouting her order to the bartender over the din of the crowd or telling her girlfriend whose place they’re going to next. It’s an infectious song which demands replaying.
