Halftime Report: My favorite 15 tracks of 2011 thus far
5. “Birth of Serpents,” The Mountain Goats
After 15 Mountain Goats albums, John Darnielle still knows how to bring some assured lyricism and breezy melodies to the table. This track is one of the best examples in recent memory, making the process of developing photographs (Did you know that people used to take photos using cameras containing strips of plastic coated with light-sensitive silver salts? It’s true!) seem positively mystical and mysterious. Also, there’s something about snakes.
[stream the full album via Merge Records]
4. “Country Kids,” The Downer Party
For now, I really can’t get enough of this irreverent commentary on life and love in San Francisco, with its invitation to “throw yourself off the Transamerica Pyramid.” The local band steeps the song in the same attitude and distorted guitar that made ’90s alt-rock such angst-fueled fun. More blah blah blah.
3. “Under the Gun,” Apex Manor
Hey, NPR can inspire more than just sober reflection on the state of the U.S. economy. An online songwriting contest got Ross Flournoy of The Broken West out of his funk and writing some driving power-pop with a new Pasadena-based band. More blah blah blah.
[free download via apexmanor.com]
2. “L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.,” Noah and the Whale
I’m not the only person that thinks this song sounds like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers circa 1985, but I like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers circa 1985, so that’s fine by me. The English folk-rock band tells tales of rock ‘n’ roll survivors and starving artists, then spells out a carefree philosophy in the chorus. It’s not terribly deep, but it is terribly catchy. More blah blah blah.
1. “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
This is one occasion where I can’t fault radio for playing a song to death, because I’ve been overplaying it myself. The British soul singer’s staggering success so far this year is proof that the music industry is still capable of putting out a single that everyone can get behind, from Muzak programmers to snobby bloggers to your mom. As long as Amy Winehouse is unable to fulfill our demand for female British interpretations of classic R&B, I’ll gladly accept Adele as a consolation prize. More blah blah blah.
