My Favorite Songs of 2013 - 2014

Didn't do one last year, so this one's twice as nice.

Can't Do Without You -- Caribou

When I hear this song, I think of this graph.



A rocket launch to the exosphere.  Bob can't do it.


All Under One Roof Raving -- Jamie xx

I don't really understand any of it.  But parts of it are magical.




Picture You -- The Amazing

A delicate little thing, gray and misty.  The faint aroma of smoldering leaves wafting in over the hills.





A Simple Design -- The Juan Maclean 

Commence boogie.



When the chorus comes back at 5:54, the song seals its place in my heart.


I'm Flexible -- Torn Hawk

Playful, twinkling, noisy.  Melting ice cream.



 
Platinum Blonde -- Lockah

Smoove 80s groove.




Lies -- Chvrches

Just the right amount of dark anthemic electro stomp.  Their other songs are a little bubblegum-y to me.



I much prefer this video to the official one.  I've always had a soft spot for videos that are straightforward live performances of songs and the way they tend to enhance the music rather than distract you with whatever pretentious theme the video director came up with.  How else would you notice little things like the way color kicks in at the start of the first chorus.  And the t-shirt on the guy with the beard.


Nights In The Dark -- California X

Yes, there is still decent guitar rock being made these days.




Wings -- Haerts

Wow, what a pretty song.  Even if the backing vocals sound like Wilson Phillips.



I have a love-hate relationship with the video.  Love: evocative representation of the bittersweet memories of small-town childhood in a dead-end town.  Hate: the rapid-fire cuts that I'm sure are some sort of metaphor for the vividness of memory (and preteen camera-operating skills) give me a headache.

Also: if there are disembodied spirits, I like to think that 2:47-3:20 and 4:33-4:58 are how they see us.