Top 42 Tracks of the Year (So Far), or, Calling All Music Lovers!

I've said it often before in the short time I've run this blog, but I truly think that this is one of the best years for music in a very long time. It seems that with each new week, there's a new wealth of great tunes and bands emerging from all corners of the world that provide us all with the necessary energy to get through the day. The next four months of 2010 will no doubt bring some great new releases, but already I'm totally satisfied with the human race for creating such incredible things for each other.

It's with this in mind that I created this playlist on my Itunes of my favorite tracks of the year so far. Ranging from hip-hop to rock to electronic and everything in between, this is the music that is currently moving through my head and has defined this year for me in many ways.

This list is not in any order other then to make an awesome mix CD or DJ mix. It's difficult to really say what I think the 'song of the year' might be, just because I think that a 'favorite song' almost always relies on the mood you're in at the time. Right now, I'm ready to declare that new Sufjan joint 'Djohariah' the best freakin song of all time, but the EP was just released a few days ago. Although seriously, ending a totally epic EP with an 18 minute song containing every single sound that's possibly good in modern music is truly a feat to behold.

If you look at this list and think that you'd really love to have these songs, then read below.............

1. LCD Soundsystem- Dance Yrself Clean

2. The Black Keys- Next Girl

3. Broken Social Scene- Texico Bitches

4. The National- Anyone's Ghost

5. Big Boi feat. Sleepy Brown & Joi- Turns Me On

6. Local Natives- Sun Hands

7. Flying Lotus- Computer Face/Pure Being

8. The Tallest Man on Earth- Drying of the Lawns

9. The Tallest Man on Earth- King of Spain

10. Wolf Parade- What Did My Lover Say (It Always Had to Go This Way)

11. Beach House -Zebra

12. Delphic- Counterpoint

13. Avi Buffalo- Truth Sets In

14. Tame Impala- Solitude is Bliss

15. Cypress Hill feat. Pitbull, Marc Anthony, and a totally sweet CSNY sample- Armada Latina

16. Wavves- Post Acid

17. The National- Bloodbuzz Ohio

18. Fuck Buttons- Flight of the Feathered Serpent

19. The Roots feat. Joanna Newsome- Right On

20. Erykah Badu- Turn me Away (Get Muni)

21. Broken Social Scene- Meet in the Basement

22. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti- Round and Round

23. Fang Island- Dreamer of Dreams

24. Fang Island- Careful Crossers

25. Rusko- Dial My Number

26. Ratatat- Neckbrace

27. The Dead Weather- The Difference Between Us

28. Gorillaz- Some Kind of Nature

29. Gorillaz- On Melancholy Hill

30. Eli 'Paperboy' Reed- Name Calling

31. The Chemical Brothers- Snow

32. The Chemical Brothers- Escape Velocity

33. The Mile Markers- Revival

34. Here We Go Magic- Collector

35. Yeasayer- Rome

36. Hot Chip- Thieves in the Night

37. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti- L'estat (According to the Widow's Maid)

38. Frogs Gone Fishin'- Herb

39. Phantogram- When I'm Small

40. Foals- Miami

41. Jaime Lidell- Completely Exposed

42. Sujfan Stevens- Djohariah

If any of these songs seem interesting to you, then I issue a challenge. I started this blog earlier this year as a way to share new musical discoveries. It was my intention to not do all of the sharing myself, but to enlist the help of friends to join in on the fun. While some people have stepped up and contributed some great reviews, we can definitely do better.

So......

For anyone who emails me at hjguitar@gmail.com with a review of something they're really dug lately, I might respond with a response containing this playlist. I say might because I'm all about following copyright laws and whatnot and it would be totally illegal for me to post those songs here, but I highly recommend you try (insert evil smile here.......)

Even if it's just a few sentences, the point here is just to spread the great music around and let as many people as possible know about something you've really enjoyed. I think music is one of the best art forms because it's an experience that can (and absolutely should) be enjoyed by many people at once. Everyone will most likely take away something different from that experience, that's the beauty of it. The more people who know about a band you really love, the more people can get that same joy you feel when you listen to it; and in that way, you're just as much a part of that music as anyone else.

For those reading into this list, you'll notice an absence of material from great acts this year like The Books, Arcade Fire, Best Coast, The Drums, and many others. I didn't want to include everything because I want to know what you guys think of that stuff. I also didn't include any additional info about these bands because I don't mind getting reviews of bands on this list. If something on here really did it for you, then let us know why.

Thanks, and I'll be watching out for your emails. With any luck, there will be many more reviews on Joyful Noise in the very near future.

Brilliant project, brilliant cover from a brilliant band

The Swell Season covers Neutral Milk Hotel

I've been obsessed with the majesty that is Neutral Milk Hotel's mid-90s indie rock bible In the Aeroplane Over the Sea since it was first shown to be way back in high school. And I know I'm not alone- anyone who hears it can't deny the crushing passion and insanely emotive songs and performance.

Which is why it's just so perfect that The Swell Season, a band build on the same ideals of pure passion in its songwriting and execution, would chose to cover one of the standout tunes from that record for this AV Club project. The sheer existence of this song makes the world a slightly better place.