Top 15 songs of 2012- #10-15

As my listening habits change (be it because of time, my age or technology), I find it asier to find great songs than it is to find great records. It might be my lack of focus, but it may also be that the long play record format just has no real place in this era. It's not dead, but why not put out a great song that can stand on it's own nowadays? Why wait?

Therefore, I decided that I should also complement my top 10 records of 2012 with the top songs I heard in 2012*. Below are numbers 10-15. Top 10 to follow...

10. Factory Floor- "Two Different Ways"
A touch of new wave, a dash of industrial and brought to us by the folks at DFA. All good to me.

11. Wet Nuns- "Heaven Below"
Sheffield UK metal is coming back.

12. The Violet May- "Jennifer Lies"
More Sheffield, UK rock, and part of the Arctic Monkeys family tree, but unfortunately they have already broken up. Sad indeed.

13. Willy Moon- "Yeah Yeah"
Yes, it's in an Itunes commercial now, but that doesn't make it any less catchy or infectious. Fun fun fun.

14. Faye- "Water Against The Rocks"
Faye could be huge in 2013 if she gets the right attention.

15. More Sounds- "Analog Steak"
Thanks to Ram Jam Rodigan for unearthing this one. The kinda track trainspotters live for.

*And yes, I realize some of these release dates might not have been in 2012, but this is my usual burden each year as so much doesn't get released in the US at all, so I'm going by when I heard it. I have also excluded songs that would have been covered by inclusion in the top 10 records.

Free Energy

I'm not sure I can put my finger on why Free Energy fills the same spot in my mind as other American/East Coast bands like The Strokes and The Virgins, but there's definitely some tonal or melodic common thread here.

Which is not to say they sound exactly like either of those bands. I'd say even with some commonalities, Free Energy still sounds fresh and unique right now. Obviously, the 80s synth sound isn't unique. But Free Energy isn't bringing it o you with an electro dance beat. These synths are more Hall and Oates than Missing Persons, and are much more about having a good time than rocking the house. Obviously, other alluring factors for me are the power pop lyricism and melodies. In my opinion, the more bands we can get that evoke Cheap Trick, Sloan or the Webb Brothers, the better.

And on top of all this, they are on DFA. Proof again DFA has very very few missteps.

The Rapture

I have recently been feeling a DFA resurgence. It took me a while to get into the new LCD Soundsystem, but I finally got the new Rapture and am once again hooked. Not that I ever really doubted them, I just wasn't in the DFA mood. But the new Rapture is totally bringing me back into the fold.

What makes The Rapture is so good (same for LCD really) is that they are great at taking influences and channeling them thru their own style and bring us something at once familiar and yet totally fresh. But that's just critic talk, what makes these songs really tasty is that they are sooo damn catchy. It's roller rink, punk funk, 100% pre-party/party/post party approved. A guaranteed good time. In fact, even though their debut had a few modern classics (House of Jealous Lovers, Olio) their new record is a more solid affair from beginning to end. Grab a copy of the record, you'll like it. These two tracks... both get 8.5s.

The Rapture- Get Myself Into It

The Rapture- Pieces of People We Love