The Big Post of Life Lists 2005: The Singles

"Be the author of your own horoscope." - Lonnie "Pops" Lynn on Common's It's Your World, Parts 1 & 2

The rules: one song, one artist. Must have been released in 2005 or late enough in 2004 to warrant inclusion here.

1. Common - It's Your World, Parts 1 & 2 (featuring Lonnie "Pops" Lynn): I listened to The Corner more than any other song this year (according to last.fm, probably over 150 times in all its forms) but the most striking song on Be is the final track. I simply adore all 8 minutes of it and have taken to quoting parts of it as advice to friends on a pretty regular basis.
2. Mariah Carey - It's Like That:  I could discuss all parts of The Emancipation of Mimi all day. Stay The Night is the best produced song (kanyeezy production), Shake It Off has the best remix (with the Jigga man and Young Jeezy and a sick sick beat) and We Belong Together has the best (and one of the most incredibly intricate of all time) vocal performance but It's Like That goes off like an explosion in my ears. You should see me in Tae Bo when this song hits. That second chorus? Oooh wee.
3. Gorillaz - Dirty Harry: This is, hands down, the best track on a very good Gorillaz album and the most solidly hip hop of  all of them. And, this is the year of the beat and that kids chorus and hand clap is killing me all the time.
4. The Perceptionists - Memorial Day: "Where are the weapons of mass destruction?" indeed. Told from the perspective of a US soldier questioning his government while fighting in Iraq, it was striking in 2004 as part of that political compilation issued by URB and is still relavent and compelling today. There are other gems on this album but we'll discuss another day.
5. Camp Lo - Gotcha: I don't think a new Camp Lo album was ever released this year but Gotcha reminded me of why I liked Camp Lo way back when with that Luchini track. Just hot hot stuff right there.
6. M.I.A. - U.R.A.Q.T.: Sanford and Son sample?! Shut the fuck up, Diplo!
7. Amos Lee - Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight: simple and slow. I went with more traditional jazz this year than my usual nu-jazz/downtempo tendencies but Amos Lee's album and this song, in particular, felt like a nice meld of the two. Soulful and jazzy but fresh. Play that with some coffee and the morning paper  at the kitchen table or in your favorite chair.
8. Kanye West - Bring Me Down (featuring Brandy): I was tempted to put Heard Em Say (which I didn't like initially but now love) or We Can Make it Better but this still consistently brings a smile to my face and puffs my chest out a little bit when I hear it. Y'all can't bring me down!
9. Sleater-Kinney - Modern Girl: I think I listened to Everything, Wilderness and Entertain more but Modern Girl is the choice cut on their incredibly strong and incredibly hard rockin' major label debut.
10. Maximo Park - Grafitti: "I'll do grafitti if you'll sing to me in French." I just love that line and love MP's sound. I know other bands (read: Bloc Party) got more play this year but Maximo Park was my favorite UK import hands down.

Others: Bow Wow - Let Me Hold You Down, Death Cab For Cutie - Summer Skin, The Decemberists - Angels,  Slim Thug - Diamonds (Manny Fresh remix), Platinum Pied Pipers - Act Like You Know (featuring Jay Dilla), Beck - Earthquake Weather,  Game - Hate it or Love It, John Legend - I can Change (featuring Snoop Dogg, Damian Marley - Beautiful (featuring Bobby Brown), Missy Elliott - Can't Stop, Dangerdoom - Crosshairs, Esthero - We R in Need of a Musical Revolution, Feist - One Evening

Comments

[Anna]

I was wondering when you were going to list this. Excellent. and I would have to agree "Modern Girl" is my favorite song on "woods." I having been thinking about my favorite albums from this year...I will have to post them somewhere at some point..since I'm a lady of leisure at the moment.

[nOva]

My gawd, Mariah really did it this time. I'm partial to Stay the Night.

I need to do one of these.

[EJ]

this is on point. i'm loving this and wish i could hear these tracks i've never heard. as usual i'll purchase some of these cds- you haven't steered me wrong.

now if i could just finish working on albums of the year.

[Joey]

List looks nice. I just post a singles/songs list myself. I forgot the Camp Lo joint; that was a big mistake. Thanks.

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