Year-End: Best Songs

So far, LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" has claimed the coveted indie-site crowns, winning best song on Pitchfork's poll, as well as Stylus (may the latter site rest in peace). I have to agree with both -- "All My Friends" is the best song I've heard all year, hands down. Click play to the right, and listen.

This could perhaps be the only "Song of the Year" candidate to ever feature a single piano chord throughout. Most critics concentrate on the lyrics, and they are incredible, but I found the piano to be the most noticeable component. At first the consistency of the instrument is quite bothersome. Forty-five seconds in you wonder if it will ever stop. By the end, you've accepted it and actually grown to love the way the piano leads the charge in to the climactic final verses.

Elsewhere, Slate is all over M.I.A.. Hell, Christgau loves the whole album. Is it that good? I really didn't love her first record and so I naturally overlooked this one. The first disc was a little sophomoric and immature in terms of musical ideas (not so much lyrically). It reminded me of Licensed to Ill in that respect.