best songs of 2007

Too soon? Here's our list of the best songs of 2007 so far, but before you get too worked up, it's actually just a thinly veiled excuse to post this Deerhoof song in a somewhat messy attempt to put into context just how much we love it.



1. Deerhoof Matchbook Seeks Maniac mp3
Who would've imagined that the most perfect pop song of 2007 (so far) would come from these guys? Oh man, that chorus is something else. I wouldn't be surprised if this pulls a "Roscoe" and remains my favorite song all year. The great Michael Azerrad, who wrote the one-sheet for Deerhoof's new record Friend Opportunity, describes this song more effectively than I ever could:

"'Matchbook Seeks Maniac' pulls a "99 Luftballoons" breakdown move in the middle, rocks a Brahms interval in the pop-narcotic chorus, and the Beach Boys and the Who are all over the mix - it's one of the most glorious things I've ever heard..."

2. Panda Bear Bro's (edit)
If Brian Wilson were still making music today, it would sound like this. Wait, what? Shit, then he should totally make a record with Panda Bear.

3. Arcade Fire Black Wave/Bad Vibrations
This song possesses a duality that I really hope to see more of on Neon Bible. The stark contrast between Regine's urgency and Win's Springsteen-esque turn is jarring and dark and probably almost scary to some (not me, dude.)

4. LCD Soundsystem Someone Great
"Someone Great" sounded like a classic to me the very first time I heard it, and I've been known to bust it out twice in one DJ set. Which is probably why I suck at DJing.

5. Marissa Nadler Diamond Heart mp3
This one'll tug at your heart strings, and I'd recommend this to everyone who really wants to like Joanna Newsom but just can't do it. Also for anyone who likes Vashti Bunyan, whom Marissa played with last year, live on BBC radio.

6. The Bees Listening Man
These dudes effectively jack quite a few genres on the new record, with this track "borrowing heavily" from classic '60s soul. And that's a compliment, because when it sounds this authentic, we can't complain, can we?


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Happy New Year guys. Oh, also check out Said the Gramophone's post on Basia Bulat, whom I'm kinda sure you'll be hearing a lot more about here on this blog, and probably other places too.