Weatherhead The rant of a Warrimoo'ian

2007 hasn’t been as big of year for me musically as the previous three years, but still some top tracks. Here is my Top 10 in no order….

1. We Crawl - The Polyphonic Spree // I stumbled on the spree this year through the greatest sitcom ever (scrubs) and happened on their 2007 release This Fragile Army - a truly uplifting and inspiring movement of songs. This is totally cheesy and unabashedly happy.
2. Knights of Cydonia - Muse // I was lucky enough to see Muse twice this year and they were the best gigs of the year. To be 10 ft from the stage at the Horden when Muse close with KoC was brilliant. The video isn’t bad either…
3. Hello - Tim Harris // There won’t be many times in my life when I will be able to say that I have met someone who features in my fav songs of the year. Not only have i met Tim - he is a good friend of mine and was lucky enough to hear this song in its pieces as it was being constucted over 2005 and 2006. Epic, bold, breathtaking and widescreen - someday when I have more time on my hands I will try to match unseen images to this masterpiece.
4. Blue Piccadilly - The Feeling // Twelve Stops and Home was my album of 2006 - Blue Piccadily being the last listed track on the album. I suppose i had always overlooked this track being the last. The album’s title refers to the twelve stops on the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground from Leicester Square to Bounds Green - each song being about a stop. Anyway its one of the best closing tracks on any album I own and I just found myself looking forward to the end of the album to hear it.
5. Section 32 (The Championship) - The Polyphonic Spree // Two tracks from the Spree in my 2007 list; I guess it won’t suprise when I say that their 2007 release was my album of the year. Again a killer closing track - I love the way the chorus “all in good will come around, raise our voice, make another sound, all in good time, we will come around” is turned around in the last chorus from a questioning, uncertain tone to a great piano/drum/trumpet to build an assured, delcaration as the song fades to finish.
6. Station Approach - Elbow // I spent the better part of March editing together a film from a 20 day tour of China that I was part of in 2006. I used this song as the closing credits to the 100 minute movie as the perfect sentiment that one feels when touring away from home and then returning. It’s emotional and brilliantly climatic. I also was lucky enough to see Elbow perform ealier in the year. They were again superb - giving a 150 minute performance a 2000plus crown (mostly expats) in at HomeBar in Sydney.
7. Open Your Eyes - Snow Patrol // I think was their fifth single of their 2006 album Eyes Open. I always liked this songs driving nature with the beat kicking in early and the layering of the crescendo which just keeps getting bigger. What really sealed the deal for me was the video which uses footage from a famous french short film called C’était un rendez-vous (It Was an Appointment) directed Claude Lelouch. The song is quite climatic and dramatic whereas the video is entirely footage from a motorcycle flying through the streets of Paris - the simplicity combined with the song create something really compelling.
8. Love Today - Mika // I love crunchy pop. IMO most pop songs that are released don’t really make the grade - they might feature a small riff or melody which is simlpy repeated for 3 minutes. Mika’s music sounds sappy, pappy pop music, but it intensely intricate, layered and percussive. This song a great example of it.
9. Stop - Ghosts // As I said - I love crunchy pop. Another great example. One of those songs that i really disliked on first few listens then found myself singing it. Love interaction of piano, accoustic guitar and that sublime harpsicord melody.
10. Hazelville - The Captain // This was one of those songs that captured me the first time i heard it, driving in the car on the way to the Elbow gig! Another sweeping epic opening track which would not be out of place in a cinematic experience- 2 minute intro then the beat and bass kick in, then the melody playing over the top. Then the first verse, then chorus over a repeat of the melody. Great songwriting!

• Opportunity  - Pete Murray // Beautiful in its simplicity
• Straight Lines - Silverchair // Catchy and aussie
• From Yesterday -30 Seconds to Mars // I feel dirty for liking emo…
• 15 steps - Radiohead // Love the contrasting beat and guitar
• Reckoner - Radiohead // Look these guys are freaks - and this is perhaps their finest work in sometime - I am sure that the list next year will be littered with Radiohead songs.
• Hijomalind - Sigur Ros // A fraction poppy for Sigur Ros, but driving and epic at the same time.