Rendy Woby

Songs & Singles of 2011, So Far

DiS have started doing a countdown of their Top 25 Songs of 2011 So Far - all the contributors, writers and editors submitted a dozen or so. I’m not sure how many of mine have made the list, but the following songs are the ones I put my hand up for.

TOP TWO

Metronomy - The Look

I did my ankle in dancing to this and I am happy to inform humans that it is a song that ameliorates any household task by 87%. I have done everything to it apart from that.

The Tallest Man On Earth – Love Is All

I honestly believe this is literally one of the best things I ever heard in like my whole life like ever. Even though it sounds like Dylan (and Dylan fans have done for Dylan, for me). But then I posted it on all of my social media backchannels and no one said ‘Thanks Wendy, you have saved my life’. And that is the problem with THIS COUNTRY. 

THE REST

Timber Timbre – Woman

Taylor Kirk’s music is terrifying and seductive in equal measure and I like any music about telling Dog to rack off and then running away to be well transgressive with other people who hate Dog too.  

Tune-Yards – Powa

What an extraordinary woman! Powa is beautiful, nutty and rude. Like all Tune-Yards songs it fills me with admiration for Merrill Garbus, also jealousy.

Connan Mockasin – Forever Dolphin Love

This does not actually get going for about four minutes, which goes against absolutely everything I believe in. Ergo, Connan Mockasin makes the kind of music that makes me reassess all of the thinkings in my woman-mind. And while I should hate him for that, I do not. Ergo. It’s Latin.

Danielson – Grow Up 

It is a non-dread song about therapy. Imagine!

Florrie – Begging Me

I am not the sort of person who particularly likes to draw attention to herself while out in public, but if you come to Norwich there is a good chance I will be listening to this while I am At Large. What I will probably do is not sing it as you approach me on the pavement. But once you are behind me and I cannot see your face anymore I will RWD to the chorus and sing ‘Begging Me’ out loud. I’m kind of carefree. 

Matt & Kim – Cameras

It is a song about having so much fun there is no time to take photos of yourself. I wholeheartedly approve of this concept because I do not want to see what you did on Thursday with your wacky mates because ohmygod you were sooooooo pissed.

Young Magic – You With Air

Do try to get someone to snog you while this is playing very loud. I hesitate to used the word ‘swirly’ because ‘swirly’ has been given a bad rep by the chillwavers, but ‘You With Air’ is swirly. But not in the sort of way that makes you imagine a hippie girl dancing in an ‘ethnic’ skirt made of twigs.  

The Streets – Going Through Hell

As much as Going Through Hell is absolute dogshit and as much as I feel like I must have gone wrong in order to like it, like it I do.

Here We Go Magic – Backwards Time

If I was working in HMV and if it was before they decided there was no money in records because all people want to do is pretend to shoot pretend people on ‘gaming chairs’ (‘gaming chairs’ = literally the worst thing ever invented), I would recommend The January EP to the sort of people who like Ariel Pink / good things.  

Jamie Woon – Night Air

If you can get your head round the fact that Jamie Woon has essentially made a dubstep Craig David album (and I can), it is really good and I am definitely not just saying that because I spent £19.99 on the vinyl. Also, can I just say I am SICKAYOU genre snobs, because honestly, you dubstep fans really are the absolute limit. DON’T MAKE PEOPLE HATE YOUR GENRE BY BEING INSUFFERABLE AND HAVING A MILLION RULES ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE ALLOWED TO CALL THINGS. OTHERWISE PEOPLE WILL HATE THE EXACT MUSIC YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT. UNLESS THAT IS WHAT YOU INTENDED ALL ALONG. IN WHICH CASE WELL DONE EVERYBODY.

Low - $20

I find it quite annoying when you are trying to get your mind off of a boy because let’s face it, there are more important things (war/art/Dawn Bibby). And then a song comes along that is so wilfully simplistic, you feel that all the love you flung out before was puddle-deep in aspect and design. And that there is something inherently noble in having ideals about what love should be and why devotion - of all the courtly ideals - is the best and highest and most important. I am annoyed with Low for making me write this.

As for SINGLES, this is my (very) rough longlist for January-June 2011:

Battles Feat. Matias Aguayo - Ice Cream

Beat Connection - Silver Screen

The Beets - Time Brought Age

Beirut - East Harlem

Belle & Sebastian - I Want The World To Stop

Ben Westbeech - Falling 

Bibio - K Is For Kelson

Body Language - You Can

Bonjay - Stumble

The Chain - Lostwithiel EP

Christian Aids - Stay +

Cloud Control - There’s Nothing In The Water We Can’t Fight

Cold Mailman - Pull Yourself Together And Fall In Love With Me

Connan Mockasin - Forever Dolphin Love

Cults - Abducted

Danger Mouse & Danielle Luppi - Black

Danielson - Grow Up

Darren Hayman And The Secondary Modern - Winter Makes You Want Me More

Deerhunter - Memory Boy

Donae’o - Check My Swagga Out

Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High

Everything Everything - Photoshop Handsome

Franklin Vs. Com Truise - I Know

Ghostpoet - Survive It

Gil Scott Heron - Ny Is Killing Me [Jamie Xx Remix]

The Go! Team - Buy Nothing Day

Grinderman - Palaces Of Montezuma

Gruff Rhys - Sensations In The Dark

Here We Go Magic - Tulip

Herman Dune - Tell Me Something I Don’t Know

Houdini - Foster The People

House Of John Player - Shyrite / Son Esqueet

Icona Pop - Manners

Idiot Glee - Let’s Go Down Together

James Blake - Wilhelms Scream

Joan As Police Woman - The Magic

Jonny - Candyfloss

La Sera - Devils Hearts Grow Gold

Ladytron - Ace Of Hz (Album Version)

The Leisure Society - This Phantom Life

Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight - The Gap 

Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight - Windy Day

Matt And Kim - Cameras

Metronomy - The Look (Original)

Nguuni Lovers Lovers - Cheza Ngoma

Oberhofer - _Away_Frm_U

Okkervil River - Wake And Be Fine

Patrick Wolf - The City

The Phantom Band - Everybody Knows It’s True

The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo

Physical Forms - On The Brink

Pj Harvey - The Words That Maketh Murder

Purity Ring - Ungirthed

Rss - Wife Her Up 

Standard Fare  - Suitcase 

The Streets - Going Through Hell

Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin’ On

Timber Timbre - Black Water

Toddla T - Take It Back 

Toro Y Moi - Still Sound

Villagers - The Pact (I’ll Be Your Fever)

Warpaint - Shadows

Whomadewho - Every Minute Alone

Wild Beasts - Albatross

Wiley - Numb3rs In Action

Wolf People - Track 01

Y Niwl - Undegsaith

Young Magic Wav - You With Air