09. The Words That Maketh Murder - PJ Harvey (Let England Shake, 2011)

The peculiar thing about this song is how sing-songy it is, considering its subject matter. I mean:

I’ve seen and done things I want to forget;
I’ve seen a corporal whose nerves were shot
Climbing behind the fierce, gone sun,
I’ve seen flies swarming everyone,
Soldiers fell like lumps of meat.

This is no typical light-hearted fare that hook-laden pop is accustomed to. This is certified PTSD re-imagined in a perfectly crafted pop song. She sings of the invisible cost of war, the kind that can not be simply made better with a medal or two. It makes the sting of the end chorus, “what if I take my problem to the United Nations?” all the more potent. Maketh murder is made of chills, and that’s why it’s been on the top 10 all year.

26. Friend Crush - Friends (Friend Crush, 2011)

We’re hitting the top 50! Starting with this sweet & seductive song about just wanting to be with someone, even if it’s just to bump around in the friend zone. Can’t wait for Friends’ proper debut - that voice? They can give Cults a run for their money. Maybe.

02. I found a reason (Velvet Underground cover) - Cat Power (The Covers Record, 2000)

I wrote this a while ago when I made a list of best songs in 2000s:

“It occurred to me that Chan Marshall a.k.a. Cat Power could sing about reading Archie comics in the toilet and it could be the deepest and possibly saddest song ever. So few of her contemporaries can round out and explore various shades of human emotions with the ease she possesses in her vocal box and delivery.”

Chan is love. Obviously, with her being this high on the list, there really are very few other singers whose voice could do to me what Chan’s could. She’s my broken heart girl, along with my #1. Her songs? Her songs. Hers, but also mine. That’s what it feels like. I’ve lived through her.

The Greatest

Naked if I want to (starts singing @3:26)

Wonderwall (Oasis cover)

Rockets

Maybe not

King Rides By

Good Woman

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{My 50 ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FEMALE VOCALISTS list continues (tagged Female Vocalists)! The criteria are simple: they are female of the species, I love their voice, and they have attempted to sing in English at one point in their career. The present list is focused mostly on the quality/uniqueness of their tone (voice box), and their ability to emote the hell out of the songs.}

14. Mushaboom - Feist (Let it die, 2005)

I’ll plagiarize my own writing on Feist (you care, of course):

While mindlessly watching MuchMusic’s Wedge (new indie music gathering) one night some time ago, I came upon what looked like a home-made video of this woman in some woods - you know, one of those low budget videos done with ‘artistic’ intentions? I couldn’t help admiring the spring-like quality of her voice, and how lovely her observations of a simple life were (‘I got a man to stick it out / And make a home from a rented house / And we’ll collect the moments one by one / I guess that’s how the future’s done’). I jotted down her name and the song for later, um, acquisition. Soon after, I bought Feist’s Let it die and listened to the record for days and days, wondering when she’d hit it big. Because, the voice? She sings with simplicity and conviction, while infusing her music with the creamier, lighter side of life, without ever getting too sugary. I doubt there’s anyone else who can do lilac pop justice, and with as much songs craft and zeal like her.

{My 50 ALL-TIME FAVOURITE FEMALE VOCALISTS list continues (tagged Female Vocalists)! The criteria are simple: they are female of the species, I love their voice, and they have attempted to sing in English at one point in their career. The present list is focused mostly on the quality/uniqueness of their tone (voice box), and their ability to emote the hell out of the songs.}

My mistakes - Eleanor Friedberger (Last Summer, 2011)

I love Eleanor, so it was ever so slightly disappointing that Last Summer didn’t rise to the promise of the brilliantly poppy single, My mistakes. It’s one of a handful of songs on her solo effort that is reminiscent of her work with her brother Matthew for the Fiery Furnaces ( :heart4evah: ), in particular, their pop masterpiece EP. The rest is not bad, just not exactly spectacular or different. I guess I was expecting something along the line of their signature layered, sophisticated pop sound. Instead, it kinda walked slowly along.