First of all, I’d like to say that I haven’t blogged in awhile because I was on holidays, now that it’s out of the way, you’ve probably noticed that the Above & Beyond Magazine Restrospective 2010 has started with the Favorite Songs of Ryan just below, well here are my favorite songs for the year of 2010 and I have to say that I always have a hard time when someone ask me what are my favorite songs, because I don’t necessarily keep a rating of all the songs I actually listen or even keep a list at all. I mean there are the ones that will play on rotation for awhile and those I play on fast-forward and/or skip, but that’s it.

You could say that is some sort of listing, but the category has pretty wide margins, so it’s always hard to narrow it down to only a couple of songs. So colour me perplexed when the new year arrives and I have to write up a list of my favorite songs of the year for Above & Beyond as everyone loves them lists. I initially wanted to make a top 10 and split 50/50 with Ryan, but Ryan, being the better blogger of us two, proposed to write up a list of 25 songs, I got him to settle for 15, but it was still one hell of an exercise… at least for me, Ryan got it done in like 15 minutes.

Anyway, here are my 15 14 favorite songs of 2010. edit : I can’t think of a 15th song… I’ll update it if I ever find one ahah.

The Streets – Going Through Hell Sometimes I will like songs that will get my head bumping or that will get me cooking on the dance floor, but the ones that really stick are those that talks to me and that I can relate to. The Streets official lead single, Going Through Hell, of it’s upcoming and last album, Computers & Blues, is one of them songs. Most 2010 was not the easiest personally (definitely got better near the end of it though), but I got through it and lines like ‘If you’re going through hell / keep pushing’, even if very simple, is definitely something I wished I had thought of myself. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : The Streets – Going Through Hell

Cee-Lo Green – F*ck You Here’s another song that was released perfectly in-sync for what was happening in my life. I mean who never had the urge of saying fuck you to someone who wronged you? Well Cee-Lo Green jumped on the occasion to become the poster boy for them people by releasing a song simply titled F*ck You, which gave each and everyone of us the opportunity of doing so in style. The song itself also quickly became a summer anthem and was foreshadowing the statement that Cee-Lo Green was going to be a big (literally) problem in late 2010 with his album, The Lady Killer. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Cee-Lo Green – F*ck You

King Fantastic – Why? Where? What? I’m fascinated by that gansta shit / Always been a fan of that gangsta shit / You can count me in if it’s gangsta shit / Just for the rush I do gangsta shit Granted those might not be the greatest lyrics of 2010, but it pretty much describes what’s going through my mind while bumping my head to the song. SHIT’S GOING HARD SON! I mean, everytime I hear this song, I just want to go on a rampage and wreck everything in my way, but I don’t… because I am not a ganster. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : King Fantastic – Why? Where? What?

Asher Roth – G.R.I.N.D. At the end of the day, if Asher Roth greatest success ends up being I Love College, G.R.I.N.D. will not only be a close-runner up, but will always be remembered as the song that officially marked a turning point in his career. From that white boy who rapped about college and getting high, G.R.I.N.D. shun a new light on the Pennsylvania emcee and proved that he had more than just one trick up in his sleeve as it image changed into a more serious rapper with something else than just a beer pong diploma to his credentials. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Asher Roth – G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It’s A New Day)

Yeasayer – O.N.E. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Yeasayer when they released their second album, Odd Blood, back in February. After listening to it though, they definitely made my list of artists to watch. The first excerpt of it, Ambling Alp, was good, but it’s really with O.N.E. that they caught my attention. The song just had that Animal Collective My Girls feeling of ’09. Not only was it released in the same time of year, but shared similarities in terms of light-heartness and catchy vibe. It was one of them songs that was just easily catching you off-guard into a psychedelic dancing session. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Yeasayer – O.N.E.

Delorean – Stay Close Delorean song, Stay Close, is just a pure pleasure to the ears. And the best way to describe the experience I’ve felt while listening to the song for the first time would be something like this. It started with the feeling of being engulfed by an ocean of sound carried me around for awhile and ended by leaving me on the shorelines with the feeling of wanting to go straight back into it; which I did countless of times, and even went to see them perform live when they rolled through my town earlier this year, which made that feeling increase tenfold, if not more. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Delorean – Stay Close

Sage Francis – Best of Times Sage Francis is definitely one of my favorite hip-hop artist. His songs are not about glits and glamour or diamonds and rims, but they are about nothing more than life… that middle class life, about the life and struggle of the regular joe. And while it’s sometimes nice to dream about them 36 inches rims, it’s music like this that connects (at least for me). Best of Times was the first excerpt and single of his recent album, L(i)fe, and it’s the kind of song that transported me into his own universe, making me feel what he went through via his lyrics, made me live inside of the images he was painting like they were mines even though he was talking about his past and not mine. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Sage Francis – The Best of Times (Prod. by Yann Tiersen)

Janelle Monáe – Tightrope ft. Big Boi I had heard of the Janelle Monáe’s name a little bit before the release of her debut album, The ArchAndroid, but I didn’t know much about what was attached to it, what to expect or even that she would become one of the most prolific artist of 2010. Tightrope was the first single that was spawned from The ArchAndroid and she couldn’t have picked a better one. The song was just the perfect mix of dancing, personality, Big Boi and a haircut that would get Amy Winehouse jealous to open up the industry’s front doors, but more importantly, my heart, to her. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Janelle Monáe – Tight Rope ft. Big Boi

Arcade Fire – We Used To Wait It took three years for the Montreal indie-rock outfit known as, Arcade Fire, to release an album following their very successful Neon Bible. 2010 was the year and they made sure not to disappoint. We Used to Wait and Ready To Start were the second batch of excerpts made available to us, but I was already sold, hooked, reeled-in and up on the wall singing like one of them singing fish the moment I heard the first 30 seconds snippets of The Suburbs and Month of May that were leaked prior to the full release. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Arcade Fire – We Used To Wait

Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand Sometimes I will like songs that will talk to me, sometimes I will like songs that I can relate, but most of the times, I will like songs that will get me moving. Duck Sauce latest release, Barbra Streisand, is the perfect example of such a song as the infectious beat crafted by none-other than Montreal very own A-Trak and Massachusetts native Armand Van Helden got me singing and dancing along like not alot of other songs released this year. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Duck Sauce – Barbra Streisand

Jónsi – Go Do I don’t know what to say about the inclusion of Go Do on my list of favorite songs 2010 except that you should give the song a listen if you don’t understand why it’s on it. May you be feeling good or a little bit out of it, listening to Go Do will always transport you to a better place for a little while. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Jónsi – Go Do

Foals – Spanish Sahara Spanish Sahara was the first excerpt of Foals second studio album, Total Life Forever. And while alot of bands usually go for their most marketable song as lead single, the British band decided to go in subtlety with Spanish Sahara and it definitely paid off very well for them as the song quickly gained noticeable buzz. The song also brings back memories of my summer trip in North Carolina as it accompanied me during the 18 hours drive to Cape Hatteras and will always reminds me of the ocean and its waves, the fun times we had during the days we were there and especially the feeling of the sun touching my face every morning when I was walking down to the beach. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Foals – Spanish Sahara

Local Natives – Who Knows, Who Cares Local Natives might have only released one album, but the way they craft songs feels like they’re old timers. Who Knows, Who Cares was definitely one of my favorite singles that spawned from it as it’s the type of song that exactly feels like a sunlight hitting your face or at least the warmth of it. To be honest, it’s one of those songs that has a part of me still wishing that I was part of a band to be able to play music like this whenever I’d want and who wouldn’t want that? I mean it’d be sunny everyday. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Local Natives – Who Knows, Who Cares

Kanye West – Dark Fantasy I think that EVERYONE who respect themselves at least a little bit has one Kanye West song on their lists this year… And that is whatever lists there are, I mean the guy was everywhere this year; not only did he released one of the best album of the year, his whole G.O.O.D. Fridays initiative was a game changer or at least something new and what to say about his epic rants on Twitter? Dark Fantasy did not make it into a single [so far] and was not even released throughout the G.O.O.D. Fridays. It was first heard as the soundtrack to the first couple of minutes of Kanye’s short film Runaway and was soon discovered to be the opening song of his album which was, with the British accented Nicki Minaj, perfectly setting the tone for what he had in stores with the rest of the 12 remaining songs. And so, the album, much like the song, had me at hello. And like him or not, Kanye West is one hell of an artist and no matter how douchebaggy he might comes off during award shows or during interviews on National television, he’ll always be relevant because not only can he back up all of his douchebaggery and arrogance, but it’s that arrogance and self-absorbed ways that makes his music so genuine and the perfect reflexion of himself. Obama was definitely right when he called Kanye a jerk after the Taylor Swift incident, but you gotta give him something though, he’s one awesome jerk. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. download : Kanye West – Dark Fantasy

download : Retrospective 2010 : Matt’s Favorite Songs

Remember the epic song that used to be in the trailer of Spike Jonze’s Where The Wild Things Are? If you guys didn’t know, the song was called Wake Up! and was performed by Montreal indie-rock outfit, Arcade Fire. Well, John Legend & The Roots decided to cover it a couple of months back when they were performing at the Amex & Vevo Unstaged concert at NYC Terminal 5, and when you think about it, the album they recently released also sports the name of Wake Up!, but a studio nor live version of the Arcade Fire cover was nowhere to be found on it.

Well they rectified the situation by finally releasing a full fledged studio version of the song earlier this week. Enjoy.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

download : John Legend & The Roots – Wake Up! (Arcade Fire Cover)

I don’t think it will surprise anyone when I say that the rumors of a possible collaboration between Spike Jonze and Arcade Fire became actual reality when the Montreal indie rockers unveiled the visuals for their latest single and title track of their newest album, The Suburbs. Especially as both of them are currently being labeled as indie pioneer in their respective area, so yeah, peep what happens when Arcade Fire, indie rockers per excellence meets Spike Jonze, indie director supreme… even though I’m pretty sure everyone has an idea by now just by hearing the names.

download : Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

M: So you missed Arcade Fire concert at the Madison Square Garden a couple of weeks ago? Well the whole thing as been put up on Youtube for 24 hours for everyone to see, so don’t miss out on this, because it is as amazing as it sounds.

Oh and Tommy started the post, hence his name as the author, but he had to go to work, so I picked up the pieces and finished it.

Fresh off the forward momentum of the release of their brand new album, The Suburbs, Montreal very own indie rockers, Arcade Fire, unveiled the visuals for Ready To Start, the lead single of that said album which is basically a mash-up of concert footage from their touring. Nothing really original, but it does the job.

They are also currently in the middle of a tour to support the release of their album so check your local listing, or just their website to see if they are coming anywhere your town anytime soon (if you’re into Arcade Fire that is).

download : Arcade Fire – Ready To Start

Yes, I might have missed Arcade Fire at the Osheaga festival this Saturday, but what can I say… I’m not a big fan of outside festivals, sue me. From what I’ve heard though, the performance was outstanding, but while Montreal very own favorite indie rocker, Arcade Fire were playing that song from Where The Wild Things Are to fireworks and confettis, I was busy planning my surf vacations which are set to starts right after this week edition of Above & Beyond Fridays, so to each his own I guess ahah. Anyway, their new album, The Suburbs will be appearing on shelves tomorrow in the UK and will be everywhere in the USA on Wednesday. The album was also leaked in the course of last week, so if you can’t wait 24 hours, the all seeing eye of Google is there to help you out as long as you promise that you will dish out the 15$ for the full retail copy of it when it comes out.

But if you want to keep it legit and still want to hear a little sneak peek of the album, here’s the 15th track of The Suburbs in it’s full CDQ, just for you… and me.

On a side note, Arcade Fire will be playing in Madison Square Garden on August 5th and will have their performance streamed live on Youtube.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

download : Arcade Fire – Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)

Zane Low of BBC radio seems to be the man to go in term of exclusives as of late and adding to his list of premieres comes two new tracks of the upcoming album of Montreal very own indie rockers, Arcade Fire, with We Used To Wait and Ready To Start. Making the unveilement of these songs another reason to justify the purchase of their upcoming album, The Suburbs which is set to drop on August 3rd.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

download : Arcade Fire – We Used To Wait

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

download : Arcade Fire – Ready To Start

A very very short snippet for both of these songs appeared on the internet last week, and even being a couple of seconds long it definitely left us (or at least me) on our/my hunger. Well it’s a good thing the full version of both songs were released yesterday for all of us to hear. One being a slower typical Neon Bible tune while and the other is a more fast-paced noisy track. Both of these songs will be found on their forthcoming album, The Suburbs and will be out on August 3rd… or 2nd depending of where you live.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

download : Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

download : Arcade Fire – Month of May