in music
in
Pos. |
Song |
Artist |
|
Psychosocial |
SLIPKNOT |
| Slipknot
doesn't stop progressing to new levels. From a #25 in 1999 to a #14 in
2004, here they are stealing a #1 of the year, without even a true
contest. Only the last few days of the year made me slightly hesitate
because of Metallica's brilliance, but from what right would I turn
over a decision that had been crystal clear in my mind for the previous
4 months? It's the song that marked my year 2008 the most overall, and
it largely deserves its #1. Of course it is heavy, very heavy, but in
an extremely fluid and efficient format. For sensible ears, that might
probably sound like a
tsunami. For well-trained ears, it's rather like a powerful cascade, a
nice waterfall. It is strong, very strong! You also got to pay
attention to details, which are a bit buried under the wall of sound I
admit, but it is fun to work at distinguishing them. Here's the
official music video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjsUzI_BtGk But, WARNING! The video (and radio) version litterally cuts two parts of the song, which make it a little dryer. There's really something missing! The video is visually interesting, especially that it's the first one with the band member's new masks (including singer Corey Taylor's that I like, even if many fans preferred his previous mask), but for the auditive experience of the song, it greatly worths listening to it in its integrality, which you'll find at the following address: http://www.imeem.com/people/jNH_a8t/music/EafJGJOk/slipknot_psychosocial/ Who needs another mess? We could start over Just look me in the eyes and say I'm wrong Or: Can't stop a killing idea If it's hunting season Is this what you want? I'm not the only one! |
||
|
|
The
Day that Never Comes |
Metallica |
| What a
wonderful comeback for the legendary Metallica! This song was
definitely a candidate for #1 despite its lack of originality. I found
this song pretty much modelled after One
(one of the band's greatest hits, that reached its peak success in
1989), but through which we nonetheless can slightly notice the
influence from everything the band has learned from the St. Anger (2003) era. Regardless,
it is un arguably a piece of anthology, a truly essential from the same
level than One, Master of Puppets and other old
hits that the public continues to praise over 20 years later. OF COURSE, I'm talking here of the song in its complete version (7 minutes 56 seconds) and not the totally ridiculous 3:37 version played by some over-commercial radio stations like CKOI in Montréal! The beginning is the same, but they cut it while the true essence of the song just starts developing! Playing this shortened version is an affront against this art! Under these circumstances, it is not really surprising to see The Day that Never Comes take the #1 of the year at Musique Plus and not even manage to make a spot in CKOI's top 50! There are songs sometimes that last 4 minutes, and we have a clear impression that it's already 2 minutes too much. This one lasts 7:56 and really NEEDS its 7:56 to deliver what it has to deliver. I also want to say that I love the guitar riff that starts just a little before the first verse, it is beautiful. Here's the touching video, based on the full 7:56 version: http://www.imeem.com/metallica/video/dTtLoj_5/metallica_the_day_that_never_comes_music_video/ |
||
3 |
Sky
is Over |
Serj
Tankian |
| Without
the shadow of a doubt, the best song from the System of a Down split
into Serj Tankian and Scars on
Broadway. Superb arrangements with the piano and the symphonic string
instruments, although sometimes the sound could have been a bit better
balanced. A little short too, but listen, I didn't say it's a
masterpiece! Only a very, very good song with emotion. Music video
available atthe following address: http://www.imeem.com/serjtankian/video/B3pTMna4/serj_tankian_sky_is_over_official_video_music_video/ |
||
4 |
Handlebars |
Flobots |
| Who?
Exactly; each and every year, there's a perfectly unknown artist that
comes up with vey big piece, and this year that band is called Flobots!
A very clever and
intelligent development, we should not be shy to listen to it over and
over again until we realize that we are facing a truly great song. It's
grandiose despite a very very ordinary singer (I didn't say bad, just
very average!), what would it haven been with a great singer... Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs |
||
5 |
Psycho |
Puddle
of Mudd |
| After a
very disappointing successor for the highly popular Come Clean album,
followed by the near-simultaneous departure of 2 of the band's 4
members in 2005, I thought it was over for Puddle
of Mudd. Finally, it was so much not the case that the band gets in
2008 its highest position ever in a top of Powhertz' favorites, ahead
of the performance of a #7 for She
Hates Me in 2002! Very, very nice comeback! It's still mostly
post-grunge, it still isn't very original, but it really get me goin'!
I'm a child of grunge, I've always been assuming it! In the beginning
of the year,
I even thought it could be my #1, but finally there has been stronger
competitors that came later. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU_JyGBDeIc note: song released in the very last days of 2007, but I have to pass it in 2008 |
||
6 |
Pump up the Jam | The
Lost Fingers |
| An
extremely surprising cover of the Techtronics
hit in gypsy jazz ("jazz manouche") by a small band from Québec
city, delightful! I possibly tend to disadvantage them a little bit
here because it is not an original song but a cover, but still it's so
good! To be listened to, like some other of their covers of hits from
the '80s, onto their MySpace profile: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=198264640 |
||
7 |
Discipline |
Nine
Inch Nails |
| Not the
band's most accomplished, but still very good and very stirring. A free
download on NIN's Web site, actually it's the whole 10-track album that
is free: http://dl.nin.com/theslip/signup |
||
8 |
Pork and Beans | Weezer |
| Some
cheesy and loud Weezer as we love them! Really in the same line as Buddy Holly, which certainly
remains their greatest hit to date. It is excellent, one of the "musts"
of 2008. The very funny video concept "Youtube stars" (a great idea, by the way!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WanLLnVixC4&NR=1 |
||
9 |
Cyanide |
Metallica |
| Unlike The Day that Never Comes,
a little more in the sound of the previous album (St. Anger) than the sound of the
old albums of the '80s. Which is nothing wrong! A very strong 2nd
single for their Death Magnetic
album! A little more difficult to give you a link this time, because
there is no video for this song and we all know that
Metallica watches very closely the pirates that make their songs
available on the
Internet!... Up to you to buy the album or make your own searches, if
you haven't already heard it many times on the radio like me. |
||
10 |
I'm
Not Jesus |
Apocalyptica
feat. Corey Taylor |
| Excellent
results obtained by the combination of the Apocalyptica sound (with,
among others, a cello instead of a bass guitar like almost all other
rock bands) and the voice of the famous singer Corey Taylor (Slipknot,
Stone Sour). I'm not Jesus, I will
not forgive! Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrlvOYUay_4 |
||
11 |
Let it Die | Foo Fighters |
| The Foo's best in a very long time! I'm disappointed that the song finally ends up so far in my yearly chart due to the very fierce competition, but I really want to insist that I loved it! Kudos Dave! | ||
12 |
4
Minutes |
Madonna
feat. Justin Timberlake & Timbaland |
| It's
been without any sort of hesitation my pop song of 2008. It may sound
more Timbaland than Madonna, but one thing's for sure, it sounds big!
Pairing one of the hotest female pop artists with two of the hotest
male artists was definitely a sure bet to result in a #1. A truly good
pop song though, is never guaranteed. But they did. Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QcbUjTg0pE |
||
13 |
Scream |
Avenged
Sevenfold |
| Threatening!!
As almost any Avenged Sevenfold radio single, Scream just hits its target! I
didn't find an official video for the song, but I let you have fun with
everything we can find on
YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Avenged+sevenfold+Scream&search_type=&aq=f |
||
14 |
G.L.O.W. |
The Smashing Pumpkins |
| I love
the intro, a lot less the "come on,
come on, come on, can you feel it?". Uneven impression, but I
nonetheless crank up the radio volume when it starts! |
||
15 |
Piece of Me |
Britney Spears |
16 |
Hammerhead |
The Offspring |
17 |
The Western World |
Pennywise |
18 |
Addicted |
Saving Abel |
| Absolutely
nothing out of ordinary, I concede, but I guess I was affected by the
love song, the chorus in particular: I'm so addicted to All the things you do When you're going down on me In between the sheets All the sounds you make Every breath you take It's unlike anything, when you're loving me |
||
19 |
I Don't Care |
Apocalyptica feat. Adam Gontier |
| Apocalyptica
again, this time under the voice of Three Days
Grace's Adam Gontier. I definitely hooked up more on I'm not Jesus, but this one is
still very good nonetheless. |
||
20 |
Afterlife |
Avenged Sevenfold |
21 |
They Say |
Scars on Broadway |
22 |
Inside the Fire |
Disturbed |
23 |
Given Up |
Linkin Park |
24 |
I Kissed a Girl |
Katy Perry |
25 |
Shadow of the Day |
Linkin Park |
| note:
song released in December 2007, but I pass it in 2008 |
||
26 |
Corbillard |
Caféïne |
27 |
I Will Possess Your Heart | Death Cab for Cutie |
28 |
Bullet with a Name | Nonpoint |
29 |
Mentir |
Marie-Mai |
30 |
Mars ou Vénus |
Zébulon |
31 |
Pousse, Pousse | Jonathan Painchaud |
32 |
Calabria |
Enur feat. Natasja |
33 |
Falling Down | Atreyu |
34 |
You're Gonna go far, Kid | The Offspring |
35 |
Second Chance | Shinedown |
| A nice
song, mostly for the lyrics of the chorus: Tell my mother, Tell my father I've done the best I can To make them realize This is my life I hope they understand I'm not angry, I'm just saying That sometimes goodbye Is a second chance |
||
36 |
Indestructible | Disturbed |
37 |
Chinese Democracy | Guns n' Roses |
| GNR's
comeback!!! Very far from Metallica's, but certainly not a disastrous
comeback. |
||
38 |
Love Hurts | Incubus |
39 |
Breakdown | Seether |
| Not
Seether's most rousing, but some clever lyrics like: "Words are spaces
between us" ou "I could have
tried and devoted my life to both of us, But what a waste of my time when the world we had was yours", probably inspired of his painful relation with Evanescence's Amy Lee... |
||
40 |
Bad Girlfriend | Theory of a Deadman |
41 |
Just Dance |
Lady Gaga |
42 |
Stop! |
Against Me |
43 |
Break the Ice | Britney Spears |
44 |
24 Hour Break-Up Session | Local H |
| So
directly out of Nirvana's "garage" era! A song released about 17 years
too late, but I've always loved grunge, I never denied it... |
||
45 |
Entre Deux Taxis | Les Cowboys Fringants |
| Disappointing
return from my Cowboys as far as I'm concerned, with yet another ballad
tightly built for the commercial and contemporary radios, a little
"downer" with on top of it all a central idea borrowed from an old
Éric
Lapointe hit, On Commence à
s'Quitter. But I would not be ready to say that I find it bad
for it, and it deserves (not by much!) a place in my top favorite songs
of the year. |
||