Since U Been Gone: Music for a Return Missionary

     This Tuesday, my brother Boston gets back from serving a two year mission in Houston, Texas.  During that time, he didn't watch movies, kiss girls, check Facebook, or listen to music.  Instead, he talked to people about Jesus and restored Christianity, selflessly served others, and changed people's lives.  Now that he's back, I feel that it's my duty to help him adjust to post-mission life, and to do that, I made a mix of some of the music he missed in those two years.  Most of the songs are good, some of them are not as good, but I'd like to think that they paint a pretty accurate snapshot of what music was like in the past two years.  Some songs are from Schwarz brother's staples like Kanye, Coldplay, and the Killers and then others are inescapable time stamps of pop culture ("I Gotta Feeling", "Single Ladies", "TiK Tok").  Check out the list after the jump.  Any songs from June 2008-June 2010 that deserved to make the cut but didn't?

2010 Grammy Predictions

The 2010 Grammy Awards are just days away.  Here are 17 Tracks predictions for the show's winners after the jump

The Decade: A Retrospective The Best Songs 40-26

"Can't Get You Out Of My Head"

Kylie Minogue
Fever (2001)

Kylie Minogue was a washed-up has-been before she unleashed "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" on the world. It topped the charts across the globe and even crash landed in the top ten in the U.S. Written in part by pop genius Cathy Dennis, the track follows the tried and true method of endless repetition, but somehow it manages to do it better than anyone else. "La la la" was such an obvious hook, but no one ever thought to use it over a flawless sleek dance beat in such a way that the world couldn't get it out of its collective head.

"Jesus Walks"
Kanye West

The College Dropout (2004)

Rapping over military drums and what sounds like a choir of soldiers, Kanye West opens up about religion in "Jesus Walks". Comparing needing Jesus to Kathie Lee needing Regis might seem blasphemous to some, but Kanye sells it with a convincing devoted tone. "I wanna talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoken in so long," he confesses. Despite Ye's line about radio not playing his record because it was about God, it was embraced by radio programmers and fans alike.

"Electric Feel"

MGMT

Oracular Spectacular (2008)

MGMT's Oracular Spectacular wowed critics and several of its tracks landed at the tops of end of the year lists in 2008. "Electric Feel" is the psychedelic indie-electro champ of the bunch, grabbing Bee Gees falsettos and laid back post-punk rock to create a shocking ode to electric love. The tune has an almost primal sound to it, like a ritual tribal dance a band of lost boys would sing while marching around a fire in Lord of the Flies or something.

"Black Sweat"
Prince

3121 (2006)

Like Prince's other great songs, "Black Sweat" lacks a bass line. Prince instead relies solely on a drum machine, a high pitched synthesizer, and his voice to create this jam oozing with funk. "Black Sweat" is able to reference songs like "When Doves Cry" and "Kiss" without sounding like a cheap rewrite. Speaking of rewriting, all he needed to do was change the word "black" to "red" or "blue", and maybe he could have gotten major airtime on Gatorade commercials.

"Take Me Out"
Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand (2004)

Is Franz Ferdinand lead singer Alex Kapranos singing about getting hit on or getting shot in "Take Me Out", or both? The band managed to put out a song other post-punk revival bands only wish they could write. The fast first verse of the song gives way to a slower, although much more rocked out chorus. The two parts of the song, each with different rhythms, work together perfectly, to create an intoxicating indie masterpiece.

"No Good Advice"
Girls Aloud
Sound of the Underground (2003)

Following the success of "Sound of the Underground", the Girls Aloud needed a follow-up smash to prove they weren't a flash in the pan. "No Good Advice" didn't sound like the song a girl group would record, its attitude, lyrics, melody, and snarling surf guitar sounded more like a 1970s punk song. Its a song about defiance. Written by Xenomania in response to losing a deal with a record company, it served as a manifesto for the Aloud who proved they could make it as the decade's most important girl group without "good advice" from naysayers.

"Yellow"

Coldplay

Parachutes (2000)

"Yellow" was the song that made Coldplay, and its easy to hear why, the song is beautiful, and hopelessly romantic. The narrative of writing a song for someone makes it a modern "Your Song". "Yellow" gave Coldplay their first top ten hit, broke them in America, and propelled Parachutes to wins at the Grammys (Best Alternative Album) and the Brits (Best British Album). The tune has been covered countless times, and that's not even counting all the wooing boyfriends singing it on a clear starry night.

"Yeah!"

Usher

Confessions (2004)

"Yeah!" is a party anthem that could only be made in the decade of the ringtone. Honestly, have you ever heard a song play from so many phones (either the real track or the MIDI version) as you did Usher's biggest hit in 2004? This ultimate party jam sounds as fresh as it did when it was first released, and it brought crunk to the masses and is the single best mispronunciation of an artists name in music history (Ursher has got the smack to make your bootie go...)

"Hung Up"
Madonna
Confessions on a Dancefloor (2005)

Madonna had the first flop album of her career with American Life, a divisive folk album that raged against war and Bush-era America. Ironically, Madonna took a page out of W.'s playbook by pandering to her base and returning to the dancefloor with "Hung Up". Teaming up with producer Stuart Price and sampling ABBA, the Queen of Pop made her last great pop song. It wasn't long before she would try pandering to middle America by hooking up with Justin.

"99 Problems"
Jay-Z

The Black Album (2004)

Ten months before Jay-Z dropped the rap-rock bomb that was "99 Problems", Hova featured on his future wive's "Crazy In Love". I wonder how Beyonce felt about Jay's lyrics? "If you having girl problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one," he raps. His rap about being pulled over by a cop (You was doing 55 in a 54...you carrying a weapon on you? I know a lot of you are) is one of the best statements on racism hip-hop has produced.

"Never Win"

Fischerspooner

Odyssey (2005)

This group of electro-clash revivalists take early 80s synth and filtered it through early 00s art-rock to create "Never Win". The track has the pulsing synth lines, the video game-like beeps during the bridge, and the careless guitar strumming, but it also has a bite to it, ensuring no one ever mistakes it for vapid.

"Milkshake"

Kelis

Tasty (2003)

Kelis' "Milkshake" is a dizzying sonic assault courtesy of N.E.R.D.'s minimalist production. Popular music has had its share of sexual innuendos, but few are as adventurous as this tune with Kelis demanding payment to teach how she makes milkshakes that not only bring the boys to the yard, but are better than yours (damn right). A synth-funk masterpiece.

"Apply Some Pressure"

Maximo Park

A Certain Trigger (2005)

Maximo Park had the unfortunate timing of arriving to the new-wave/post-punk revival after the likes of Kasabian and Bloc Party had already made splashy well-hyped debuts thanks to the British rock press. "Apply Some Pressure" deserves a place in the pantheon of songs. The adrenaline heavy track benefits from machine gun drums and wiry guitar that lives up to its title.

"Valerie"

Amy Winehouse

Version (2006)

BBC's Radio 1 Live Lounge show has become a perennial favorite for bloggers. The radio show features artists performing a hit of their own as well as covering another song which immediately hits the web and improves the search engine optimization of whatever blog posts it. The most famous song to spring from the show is Amy Winehouse's cover of the Zuton's "Valerie". The fact that Winehouse is singing about a woman is a moot point in this bouncy danceable retro-flashback.

"Never Let Me Down"

Kanye West

The College Dropout (2004)

Kanye West has come to be known more for his pop songs and controversial outburts, but his greatest moments are his goosebump inducing singles that pull at your heartstrings. "Never Let Me Down" is Ye's statement on love. Teaming up with Jay-Z and J. Ivy, he made the most emotional song of his career. It strays from Jay-Z's massive ego to Kanye's grandfather's battle with racism to the kind of love that inspires fierce loyalty.

Intrigue Rocks Critically Acclaimed's 2008 List

If you haven't been to Acclaimed Music, you need to. Run by 34 year old Swede Henrick Franzon, lists of the top singles and albums from various sites and magazines are compiled to determine the most critically acclaimed music of each year, decade, and all time. Last year, Rihanna and Arcade Fire topped the singles and albums list respectively and without too much surprise (Although LCD Soundsystem's "All My Friends" and Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." has somehow recently overtaken "Umbrella". Not sure I agree with that but I guess additional lists were added to give those tracks the boost they needed.). 2008 however, didn't seem to have as many clear cut winners so the final list is quite a surprise. Here's what we found out.

Critics were Blinded by Hercules and Love Affair

"Blind" got an honorable mention in the 17 Tracks Year End List. It's a catchy indie-dance number, but what kept it from doing any better is the annoying vocals. It ended up at No. 1 on C.A.'s list. Let's be honest, if Antony Hegarty wasn't in Antony & the Johnsons which are already adored by critics, this song wouldn't have scored so high. The only actual list it topped in the United States was Pitchfork. It scored high on every other list, but, with Pitchfork and the massive amount of sway it holds, everyone else is going to feel obligated to put it somewhere on their list.

MGMT Dominated

MGMT landed four singles in the top twenty ("Time To Pretend" at No. 4, "Kids" at No. 5 and "Electric Feel" at No. 12) while Oracular Spectacular was the No. 6 album. Domination.

Kanye West Got Shafted

I knew it when the album first came out and it was reviewed -- 808s and Heartbreak would be a divisive record. People would either proclaim it his masterpiece or loathe it and impatiently await his return to autotuneless rapping. Combine that with its late release date (November 25) and it seemed inevitable that 808s wouldn't get the respect it deserved. That's an understatement. The album didn't even make the list, his first to do so. On the singles list West fared much better. "Love Lockdown" came in at No. 16 and his duet with Estelle, "American Boy" landed at No. 3. That's the biggest shocker of them all. Did people really like "American Boy" that much?

Madonna Is Now So Legendary That She's A Shoe-in Even When People Really Don't Even Like Her Songs Very Much

Madonna is a traditionally strong artist on these lists, combining pop sensibilities with credibility. Even though she made bank in '08, it wasn't her best year with the critics. None of her songs made the top 100, but plenty of publications felt obligated to at least mention that she made music last year. "Beat Goes On", "Give It 2 Me", "4 Minutes", and "She's Not Me" all made it onto the lower reaches of the honorable mentions, managing only a few points a piece. What makes this all the more ridiculous is that only two of those four songs were actually released as singles meaning that a handful of critics didn't like what she released so they picked a random album cut instead.

Top Ten Songs Plus Others of Interest:

1. "Blind" - Hercules and Love Affair

2. "Paper Planes" - M.I.A.

3. "American Boy" - Estelle feat. Kanye West

4. "Time To Pretend" - MGMT

5. "Kids" - MGMT

6. "Machine Gun" - Portishead

7. "A Milli" - Lil Wayne

8. "L.E.S. Artiste" - Santogold

9. "Winter White" - Fleet Foxes

10. "Ready For The Floor" - Hot Chip

11. "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay

12. "Electric Feel" - MGMT

13. "Sex On Fire" - Kings of Leon

15. "Mercy" - Duffy

16. "Love Lockdown" - Kanye West

17. "That's Not My Name" - Ting Tings

18. "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" - Beyonce

21. "Lollipop" - Lil Wayne

23. "Human" - The Killers

24. "Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Lil Wayne

Top Ten Albums:

1. Third - Portishead

2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

3. Dear Science - TV On the Radio

4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

5. For Emma, Forever - Bon Iver

6. Oracular Spectacular - MGMT

7. Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

8. Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. - Deerhunter

9. Santogold - Santogold

10. The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow

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Hercules and Love Affair - "Blind":

Ting Tings jam with Estelle at 2009 Brits:

17 Tracks Top 15 Albums of 2008

1. Intimacy - Bloc Party

Beating out the biggest band and biggest rapper of the year for the album of 2008 is Bloc Party with their ambitious Intimacy. It's an album about the heartbreak that comes from both love gone awry and death. Judging from the declaration of war that is opener "Ares" and the frantic drive of lead single "Mercury", it would seem that Kele Okereke doesn't handle loss so well. Juxtapose the record's more aggressive songs with the likes of "Biko" and "Signs", both highly moving tracks, and the entire gamut of human emotion is captured.

2. 808s & Heartbreak - Kanye West

808s is the year's most controversial record. Combine that with its extremely late release date, and 808s & Heartbreak probably isn't going to score very high on Acclaimed Music despite deserving it more than any of his releases since Late Registration. No rapping, no parental guidance warning, no unusual collaborations -- this is new ground for Kanye. "Welcome To The Heartbreak" gives you the chills while "Heartless" and "Robocop" bring the thrills. You've put out another classic Mr. West. Well done.

3. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay

It's 2008's great American rock album made by a British band with a Spanish title and a French lady too busy saving the world to cover her breasts. I'm not one for songs without words, but "Life In Technicolor" is absolutely gorgeous. Then of course you have the album's first three singles which all made the list for top 25 songs of the year. Viva La Vida is the most epic record Coldplay has ever crafted.

4. Santogold - Santogold

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5. Oracular Spectacular - MGMT

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6. Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro

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7. The Fame - Lady Gaga

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8. Out Of Control - Girls Aloud

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9. Day & Age - The Killers

10. Fearless - Taylor Swift

11. Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie

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12. Only By The Night - Kings of Leon

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13. Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams - Solange

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14. Fasciinatiion - The Faint

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15. Perfect Symmetry - Keane

17 Tracks Presents the Top 25 Songs of 2008

Before 2008 you could get a house that far exceeded your paycheck. Before 2008 you could run for President (or Vice President) but had to be old, white, and male. Before 2008 you could tune into Total Request Live and catch 30 seconds of America's favorite music videos. What a difference a year makes. The demise of TRL wasn't significant in and of itself, but it symbolized a larger trend. America no longer gets its music force fed through the usual media funnels of television or radio. Even with the internet and such ubiquitous sites as YouTube or Last.FM, there is no singular institution telling you what to listen to. Combine that with the worst year the record industry has ever faced, and that seems like a disaster waiting to happen. It probably is, and the Obama administration might have to extend Bush's bailout plan to save record companies and keep our iPods full, but it has made for some great music. With the stakes being raised, artists are forced to put out innovative and compelling music if they have a prayer of keeping their job. And marketing this music to a generation that refuses to be a fan of a single genre, instead labeling themselves as liking "pretty much anything" (with the obligatory "except country, rap, techno, or screamo") on their Facebook profile opens a lot of doors. The boundaries blurred more in 2008 than ever before. Maybe Kanye was right. Even if you don't think he's the new Elvis, there is no doubt that "we are the new Beatles". Click on the song name to watch the YouTube video. Merry Christmas!

"Viva La Vida"
Coldplay
Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
Following 2005's X&Y, Coldplay found itself quickly becoming the biggest band of the decade but, their record was nothing more than a rehash of their previous work. Knowing that they needed to knock the next one out of the park to justify and keep up with their growing popularity, they teamed up with Brian Eno and ended up crafting the anthem of 2008. It's all there, the strings, the gentle but insistent drum beat, and the religious references. All that's missing is the actual use of the words "viva la vida" anywhere in the song. Martin sweeps the streets he used to own as he nostalgically remembers the time when he used to rule the world. Of course, they do rule the world right now, but assuming they eventually becomes irrelevant and are consigned to playing at casinos and state fairs, 2008 will be the year they think back to as Martin sings, "I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing, Roman cavalry choirs are singing, be my mirror, my sword, my shield, my missionaries in a foreign field...that was when I ruled I world".

"L.E.S. Artiste"
Santogold
Santogold
Santi White has been many things in her lifetime. She's been a singer in a punk rock band, a music major, an A&R rep for Epic Records, and finally, she landed a recording contract herself. White's background provides the context for her genre-defying debut, mixing new wave, hip-hop, indie, pop, and what we can safely assume is that golden glitter she throws up on the album sleeve. Her second single is a triumphant expression of the vindication that comes from finally "making it" on your own while doubling as a middle finger to all the pretentious hipsters of the Lower East Side. As much as she dislikes the wannabes, her song gives them exactly what they want. Standing firmly at the crossroads of Popjustice and Pitchfork, "L.E.S. Artiste" is pure melodic bliss but it's just too cool to be a guilty pleasure. It's the masterpiece of the most forward thinking woman in pop today.

"Black and Gold"
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro
At face value, "Black and Gold" is a certified dance floor filler. Irresistible synth lines pulse along as Sparro croons about not having a life worth living without that special someone. Of course, that's a topic routinely covered in dance music, but upon further listening, it's apparent that he's not talking about a woman, but God. "If vision is the only validation, then most of my life isn't real... 'cause if you're not really here then it's all just a bunch of matter". It's as intelligent as pop music ever gets and has a good shot at winning the Grammy for Best Dance Recording this February.

"Spiraling"
Keane
Perfect Symmetry
If the Killers are an American band trying to sound British, then Keane 2008 is a British band trying to sound like that one American band that's trying to sound British. Tom Chaplin does his best Brandon Flowers impersonation, even nailing the desperate and compelling voice that we've come to know and love. "When we fall in love we're just falling in love with ourselves" he muses as the killer hook swoops in to rescue you from loosing all hope of ever finding your one true love.

"Sex On Fire"
Kings of Leon
Only By The Night
The Kings of Leon's greatest weakness is sounding a little too much like Nickelback. Thankfully, you couldn't tell it by listening to "Sex On Fire". This arena-ready rock number fulfills their destiny of being the southern Strokes more than any other track to date.

"Electric Feel"
MGMT
Oracular Spectacular
Forget "Kids" and "Time To Pretend", MGMT's ode to being shocked by love is where it's at. With one foot firmly planted in 80's electro revival, and the other in the future, "Electric Feel" shocks in its own right. Even pop purists who eschew anything remotely indie will find themselves tapping their foot uncontrollably.

"Just Dance"
Lady Gaga
The Fame
Stefani Germanotta spent two and a half years trying to put together a debut that would allow her to wear her influences on her sleeve (Prince, Madonna, David Bowie) but be hip and underground. Ironically enough, once she stopped caring and just wrote a song about something as trite as dancing, she pulled it off.

"Sandcastle Disco"
Solange
Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dream
While her older, better known sister spent the year contemplating a sex change and breathing fire on any man who hasn't proposed on the second date, Solange made a convincing argument that she is the next Diana Ross. Oozing the classic Motown sound, Solange shows a softer, more vulnerable side to the Knowles family.

"Human"
The Killers
Day & Age
Brandon Flowers asks the year's most confusing but important question inspired by the late Hunter Thompson's remarks of the softness of America's youth. Are we human or are we dancer? The Killers have shown a wide variety of influences throughout their career, but teaming up with Madonna producer, Stuart Price, the Killers have finally embraced the inevitable neo-New Order comparisons.

"Love Lockdown"
Kanye West
808's & Heartbreak
Considering all the hype surrounding Mr. West's debut of "Love Lockdown" at the VMA's, it was understandable to feel a little let down. It's not like it's his most melodic track to date, and it features absolutely no rapping. Instead, Kanye plugged in the auto-tune and turned on the drum machine to prove that emo knows no boundaries. It sounds like it wouldn't work, but it does.

"Lost+"
Coldplay feat. Jay-Z
Prospekt's March EP
"Lost" is Viva La Vida's most instant track. Naturally, Jay-Z, who loves to get his fingers on a potential hit, provided a bridge for the song's release. Both Chris Martin and Jay provide poetic verses, and, without budging an inch artistically, create the best collaboration of the year.

"Womanizer"
Britney Spears
Circus
Blaring sirens announce the return of Britney Spears in her most repetitious song to date. Considering the number of times she snarls the title, it's surprising that the song actually gets better the more you hear it. It just goes to show you that with the right producers, anything is possible.

"Homecoming"
Kanye West feat. Chris Martin
Graduation
One of Graduation's final hoo-rah's, "Homecoming" was only a taste of what was to come by year's end. Martin's piano and unmistakable crooning add a unique flavor to the song, especially when he sings about fireworks over Lake Michigan.

"Please Don't Stop The Music"
Rihanna
Good Girl Gone Bad
One of the few singles Rihanna released this year that didn't go #1, "Don't Stop" towers over them all as a model pop song, perfectly structured in every way. The track would be able to stand on it's own without the Michael Jackson sample, but the "mammasaymammasay" raises it to a new level.

"Bleeding Love"
Leona Lewis
Spirit
Why isn't Leona Lewis dead yet? She's been bleeding for six months, hasn't she? But seriously, with the distorted organ, sick percussion, and killer hook, Mariah Carey has got to be green with envy. Simon's star making machine has finally struck international gold in a big way.

"Heartless"
Kanye West
808's & Heartbreak
How do you categorize "Heartless"? The production is hip-hop, but Kanye still isn't rapping, and the content is pure emo. At least the minimalist synth let you tap your feet as West laments the pain of falling for a heartless vixen.

"Mercury"
Bloc Party
Intimacy
If Britney Spears was a male rock star who wielded a guitar instead of a female popstar who wielded her sexuality, this would be her "Toxic". The "4 Minutes"-esque horns blare amid remixed shouts of "my mercury's in retrograde"and it takes you so high that you can't come down.

"Falling Rockets"
Cicada
Cicada
Although Cicada is best known for their remixes of New Order and Depeche Mode, "Falling Rockets" is their latest in a string of critically acclaimed singles they've released themselves. Soft and understated, it slowly descends upon its listeners and lodges itself firmly in their brain.

"Break The Ice"
Britney Spears
Blackout
Released right after the peak of all her very public breakdown, "Break The Ice" never got the attention it deserved. Despite the anime music video, it's one of Blackout's strongest tracks thanks to the eerie electro church organ and it's relentless build.

"My Drive Thru"
Santogold, Pharell, & Julian Casablancas
Converse Single
To promote their shoes, Converse asked some of music's most innovative minds to put together a free downloadable single. The result? Three entirely different songs stitched together courtesty of N.E.R.D. Despite the varied backgrounds of the contributors, the track flows flawlessly.

"Live Your Life"
T.I. feat. Rihanna
Paper Trail
I can hardly stand the song now -- it's been ridiculously overplayed. I still can't shake the memory of hearing "Live Your Life" for the first time. T.I.'s decision to sample the Numa Numa song should have been a train wreck, instead it's a stroke of genius.

"Violet Hill"
Coldplay
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
The buzzing guitar during the bridge sends a shiver down your spine in Coldplay's lightest, yet most political song of the year. My only regret is that that Iraqi reporter decided to exersize his newly aquired freedom and throw a shoe at Bush after the video was made. The bipartisan approach to dancing politicians is surprising considering Martin's assertion that "the FOX became a god".
"My Delirium"
Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke
And you thought that Flight of the Conchords was the best thing to come out of New Zealand. The land of the long white cloud's Ladyhawke shows what Rachel Stevens should have done, a hard edged punk sound that's not afraid of a little synth.

"Let It Rock"
Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil. Wayne
In The City
If I had a million dollars for every time rock critics say someone sounds like U2, I would be a multi-millionaire. If I had a million dollars for every time they were right, I would get about half as much money. Interestingly enough, the year's most U2-esque track didn't come from one of the minions of bands following in Bono's footsteps, but a former hip-hop studio musician fusing what he does best with techno and arena rock.

"Pork And Beans"
Weezer
Weezer
In 3 minutes and 19 seconds, Weezer perfectly summed up what it means to grow up in the late 00's. The shameless online self promotion, the digital democratization of nearly every aspect of life, Timbaland's uncanny ability to make a hit -- this is what the iGeneration is all about. And then you have the music video. Pure genius.

Honorable Mentions:
"Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat Jay-Z & Kanye West
"Time To Pretend" - MGMT
"Love Story" - Taylor Swift
"Blind" - Hercules & The Love Affair
"A Milli" - Lil Wayne