R&P: Let's decide -- What are the best songs of 2009 (Round 1 - Part 2)?

I am frustrated with the people who aren't respecting this process--either by simply naming their favorite 2009 songs and grossly ignoring the facts Waves is running a contest or by displaying their stubborn close-mindedness and not listening to the nominated songs from the pop genre (we understand, you're "hard," now get with the program!).

Now, to the matter at hand:

"Summertime Clothes"

The obvious winner. It is a very strong song, which clearly displays the band's ability to blend their experimental style with sharp pop instincts.

"3"

It's a decent pop song, in my opinion. Quality beat.

"Oblivion"

I'm not a metal-head, but this was, for the most part, tolerable. And the concept's interesting.

"Mind Eraser, No Chaser"

My favorite song from the album. Very entertaining song, with a powerful sound and interesting, fun lyrics. Cheers to Josh, John, and Dave.

"Crying Lightning"

YES! The AFI song is decent, but nowhere near "Crying Lightning," which is a slice of atmospheric, electrifying, psychedelic perfection by one of today's best bands. It was also great live. <3 the Arctics.

Summertime Clothes (Maybe the best of the 3 singles from Merriweather, much better than Brothersport at least. I don't really understand the hype for that song, it's one of the few AC songs I can't get into. That's just me though)

Tik Tok (No comment)

Oblivion (Didn't like the Between the Buried and Me song, Mastodon is pretty good though)

Mind Eraser (No Chaser) (Never listened to this band before now, but I liked this one a lot more than the other choice.)

Crying Lightning (Could never get into the Arctic Monkeys before, but this track makes me want to give them a second chance.)

1: It's so weird to me that a band named an album after a venue I've been to and grew up with. Maybe Merriweather will become synonymous with Red Rocks or Budokan.

Not a great song but Summertime Clothes. Although the other one is stuck in my head.

2: "1, 2, 3, Peter, Paul, and Mary"? What the hell is that? Song is garbage. She's done much better. Poor show. Tik Tok was fun and happens to be the name of a liquor store that sold to me underage in high school. Can you say party anthem? Okay maybe not. But I like this. Would be much better without that auto-tune nonsense, unlike the Britney one which just sucks.

Tik Tok.

3: Didn't like it at first but Oblivion is good. Plus the chorus sounds like it came straight outta the 90s, maybe from the Dirt - Alice In Chains album? Mastodon is a terrible name for a band though. Oh my god, do I have to listen to all of this next song? I might not make it if they insist on singing like this, no I promised I would listen, I will survive this muck. Around the 5 minute mark they decided to sing normally, they might redeem themselves, oh wait back to deep guttural screaming, how lovely. This sucks. And there's still Part 2 to come. But I did just make 10 grand. Part 2 is longer then Part 1??!! Between The Buried And Me is now on the hate list.

Oblivion.

4: A Mind Eraser isn't a bad little shooter half way through the night. This song isn't bad either. I like the other one better even though it's stupid.

You're Going Down.

5: I heard something from the earlier Artic Monkeys album and I didn't like it but this song I liked. Good times. AFI has been around forever and has forever been pretty sucky. I can't get down with that 'California' way of singing. I blame Green Day for this.

Crying Lightning.

This Is Mr. Noel Gallagher - Burnage Boys

3 - Britney Spears

Oblivion - Mastodon

You're Going Down - Sick Puppies

Crying Lightning - Arctic Monkeys

"Summertime Clothes" - Animal Collective

"3" - Britney Spears

I don't consider this a vote for Britbrit. It's a vote to get that abomination "Tik Tok" out of this competition. Although, I was always very amused by Britbrit's fake British accent. I laughed every time I heard it. It never got old. I actually miss it and sometimes wish she'd go off her meds just to bring it back. She brought a little sunshine into my life with her bout of the crazies.

"Oblivion" - Mastodon

It was shorter. There was less of it to hate so it wins my vote.

"Mind Eraser (No Chaser)" - Them Crooked Vultures

I haven't gotten into this album too much. I wish Homme would just record another QOTSA album.

"Crying Lightning" - Arctic Monkeys

The issue I have which keeps me from loving this album is that I can hear the Arctic Monkey parts and the Homme parts so every song seems to have a split personality. This song is a good example of the lack of unity but it's far superior to "Beautiful Thieves". I wish Homme would just record another QOTSA album.

Summertime Clothes vs. This Is Mr. Noel Gallagher

Summertime Clothes (although the second song kinda made me laugh, I love this song by Animal Collective. One of my favourites from the album)

Tik Tok vs. 3 -

Tik Tok (I don't like either at all but Tik Tok is slightly less annoying)

Oblivion vs. Swim To The Moon -

Oblivion (both were decent but I felt that Swim To The Moon dragged on a bit too long)

Mind Eraser, No Chaser vs. You're Going Down -

Mind Eraser, No Chaser (one of favourite songs of the year)

Crying Lightning vs. Beautiful Thieves -

Crying Lightning (my least favourite Arctic Monkeys album so far but this is still quite a good song)

Summertime Clothes

Tik Tok

Oblivion

Mind Eraser (No Chaser)

Crying Lightning.

Summertime Clothes, easy. Probably the best song of MPP (would be Brother Sport, if not for that Avery Tare masturbation session in the middle). I actually just finished a cover of it, so it's got a special place in my heart. The other track is surprisingly not terrible, but it does feel incredibly gimmicky.

3

Oblivion, but I'm not happy about it. I like it a little sludgier.

Mind Eraser. I'm not happy about helping out mediocre washed-up supergroups, but whatever.

Crying Lighting

Animal Collective vs. Burnage Boys

To be honest, I just don't really understand all the hype around Animal Collective. Yes, I guess it's a little different than most music that I have heard of similar styles, and "My Girls" was actually a pretty good song, but this one, I really don't connect with. I don't know what it is about it, but There's just something there that doesn't do it. On the other hand, I actually really like the simplicity of "This is Mr. Noel Gallagher", And I think that it really captured what I imagine they were trying to do. So "I am Mr. Noel Gallagher" wins this one.

Ke$ha vs. Britney Spears

"Tick Tock is just kind of annoying. yet another song where I don't like the vocals, and then throw in more Auto-tune over-saturation. The beat was nothing special either. Not too much else to say. What do you know, same reaction to Spears' vocals. Here, the instrumental is better, though. I actually feel like I should be dancing to this one. "3" achieves it's goals better, and is a slightly better listen, in my opinion.

Mastodon vs. BTBAM

Finally. I've already heard "Oblivion" tons of times, but I'll listen again now with a more critical ear. My first impression is that the video version must shave off a little of the intro, because in the album version it had ore "buildup". As this is something that I really like in a song, it (the album version, that is) is off to a good start. The vocals are good enough this time, though sound just a little overproduced. I love the riffs here, and Brann is a great drummer for their style. This is also the first song so far that I really "feel", and it has a lot of emotion to it. And here comes that epic solo. Overall, great song. On to BTBAM: I could live without the opening percussion, unless it's going to turn into something. The guitars start out strong, though the sudden stops aren't helping to draw me in. I'm also not sure if the keyboards are necessary. Yet again, it's too choppy for my taste, and then the vocals come in, and again, I don't like them. What it comes down to is, for an 18-minute song, it was far too jumpy. I mean, the kids have obviously listened to a lot of Cynic and Dream Theater, but for a band on their 6th album, they should have a more mature sound. They have plenty of good ideas, but do not transition between them well at all. I had actually heard a lot of good things about this band, and looked forward to hearing them, but wasn't really impressed with the product. "Oblivion" wins.

Them Crooked Vultures vs. Sick Puppies

TCV is another band with a huge amount of hype around them, but I must say, again, I'm not particularly impressed. It just already seems...outdated? Some passages sound oddly like The Beatles, and yet again, the vocals are bothersome (sorry about all this vocal complaining) they have some decent riffs, though. and wtf at the end? That seemed really unnecessary. Okay, some vocals that I actually don't mind. Nevermind, forget that, it just ended. Hmm. It sounds a lot like all of the bands that I remember being popular in 7th grade. I just didn't like it. "Mind Eraser (No Chaser)" wins, though I didn't think it would at the time.

Arctic Monkeys vs. AFI

Ok, stating off on the right foot with a cool bassline. The vocals remind me somehow of Lady Gaga, though they're not explicitly annoying, so I'll take it. This song really isn't that bad, and is actually a fairly nice little piece. The solo seems a little out of place, but it was at least interesting. Fairly simple song, but enjoyable enough. On to AFI: damnit, more unpleasant vocals. And nowadays does everyone have to throw some little acoustic/mellow interlude into their songs just to show that they have "feeling", I mean I'm all for dynamic range, but here, it just seems so contrived. And the song kind of sounds like "we finally have a decent budget, so let's do all those things that seemed like a good idea back in grade school, when we were forming our band". AFI felt like they were trying to do something, whereas Arctic Monkeys felt tlike they were doing it. "Crying Lighting" takes this one.

the only match ups I care about are 1 & 5 so...

MATCH UP 1:

well i had never heard of Burnage Boys before this question, and I just listened to them and in my extremely biased opinion they are OKAY, but Animal Collective still wins... Merriweather Post Pavilion was one of the best albums this year

& as for five....

HOW CAN YOU EVEN MATCH a pathetic whiny emo band such as AFI with the total awesomeness & badassness of Alex Turner in the Arctic Monkeys?! I'll admit Humbug wasn't exactly AMAZING, but Crying Lightning still beats whatever **** AFI can throw together...forever.