Top Five, Five Seconds of Songs in 2013

Top Five, Five Seconds of Songs in 2013

5. Arcade Fire — “Reflektor” from Reflektor - David Bowie, the band’s most famous fan, chimes in at the end of their jaunty first single. To me, it was the best part of a subpar album. (4:50 to 4:55)

4. Volcano Choir — “Byegone” from Repave - Arcade Fire left Reflektor devoid of any signature arena-rock anthem. Maybe they knew Justin Vernon and crew would do it for them. Vernon’s quiet, sleepy personae - which was hilariously lampooned by a balding Justin Timberlake on SNL - is shattered in two loud syllables, “Set Sail!” (2:40 to 2:45)

3. J. Roddy Walston & The Business — “Heavy Bells” from Essential Tremors — If Jimmy Page and Robert Plant had been born in 1980s Tennessee instead of 1940s England, they’d have written “Heavy Bells.”  Walston and The Business take a quick pause from screaming and shredding their instruments to pay homage to the greats in a brief, Zeppelin-like guitar lick that wouldn’t sound out of place in Kashmir. (2:40 to 2:45)

2. Alt-J — “Breezeblocks” from An Awesome Wave - This is yet another change in tempo near the end of a song. What can I say? I’m a Radiohead fan. They ruined me on this type of thing. This time, Joe Newman’s lone crooning transforms to pounding harmonizing about love, and love leaving. An Awesome Wave was released in 2012, but since heard it in 2013 I’m counting it. (2:19 to 2:24)

1. Neil Young — “Walk Like a Giant” from Psychedelic Pill - In a nearly 17 minutes song, it should be easy to find a good five seconds to highlight. I could have gone with Crazy Horses’ whistles, but I think I’ll side with the endless distortion near the end. I saw Neil and Crazy Horse play this in concert last February and it was amazing. There he is, looking like an elderly version of the Scarecrow from the The Wizard of Oz — all long arms, long legs and long, grey hair —  beating the hell out of his guitar for nothing more than the noise. It reminded me of a kid who discovers his distortion pedal for the first time and just wails away. Instead, it was a living legend finding new joy in the music he created. (12:30 to 12:35)

Adam