2009: Music

With The Grammy’s tonight, figured this was a good a time as any to talk about last year in music.

Top 10 Songs:

• 10. Never Had Nobody Like You - M. Ward feat. Zooey Deschanel
• 09. The Weary Kind - Ryan Bingham
• 08. Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare - Matt and Kim
• 07. No News Is Bad News - Dashboard Confessional
• 06. Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
• 05. Reaction - Ace Enders and a Million Different People
• 04. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap
• 03. Half of My Heart - John Mayer
• 02. Baby Blue - Dave Matthews Band
• 01. All The Pretty Girls - fun.

fun. - Aim & Ignite

This was a very close call between this and DMB’s Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, which was a return to form for the old stalwarts from Virginia. That said, fun.’s lead singer Nate Reuss, formerly of The Format, makes his second appearance on this list with what is essentially the follow up to 2006’s Dog Problems.

Dog Problems was about a man’s fight against his love, his career, and himself. Aim and Ignite is a man moved on from his past and has found happiness in the people around him and a new confidence in himself. Some of those new people are fellow members Jack Antonoff (Steel Train) and Andrew Dost (Anathello) who bring their influence to fun.’s sound, especially Dost who’s proclivity for operatic sound isa big element of the album. Light A Roman Candle With Me sounds like its right out of West Side Story and album ender Take Your Time is a great climax for musical that this album can be at times.

The Gambler is a song about the lifelong relationship of Reuss’ mom and dad and it makes for one of the best love songs in recent memory. I would argue that All The Pretty Girls is one of the catchiest pop songs of the year and works wonderfully as the face of the spirit of this album. Essentially, Aim and Ignite is just fun.