“Black Lake”—Real Estate
Real Estate’s self-titled album was one of my favourites of 2009, and certainly the strongest debut of the year. I have a hard time picking one track as the best on the record, but this is of course a hallmark of a future classic. “Black Lake” is one of the more interesting cuts because of its deceptively simplistic nature, beginning with an understated verse featuring nearly inaudible vocals from characteristically subdued front man Martin Courtney. It’s all pleasant enough until a gorgeous, reverb-drenched guitar line bursts onto the scene and completely changes the mood of the song. It has the potential to soar over euphoric crowds at massive stadium shows but Real Estate keep their aesthetic too lo-fi for that ever to be a possibility. Through the second verse, you’re waiting in anticipation for that shimmering guitar to return, and it does not disappoint.—Sean MacKay
“We Have All We Ever Wanted”—YACHT
Portland, Oregon duo YACHT (the capitalization is very important) take a lot of cues from dance punks LCD Soundsystem on their latest effort, See Mystery Lights. This influence is apparent on “We Have All We Ever Wanted,” an undeniably groovy track with punchy, occasionally sarcastic vocals. See Mystery Lights contains a wealth of new ideas from the mind of Jona Bechtolt, YACHT’s creative force, but sometimes cribbing from the greats never hurts, especially since the pair signed with Soundsystem mastermind James Murphy’s label DFA in 2008. It’s perfect for any dance party you’re throwing with your indie-rock-loving friends who might be skeptical of traditional electronic club music.—SM
“Marching Through Your Head”—Zeus
Zeus have long been mainstays of the Toronto indie rock community. The band bursts at the seams with energy when they’re on stage and their hometown shows are legendary by this point. In the last decade, Toronto produced musicians with grandiose visions (see: Kevin Drew and Charles Spearin) with the drawback that they tended to come off as pretentious and at times arrogant, turning many off of the scene. As they've made clear on “Marching Through Your Head,” Zeus are rooted in straight-forward rock ’n’ roll, but their music keeps up with the best that this city has to offer simply for the band's youthful exuberance. “Marching Through Your Head” is chock full of hooks, playful vocals, and a penchant for melody that recalls beloved Canadian rockers Sloan in their heyday.—SM
"What Makes Him Act So Bad?"—Adam Green
Adam Green, member of The Moldy Peaches and best friend of The Strokes, has returned after some time to present his latest album, Minor Love. “What Makes Him Act So Bad?” is reminiscent of Lou Reed’s solo material, and Green seems to have traded in his easygoing, folk-infused style for the electric guitar riffs of the 1960s. Although the track isn't particularly innovative, it's incredibly catchy and likely to put you in a good mood.—Navi Lamba
"Warm Heart of Africa" (featuring Ezra Koenig)—The Very Best
“Warm Heart of Africa” only becomes more enjoyable after you watch the music video, which features The Very Best and Ezra Koenig dancing through an exciting green-screen tour of Africa along with some back-up dancers. This track may be summed up as a “cooler/significantly more authentic” Vampire Weekend track. Koenig’s voice is in tip-top shape and is complimented by lead singer Esau Mwamwaya. The song hopefully allows listeners to escape our characteristically cold winter.
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