Wednesday, December 18, 2019

UGF's Decade Wrap Up: Top 10 Songs of the Decade





December is almost over, which means 2020 is nearly upon us. For this week of UGF's Decade Wrap Up Trylemma and I are looking at our favorite songs of the last 10 years. Personally I found making this list very difficult, there were tons of runner ups and so many songs both from new artists and those who've been making amazing music since the beginning of the century. I had to ignore the fact that some of these tracks appeared on projects I didn't like as much as other projects that didn't have songs that made the cut. The fact is I tried to look at artistic innovation, depth of meaning and overall catchiness, and this is what I came up with.

Dimxsk's List:

1. "This Won't Last Forever" by Ceschi & Factor Chandelier:
This is it, probably my favorite song of the last ten years. One of the best things indie rap has brought us over the past decade is a blossoming of the "folk hop" genre, and Ceschi is the undeniable master and leader of that sound. Singable raps with the fire of punk rock and a world weary cynicism, often over live acoustic guitar. I've loved all of it. I had this spot occupied by a few other Ceschi songs before I decided on this anthemic cut from Broken Bone Ballads, including "Half Mast" (on and off my favorite Ceschi song) and "Sans Soleil" (absolutely heartbreaking but not quite what I was looking for here). However when it comes down to it "This Won't Last Forever" is a well written, well produced, accessible yet clever song about getting up again after life takes you down, and with Ceschi's behind the scenes battle with the legal system driving the writing process the sentiment is as raw and real as possible. Can't ask for much more than that in art.

2. "The Best of Times" by Sage Francis:
Probably one of the best songs about growing up I've ever heard, Sage Francis is at his most honest over a dramatic and beautiful composition (not quite a "beat") by Yann Tiersen. Paired with the music video I believe it's impossible for anyone not to be moved by the sentiments expressed here, and one of the things I took into consideration when making this list was the universality of each song. Everyone grows up, everyone remembers early rejections that hurt worse than anything ever does in adulthood. The experiences of childhood are so intense because every experience is novel, there's no sense of scale. Each element of this song captures that feeling of novelty with skill and subtlety (subtlety not always being Sage's strong suit, this is doubly notable), from the spacey vibes at the beginning of the track to the warbling saw that sounds like nothing you've ever heard before in rap. If you haven't heard this song definitely watch the video here for full effect.

3. "All Aboard" by Dark Time Sunshine ft. Reva Devito:
Dark Time Sunshine have a ton of good songs, a handful of great songs, and in my opinion one perfect song. Set to a dreamy and melodic beat by Zavala, with a goose-bump raising chorus by Reva Devito and Onry's trademark dark fantastical lyricism, this is a song about embracing the unknown with openness and courage. I can say this song got me through some difficult experiences, and it helps that it's a great listen with a catchy sound no matter how you feel. Absolutely brilliant and really proves that Onry is at his best working with Zavala. Definitely my favorite of his tracks as well.

4. "MTW Story" by Carnage the Executioner:
The first time I heard this song I was blown away. Such an emotional and personal song was a bit out of the ordinary for Carnage (an artist who's well known for his battle rhymes and impressive technical skill over old fashioned songwriting), and I found it surprising that he could deliver one with such skill and honesty. It was Carnage's story, but it was also the story of so many others (again, universal). Absolutely flawless production by Repete23 with live instrumentation added make this a song that can literally make you cry and applaud at the same time. I became a real fan of Carnage after hearing this, and he's really killed it this decade and deserves recognition in all kinds of ways.

5. "The Great Depression" by Common Grackle ft. Ceschi:
Gregory Pepper is one of my favorite musicians. Factor is one of my favorite producers. "Missed the Train" from Factor's Lawson Graham album was awesome. So it stands to reason that as Common Grackle the pair could kill a full length album, and there were undeniably some great cuts on The Great Depression. However I wasn't quite as thrilled with the whole thing as I wish I was, I feel like it felt a little short and some of the songs ("Please Stop") didn't seem to work very well as the hip hop crossovers they were intended. In a lot of ways I liked The Great Repression, with Gregory Pepper and his homies performing the songs as a live band, better than the original. Not so with the title track. Factor's production and Gregory Pepper's reverbed overdubs meet and produce a virtually flawless song, with the weirdness of the lyrics (about being broke, as far as I can tell) only contributing to the dreamy eeriness and beauty of the track. Add a verse by Ceschi and a video by Stuey Kubrick and you get an experience totally unique in the musical world. I have no idea what this music is (gloom bap I guess is what Trylemma said it was called) but I loved it.

6. "Full Clip (for the Last Day)" by Typical Cats:
Typical Cats return with 3 was one of the more anticipated moments of the decade for a lot of us. Qwel is an amazing lyricist, Denizen Kane has an awesome voice, Qwazaar has both in equal amounts, and the trio have always had chemistry, even when DJ Natural and Kid Knish don't always produce the most interesting compositions for them to rap over. The closing track from 3 however is very good, with a bass driven reggae influenced beat and amazing chorus from the peerless Kane. Another song about perseverance in the face of struggles / evil (zombies and beasts and creeps) and remembering what's important in this world in the end, family and faith in something greater than oneself.

7. "Skeleton Keys" by Wolf Hotel:
Barfly has always been one of the most interesting lyricists Oldominion has to offer (and that's one interesting group of voices so that's saying something). With this hard to find EP over Graves 33 beats, he's really proven himself to be a great songwriter as well. I loved every song featured on the Good Bye EP by Wolf Hotel, but this acoustic folk inspired song about the Barefoot Bandit is by far the best. Gorgeous production, amazing writing from Barfly telling a hauntingly sad story (if you aren't familiar there's a lot of information about the Bandit, basically a kid who led a very difficult life teaching himself to steal airplanes) make this a track I keep returning to day after day. With the overcast sky I'm seeing at the moment, maybe it's time to put it on again. I wish these two would do more together with Barfly on lyrics (the cassette only 07734 was okay but didn't have the magic of this album, Graves is just a better producer than Barfly).

8. "Learn to Hope" by Andrre & Zoën:
Realizing as I type this that Zoën absolutely deserved a spot on last weeks top 10 producers. Oh well, when you cycle through your collection of music looking for great artists, you usually hit ten of them well before you get to Z. Anyway, this song featured on both Zoën's solo debut and Andrre's under a different name is a bittersweet and beautiful track about being a kid learning to hope again after the death of a loved one and other difficulties. Zoën's production is absolutely flawless, making use of a youth choir to simulate that same feeling of novelty I mention above in relation to "Best of Time". When the drums kick in following the intro, it's impossible not to instantly fall in love with the duo. Andrre's gravely accented rap-singing is absolutely unique in the genre and his solo album (with more contributions from Zoën as well as composer Roma) is fantastic. This is probably my favorite of his songs so far though, and with his great new EP recently released on Dora Dorovich hopefully we'll be hearing even more from him this coming decade.

9. "Call Off Your Ghost" by Dessa:
Dessa is one of the most talented voices working in indie rap these days, and this song from her second full length album about being haunted by the memory of a lover after a breakup is maybe one of her best songs. However it's really difficult to pick any one that's better than so many others, and while I knew she needed a spot on this list (with a gorgeous singing voice and amazing poetic talent she is definitely in a league of her own) I had a lot of difficulty choosing anything in particular. Finally I realized that "Call Off Your Ghost" showcases not only her ability to rap and sing flawlessly but to also craft beautiful choruses and write great songs. A good introduction to the artist and a sort of mission statement that tells you what to expect from Dessa's music.

10. "Feeling Inside" by Paranoid Castle:
And finally, the third Factor production I've included, Paranoid Castle write insanely fun and catchy tracks about partying and friendship with upbeat production and great vocals from Kirby Dominant. Not too much to say about this song in particular, I just saw this when Kirby stopped by the Sad, Fat Luck Tour and realized it's true genius when the crowd and I screamed the chorus together. Belongs on this list for sure, so much fun it has to be illegal...



And here's the video for Dimxsk's #1 Song of the Decade!




Choosing songs is much trickier than picking artists or albums as they offer a much more narrow artistic snapshot. Songs become much more dependent on the mood and time than larger projects or rappers/producers. As such, I've decided to create 10 general themes for my list and include 2 songs for each theme.
-Trylemma
Trylemma's List:


1. **The Hero: "Hulk" by Toussaint Morrison / "Pillows" by Signor Benedick The Moor**
In a crowdfunding effort for his mixtape, "Fast Times At Trillmont High," Toussaint allowed top backers to have a song written about them. "Hulk" was a product of this effort, a grand song chronicling the life of one backer "Chris" over a heavy "Don't Stop Believin'" sample. We get a picture of Chris as a beer drinking jock who, amidst the partying, proudly maneuvers through life gladly welcoming the greater things to come. On the other side of things, SB The Moor's "Pillows" tracks a speaker who aspires to be a "Chris" figure, but is ultimately unsure of his ability to do so. Together, these songs do a great job portraying both the confidence and the uncertainty of life success.

2. **Mundane: "Dishes" by Open Mike Eagle / "Buzzkill" by Intuition Feat. Slug**
"Dishes" is a lowkey song about Mike's life as a house husband/father (as opposed to the indie star he is now.) In it, he contemplates more successful rap careers while also noting the intricacies of everyday chores. Intuition's "Buzzkill" lays out the rapper's growing boredom with the LA party scene (accompanied by a quality Slug verse.) I appreciate the little things in life, and these Hellfyre Club OGs capture the small feelings perfectly with these joints.

3. **Hellfyre Club: "Good Cop Bad Cop" by Flash Bang Grenada / "King Cookie Face Remix" by Busdriver Feat. Open Mike Eagle, milo, and Terra Lopez**
Speaking of Hellfyre Club, I view the label/crew (with its bitter demise and all) as the best indie rap movement of the decade. "Good Cop Bad Cop" is the best song off of the duo's "10 Haters" album, which really put Hellfyre on the map. The zany back and forth between Nocan and Driver (apparently about Rodney King?) really tames Driver while bringing out Nocan's lighter side...not to mention the duo puts on a complete rap clinic. Meanwhile, "King Cookie Face Remix" is really the last great song from the Hellfyre era. The three art rappers give their respective experiences of being high via top forms of all of their unique styles (and some mesmerizing Terra Lopez vocals.) Long live Hellfyre.

4. **Lost Love: "Secrets On Our Lips" by Astronautalis / "Violet" by The Coup**
While operating on different levels, both of these tracks offer wonderful snapshots of brief, but powerful, romantic relationships. "Secrets On Our Lips" traces a rendezvous behind a motel vending machine that lasted a night and a lifetime simultaneously. "Violet" traces a longer relationship on the streets of Oakland that was fueled by dreams of success but that unfortunately ended before such dreams could be fulfilled. It takes true skill to convey a lot with a little. Leave it to Astro and Boots to do it best here.

5. **Sacrificed Love: "Domestikated" by Iame / "In The Green Grass" by Jellyfish Brigade**
"Domestikated" is a tribute to a girlfriend that Iame lost to a move to the East Coast (due to a sick family member.) While Iame acknowledges all the good she has done for him, his dedication to the West Coast won't let him go east with her. The song becomes even more powerful considering that a couple years ago, Iame ended up moving East with his wife and wrote an album about it! "In The Green Grass" is surprisingly also about a girlfriend that rapper Lucas Dix lost to a move to the East Coast (due to a sick family member.) The song also covers Dix's loss of friend/rap partner Gavin Theory and the general trials of Dix's life. Both of these tracks do a great job of balancing tragedy and hopefulness as they relate to impactful loss.

6. **Driving: "In My Car" by Evil Ebenezer / "Bird On A Wire" by Action Bronson and Riff Raff**
What we have here are just two of my favorite songs to bump in my vehicular device known as a car. Evil's song is pretty self-explanatory - a tribute to car driving, with his lady, over a smooth ride-worthy Factor beat. "Bird On A Wire" has Bronson and Riff Raff (what happened to this guy?) trading some silly braggadocio verses over an airy earworm Harry Fraud instrumental. Perfect for a cruise.

7. **Internal: "Zeroes" by Nocando / "Find My Peace" by Serengeti**
We all need our fair share of depress raps every now and now. "Zeroes" is an amazing post-recession track about the vicious cycle of corporatism in America. As a capitalist society treats Nocan like a zero, he grows cold and starts only caring about the zeroes in his salary (which only increases the process.) "Find My Peace" tracks Serengeti's journey spending his birthday by himself in a home that he's technically trespassing within in Berkeley. While sleeping in the master bedroom (while the owner is away) he encounters a shotgun behind the bed that starts some heavy reflecting. Not everything is smiles.

8. **Bitter Growth: "Beauty In The Filth Redux" by Sapient Feat. Josh Martinez and Eligh / "All Girls Are The Same" by JuiceWrld**
It's sometimes hard to distinguish between triumphant illumination and just being resentful. "Beauty In The Filth Redux" upgrades an older Sapient track with a far superior stringy beat and a new Josh Martinez feature. The guys take turns embodying social outcasts that have found recent worth. Whether the worth is actual or merely in their own minds (or just a front, even to themselves) is up for debate. "All Girls Are The Same" by the recently departed JuiceWrld finds Juice broken after heartache. The song comes to the naive conclusion that girls by their nature are worthless, though there is nuance to be found in Juice's simultaneous realization that his conclusion may be the result of his own unwillingness to come to terms with himself. RIP.

9. **Celebratory: "I'm The One" by DJ Khaled Feat. Quavo, Chance The Rapper, and Lil Wayne / "This Won't Last Forever" by Ceschi**
More often than not, good music should make you feel...good. Here we have two tracks that take very different routes in accomplishing the same goal [to me.] "I'm The One" is a rare Khaled track that actually works. The melodic pop hit has the who's who of Hip-Pop acts boasting to their ladies about their ("their" as in the rappers, not the ladies) significant value. "This Won't Last Forever" channels Ceschi's past struggles, pain, and anger into an optimistic anthem. It's hard to imagine many conversations that would involve both Weezy and Ceschi, but the truth is, good music comes in an endless amount of forms and the worst thing you can do is really limit your listening habits. Both of these tracks are celebratory bangers that have put me in good moods many a time this decade.

10. **Reflection: "Home Movies" by Thirsty Fish / "Waves" by Kanye West**
To close things up, we have what are likely my two favorite tracks of the decade. Luckily they share enough qualities in theme that I can fit them into this little theme thing I'm doing! "Home Movies" is a non-album track that finds Thirsty Fish in a strangely reflective mood. We get, over an old Omid beat, early rare glimpses into Psychosiz', Open Mike's, and Dumbfoundead's childhood - the good, the bad, the melancholy strange. While Open Mike and Dumbfoundead have covered similar topics since, "Home Movies" remains a gold standard. Meanwhile, "Waves" is a simplistic, yet hard hitting track, about the continuous lasting nature of memories. Kanye's brief boastful raps are beautifully juxtaposed, and ultimately drowned out by, Chris Brown's crooning as if to say that even amidst Kanye's current bullshit, the roots remain. To the new decade!


And here's the video for one of Trylemma's picks from the category "The Hero"




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