A Future Uncertain, Where Anything Can Happen

Stephen Malkmus “Malediction” – There were many songs from 2005 that I related to on a lyrical level for one reason or another, but none of them quite as much as “Malediction,” which touches on the major themes from my personal life over the course of the year with a rather startling degree of specificity. It’s funny, who would have ever pegged Stephen Malkmus to be such an effective life coach? Face The Truth was full of lots of good advice on dealing with the mundane details of life with maturity and grace, like an indie pop self-help album without ever being remotely lame or trite. At this point, he’s been my favorite songwriter for so long that it’s easy for me to take his new work for granted, but it’s songs like this that serve as a reminder that he’s never lost the ability to make wonderful music that seems as much like the soundtrack to my inner life as he did when I was fourteen. (Click here to buy it from Matador.)

Charlotte Hatherley “Stop” – This is a song about the future, and the thrill and terror that comes from not knowing what’s just ahead of you. In print, the lyrics seem obtuse and vaguely negative, but set to this enormous wall of post-grunge riffery and delivered in a dry, matter of fact tone of voice, there’s an overall effect of serenity in the midst of chaos. There are plenty of good reasons to be worried about the future, but that should never be an excuse to retreat from it. The best thing about the future is that we have some degree of control over it, which is only true of the past if you’re capable of changing other people’s understanding of it. I have a good feeling about 2006, not just for me, but for everyone. I’m not a religious or mystical person at all, but nevertheless, this song is my little prayer for you in the coming year. (Click here to buy it from Double Dragon.)

Lee Moore “Boweavil” – If anyone should ask you who it was who gave you these songs, tell ’em it was the Fluxblog – 2005’s done been here and gone! I’m no longer looking for a home, but I’m still looking for a home. (Click here to buy it from Dust-to-Digital.)