7. Substitute for SY Live Mix. I’ll be perfectly honest with you guys, I had “Seeing Sonic Youth Live” slated as #7 on this list, only to realize that the show actually happened in 2009 (almost 2 years ago even), so I had to scramble for a replacement. What do you expect from a “best of XX” list that kicks off in May? Instead, I decided to go with a few songs that I came across in 2010 that are great in their own right but aren’t part of an album that made this list (though on second listen, many of them probably should have). The only requirements were: A) The artist had to be completely new to my library when I purchased it (eliminates Crooked Fingers, The Books, Dearhunter, etc.) and B) I couldn’t have posted something by them on the Tracks before today (eliminates Enon, Bran Van 3000, etc.). I suppose we can also count this as my inaugural Slay Mix:

“Chain Chain Chain” — Red Red Meat, Bunny Gets Paid (1995): Classic album, should probably be on this list in full…

“Fell” — Let’s Active, Big Plans For Everybody (1986): One of the best songs Scott sent my way in 2010.

“The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism” — The New Pornographers, Mass Romantic (2000): Finally picked this up after a rec from my cousin, one of my favorite tracks off the album.

“Michigan Girls” — Califone, Quicksand/Cradlesnakes (2003): Red Red Meat post Red Red Meat. Another album that should be on this list in full. This track is summer nights.

“Passionate Introverts (Dinosaurs)” — A Sunny Day In Glasgow, Ashes Grammar (2009): Another great band keeping shoegaze alive in the 21st century.

“New Years” — Asobi Seksu, Citrus (2006): Japanese shoegaze. Should be on this list in full. I suck at making best of lists…

Also to get back to the original intent of the post, if you have a chance to see Sonic Youth live, do it. Even if you don’t like them, just do it. The hype is legit. They are one of those bands that you want to be able to say you’ve seen live, and their show will more than likely make you a fan. They are quite literally living legends… And they’re neilmarc age… Just sayin’…