30. Gone – Kanye West

From the 2005 album Late Registration.

29. Skinny Love – Bon Iver

From the 2008 album From Emma, Forever Ago.

28. Missing – Beck

Off the 2005 album Guero.

27. Boy with a Coin – Iron & Wine

From the 2007 album The Shepherd’s Dog.

26. Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z

From the 2008 album Blueprint 3.

25. Big Bird in a Small Cage – Patrick Watson

Off the 2009 album Wooden Arms.

24. The Modern Age – The Strokes

From the 2001 album Is This It?.

23. Get Your Freak On – Missy Elliot

From the 2001 album Miss E… So Addictive.

22. Dance, Dance, Dance – Lykke Li

From her debut album Youth Novels, released in 2008.

21. Sky Starts Falling – Doves

From the 2005 album The Last Broadcast.

11. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You – Black Kids

After the flurry of attention these 5 musicians from Florida received from their appearance at the Athens Popfest in 2007, the Black Kids released their debut album in early April 2008 with the upbeat, fun, and slightly gender bending track I’m Not Going to Teach Him How to Dance with You as the first single. The band is touring through Australia in January and in the UK with the Kaiser Chiefs in February and early March 2009. Let me know about the show if you get the change to go.

10. Shinny Love – Bon Iver

Bon Iver got a mention in my Mustache post earlier this year. The creation of the album, For Emma, Forever Ago, is an example of how much one person can complete on their own, specially today with the wide range of technology the average person has available. Justin Vernon spent 3 months in a remote cabin in northern Wisconsin writing and recording this album. He later self-released the record, which lead to the label Jagjaguwar signing the artist and re-releasing the album in late February 2008. Bon Iver has a new EP, called Blood Bank, set to be released in less that 2 weeks, which is on my “Must Check Out” list for sure!

9. Strawberry Swing – Coldplay

I wrote about Coldplay earlier this year when I finally broke down and bought their new album Vida La Vida.  Strawberry Swing remains my favourite track from the beautiful album. From its oriental sounding beginning to the souring sounds of Coldplay’s brilliant interplay of soft rhythms and guitar to Chris Martin singing “Its such a perfect day” in a way that makes you look around and recognize that in fact today is actually a perfect day.

Perfect is doing Movember, growing a moustache to raise funds for men’s health, particularly for prostate cancer. I’m in full support of this endeavor, and am quite fond of the moustache, though I’m not sure if I’m ready to admit it, but there is a possibility that my boyfriend might be a moustache guy! Who’d of thunk it?

As an excuse to promote my Perfect in his follicle journey I’ve devised this post: 3 songs by great bands that aren’t scared to wear the facial hair boldly and proud! Don’t worry, the tracks I’ve chosen are truly great and very much deserve a post, and a listen, with or without the moustache!

Boy with a Coin – Iron & Wine

I love this album start to finish! Iron & Wine has a light and thoughtful style. Samuel Beam has been recording as Iron &  Wine since 2002.  Boy with a Coin is an incredible catch song, with poetic lyrics worthy of analysis in an English Lit class. I highly recommend this track, and the entire album.

Flume – Bon Iver

Bon Iver has an additively haunting sound that pulls you in and make you feel both the power of love and sadness at the same time. The slightly off vibration of the guitar string amplified by the resonator on James Vernon’s Dobro joined by his gentle vocals gives Flume a unique beauty. It seems James Vernon share’s with me the love of the recluse lifestyle. I’m quite jealous of the season he spent in a remote cabin in Northern Wisconsin creating this album. His time was certainly well spent!

General Specific – Band of Horses

This track has a fabulous down-home country hoedown feel to it, but still maintains the requisite level of cool. The 4 guys from Seattle clearly felt out of place in the post-Nirvana grunge city, with their full fledged country style,  as they packed it up and moved to South Carolina a couple of years ago. I haven’t had the chance to listen to Cease to Begin, but I certainly intend to. If the track General Specific is any indication, I’m sure it’s a killer record. The group is currently working on their third album; no release date has been mentioned.

I didn’t realize how many connections there are between these 3 artists: South Carolina, Sub Pop Records, one man shows, and moustaches! On top of all that, apparently Band of Horses used to open for Iron & Wine! It’s a great and crazy world.