You might have noticed I’m a huge Kanye West fan, but I still haven’t gotten around to listening to H.A.M., his new track with Jay-Z off of their upcoming collab album “Watch the Throne”. I’m going to live-blog my first listen. Here goes.

OK, I like this beat. Is the producer affiliated with Rick Ross?

Kanye’s rapping on this track is completely inane. I’m a little disappointed. But damn, this beat. It’s going all operatic.

Jay-Z is really terrible at rapping quickly. Most artists are, except Twista and Talib Kweli.

No seriously, this would be epic as an instrumental, but it’s getting annoying.

I understand the “going ham” thing, but then why is it written H.A.M.?

So, is Kanye going to be using minute-long piano codas as a matter of course from this point forward?

I’m kind of disappointed. Won’t be adding that to my iPod.

Wait, just clicked on another link for the song on YouTube. It’s slowed down by 15% or something. Guess what, it’s actually better.

Slowed Down

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2010, musically, was a million times better than 2009. 2010 saw the release of several excellent albums, but even more great songs. I mean, the best song of 2009 was what, that Phoenix song? (Pitchfork said it was Animal Collective’s “My Girls”. I’m not sure that makes this year’s top ten.)

I came up with about 40 songs that I felt deserved some kind of recognition: In order:

1. “Runaway” - Kanye West ft. Pusha T

Emotionally powerful, aurally aggressive; “Runaway” is another class.

2. “Good Intentions Paving Co.” - Joanna Newsom

Seeing her perform this live (five minute trombone solo included!) was pretty awesome. Interestingly, the most mainstream thing she’s ever done turned out to be her best.

3. “Shutterbugg” - Big Boi Ft. Cutty

The party jam of the year. You’ll be humming/horribly rapping it for a long time.

4. “Power” - Kanye West

This track is the album’s, um, most powerful.

5. “Tightrope” - Janelle Monae Ft. Big Boi

Big Boi had a good year, but Janelle Monae had a coming-out party with The ArchAndroid, with “Tightrope” being the class of the album.

6. “Zebra” - Beach House

Does this count as 2010? The album was released in 2010. Anyway, a pretty amazing dream pop opener from Beach House.

7. “England” - The National

Perhaps the first unorthodox choice on the list, but I’m surprised that the song isn’t getting more praise, as I think it might be the best they’ve ever done.

8. “Dancing on My Own” - Robyn

It’s OK to sing along. No, really.

9. “Ready to Start” - Arcade Fire

BY FAR the best track on The Suburbs.

10. “Over” - Drake

As stated earlier, I don’t like Drake’s rapping. There must be a reason why I keep listening to this song.

11. “Stylo” - Gorillaz Ft. Bobby Womack and Mos Def

Probably the strangest track on the list, but the inclusion of Bobby Womack is what really makes this song great.

12. “Dark Fantasy” - Kanye West

I don’t think this one has gotten enough praise yet. I mean, “so much head I woke up in Sleepy Hollow”? <3

13. “Monster” - Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver, Tom DeLay, etc.

I could listen to Nicki Minaj’s verse all day.

14. “Call Your Girlfriend” - Robyn

Listen to this song. Listen to this song. Then tell me how funny it would be if it were sung by a man.

15. “6 Foot 7 Foot” - Lil’ Wayne

“It’s the new ‘A Milli’”. No, it’s better than that.

16. “Fuck You” - Cee-Lo

OK, not as ridiculously amazing as “Crazy”, but still ridiculously amazing.

17. “Yamaha” - The-Dream

Can we get some kind of collaboration between Bon Iver and this guy? I mean, can we?

18. “Love Is All” - The Tallest Man on Earth

Who needs production? I kind of like the fact that he could bust out his guitar and do a reasonable take on this song at any point. Try that, Spoon.

19. “Written in Reverse” - Spoon

Speaking of which, it seems like there’s one amazing track on each Spoon album, and a lot of excellent ones. This is the one amazing track.

20. “Right On” - The Roots

When I heard they were sampling Joanna Newsom, I had to lie down for a little bit.

21. “Cousins” - Vampire Weekend

The best song on the album is the least produced. Go figure. They’re all like what, 22? There’s time for sophistication.

22. “What’s My Name” - Rihanna Ft. Drake

Wow, I didn’t want to put Drake on here twice.

23. “Odessa” - Caribou

I like the Manitoba name better, but I like this track the most.

24. “Cold War” - Janelle Monae

The anthem of 2010.

25. “I Can Change” - LCD Soundsystem

Another well-executed slow-burner from LCD Soundsystem. This time with more falsetto.

26. “The Weekenders” - The Hold Steady

When they hit that chorus, it’s just gold. Everything else is just there.

27. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” - The National

The other great track on High Violet is unsurprisingly, depressing.

28. “Boy” - Ra Ra Riot

The lead single from their much-maligned album The Orchard deserves credit, even though the album isn’t really that good. The offset bassline is pretty cool.

29. “Too Much” - Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan has never been a great creator of amazing songs, mostly because his works are so cohesive that it’s simply impossible to pick just one. It’s the same deal, so I just picked the one I’ve listened to the most.

30. “All of the Lights” - Kanye West ft. Rihanna

Still some more Kanye to come, but I can’t leave out this furious and nonsensical track, even though it sounds like Kanye says “I spent that bread” about eighty five times.

31. “Tangerine” - Big Boi ft. T.I.

It’s kind of depressing how hard this song would fail on mainstream rap radio, but who needs it anyway?

32. “Black and Yellow” - Wiz Khalifa

Speaking of mainstream rap radio, this is a great song that made it. Go figure.

33. “Dear God 2.0” - The Roots

There are a lot of songs on their new album that could make it on here, but this one is the most powerful.

34. “Kiss With a Fist” - Florence + The Machine

I’m not so amazed by the album, but I like the first half of it, especially this one.

35. “Tron” - Joker

The funniest song ever, and it doesn’t have words.

36. “Carolina” - Girls

This song is 7 minutes long, but so encapsulating it feels like it takes a minute to get through.

37. “Blame Game” - Kanye West ft. Chris Rock

The beat is great, the rapping disturbing, the monologue violating.

38. “Helicopter” - Deerhunter

Another group that’s tough to pick just one for. I like this song, though.

39. “White Sky” - Vampire Weekend

This would fit in well on their first album. And that’s a good thing.

40. “Returnal” - Oneohtrix Point Never

This song is an experience.