Matt's Track of the Week: "Seventeen Years"

Song: Seventeen Years

Artist: Ratatat

Album: Ratatat

Year: 2004

From the danceable beats and seamless blend of electric guitar and synths, to the jagged, heavy metal typeface used on the album's cover, there's something inherently cool about Ratatat's 2004 debut.  It's extremely modern, while still sounding like it could have been the soundtrack to a late 80s, early 90s video game.  It reminds me of a more laid back, but more rock-influenced Daft Punk.

One of the reasons I like "Seventeen Years", is because of the opening conversation excerpt, spoken by local Crown Heights, Brooklyn, rapper, Young Churf.  It's a calm and collected assertion of his own personal skills as an MC, with guitars building in the background, hinting at the burst of energy that is about to follow.  Something about it takes you off guard, but still seems extremely fitting, considering that the album uses such excerpts by Churf as a motif throughout.  It also shows a real hip hop sensibility, which the band has more recently showcased with remixes of songs by everyone from Jay-Z to Memphis Bleek.

Once the song takes off, you are bombarded by the intertwined guitar and synth elements which cut in and out of each other, along with the explosive percussion hits, constantly changing pace.  Not only does it have a great melody, but it immediately makes you want to get up and dance.  Check it out below.