In between our critical proselytizing, anti-obfuscation and attempts to un-flummox here in the music section, we like to applaud the mavericks. Like when guys compare their testicles to sugar lumps. See, there's two of them! They're separate, but often seen together!! *dries tears*.

With the recent airing of the second season of Flight of the Conchords on TV, we're remembering our appreciation for their solid musical deviations. Their love, their appropration, their willful stupidity. It's not the wackiness, bro-dom or the cleverness that gets us, it's simply how musically amazing (and in some cases, better than the tunes they're lampooning) most of these songs are. Shaggy would kill to have a track like 'She's so Hot, Boom'. Pet Shop Boys definitely would've released 'Inner City Pressure' had they got to it first, and our number one shames and champions West Coast hip-pop in one sweet minute. 

So for a moment we're diving in to some of their best. Everyone has their faves and we left out a few close calls ('Bowie's In Space' ultimately sags under it's single idea; 'Hiphopopotamous' just doesn't bounce hard enough; 'The Party Prince' too reliant on the velvet slacks; 'Too Many Dicks', no flow) but whatever; we're right and you're wrong. Alright? Alright here we go:

10 - THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE ROOM

The tune they chose to kick off their very first episode and it still brings a smile. For me it's when the casio beat kicks in at about 50 secs and suddenly you realise there's surely nothing between this and John Mayer in his bedroom at all.



Best line: Cause you're so beautiful, like a tree

9 - MUTHA 'UCKAS

That fat-fuzz electro bassline is poetry. The bouncing on bikes (helmets on) confirms it.



Best line: Then...Granny Smith....an avocado...b-...a-...a mango...then pop an apple in his ass, yeah!


8 - LADIES OF THE WORLD

It's impossible not to nod along from the very first 'Just wanna do somethin' special...' so smooth is this groove. Hall & Oates would've been high-fiving themselves silly if they stumbled on this in 1982.



Best lines: Oh you sexy hermaphrodite lady-man-ladies, with your sexy lady bits, and your sexy man bits too, even you must be in to you ooo ooo


7 - SHE'S SO HOT, BOOM 

More Jermaine as hype man could have put this so much higher, but the insane cartoony After Effects clip nearly makes you truly believe that Brett is coming at you from the Caribbean rabbit hole.



Best line: Fast forward, selecta!

6 - SELLO TAPE

It takes a while for 'Sello Tape' to get going, but by the closing histrionics - including the genius ascension of the guys above a street of friends - Stevie Wonder is waving his head around in powerful tribute.



Best line: People people, people people, pencil pencil, pencil pencil, paper paper, put the pencil to the paper, give the paper to the people, let the people read about the sello tape, oh baby baby, yeah

5 - IF YOU'RE INTO IT

Some of the most unassuming Conchords clips flourish when Jermaine's playing the bumbling, but bold, dope. Bounding through bursts of stupidity with glee. This one sneaks up on you.



Best line: Bein' nude, with two dudes with food

4 - FOUX DA FA FA

French/Italian scopitone cinema pop, explained as well as it's ever been needed.



Best line: Uh...splish splash

3 - INNER CITY PRESSURE

Like say Ween, Conchords songs are best when they poke fun of, but also revere, the genre they're toying with. The genius of 'Inner City Pressure' is that by songs end, the duo's world feels so much more grave. Colder, lonelier, more bleak, more...English.




Best line: You've lost perspective, like a picture by Escher.

2 - BRETT'S ANGRY DANCE

Ok not a song and a best line as such but, the moment at the start when Brett does the three sixty spin and manages to sip his drink halfway through the turn, before running Flashdance-style through abandoned buildings? The homage is so spot on it would have Kevin Bacon pissing himself with laughter. Before heading to the balcony with a scotch and the horizon for a few hours.




1 - SUGAR LUMPS

I've had this in my head since the moment I heard it. I can't decide if it's an 'In 'Da Club' tribute or something more Galaga-based. Then drum breakdown in the middle before switching to that turn-of-the-'80s Cali-pop...and that old school step-dance that Arj Barker is pulling to go with? Seals the deal.



Best line: You probably think that my pants have the mumps