2012 was a blisteringly fast year. There was so much amazing music this year I had trouble narrowing the lists down into something manageable. Here is the start of my countdown of my favorite tracks of the year. It will conclude on Friday, and the following week will have my list of favorite albums.
I limited the list to 100 songs and only one song per artist. Additionally, not all of these songs were official "singles," in fact, most of them are deep album cuts that I preferred. Without further ado, here is Numbers 100-81:
100. Teengirl Fantasy - "Do It"
Moving towards a more streamlined sound didn't earn Teengirl Fantasy many new fans, as their latest record Tracer failed to garner much attention. Despite this, the single "Do It" with Romanthony on vocals is simply a delicious slice of thumping house music. Its euphoria is catchy.
99. Mux Mool - "Get Yer Alphabets (Guns)"
From his hyperkinetic record Planet High School, this track is a typical frenzied look into the mind of this challenging producer. Plus, it is plain grimy fun.
98. Rihanna - "Jump"
Jumping on the dubstep bandwagon (no pun intended), this Stargate/Chase & Status-produced track gives Rihanna some needed edge on her lackluster record Unapologetic. Doesn't hurt that it has a killer sample of "My Pony."
97. Simian Mobile Disco - "A Species Out Of Control"
Sensual and sinister electronica track from the ever-morphing soundboards of Simian Mobile Disco. This song will make you dance and give you some nightmares.
96. Dada Life - "Feed The Dada"
Total guilty pleasure here. Silly, fun, and stupid, this electro house track would not get out of my head.
95. Menomena - "Pique"
Dramatic and haunting, this track gets to me every time. Featuring a gorgeous cinematic sweep, and some of the most emotionally biting vocals of the year.
94. School of Seven Bells - "Lafaye"
Lush and dreamy, "Lafaye" was a striking highlight on School of Seven Bells' album Ghostory, which was their first record to make an indelible impression on me.
93. Orbital - "Straight Sun"
Way past their storied heyday, Orbital confounded my expectations with their album Wonky by making not only one of the best records of the year, but one of their best albums. "Straight Sun" was a straight up dance track with a great forward movement and delicate melody.
92. John Talabot - "Journeys"
Working with Ekhi of Delorean, John Talabot crafts a swirling mass of synths and percolating percussion that is a glorious anthem to sun kissed days.
91. The 2 Bears - "Work"
From one of the silliest records of the year, "Work" is fun house track from two members of Hot Chip, who are hardly slumming on their moonlighting gig.
90. Squarepusher - "4001"
Frequently threatening to go off rails, "4001" was the amazing lead off track on Squarepusher's record Ufabulum that always seemed to regain balance whether it was through drill n' bass breakdowns or skyscraping drops.
89. Eternal Summers - "Millions"
"Millions" is the kind of track that is so immediately catchy and addictive you want to hear it over and over.
88. Clams Casino - "Swervin'"
For me it is impossible for me to review a Clams Casino record without mentioning the word "liquid." "Swervin'" is the perfect example of how he can submerge his sounds in thick layers of reverb, the notes and beats flowing into one another, bathing your ears in a warm glow.
87. Danny Brown - "Grown Up"
Bratty and uproariously funny, "Grown Up" is the best rap track of the year.
86. Lone - "Raindance"
I admit it, I am helpless to resist a 90s rave inspired track. This song is amazing.
85. Sleigh Bells - "Never Say Die"
Sleigh Bell's second album Reign of Terror took a long time to sink its claws in me. It is a subtler album than their debut and doesn't knock it out of the park the first spin through. But given time, the scope and sweep of the record become apparent. The tightly spun web of guitars and keyboards reaches a furiously powerful crescendo towards the end that is nothing short of breathtaking.
84. Death Grips - "Lil' Boy"
While their album Money Store is by far the better record, this track off their second album of 2012 NO LOVE DEEP WEB is too damn good to ignore. Blistering raps over skittering drum programming and blasts of deep bass and synths make this unable to be ignored.
83. Deerhoof - "Zero Second Pause"
I am not going to lie. Until this record, I hated Deerhoof. For some reason Breakup Song spoke to me, its punk/funk/dance mashup was too good to resist. "Zero Second Pause" feels like every era of the Talking Heads smashed into a slick groove.
82. Hot Chip - "Night And Day"
Dance track as addictive drug.
81. Porcelain Raft - "Drifting In And Out"
All evidence to the contrary, chillwave is still alive and well, just no one calls it such. Italian producer Mauro Remiddi who records under the name Porcelain Raft released this gorgeous single that tows the line between chillwave, dream pop, and shoegaze, to glorious effect.
Showing posts with label songs of the year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label songs of the year. Show all posts
Monday, December 10, 2012
Friday, December 23, 2011
2011 Songs of the Year: 20-1
Continuing my countdown of my 2001 Songs of the Year, we end with Numbers 20-1. Next week I will countdown my 2011 Albums of the Year.
20. Falty DL - "Gospel of Opal" (ft. Anneka)
NYC producer Falty DL gets lumped in with a lot of esoteric bass music artists like Mount Kimbie and James Blake, but there seems to me more of a pop slant to his compositions. Working with breathy vocalist Anneka, he created a total sense of longing and aching in the track "Gospel of Opal." The skittering beats and lonely drones of organ and keyboards conjure up a late night drive back from the club, empty handed and cold.
19. ††† - "Bermuda Locket"
"Witch house" side project from Chino Moreno of Deftones, is mainly witch house in name only. Drawing from his more electronic works with his own band, "Bermuda Locket" is a slow burning electro-ballad that is brilliant in its use of restraint. Moreno's voice kept in check while he sings over the dense mesh of synths and drum machines.
18. Ciara - "Gimme Dat"
Ok, her album officially came out in December of 2010, but I really didn't listen to it until 2011, and I'm sorry, when you have a jam like "Gimme Dat" it has to be on a list. Ciara slams it home.
17. Gauntlet Hair - "Top Bunk"
Their self-titled debut album is a hurricane of dub drums and programming, echoed vocals, and enough guitar effects pedals to scare Kevin Shields, yet it all is kept in check by some brilliant songwriting. "Top Bunk" defies description except to perhaps to call it dubgaze; guitars everywhere bouncing off each other, vocals sung from the bottom of a well, and the saddest, most haunting old time piano melody.
16. Chase and Status - "Blind Faith" (ft. Liam Bailey)
Basically the perfect mainstream dubstep track of the year. The drop near the end gives me chills.
15. Belong - "Very Careful"
Moving 180 degrees from dense drone soundscapes to overt shoegaze pop, Belong's album Common Era was full of references to Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but I was entranced by the ghostly final track. Borrowing from early goth Cure, "Very Careful" sounds like lost demo found at the bottom of the closet, the recording so fractured it could disintegrate at any moment. The lonely drum programming, subterranean vocals, and drone guitar work seamlessly to evoke cold, far away places.
14. Alex Clare - "Up All Night"
Working with Diplo on his debut album, gruff singer Alex Clare appeared poised to take over the world. Sadly, the album was merely promising and not the brilliant debut I was expecting. With that said, single "Up All Night" is a fierce blast of power guitar chords over Moombahton beats, with Clare's monster voice eating it up like a starving man.
13. M83 - "Midnight City"
Jockeying for position with Foster the People for most overplayed song, M83's "Midnight City" is still such a fantastic track which finally gave the band entry into the public consciousness. Bonus points for best un-ironic use of a 1980s sax solo.
12. Phantogram - "16 Years"
Just a wonderful song. Tracking an emotional reawakening, it is such an uplifting piece. The guitars swooning along with the singer, creating a magical feeling.
11. Nero - "Promises"
I was told by my partner Kurt that I should have listed the Skrillex/Nero remix of the song because it was more "dubstep." I honestly prefer the original mix's driving drum programming and blasts of synths, to the remixes. Perfect music for a long drive down country roads.
10. The Drums - "Money"
Insanely catchy pop song from The Drums. The rhythm section's interplay is tighter than a vise.
9. The Antlers - "I Don't Want Love"
A bitter, anger song about the destructive nature of relationships that is couched in one of the most beautiful melodies I've heard in awhile, that somehow makes his cries of "I Don't Want Love" to seem to be wavering.
8. Rihanna - "We Found Love" (ft. Calvin Harris)
There is really nothing original about this song, the music is fairly standard rave house fare, but it is Rihanna's delivery, turning "we found love in a hopeless place" into a mantra, that sends the song to a beautiful, new level.
7. Burial - "NYC"
"NYC," is trademark Burial: ghostly synth strings, choppy blocked two-step beats, and airy, pitch shifted vocal samples. The song is so sad and haunting, it is almost unbearable to hear; a cry for love and tenderness in an unforgiving city, feeling completely alone in a sea of millions. The refrain "NYC, nobody loves me" is so forlorn, it will stick with you like a scar.
6. SBTRKT - "The Right Thing To Do" (ft. Jesse Ware)
SBTRKT's debut album didn't really speak to me, except for this amazing, bass heavy track. If I made a music mix over the summer, this track was always in it.
5. Jamie xx - "Far Nearer"
Based on his skeletal beat work with The xx, the last word I would expect to describe a Jamie xx solo track as is joyous. "Far Nearer," built on lovely steel drum patches and exhuberant vocal samples, never fails to make me feel warm and safe. I can feel myself on an island somewhere, enjoying the sun and hearing the waves softly crash in the distance.
4. Lykke Li - "I Follow Rivers"
Lykke Li delivered a knockout of a second album, showing that she can project fragility while also showing strength within herself. In the amazing single "I Follow Rivers" she sings of a deep abiding love, that she will pursue to any length possible:
"Be the ocean, where I unravel
Be my only, be the water where I'm wading
You're my river running high, run deep and run wild
I, I follow, I follow you, deep sea baby."
3. The Weeknd - "The Knowing"
On a difficult to listen to album, "The Knowing" is by far the most difficult track, the narrator punishing his girlfriend for his own sins. It becomes almost painful to listen to, the narrator pouring salt into deep wounds, oblivious to the serious pain and problems he has. His vocals culminating in a tortured wail. Stunning.
Wild Beasts / Reach A Bit Further by Constellations Festival
2. Wild Beasts - "Reach A Bit Further"
I could have put all 10 tracks from Smother on here and I would not have felt bad about it. It was painful having to limit them to just one track. The reason why this song rates so high is the delicate balance between Hayden Thorpe's gorgeous falsetto/tenor and Tom Fleming's baritone, which brings tears to my eyes. And when Fleming achingly sings "yes I will/do all the things that you ask of me/yes I will darling/have no fear," my heart breaks a little more each time.
1. Active Child - "Johnny Belinda"
This song slipped into number one by complete surprise. It wasn't until I found out they were opening for M83 that I really poured myself into the album. By far, "Johnny Belinda" is the centerpiece of You Are All I See, and by far my favorite track of the year. Pat Grossi's otherworldly choirboy voice is breathtaking. Matched with rising strings, droning keyboards, harp, and muted percussion, this dramatic song just overwhelms you with waves and waves of emotion. When Grossi sings
"Wish that I was strong enough
Wish that I could give it all
Wish that I could change enough
To be yours"
you feel immediate kinship with someone who has loved from afar, and have never felt themselves good enough to get what they truly deserve. It's a haunting song that will seep into your dreams at night.
20. Falty DL - "Gospel of Opal" (ft. Anneka)
NYC producer Falty DL gets lumped in with a lot of esoteric bass music artists like Mount Kimbie and James Blake, but there seems to me more of a pop slant to his compositions. Working with breathy vocalist Anneka, he created a total sense of longing and aching in the track "Gospel of Opal." The skittering beats and lonely drones of organ and keyboards conjure up a late night drive back from the club, empty handed and cold.
19. ††† - "Bermuda Locket"
"Witch house" side project from Chino Moreno of Deftones, is mainly witch house in name only. Drawing from his more electronic works with his own band, "Bermuda Locket" is a slow burning electro-ballad that is brilliant in its use of restraint. Moreno's voice kept in check while he sings over the dense mesh of synths and drum machines.
18. Ciara - "Gimme Dat"
Ok, her album officially came out in December of 2010, but I really didn't listen to it until 2011, and I'm sorry, when you have a jam like "Gimme Dat" it has to be on a list. Ciara slams it home.
17. Gauntlet Hair - "Top Bunk"
Their self-titled debut album is a hurricane of dub drums and programming, echoed vocals, and enough guitar effects pedals to scare Kevin Shields, yet it all is kept in check by some brilliant songwriting. "Top Bunk" defies description except to perhaps to call it dubgaze; guitars everywhere bouncing off each other, vocals sung from the bottom of a well, and the saddest, most haunting old time piano melody.
16. Chase and Status - "Blind Faith" (ft. Liam Bailey)
Basically the perfect mainstream dubstep track of the year. The drop near the end gives me chills.
15. Belong - "Very Careful"
Moving 180 degrees from dense drone soundscapes to overt shoegaze pop, Belong's album Common Era was full of references to Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, but I was entranced by the ghostly final track. Borrowing from early goth Cure, "Very Careful" sounds like lost demo found at the bottom of the closet, the recording so fractured it could disintegrate at any moment. The lonely drum programming, subterranean vocals, and drone guitar work seamlessly to evoke cold, far away places.
14. Alex Clare - "Up All Night"
Working with Diplo on his debut album, gruff singer Alex Clare appeared poised to take over the world. Sadly, the album was merely promising and not the brilliant debut I was expecting. With that said, single "Up All Night" is a fierce blast of power guitar chords over Moombahton beats, with Clare's monster voice eating it up like a starving man.
13. M83 - "Midnight City"
Jockeying for position with Foster the People for most overplayed song, M83's "Midnight City" is still such a fantastic track which finally gave the band entry into the public consciousness. Bonus points for best un-ironic use of a 1980s sax solo.
12. Phantogram - "16 Years"
Just a wonderful song. Tracking an emotional reawakening, it is such an uplifting piece. The guitars swooning along with the singer, creating a magical feeling.
11. Nero - "Promises"
I was told by my partner Kurt that I should have listed the Skrillex/Nero remix of the song because it was more "dubstep." I honestly prefer the original mix's driving drum programming and blasts of synths, to the remixes. Perfect music for a long drive down country roads.
10. The Drums - "Money"
Insanely catchy pop song from The Drums. The rhythm section's interplay is tighter than a vise.
9. The Antlers - "I Don't Want Love"
A bitter, anger song about the destructive nature of relationships that is couched in one of the most beautiful melodies I've heard in awhile, that somehow makes his cries of "I Don't Want Love" to seem to be wavering.
8. Rihanna - "We Found Love" (ft. Calvin Harris)
There is really nothing original about this song, the music is fairly standard rave house fare, but it is Rihanna's delivery, turning "we found love in a hopeless place" into a mantra, that sends the song to a beautiful, new level.
7. Burial - "NYC"
"NYC," is trademark Burial: ghostly synth strings, choppy blocked two-step beats, and airy, pitch shifted vocal samples. The song is so sad and haunting, it is almost unbearable to hear; a cry for love and tenderness in an unforgiving city, feeling completely alone in a sea of millions. The refrain "NYC, nobody loves me" is so forlorn, it will stick with you like a scar.
6. SBTRKT - "The Right Thing To Do" (ft. Jesse Ware)
SBTRKT's debut album didn't really speak to me, except for this amazing, bass heavy track. If I made a music mix over the summer, this track was always in it.
5. Jamie xx - "Far Nearer"
Based on his skeletal beat work with The xx, the last word I would expect to describe a Jamie xx solo track as is joyous. "Far Nearer," built on lovely steel drum patches and exhuberant vocal samples, never fails to make me feel warm and safe. I can feel myself on an island somewhere, enjoying the sun and hearing the waves softly crash in the distance.
4. Lykke Li - "I Follow Rivers"
Lykke Li delivered a knockout of a second album, showing that she can project fragility while also showing strength within herself. In the amazing single "I Follow Rivers" she sings of a deep abiding love, that she will pursue to any length possible:
"Be the ocean, where I unravel
Be my only, be the water where I'm wading
You're my river running high, run deep and run wild
I, I follow, I follow you, deep sea baby."
3. The Weeknd - "The Knowing"
On a difficult to listen to album, "The Knowing" is by far the most difficult track, the narrator punishing his girlfriend for his own sins. It becomes almost painful to listen to, the narrator pouring salt into deep wounds, oblivious to the serious pain and problems he has. His vocals culminating in a tortured wail. Stunning.
Wild Beasts / Reach A Bit Further by Constellations Festival
2. Wild Beasts - "Reach A Bit Further"
I could have put all 10 tracks from Smother on here and I would not have felt bad about it. It was painful having to limit them to just one track. The reason why this song rates so high is the delicate balance between Hayden Thorpe's gorgeous falsetto/tenor and Tom Fleming's baritone, which brings tears to my eyes. And when Fleming achingly sings "yes I will/do all the things that you ask of me/yes I will darling/have no fear," my heart breaks a little more each time.
1. Active Child - "Johnny Belinda"
This song slipped into number one by complete surprise. It wasn't until I found out they were opening for M83 that I really poured myself into the album. By far, "Johnny Belinda" is the centerpiece of You Are All I See, and by far my favorite track of the year. Pat Grossi's otherworldly choirboy voice is breathtaking. Matched with rising strings, droning keyboards, harp, and muted percussion, this dramatic song just overwhelms you with waves and waves of emotion. When Grossi sings
"Wish that I was strong enough
Wish that I could give it all
Wish that I could change enough
To be yours"
you feel immediate kinship with someone who has loved from afar, and have never felt themselves good enough to get what they truly deserve. It's a haunting song that will seep into your dreams at night.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
2011 Songs of the Year: 40-21
Duran duran - Leave a Light On (album radio mix) by diatribein
40. Duran Duran - "Leave a Light On"
Duran Duran came storming back with the unofficial sequel to Rio, this year's All You Need Is Now, and among the many great tracks was this gem, a delicate ballad that draws from and stands alongside "Save A Prayer."
39. Bjork - "Mutual Core"
Biophilia was a mixed success to me. Too many of the tracks were all atmosphere and nothing else, and it only made me long for the days when she had some killer club tracks. With that said, there were several amazing songs on the album, my favorite being this track produced by 16-Bit. Starting off with slow organ drones and her solo voice, it erupts into a frenzy of synths and harsh drum machines, comparing two people coming together like the birth of a planet.
38. Martyn - "We Are You In The Future"
Dutch producer Martyn, who is better known for moody dubstep and techno numbers, throws out this brilliant old school slab of rave techno that just begs to be danced to with abandon.
37. Clams Casino - "Real Shit From A Real Nigga (Lil B)"
Producer Clams Casino has created many backing tracks for a lot of up and coming rappers over the past couple of years, and somehow the music has always outshone the rapping. On his free mixtape, Instrumentals, the tracks work as a series of almost shoegaze IDM. My favorite track was this backing music for Lil' B, featuring dirty hip-hop beats, sparkling waves of synths, and a great sense of atmosphere.
36. Skrillex - "First of the Year"
Skrillex was pretty ubiquitous this year, playing shows for almost every music festival, doing remixes for everyone, and even finding time to produce some of the new Korn album. "First of the Year" is proto-typical Skrillex, pitch shifted vocals, slamming beats, and the bone crushing dubstep bass that is his stock and trade.
35. Lana Del Ray - "Video Games"
With her killer looks and smoky vocals, Lana Del Rey is this year's breakout star. Never better than on this ballad, languidly singing over strings and piano, recounting the tale of love unrequited.
34. The Horrors - "Still Life"
UK goth shogazers The Horrors keep pushing at the boundaries of their sound. While new album Skying is not the revelation that Primary Colours was, there is still plenty of intriguing songs to be heard. "Still Life" is a mid-tempo rocker with psychedelic backwards guitars, shuffling beats, and synths straight out of Breakfast Club-era Simple Minds. It all works sublimely.
33. Sepalcure - "Pencil Pimp"
Infectious slice of 2-step/garage with blasts of analog synths, treated guitars, and chopped up vocal samples.
32. Hercules and Love Affair - "My House"
Although Hercules and Love Affair's second album has sort of lost its initial luster for me, the single "My House" is still a favorite track from this year. Its slinky, house vibe is the epitome of Manhattan cool.
31. Explosions In The Sky - "Let Me Back In"
Sometimes you don't need lyrics to convey a message or meaning. Austin instrumentalists Explosions In The Sky create such an amazing sense of longing and ache to be with someone, that it is palpable. "Let Me Back In" is ten minutes of sheer emotion.
30. Mondkopf - "Day of Anger"
I never get tired of listening to this track. I especially love the tension between the harsh beats and the more delicate piano and ambient undertones.
29. Chad Vangaalen - "Peace On The Rise"
Vangaalen's music can go from raucous and undisciplined, to quiet and contained within seconds. I love him for both, but the quiet moments are where he shines the most. "Peace On The Rise" is a hushed track, built firmly on acoustic and intertwined electric guitars, and Vangaalen's sweet, sad voice. Beauty personified.
28. Arrange - "Veins"
Arrange, the solo project of Malcom Lacey, like Explosions In The Sky, knows how to use music to express emotions. The guitars and synths in this track give this sad, lonely track its purpose and drive. Either the tale of a kid wanting to end the abuse of a parent, or someone haunted by ghosts, this track lingers long in the mind and heart.
27. Young Galaxy - "Cover Your Tracks"
It was almost impossible for me to pick one track from Young Galaxy's fabulous album Shapeshifting. "Cover Your Tracks" held the right amount of drama and perfect interplay between the male and female vocalist.
26. Austra - "The Beat and the Pulse"
For me, this song is all about that throbbing bassline.
25. Sully - "Let You"
Call it 2-step/UK Funky/Garage music, it doesn't matter, this song is a killer bass-heavy track.
24. Hooray For Earth - "Sails"
This song always gets me in a good mood. The steadfast beat and soaring synthesizers have a calming, peaceful effect on me. One of many killer tracks on their brilliant album True Loves.
23. Drake - "Marvin's Room"
The ultimate drunk-dial song. Drake quietly sings over muted beats and atmospheric keyboards, coming across less pathetic and more world-weary and resigned. It is a hauntingly naked and raw song.
22. Jamie Woon - "Lady Luck"
Working with Burial, Jamie Woon's smooth croon is perfectly matched by the 2-Step beats and thumping bass.
21. Burial, Thom Yorke, & Four Tet - "Ego"
The best thing about this track is that it doesn't sound like these three artists laid on top of one another. Truly collaborating, these three have combined their unique talents in a way that works perfectly. The clipped beat, piano/vibe punctuation, and vocal samples all propel the track along with Yorke's stark vocal.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
2011 Songs of the Year: 60-41
60. Canyons - "See Blind Through"
Canyons' debut album was the most schizophrenic release of 2011. Moving from quirky electronica to folk rave ups, there was almost no way to predict which way they would go next. While this approach made the album too scattershot to be truly cohesive, tracks like "See Blind Through" give hope that with a little more focus they can come up with something brilliant. A throbbing, pulsating take on 90s house, "See Blind Through" is infectiously catchy.
59. Hauschka - "Girls"
Hauschka confounded my expectations by making a house music album completely out of organic instrumentation. The album, Salon Des Amateurs, held an embarrassment of riches, and was never off my playlist for too long. "Girls" is a delicate track, built off shuffling percussion, tender piano trills, and haunting strings. Its beauty sneaks up on you, and moves the heart as well as the feet.
Real Estate - Green Aisles by DominoRecordCo
58. Real Estate - "Green Aisles"
Real Estate's second album Days is one of those perfect pop albums, made for long, languid summer days. "Green Aisles" is five minutes of chiming, interlocked guitars and melancholy vocals. The song brings me back to the late 80s sound of college radio, and that promise of a brilliant future lying in front of you.
57. Other Lives - "As I Lay My Head Down"
On paper, I should not like Other Lives; folky Americana is not necessarily my forte. However, Other Lives takes their Fleet Foxes comparisons and filter it through a Radiohead lens, giving their tracks more drama and tension than their contemporaries. "As I Lay My Head Down" feeds off its lonely melody, the haunting harmonies buoyed by Spanish drums and percussion, mandolin, and mournful strings.
56. James Blake - "I Mind"
James Blakes' debut album lost me completely. I felt his focus on more singer-songwriter elements neglected where his true talents lie, which is pushing and twisting his take on dubstep in new directions. Fortunately, there were several tracks that did just that. "I Mind" is built off a simple vocal sample of the title, looped and contorted into a thousand shapes, with a warm analog buzz that carries through the track. Even the funky breakdown towards the end is inviting.
55. Tycho - "Adrift"
Without the benefit of a new Boards of Canada album, there is no reason to go without. Tycho easily takes up the challenge of making some dreamy pastoral IDM. "Adrift" a lush 6 minute soundscape.
54. Frank Ocean - "We All Try"
Gorgeous track from Frank Ocean's debut mixtape, pointing out that you can have faith and still have tolerance.
53. Friendly Fires - "Chimes"
Friendly Fires are all about tension and release. This track is dramatic and uplifting, always taking you higher.
52. Cut Off Your Hands - "You Should Do Better"
Recalling the rush of early Smiths' singles, New Zealand's Cut Off Your Hands knock it out of the park with this melodic, jangly single.
51. Foster The People - "Waste"
Of course, while most people will only remember "Pumped Up Kicks," the debut album from Foster The People has so many more stellar tracks. "Waste" is a lovely mid-tempo track, that has such a lovely melody.
50. Gorillaz - "Revolving Doors"
Lovely acoustic guitars over snappy beats and featuring a typically forlorn vocal from Damon Albarn, "Revolving Doors" is a simple track, seemingly tossed off quickly, but containing all the elements that make Albarn such a genius.
Cut Copy - Need You Now by modularpeople
49. Cut Copy - "Need You Now"
This is how you build a track.
48. Fytch & Captain Crunch - "Raindrops" (Tomba Remix)
There is nothing wrong with the original mix, but Tomba adds a grittier edge to this standout dubstep track.
47. The Twilight Sad - "Kill It In The Morning"
By their second album, The Twilight Sad's reliance on shoegaze textures was beginning to wear a bit thin, and I was unsure whether it could sustain another album of the same old same old. Hopefully, if this first single from their new album is any indication, I needn't have worried. Over a chugging Joy Division beat, The Twilight Sad are embracing more industrial sounds, not afraid to get dirty and wallow in the mire. The ending rush of 80s synths is pure brilliance.
46. Balam Acab - "Now Time"
The centerpiece to a gorgeous album, "Now Time" carries itself like an underwater dream.
45. Lady Gaga - "You And I" (Wild Beasts' Remix)
The original is a dreadful country pastiche that is eye rolling in its badness. UK art rockers Wild Beasts take the only salvageable part of the track, a few snippets of Gaga's chorus, and turn it into a gorgeous piece of ambient post punk.
44. Feed Me - "Strange Behavior" (ft. Tasha Baxter)
Perfectly paced dubstep track from Feed Me that is all tightly coiled menace.
43. When Saints Go Machine - "Church and Law"
Quirky Danish synthpop that is so quirky it turns it back into perfect pop.
42. Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie XX - "NY Is Killing Me"
Jamie xx takes the droning track from Gil Scott-Heron and adds a thick layer of garage beats and blooping synth work to create a hypnotic, claustrophobic dance track.
41. Cold Cave - "Pacing Around The Church"
A delirious rush of swirling synths, guitars, and goth beats that in lesser hands would come off as tired and labored. One of many killer cuts off their second proper album.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
2011 Songs of the Year: 80-61
My list of 2011 Songs of the Year continues today with Numbers 80-61:
80. Vondelpark - "Jetlag Blue Version"
Mysteriously shy UK producer Vondelpark, he has no MySpace or Bandcamp page and rarely discloses anything personal about himself, dabbles in a sort of hybrid chillwave/garage/2-Step genre. For me, this track sums up his aesthetic fairly well: chunky beats, dreamy, shoegaze guitars, and disembodied vocals. 5 minutes of bliss.
Flats by Dark Party
79. Dark Party - "Flats"
Few bands released as unapologetic a party record as Light Years. There are such an embarrassment of riches on that album it is difficult to even pick just one track. I settled on "Flats" for its driving beat, blurping synths, and chopped up diva samples. Once the track gets going it just gets your ass shaking.
78. CANT - "Too Late Too Far"
Doing a complete 180 turn from his work with Grizzly Bear, bassist/vocalist Chris Taylor adopts a wobbly synth pop persona for his CANT project. While the album Dreams Come True was merely a good record in my opinion, lead off track "Too Late Too Far" was practically perfect. Over a vaguely Asian beat, the track comes off in a fever heat, lots of decayed synths and Asian percussion/woodwinds and an off-kilter, woozy bassline. Intoxicating.
77. Kito & Reija Lee - "Broken Hearts" (Dillon Francis Remix)
The original mix is a frothy slab of electropop by the Ke$ha like duo of Kito & Reija Lee that is ok, but not stellar. Up and coming dubstep/electronica producer Dillon Francis recasts the song as a Moombahton track, giving it a nice swagger that elevates the song to a new level.
76. Future Islands - "Balance"
Synth-pop trio Future Islands are not usually known for their subtlety. Live, lead singer Samuel T. Herring can sometimes barely contain his flair for the melodramatic, but their new album On The Water found them being relatively restrained. "Balance" sort of walks the fine line between the two, and has a unique tension that carries over onto its driving beats.
75. Kelly Clarkson - "Honestly"
I have a soft spot for Kelly Clarkson, I will admit. Her new album plays it way too safe, but this track simply showcases her lovely voice and has her delivering another million dollar chorus.
74. Radiohead - "Lotus Flower"
The King of Limbs is a difficult album to love. It neither works as individual singles nor as a collective whole, but somehow keeps pulling you back in. "Lotus Flower" is probably the easiest track to latch onto, the most overtly "pop" track, which is still one of the weirdest singles you will hear all year. The drum track is off putting and alienating. The surrounding instrumentation is skeletal and haunting, sneaking in and out of the mix. Yorke's gorgeous falsetto holding everything together.
73. Pallers - "Wicked"
Swedish duo Pallers generally deal in icy, synth heavy tracks that easily correspond to bleak Scandinavian landscapes, but on "Wicked" they sounds almost joyous, letting singer Elise Zalbo let loose her husky voice over a funky rush of synths and beats.
72. PJ Harvey - "All And Everyone"
Too many amazing tracks from an amazing album. "All And Everyone" just spoke to me, recounting the taste, sense, and stench of death in one of the bloodiest battles in WWI. Just a haunting evocation of the terror and futility of war.
71. Zoo Kid - "Out Getting Ribs"
17 year old Archy Marshall, who now goes by King Krule, released this stunning single at the beginning of the year, evoking a world weary persona that belies his young age. "Out Getting Ribs" is all tension and little release; emotionally heart-breaking.
70. Nicolas Jaar - "I Got A Woman"
Chilean producer Nicolas Jaar knows about silence and noise, and knows when and where to use both. His debut album is a brilliant mix of sonic experimentation, which, for me, is best exemplified by "I Got A Woman" which sounds like a track from a Godard sci-fi treatise. Languid, thick beats, jazzy piano riffs, a blues vocal sample, and snippets of French dialogue evoke an atmosphere of existential dread.
69. Craft Spells - "After The Moment"
Channeling acts like Joy Division, New Order, The Cure, and Depeche Mode, and fractured through their own pop prism, Craft Spells never failed to captivate, especially on this beautiful track.
68. Holy Ghost! - "Hold My Breath"
One of the catchiest, New Order-esque tracks of the year.
Blue (My Dry Wet Mess Remix) by Waifbear
67. Salva - "Blue" (My Dry Wet Mess Remix)
Salva's debut album Complex Housing basically hit on every style of bass music in current rotation, and thankfully that was not a bad thing. Although this is a remix of the track "Blue" from the album, it resonated more with me than the original. The original mix is all stuttering, whiplash percussion and funky 80's style funk synths. My Dry Wet Mess' remix doesn't sound remotely like the same track, ratcheting up the synths in a spacey way, smoothing out the beats, and mixing a shitload of different keyboard lines into the track, somehow keeping them all straight.
66. jj - "Still"
Laying Elin Kastlander's ethereal vocals over a sample of Dr. Dre's "Still Dre" is pure genius.
65. Kate Bush - "Snowflake"
Reassuringly weird, Kate Bush returned with 50 Words For Snow, whose languorous 9 nine tracks unfold slowly, in no hurry to reach their destination. "Snowflake," the first track, consists of mournful pianos, muted percussion, and Kate Bush's son's wondrous falsetto, that evokes and captures Kate's own marvelous instrument. Kate's voice intermittently enters the mix, to recount the impressionistic journey of a snowflake reaching the earth. Welcome back Kate, you were sorely missed.
64. Kuedo - "Whisper Fate"
Marrying Vangelis-like Blade Runner synths over crisp hip-hop beats, Kuedo creates a world of his own, and it was surprising that no one else had thought to do it before. "Whisper Fate" is the perfect example of where it all comes together perfectly.
63. Mogwai - "Rano Pano"
Mogwai certainly didn't reinvent themselves on their latest album, they just made one of their tightest, most cohesive records in years by remaining true to their sound. "Rano Pano" is 5 minutes of pure noise pop bliss.
62. St. Vincent - "Strange Mercy"
Most of the talk surrounding St. Vincent's latest album is how much she is shredding the guitar. While I appreciate her guitar chops, my favorite St. Vincent tracks are always the more quiet ones. Title track "Strange Mercy" is a hauntingly demure track, built more on odd electronics than guitar, but always focusing on her tightly coiled vocals, springing out like a snake towards the end in surprise attack.
61. Rustie - "City Star"
Speaker-rattling bass track from Scotland's Rustie that is almost impossible to sit down for.
80. Vondelpark - "Jetlag Blue Version"
Mysteriously shy UK producer Vondelpark, he has no MySpace or Bandcamp page and rarely discloses anything personal about himself, dabbles in a sort of hybrid chillwave/garage/2-Step genre. For me, this track sums up his aesthetic fairly well: chunky beats, dreamy, shoegaze guitars, and disembodied vocals. 5 minutes of bliss.
Flats by Dark Party
79. Dark Party - "Flats"
Few bands released as unapologetic a party record as Light Years. There are such an embarrassment of riches on that album it is difficult to even pick just one track. I settled on "Flats" for its driving beat, blurping synths, and chopped up diva samples. Once the track gets going it just gets your ass shaking.
78. CANT - "Too Late Too Far"
Doing a complete 180 turn from his work with Grizzly Bear, bassist/vocalist Chris Taylor adopts a wobbly synth pop persona for his CANT project. While the album Dreams Come True was merely a good record in my opinion, lead off track "Too Late Too Far" was practically perfect. Over a vaguely Asian beat, the track comes off in a fever heat, lots of decayed synths and Asian percussion/woodwinds and an off-kilter, woozy bassline. Intoxicating.
77. Kito & Reija Lee - "Broken Hearts" (Dillon Francis Remix)
The original mix is a frothy slab of electropop by the Ke$ha like duo of Kito & Reija Lee that is ok, but not stellar. Up and coming dubstep/electronica producer Dillon Francis recasts the song as a Moombahton track, giving it a nice swagger that elevates the song to a new level.
76. Future Islands - "Balance"
Synth-pop trio Future Islands are not usually known for their subtlety. Live, lead singer Samuel T. Herring can sometimes barely contain his flair for the melodramatic, but their new album On The Water found them being relatively restrained. "Balance" sort of walks the fine line between the two, and has a unique tension that carries over onto its driving beats.
75. Kelly Clarkson - "Honestly"
I have a soft spot for Kelly Clarkson, I will admit. Her new album plays it way too safe, but this track simply showcases her lovely voice and has her delivering another million dollar chorus.
74. Radiohead - "Lotus Flower"
The King of Limbs is a difficult album to love. It neither works as individual singles nor as a collective whole, but somehow keeps pulling you back in. "Lotus Flower" is probably the easiest track to latch onto, the most overtly "pop" track, which is still one of the weirdest singles you will hear all year. The drum track is off putting and alienating. The surrounding instrumentation is skeletal and haunting, sneaking in and out of the mix. Yorke's gorgeous falsetto holding everything together.
73. Pallers - "Wicked"
Swedish duo Pallers generally deal in icy, synth heavy tracks that easily correspond to bleak Scandinavian landscapes, but on "Wicked" they sounds almost joyous, letting singer Elise Zalbo let loose her husky voice over a funky rush of synths and beats.
72. PJ Harvey - "All And Everyone"
Too many amazing tracks from an amazing album. "All And Everyone" just spoke to me, recounting the taste, sense, and stench of death in one of the bloodiest battles in WWI. Just a haunting evocation of the terror and futility of war.
71. Zoo Kid - "Out Getting Ribs"
17 year old Archy Marshall, who now goes by King Krule, released this stunning single at the beginning of the year, evoking a world weary persona that belies his young age. "Out Getting Ribs" is all tension and little release; emotionally heart-breaking.
70. Nicolas Jaar - "I Got A Woman"
Chilean producer Nicolas Jaar knows about silence and noise, and knows when and where to use both. His debut album is a brilliant mix of sonic experimentation, which, for me, is best exemplified by "I Got A Woman" which sounds like a track from a Godard sci-fi treatise. Languid, thick beats, jazzy piano riffs, a blues vocal sample, and snippets of French dialogue evoke an atmosphere of existential dread.
69. Craft Spells - "After The Moment"
Channeling acts like Joy Division, New Order, The Cure, and Depeche Mode, and fractured through their own pop prism, Craft Spells never failed to captivate, especially on this beautiful track.
68. Holy Ghost! - "Hold My Breath"
One of the catchiest, New Order-esque tracks of the year.
Blue (My Dry Wet Mess Remix) by Waifbear
67. Salva - "Blue" (My Dry Wet Mess Remix)
Salva's debut album Complex Housing basically hit on every style of bass music in current rotation, and thankfully that was not a bad thing. Although this is a remix of the track "Blue" from the album, it resonated more with me than the original. The original mix is all stuttering, whiplash percussion and funky 80's style funk synths. My Dry Wet Mess' remix doesn't sound remotely like the same track, ratcheting up the synths in a spacey way, smoothing out the beats, and mixing a shitload of different keyboard lines into the track, somehow keeping them all straight.
66. jj - "Still"
Laying Elin Kastlander's ethereal vocals over a sample of Dr. Dre's "Still Dre" is pure genius.
65. Kate Bush - "Snowflake"
Reassuringly weird, Kate Bush returned with 50 Words For Snow, whose languorous 9 nine tracks unfold slowly, in no hurry to reach their destination. "Snowflake," the first track, consists of mournful pianos, muted percussion, and Kate Bush's son's wondrous falsetto, that evokes and captures Kate's own marvelous instrument. Kate's voice intermittently enters the mix, to recount the impressionistic journey of a snowflake reaching the earth. Welcome back Kate, you were sorely missed.
64. Kuedo - "Whisper Fate"
Marrying Vangelis-like Blade Runner synths over crisp hip-hop beats, Kuedo creates a world of his own, and it was surprising that no one else had thought to do it before. "Whisper Fate" is the perfect example of where it all comes together perfectly.
63. Mogwai - "Rano Pano"
Mogwai certainly didn't reinvent themselves on their latest album, they just made one of their tightest, most cohesive records in years by remaining true to their sound. "Rano Pano" is 5 minutes of pure noise pop bliss.
62. St. Vincent - "Strange Mercy"
Most of the talk surrounding St. Vincent's latest album is how much she is shredding the guitar. While I appreciate her guitar chops, my favorite St. Vincent tracks are always the more quiet ones. Title track "Strange Mercy" is a hauntingly demure track, built more on odd electronics than guitar, but always focusing on her tightly coiled vocals, springing out like a snake towards the end in surprise attack.
61. Rustie - "City Star"
Speaker-rattling bass track from Scotland's Rustie that is almost impossible to sit down for.
Friday, December 16, 2011
2011 Songs of the Year - 100-81
I still can't believe it is the end of the 2011 already. Before I know it, I will be getting all geared up for Coachella again. Oh well, I won't get too ahead of myself. Starting today I will be counting down my top 100 favorite songs of the year, ending with the Number 1 track on Friday. These songs are not necessarily official singles released by the artist. More often than not, they are deeper album cuts that spoke to me more. I also limited it to one track per artist, which made things both easier and more difficult.
Tom Vek - Seizemic by modularpeople
100. Tom Vek - "Seizemic"
Herky jerky synth pop from Tom Vek. I loved all the different layers and his arch, hiccuped vocals. Not for everyone, but if you enjoy quirky pop music, Tom Vek is a go-to person.
99. Neon Indian - "Polish Girl"
Reigning in the eccentricities of his first album that annoyed me to no end, Neon Indian focused more on pure song craft, and the first single from Era Extrana was this deliciously retro bit of sci-fi synth funk.
98. Gang Gang Dance - "Adult Goth"
Gang Gang Dance didn't necessarily reign in their eccentricities so much as the world caught up with them. What normally would sound completely alien now sounds familiar and enveloping. Not that this passes for Top 40 music whatsoever, "Adult Goth" one of the standout tracks on Eye Contact, is a fractured art rock dream, never losing control of the mission at hand.
97. Florence + The Machine - "Seven Devils"
Ceremonials was a complete disappointment to me, favoring over the top arrangements on each track, bludgeoning the listener over the head. Despite this almost crippling structure to the album, there are some fine tracks to be heard. "Seven Devils" is all slow burn delivery, building its bed of pianos and strings into a crescendo of other-worldliness. I don't count Florence Welch out yet, as long as she still has songs like this in her.
Siriusmo - Nights off by CULTURESHAKER
96. Siriusmo - "Nights Off"
German producer Siriusmo never sticks to one genre or theme for too long before bouncing on to another one, which truly makes his album Mosaik live up to its title. "Nights Off" which is featured on the album, is all one slow build of analog synths and vibes, until the drop, throwing everything into a dance floor maelstrom.
95. The Field - "Then It's White"
The Field's shtick is fairly well-known by now, but each release shows him slightly tweaking what he does into something fresh. Looping State of Mind is chock full of his spacey take on techno, but what really stands out is left field tracks like "Then It's White," an almost 8 minute ambient track with hauntingly atmospheric synths over a meandering, beautiful piano melody. Barely reaching a beat above a heartbeat, the track insinuates itself in your head, and is a lovely end to an almost perfect album.
94. Beyonce - "I Miss You"
I don't mind admitting that I love Beyonce, or admitting that I thought her album 4 was completely dreadful. So, with such a horrid review, how is one of her songs on this list? Well, for one, it is an amazing ballad written by Frank Ocean, and has one of Beyonce's typically emotion packed deliveries. On an album filled with such dreck it was a pearl amongst swine.
93. Esben and the Witch - "Eumenides"
Reminding me of early Dead Can Dance, Siouxsie and the Banshees and This Mortal Coil, UK trio Esben and the Witch brought goth cool to 2011. "Eumenides" is a centerpiece of the record Violet Cries, and is a 6 minute tutorial in how to do drama correctly.
92. Class Actress - "Need To Know"
While not everything worked on their debut album Rapprocher, Class Actress knows how to work their Nu Shooz meets Depeche Mode style, and nothing sounded quite as funky and sinister as the electro-funk workout "Need to Know." Elizabeth Harper's sexy cooing over the slick beats and dense bed of synthesizers was completely intoxicating.
91. Oneohtrix Point Never - "Replica"
Known more for analog synthesizer drones than anything, Oneohtrix Point Never (a.k.a. Daniel Lopatin) surprised many with this year's Replica, which found him working with a lot of samples, and even incorporating beats into his music. Title track "Replica" contains no beats, but immerses you in a world of plaintive piano melodies, squiggling synths, and lots of found noises and sounds. The beauty of the piece is in how much there is a sense of tension and terror lurking in the background.
90. The Joy Formidable - "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie"
Obviously, at the first band meeting for The Joy Formidable the consensus was go big or go home. For such a small band, they know how to whomp up the energy, adding lots of loud stadium ready guitars and shoegaze textures to their power pop. First song on their debut album The Big Roar, "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie" is a gorgeous, demanding track full of lots of rises and falls. It is tailor made for arenas and stadiums, and based on their well-received live shows, that is not too far off.
89. Peter Bjorn & John - "Second Chance"
How do you ever live up to a fluke hit single like "Young Folks?" Well, for PBJ they released a follow up album that essentially blew any of the good will from their hit album. And on the follow up to that, they actually put together a better album than Writer's Block, as witnessed by their second incredibly fluke hit single "Good Times," which is all whoo-woos, cowbell, handclaps, and fuzzed out guitars. Lighting can strike twice.
88. Joker - "Slaughterhouse" (ft. Silas)
Despite putting out of the most disappointing debut albums of the year, Joker still has some good tricks up his sleeve. His collaboration with Silas is proof that he can still put together a banging track. The soulful vocals of Silas help make this more than just a good dubstep instrumental.
87. WU LYF - "We Bros"
Almost over-hyped to death, WU LYF is one of the few bands that lived up to it. From their brilliant debut album Go Tell Fire To The Mountain, "We Bros" was the calling card for their sound and aesthetic. Featuring the love-it-or-hate-it yelping singing of Ellery Roberts over chiming guitars and droning organ, the track is a call to arms to return to being brothers of men. It is a tremendous opening statement, and makes them one of the bands to watch in 2012.
86. Yuck - "Get Away"
If you are going to blatantly steal a signature sound, you better have the chops and balls to back it up. Scotland's Yuck does, and shows that their Dinosaur JR/Sonic Youth/Pixies sound sometimes transcended and bettered their influences. "Get Away" is a gorgeous squall of a song that is pure noise ear candy.
85. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - "The Heart In Your Heartache"
The Alan Moulder/Flood produced second album from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart just didn't speak to me as a whole. It added too much gloss to their already shambling sound and just didn't fit. With that said, I still find myself coming back to this track over and over again. It's as catchy as the bird flu.
84. Cassettes Won't Listen - "Perfect Day"
When the mood strikes him, this one man project formed by Jason Drake can create perfect little pop songs. While the album EVINSPACEY was passable at best, "Perfect Day" is just a catchy, beautiful piece of synth pop, that is elevated by one of the saddest synth line melodies I have heard.
83. Skinny Puppy - "Wavy"
Legendary industrial band Skinny Puppy confounded my expectations this year by releasing not just a good album, but a pretty darn good one. One of the standout tracks on hanDover is this slow-burning song that is one of the softest, most beautiful in their catalog. Delicate keyboards and looped acoustic guitars are the perfect foil to Ogre's atypically sung vocals.
82. Iceage - "You're Blessed"
Two minutes of coiled post-punk fury.
81. Bibio - "Excuses"
Although Mind Bokeh was far too scattershot to be successful, however, "Excuses" is a completely brilliant single. I liken it to an electronica "Paranoid Android," featuring three sections that propel the song. The first an ambient intro, moving into a FlyLo beat music pop track, before ending in a funked out breakdown. It is truly a mesmerizing single.
Tom Vek - Seizemic by modularpeople
100. Tom Vek - "Seizemic"
Herky jerky synth pop from Tom Vek. I loved all the different layers and his arch, hiccuped vocals. Not for everyone, but if you enjoy quirky pop music, Tom Vek is a go-to person.
99. Neon Indian - "Polish Girl"
Reigning in the eccentricities of his first album that annoyed me to no end, Neon Indian focused more on pure song craft, and the first single from Era Extrana was this deliciously retro bit of sci-fi synth funk.
98. Gang Gang Dance - "Adult Goth"
Gang Gang Dance didn't necessarily reign in their eccentricities so much as the world caught up with them. What normally would sound completely alien now sounds familiar and enveloping. Not that this passes for Top 40 music whatsoever, "Adult Goth" one of the standout tracks on Eye Contact, is a fractured art rock dream, never losing control of the mission at hand.
97. Florence + The Machine - "Seven Devils"
Ceremonials was a complete disappointment to me, favoring over the top arrangements on each track, bludgeoning the listener over the head. Despite this almost crippling structure to the album, there are some fine tracks to be heard. "Seven Devils" is all slow burn delivery, building its bed of pianos and strings into a crescendo of other-worldliness. I don't count Florence Welch out yet, as long as she still has songs like this in her.
Siriusmo - Nights off by CULTURESHAKER
96. Siriusmo - "Nights Off"
German producer Siriusmo never sticks to one genre or theme for too long before bouncing on to another one, which truly makes his album Mosaik live up to its title. "Nights Off" which is featured on the album, is all one slow build of analog synths and vibes, until the drop, throwing everything into a dance floor maelstrom.
95. The Field - "Then It's White"
The Field's shtick is fairly well-known by now, but each release shows him slightly tweaking what he does into something fresh. Looping State of Mind is chock full of his spacey take on techno, but what really stands out is left field tracks like "Then It's White," an almost 8 minute ambient track with hauntingly atmospheric synths over a meandering, beautiful piano melody. Barely reaching a beat above a heartbeat, the track insinuates itself in your head, and is a lovely end to an almost perfect album.
94. Beyonce - "I Miss You"
I don't mind admitting that I love Beyonce, or admitting that I thought her album 4 was completely dreadful. So, with such a horrid review, how is one of her songs on this list? Well, for one, it is an amazing ballad written by Frank Ocean, and has one of Beyonce's typically emotion packed deliveries. On an album filled with such dreck it was a pearl amongst swine.
93. Esben and the Witch - "Eumenides"
Reminding me of early Dead Can Dance, Siouxsie and the Banshees and This Mortal Coil, UK trio Esben and the Witch brought goth cool to 2011. "Eumenides" is a centerpiece of the record Violet Cries, and is a 6 minute tutorial in how to do drama correctly.
92. Class Actress - "Need To Know"
While not everything worked on their debut album Rapprocher, Class Actress knows how to work their Nu Shooz meets Depeche Mode style, and nothing sounded quite as funky and sinister as the electro-funk workout "Need to Know." Elizabeth Harper's sexy cooing over the slick beats and dense bed of synthesizers was completely intoxicating.
91. Oneohtrix Point Never - "Replica"
Known more for analog synthesizer drones than anything, Oneohtrix Point Never (a.k.a. Daniel Lopatin) surprised many with this year's Replica, which found him working with a lot of samples, and even incorporating beats into his music. Title track "Replica" contains no beats, but immerses you in a world of plaintive piano melodies, squiggling synths, and lots of found noises and sounds. The beauty of the piece is in how much there is a sense of tension and terror lurking in the background.
90. The Joy Formidable - "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie"
Obviously, at the first band meeting for The Joy Formidable the consensus was go big or go home. For such a small band, they know how to whomp up the energy, adding lots of loud stadium ready guitars and shoegaze textures to their power pop. First song on their debut album The Big Roar, "The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie" is a gorgeous, demanding track full of lots of rises and falls. It is tailor made for arenas and stadiums, and based on their well-received live shows, that is not too far off.
89. Peter Bjorn & John - "Second Chance"
How do you ever live up to a fluke hit single like "Young Folks?" Well, for PBJ they released a follow up album that essentially blew any of the good will from their hit album. And on the follow up to that, they actually put together a better album than Writer's Block, as witnessed by their second incredibly fluke hit single "Good Times," which is all whoo-woos, cowbell, handclaps, and fuzzed out guitars. Lighting can strike twice.
88. Joker - "Slaughterhouse" (ft. Silas)
Despite putting out of the most disappointing debut albums of the year, Joker still has some good tricks up his sleeve. His collaboration with Silas is proof that he can still put together a banging track. The soulful vocals of Silas help make this more than just a good dubstep instrumental.
87. WU LYF - "We Bros"
Almost over-hyped to death, WU LYF is one of the few bands that lived up to it. From their brilliant debut album Go Tell Fire To The Mountain, "We Bros" was the calling card for their sound and aesthetic. Featuring the love-it-or-hate-it yelping singing of Ellery Roberts over chiming guitars and droning organ, the track is a call to arms to return to being brothers of men. It is a tremendous opening statement, and makes them one of the bands to watch in 2012.
86. Yuck - "Get Away"
If you are going to blatantly steal a signature sound, you better have the chops and balls to back it up. Scotland's Yuck does, and shows that their Dinosaur JR/Sonic Youth/Pixies sound sometimes transcended and bettered their influences. "Get Away" is a gorgeous squall of a song that is pure noise ear candy.
85. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - "The Heart In Your Heartache"
The Alan Moulder/Flood produced second album from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart just didn't speak to me as a whole. It added too much gloss to their already shambling sound and just didn't fit. With that said, I still find myself coming back to this track over and over again. It's as catchy as the bird flu.
84. Cassettes Won't Listen - "Perfect Day"
When the mood strikes him, this one man project formed by Jason Drake can create perfect little pop songs. While the album EVINSPACEY was passable at best, "Perfect Day" is just a catchy, beautiful piece of synth pop, that is elevated by one of the saddest synth line melodies I have heard.
83. Skinny Puppy - "Wavy"
Legendary industrial band Skinny Puppy confounded my expectations this year by releasing not just a good album, but a pretty darn good one. One of the standout tracks on hanDover is this slow-burning song that is one of the softest, most beautiful in their catalog. Delicate keyboards and looped acoustic guitars are the perfect foil to Ogre's atypically sung vocals.
82. Iceage - "You're Blessed"
Two minutes of coiled post-punk fury.
81. Bibio - "Excuses"
Although Mind Bokeh was far too scattershot to be successful, however, "Excuses" is a completely brilliant single. I liken it to an electronica "Paranoid Android," featuring three sections that propel the song. The first an ambient intro, moving into a FlyLo beat music pop track, before ending in a funked out breakdown. It is truly a mesmerizing single.
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