frankocean:

i just listened to this a few times for myself. figured maybe some else needed to hear it. it’s called ‘4 tears’.

EDIT: my computer recovered my intro!!

One of my friends and I were talking recently about some of the music that came out in 2011. At the conclusion of our conversation, which could be summarized with the word, “fine,” it was decided that many of the albums released this year were exactly that, “fine.”

That being said, there was some really, really special music released this year (here’s looking at you, Antlers). I found myself exploring bands whose earlier releases I had cast away. There were also a few artists who only released a few songs this year, whose albums I very much look forward to hearing.

Anyway, without further ado, here are my favorite songs of 2011. I hope you enjoy them all. I certainly do. 

BUT FIRST!

Honorable Mentions!
The Strokes - Two Kinds of Happiness
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - No One Is (As I Are Be)
Drake - Headlines
Purity Ring - Lofticries
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High
Washed Out - Amor Fati

Top 10 songs of 2011, according to me.

10) Summer Camp - Brian Krakow

I recently got Summer Camp’s new album, Welcome to Condale, and was most impressed by this song. It starts out with an excerpt from the show, “My So-Called Life.” In fact, Brian Krakow is a character on the show. For me, that’s neither here nor there, because I could never get into that show. Anyway, the song is really up beat, and super catchy (just wait until the chorus). I could see this being an excellent summer jam. Even though I’ve only had Summer Camp’s album for a few weeks, this song has really grown on me. I can’t stress enough how catchy it really is.


9) Lana Del Rey - Blue Jeans

This is a song that, I believe has been out for a better part of the year. I didn’t get it until the end of November after reading an article about Lana Del Rey. At first I liked Lana’s song “Video Games” more. Then this songs gets to the chorus. And, oh my, what a chorus it is. Listen and see for yourself.

8) Bon Iver - Beth/Rest

I never really got into For Emma, Forever Ago, so when I first listened to the new Bon Iver album, I wasn’t really expecting much, despite all the great things I had heard. I ended up being floored by the album (more about that soon), especially a few individual tracks. “Beth/Rest,” the last song on the record, stood out to me the most. The cheesy keyboard intro, the odd auto-tuned vocals, and the strange sax solo, all mesh into one, strangely beautiful & hypnotizing closing track. 

7) Jens Lekman - Waiting For Kirsten

One of the funniest things about this song is that it’s about Kirsten Dunst. Why Jens Lekman was inspired to write about her, I’ll never know. What I do know though, is that this song rules. Musically, it reminds me a lot of an Elton John song (because of the mandolin, just listen to Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, or Holiday Inn).

6) Wye Oak - Civilian

Wye Oak put on an awesome live show. I had the pleasure of seeing them cover two Dinosaur Jr. songs at the “Our Concert Could Be Your Life” tribute show. Anyway, this song is really cool. Jenn Wasner’s voice really makes it for me. What’s also cool about Wye Oak is that their drummer plays keys, and drums at the same time.


5) Real Estate - Green Aisles

I had always kind of liked Real Estate (who are actually from near where I grew up), but never really got super into them. That was until I heard “Green Aisles.” The song is really relaxing due to its layered guitar parts, and airy vocals. Real Estate have taken a big step forward with their most recent work.

4) Frank Ocean - Thinking About You

I first heard Frank Ocean at Best Pizza on Havemeyer Street in Brooklyn (definitely go there, really good pizza). I really took to his reworking of Coldplay’s Strawberry Swing, and a few other tracks off of his album. This song though amazed me the first time I heard it. Its quite simple, but Ocean’s voice is stunning. That falsetto, man.


3) Washed Out - Eyes Be Closed

This was the first track released off of Washed Out’s new album Within and Without. I had liked his earlier work, but there was something about Eyes Be Closed. It was more polished. He clearly didn’t record this track by himself, in his bedroom. The intro draws you in, the drums kick in. Then, come some synths. Finally the vocals. Welcome to Washed Out. 


2) Yuck - Rubber
Just listen to this song. It’s the Only In Dreams for the new millennium. 


1) The Antlers - Rolled Together 

Just listen to the Antlers new album “Burst Apart,” and thank me later.

Thanks for reading! Albums coming soon.

whoa.

Ithaca Falls in Ithaca, New York.

r.e.m. - what’s the frequency, kenneth? 

r.i.p. r.e.m.

the avett brothers covering bruce’s glory days.

wowza!

“the ballad of john and yoko” by the beatles.

is it possible for a beatles song to be underrated? is this song underrated? regardless, i think this song is underrated. not enough people like it. unless they do.

stephen malkmus and the jicks: “no one is (as i are be).

cool track off of mirror traffic.

washed out covering chris isaak’s “wicked game.”

vibing on chillwaves all damn day.

real estate - suburban dogs

stay dry friends. 

The Moody Blues - Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon).

Obsessed with this song right now.

tv on the radio - second song.

I’m not the biggest tv on the radio fan, but i put on their newest record, and this song stood out to me. great track.

1) harmonies
2) matching outfits
3) the 90’s
4) spoken word interlude

Also, I’m pretty sure one of the ladies in this video is the girl from saved by the bell? 

Boyz II Men - On Bended Knee. 

1) i’m staying in manhattan for the next month. this is exciting news. 
2) I have a job. work is hard.
3) it’s quite warm out.

stay cool.

Lykke Li - Unrequited Love

Listened to this album for the first time today. Pretty depressing, but also really enjoyable. Looking forward to getting her first record.