The Weeknd - "The Morning"
I hope that this is what music sounds like in the future. A beautiful mix of styles and sensibilities; a mixture of smooth and rough. Music is headed in that direction it seems. Anything goes. And few songs have gone as far or as deep as "The Morning", a song that's as much Prince as it is Clapton as it is R. Kelly. It would be a towering achievement for a band at their peak; the fact that it comes from a solitary little-known Montreal musician makes it that much greater. It's a song that's low but it hits all the highs, and if it could be any higher on this list it would be.
Showing posts with label Best Songs of 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Songs of 2011. Show all posts
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Best Songs of 2011: #2
Jay-Z & Kanye West - "Niggas In Paris"
If this isn't what 20 million dollars sounds like, I don't know what does.
If this isn't what 20 million dollars sounds like, I don't know what does.
Best Songs of 2011: #3
Meek Mill feat. Rick Ross - "Ima Boss"
Forget Rick Ross here; this is all about Meek. This is all about new Hip-Hop, really. It's about a guy you've never heard before from a town whose last great rap hope is making Hancock 2. It's about a hard street flow that pops out at instead of lulling you to sleep. It's about this beat, my god this beat, and the hype on hype on hype feeling it gives you. It's all about the dopest banger of Twenty Eleven right here.
Forget Rick Ross here; this is all about Meek. This is all about new Hip-Hop, really. It's about a guy you've never heard before from a town whose last great rap hope is making Hancock 2. It's about a hard street flow that pops out at instead of lulling you to sleep. It's about this beat, my god this beat, and the hype on hype on hype feeling it gives you. It's all about the dopest banger of Twenty Eleven right here.
Best Songs of 2011: #4
Bon Iver - "Holocene"
Since Justin Vernon got his heart broken and recorded an album in his Wisconsin cabin under the name Bon Iver, critics have praised him almost unanimously. His latest album, Bon Iver, is filled with luxurious soundscapes and haunting lyrics, and fully meets its lofty expectations.
Since Justin Vernon got his heart broken and recorded an album in his Wisconsin cabin under the name Bon Iver, critics have praised him almost unanimously. His latest album, Bon Iver, is filled with luxurious soundscapes and haunting lyrics, and fully meets its lofty expectations.
Best Songs of 2011: #5
DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross, & Lil' Wayne - "I'm On One"
Right off the bat you have to accept that this is inherently stupid. We all know DJ Khaled doesn't actually do anything. We all know that Drake played a kid in a wheelchair on a Canadian tv show. We all know that Rick Ross worked as a prison guard and isn't the international cocaine smuggler he'd like you to think he is. But in the fantasy-land that is mainstream Hip-Hop, none of this matters. Cause this shit goes hard.
Right off the bat you have to accept that this is inherently stupid. We all know DJ Khaled doesn't actually do anything. We all know that Drake played a kid in a wheelchair on a Canadian tv show. We all know that Rick Ross worked as a prison guard and isn't the international cocaine smuggler he'd like you to think he is. But in the fantasy-land that is mainstream Hip-Hop, none of this matters. Cause this shit goes hard.
Best Songs of 2011: #6
A$AP Rocky - "Peso"
I'll admit, at first, I didn't really like this A$AP kid. He's from Harlem but he talks about how Trill he is; he doesn't have the most complicated or impressive rhymes. But he does have an amazing collaborator: New Jersey producer Clams Casino. The combination is lethal, and recommended with repetitive listening. This is zone out music at its finest.
I'll admit, at first, I didn't really like this A$AP kid. He's from Harlem but he talks about how Trill he is; he doesn't have the most complicated or impressive rhymes. But he does have an amazing collaborator: New Jersey producer Clams Casino. The combination is lethal, and recommended with repetitive listening. This is zone out music at its finest.
Best Songs of 2011: #7
James Blake - "The Wilhelm Scream"
James Blake has become the face of British electronic music, mostly because he's one of the few artists willing to appear live in interviews and music videos (I'm lookin' at you, Burial). He also has voice, which he uses with great effect on his self-titled LP, and especially well on "The Wilhelm Scream".
James Blake has become the face of British electronic music, mostly because he's one of the few artists willing to appear live in interviews and music videos (I'm lookin' at you, Burial). He also has voice, which he uses with great effect on his self-titled LP, and especially well on "The Wilhelm Scream".
Best Songs of 2011: #8
Kendrick Lamar - "HiiiPower"
The Black Hippy supergroup, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock, have already become the hottest ticket in rap so far in 2012; this is the song that got it all rolling.
The Black Hippy supergroup, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock, have already become the hottest ticket in rap so far in 2012; this is the song that got it all rolling.
Best Songs of 2011: #9
tUnE-yArDs - "Powa"
tUnE-yArDs, like other freak pop flyers Dirty Projectors and The Big Pink, rely on bombastic vocalizations, unique instrumentation, and stadium-sized emotions. "Powa" is not an understatement; this song blasts forth with Styx-quality harmonies.
tUnE-yArDs, like other freak pop flyers Dirty Projectors and The Big Pink, rely on bombastic vocalizations, unique instrumentation, and stadium-sized emotions. "Powa" is not an understatement; this song blasts forth with Styx-quality harmonies.
Best Songs of 2011: #10
Jai Paul - "BTSTU (Edit)"
Here Jai Paul, mysterious British sound wizard, has given us a rare treat: a song both seductive and threatening at the same damn time. Process that, along with your hair.
Here Jai Paul, mysterious British sound wizard, has given us a rare treat: a song both seductive and threatening at the same damn time. Process that, along with your hair.
Best Songs of 2011: #11
The Black Keys - "Lonely Boy"
The Keys have been polishing their sound ever since their gritty garage beginnings, but here they merge commercial shine with classic sweat-shack rock n roll. Groove-worthy indeed.
The Keys have been polishing their sound ever since their gritty garage beginnings, but here they merge commercial shine with classic sweat-shack rock n roll. Groove-worthy indeed.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Best Songs of 2011: #12
Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris - "We Found Love"
While you might think what we have is a simple pop song, you'd be wrong. Sure it has all the tell-tale signs of pop; catchy melody, simple lyrics, love. But this is not pop music. This is hardcore house. This is the kind of four on the floor, hopelessly romantic, unrelentingly pounding jams that gay men in London and Chicago grinded to in 1989. Whoever was behind this beat should be named Funkmaster Kid Hott or Mr. House or Phuture or Phortune. But his name is Calvin Harris, he's from the UK, and he's obviously done his homework.
While you might think what we have is a simple pop song, you'd be wrong. Sure it has all the tell-tale signs of pop; catchy melody, simple lyrics, love. But this is not pop music. This is hardcore house. This is the kind of four on the floor, hopelessly romantic, unrelentingly pounding jams that gay men in London and Chicago grinded to in 1989. Whoever was behind this beat should be named Funkmaster Kid Hott or Mr. House or Phuture or Phortune. But his name is Calvin Harris, he's from the UK, and he's obviously done his homework.
Best Songs of 2011: #13
Fleet Foxes - "Helplessness Blues"
The Occupy Wall Street movement has generated so much attention these past few months and a great deal of anger. Voices in the media, mostly aged ones, seem to cast so much animosity on the movement they deem it irrelevant. I think a lot of this must come from a view of the youthful generations as entitled brats, smoking pot and squatting in public parks demanding older, richer men cut them a slice of the pie. I feel like the sentiments expressed in "Helplessness Blues" much more accurately represent the feelings of the scores young and disenfranchised emanating from Zucotti Park. Our generations were promised the world, but now that we're grown we don't want the world. We just want a living. Give me an orchard and I'll work til I'm raw.
The Occupy Wall Street movement has generated so much attention these past few months and a great deal of anger. Voices in the media, mostly aged ones, seem to cast so much animosity on the movement they deem it irrelevant. I think a lot of this must come from a view of the youthful generations as entitled brats, smoking pot and squatting in public parks demanding older, richer men cut them a slice of the pie. I feel like the sentiments expressed in "Helplessness Blues" much more accurately represent the feelings of the scores young and disenfranchised emanating from Zucotti Park. Our generations were promised the world, but now that we're grown we don't want the world. We just want a living. Give me an orchard and I'll work til I'm raw.
Best Songs of 2011: #14
Beyoncé - "Countdown"
I've been trying to find a place in these year end lists for the group of critically-acclaimed pop ingenues coming out the UK. Singers like Adele and Florence Welch have been praised for crafting edgy new takes on female pop music, and while I liked Florence + the Machine's album as well as "Rolling In The Deep", I couldn't bring myself to include them. Maybe it's because those singers have to stray too far from what pop music is in order to make their music unique, so you get dour black & white of Adele or the new found piety of Florence. Beyoncé Knowles has never had that problem. She makes 100% Grade A American Pop Music, and she makes it incredibly well. God bless her for it.
I've been trying to find a place in these year end lists for the group of critically-acclaimed pop ingenues coming out the UK. Singers like Adele and Florence Welch have been praised for crafting edgy new takes on female pop music, and while I liked Florence + the Machine's album as well as "Rolling In The Deep", I couldn't bring myself to include them. Maybe it's because those singers have to stray too far from what pop music is in order to make their music unique, so you get dour black & white of Adele or the new found piety of Florence. Beyoncé Knowles has never had that problem. She makes 100% Grade A American Pop Music, and she makes it incredibly well. God bless her for it.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Best Songs of 2011: #15
M83 - "Midnight City"
The cover to M83's 2008 album Saturdays=Youth featured a tribute to the late John Hughes; blindingly white youths adorned in the idiosyncratic costumes of the 80s. That album relied heavily on sounds from that decade, but their new (and perhaps best) song "Midnight City" is able to capture the emotions of the New Wave masters while making concessions to the contemporary dancefloor.
The cover to M83's 2008 album Saturdays=Youth featured a tribute to the late John Hughes; blindingly white youths adorned in the idiosyncratic costumes of the 80s. That album relied heavily on sounds from that decade, but their new (and perhaps best) song "Midnight City" is able to capture the emotions of the New Wave masters while making concessions to the contemporary dancefloor.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Best Songs of 2011: #16
WOODKID - "Iron"
WOODKID is Yoann Lemoine, noted music video director known for his work with saccharine dreams Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. "Iron" is a chilling slab of gothic electronica that is hopelessly entwined with its superb video. Unfortunately nothing else on the Iron EP is even remotely this mesmerizing. 2011's best one hit wonder.
WOODKID is Yoann Lemoine, noted music video director known for his work with saccharine dreams Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. "Iron" is a chilling slab of gothic electronica that is hopelessly entwined with its superb video. Unfortunately nothing else on the Iron EP is even remotely this mesmerizing. 2011's best one hit wonder.
Best Songs of 2011: #17
G-Side - "Y U Mad"
Huntsville, Alabama, a declining southern city founded around the swiftly deteriorating space industry, seems like a strange choice for the next big Hip-Hop scene. Listening to G-Side's phenomenal The One...Cohesive makes it all make sense; a laid-back but melancholic slow ride through pine trees and faded rocket ships. "Y U Mad" features some of the lushest and emotional production in contemporary rap music, and cuts to the core of hater nation. The stars look so bright when you come from a city with no lights.
Huntsville, Alabama, a declining southern city founded around the swiftly deteriorating space industry, seems like a strange choice for the next big Hip-Hop scene. Listening to G-Side's phenomenal The One...Cohesive makes it all make sense; a laid-back but melancholic slow ride through pine trees and faded rocket ships. "Y U Mad" features some of the lushest and emotional production in contemporary rap music, and cuts to the core of hater nation. The stars look so bright when you come from a city with no lights.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Best Songs of 2011: #18
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx - "I'll Take Care of U"
Gil Scott-Heron, spoken word revolutionary and Hip-Hop poet laureate, covers an old Brook Benton ballad for his first album in decades and his last. A young up and coming musician takes that and turns into a sweetly sentimental dancefloor swoon. Now you can here a reworked version being crooned by Rihanna on the radio. Such is the strangeness of life, but this song should soothe your blues.
Gil Scott-Heron, spoken word revolutionary and Hip-Hop poet laureate, covers an old Brook Benton ballad for his first album in decades and his last. A young up and coming musician takes that and turns into a sweetly sentimental dancefloor swoon. Now you can here a reworked version being crooned by Rihanna on the radio. Such is the strangeness of life, but this song should soothe your blues.
Best Songs of 2011: #19
Drive-By Truckers - "Used To Be a Cop"
What's made Alabama's Drive-By Truckers so consistent in their excellence is their unmatched storytelling. Working class landscapes filled with good down trodden folk either just a little too kind or a little too crooked. How do you make guitar licks that evoke staring out the back window of a sheriff's Crown Vic? Like this.
What's made Alabama's Drive-By Truckers so consistent in their excellence is their unmatched storytelling. Working class landscapes filled with good down trodden folk either just a little too kind or a little too crooked. How do you make guitar licks that evoke staring out the back window of a sheriff's Crown Vic? Like this.
Best Songs of 2011: #20
Björk - "Crystalline"
Björk's first major single since 2008, "Crystalline" is a haunting electro jam full of stabs and slams ripped from the palette of alternative electronic music. The sounds are much more reminiscent of her experimentation on Medulla than the questionable Timbaland-assisted Volta, and better for it.
Björk's first major single since 2008, "Crystalline" is a haunting electro jam full of stabs and slams ripped from the palette of alternative electronic music. The sounds are much more reminiscent of her experimentation on Medulla than the questionable Timbaland-assisted Volta, and better for it.
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