Top 10 songs of 2011?

A response to all of the "Top 10 songs of 2011" posts that are going on, some songs that I've grown to love the last 12 Months.

Delicate Steve - Butterfly




This song, like all songs by Delicate Steve is bloody brilliant. One of those walking to the bus stop "today is going to me an amazing day" songs. I first heard Delicate Steve in 2010 sometime and just didn't understand what was going on but put it on my phone anyway and it came on when I was walking home from the pub on night and I felt invincible. Listen to this, you won't regret it.

By Your Hand - Los Campesinos



When I first moved to London this was a song that reminded me of home. I'd not heard it before I moved but if you've known me for any length of time you'll probably know that a few years ago I practically worshiped Los Campesinos at one point, their songs were something I could dance to and still be all "yeah, so this unknown welsh band, you've probably never heard of them" way back in the days of school uniforms when I was cool and wanted all hipster and stuff, naturally, once I heard You! Me! Dancing! I kinda turned them down a bit. Maybe that makes me bias because it might not actually be one of the best songs of 2011, but it's a great taste of their new album and gets my feet tapping.

Beyonce - Countdown.




I tried at first to avoid butting beyonce in, part of me just wants to do a post of my favourite beyonce songs. I'm not sure if it's some kind of nostalgic link to sitting about with the girls from home listening to youtube beyonce playlists but this is - like so many of her songs - undeniably good. The song is just a mix of all things good about her. Definitely been a great and welcome addition to my iTunes top 25 played, I have some theory that it makes my cycle faster.

The Joy Formidable - Whirring




I think it was my old history teacher that told me about The Joy Formidable, a hope that they'd make it or something. This is actually a re-release so I'm a bit hesitant about putting it, its such a chilled song, the start reminds me so much of arcade fire, but like Of Montreal and Broken Social Scene all at the same time. A crush of all your favorite "indie" bands. You know those days when you're walking somewhere and its sunny outside, but it's still cold enough that you have to wear a coat.. autumn..  that's when you want this
 to come on. Kicking the leaves aside. It's mellow but its not depressing. Makes me want to dance. If you're not content with this, check out Wilco's Whole Love instead. That was my original choice but I changed it.. urgh...

Milo Greene - 1957



I read about this band on http://www.thegrapevinemusic.com late one night half by accident, half by doing that ever so hipster thing of thinking that you can find the next big thing. Part of me just thinks anything with a banjo or mandolin is cool and grabs my attention. I thought that this band had been kind of over looked but when I went to put the youtube link to this song I found people thanking NPR on the comments. I originally was going to put The Alabama Shakes in place here which I recently heard via P.M's post, but decided to avoid and pick these guys. Similar to The Civil Wars but a bit more plinky plonky if you're fans of them.

Azealia Banks - 212.



I hated this song the first time I heard it, the lyrics were crude the sound felt repetitive and I really didn't want to like a song just because Pitchfork told me too. I then found it again about a month later on pitchfork and listened to it again and thought it was the best thing in the world. It's probably the coolest thing I've heard this year and I can't really describe why.. (probably because of the reasons I didn't like it in the first place.) I spotted that this has been hitting the top of plenty of  music blogs 2011 posts and rightly so. It deserves a place. I had a choice between Niki Minaj's Super Bass - a song I do really love and this, there really was no competition.

The Weeknd - The Morning



I swear down this song was everywhere I went this year. Or at least I downloaded The Weeknd before I went to uni at some point and this song came on all the time on shuffle. I remember sitting at my brothers playing poker with his friends and this song came on and I was thinking "I love this song" then realised I didn't even know who it was. What a mistake. I've since listened back, I downloaded their 2 mixtapes for a reason and this is it - I haven't got the third in the trilogy yet but I have high hopes.

Metronomy - The Look.



I think this was my favorite summer album. Metronomy are effortlessly cool, this album makes that clear. I judged a lot of this off my phones top 25 most played and when I saw this a massive smile came accross my face. After the summer I kinda forgot about this album but the night before I came back to Manchester for Christmas my friend mentioned them and I swear this song helped me power through the 5 hour coach journey north. Makes me want to pick up my bass for the first time in forever.


The Milk Carton Kids - I still want a little more.



I probably could have picked anything of either of The Milk Carton Kid's albums this year. Tempted as I was to pick Charlie (which I've recently blogged about somewhere) that would simply be because I love my dad loads. Reluctant as I was to even put them in for some reason if I had to pick a most played album of 2011, the last 4 months alone plays would grant this the top spot. I picked this song because this is the song I put on when I walk to Tesco to get more milk and apple juice and it makes me feel on top of the world. I so wanted to be putting PJ Harvey here, and I feel kinda bad. But please if you haven't already, download The Milk Carton Kids albums from their website, its free so you basically have no excuse.

Bon Iver - Towers

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I don't think I could really get away without putting Bon Iver up here. After an incredible second album the whole world is buzzing all over again for this guy. This song makes my heart beat faster. If you want a song to put on in the morning when you wake up, this is it. I probably don't have to write any more about this because anyone who knows or likes to think they know anything about music has this album. // Side-note, definately do check out the acoustic Beth/Rest on NPR. It's close to perfect.

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There are loads more that I wanted to put on. If I could have been bothered I'd have made a much longer one. You wouldn't believe how much time I spent trying to get it to not match up too much with the lists on NPR, Pitchfork and similar blogs.. but in the end I gave up. They're on the lists for a reason and I don't think I've been quite hipster enough this term. Hope you enjoy this post. I assure you, there is not a bad song on it.


Check Out:

http://pmasinpaulmichael.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/songs-of-2011/
http://lifeascamille.tumblr.com/post/14087219117/songs-of-2011-or-songs-i-listened-to-in-my-car-with

Also, the Sunday CD Project over at JulezTalks.Blogspot for some reviews on new and old albums.



God Bless, L x