Awwww shit here we go. Hopefully all these music posts will get me back on that blogging horse.
So, while making this list I tried to keep in mind how much I liked the song when I first heard it as well as how many times I went back and kept playing it. I also tried to avoid viewing any other ‘top songs of the year’ lists so that mine wouldn’t be altered by last second entries etc.
100) Clubfeet - Heartbreak
I’ll admit that this one has a very “light-rock radio” vibe, but I never claimed to have a very high-brow taste level. It’s catchy and danceable enough for 100.
99) NO – Stay With Me
This is the best “The National” song released all year.
98 ) Goldroom (ft. Chela) – Fifteen
Breezy synths, reverby drum machines, sexy lady vocals. Why does 80′s music sound so much better the second time around?
97) Passion Pit - Carried Away
I think this was the only track on Gossamer that captured the sunniness of Passion Pit’s earlier stuff.
Niki & The Dove
96) Niki & The Dove - Tomorrow
I feel like someone should go back and put this in every Molly Ringwald movie sounndtrack
95) Nas (Ft. Rick Ross) - Accident Murderers
This song should probably be higher on the list just because Nas was able to make a song where Rick Ross actually sounds good. H8n.
94) Nightworks - I Tried So Hard
Talk about a slow burner. This one flows seamlessly between background and foreground music.
93) Divine Fits - Shivers
Britt Daniel will always be one of the coolest, and this song is basically all about Britt.
92) Fast Years - Young Heart
This song is mostly chorus (which I’m perfectly fine with), but it’s really all about that hand-clap starting at 2:19 or so.
91) Communist Daughter - Speed of Sound
I really dig that Shins(ish) ghostly “oooooh ooooh” business.
90) The Ting Tings - Soul Killing
If you listen to the Ting Tings before you go out, the whole night becomes your music video – Gavin Mcinnes.
89) Now, Now - Dead Oaks
Some songs are destined to be part of a teen rom-com soundtrack, that doesn’t make them bad songs. Especially not this concise little gem.
88 ) Milo Greene - 1957
It’s like “Of Monsters and Men” light.
87) El Perro Del Mar - Walk On By
And I’m strutting around my apartment like a sassy lady. Also, love that clarinet(?) solo.
86 ) Lemonade - Ice Water
These white boys are lookin’ to sex you up!
85) Beach House - Other People
Very few Beach House tracks actually have a chorus that gets this close to sing-alongable.
84) DWNTWN – Big Jet Plane
White Gurl Dance Track!
La Sera
83) La Sera - Break My Heart
If you infused “Cults” with just a hint of garage rock, this is what you’d get.
82) The Shins - September
I think I like this song so much because it sounds like it could very easily be on “Chutes Too Narrow”.
81) Ben Folds Five – Do It Anyway
After all these years I still love that ramblin’ Ben Folds piano. This is one I really wanna see live.
80) The Mountain Goats - Cry For Judas
“Some things you do just to see how bad they make you feel”, if there was ever a more typical Mountain Goats opening line I don’t know of it. Also, love the horns on this one.
79) Stepdad - Must Land Running
In your face electro-pop. Everything about “Must Land Running” is a little over the top in a good way.
78 ) Stars - Hold on When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It
One of the sappiest songs of the year, but that didn’t stop me from blaring it.
Shintaro Sakamoto
77) Shintaro Sakamoto - In A Phantom Mood
There is something to be said for a perfect ‘walking down the street’ song.
76) Sean Bones - United
This one jumps from a slow plodder to dance city so perfectly.
75) Azealia Banks - Jumanji
“Rude bitch, all day. Uptown Broadway” Might be my favorite rap moment of the year.
74) Tennis - Origins
No song better encapsulates Tennis’ new more flushed out and mature sound.
73) Fol Chen - So Good
This playful electro-pop jam is aptly named.
72) You Won’t - Who Knew
Soon to be on the soundtrack for the next 5 Michael Cera movies.
71) Trailer Trash Tracy’s - Wish You Were Red
That bass!
70) JEFF The Brotherhood - Sixpack
JEFF The Brotherhood are basically on the Townes Van Zandt or Bob Dylan level of songwriting when it comes to stupid rock songs about beer and pick-up trucks.
69) Daughter - Landfill
Sparse, haunting and gorgeous.
68 ) Royal Headache - Girls
All the ingredients are there to make it a good garage rock shredder, but those surprisingly soulful vocals take this one to another level.
67) Cloud Nothings - Stay Useless
Some of the catchiest/punchiest guitar work out there today. These guys (for better or for worse) bring me back to 90′s alternative radio punk-pop bands I grew up with.
66) Silver Swans - Secrets
Almost too sexy for a break-up song, really pretty nonetheless.
65) Best Coast - The Only Place
A jangly summer pop-rock clinic. Also, a great homage to the comforts of home, even if home isn’t California.
64) Matt & Kim - Let’s Go
Sometimes I think these two must sit down and write songs specifically designed to be in every commercial ever.
Jessie Ware
63) Jessie Ware - 110%
One of the weirdest samples of the year doesn’t not work here.
62) M. Ward - Primitive Girl
Man M. Ward is a lot better when he’s not so darn mopey.
61) Beat Connection - Palace Garden, 4am
Perfect song for cocktails on a summer evening.
60) Tribes - We Were Children
A sing-a-long British power pop anthem about youth, that isn’t by “Fun.”. Also, this one is actually good.
Death Grips
59) Death Grips - I’ve Seen Footage
Still not sure what genre Death Grips is, but “I’ve Seen Footage” sounds sort of like The Beastie Boys on PCP
58 ) Angel Haze - New York
Talk about spitting fire. Girl had me down right scared on this one.
57) Porcelain Raft - Put Me To Sleep
Really pretty slow builder. Listening to it just now, makes me think it could have been higher.
56) School Boy Q (Ft. Kendrick Lamar) - Blessed
Surprisingly touching rap song from one of the hardest dudes in the business.
55) Policia - I See My Mother
Distorted, bass-heavy sexiness. If anyone is making a 2012 mood mix, this better damn well be on it.
54) Terry Malts – Tumble Down
Sometimes is all I want is really straight forward Ramonesesque punk-pop. I’m a simple man.
JTE
53) Justin Townes Earle - Movin’ On
This Johnny Cash style plodder has one of my favorite lines of the year “Tell her I’ve been gettin’ sick again. We both pretend we don’t know why.”
52) JJAMZ - Heartbeat
This sort of sexy 80′s inspired electronic pop. is right in my wheelhouse.
51) Standard Fare - Darth Vader
Simple, sweet indie-pop about going away.
