PASS DA PATRON: TAKE 4
WE ARE DESTINY’S CHILD EDITION
Best Songs of 2011: 30-21
30. Cruel - St. Vincent
a manic, on-the-edge pop song that’s constantly revving itself up by switching from panicky and paranoid to blissed out and confident every few lines. it creates a nervous energy that builds through annie clark’s voice and jolting guitar until the final chorus where it finally bursts into complete, joyful release.
29. Rolling Stone - The Weeknd
the first weeknd song I ever heard, rolling stone seriously blew my mind. it is a sad pleading slow jam that slowly unhinges, abel tesfaye investing more and more into this girl as the song goes on. his absolutely incredible voice paired with a simple guitar and killer production make a classic r&b combination sound fresh.
28. Long Boat Pass - Tennis
a tight, balmy pop song executed brilliantly. although it is short, it makes quite an impression, with fiercely sunny guitars and a beautiful melody brought to life by alaina moore’s vintage-sounding chirp. its powerful ending has all synapses firing full $peed.
27. Separator - Radiohead
what radiohead does best- thom yorke multiplies himself and goes all “whiny angel choir.” somehow this song keeps reverberating back on itself until it reaches it’s peak, then fades away like a highea.
26. Fall Creek Boys Choir - James Blake & Bon Iver
you never know what is gonna happen when two artists collaborate, but this time, you kind of did. each is so complimentary to the other, it seems like a shock that this hadn’t happened earlier. justin vernon provided the gorgeous pieces and james blake arranged it and rearranged it like only he can, and the result is a stunning elegiac hymn.
25. The Real Her - Drake feat. Lil Wayne & Andre 3000
drake confesses love for a new girl, par for the course. but drake sounds just as comfortable as ever and the beat is so dizzy and so disoriented that it draws you in and just as lil wayne starts to croak his short but inspired verse, the beat flips and it’s subtle but so satisfying. however it’s not until andre 3000 jumps in that you really get to hear how well that beat can be manipulated. and honestly, andre’s verse is one of my very favorite parts of the album.
24. I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl - Wavves
I love the way wavves is evolving. if they wanna make pop music, then I am all aboard. this song in particular is anthemic and exhilarating, but it never seems forced or cloying. nathan williams’ voice rides the guitars like he rides skateboards or waves on the ocean or something. also, I’m a huge sucker for wavves’ patented “never gonna stop me!” coda.
23. Die - Girls
it starts with a minute and a half of the most blistering guitars in girls’ history until christopher owens pops in shortly to inform us all that “we’re all gonna die! we’re all gonna die! we’re all gonna die! we’re all gonna die!” before jumping into another minute of psychedelic riffz. it finishes of with coming down music featuring slide guitars and flutes, so I guess what I’m saying is- you do the math.
22. Countdown - Beyonce
bombastic and exploding with more ideas than lady gaga’s had her whole career. it’s a song that makes pretty much everyone want to move their bodies. ugh, beyonce <3.
21. Calgary - Bon Iver
this one made me cry in public once and even though that is really unnecessary and embarrassing, it made me love the song more. kinda like we shared a traumatizing experience together which is practically how all of his songs make you feel, but in a nice way. anyways, when the stormy part starts, holy shit!
previously-
best songs of 2011: 40-31
best songs of 2011: 50-41
best songs of 2011: 100-51
best songs of 2011 (Not From 2011)
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Beyoncé - Girls (Who Run The World!) [Final Version]
I absolutely love this and still maintain beyonce can do no wrong… but is it me, or is it weird that she’s singing about bearing children and college grads on a club jam?
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see me now by kanye west feat. beyonce & charlie wilson
this is changing my life as we speak.
