[PLAYLIST] The Best SONGS of 2011 – Part 1 (Jan-June)

The best of the best… so far. My list ordering is always fast and loose so don’t sweat the numbers too much. For more on any of these artists use the tags links at the bottom of the post. Read on and rock out!

25 – ♫ Baby Monster – Mr. Success / These guys snuck in with a jam that just kept getting better with each listen. Oooooh ooooo ooooo!

24 – ♫ The Weeknd – House Of Balloons/Glass Table Girls / Dark, dirty, and not for public consumption. But damn if I can’t get enough.

23 – ♫ Motopony – King of Diamonds / Should be higher up on the list but with another Motopony track below I am basically sneaking this track in. An amazing song.

22 – ♫ Vacationer – Trip / A love song written by sunsets for eastern facing waterfalls and delivered by toucans.

21 – ♫ Wildlife – Stand in the Water / An epic start to an epic album. Hairs on the back of the neck every time. I can’t stay seated!

20 – ♫ James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream / A perfect moment to sit back down. Talk about a grower. If you haven’t got into this track yet then kill the lights, turn the volume up big, close your eyes, and just listen.

19 – ♫ Butcher Blades/ – The Swan Machine / If tropical were a college course then these dudes would be mentoring the senior thesis kids. So epic. Can someone shoot a throwback spy hero fight scene on a beach to this jam already?

18 – ♫ The-Dream – F**k My Brains Out / The-Dream dropped this with a siamese twin track “Body Work” but it was the heavy breathing, MJ channeling latter half that really lit my fire. I broke it off solo just for this post!

17 – ♫ Pompeya – Untitled / From Russia with bassline.

16 – ♫ Theme Park – Milk / Finally, a cure for all those lactose intolerant posers. 8oz of this a day will cure what ails you.

15 – ♫ Walk The Moon – Anna Sun / Also one of the best live shows I’ve seen this year. And best videos. Damn, how the hell have I not got this album yet?Remedied….. now.

14 – ♫ Generationals – Ten-Twenty-Ten / These guys have landed a jam in a Best Of list every year so far so it’s no surprise they have done it again. And could “doing it again” be any more fun than this?

13 – ♫ Brasstronaut – Hearts Trompet / Not much out there as elegant and beautiful as this track. And then it all breaks and builds into a whole new epic being.

12 – ♫ Jack Littman – Sinking Ship / All pulsing and thumping and fantastic. Fits under a summer moon as much as a winter one.

11 – ♫ Purity Ring – Ungirthed / Creepy and swollen in all the right places. Plus, 10 out of 10 J Riches agree, this is an epic jam.

10 – ♫ Britney Spears – Till The World Ends / Haters will hate. The rest of us will be having the party of our lives. Gotta love that instantly sing-along-able hook!

9 – ♫ Punches – Sleepless City / Possibly best horns/piano/drum-machine combo of the year? Beautiful and danceable all at once.

8 – ♫ When Saints Go Machine – Kelly / That bass thump just hits so good. And I can’t think of better vocals go along with this funky jam.

7 – ♫ Things I Never Told You – Happiness / Throwback sex disco pop at it’s finest.

6 – ♫  Mitten – All That I’ve Got / Distorted intro is deceptive as soon the beautiful pop goodness is smeared all over your ears. Smooth and sweet and somehow fluffy too.

5 – ♫ Frank Ocean – Swim Good / The smoothest member of OFWGKTA delivers on all his crew’s hype in one song. At least as far as I’m concerned.

4 – ♫ Joywave – Golden State / The song uses the traditional rock forumla of guitar, bass, and drums, but I can’t remember the last time that mix cooked up such an epic show stopper like this. Must be like what hearing U2 in the 80s felt like.

3 – ♫ Patrick Wolf – The City / Huge. Just huge. Plus touching, infectious, and gorgeous.

2 – ♫ The Botaniks – Fond of Jane ft. Bernhoft / Up. Down. Left and right. This one’s got it covered on all corners of planet funk. And Bernhoft’s soraing vocals are rivaled only by The Botaniks’ impeccable production. Woooo-eee.

1 – ♫ Motopony – Wait For Me / This song leaves me speechless.

/// ZIP Files ///

Be sure to catch all the 2011 “BEST OF” lists!

• Best Albums
• Best EPs
• Best Songs – Pt. 1 (Jan-June) — YOU ARE HERE!
• Best Songs – Pt.2 (July-Dec)
• Best Remixes - Pt. 1 (Jan-June)
• Best Remixes – Pt.2 (July-Dec)
• Best Music Videos
• Best Cover Songs
• Best Party Songs

Tagged as: Baby Monster, Bernhoft, Brasstronaut, Britney Spears, Butcher Blades/, Frank Ocean, Generationals, Jack Littman, James Blake, Joywave, Mitten, Motopony, Patrick Wolf, Pompeya, PUNCHES, Purity ring, The Botaniks, The Dream, The Weeknd, Theme Park, Things I Never Told You, Vacationer, Walk The Moon, When Saints Go Machine, Wildlife