The finale is here, it is underneath these typed words. These are my Top 10 songs of the year. I've listened to these songs the most out of any other that I've found throughout the year and these songs have been the ones that I'll listen to over and over again. I have gotten sick of some of them, because I have listened to them so much, but, that's not a bad thing, and that's the reason they are at the apex for the year. Enjoy.
10. Run Overdrive - CIVIL CIVIC
- Month Found: November
9. Bloom - Radiohead
- Month Found: February
8. Desert Raven - Jonathan Wilson
- Month Found: November
7. Wait For Me - Motopony
- Month Found: August
6. Now That I'm Real - Chad Valley
- Month Found: July
5. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
- Month Found: March
4. Civilian - Wye Oak
- Month Found: March
3. It's Real - Real Estate
- Month Found: November
2. Amor Fati - Washed Out
- Month Found: July
1. Cassette 2012 - Delay Trees
- Month Found: May
Monday, December 26, 2011
The Best Songs of 2011, Part III of III (#10-1)
Friday, December 23, 2011
The Best Songs of 2011, Part II of III (#30-11)
Part II is ready, I think, therefore, I am ready to release Part II? Did you catch the reference to Descartes? Also I've been reading this book and there were these strange self-referential sentences that I thought I'd share. I'm not going to elaborate on them, just list them underneath to stir your mind.
Numero Uno: The following sentence is totally identical with this one, except that the words "following" and "preceding" have been exchanged, as have the words "except" and "in", and the phrases "identical with" and "different from".
Numero Due: The preceding sentence is totally different from this one, in that the words "preceding" and "following" have been exchanged, as have the words "in" and "except", and the phrases "different from" and "identical with".
Most people find these sentences silly and actually rather annoying. I like them and think they are rather fascinating. Both are from page 62 of I Am A Stange Loop by Doug Hofstadter. Anyways, on to the music, that's why you're here, right? Enjoy Part II.
30. The Morning - The Weeknd
29. The Letting Go - Moutn Moriah
28. Holocene - Bon Iver
27. Tokyo - California Wives
26. Strawberry Swing - Frank Ocean
25. Midnight City - M83
24. Street Trap - CIVIL CIVIC
23. Green Aisles - Real Estate
22. We Went Wild - Lord Huron
21. When My Time Comes - Dawes
20. Less Unless - CIVIL CIVIC
- An instrumental that'll pump up your empty air chamber.
19. Hearts Trompet - Brasstronaut
- A smooth bass - oops, I mean "brass'" tune..
18. Anna Sun - Walk The Moon
- Someone is talking about sex.. and partying.. and.. Anna Sun.
17. Can We Really Party Today? - Jonathan Wilson
- Wait, waiiiiiiit...
16. Nineequalsnine - Vanaprasta
- You either love it or you hate it.. i love it.
15. Equestrian - U.S. Royalty
- I think they're going up to the mountain, not down.
14. Seperator - Radiohead
- Brilliantly simple yet utterly complex.
13. 1957 - Milo Greene
- How is this band still vastly unknown?
12. Spanish Burn - Early Winters
- One of the best vocals and easy listening songs of the year.
11. Eyes Be Closed - Washed Out
- Watch out.
Part III coming soon...
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Best Songs of 2011, Part I of III (50-31)
2012 is upon us, the year that will live in infamy, or so fanatics think. Whatever may happen one thing is for sure, music will still be around and produced. I am somewhat obsessed with new music and the constant search for that elusive song that I'll subsequently play for weeks or months on end. Most of those songs that I've found throughout the year will be the focus of Part III of this 3-part series (10-1). However, all of the songs on this list were standouts in my opinion and most assuredly most will not be found playing on the radio. If you consider yourself to be someone who enjoys music and new music in particular, I hope this list doesn't disappoint but only finds you more joy this holiday season. Enjoy the first of the three installments.
50. The Cult Song - Shannon and the Clams
49. Pure Affection - Eternal Summers
48. The Stranger - Lord Huron
47. The City - Patrick Wolf
46. Bloom - Dutchess Leo
45. Love is not Enough - The Wealthy West
44. Gutter Truth - Ryan Traster
43. Set Fire to the Rain (A Stupid Hole Bootleg) - CAZZETTE vs. Adele
42. Grand Theft Ecstasy - Feed Me
41. Calgary - Bon Iver
40. Babe - Evenings
39. Lofticries - Purity Ring
38. Late Nights - Brown Shoe
37. Circuital - My Morning Jacket
36. Songs for Women - Frank Ocean
35. Stellar Cartographer I - Radioseven
34. Stellar Cartographer II - Radioseven
33. Always On My Mind - The Rest
32. The Fear - Ben Howard
31. Junkie Bones - Ryan Traster
Part II Under Production...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Now That's What I Call Babymaking Music
Smoooooooth. The babymaking music is the highlight of this post and is encompassed solely by The Weeknd. Of Course this does not mean the other music posted can't also be babymaking music... I'll leave the ideas out there for arranging, music posted for listening...
An Assortment of Newly Found Tracks:
Burial & Four Tet & Thom Yorke - Ego
California Wives - Tokyo
J Mascis - Is It Done
Oh Land - Perfection
Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun
Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun (Yuksek Remix)
Oh Land - White Nights (Max Tundra Remix)
The Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Tommie Sunshine's Quaalude Edit)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Barrage of New Music [Star Slinger, Frank Ocean, Yeasayer, Travis Barker feat. Kid Cudi]
This post was very difficult to put together. Should it open with Yeasayer? What about Frank Ocean? Both have just released material worthy of headlining a post, but, they have also been featured on this blog in the past. Therefore, the opening of this post will belong to Star Slinger and will end with a new track by Travis Barker (yes the drummer from Blink-182) featuring Kid Cudi. The other two will be the havarti (Yeasayer) and pastrami (Frank Ocean) of this finely tuned sandwich. Mmmmmm.
Speechless. Fresh. Two words to describe Mornin, the opening track of Star Slinger's new album. The first 10 seconds highlight the underlying distorted vocals of the song, and they work; whereas the melody drop about a minute and a half in completes the intro successfully. This song works on multiple levels and distortions. Second is May I Walk With You. This song contains the same vocal style, that is distorted and repeating (it works as well as those in Mornin). The distortions are less subtle this time around and actually make the song rather unique. It works. Enjoy.
Star Slinger - Mornin
Star Slinger - May I Walk With You
Frank Ocean has just released his first album entitled Nostalgia/Ultra and is free to download (that's right, free). I congratulate Frank for making a very relaxing and nostalgic first album. Songs for Women is a great opener and is reminiscent of an R&B Das Rascist without the obnoxious nonsensical lyrics. Swim Good opens with a great beat, complementing Songs for Women perfectly, and vocals in the chorus that end with a Kanye feel. Novacane is the last of the Ocean experience posted and focuses on the lyrical aspect of the artist. The lyrics are more obscene, so "earmuffs" children.
Frank Ocean - Songs for Women
Frank Ocean - Swim Good
Frank Ocean - Novacane
Whoa. Yeasayer has really made a name for themselves over the past year. The hype from their album Oddblood is still gathering national attention, as it should be, and they have just released a new EP entitled I Remember. The highlight of the new EP is obviously the song I Remember and it's a song that grows on you. I wasn't a fan a month ago when they released a Valentine's Day promo video, but I can't get it out of my head now. I provided a remix down below and it's quality is surely up for debate (the original is better, IMO).
Yeasayer - I Remember
Yeasayer - I Remember (Painted Palms Remix)
I'm glad to see rappers go to drummers for their beats. That's what drummers do and the sound of drums is one of, if not the first, most appreciated musical art forms. This is too fresh, this is too fresh, this is too fresh. Lyrically, this song is typical Cudi and there's no problem with that. The only part of the song I'm unsure of is the chorus (I keep a cool head...)... That's a lot of periods. Period.
Travis Barker - Cool Head Feat. Kid Cudi
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Tuesday Tunes... AKA My First Published Playlist
It's March 8th and I'm on Spring Break. I'm not on a beach in Mexico or Florida and I'm not skiing in Wyoming, although all three sound fun and definately worth the time. Instead, I'm relaxing at home with my family and enjoying every minute of it. A lot of my free time has been spent watching the Showtime series Shameless and Californication as well as the new movie release The Adjustment Bureau.
Shameless is a new comedic series about a dysfunctional family in the Bronx, NY. The dysfunctional aspect of the family is the alcoholic father (William H. Macy), who barely accepts responsibility for any of his 6 kin. He doesn't live in his home and after watching a few episodes it seems as if his children provide for themselves, usually by any means necessary. The show is definately worth watching and I can almost guarantee William H. Macy will recieve multiple awards for his acting in the series.
The Adjustment Bureau excelled where the commercials failed. That is, the commercials fail to mention the serious spiritual aspect of the movie and the "ride" your in for if you decide to watch it. The main question of the movie is apparent in the commercials: "Do we have Free Will or are we minions of Fate?". If you like a philosophical/spiritual journey that deals with one of the fundamental questions of our being then this movie is a must see. There are many ties to The LoO (The Law of One), which is a philosophical/spiritual series produced in the early 1980's. If you are unfamilair with The LoO then you will not notice it in the movie; however, from my understanding, the main idea of the movie is one of the central tenets of The LoO philosophy/spirituality. A fringe idea is that this movie was produced to make aware to the collective that not only are the ideas in the movie possible, they are probable. How far are you willing to go down the rabbit hole (A question asked in the movie)?
Now to the Playlist. I've found these tracks since I've been on break. A few are realtively old (2009/2010), while others are brand new (Feb./Mar. 2011). There are multiple genres within the playlist and each one seems to complement the other (or so I think...). My favorite song of the playlist is probably Civilian by Wye Oak. I hope it's worth your listening time. Enjoy!
Playlist
1. Admiral Fallow - Squealing Pigs
2. Wye Oak - Civilian
3. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks
4. Beaten By Them - Damp Sky
5. Geographer - Kites
6. Yuck - Automatic
7. Frank Ocean - Strawberry Swing (FO Remix)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sacred Sunday Battle Royale
Another Sacred Sunday. Word.
This time the Battle is between modern and retro instrumental prowess. The modern instrumentals were created in the past year (Balmorhea, Threefifty Duo), whereas the retro instrumentals (Harald Grosskopf) were created around 30 years ago. That's right, I created a Sacred Sunday Battle Royale between generations and once you hear the music I think you'll agree it was proper. Have a listen and think of the era in which it was created... IMO, whichever you prefer reveals a plethora about your personality (if you prefer neither then that may reveal more :)). Enjoy!
