Welcome to the annual edition of the big reveal, my lists of my favorite songs and albums of the year that is about to finish. Here is the schedule of said events:
TODAY: RUSTY NAMES HIS TOP 30 SONGS OF THE YEAR, 2011 EDITION *complete with Spotify playlist*
TOMORROW: RUSTY NAMES HIS TOP 50 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR, 2011 EDITION
So, without further ado, click away already!
With all this talk of comparisons to Bruce Hornsby and Talk Talk, Bon Iver’s second album is full of nods to the past one wouldn’t expect to hear on one of the greatest albums of 2011. But one comparison missing, at least in my opinion, is that of the great James Taylor, or maybe AM Gold staple Bread on “Holocene”, the finest song heard this year. That fine picking on those nylon strings that begin the song, resonating alongside Justin Vernon’s non-Taylor-esque voice I know, just take me back to growing up with a father who always had cassettes of sweet baby James laying around for all to hear. But then, as the woodwinds and everything else ease their way in to the song, the listener is taken off to another world, who knows what world. Apparently a world where this song is not only of the most treasured songs of the year, but also, a Grammy-nominated Song Of The Year (more on that in 2012.) With this song, Vernon steps out of the cabin in the woods, and steps on a bigger stage, singing of faith, singing of holidays, singing about who knows what really. The point is, it’s such a memorable song, at least for me, because it ties me to so many of the best memories of my life from the present and the past. And because the man who once pleaded in “Skinny Love” up in his cabin has shown the world he is capable of so much more and will probably only do more of the same as time goes on.
In lieu of a link to download a zip file or 30 links to 30 MP3’s, I’m joining the Spotify bandwagon this year. I encourage you to check out all these songs if you haven’t already via this handy playlist right here. Even more convenient, since The Black Keys went all anti-streaming, I’ve added what would be song #31 to the Spotify list so you actually have 30 songs to listen to! Exciting times for you, I know!
THE 11TH ANNUAL “TOP 30 SONGS OF THE YEAR” 2011 EDITION
01. “Holocene” / Bon Iver / from Bon Iver, Bon Iver
02. “How Deep Is Your Love?” / The Rapture / from In The Grace Of Your Love
03. “Lament For Morning” / Raleigh Moncrief / from Watered Lawn
04. “A Chore” / Tom Vek / from Leisure Seizure
05. “New Brigade” / Iceage / from New Brigade
06. “Niggas In Paris” / Jay-Z & Kanye West / from Watch The Throne
07. “Woods” / The Rosebuds / from Loud Planes Fly Low
08. “Spacetime” / Gardens & Villa / from Gardens & Villa
09. “It’s Real” / Real Estate / from Days
10. “My Mistakes” / Eleanor Friedberger / from Last Summer
11. “More Than Muscle” / Luke Temple / from Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care
12. “Kaputt” / Destroyer / from Kaputt
13. “Racehorse” / Wild Flag / from Wild Flag
14. “Come To The City” / The War On Drugs / from Slave Ambient
15. “Fuck Her Tears” / Times New Viking / from Dancer Equired
16. “Nova Baby” / The Black Keys / from El Camino
17. “Scandinavian Crush” / Craft Spells / from Idle Labor
18. “Still Life” / The Horrors / from Skying
19. “Balance” / Future Islands / from On The Water
20. “Cruel” / St. Vincent / from Strange Mercy
21. “Lotus Flower” / Radiohead / from The King Of Limbs
22. “I Might” / Wilco / from The Whole Love
23. “Still Sound” / Toro Y Moi / from Underneath The Pine
24. “Do What You Will” / Papercuts / from The Fading Parade
25. “Easy Water” / Caveman / from Coco Beware
26. “Polish Girl” / Neon Indian / from Era Extrana
27. “Parentheses” / The Antlers / from Burst Apart
28. “Plainclothes” / Cymbals Eat Guitars / from Lenses Alien
29. “Head For The Country” / John Maus / from We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves
30. “Spitting Blood” / Wu Lyf / from Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
