Best Songs of 2011
1. “Boom” – Snoop Dogg featuring T-Pain [3-8-2011}. With a 70’s disco remix floating the background, Snoop lays out slick raps while T-Pain provides the dance-floor-worthy hook.
2. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster the People [1-18-2011]. Groovy lo-fi by newly-formed alt-indie quartet out of L.A. off smokin’ self-titled debut EP.
3. “Jazzmataz” – Jay Electronica (to be released) A hip-hop collage of preaching, hip hop , loose bass background and soulful female trio combine for a tribute to Guru.
4. “California Sunrise” – Dirty Gold [1-18-2011]. Easy alt-hippy-surfer rock track by emerging young band out of San Diego.
5. “Price Tag” – Jessie J [2-1-2011]. Emerging pop rocker from London is voted Winner of Critics Choice for 2011 Brits and lays out this sassy duet version with B.o.B.
6. “Moneygrabber” – Fitz and The Tantrums [1-5-2010] Brewing up a retro-soul, Motown sound by new septet discovered at South by Southwest.
7. “Rumour Has It” – Adele [2-22-2011]. Smoky, soulful vocals and catchy beats combine in this second track off Adele’s second album.
8. “Never Forget You,” – Lupe Fiasco with John Legend [3-7-2011]. Signature, super-phresh hip-hop loaded with smart & aware lyrics off latest collaborative album.
9. “That Good” – Snoop Dogg featuring Wiz Khalifa [1-18-2011]. From the upcoming “High School” movie project, this hip-hop track has an old-school Cali feeling in praise of a “sack of dank.”
10. “The Race” – Wiz Khalifa [3-8-2011]. Groovy, gritty hip-hop beats by the rising rapper out of Pittsburgh.
11. “Lights” – Ellie Goulding [3-8-2011]. British vocalist balances electro-pop and indie folk off debut album.
12. “Knock Knock” – Mac Miller [2-11-11]. “White Boy Awesome” hip-hopper out of Pittsburgh, PA, lays out first hit single loaded with retro upbeat-backbeats.
13. “Rad Pitt” – Egyptian Hip Hop [2-1-2011]. With British Invasion appeal and notable lead vocals, these boys from Manchester lay out a good alt-vibe.
14. “There’s a Limit to Your Love” – James Blake [2-7-2011]. Innovative, spacey, electronica cover of alt-original by Feist off self-titled debut album.
15. “Retrosuperfuture” – Rick Ross featuring Wiz Khalifa [to be released]. A funky, rougher-rap duet extolling the virtue of staying high off latest album by Miami MC.
16. “Sick of You” – Cake [1-11-2011]. Sayin’ is straight a la ageless alternative rock with phat rips, horns and swinging grooves by hip, SoCal stalwart.
17. “Killin’ the Vibe” – Ducktails [1-18-2011]. Laid back and upfront lyrics backed by strings and percussions by prolific side project band engineered by Matthew Mondanile of the alt-indie band, Real Estate.
18. “Hauntin’ Me” – Keep Shelly in Athens [1-21-2011]. Grecian duo lays out experimental and atmospheric electro-pop lounge-sound track.
19. “Back Seat” – New Boyz feat. The Cataracts [2-15-2011]. Pop synth dance track by druo who met before high school in L.A. that looks to get it on in the back seat with The Cataracts adding a sensual refrain.
20. “Credit Card Babie$” – MEN [1-28-2011]. Part of the bath-house micro-genre, this slighty-spazzy electro-pop track uses wash-your-mouth-out lyrics to play on contemporary sex and begetting.
21. “Far Away” – Marsha Ambrosius [3-1-2011]. Singer, songwriter and producer previously found success with R&B act Floetry, ventures out on her own with this new single from her debut album.
22. “Sick, Sick, Sick” - Bayside (2-22-2011). Fiesty alt-rocker by moody, guitar-driven emo band out of Long Island.
23. “Buss It Wide Open” – Lil Kee (single) [2-15-2011]. Unedited, naughty hip-hop by emerging rapper born in Providence and raised in Tampa.
24. “Chains” – Kenna [3-8-2011]. Electronica alternative track by Ehtiopian-born, innovative R&B collaborator.
25. “What the Hell” – Avril Lavigne [3-4-2011]. Shameless, gum-smacking girl-pop grounded in retro dance beats.
26. “The Ballad of Mona Lisa” – Panic! At the Disco [2-1-2011]. Stadium-ready fist-pumper by suburban Las Vegas teens cum national emo pop stars.
27. “Kaputt” – Destroyer [1-25-2011]. Dan Bejar has contributed to The New Pornographers over the years, but Destroyer is his solo project out of Vancouver, B.C., and this track is smooth-flowing indie rock.
28. “Neu Chicago” – Clive Tanaka Y Su Orquesta [1-11-11]. An upbeat, genre-bending track by Japanese musical artist that sounds like steel drums underwater with a happy chorus singing a positive refrain.
29. “Go Outside” – Cults [2-22-2011]. A brief, retro number with youthful choral vocals combine to establish new twee-pop single by emerging alt-band.
30. “Of Monsters and Men” – Little Talks [2-22-2011]. Emerging band out of Iceland lays out upbeat, self-released track complete with eager vocals and horns.
31. “Without You” – Rainbow Arabia [2-28-2011]. Mixing tribal beats, electro sounds and Middle Eastern instrumentation, this husband-wife duo emerges from the L.A. dance-punk scene.
32. “Civilian” – Wye Oak [3-8-2011]. Pretty female vocals layered over a rock backdrop in lead single by Baltimore-based indie rock duo.
33. “Marathon” – Tennis [1-11-11]. Pixie voice and retro background combine for delightful and light track by indie pop (who are married!) out of Denver.
34. “Truth” -- Alexander [3-1-2011]. Mellow, textured indie track off debut album by Alexander Ebert of Edward Sharpe fame.
35. “Shot Yourself in the Foot” – Skream & Example [1-5-2011]. A British Duo who met at a rave on a beach in Miami lays out manageable dubstep.
36. “Still Sound” – Toro y Moi [1-25-2011]. Chill indie-electronic grooves from Columbia, South Carolina.
37. “Safari Disco Club” – Yelle [1-5-2011]. Snappy club electronica lead track from forthcoming same-titled CD by bright, colorful French pop singer.
