TOP SONGS OF 2011
[20-11]




20. LOTUS FLOWER BOMB by Wale ft. Miguel

Might just seem like another average R&B track, but LFB is genius. The production, the verses, Miguel's chorus. It's a classic RAP/R&B song. Reminds me of a Fabolous song, or another of those great RAP/R&B songs from the late 90's/early 00's.

19. UNREQUITED LOVE by Lykke Li

I love most songs on WOUNDED RHYMES, but I chose this one because of one reason, Lykke's voice. There is something about her voice in this song that sounds so raw and honest. I believe the words she's saying.

18. BONFIRE by Childish Gambino

The production is insane, and Gambino tells up why he's someone to lookout for, with his slick rhymes and idontgivea**** attitude.

17. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN by Cults

Beautiful song. The lyrics are amazing and touching. It's a great departure from everything else that has been released this year.

16. RADIOACTIVE by Marina and The Diamonds

IMO, the best POP/HOUSE song released all year. I never expected to hear Marina's voice over that type of production, but it just worked so effortlessly.

15. LOTUS FLOWER by Radiohead

Radiohead's funnest song, with a deep meaning.

14. 1+1 by Beyoncé

This one reminds me of a Prince ballad. It's just so classic and beautiful. It's flawless. I don't understand how anyone could say one bad thing about the song.

13. THE WILHELM SCREAM by James Blake

When I first heard James Blake's album, I didn't like it, but I heard WILHELM SCREAM again at a friends house and fell in love with it. It has some R&B undertones, and James voice is very soulful.

12. THE JOY by Jay-Z & Kanye West

I'll be playing this in my car until I die. It's the perfect "high ride" song. Also, the lyrics and the production are superb. It's one of the best on WATCH THE THRONE.

11. THE A-TEAM by Ed Sheeran

A flawless pop song. The lyrics are karaoke magic, and I'm just waiting for GLEE to cover it soon.

TOP 10-2 COMING DECEMBER 27th!

Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan Cults, Marina, Jay-Z- Kanye West & Radiohead good list

TOP ALBUMS OF 2011
[20-11]




20. AMBITION by Wale

The best solo hip-hop album of the year. Extremely underrated. While everyone is paying attention to the Wiz and Wayne's of the hip-hop community, Wale has released a great album, with high-quality production, and little corny one-liners, unlike some of his peers.



19. FEMME FATALE by Britney Spears

Although Britney has little to do with why I like this album, I still have to put her name on here since she's the artist. I'm not sure if she had much to do with the deciding of the sound of this album, but if she did, I must give her props. Femme Fatale has what Born This Way lacks; it is experimental without being desperate. Behind the big hits and catchy choruses, Femme Fatale has much more to it then most people have noticed. Most of the songs experiment with Dubstep and do some interesting things that you wouldn't expect from a Britney song. Songs like Hold It Against Me, Trouble For Me, and How I Roll, show that this isn't just a typical pop album. While the lyrical content of some of the songs maybe be lacking, and Britney's voice lacks even more, there is no doubt that Femme Fatale is Britney's best album Production wise.


18. CULTS by Cults

A breath of fresh air. While the songs may not be too original, it's nice to hear music that is simple, but still emotional and soothing.

17. Mirrorwriting by Jamie Woon

His acoustic version of Gravity blew me away completely. The production on this album isn't superb, whch is understandable, coming from a guy who is barely known anywhere. But I had to put him on here, because Jamie has an amazing voice, is a great songwriter, and deserves to be heard. With better production, and better marketing, Mirrorwriting could have been a big hit, In my opinion.

16. CAMP by Childish Gambino

I always expect Gambino to dissapoint me, but I always end up being the fool. CAMP is ten times better than his older stuff and features some amazing production. While WATCH THE THRONE is untouchable production-wise, CAMP comes very close to the fire.

15. AS BRIGHT AS YOUR NIGHT LIGHT by Nerves Junior

The album is perfectly structured from beginning to end. Listening to ABAYNL is like looking into the future... or maybe we are already there.

14. TOMBOY by Panda Bear

Many have praised Bon Iver's latest LP, but there is just something about it that bores me. It seems like he is so stuck on having a distinct sound, that it limits him and his music. TOMBOY is an album that is comparable to BON IVER, but actually has some variety and experimentation to it. TOMBOY takes you on a high ride, without you needing to partake in any illegal drug-use.

13. CEREMONIALS by Florence + The Machine

I expected a bit more from this band, being a huge fan of LUNGS. Here, it seems that the band has played it safe, and I don't see much growth. Still, the album is a masterpiece and comes very close to being as good as LUNGS. There are some amazing ballads on here, and Florence's voice is exquisite.

12. + by Ed Sheeran

Bruno Mars who? Ed Sheeran has released a solid acoustic-pop album, with some certain hits. Although America is late like always, + has already made an impact overseas, so hopefully Ed crosses over soon.

11. SPACE IS ONLY NOISE by Nicolas Jaar

You know an album is good when you just can't explain it. All I can say is that if you haven't listened to this album, you have been missing out. Listen with headphones on and you'll be taken to another world.

TOP 10-2 COMING DECEMBER 28th!

TOP SONGS OF 2011
[10-2]




10. SKINNY LOVE by Birdy

The best cover of the year, and one of the best songs. Birdy shows much more emotion than Bon Iver, and brings a life to the song that wasn't there before. Can't give credit to Birdy for writing the song, but she damn sure expressed them 10 times better than Bon Iver.



9. NOVACANE by Frank Ocean

Although not the best song on Nostalgia, Ultra, "Novacane" is on here because it's memorable. This will be remembered 10 years from now as one of the best hip-hop/R&B songs of this time.


8. YOU & I by Lady GaGa

Born This Way, as a whole, is a complete mess to me. It had potential, but GaGa's ego and desperation to create a crazy image, ruined it. Still, there are few stand-out tracks on the album, one of them being "You & I". The song sounds like something Freddie Mercury would be singing if he was still alive. Something about the song feels so honest and free. It's one of the few GaGa song where I feel like she just had fun, let go of her "image", and made a great track.

7. NEVER LET ME GO by Florence + The Machine

My favorite song on CEREMONIALS. It reminds me of a new age Bonnie Tyler, today's perfect example of a power ballad. Florence sounds heavenly on this one.

6. BLOODY MARYby Lady GaGa

Although I'm not a fan of the album, I can't deny the few great tracks that came from it. Bloody Mary is what the rest of Born This Way tries to be, but fails at. The song has a great message, is emotional, but is still very catchy.

5. CODEXby Radiohead

Just one word to describe this song... Beautiful.

4. SOMEONE LIKE YOU by Adele

You can call Adele boring all you want, but Someone Like You is hands down, the best pop ballad since the 90's. The lyrics are original, and totally Adele. It's her signature ballad, and will be remembered, and inspire many for decades and decades to come.

3. BLUE JEANS by Lana Del Rey

This year we were introduced to an artist that will possibly cause a major stir in 2012. There is no one like her out right now, and her ability to takeover is very high. Blue Jeans is her best vocal performance. I love the honesty in her voice, and the emotion in the chorus.

2. N**GAS IN PARIS by Jay-Z and Kanye West

The best production on any song released this year, hands down. Once the song comes on, everyone is up an jamming, no matter who you are. A Jay-Z and Kanye West classic.


MY #1 SONG OF 2011 COMING DECEMBER 30th!

TOP ALBUMS OF 2011
[10-2]




10. CONATUS by Zola Jesus

Words can't express the chills that I feel the second I hear Zola Jesus' voice. I feel like I'm listening to an angel. I love Conatus because it's honest and raw. Conatus is what Ceremonials would sound like if it was a bit less commercial and more experimental. Music listen track: "In Your Nature" - She goes off on that one.



9. WOUNDED RHYMES by Lykke Li

A truly emotional album with slick lyrical content and simple production. Unlike a lot of artists that have released albums with this similar sound, I think Lykke's has the most variety and edge.


8. W H O K I L L by Tune-Yards

Not many bands come out as strong as Tune-Yards did this year. This is album is an i-dont-give-a-****, fun, brilliant ride.

7. Birdy by Birdy

I never expected to put an album full of covers on a top of the year list, but Birdy deserves it. Not only did she choose some amazing songs to cover, but she covered each of them flawlessly. She added her own sound to all of them. It isn't often where you listen to a cover, and don't even think of the original artist. Birdy made all of these songs her own, in every way. When she releases her own music, and her voice is more developed (did I mention she is just 15), she will be a force to be reckoned with.

6. James Blake by James Blake

A soulful dubstep influenced album? How in the world would that work? Well James Blake makes it work in this album. The most original album of the year, hands down. It's hard to get into his music, because it's so different and unique, but once you understand the concept, you'll be in love forever. If you haven't listened to his album, I suggest you start with "The Wilhelm Scream", a perfect mix of soul and dubstep/electronic.

5. THE KING OF LIMBS by Radiohead

I'm not a fan of the last few albums Radiohead have released, but KOL shocked me in a great way. Some amazing gems on this one. "Codex" is comes very close to being my favorite Radiohead song. I think this album is extremely underrated.

4. 21 by Adele

The album that's success shocked the world. Little promotion, one huge single, and limited televised appearances. The success of this album is mostly because of the music, not the visuals, or the promotion, and that is what makes 21 one of the best albums of all time. Lady GaGa's "The Fame", may have gone diamond, but look at all she had to do to pull it off, all the stunts she had to pull to get people's attention. "21" isn't the best pop album ever, but it's honest, and Adele is undoubtedly one of the best voices of our generation. She let the music speak for itself, and it did.

3. NOSTALGIA, ULTRA by Frank Ocean

This mixtape changed my life. I used to be a huge fan of R&B music, but I got tired of the useless, generic, R&B crap played on urban radio the last few years. I started getting into different types of music, like alternative and new wave. With the release of NU, my love for R&B came back. This mixtape is a complete breath of fresh air. Simple, open, and experimental. No house influence. No selling-out. Nostalgia, Ultra is the start of the future of true R&B, and I wish I could give the mixtape it's own genre, because it's unlike anything else our there.

2. WATCH THE THRONE by Jay-Z and Kanye West

Keep watching the throne, because no one else will be on it anytime soon, but Jay and Kanye. Watch The Throne confirmed why Jay and Kanye are the rulers of the hip-hop game. The album has little flaws, and it a cult classic. This is one of those albums that I'll be blasting in the living room, singing aloud, while cleaning 20 years from now, and my kids will be rolling their eyes in embarrassment.


MY #1 ALBUM OF 2011 COMING DECEMBER 30th!