TRACKS 20-29
29.
Sun of a Gun by Oh Land
Oh Land was one of those moderately hyped up-and-coming acts this year that promised a lot, delivered some and ultimately got overshadowed by artists like Adele and more recently Lana Del Rey. Her album was decent and, at the very least, offered a different taste of pop this year. Lead single
Sun of a Gun is super catchy, sonically precise and a lot more fun than the lyrics suggest.
28.
Look At Me Now by Chris Brown
This song is sexy, fresh and feels so relevant. It's probably the only song I can recall hearing where Busta Rhymes is a welcome addition, and it's easily one of my favorite hip hop songs this year. So many things went right in this song, but I guess it's titanic success is more solid evidence than my words.
27.
Out Getting Ribs by Zoo Kid
Zoo Kid was one of my favorite finds this year. A young student at the Brit school which has spawned other talents like Amy Winehouse and Adele, Archy Marshall has a very sparse but excellent discography of hard-to-find tracks. Not only have I found no way to purchase his music, but the few tracks he's released are even difficult to find online. It's quite a shame, since he has one of the most memorable voices I've heard all year, and he's a part of the do-it-at-home dubstep movement that cropped up this year. He's started performing under the name King Krule, and I'm excited about what he's going to bring forward in the next 12 months.
26.
*****s in Paris by The Throne
Arguably the most successful hip hop crossover song of the year,
*****s in Paris is the centerpiece of The Throne's first album together. On an album that signs as a masterpiece and almost arrogant display of production prowess,
*****s is about as fun as it gets in the hip hop world this year, with a crazy beat and explicit, infinitely fun lyrics.
25.
Love You Like A Love Song by Selena Gomez
2011 has been a
huge year for Selena Gomez. With the end of her successful television show, Wizards of Waverly Place coming up and a high-profile relationship with Justin Bieber, we're witnessing her transition from child star to adult pop musician. This song may be full of teeny-bop with just the slightest traces of dubstep inspiration, but that doesn't mean it's not one of the funnest songs of the year. In addition, it's by far the best song by a Disney artist since Miley Cyrus. It reminds me of
See You Again in all the best ways and makes me hope that Gomez has a Party in the U.S.A. to deliver.
24.
Never Learnt to Share by James Blake
In many ways, James Blake was the more mature, equally distinct and more prolific version of Zoo Kid this year for me. His home-made dubstep productions are sick and haunting. They're beautiful and powerful and wonderful, and this is just one gem from his debut album.
23.
Off to the Races by Lana Del Rey
Feeding the frenzy.
22.
Cruel by St. Vincent
How could they be casually cruel?
21.
Still Life by The Horrors
"English art-twit rockers doing what English art-twit rockers were born to do, which means absurdly pretentious odes to attractively messed-up girls. When England runs out of these, it may have to start shopping around for another planet."
-Rolling Stone
20.
Go Outside by Cults
Where
Abducted glows,
Go Outside shines. You know you've heard it before, but never this good.