As great as 2011 was for Other Lives, 2012 appears to be even better. When Radiohead announced their tour of America late this year, they also announced Other Lives would be opening for them. And for good reason. All you need to do is listen to "As I Lay My Head Down" off their album Tamer Animals for proof. Their delicate mixture of electronics and violins, hand drums, and piano creates a beautiful vibe.
54 Milagres "Glowing Mouth"
One of the best kept secrets in American music is Milagres, who sneakily released one of the better debut albums of the year. "Glowing Mouth" is the magnum opus off the debut LP (named after the song), a 6+ minute synth pop explosion. Of course, horrible lyrics or vocals can ruin any great instrumental, but thankfully that is not the case here. In fact, Milagres' Kyle Wilson delivers one of the best vocal performances of 2011, and his use of falsetto is certainly not overdone. His lyrics are beautiful, too: the best moment being when he sings "do you know what the darkness said to me? / She said 'son you better get used to believing in things that you can't see."
53 Drake featuring Stevie Wonder "Doing It Wrong"
There comes a point on Drake's sophomore album Take Care when you realize he's looking to be more than just the next rapper alive: he has more on his plate, and listening to "Doing It Wrong" proves that to be true. The mournful ballad has Drake ruminating over a not-to-be lover, and him trying to do the right thing by letting her go. Stevie Wonder isn't hear to sing, either: his harmonica solo in the last half of the song is one of the more beautiful moments on the album.
52 Wild Beasts "Plaything"
"Plaything" is the second entry from Wild Beasts on this countdown, and it most certainly earns its place as the best song off their album Smother. In the song, their lead vocalist is trying to keep his girl, his plaything, yet his best line in trying to get her to stay is, "I know i'm no kind of heartthrob / but at the same time, I'm no kind of slob". Much like songs by The Police and Death Cab For Cutie before them, "Plaything" appears to be a romantic song yet under the surface it is way more sinister.
51 A$AP Rocky featuring Schoolboy Q "Brand New Guy"
If you haven't heard A$AP Rocky yet, you might as well jump on the train now because this guy is going to be huge. His debut mixtape Live.Love.A$AP was released late this year to universal critical acclaim. Rocky and Schoolboy Q trade verses at a rapid fire pace. The two have extremely great flows and the sizzurp-laced beat is perfect for them to spit fire over.
100 The Strokes "Machu PIccu"
99 Ganglians "Things To Know"
98 Dreamers Of The Ghetto "Connection"
97 Active Child "Hanging On"
96 Real Estate "Out Of Tune"
95 Matthew Herbert "December"
94 Frank Ocean "Novacane"
93 Unknown Mortal Orchestra "FFunny FFriends"
92 Butcher Boy "Imperial"
91 The Kills "Future Starts Slow"
90 Cults "Rave On"
89 Release The Sunbird "No Light"
88 Penguin Prison "Don't **** With My Money"
87 Forest Fire "They Pray Execution Style"
86 Waters "San Francisco"
85 Little Dragon "Ritual Union"
84 Future Islands "Balance"
83 Radiohead "Bloom"
82 Jay-Z & Kanye West "Gotta Have It"
81 Blood Orange "Sutphin Boulevard"
80 Lady GaGa "Born This Way"
79 Adele "Set Fire To The Rain"
78 Mara Carlyle "Weird Girl"
77 Nerves Junior "Swimmer's Ear"
76 The Black Keys "Little Black Submarine"
75 Atlas Sound "Flagstaff"
74 Wild Beasts "Bed Of Nails"
73 Cant "The Edge"
72 Neon Indian "Future Sick"
71 Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi featuring Norah Jones "Problem Queen"
70 M83 "Wait"
69 The Weeknd "Life Of The Party"
68 I Break Horses "Pulse"
67 High Places "Sonora"
66 Britney Spears "Till The World Ends"
65 Beyoncé featuring André 3000 "Party"
64 New Look "The Ballad"
63 Class Actress "Weekend"
62 Florence + The Machine "Shake It Out"
61 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Tigers"
60 King Creosote & Jon Hopkins "John Taylor's Month Away"
59 St. Vincent "Surgeon"
58 Kreayshawn "Gucci Gucci"
57 Foster The People "Helena Beat"
56 The Roots featuring Big K.R.I.T. & Dice Raw "Make My"
55 Other Lives "As I Lay My Head Down"
54 Milagres "Glowing Mouth"
53 Drake featuring Stevie Wonder "Doing It Wrong"
52 Wild Beasts "Plaything"
51 A$AP Rocky featuring Schoolboy Q "Brand New Guy"
-----------
I will start counting down the Top 50 Songs (and Top 50 Albums) of the year later today!
This is electronica music at its finest. Sepalcure creates a dance anthem, full of groovy beats and some infectious distorted vocals.
49 Widowspeak "Gun Shy"
This breezy indie jam is one of the best of year. Star in the making Molly Hamilton leads the way with her charming vocals and lyrics.
48 Rihanna "Where Have You Been"
Everyone likes to talk about "We Found Love" being one of the best songs of Rihanna's discography, but to say that would be to overlook to true crowning achievement from Talk That Talk, "Where Have You Been." Rihanna sings about looking for love in the club, and the production by Dr. Luke and Calvin Harris is one of the best productions for a pop song in 2011. Expect to be dancing to this all 2012.
47 Lykke Li "I Follow Rivers"
Lykke Li's 2011 sophomore album put her on the map, and it was because of songs like the single "I Follow Rivers" that Lykke Li became a more household name. The Swedish star exuded confidence and sexuality on the track, making it one of the more accomplished pop songs this year.
46 Okkervil River "We Need A Myth"
Will Sheff has been making amazing music as Okkervil River for quite some time now. Their latest release is Sheff's most fully realized release thus far, and "We Need A Myth" is the album highlight. As always, Sheff delivers amazing lyrics, but its his honesty and emotionally charged vocals that differentiate this track from the rest of the pack.
45 My Brightest Diamond "Be Brave"
Shara Worden aka My Brightest Diamond, has worked with a lot of prominent musicians in her time, including contributing vocals to Sufjan Steven's 2010 album The Age of Adz (on the track "Impossible Soul"). Her 2011 album put her in the spotlight by herself, and she shines, most brightly on "Be Brave". It's theatrical, intense, and Worden's beautiful vocal performance pulls the entire song together.
44 Drake "Marvins Room"
Marvins Room plays a bit like "Suicidal Thoughts" off of Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready To Die. The song starts with a phone call, but instead of a member of Drake's entourage, it's a girl he's very hung up on. The song is full of those emotions one feels when they are alone in their early twenties; fear, isolation, anger, regret. It's one of the most personal cuts from the album, thus making it one of its best.
43 Real Estate "All The Same"
This song was made for days on the beach in California. Real Estate gets the closest they ever will to Rooney, and they do a much better job. The summertime jam features an infectious guitar line we've all come to expect from Real Estate, and the 7+ minute runtime of the track doesn't feel too long at all.
42 The Antlers "No Widows"
A beautiful ballad that recalls the mellowest moments of Muse and Radiohead, "No Widows" features subtle electronics to go along with some great guitar work and beautiful vocals/lyrics by Peter Silberman, with the best line being when he sings "there's no perfect love above / there's no punishment below".
41 The Horrors "I Can See Through You"
The Horrors are on their way to something huge. The UK-based band delivered one of the years best albums and also on the best songs in "I Can See Through You". Imagine for a second that the 80s tune "Don't You Forget About Me" had 10x as much urgency and you have the 41st best song of 2011.