Gary's Top 100 of the 2010s

The most striking music video of the decade.
Will it claim the top spot on the Top 100?

So...it has come to this.

It has been a long six years since one of us hit "Publish" on this Little Blog That Could, but I am here to revive it from the brink, for at least one more post.

As the 2010s (The Tens? Teens? Ugh.) unceremoniously come to its expected Gregorian conclusion, it is apropos to close out the decade with a post on our very blog that was, ahem, thriving at the decade's beginning.

Ten years is an eternity in Music Years, particularly with how music is consumed. The decade started with an iPod like a pirate ship, and concludes with the entirety of music a mere tap away on our smartphones. In the same vein, the music landscape has gone through its share of changes, peaks, valleys, etc., during these past ten years. Ten years ago, EDM was a nascent, niche subgenre, Taylor Swift had yet to become a worldwide crossover pop star, and Kanye West was still making classic, genre-defining music.

At the end of every year, like clockwork, I lament how I missed on so much great music, and that I will compensate the following year. Not sure that has ever happened, but it is a fun little game I continue to play. Regardless, I have tried my damnedest to keep abreast of the pop music landscape this past decade. 

After an unnecessary amount of deliberation, I present my favorite 100 songs of the decade. This exercise was not taken lightly: Many excellent songs were cut, and others just seem too low. Again, ten years is an eternity, and it is impossible to distill it into 100 songs...but, fuck it, let's do this.

Listen along here:

100. Katy Perry - "Firework" (2010)
99. Big Boi (featuring Cutty) - "Shutterbugg" (2010)
98. The Limousines - "Very Busy People" (2010)
97. Future - "Mask Off" (2017)
96. CHVRCHES (featuring Matt Berninger) - "My Enemy" (2018)
95. Foster The People - "Pumped Up Kicks" (2010)
94. A$AP Rocky (featuring Skrillex & Birdy Nam Nam) - "Wild For The Night" (2013)
93. Beyoncé - "Countdown" (2011)
92. Stray From The Path - "Goodnight Alt-Right" (2017)
91. Foals - "What Went Down" (2015)

90. Phantogram - "Black Out Days" (2012)
89. M.I.A. - "Born Free" (2010)
88. The Avalanches (featuring Danny Brown & MF Doom) - "Frankie Sinatra" (2016)
87. The Carters - "APESHIT" (2018)
86. Disclosure (featuring The Weeknd) - "Nocturnal" (2015)
85. The xx - "On Hold" (2016)
84. Travis Scott (featuring Drake) - "SICKO MODE" (2018)
83. The 1975 - "Somebody Else" (2016)
82. Neon Indian - "Slumlord" (2015)
81. Grizzly Bear - "Yet Again" (2012)

80. Chance The Rapper (featuring 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne) - "No Problem" (2016)
79. Calvin Harris (featuring Frank Ocean & Migos) - "Slide" (2017)
78. Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass" (2011)
77. Sleigh Bells - "Rill Rill" (2010)
76. Ariana Grande - "Into You" (2016)
75. The Weeknd - "Secrets" (2016)
74. Migos (featuring Lil Uzi Vert) - "Bad and Boujee" (2017)
73. Gorillaz (featuring Peven Everett) - "Strobelite" (2017)
72. Tyler, The Creator - "Yonkers" (2011)
71. Danny Brown (featuring Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul & Earl Sweatshirt) - "Really Doe" (2016)

70. Diplo (featuring Sleepy Tom) - "Be Right There" (2016)
69. Drake (featuring Majid Jordan) - "Hold On, We're Going Home" (2013)
68. Taylor Swift - "Blank Space" (2014)
67. Radiohead - "Lotus Flower" (2011)
66. Future Islands - "Seasons (Waiting On You)" (2014)
65. LCD Soundsystem - "how do you sleep?" (2017)
64. Beyoncé - "Partition" (2014)
63. Cardi B - "Bodak Yellow" (2017)
62. SOPHIE - "BIPP" (2013)
61. Arctic Monkeys - "Do I Wanna Know?" (2013)

60. Beach House - "Lemon Glow" (2018)
59. Blood Orange - "You're Not Good Enough" (2013)
58. FKA twigs - "Cellophane" (2019)
57. DJ Khaled (featuring Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne) - "I'm On One" (2011)
56. Kendrick Lamar - "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (2012)
55. The Weeknd (featuring Drake) - "The Zone" (2011)
54. Burial - "Street Halo" (2011)
53. King Krule - "Dum Surfer" (2017)
52. Bat For Lashes - "Laura" (2012)
51. Jaime xx - "Gosh" (2015)

50. Sleigh Bells - "Rainmaker" (2017)
49. Bobby Shmurda - "Hot N***a" (2014)
48. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Round And Round" (2010)
47. Kanye West - "Blood On The Leaves" (2013)
46. Lorde - "Royals" (2013)
45. Lil Uzi Vert - "XO Tour Llif3" (2017)
44. Every Time I Die - "Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space" (2012)
43. Billie Eilish - "bad guy" (2019)
42. Arcade Fire - "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" (2010)
41. Foals - "Spanish Sahara" (2010)

40. Run The Jewels (featuring Zack De La Rocha) - "Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)" (2014)
39. Daft Punk (featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers) - "Get Lucky" (2013)
38. Frank Ocean - "Thinkin Bout You" (2012)
37. Caribou - "Can't Do Without You" (2014)
36. Robyn - "Dancing On My Own" (2010)
35. Drake - "Nice For What" (2018)
34. Bon Iver - "Hey, Ma" (2019)
33. Oneohtrix Point Never - "Replica" (2011)
32. Vampire Weekend - "Step" (2013)
31. Diplo (featuring Nicky Da B) - "Express Yourself" (2012)

30. Four Tet - "Love Cry"
29. The Weeknd - "House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls" (2011)
28. Every Time I Die - "Map Change" (2016)
27. Tame Impala - "Let It Happen" (2015)
26. Deerhunter - "Helicopter" (2010)
25. Radiohead - "True Love Waits" (2016)
24. JAY-Z & Kanye West - "N***as In Paris" (2011)
23. Jaime xx (featuring Young Thug & Popcaan) - "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" (2015)
22. Jack Ü (Skrillex & Diplo) with Justin Bieber - "Where Are Ü Now" (2015)
21. Bon Iver - "Holocene" (2011)

20. Rihanna & Calvin Harris - "We Found Love" (2011)
19. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Prancer" (2013)
18. Disclosure (featuring Sam Smith) - "Latch" (2013)
17. Jaime xx (featuring Romy) - "Loud Places" (2015)
16. Kanye West (featuring JAY-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver) - "Monster" (2010)
15. Grimes - "Realiti" (2015)
14. Kendrick Lamar - "DNA." (2017)
13. Ariana Grande - "no tears left to cry" (2018)
12. Childish Gambino - "This Is America" (2018) - (Narrator: It did not claim the top spot.)
11. Lorde - "Green Light" (2017)

10. FKA twigs - "Two Weeks" (2014) - There are sexual songs, and then there is "Two Weeks". The entire song exudes sexual confidence, both lyrically and musically. As FKA twigs breathlessly seduces and promises her soon-to-be lover "give me two weeks, you won't recognize her", the rhythm pulsates and builds to its climactic chorus, taking the listener along for the passionate ride. With her vocal range and dynamic, genre-defying sound, FKA twigs has established herself as one of the most exciting acts today, and "Two Weeks" helped rightfully launch her into the public's consciousness.

09. Grimes - "Oblivion" (2012) - A bubbly piece of indie pop at first listen, Claire Boucher creates a chilling disconnect between sound and meaning on "Oblivion". Boucher describes an incident when she was violently assaulted, in an eerie sing-song voice. The unsettling sense of threat permeates the song, with the taunting "la la la la la"s and repetition of "See you on a dark night" as a constant reminder. The music video adds another layer, as it depicts the sharp contrast between a solo Boucher singing and dancing while surrounded by overt masculinity. The visuals are stark, as she appears to be tackling the root of her fears head-on. While the reminders are (and always will be) there, Boucher uses "Oblivion" as a therapeutic outlet, all the while creating a pop masterpiece.

08. Todd Terje - "Inspector Norse" (2012) - The epitome of "earworm", "Inspector Norse" is an impressive example of infectiousness. During the six-and-a-half minute futuristic disco journey, Todd Terje throws every trick at the listener, daring him or her to dance along for its entirety without pause. The synths and buildup are captivating, all the while maintaining the sonic equivalent of a smirk. The payoff is mesmerizing and dazzling, beautifully subtle in comparison to many EDM "drops". 

The end result is an impossibly catchy trip, without a wasted moment. Music serves many roles, and "Inspector Norse" is a masterclass in irresistible. 

07. LCD Soundsystem - "Dance Yrself Clean" (2010) - James Murphy has always seemed hyperaware of time passing one by and getting older, while simultaneously having the ability to twist that feeling into something bigger and "in the moment". The opening track to LCD's (at the time) final album plays on this sense of self-awareness and urgency, setting up a nine-minute, two-part dance party to end all dance parties. The three minute buildup is slow, calculated, and barely audible, making the arrival of the energetic, synth-heavy second half that much sweeter. While Murphy knows it is "the end of an era, it's true", he does everything he can to keep the party going just a little bit longer (like holding a note for fifteen-seconds-going-on-an-eternity). "Dance Yrself Clean" is the grizzled, gray-haired counterpart to "Shake It Off": Despite its impending despair, Murphy convinces the listener that all of one's current preoccupations can be forgotten by dancing oneself clean. 

06. The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Limerent Death" (2016) - The Dillinger Escape Plan have become the gold standard for combining raw aggression and...math. Their atypical song constructions and precision set them apart from their peers, spearheading the subgenre of mathcore for nearly twenty years. Their final act before disbanding, Dissociation, revealed a band that was firing on all cylinders, still well in their prime with a lot more to give. Their albums' opening tracks have long been home to some of their best songs, all unrelenting introductions to the album that follows. With apologies to "Prancer", Dillinger saved their best opener for last in "Limerent Death". The song is an unbelievable showcase for Greg Puciato's impressive vocal range, as he pours his soul into every note. He comes off as an utter madman, who continues his descent into insanity by the song's end, as his words become less and less comprehensible. As always, the technical aspects of the song are impressive, striking all of the right primal chords, leaving the listener both in awe and sympathetic overdrive.

05. Carly Rae Jepsen - "Run Away With Me" (2015) - Never underestimate the power of a sweet saxophone riff. (Seriously, look at this Top 5.) Jepsen's soaring vocals pair with the evocative backing to create the best pure pop song of the decade. As with most great pop songs, the premise is simple enough: Overwhelming infatuation to the point of escape. The relative calm of the verses sets up the beautiful whirlwind of a chorus, where Jepsen convincingly pleads to "take me to the feeling". Fittingly from the album Emotion, "Run Away With Me" is a perfect encapsulation of glee and yearning, a timeless classic in the pantheon of pop.

04. Kanye West (featuring Pusha T) - "Runaway" (2010) - The highlight of a nearly flawless album filled with them, "Runaway" saw Kanye exploring a new emotion: Self-awareness. In typical 'Ye fashion, he fully admits to full-on douchebaggery and other nicknames of that ilk. He stops short of repentance, instead admitting that he cannot change who he is, and encouraging others to run away if his behavior is too much. Despite the self-deprecating, self-realizing lyrics, the three-minute vocoder outro provides the closest thing to catharsis for Kanye. While his voice is masked and manipulated, he still comes off as raw and vulnerable, as the haunting piano plinks and orchestral swoons surround him. The decade has been a veritable rollercoaster for West, but MBDTF and "Runaway" were unquestionably his best work.

03. Kendrick Lamar - "Alright" (2015) - Police brutality and the continued oppression of black Americans unfortunately permeated throughout the decade. The Black Lives Matter movement helped bring these atrocities to the public consciousness, and "Alright" fast became an anthem of resilience, a rallying cry of sorts. Despite all the pain, all the suffering, Kendrick assures "We gon' be alright", providing a beacon of hope in these troubling times. The song is driven by a Pharrell-produced jazz beat and Terrace Martin on saxophone, elevating the feeling of cautious optimism. No artist had as consistently an excellent decade as K. Dot, but To Pimp a Butterfly was his greatest, most thought-provoking work, and "Alright" was its centerpiece.

02. The 1975 - "Love It If We Made It" (2018) - A "We Didn't Start The Fire" for the 2010s, The 1975 create an anthem of the decade by exploring and namedropping many of its headlines and atrocities. As lead singer Matt Healy reels off topics such as the opioid epidemic, the disproportionate incarceration of black Americans, the Syrian refugee crisis, the perpetuation of misinformation, and Trump himself, it is easy to feel that "modernity has failed us". Despite all of this, Healy remains optimistic about the resiliency of the human spirit, hopeful that we can make it through together. Despite the inherent ennui of the times, Healy's best vocal performance to date, surrounded by swirling saxophones, is convincing evidence that we might make it after all.

01. M83 - "Midnight City" (2011) - With one song, M83 were elevated from indie darlings to household name. For good reason: "Midnight City" is a work of art, and their magnum opus in a library littered with magical moments. Heavily steeped in and inspired by the '80s, Anthony Gonzalez pays homage to the decade, while toeing the line between sincere and cheesy. The song is gripping from the get-go, immersing the listener into a synthesized dreamscape of nostalgia. As the title implies, "Midnight City" is an ode to the allure of the city, with its endless possibilities and wonder. It is even therapeutic: "The city is my church", cries Gonzalez, "it wraps me in its blinding twilight", as the synths wrap the listener. The song ends in dramatic fashion, played off with a sultry saxophone that would make "Careless Whisper" blush. The decade has come and gone, but "Midnight City" is the rare example of an evocative, powerful classic that has the ingredients to endure the test of time.

That's all she (I) wrote. I had to pay my respects to the Top 10, but the entire damn list is deserving of a blurb...I just do not have the time or the energy.
We continue this regular scheduled hiatus, already in progress. See y'all in 2029.

Gary's Top 20 Albums of 2011

After 365 days of anticipation, my fifth-annual Albums of the Year list is finally complete.  It is hard to briefly summarize the list, but overall it seems that strangeness and extra effort were handsomely rewarded this year.
As with my Top Songs, each album has a link either to Spotify or Soundcloud for your listening pleasure.  Without further ado, let's start counting backwards from twenty:

20.  Danny Brown – XXX - THE RAW: Detroit’s Danny Brown is pretty difficult to ignore.  His delivery is manic and distinct, his rhymes are wildly entertaining and his beats perfectly parallel Brown’s hyperactivity.  Tyler, The Creator got a lot of buzz this year for a similarly striking album, but Danny Brown should not (and likely will not) be ignored.
KEY TRACKS: “I Will”, “Monopoly”

19.  Cults – Cults - THE SUMMERY:  New York outfit Cults has turned the infectious “Go Outside” into a full-length album of sun-drenched, low-fi indie pop.  Somewhat reminiscent of Best Coast’s Crazy For You, but more dreamy and less surf-rock, Cults is an exciting debut that is the definitive summertime album.
KEY TRACKS: “Go Outside”, “Abducted”

18.  My Morning Jacket – Circuital - THE SOUTHERN FRIED: Evil Urges was MMJ’s previous album, a divisive effort due to the somewhat eclectic and disjoint nature of the songs.  Circuital remains a more cohesive exercise of ever-brilliant southern rock ballads more apropos of the MMJ canon.
KEY TRACKS: “Victory Dance”, “Holdin On To Black Metal”, “Wonderful (The Way I Feel)”

17.  Panda Bear – Tomboy - THE HYMNAL: Tomboy is not nearly as grandiose as the outstanding Person Pitch, but it does feature more bite-sized pieces of filtered, hazy psychedelia and an optimistic hymnal feel, with pick-me-up axioms like “You can count on me”.  With Noah Lennox’s trademark über-reverbed vocals at the forefront, Tomboy is a dazzling exercise in euphoria.
KEY TRACKS: “Slow Motion”, “Last Night at the Jetty”, “Afterburner”

16.  Tyler, The Creator – Goblin - THE DEPRAVED:  Tyler and his rap collective OFWGKTA had a big year in 2011, with Tyler and Frank Ocean releasing critically-acclaimed albums and that outstanding “Yonkers” video making Tyler a household name (and VMA Best New Artist).  Goblin seems caustic upon first listen, with Tyler’s gravelly delivery and abrasive lyricism (see: “Bitch Suck Dick”).  It is not some attention-seeking gimmick, however, which is explained at the end of “Sandwitches”: “We don’t fucking make horrorcore, you fucking idiots. Listen deeper to the music before you put it in a box.”  Delve deeper into the album and the listener finds an emotionally confused, tortured guy pouring it all out to his “psychiatrist”, which turns out to be Tyler grappling with his own conscience throughout Goblin.  It is a concept album that works, keeping the listener invested and excited for the future of Tyler and OFWGKTA.
KEY TRACKS: “Yonkers”, “Sandwitches” (feat. Hodgy Beats), “She” (feat. Frank Ocean)

15.  Radiohead - The King of Limbs - THE SUBTLE:  Radiohead are so universally adored, when they release a new album, it becomes an event.  Their eighth LP was suddenly sprung upon unsuspecting fans, as In Rainbows was four years prior.  What fans got was not instantly gratifying or game-changing.  Instead, The King of Limbs was a subtle and patient record that was not out to overwhelm.  Instead, the eight tracks induce a constant, understated chill and tension absent on In Rainbows.  There are also hints of nature and the environment present: Other than the album title, “Feral” plays to its namesake, conjuring thoughts of a runaway animal.  The King of Limbs is not nearly the best album in the sacred Radiohead catalogue, but it is still rewarding for those willing to put in the time.
KEY TRACKS: “Lotus Flower”, “Give Up The Ghost”

14.  tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l - THE ECLECTIC: Everything about w h o k i l l is attention-grabbing, most noticeably the plasticity of Merrill Garbus’s voice from lulling coo to punk-rock yelp.  The music incorporates Afro-pop percussion, folky guitar plucks and horns to create some multilayered music, but it is Garbus’s vocals and lyrics that are always at the forefront and that allow the songs to transcend to the next level.  The greatness of w h o k i l l lies both in its irresistible sound and its dark lyrics about violence.
KEY TRACKS: “Bizness”, “My Country”, “Gangsta”

13.  Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact - THE EXPERIMENTAL ODDBALLS: There seems to be one of these albums every year that are wrought with experimental electronica and psychedelia that are near-impossible to ignore (see: 2010’s Odd Blood and 2009’s unforgettable Merriweather Post Pavilion).  Because of its strangely hypnotic uniqueness, Eye Contact is 2011’s iteration, by yet another NYC-based experimental troupe.  At a trim seven songs (plus the three “∞” interludes), each one is stylistically distinct from the next.  “Glass Jar” is a trippy, eleven minute opener that shimmers before erupting, “Adult Goth” is reminiscent of an otherworldly Fever Ray song and “MindKilla” is a surprisingly catchy slice of upbeat bliss.  Overall, Eye Contact is a solidly distinct set of quirky electronica.
KEY TRACKS: “Adult Goth”, “Glass Jar”, “MindKilla”

12.  Atlas Sound – Parallax - THE INTROVERT: While Bradford Cox may have tried to make a distant album following his nervous breakdown, it is also his most accessible and warm album yet.  His vocals are not obscured by haze this time around, and the music is shimmering with a soft fragility and confidence that gives Parallax a strange, dichotomous nature: As enveloping and radiant the songs may be, there is still an unsettling isolation that makes the album even more intriguing and likely Cox’s best solo effort so far.
KEY TRACKS: “Te Amo”, “Modern Aquatic Nightsongs”

11.  Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica - THE ATYPICAL: Replica is the strangest, least accessible album on this list, likely due to the unorthodoxy of the song creation.  Sprinkled with haunting piano throughout, it is the use of an abundance of abnormal samples that makes this ambient album somewhat unusual.  The progression of the album seems eerily natural, as if it is the recording of nature at nighttime.  The centerpiece is the title track, which is laden with somber piano plinks and a whirring buzz that becomes prominent at the strangely beautiful end of the song.  At one moment still and droning and at the next jarring and uncomfortable, Replica rewards patience and open-mindedness.
KEY TRACKS: “Replica”, “Sleep Dealer”

10.  The Black Keys - El Camino - THE HEIR APPARENTS: When The White Stripes disbanded in early 2011, they left a large void in the annals of music in general, specifically critically-adored blues rock.  The Black Keys seem to have solidified their role as the proper heir of that throne with their seventh LP.  A constantly thrilling set of rock ‘n roll with blues, surf and even glam rock influences, El Camino is, at its core, a fun-filled record filled with upbeat riff-driven tracks and an unmistakable swagger.  Very few albums this year demanded repeated spins quite like the ever-enticing El Camino.
KEY TRACKS: “Lonely Boy”, “Gold on theCeiling”, “Little Black Submarines”

09.  The Field - Looping State of Mind - THE ENTRANCING: The formula is so painfully simple that Axel Wilner pokes fun of it in the title of his third LP: Loop until its appeal has faded, then change it up, even if it is ever-so-slightly.  Regardless, The Field has mastered the formula and produced another set of captivating minimalistic ambient electronica.  The subtle layers and textures at play here work wonderfully, creating moods out of gorgeous repetition.  Whether it is the delicacy of the piano on “Then It’s White” or the woozy, swirling “Is This Power”, the end result is the same: The songs on Looping State of Mind are evocative without words or typical song structure, making it all the more impressive.
KEY TRACKS: “Is This Power”, “Then It’sWhite”

08.  Neon Indian - Era Extraña – THE CHILLWAVE: The fringe subgenre chillwave gets a bad reputation, but Neon Indian have expanded upon their initial sound from Psychic Chasms to add a psychedelic haze and ambience to the low-fidelity, 8-bit synth-pop.  The album is also seeping with nostalgia and melancholia, which is excellently demonstrated on “Halogen (I Could Be A Shadow)” and “Arcade Blues”.  The latter’s title perfectly sums up Era Extraña: Glitchy, bummy aural bliss.
KEY TRACKS: “Polish Girl”, “Arcade Blues”, “Halogen (I Could Be A Shadow)”

07.  Girls - Father,Son, Holy Ghost - THE TIMELESS:  Like 2009’s Album, Girls’ follow-up album is chock-full of polished rock ‘n roll that could easily be mistaken for a relic from decades ago.  Its influences range from surf rock on opener “Honey Bunny” to the heavy metal-aping of “Die”.  However, Father, Son, Holy Ghost consistently makes a living by borrowing heavily from gradualism classic rock of the late ‘60s and ‘70s, as best demonstrated on the standout slow-burners “Vomit” and “Forgiveness”.  Despite its unabashed borrowing from the past, Girls somehow create a powerful album that is undeniably fresh.
KEY TRACKS: “Vomit”, “Die”, “Forgiveness”

06.  Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch TheThrone - THE OPULENT: ­ The two biggest names in hip hop team up to produce a celebratory lap for the 1%.  On paper, that has potentially disastrous results.  On record, it is a delightfully enjoyable and decadent ride.  With overpriced samples (Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness” on the irresistible “Otis”), capital-A-list guest stars (Beyoncé makes “Lift Off” soar) and countless lavish namedrops, Jay and ‘Ye consistently remind the listener that, yeah, they make more money than you do.  They also rap better than you do. Hov is the best he has been in years and Kanye is still in peak form from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.  Or, to put it into their words, “What more can I say? / We killin’ ‘em.”  Watch The Throne is escapism rap done wonderfully well.
KEY TRACKS: “N***as In Paris”, “Otis”, “No Church In The Wild”

05.  The Weeknd - House of Balloons - THE SEDUCTIVE:  Where the hell did The Weeknd come from? At the end of 2010, a few of his tracks were just made available via YouTube.  One year later, he has self-released a trilogy of great mixtapes, his identity as Abel Tesfaye has been revealed, and he has been linked with fellow Canadian crooner Drake (both on the Thursday cut “The Zone” and the Take Care standout “Crew Love).  It all began with House of Balloons, arguably the best of the three mixtapes.  Balloons defined The Weeknd’s sound as seductive, syrupy R&B, driven by Tesfaye’s distinct high-pitched delivery about sex and drugs.  The whole album plays like the perfect soundtrack to a late-night, drug-addled party.  All in all, there is a brooding sense of realness that separates The Weeknd from his contemporaries, making him one of the most exciting new artists of the year.
KEY TRACKS: “High For This”, “House of Balloons”, “The Morning”

04.  Destroyer – Kaputt - THE RETRO:  On the surface, Kaputt can sound like cheesy ‘80s adult contemporary or soft rock, musicianship not usually held in the highest regard. However, Dan Bejar essentially turns this initially cheeseball subgenre into something much more endearing.  Bejar counteracts the breezy strings and horns with at-times dark lyrics delivered oh-so-casually.  It is an unlikely combination that works to perfection throughout Kaputt, creating a retro/disco-tinged blithe dreamscape from opener “Chinatown” to the eleven-minute sprawling closer “Bay of Pigs”.  As introspective as it is expansive, Kaputt is a warm, beautiful trip from beginning to end.
KEY TRACKS: “Chinatown”, “Bay of Pigs”, “Kaputt”

03. Drake - Take Care - THE TRAILBLAZER:  Last year, Kanye West pushed the typical boundaries of a hip hop album to overwhelming success.  This year, Drake raised the stakes by creating an album that deftly incorporates hip hop, R&B and pop into a refreshing sound.  Singles “Headlines” and the Nicki Minaj-aided “Make Me Proud” are great, upbeat radio songs and “Lord Knows” is brimming with bombast (thanks to the soulful, choral backing) and swagger (thanks to Rick Ross).  However, the true greatness of Take Care lies in its sparser, more minimalistic moments.  Case in point: “Marvins Room” is uncomfortably still, exposing the raw emotionality as the listener eavesdrops on a Drake drunk dial.  Take Care covers a lot of bases, but does them all well.
KEY TRACKS: “Marvins Room”, “Take Care”, “Crew Love” (feat. The Weeknd)

02.  Bon Iver - Bon Iver - THE EVOCATIVE:  No album this year was quite as evocative from front to back as Justin Vernon’s excellent sophomore LP.  Between the delicate yet intricate layering of the instrumentation and Vernon’s trademark fragile falsetto, every moment of Bon Iver is powerful and moving, conjuring distant memories and painful yearning.  From the slow, subtle build-up of “Perth” to the poignant reminiscences of ‘80s soft rock closer “Beth/Rest”, Bon Iver is a brilliant expansion of Vernon’s initially introverted folk rock to a richer, larger and more masterful expression of emotion.
KEY TRACKS: “Calgary”, “Holocene”, “Perth”

01.  M83 - HurryUp, We’re Dreaming. - THE EPIC: The “epic” descriptor gets sprinkled liberally into an excessive number of album reviews, but no album fulfilled or redefined its qualifications quite like Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.  Anthony Gonzalez continues his winning streak by blending the ‘80s synth-pop of Saturdays = Youth with his more ambient earlier works.  The result is a near-flawless double album that could fill a stadium or one’s headphones.  The album title succinctly sums up the listening experience: Lucidity with striking immediacy.  This striking dichotomy is best illustrated by “Intro” and “Midnight City”, which seamlessly segues between woozy dreamscape and huge, brimming electro-pop (and those irresistible saxophones).  It is decidedly difficult to determine the ranking of Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming within the prestigious M83 canon, but its ranking amongst peers thrusts it into a stratosphere by itself.
KEY TRACKS: “Midnight City”, “Intro” (feat. Zola Jesus), “New Map”

For the third consecutive year, my top song and album have been occupied by the same artist: In 2009, it was Animal Collective's "My Girls" and Merriweather Post Pavilion and last year it was LCD Soundsystem's "All I Want" and This Is Happening.

This closes the book on music in 2011. I know I missed some great albums this year that will hopefully get some spillover love into 2012. Last year, I mentioned that Das Racist and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti would get said treatment, and they did.  This year, I plan on giving Toro y Moi's Underneath The Pine and St. Vincent's Strange Mercy some love.

Have a lovely New Year's Eve and Day, and here's to hoping that The Avalanches get their shit together and finally release their new album in 2012.

Gary's Top 50 Songs of 2011

 Yet another calendar year is imminently concluding, and as always, the perfect sendoff is a meticulously crafted, seemingly arbitrary list of songs from said calendar year!  This may have been the most difficult year-end song list I’ve compiled, as I had to eliminate some very worthy songs.  Also, certain songs just seemed like they were better than their ranking.  Alas, the list is final.  No refunds.

For the first time, with the wonders of “technology”, I am able to pass along this countdown as an almost-full-fledged playlist. Click here and enjoy 45 of the 50 songs fo’ free, courtesy of Spotify, which will soon replace whatever shitty music player you currently utilize.  The five songs not available via Spotify have YouTube videos linked next to them (Danny Brown, Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, the two The Weeknd songs and Coldplay).  Because God forbid you didn’t hear Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, et al.

50. “Mr. Saxobeat” by Alexandra Stan
49. “Amor Fati” by Washed Out

48. “I Will” by Danny Brown (vide0)
47. “L Y F” by WU LYF
46. “Helena Beat” by Foster the People
45. “Countdown” by Beyoncé
44. “Will Do” by TV on the Radio
43. “Civilization” by Justice
42. “Holdin On To Black Metal” by My Morning Jacket
41. “The Last Huzzah” by Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire featuring Despot, Das Racist, Danny Brown and El-P (video)

40. “Curl of the Burl” by Mastodon
39. “Die” by Girls
38. “Make Some Noise” by Beastie Boys
37. “Sail” by AWOLNATION
36. “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” by Arctic Monkeys
35. “Jack Sparrow” by The Lonely Island featuring Michael Bolton
34. “Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)” by The Wombats
33. “Lonely Star” by The Weeknd (video)
32. “Polymers Are Forever” by Future of the Left
31. “Michael Jackson” by Das Racist

30. “Take Care” by Drake featuring Rihanna
29. “Trembling Hands” by Explosions in the Sky
28. “6 Foot 7 Foot” by Lil Wayne featuring Cory Gunz
27. “Super Bass” by Nicki Minaj
26. “Go Outside” by Cults
25. “Paradise” by Coldplay (video)
24. “Otis” by Jay-Z & Kanye West
23. “Replica” by Oneohtrix Point Never
22. “Bizness” by tUnE-yArDs
21. “We Found Love” by Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris

20. “Adult Goth” by Gang Gang Dance
19. “Polish Girl” by Neon Indian
18. “Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys
17. “Slow Motion” by Panda Bear
16. “Perth” by Bon Iver
15. “Don’t Move” by Phantogram
14. “Vomit” by Girls
13. “Need You Now” by Cut Copy
12. “Ice Cream” by Battles featuring Matias Aguayo
11. “Chinatown” by Destroyer

10. “High For This” by The Weeknd (video)

09. “Marvins Room” by Drake

08. “Holocene” by Bon Iver

07. “Street Halo” by Burial

06. “Yonkers” by Tyler, The Creator


05. “N***as In Paris” by Jay-Z & Kanye West


04. “Lotus Flower” by Radiohead


03. “Calgary” by Bon Iver

02. “Intro” by M83 featuring Zola Jesus

01. “Midnight City” by M83

Yes, M83 at #2 and #1, which comprise the best nine-plus consecutive minutes in music this year.  Thanks for showing up everybody else, but it really was not close.  Nothing quite matched the grandiosity and evocative nature of those two songs back-to-back, although Bon Iver certainly was close, logging three entries in the Top 20.
Fear not: The year would not be complete without my laborious rundown of my favorite albums, which will be posted before year’s end.  Until then, rock the shit out of that Spotify playlist.

My Top 12 Songs of All-Time...Right Now: #11

M83
"Couleurs"
Single from the album Saturdays = Youth
Single Release Date: February 25, 2008
Billboard Heatseekers Albums Peak Position: 1
Billboard Dance/Electronic Albums Peak Position: 4
Billboard 200 Peak Position: 107
* The single never charted in the U.S.

A near-180 from yesterday’s entry, we go from stream-of-consciousness stoner rap over sitars and slide guitar to an epic, eight-minute electro experience. M83 first caught my attention in 2008 with their outstanding album Saturdays = Youth, particularly the retro-tinged single “Kim & Jessie”. However, as I delved further into the album and their discography, I realized they have some pretty powerful epics. I was fortunate to see them live in NYC for my birthday in 2009, and to this day, my two favorite live performances are from that show: “A Guitar and a Heart” (from 2005’s Before the Dawn Heals Us) and “Couleurs”.

It was very difficult to decide on which M83 song to place. “Run into Flowers” is a beautiful, evocative piece, but unfortunately did not translate well live. “A Guitar and a Heart” is propulsive and loud, gradually building up to an unforgettably intense ending that translates well through any medium. “Couleurs” seemed to win out on its balance of both worlds. It is one of those ambient electronic songs that does all of the work, as it completely and totally immerses the listener. It grows and expands until it hits full stride, with all components creating a grandiose, nocturnal atmosphere that almost induces spontaneous dancing. The second half breaks it down without missing a beat, as it changes gears while not allowing any particular part overstay its welcome. In essence, “Couleurs” is an experience, propelling the listener into a different world…a blissful, brilliant world.