JayeL Audio

This concludes this year’s annual wrap-ups. Feel free to chime in on the comments. The top 40 tracks mixtape links are below the write-ups. Enjoy.
#40-#31
#30-#21
#20-#11

10. tUnE-yArDs – Bizness
By far the most experimental track on this list, “Bizness” shines as track that melds afro-pop, folk and funk all in one. Utilizing schizophrenic vocal loops and fluttering guitar, tUnE-yArDs yearns for a former lover to return while working through the pain.

9. The Black Keys – Little Black Submarines
Just when you thought The Black Keys had abandoned their bruising blues rock roots, “Little Black Submarines” details a lost connection (literally). The track teases with an acoustic opening before turning into a crushing garage sound masterpiece a la “I Got Mine”.

8. Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks
We all know I’m a sucker for guy/girl call and response records (see Edward Sharpe, Positive K and Aaliyah/Timbaland). Icelandic outfit Of Monsters and Men put their own spin on the old adage and have an endearing quality that makes it near impossible to avoid a smile. “Little Talks” makes a dying romance sound like a gypsy themed party.

7. White Denim – Street Joy
“Street Joy” is a particularly refreshing slow jam with a classic rock feel. Lead singer James Petralli’s pained vocals paint a narrative of wanting someone back so much that he’s willing to “string myself up onto your front door”. Intense.

6. The Throne – Ni***s In Paris
Say what you will about the subject matter, you can’t ignore how infectious the production and hook are. Jay & Yeezy drop clever lines aplenty on this banger. Now does it make sense to close out an arena tour by performing this track 11 (!) times in a row? Thats debatable.

5. M83 – Midnight City
Just because the rest of the U.S. population is catching up to the glory that is “Midnight City” due to a bra ad, doesn’t mean the synth anthem should be discounted. M83 made a electro pop gem that shines with layered vocals, surprising sax and thumping drum that should be enjoyed by all.

4. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Is there a more jubilant opening than the piano keys of the title track from Fleet Foxes’ sophomore album (okay, maybe the aforementioned “Battery Kinzie”)? This track would be the first on my hiking playlist, if such a thing existed. The lyrics are somewhat ambiguous, but I take them as the narrator is out to set his own path, not one that has been determined for him.

3. Bon Iver – Holocene
While “Towers” was the track from Bon Iver I listened to most in 2011, “Holocene” was the masterpiece I couldn’t ignore. Justin Vernon’s majestic vocals mixed with subtle guitar strings echo a tale of being a small part of a historic, beautiful world. “I can see for miles, miles, miles….”

2. The Rapture – How Deep is Your Love
As soon as the forceful piano keys struck on “How Deep Is Your Love”, it was clear the return of The Rapture shouldn’t be taken lightly. They may only release a new album every 5 years, but the Rapture are masters of the disco/electronic market. “How Deep Is Your Love” combines cowbell, thumping bass, a surprise sax and Luke Jenner’s tender howl into a dancefloor anthem.

1. Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know ft Kimbra
From the hypnotic beat to the honest, easy to relate to theme, “Somebody That I Used To Know” was an instant hit in my eyes. Gotye’s passionate narrative combined with Kimbra cooing vocals made for a story everyone has been through, but never sounded so good.

JayeL Audio’s Top Tracks of 2011 – #1-#20 (.rar)
JayeL Audio’s Top Tracks of 2011 – #21-#40 (.rar)

Top 20, lets go.

#40-#31
#30-#21

20. TV On The Radio – Second Song
Nine Types of Light was an album that required multiple listens before I was a was ready to cosign. It was much lighter fare than their previous work but engaging nonetheless. “Second Song” (which ironically was track 1) was the one cut that I was on board with from the start. The infectious hook, horns and Tunde’s layered vocal mask the fact this song is about overcoming drug addiction.

19. Mayer Hawthorne – A Long Time
You can partially attribute this to the “homer” in me, but how can I ignore a Detroit song as slick as Mayer Hawthorne’s “A Long Time”. This jazzy Motown inspired cut drops some history and encourages that the D will return to its “former glory”.

18. The Throne – New Day
“Me and the RZA connect”. While much of Watch the Throne is full of bravado, black cards and boat loads of money, “New Day” was a refreshing change of pace. Mr. Carter and Mr. West poetically advise their unborn children on past transgressions and ways of the world.

17. Fleet Foxes – Battery Kinzie
The pomp and triumph exuded by the thundering drum and piano of “Battery Kinzie” could be an allegory to Fleet Foxes reign in music in 2011. When faced with the thought of a sophomore slump, the bearded bunch surpassed any expectations as one of the best acts of the year. Either that or the storyteller is embattled as he tries to win back a love he shouldn’t have lost. You choose.

16. Rihanna – We Found Love
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I can appreciate a great pop song when it comes around. Most of the hit songs released in 2011 have a Euro-dance tinge, but Rihanna reeled in legit producer Calvin Harris for a banging dance anthem that I’m addicted to. The hook (“We found love in a hopeless place”) and lyrics are quite simple, but quite catchy. Besides, love doesn’t always need to be complicated, right?

15. Lykke Li – Silent my Song
From the eerie piano keys and haunting percussion to Li’s smoky layered vocals, “Silent My Song” has an arresting quality that is quite powerful. The lyrics I interpret as a pained break-up are extra hurtful as it was Li’s only lover. “And when you seek pain like its a pleasure/Like a work of art/When I’m your painting I’m your treasure/Purest of them all/And call it love or call it murder/Kill me quietly/Close the door and take it further/Where no man has been”.

14. The Joy Formidable – Whirring
The paced vocals and driving drum/guitar of “Whirring” describe a scene where the narrator can’t quite express their feelings. So much so that the Welsh trio accurately builds up the instrumentals almost to the point of eruption. Seeing this live at Music Midtown was a sight to be seen.

13. Cults – Abducted
The way Madeline Follin lures listeners in with enchanting murmurs about being “abducted”, it seems like she is doing the kidnapping. The burst of percussion and humming guitar jars the entire track and aligns with the theme of shock and surprise.

12. Cut Copy – Need You Now
Cut Copy didn’t waste any time grabbing listeners’ attention on the triumphant opening track from Zonoscope. “Need You Now” builds like a New Order alternative dance record and erupts into a full on dance frenzy from there.

11. My Morning Jacket – Wonderful (The Way I Feel)
Between the expertly crafted southern and psychedelic rock from Circuital is “Wonderful”. Jim James’ acoustic ode to deceased friend is more of a celebrated tribute than a sad passing. The pedal steel guitar is a particularly nice touch.

As we continue on. Here are #30-#21 of my favorite joints of 2011. Stream the whole list at Spotify (and tell a friend).
#40-#31

30. The Weeknd – The Morning
Abil Tesfaye turned mystery into a buzz R&B hasn’t seen since Drake traded a wheel chair for a mic. “The Morning” capitalizes on that mystery crafting an ode to strippers that utilizes a beat Timbaland and Missy wish they created in the Ginuwine/Aaliyah days.

29. Toro y Moi – New Beat
The funk of “New Beat” creeps up on you when you aren’t expecting it. Toro Y Moi’s thinly veiled syncopated rhymes and falsetto expertly blend with the cacophony of synth and 70′s disco grooves. If Off the Wall era Michael Jackson were here he would be impressed.

28. St. Vincent – Cruel
Stranger Mercy has many star making moments, but “Cruel” finds Annie Clark at her most pop friendly moment. From the enchanting string opening, to Clark’s bubbling vocals and the see-saw guitar make a fetching song out of the narrator’s lament of spiteful human nature. Something many songwriters can’t do.

27. The War On Drugs – Baby Missles
The video for “Baby Missles” sets the tone perfectly for The War on Drugs’ throwback rock sound. A little Boss, some Joy Division and a slice of Arcade Fire influence this insistent track about exploration and discovery. The harmonica kills it on this one.

26. Frank Ocean – Novacane
Ocean may have graduated to the big leagues by being asked to work with Jay-Z, Kanye West and Beyonce, but I still think his own work trumps his recent assignments. The inescapable emotional journey of “Novacane” compares viagara, Auto Tune and affections of multiple women to the feeling of draining his body numb.

25. Alabama Shakes – I Found You
Could there be a band with more buzz going into 2012? The Alabama Shakes exploded with a 4 track self-titled EP full of soul-inspired blues songs with blistering enthusiam by lead singer Brittany Howard. “I Found You” expresses the jubliation of a newly discovered love.

24. Caveman – Thankful
“Thankful” beckons with lead singer Matthew Iwanusa’s airy vocals amid a subtle combo of percussion, warble guitar and synth. The dreamlike track floats by with the repetitive phrase: “thankful are my friends with remorse”.

23. Cut Copy – Hanging On To Every Heartbeat
Cut Copy managed to slow down their whirring parade of rock and dance anthems on Zonoscope for a song perfect for a walk on the beach. Part Empire of the Sun, part MGMT, “Hanging On To Every Heartbeat” balances psychedelic effects with enough guitar strumming to allow you to “drift away so you might never see the light of day”.

22. M83 – Steve McQueen
Anthony Gonzalez aka M83 frontman is an expert in these types of new wave/ambient anthems. It doesn’t get much more epic than the outro of “Steve McQueen” and shouting “just waiting” over and over.

21. Turf War – Cheers to the Years
In what I can only describe as southern garage rock, Turf War crafted their catchiest track yet in “Cheers To The Years”. Be sure to bang this on your next drive through the deep South.

Whittling down the best songs of the year is much tougher than the albums list. Anyone can release a great song, but a fluid, cohesive album is much harder to find. Over the next few posts, I’ll breakdown my top tracks of the year (followed by a two disc mixtape).
As Laura correctly informed me, this list was a little on the “downer” side (what can I say? sometimes slow songs have the best narratives), so these songs all fall under a few attributes:
A) A song I listened to most this year. Even if I’m sick of it now
B) A song that was particularly well written
C) A song that you couldn’t escape because the production was so great

40. Givers – Up Up Up
“Up Up Up” shines with afro pop elements with a slice of calypso before breaking into a head nodding finale. The thumping drum and thrashing guitar that close the record could easily satisfy a variety of crowds and has earned raves on the festival circuit.

39. Iron & Wine – Walking Far From Home
Much of Kiss Each Other Clean has religious overtones, but “Walking Far From Home” might be the most intriguing. In what seems like a stream of consciousness flow, Sam Beam outlines what could either be interpreted as a man on his way to the afterlife or an observation of a post apocalyptic event. The vocal effects give a particularly ethereal hue to the emotional track.

38. U.S. Royalty – Equestrian
Local Natives. Fleet Foxes. Bon Iver. We all know I enjoy layered harmonies and “Equestrian” falls right in that category.

37. Alex Winston – Sister Wife
Alex Winston had quite the string of singles and covers in 2011 that makes next year ripe for a major breakthrough. “Sister Wife” showcased her storytelling and pop capabilities with a subject not often heard in popular song, polygamy. The hook was probably caught in my head for 10 months straight and the Star Slinger remix isn’t too shabby either.

36. Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise
From the hum of the bass to the give and go flow of the gents of Beastie Boys, “Make Some Noise” was a classic and a perfect summertime anthem. The star studded video was one of the more memorable music videos of 2011 as well.

35. Jessica Lea Mayfield – Our Hearts Are Wrong
Jessica Lea Mayfield had my favorite track of 2008 with slow burner “Kiss Me Again”. On her latest charming ode, Mayfield doesn’t pine for easy love, but maturely ends a relationship that wasn’t meant to succeed. The hushed vocals give the track a reluctant feel while the garage guitar acts as the antagonist in this break-up tale.

34. Foster the People – Houdini
The only thing I’ve shouted more than “ball so hard” in 2011 was “focus on your abilities”. You could insert any of the hits Marc Foster crafted this year in this position, but I couldn’t justify four FTP joints in such a short list.

33. Foo Fighters – Arlandria
Whether you like Dave Grohl or not, you have to admit the man can cook up some of the catchiest hooks without toeing into cheesy modern rock territory. “Arlandria” ingeniously uses an old childhood saying to justifies striking out on his own path no matter the expectations.

32. Childish Gambino – Freaks and Geeks
“Alright Gambino is a mastermind..” goes the first line of what would be the year of Childish Gambino for me (and anyone around me). “Freaks and Geeks” was a tidal wave of punchlines that admittedly got better each of the 1000x I listened to it this year. With a flow like Weezy and clever pop references and jokes, how could you not love it? My choice line is “Swag out tha a**, I’m the man, f*** chico/Took the G out ya waffle, all you got left is your ego”.

31. Phantogram – Don’t Move
Phantogram certainly knows their way around glitchy, electronic samples. “Don’t Move” was and continues to be an addiction highlighting Sarah Barthel’s muted vocals over an airy electro beat mixed with off the wall sample.

Star Slinger already had a few of my favorite remixes of the year (see “Sister Wife” and “Freaks and Geeks“). Then he decided to add another to the mix making Rihanna’s “We Found Love” into an even glitchy-ier party starter. Stream and download below.

Someone asked if I read the other “albums of the year” lists before I put out mine. I try my best to avoid them until I finish mine, but I did scan NPR’s to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I’ll be scouring all of them now. Here is the conclusion of my top albums of the year list. Be sure to list yours in the comments and look out for the songs of the year list (and mixtape).
Honorable Mention
#20 – #16
#15 – #8

7. Cut Copy - Zonoscope (cop it here for $3.99 last I saw)
Aussie outfit Cut Copy pulled back on the electro anthems that made In Ghost Colours a dance party in 2008, but not too much. Good thing Cut Copy happens to excel at driving guitar rhythms ( “Where I’m Going”, “Hanging On To Every Hearbeat”) just as much as their trademark addictive, electro grooves (“Take Me Over”,”Need You Now”). “Need You Now”‘s bubbling synth and soaring hook made for one of my favorite album openers of 2011.
Australian Dance Off: “Blink and You’ll Miss The Revolution”, “Hanging On To Every Heartbeat”, “Take Me Over”, “Need You Now”

6. The Black Keys – El Camino (cop it here)
I don’t particularly discriminate against anything these fellas put out. While I do prefer the days of just Dan on guitar and Pat on the drum kit, the Akron, OH duo’s progression consistently shows one steady attribute: No matter how many other instruments and effects are added to the Black Keys’ mix, they know how to make infectious hits. “Dead and Gone” and “Nova Baby” sparkle with ’60s style back-up vocals and twinkling keys, while “Gold On The Ceiling” and “Run Right Back” could have been a Brothers left over with furious electric organ. Fans of past albums will no doubt love the way “Little Black Submarines” teases with an acoustic opening before turning into a bruising blues rock masterpiece a la “I Got Mine”. Its easy to just say “Danger Mouse co-produced it, thats why its good”, but I think Dan and Pat had just as much to do with how great this album sounds.
Walk of Rock: “Lonely Boy”, “Little Black Submarines”, “Gold On The Ceiling”, “Nova Baby”

5. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (cop it here)
Double disc efforts seem like daunting listens in days where albums don’t get attention like they used to. M83 offered up a refreshing reason why the album format should live on. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming breezes by, but pauses long enough to command attention with synergy of electronic pop (“Midnight City”), new wave (“New Map”, “Steve McQueen”) and ambient elements (“Splendor”, “Intro”, “My Tears Are Becoming A Sea”) from past M83 releases. Is it alright if “Reunion” and “Claudia Lewis” sound straight outta Duran Duran’s playbook circa Rio? I’ll support it.
Dreamscapes: “Steve McQueen”, “Midnight City”, “Intro”, “Wait”

4. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues (cop it here)
Three years was definitely worth the wait. Robin Peckhold & co’s debut was a genius work of folk gems, including “White Winter Hymnal”, “Your Protector” and others. Helplessness Blues is in the same vein, but feels much more complete. The harmonies more eloquently arranged (“The Plains/Bitter Dancer”, “Battery Kinzie”), the stories more interesting (“Helplessness Blues”, “Lorelei”) and the instrumentation more grand (“The Cascades”, “Battery Kinzie”). To come away from an album feeling as though you’ve listened to something epic even after multiple listens is pretty astounding.
Mountain Magic: “Battery Kinzie”, “Sim Sala Bim”, “Helplessness Blues”, “Grown Ocean”

3. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient (cop it here for $5)
Slave Ambient is definitely not something me from 20 years ago would be listen to, although it does sound like it came from that era of alternative rock. The War On Drugs more than aptly conjure memories of My Bloody Valentine painting narratives of heartbreak (“Best Night”) with elements of shoegaze (“City Reprise #12″) and art rock (“Your Love Is Calling My Name”). Lead singer Adam Granduciel has a voice that many have compared to Bob Dylan, but on “Come To The City” he sounds more like Bruce Springsteen sharing sights from a journey that leads right back to a past love. While we are making comparisons, “Baby Missles” could even be the American answer to Arcade Fire’s anthem “Keep The Car Running” with fiery harmonica and awash with synth.
Slave To The Art: “Your Love Is Calling My Name”, “Come To The City”, “Baby Missles”, “I Was There”

2. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes (cop it here)
As I witnessed not too long ago, Lykke Li wasn’t going to sick back idly in 2011. If Youth Novels was a set of diary entries of a budding songstress, Wounded Rhymes is a collection of confident statements of a chanteuse. From pained lyrics of heartbreak (“Unrequited Love”, “I Know Places”, “Jerome”) to boastful taunts of sexual power (“Get Some”, “Love Out Of Lust”) and desperate love (“I Follow Rivers”) Li gives listeners an open look into her soul. “Sadness is A Blessing” is one of the most powerful in turning a song about a bittersweet break-up into an anthem.
Regal Rhymes: “Sadness Is A Blessing”, “Silent My Song”, “Youth Knows No Pain”, “I Follow Rivers”

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver (cop it here)
You know the story by now. Justin Vernon heads to a cabin in the north Wisconsin woods after a band and gf break up. From that journey comes For Emma, Forever Ago, a breakthrough album for Vernon and one of the best of 2008. Not long after, Kanye West hears of Bon Iver after then gf Amber Rose chooses a Bon Iver show over one of West’s. West eventually invites Vernon to Hawaii to work on what becomes Kanye’s first masterpiece, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Between those events, the Bon Iver frontman had time to contribute to a few compilations, join a couple side projects (Volcano Choir, Collections of Colonies of Bees, GAYNGS) and get a day named in his honor.

I wouldn’t say that collaborating in the studio with Kanye shaped Bon Iver, but I would say it was an influence. While Emma was a heart-breaking, bare bones, solo affair, everything is bigger, grander and more polished on Bon Iver. Vernon expanded the number of instruments to include everything from classical strings to synthesizer to French horn and saxophone. Surprisingly, pedal steel guitar makes more than one appearance doesn’t come off like a cheesy country ballad. Even vocal effects used so well on the Blood Bank EP, pop up on various occasions but work best on ’80s inspired (Bruce Hornsby anyone?) celebration of life piece, “Beth/Rest”. The narratives of Bon Iver still focus on love and heartache, but this time around have a less gut wrenching approach. Vernon touches on the roller coaster of young love (“Michicant”, “Towers”), falling out of love (“Calgary”) and isolation (“Perth”). There isn’t a single skippable track, but “Holocene” stands out as a majestic composition with subtle guitar strings and percussion while Vernon’s hushed vocals reference the realization that he is just a small piece of a larger moment in time.
Wisconsin Wonders: “Towers”, “Holocene”, “Michicant”, “Perth”

Hype Machine also has this hand best of album picker that you can share with friends. I highly recommend it.

As promised, Abil Tesfaye aka the Weeknd returns with his third free album in 2011. Echoes of Silence was release free last night and a brief listen sounds like it has the chance to reach House of Balloons and Thursday heights. One thing is for sure, “Dirty Diana” will never sound the same.

The Weeknd – Echoes of Silence (.zip)
The Weeknd – Same Old Song (.mp3)

Three things I enjoy all wrapped into one: The Knocks + Fred Falke + Remix
Brightside (Fred Falke Remix) by The Knocks

Pick up The Knocks – Magic EP on iTunes

As we continue on with my favorite albums of the year…
Honorable Mention
#20 – #16

15. Cults – Cults (cop it here)
Cults could be compared to Tennis in that both acts admirably capture ’60s girl pop sounds, but what make Cults much more interesting is how they expand upon the genre. Ethereal crooning builds up to thumping drums and crashing guitar on cuts like “Abducted” and “You Know What I Mean”, while “Go Outside” and “Most Wanted” slink along with a modern haze. The only drawback to Cults is being left wanting more. At a mere 33 minutes long, Cults is a tease of the talent this band has. Also happens to be my favorite album cover of the year.
Cult Crushes: “Most Wanted”, “Abducted”, “Go Outside”

14. My Morning Jacket – Circuital (cop it here)
Looking back it is almost criminal that until 2011, I hadn’t heard more than two songs by My Morning Jacket (at least knowingly). My love for the southern rock veterans started with the title track from the band’s 6th album and exploded from there as they had one of my favorite sets at Hangout. Circuital was released a few weeks later and I was able to relive all of the psychedelic anthems (“Victory Dance”, “You Wanna Freak Out”), driving guitar rhythms (“The Day Is Coming”, “Outta My System”) and the gem that is “Holdin’ On To Black Metal” all over again. Fun fact: “Wonderful” and “Outta My System” were meant for a project with the Muppets that never came to fruition.
Magical Morning Jams: “Holdin On To Black Metal”, “Wonderful”, “Circuital”, “Victory Dance”

13. Other Lives – Tamer Animals (cop it here)
While Other Lives never made it on any of my shared mixtapes, I did quietly rock their darkly folk album for much of the summer. Other Lives’ Tamer Animals is a much more somber than its May release date implied, but was impressive no matter the season. Lead singer Jesse Tabish’s charming voice reminds me of a mix between The Rosebuds’s Ivan Howard and The National’s Matt Berninger. Tabish even sounds eloquent when he compares human relationships to being not so different from animals in nature on the title track. Throughout the Other Lives’ 2nd album, folk elements like twangy guitar (“Dustbowl III”) and orchestral arrangements utilizing woodwinds, twinkling keys and strings (“Tamer Animals”, “Dark Horse”, “Woodwind Loop”) to weave powerful narratives.
Manimal Instincts: “Tamer Animals”, “Woodwind Loop”, “Dark Horse”

12. The Features – Wilderness (cop it here)
Now that Murfreesboro, TN’s The Features ditched the horn section and pumped up the keys and howling guitar people should fully take notice. The band’s third album Wilderness snarls and thrashes its way through bits of rockabilly (“Kids”, “Big Momma Gonna Whip Us Good”), perculating synth (“Content”, “Another One”) and trademark southern rock (“Golden Comb”, ” ). Even when the relatively tame ballad “Love Is” changes pace of the album, it manages to show Matt Pelham’s vocal range. The Features have loads of potential and hopefully impresses more than just label bosses, Kings of Leon.
Backwoods Bop: “Golden Comb”, “Another One”, “Kids”

11. Childish Gambino – Camp (cop it here)
In November I said “Camp is a grand endeavor that showcases that Donald Glover has more than matured as an artist. From the engaging storytelling to the stellar production, Childish Gambino is an alter ego that shouldn’t be hidden from the limelight.” I’ll stand by those statements and Camp remains one of my favorites of the year in any genre. Repeated listenings unveil new witty punchlines (“my d**k is like an accent mark, its all about the over E’s” get it?) and insightful narratives of “Outside” and “That Power” that show more of what makes Glover an interesting artist.
Campfire Creations: “Heartbeat”, “L.E.S.”, “All The Shine”, “Bonfire”

10. The Roots – undun (cop it here for $3.99 last I checked)
The perils of hustling is a familiar story in hip-hop, but The Roots decided to tell it a little differently. undun serves as a aural history of fictional character Redford Stevens told from his demise to the decisions leading up to it, Memento style. Working backwards from death (“Sleep”) to the moment before (“Make My”), undun chronicles the celebrations (“Kool On”), vulnerability (“Lighthouse”) and fight (“Stomp”, “The Otherside”) in Stevens’ life like a movie script. Its great to see that even at album number 10, The Roots are still finding ways to grow and show they are the best band in hip-hop.
R.I.P. Redford: “Lighthouse”, “Stomp”, “Sleep”

9. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light (cop it here)
Its almost as if Dave Grohl has just been storing rock anthems in a vault during Foo Fighters’ recent hiatus. Nearly every cut from Wasting Light sounds like it could be belted by thousands of revelers at the next big outdoor festival. “Burning Bridges”, “Dear Rosemary” and “Walk” manage to hit pop rock heights without sacrificing quality, while “Arlandria” builds up to one of my favorite hooks of the year. The only real departure is “I Should Have Known”, which still has a huge chorus, but utilizes a string section that works better than you’d think. Hopefully, Foo Fighters next hiatus isn’t as long as the last one.
Foo For Thought: “Arlandria”, “Burning Bridges”, “Dear Rosemary”

8. The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – Watch The Throne (cop it here)
Any doubts that anyone had when Shawn Carter and Kanye West got together for a collaborative album were instantly quashed as soon as the bassline of “No Church In The Wild” hit. Watch The Throne was the album I talked about and listened to most often in 2011. Any why wouldn’t it be? The production by West, RZA, 88 Keys, Swizz Beatz, Neptunes and Hit Boy was some of the strongest of the year and seemed inspired by everything from soul to dub step. Jay-Z & Kanye verbally spar dropping punchline after punchline all while knowing they are the leaders in the game right now. Admittedly, most of the album is full of boasts of overflowing wallets, flashy cars and gigantic egos (“I’m planking on a million” anyone?), but with these two it feels like they earned it.
Throne Zone: “New Day”, “Ni***s In Paris”, “No Church In The Wild”, “Who Gon Stop Me”

Welcome back Liz and company! Detroit indie pop outfit Lettercamp has been busy securing their line-up and recently signed with Swedish label Substream. Substream recently re-released the band’s debut album Raccoon Panda (cop it here) and the band is hard at work on their next effort. The first new single since Lettercamp’s signing is “Oh Well”, a new wavey track filled with pulsing synth and a call and response hook. Take a listen below and purchase “Oh Well” with a few remixes here.

Lettercamp – Oh Well by jayelaudio

To coincide with the new single, the band is holding a remix contest. If you want to show your remix skills head over to Acid Planet.
Find more from Lettercamp at bandcamp.