Author: jakehaws

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Start to Finish: Beastie Boys

With the recent passing of Mike Yauch (MCA), I was drawn to revisiting the Beastie Boys discography. I’ve heard their radio hits over the years and have always respected them but never really dug into their albums. Also, I’ve been jogging a lot recently and needed music with some beats to get me going, so they were a natural fit. I decided to skip their early hardcore release and other rarities and just stick to the main albums. Let me know what you think of the commentary and if I should have addressed other things that I missed. With the link below, you can listen through what I think are the 25 essential Beastie Boys songs spanning their entire career. I purposely left out some big hits to leave more room for some of their deeper cuts. What are your favorite Beastie Boys songs?

License to Ill (1986) – This album had many hits and is usually thought of as a party record but the songs that stood out to me listening this time around were the fictional robbery tales. This record also has lots of classic rock samples all over the place (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, the Clash, AC DC, Aerosmith, Steve Miller Band, etc.), which helped solidify their place as the pioneering group to blend rap and rock together. While it gets a little slapstick at times, I think it’s a real iconic album that came to define the era.Essentials: Rhymin & Stealin, Paul Revere.

Paul’s Boutique (1989) – The Beastie Boys teamed up with the Dust Brothers for their dense sophomore album. Beck’s Odelay was one of my favorite album growing up so I can easily recognize the Dust Brothers’ fingerprint on this record. They still sampled all over the place like in License to Ill but the samples became more obscure and leaned more heavily on 60s and 70s soul/funk. Although this album didn’t make a huge splash when it was released, it has since gone on to be considered their masterpiece.Essentials: Shadrach, Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies.  

Check Your Head (1992) – This is the Beastie Boys getting back to their punk/hardcore roots. They played their own instruments this time around and many of songs feature distorted vocals. At times you can hear similarities between this record and the sound Rage Against the Machine were going for. This record is probably my favorite because it rocks the most. Essentials: So What’cha Want, Gratitude, Pass The Mic, Finger Lickin’ Good.

Ill Communication (1994) – This album found the band mixing up all the styles they had done to that point. They started to throw in some instrumentals and found inspiration from more of the 70s soul/funk style. As one of their longest albums at 20 songs, it tends to drag on and has a fair amount of filler, but Sabotage remains the quintessential tune from the era, complete with iconic music video. Essentials: Root Down, Sabotage, Sure Shot, The Update.

Hello Nasty (1998) – For this record they teamed up with Mixmaster Mike, adding some fresh new sounds with a space/cosmic flair. Unfortunately, the rapping is starting to sound a little tired. It feels like they’ve run of out things say and are recycling some of the same patterns and phrases. Like Ill Communication, it is a long record and drags on at the end. Still, their are a handful of gems in here. Essentials: Intergalactic, Body Movin’, Three MCs and One DJ.

To the 5 Boroughs (2004) – This is Boys most political record, referencing the war in Iraq, racism, the economy, etc. The beats sound tighter, slicker, streamlined and modern. In Triple Trouble, they even sample the Sugerhill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight, which is fun but comes across a little desperate. Although it’s a good, fresh sound and on the whole a solid record, it lacks the hooks and eclectic sounds that gave character to their earlier releases. Essentials: Right Right Now Now, Ch-Check It Out, We Got The.

The Mix Up (2007) – At this point, the Boys had pretty much done it all; so they made an instrumental record. It bears little resemblance to what you the typical think of when you hear the  Beastie Boys: No rapping and no drum machines! It does, however, use as a starting point many of the 70s inspired, lounge/funk/soul sounds they explored on previous records but had previously relegated to filler or interlude status in the context of an album. At times, it sounds like they were shooting to be included on the soundtrack of the next Ocean’s Eleven movie. Still, it’s obvious they had fun time jamming in the studio, putting this together. A great album to jog to but I’m not certain it holds my attention without having rapping/vocal hooks. Essentials: Suco De Tangerina, Electric Worm, The Cousin of Death.

Hot Sauce Committee Part 2 (2011) – Having gone 7 years since their last album of rapping, the Boys had high expectations to meet. Much of the album goes back to an old school sound. There are plenty of reverb and vocal effects as well as more reliance on real drums instead of drum machines. The collaboration with Nas is a fresh, welcome sound, borrowing a fatboy slim electronica style from the 90s. The record also dabbles in funk, reggae, and some interesting production work where some of the beats seem to fall apart and sounds like they are dissolving. With the fate of band uncertain, these could very well be their last record, although there is the possibility that Part 1 will still be released. If it is their last, it would be a fitting ending to an eclectic and musically well accomplished 30+ year career. Essentials: To Many Rappers, Long Burn the Fire, Here’s a Little Something for Ya.

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Top 50 Albums of 2013

This was a great year in music. There were comeback releases from veterans (David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Daft Punk, Elvis Costello, Dismemberment Plan), solid releases from many established indie bands (Vampire Weekend, Arcade Fire, Low, Yo La Tengo, The National) and some great new emerging artists (Haim, Foxygen, San Fermin). All and all, exciting things happening.

  1. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
  2. Low – The Invisible Way
  3. Caveman – Caveman
  4. Queens of the Stone Age – Like Clockwork
  5. Yo La Tengo – Fade
  6. The Spinto Band – Cool Cocoon
  7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – The Speed of Things
  8. Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze
  9. Arcade Fire – Relfektor
  10. Sigur Ros – Kveikur
  11. The Dodos – Carrier
  12. Charles Bradley – Victim of Love
  13. Paul McCartney – New
  14. Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe
  15. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
  16. San Fermin – San Fermin
  17. Elvis Costello and The Roots – Wise Up Ghost
  18. Janelle Monae – The Electric Lady
  19. Volcano Choir – Repave
  20. Dismemberment Plan – Uncanney Valley
  21. Dr. Dog – B-Room
  22. Telekinesis – Dormarion
  23. Haim – Days Are Gone
  24. Paramore – Paramore
  25. Washed Out  – Paracosm
  26. Local Natives – Hummingbird
  27. Joshua James – Well Then I’ll Go to Hell
  28. Ra Ra Riot – Beta Love
  29. Toro Y Moi – Anything In Return
  30. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience Pt. 1
  31. Drew Danburry – Becoming Bastian Salazar
  32. Phosphorescent – Muchacho
  33. James Blake – Overgrown
  34. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
  35. The Smith Westerns – Soft Will
  36. Man Man – On Oni Pond
  37. She & Him – Volume 3
  38. Grouplove – Spreading Rumors
  39. Atoms For Peace – AMOK
  40. The Civil Wars – The Civil Wars
  41. The Avett Brother s – Magpie And The Dandelion
  42. What Mae Milwaukee Famous – You Can’t Fall off the Floor
  43. Tennis – Small Sound
  44. Andrew Bird – I Want to See Pulaski at Night
  45. The Moth & The Flame – &
  46. John Vanderslice – Dagger Beach
  47. Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors Of…
  48. Tegan And Sara – Hearthrob
  49. David Bowie – The Next Day
  50. Okkervil River – The Silver Gymnasium
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Top 50 Songs of 2013

Here’s a list of some of my favorite tunes this year, ranked in approximate order. You can listen with the Spotify playlist or take a look at the text based list below. What were your favorite songs this year?

  1. Caveman – “In the City”
  2. Vampire Weekend – “Diane Young”
  3. Haim – “The Wire”
  4. Frightened Rabbit – “Holy”
  5. Low – “Clarence White”
  6. Paul McCartney – “New”
  7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – “Beautiful Dream”
  8. Phosphorescent – “Song For Zula”
  9. Kurt Vile – “Wakin on a Pretty Day”
  10. Arade Fire – “Reflektor”
  11. Queens Of The Stone Age – “Keep Your Eyes Peeled”
  12. Man Man – “Head On (Hold On To Your Heart)”
  13. Janelle Monae – “Dance Apocalyptic”
  14. Big Scary – “Twin Rivers”
  15. Vampire Weekend – “Step”
  16. Yo La Tengo – “Ohm”
  17. Caveman – “Shut You Down”
  18. Dismemberment Plan – “Invisible”
  19. Arcade Fire – “Afterlife”
  20. San Fermin – “Sonsick”
  21. Smith Westerns – “3am Spiritual”
  22. Ra Ra Riot – “Beta Love”
  23. Elvis Costello And The Roots – “Refuse To Be Saved”
  24. The National – “Sea of Love”
  25. Lorde – “Royals”
  26. Dr. Dog – “The Truth”
  27. Eels – “New Alphabet”
  28. Queens Of The Stone Age – “If I Had A Tail”
  29. Sigur Ros – “Stormur”
  30. Telekinesis – “Wires”
  31. Toro Y Moi – “Say That”
  32. Chvrches – “Gun”
  33. James Blake – “Retrograde”
  34. Daft Punk – “Get Lucky”
  35. Vampire Weekend – “Unbelievers”
  36. Charles Bradley – “Strictly Reserved For You”
  37. M.I.A. – “Bad Girls”
  38. Baths – “Ironworks”
  39. Volcano Choir – “Byegone”
  40. The Dodos – “Confidence”
  41. Washed Out – “It All Feels Right”
  42. Cloud Cult – “Meet Me Where You’re Going”
  43. What Made Milwaukee Famous – “Just Run”
  44. Grouplove – “Borderlines And Aliens”
  45. The Spinto Band – “Shake It Off”
  46. Tennis – “Cured of Youth”
  47. David Bowie – “Where Are We Now?”
  48. The Strokes – “One Way Trigger”
  49. The Postal Service – “A Tattered Line of String”
  50. Franz Ferdinand – “Right Action”

Link to Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/121154176/playlist/7AvS9NxhTZkfNB2CC1EF0P

Posted on

Top 50 Songs of 2013

  1. Caveman – “In the City”
  2. Vampire Weekend – “Diane Young”
  3. Haim – “The Wire”
  4. Frightened Rabbit – “Holy”
  5. Low – “Clarence White”
  6. Paul McCartney – “New”
  7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – “Beautiful Dream”
  8. Phosphorescent – “Song For Zula”
  9. Kurt Vile – “Wakin on a Pretty Day”
  10. Arade Fire – “Reflektor”
  11. Queens Of The Stone Age – “Keep Your Eyes Peeled”
  12. Man Man – “Head On (Hold On To Your Heart)”
  13. Janelle Monae – “Dance Apocalyptic”
  14. Big Scary – “Twin Rivers”
  15. Vampire Weekend – “Step”
  16. Yo La Tengo – “Ohm”
  17. Caveman – “Shut You Down”
  18. Dismemberment Plan – “Invisible”
  19. Arcade Fire – “Afterlife”
  20. San Fermin – “Sonsick”
  21. Smith Westerns – “3am Spiritual”
  22. Ra Ra Riot – “Beta Love”
  23. Elvis Costello And The Roots – “Refuse To Be Saved”
  24. The National – “Sea of Love”
  25. Lorde – “Royals”
  26. Dr. Dog – “The Truth”
  27. Eels – “New Alphabet”
  28. Queens Of The Stone Age – “If I Had A Tail”
  29. Sigur Ros – “Stormur”
  30. Telekinesis – “Wires”
  31. Toro Y Moi – “Say That”
  32. Chvrches – “Gun”
  33. James Blake – “Retrograde”
  34. Daft Punk – “Get Lucky”
  35. Vampire Weekend – “Unbelievers”
  36. Charles Bradley – “Strictly Reserved For You”
  37. M.I.A. – “Bad Girls”
  38. Baths – “Ironworks”
  39. Volcano Choir – “Byegone”
  40. The Dodos – “Confidence”
  41. Washed Out – “It All Feels Right”
  42. Cloud Cult – “Meet Me Where You’re Going”
  43. What Made Milwaukee Famous – “Just Run”
  44. Grouplove – “Borderlines And Aliens”
  45. The Spinto Band – “Shake It Off”
  46. Tennis – “Cured of Youth”
  47. David Bowie – “Where Are We Now?”
  48. The Strokes – “One Way Trigger”
  49. The Postal Service – “A Tattered Line of String”
  50. Franz Ferdinand – “Right Action”
Posted on

Top 50 Albums of 2013

Here is my list of favorite albums from this year, in approximate order. Did I miss anything? What albums were your favorite?

  1. Vampire Weekend – Modern Vampires of the City
  2. Low – The Invisible Way
  3. Caveman – Caveman
  4. Queens of the Stone Age – Like Clockwork
  5. Yo La Tengo – Fade
  6. The Spinto Band – Cool Cocoon
  7. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – The Speed of Things
  8. Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze
  9. Arcade Fire – Relfektor
  10. Sigur Ros – Kveikur
  11. The Dodos – Carrier
  12. Charles Bradley – Victim of Love
  13. Paul McCartney – New
  14. Chvrches – The Bones of What You Believe
  15. The National – Trouble Will Find Me
  16. San Fermin – San Fermin
  17. Elvis Costello and The Roots – Wise Up Ghost
  18. Janelle Monae – The Electric Lady
  19. Volcano Choir – Repave
  20. Dismemberment Plan – Uncanney Valley
  21. Dr. Dog – B-Room
  22. Telekinesis – Dormarion
  23. Haim – Days Are Gone
  24. Paramore – Paramore
  25. Washed Out  – Paracosm
  26. Local Natives – Hummingbird
  27. Joshua James – Well Then I’ll Go to Hell
  28. Ra Ra Roit – Beta Love
  29. Toro Y Moi – Anything In Return
  30. Justin Timberlake – The 20/20 Experience Pt. 1
  31. Drew Danburry – Becoming Bastian Salazar 
  32. Phosphorescent – Muchacho
  33. James Blake – Overgrown
  34. Daft Punk – Random Access Memories
  35. The Smith Westerns – Soft Will
  36. Man Man – On Oni Pond
  37. She & Him – Volume 3
  38. Grouplove – Spreading Rumors
  39. Atoms For Peace – AMOK
  40. The Civil Wars – The Civil Wars
  41. The Avett Brother s – Magpie And The Dandelion
  42. What Mae Milwaukee Famous – You Can’t Fall off the Floor
  43. Tennis – Small Sound
  44. Andrew Bird – I Want to See Pulaski at Night
  45. The Moth & The Flame – &
  46. John Vanderslice – Dagger Beach
  47. Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors Of…
  48. Tegan And Sara – Hearthrob
  49. David Bowie – The Next Day
  50. Okkervil River – The Silver Gymnasium

Listen on my Spotify Playlist: Best Albums of 2013

    Posted on

    Top 50 Songs of 2012

    This was a great year in music. Here is my list of favorite tunes. Most of them came off of albums from my “Top 50 Albums of 2012” list, with a handful of top 40 tunes thrown in. What were your favorite songs this year?


    Here is a text version of the list:

    1. Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
    2. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
    3. Kishi Bashi – “Bright Whites”
    4. Ben Sollee – “Unfinished”
    5. The Shins – “Simple Song”
    6. Menomena – “Plumage”
    7. Fiona Apple – “Every Single Night”
    8. Maps & Atlases – “Winter”
    9. Beach House – “Myth”
    10. Wilco & Billy Bragg – “When The Roses Bloom Again”
    11. Divine Fits – “My Love Is Real”
    12. Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”
    13. Neon Trees – “Everybody Talks”
    14. Passion Pit – “Take A Walk”
    15. The Tallest Man On Earth – “Leading Me Now”
    16. Jack White – “Hypocritical Kiss”
    17. Ramona Falls – “Spore”
    18. Gotye – “Somebody That I Used To Know”
    19. Paul Banks – “The Base”
    20. Menomena – “Pique”
    21. Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
    22. Dr. Dog – “Vampire”
    23. The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
    24. Ben Sollee – “Whole Lot to Give”
    25. The Killers – “Runaways”
    26. Galactic – “Ha Di Ka”
    27. Imagine Dragons – “It’s Time”
    28. The Helio Sequence – “One More Time”
    29. Ramona Falls – “Bodies of Water”
    30. Ultraista – “Bad Insect”
    31. Of Monsters And Men – “Little Talks”
    32. Alabama Shakes – “Rise to the Sun”
    33. Two Door Cinema Club – “Next Year”
    34. Here We Go Magic – “How Do I Know”
    35. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
    36. Divine Fits – “Would That Not Be Nice”
    37. Kishi Bashi – “Manchester”
    38. Dr. Dog – “Lonesome”
    39. Dirty Projectors – “About to Die”
    40. Delta Spirit – “Teat It Up”
    41. Glen Hansard – “This Gift”
    42. David Byrne & St. Vincent – “Who”
    43. The Walkmen – “Heartbreaker”
    44. Passion Pit – “Mirrored Sea”
    45. Paul Weller – “The Attic”
    46. Andrew Bird – “Eyeoneye”
    47. Father John Misty – “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”
    48. Fun. – “We Are Young”
    49. Trampled By Turtles – “Alone”
    50. Sigur Ros – “Fjogur piano”
    Link to listen in Spotify: Top 50 Songs of 2012
    Posted on

    Top 50 Albums of 2012

    When it came time to make my best albums of the year list, I planned on only having 25 albums like I did for my Top 25 Albums of 2011, but I had such a hard time narrowing it down that I decided to expand it to 50. My list is admittedly skewed towards indie, folk and rock but I’m working on expanding my horizons. What do you think? I’d love to hear your comments. What did I miss?

    Take a listen or subscribe to the list on Spotify: Best Albums of 2012

    1. Kishi Bashi – 151a
    2. Menomena – Moms
    3. Alabama Shakes – Boys and Girls
    4. Maps and Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful
    5. The Shins – Port of Morrow
    6. Ben Sollee – Half Made Man
    7. Beach House – Bloom
    8. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel
    9. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
    10. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
    11. Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship
    12. Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
    13. Ramona Falls – Prophet
    14. The Tallest Man on Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
    15. Book On Tape Worm – All The World’s A Stage
    16. Passion Pit – Gossamer
    17. Trampled By Turtles – Stars and Satellites
    18. Father John Misty – Fear Fun
    19. Dr. Dog – Be The Void
    20. Benjamin Gibbard – Former Lives
    21. Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur
    22. Jack White – Blunderbuss
    23. The Walkmen – Heaven
    24. The Helio Sequence – Negotiations
    25. Grizzly Bear – Shields
    26. The xx – Coexist
    27. Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
    28. Ultraista – Ultraista
    29. The Maccabees – Given To The Wild
    30. Band of Horses – Mirage Rock
    31. Islands – A Sleep & A Forgetting
    32. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
    33. David Bryne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant
    34. Galactic – Carnivale Electricos
    35. The Killers – Battle Born
    36. Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon
    37. Hot Chip – In Our Heads
    38. Yellow Ostrich – Strange Land
    39. The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter
    40. Tennis – Young & Old
    41. Sigur Ros – Valtari
    42. Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts
    43. Joshua James – From the Top of Williamette Mountain
    44. Murder By Death – Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
    45. Mumford and Sons – Babel
    46. M. Ward – Wasteland Companion
    47. Heartless Bastards – Arrow
    48. Paul Banks – Banks 
    49. Grimes – Visions
    50. Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks
    Honorable Mentions:
    • Wild Nothing – Nocturne
    • Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
    • Tame Impala – Lonerism
    • Bob Dylan – Tempest
    • The Lumineers – The Lumineers
    • Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue vol. 3
    • Glen Hansard – Rhythm and Repose
    • Jay William Henderson – The Sun Will Burn Our Eyes
    • Bruce Spingsteen – Wrecking Ball
    • Noel Gallagher – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
    • Lambchop – Mr. M
    • Best Coast – The Only Place
    • Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire
    • Neon Trees – Picture Show
    • Fun. – Some Nights
    • Air – Le voyage dans la lune
    • Minus The Beat – Infinity Overhead
    • Matt & Kim – Lightning
    • For All the Girls – For All The Girls
    • Tu Fawning – A Monument
    • Ty Segall – Twins
    • Punch Brothers – Who’s Feeling Young Now?
    • The Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania
    • Dan Deacon – America
    • Miike Snow – Happy To You
      Posted on

      Top 50 Albums of 2012

      When it came time to make my best albums of the year list, I planned on only having 25 albums like I did for my Top 25 Albums of 2011, but I had such a hard time narrowing it down that I decided to expand it to 50. My list is admittedly skewed towards indie, folk and rock but I’m working on expanding my horizons. What do you think? I’d love to hear your comments. What did I miss?

      Take a listen or subscribe to the list on Spotify: Best Albums of 2012

      1. Kishi Bashi – 151a
      2. Menomena – Moms
      3. Alabama Shakes – Boys and Girls
      4. Maps and Atlases – Beware and Be Grateful
      5. The Shins – Port of Morrow
      6. Ben Sollee – Half Made Man
      7. Beach House – Bloom
      8. Fiona Apple – The Idler Wheel
      9. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
      10. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
      11. Here We Go Magic – A Different Ship
      12. Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits
      13. Ramona Falls – Prophet
      14. The Tallest Man on Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
      15. Book On Tape Worm – All The World’s A Stage
      16. Passion Pit – Gossamer
      17. Trampled By Turtles – Stars and Satellites
      18. Father John Misty – Fear Fun
      19. Dr. Dog – Be The Void
      20. Benjamin Gibbard – Former Lives
      21. Kathleen Edwards – Voyageur
      22. Jack White – Blunderbuss
      23. The Walkmen – Heaven
      24. The Helio Sequence – Negotiations
      25. Grizzly Bear – Shields
      26. The xx – Coexist
      27. Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself
      28. Ultraista – Ultraista
      29. The Maccabees – Given To The Wild
      30. Band of Horses – Mirage Rock
      31. Islands – A Sleep & A Forgetting
      32. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
      33. David Bryne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant
      34. Galactic – Carnivale Electricos
      35. The Killers – Battle Born
      36. Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon
      37. Hot Chip – In Our Heads
      38. Yellow Ostrich – Strange Land
      39. The Avett Brothers – The Carpenter
      40. Tennis – Young & Old
      41. Sigur Ros – Valtari
      42. Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts
      43. Joshua James – From the Top of Williamette Mountain
      44. Murder By Death – Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon
      45. Mumford and Sons – Babel
      46. M. Ward – Wasteland Companion
      47. Heartless Bastards – Arrow
      48. Paul Banks – Banks
      49. Grimes – Visions
      50. Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks
      Honorable Mentions:
      • Wild Nothing – Nocturne
      • Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
      • Tame Impala – Lonerism
      • Bob Dylan – Tempest
      • The Lumineers – The Lumineers
      • Billy Bragg & Wilco – Mermaid Avenue vol. 3
      • Glen Hansard – Rhythm and Repose
      • Jay William Henderson – The Sun Will Burn Our Eyes
      • Bruce Spingsteen – Wrecking Ball
      • Noel Gallagher – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
      • Lambchop – Mr. M
      • Best Coast – The Only Place
      • Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire
      • Neon Trees – Picture Show
      • Fun. – Some Nights
      • Air – Le voyage dans la lune
      • Minus The Beat – Infinity Overhead
      • Matt & Kim – Lightning
      • For All the Girls – For All The Girls
      • Tu Fawning – A Monument
      • Ty Segall – Twins
      • Punch Brothers – Who’s Feeling Young Now?
      • The Smashing Pumpkins – Oceania
      • Dan Deacon – America
      • Miike Snow – Happy To You
      Posted on

      Top 50 Songs of 2012

      This was a great year in music. Here is my list of favorite tunes. Most of them came off of albums from my “Top 50 Albums of 2012” list, with a handful of top 40 tunes thrown in. What were your favorite songs this year?

      1. Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
      2. Japandroids – “The House That Heaven Built”
      3. Kishi Bashi – “Bright Whites”
      4. Ben Sollee – “Unfinished”
      5. The Shins – “Simple Song”
      6. Menomena – “Plumage”
      7. Fiona Apple – “Every Single Night”
      8. Maps & Atlases – “Winter”
      9. Beach House – “Myth”
      10. Wilco & Billy Bragg – “When The Roses Bloom Again”
      11. Divine Fits – “My Love Is Real”
      12. Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”
      13. Neon Trees – “Everybody Talks”
      14. Passion Pit – “Take A Walk”
      15. The Tallest Man On Earth – “Leading Me Now”
      16. Jack White – “Hypocritical Kiss”
      17. Ramona Falls – “Spore”
      18. Gotye – “Somebody That I Used To Know”
      19. Paul Banks – “The Base”
      20. Menomena – “Pique”
      21. Mumford & Sons – “I Will Wait”
      22. Dr. Dog – “Vampire”
      23. The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”
      24. Ben Sollee – “Whole Lot to Give”
      25. The Killers – “Runaways”
      26. Galactic – “Ha Di Ka”
      27. Imagine Dragons – “It’s Time”
      28. The Helio Sequence – “One More Time”
      29. Ramona Falls – “Bodies of Water”
      30. Ultraista – “Bad Insect”
      31. Of Monsters And Men – “Little Talks”
      32. Alabama Shakes – “Rise to the Sun”
      33. Two Door Cinema Club – “Next Year”
      34. Here We Go Magic – “How Do I Know”
      35. Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”
      36. Divine Fits – “Would That Not Be Nice”
      37. Kishi Bashi – “Manchester”
      38. Dr. Dog – “Lonesome”
      39. Dirty Projectors – “About to Die”
      40. Delta Spirit – “Teat It Up”
      41. Glen Hansard – “This Gift”
      42. David Byrne & St. Vincent – “Who”
      43. The Walkmen – “Heartbreaker”
      44. Passion Pit – “Mirrored Sea”
      45. Paul Weller – “The Attic”
      46. Andrew Bird – “Eyeoneye”
      47. Father John Misty – “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”
      48. Fun. – “We Are Young”
      49. Trampled By Turtles – “Alone”
      50. Sigur Ros – “Fjogur piano”
      Link to listen in Spotify: Top 50 Songs of 2012
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      Top 25 Songs in 2011

      Here’s a list of my favorite songs on 2011. I know it’s already February and most people’s heads are already past the end of the year wrap up, but better late then never, right? A lot of these songs come off on my Top 25 Albums of 2011 list. For me, there were some new discoveries as far as bands go (The Dodos, Milagres, The Globes, Grouplove), some songs that I should be sick of but I’m not yet (“Rolling in the Deep”, “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”, “Sail”, “Pumped Up Kicks”), some artists who continue to reinvent themselves (Radiohead, Wilco, The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie), and some artists who have continued with their own classic sound (The Black Keys, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Foo Fighters). I found myself really digging a Beyonce song, which never happens. And how Low got Uncle Jesse to be in their video, I don’t know, but I love it! Also, every year or two, a new hit comes out with whistling in it (“Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn and John, “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, etc.) This year, Foster the People came out with two! In retrospect, lots of good tunes and singles came out in 2011 (along with great albums)! It’s one of the best years for music I can remember in a while. What songs did you like in 2011?

      The links for the bands go to their website. The links for the songs go to a music video/live performance. If you have a Spotify account, click on the link at the bottom and you can listen to everything on the list.

      1. Fleet Foxes – “Grown Ocean”
      2. The Dodos – “Black Night”
      3. Milagres – “Halfway”
      4. Death Cab for Cutie – “Codes and Keys”
      5. Grouplove – “Colours”
      6. The Decemberists – “Don’t Carry It All”
      7. Bon Iver – “Perth”
      8. Adele – “Rolling In The Deep”
      9. The Black Keys – “Lonely Boy”
      10. Foster The People – “Don’t Stop (Color On The Walls)”
      11. Wilco – “Art of Almost”
      12. Radiohead – “Lotus Flower”
      13. Awolnation – “Sail”
      14. The Decemberists – “Down By The Water”
      15. Fleet Foxes – “Bedouin Dress”
      16. The Globes – “Pretty Birds Above Our Heads”
      17. Foster The People – “Pumped Up Kicks”
      18. Death Cab for Cutie – “Home Is A Fire”
      19. St. Vincent – “Cruel”
      20. The Antlers – “I Don’t Want Love”
      21. Low – “Try to Sleep”
      22. Coldplay – “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall”
      23. Beyonce – “Countdown”
      24. Foo Fighters – “Walk”
      25. Cage The Elephant – “Shake Me Down”

      Link to Spotify playlist: Top 25 Songs of 2011