We're almost to the end!
Don't forget that the 50
tracks you'll find this week are all from a pool
of nearly 500 tunes I shared throughout 2011. Enjoy.
- 20 through 11 -
20)
:Phantogram
- Don't Move:
I've yet to get around to listening to Phantogram's latest
EP. That's partly due to me just not having done it
yet, but it's mostly because I'm stuck on this gem and feel
no reason to move on. Find this song on the
Nightlife EP.
19)
:Girls
- Vomit:
Girls went from being a band I didn't like all that much to
one that I now love, and it all started with the help of
this song. It's just one of those efforts that I can't
help but repeatedly get lost in. This track is from
Father, Son, Holy Ghost.
18)
:David
Vandervelde - More Than You Can Feel:
When I came across this track earlier in the year it only
took a single listen for me to realize it would have a spot
on this list. Sure, it's almost too dramatic for its
own good, but I'd think you'd be hard-pressed to find
something that feels more genuine. This is a one-off
single.
17)
:Mikal
Cronin - Apathy:
2011 has delivered plenty of things that are great to listen
to in the car, but I think this might be my favorite track
to blare. I like the lyrics, it's catchy, and I really
dig the raw sound. Find it on Mikal Cronin's self
titled debut.
16)
:Cymbals
Eat Guitars - Rifle Eyesight (Proper Name):
I wanted Cymbals Eat Guitars to follow up Why There Are
Mountains with something bigger, and they did. All
the proof you need can be found in this swirling, eight and
a half minute beast. This is from Lenses Alien.
15)
:Cults
- You Know What I Mean:
This is one of those bands that I imagine many of you are
torn on. They have a rather generic approach to
things, but then they have inspired tracks like this that
are pretty much impossible to not love. Find it on
their self titled debut.
14)
:Yuck
- Coconut Bible:
While the world was celebrating Yuck for a slew of other
tracks, I was sitting off by myself with this overly catchy
piece of indie rock on repeat. Consider me thrilled
that it now has an official home on the special edition of
Rubber.
13)
:Alexander
- Truth:
Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros are an act that I
mainly just appreciate, so I wasn't exactly excited when it
was announced that their frontman had readied a solo
project. Then this track came along, and I immediately
had to hear what else he had done. Find it on
Alexander's self titled debut.
12)
:Low
- Especially Me:
As is the case with quite a few of the songs on this list,
this is one that I find myself swept up in whenever I hit
play. I blame the ominous feel of the music and the
fantastic songwriting. You can find this track on
C'mon.
11)
:St.
Vincent - Cruel:
You could say my biased love for Annie Clark is why this is
so high on the list, but then I'd argue that the guitar work
alone warrants this spot. Plus, are artsy tracks like
this supposed to be so catchy? It's weird, and I adore
it. This is from Strange Mercy.
- John Laird -
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