And then there was a third day.
Remember that the 50
tracks you'll find this week are all from a pool
of nearly 500 tunes I shared throughout 2011. Enjoy.
- 30 through 21 -
30)
:First
Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar:
To be honest, this track came out of nowhere for me. I
had heard of the band and knew they were supposed to be
solid, but I didn't know they were churning out stuff as
good as this moody number. It can be located on The
Lion's Roar.
29)
:The
Rural Alberta Advantage - Stamp:
I'm still not entirely sure where I stand on RAA's sophomore
effort, but I do know for certain that this is an absolutely
fantastic track. On another note, their drummer needs
a solo project. This can be found on Departing.
28)
:Bleached
- Searching Through The Past:
All the lady-lead fuzzy retro pop that was everywhere last
year seems to have gone elsewhere in 2011, so I'm extra
thankful that Bleached were around to deliver this bouncy
tune to me. This is from the Searching Through The
Past 7".
27)
:Peter
Bjorn And John - Second Chance:
Aside from the fact that this track might feature the best
usage of a cowbell in years, I mostly just want to high five
these guys for always coming back to us all with something
different. Find this on Gimme Some.
26)
:Beirut
- Santa Fe:
There were fewer things that I listened to this year that
managed to stay as fresh as this track. It's just a
delight on the senses, and you might have issues if you
can't find at least one thing to like about it. This
can be located on The Rip Tide.
25)
:Acid
House Kings - Would You Say Stop? (DaveDag Remix):
The original version of this is a great track that I listen
to often, but for months now I've repeatedly found myself a
tad more attached to the 90s style arrangement of this
remix. Find it on Music Sounds Better Remixed.
24)
:Empress
Hotel - Bell Rings:
These guys delivered this track to my ears way back in
January, and throughout the year it's managed to constantly
impress. If you like your pop music well made and full
of warmth, then this is for you. Find it on the band's
self titled EP.
23)
:My
Morning Jacket - Holdin' On To Black Metal:
Was there a stranger song than this in 2011? I think
it's OK to say no and leave it at that, but feel free to
tell me otherwise. Until then, I'll just get back to
singing this gem as loudly as I can. Find it on
Circuital.
22)
:The
Kills - DNA:
I greatly adore the meaty music in this track, but I have to
admit that I've been coming back to it all year because of
Alison Mosshart, who for every moment of the runtime sounds
more alluring than anything you're likely to find on this
planet. This is from Blood Pressures.
21)
:EMA
- The Grey Ship:
Because this thing is over seven minutes and features a
weird pace that sometimes make it feel even longer, I'm
calling this the "most rewarding" track of 2011. Show
a little patience, and you'll be given a huge, swirling
effort that will instantly make you a fan of EMA. This
is off of Past Life Martyred Saints.
- John Laird -
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