Young MC — Bust a Move

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2011 10 | Twin Sister — In HeavenIn Heaven is a sweet album that sounds like it’s from the 80s. I love the girl/boy duo of Andrea and Eric, who complement each other wonderfully. They pull you into their dreamy little world of their own, full of nostalgia and adolescence. 09 | M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (1 | 2)AUGH OKAY songs about dreams/songs that sound like dreams are my favorite. The title itself already ranks itself as one of my favorite album titles ever. The whole album feels very childish and reminiscent of a fantasy, and Anthony Gonzalez captured it perfectly. Hurry Up is synth pop at its best, lush with layers and imagination. Like Liz Lemon, I want to go to there. 08 | James Blake — S/TI’m not even a huge dub step fan but this 21 year old wunderkind re-invented that genre. Sometimes it’s just like, What the fuck where you saying in that one song? I don’t care, these beats are dope!!! His music can be sort of irritating sometimes with how sparse it is but he can control it so well because he knows what he’s doing. James Blake translates even better live, when the bass pierces from your ribs to your spine. 07 | Lykke Li — Wounded RhymesLykke Li just exudes confidence and sensuality, but then she also reveals a vulnerable side in her second debut album, too. I love love love how sexual she is: like a shotgun needs an outcome / I’m your prostitute, you’re gonna get some. and then she can also write incredible depressing songs: sadness is a blessing / sadness is a pearl / sadness is my boyfriend / sadness, I’m your girl. Wounded Rhymes is a great album from start to finish and is such a treat. 06 | Frank Ocean — nostalgia/ULTRAFRANK MOTHERFUCKING OCEAN. I was really hesitant to listen to him at first because he’s part of OFWGKTA and I hate them more than annual pap smears, but after hearing We All Try I was in love. This is his debut mix tape but it hardly even sounds like one. Plus, he sampled over The Eagles’ “Hotel California” which is ballsy as fuck. I’m just so proud of how far he’s gone from barely anyone knowing his name earlier this year to working with Jay-Z and Kanye West. I wish more R&B could sound like him: honest, raw and bare. 05 | The Throne — Watch the ThroneThe two masters of hip-hop from opposite sides of the spectrum was a great collaboration, with Jay-Z being pulled into Kanye’s crazy world. I really love the idea of Watch the Throne, how even though they’ve paved their way to fame, they still have to watch the throne. Even though the album talks about their lavish lifestyle, they still recollect on their hardships, especially in Gotta Have It and Murder to Excellence. 04 | St. Vincent — Strange MercyI’ve always liked St. Vincent but it wasn’t until her third album, Strange Mercy, that I really connected with her. Strange Mercy is just so somber and pessimistic yet confident, especially in Cheerleader when she repetitively says, I, I, I, don’t want to be a cheerleader anymore. Strange Mercy represents a proud rebellion to life; finally standing up for what one believes. 03 | The Rapture — In the Grace of Your LoveThe Rapture came back after a long hiatus. They’ve refined their sound from punk rock to more disco and In the Grace of Your Love is such a feel good album all around. It must not be easy coming back after such a long time, but they did it well because all I want to do is dance my ass off to this album, even to the sad post-break up song of Miss You. 02 | The Weeknd — House of BalloonsAbel Tesfaye is only 21 and has already released three mix tapes this year. His music is simply incredible, because he doesn’t sound like an amateur at all. Even his lyrics paint such a dark picture that make you question whether it’s fantasy or reality. I sort of think of him and Lana Del Rey in the same vein, how Lana Del Rey is more of the daylight of Hollywood and The Weeknd is the night time, since he talks about such heavy subject matter like drugs and the morning after. The Weeknd is so much more about show than tell, which is why his music can be so jarring and captivating at once. House of Balloons is such a great narrative because the songs start from the beginning of the night with getting high, to having sex and coming down from drugs to the morning after and then the consequences. This line from House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls is my absolute favorite: “I heard he do drugs now” / you heard wrong I been on them for a minute / we just never act a fool / that’s just how we fuckin’ livin’ / and when we act a fool / it’s probably cause we mixed it. I also can’t get over the fact that he sampled Beach House and Siouxsee and the Banshees. 01 | Tune-Yards — W H O K I L LThis probably surprises no one, but I pretty much consider Merrill Garbus one of my idols. At first I was turned off by Tune-Yards a) because of the sticky caps, WHO DOES THAT? but Merrill explained that in her MySpace days it was to catch attention and b) they just sounded so rambunctious! But that’s sort of the point: Merrill wants to be loud and release this beast inside of her. I love how she brings in these African influences but still manages to create her own sound that can only be Merrill. Sometimes she doesn’t even use words, she just goes ARGHHHH and makes random police noises on her own. Her voice is an instrument all on its own, and she utilizes to the max. Her music isn’t just about being loud, though: she brings up all sorts of social issues such as feminism, racism, oppression, body image, etc. She’s really inspired me to be louder and not to be passive anymore. TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2011

10 | Twin Sister — In Heaven

In Heaven is a sweet album that sounds like it’s from the 80s. I love the girl/boy duo of Andrea and Eric, who complement each other wonderfully. They pull you into their dreamy little world of their own, full of nostalgia and adolescence.

09 | M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (1 | 2)

AUGH OKAY songs about dreams/songs that sound like dreams are my favorite. The title itself already ranks itself as one of my favorite album titles ever. The whole album feels very childish and reminiscent of a fantasy, and Anthony Gonzalez captured it perfectly. Hurry Up is synth pop at its best, lush with layers and imagination. Like Liz Lemon, I want to go to there.

08 | James Blake — S/T

I’m not even a huge dub step fan but this 21 year old wunderkind re-invented that genre. Sometimes it’s just like, What the fuck where you saying in that one song? I don’t care, these beats are dope!!! His music can be sort of irritating sometimes with how sparse it is but he can control it so well because he knows what he’s doing. James Blake translates even better live, when the bass pierces from your ribs to your spine.

07 | Lykke Li — Wounded Rhymes

Lykke Li just exudes confidence and sensuality, but then she also reveals a vulnerable side in her second debut album, too. I love love love how sexual she is: like a shotgun needs an outcome / I’m your prostitute, you’re gonna get some. and then she can also write incredible depressing songs: sadness is a blessing / sadness is a pearl / sadness is my boyfriend / sadness, I’m your girl. Wounded Rhymes is a great album from start to finish and is such a treat.

06 | Frank Ocean — nostalgia/ULTRA

FRANK MOTHERFUCKING OCEAN. I was really hesitant to listen to him at first because he’s part of OFWGKTA and I hate them more than annual pap smears, but after hearing We All Try I was in love. This is his debut mix tape but it hardly even sounds like one. Plus, he sampled over The Eagles’ “Hotel California” which is ballsy as fuck. I’m just so proud of how far he’s gone from barely anyone knowing his name earlier this year to working with Jay-Z and Kanye West. I wish more R&B could sound like him: honest, raw and bare.

05 | The Throne — Watch the Throne

The two masters of hip-hop from opposite sides of the spectrum was a great collaboration, with Jay-Z being pulled into Kanye’s crazy world. I really love the idea of Watch the Throne, how even though they’ve paved their way to fame, they still have to watch the throne. Even though the album talks about their lavish lifestyle, they still recollect on their hardships, especially in Gotta Have It and Murder to Excellence.

04 | St. Vincent — Strange Mercy

I’ve always liked St. Vincent but it wasn’t until her third album, Strange Mercy, that I really connected with her. Strange Mercy is just so somber and pessimistic yet confident, especially in Cheerleader when she repetitively says, I, I, I, don’t want to be a cheerleader anymore. Strange Mercy represents a proud rebellion to life; finally standing up for what one believes.

03 | The Rapture — In the Grace of Your Love

The Rapture came back after a long hiatus. They’ve refined their sound from punk rock to more disco and In the Grace of Your Love is such a feel good album all around. It must not be easy coming back after such a long time, but they did it well because all I want to do is dance my ass off to this album, even to the sad post-break up song of Miss You.

02 | The Weeknd — House of Balloons

Abel Tesfaye is only 21 and has already released three mix tapes this year. His music is simply incredible, because he doesn’t sound like an amateur at all. Even his lyrics paint such a dark picture that make you question whether it’s fantasy or reality. I sort of think of him and Lana Del Rey in the same vein, how Lana Del Rey is more of the daylight of Hollywood and The Weeknd is the night time, since he talks about such heavy subject matter like drugs and the morning after. The Weeknd is so much more about show than tell, which is why his music can be so jarring and captivating at once.

House of Balloons is such a great narrative because the songs start from the beginning of the night with getting high, to having sex and coming down from drugs to the morning after and then the consequences. This line from House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls is my absolute favorite: “I heard he do drugs now” / you heard wrong I been on them for a minute / we just never act a fool / that’s just how we fuckin’ livin’ / and when we act a fool / it’s probably cause we mixed it. I also can’t get over the fact that he sampled Beach House and Siouxsee and the Banshees.

01 | Tune-Yards — W H O K I L L

This probably surprises no one, but I pretty much consider Merrill Garbus one of my idols. At first I was turned off by Tune-Yards a) because of the sticky caps, WHO DOES THAT? but Merrill explained that in her MySpace days it was to catch attention and b) they just sounded so rambunctious! But that’s sort of the point: Merrill wants to be loud and release this beast inside of her. I love how she brings in these African influences but still manages to create her own sound that can only be Merrill. Sometimes she doesn’t even use words, she just goes ARGHHHH and makes random police noises on her own. Her voice is an instrument all on its own, and she utilizes to the max. Her music isn’t just about being loud, though: she brings up all sorts of social issues such as feminism, racism, oppression, body image, etc. She’s really inspired me to be louder and not to be passive anymore.

TOP 50 SONGS OF 2011 (click through image to download) 50. THE BLACK KEYS - lonely boy 49. RUSSIAN RED - everyday everynight 48. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART - heart in your heartbreak 47. BLONDS - k.o. 46. BON IVER - beth/rest 45. BIRDY - shelter (the xx cover) 44. BOY - boris 43. WILD BEASTS - plaything 42. KIMBRA - settle down 41. PHANTOGRAM - don’t move 40. WILD VIBES - it’s all happening 39. LOTTE KESTNER - fake empire (the national cover) 38. BEIRUT - east harlem 37. BRITNEY SPEARS - (drop dead) beautiful feat. sabi 36. THE ANTLERS - corsicana 35. SBTRKT - wildfire 34. TENNIS - take me somewhere 33. DRAKE FEAT. RIHANNA - take care 32. DUM DUM GIRLS - coming down 31. FOSTER THE PEOPLE - pumped up kicks 30. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - container park 29. THAO & MIRAH - squareneck 28. GOTYE FEAT. KIMBRA - somebody that i used to know 27. YOUTH LAGOON - seventeen 26. FRIENDLY FIRES - hurting 25. FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - shake it out (the weeknd remix) 24. CULTS - go outside 23. JAMES BLAKE - i never learnt to share 22. THE KILLS - pots and pans 21. TWIN SISTER - stop 20. GAYNGS/DOOMTREE - fight, fuck, fall asleep (cecil otter regrind ft. sims) 19. RADIOHEAD - separator 18. FRIENDS - my boo 17. WILD FLAG - romance 16. OH LAND - rainbow 15. FLEET FOXES - grown ocean 14. FRANK OCEAN - we all try 13. M83 - midnight city 12. CHILDISH GAMBINO - heartbeat 11. JAMIE WOON - blue truth10. LYKKE LI - get some 09. KAVINSKY & LOVEFOXXX - nightcall 08. THE RAPTURE - how deep is your love? 07. ELLIE GOULDING - lights (bassnectar remix) 06. ST. VINCENT - cheerleader 05. BEYONCE - countdown 04. TUNE-YARDS - powa 03. THE THRONE - niggas in paris 02. JAMIE XX FEAT. ADELE AND CHILDISH GAMBINO - rolling in the deep 01. LANA DEL REY - video gamesbonus | THE WEEKND - house of balloons / glass table girls

TOP 50 SONGS OF 2011 (click through image to download)

50. THE BLACK KEYS - lonely boy
49. RUSSIAN RED - everyday everynight
48. THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART - heart in your heartbreak
47. BLONDS - k.o.
46. BON IVER - beth/rest
45. BIRDY - shelter (the xx cover)
44. BOY - boris
43. WILD BEASTS - plaything
42. KIMBRA - settle down
41. PHANTOGRAM - don’t move
40. WILD VIBES - it’s all happening
39. LOTTE KESTNER - fake empire (the national cover)
38. BEIRUT - east harlem
37. BRITNEY SPEARS - (drop dead) beautiful feat. sabi
36. THE ANTLERS - corsicana
35. SBTRKT - wildfire
34. TENNIS - take me somewhere
33. DRAKE FEAT. RIHANNA - take care
32. DUM DUM GIRLS - coming down
31. FOSTER THE PEOPLE - pumped up kicks
30. THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS - container park
29. THAO & MIRAH - squareneck
28. GOTYE FEAT. KIMBRA - somebody that i used to know
27. YOUTH LAGOON - seventeen
26. FRIENDLY FIRES - hurting
25. FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - shake it out (the weeknd remix)
24. CULTS - go outside
23. JAMES BLAKE - i never learnt to share
22. THE KILLS - pots and pans
21. TWIN SISTER - stop
20. GAYNGS/DOOMTREE - fight, fuck, fall asleep (cecil otter regrind ft. sims)
19. RADIOHEAD - separator
18. FRIENDS - my boo
17. WILD FLAG - romance
16. OH LAND - rainbow
15. FLEET FOXES - grown ocean
14. FRANK OCEAN - we all try
13. M83 - midnight city
12. CHILDISH GAMBINO - heartbeat
11. JAMIE WOON - blue truth
10. LYKKE LI - get some
09. KAVINSKY & LOVEFOXXX - nightcall
08. THE RAPTURE - how deep is your love?
07. ELLIE GOULDING - lights (bassnectar remix)
06. ST. VINCENT - cheerleader
05. BEYONCE - countdown
04. TUNE-YARDS - powa
03. THE THRONE - niggas in paris
02. JAMIE XX FEAT. ADELE AND CHILDISH GAMBINO - rolling in the deep
01. LANA DEL REY - video games

bonus | THE WEEKND - house of balloons / glass table girls

saycatastrophe:

Wham! — Last Christmas

Best Christmas song ever, let’s be real here.

Tune-Yards — Party Can (live at the Pitchfork Music Festival 2011)

When Merrill says, “DO YOU WANNA LIVE!?!” you say, “YEAH!” Magic, you guys. Seriously.

St. Vincent — Cheerleader (live at Good Records)

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately: how sometimes we put on this facade of being nice to people we might not particularly like, especially in regards to co-workers or acquaintances. How we ignore situations just to avoid confrontation. How we put up with shit we don’t really care for. How bad habits are hard to break. How we should be the bigger person. This song says fuck that all of it. I especially love how it begins with “I don’t want to be your cheerleader” to “I don’t want to be your dirt eater anymore”. Because St. Vincent is tired of people’s shit.

Youth Lagoon — Cannons

Damn, these Youth Lagoon beats are dope. The title of the album is The Year of Hibernation is actually really apt because all of these songs sound so… lonely, in a way? Very sparse and meticulous, which is the result of being by yourself.

Twin Sister — Saturday Sunday

I saw a girl there with no shoes. She wore a bikini and she smiled at me and said, “Please could I come? My friends are no fun. They’re out there lying in the sun. I don’t care if I’m tan or I’m fair. Just wanna have a better time with you and with you.”

Massive Attack — Untitled

NEW MASSIVE ATTACK! NEED I SAY MORE? (Well, I’ll say this: it’s a demo, and it sounds fucking awesome. Can’t wait for the real one to come out.)

Childish Gambino — Heartbeat

I’ve had some problems with Childish Gambino, but I still am proud of his first studio-produced album, CAMP. Donald Glover’s a hardworking guy with his balancing act on Community and his music career — which, I know isn’t rare in Hollywood, but he actually writes and produces his own stuff by staying up until 3am in the morning and then working on Community the next day. His music is brutal and honest when he talks about racism (especially in his own past) and relationships. Heartbeat, in particular, can come across as cruel but that’s what this relationship is. This destructive magnetism to go back to this girl he wants, even though they’re both with other people. He describes the girl he’s casually seeing as “she’s got a key to my place but / she’s not my real girlfriend.” It may seem mean but it only exemplifies this complexity of a relationship with his main girl that he wants. And then the final verse is what brings it all together: “Are we dating? Are we fucking? Are we best friends? Are we something? In between that? I wish we never fucked and I mean that.” That line just rings particularly true for me. Then Childish Gambino ends with: “Not really. You say the nastiest shit in bed and it’s fucking awesome.” The cycle begins all over again.