Here are (in my humble opinion) the best songs brought to us in 2011. The order is up for debate...:
10. The Vaccines - Post Break Up Sex
Sure it's not really punk or particularly indie in the truest sense of the word, but they make good tunes and this was one of them.
9. Lady Gaga - Judas
Not as stunning as her previous work, but this avoided the cliche's of Born This Way and proved that Lady Gaga is the true air to Madonna's crown as the provider of intelligent pop music that challenges the audience rather than pander to them.
8. Arctic Monkeys - Don't Sit Down
Back to their best. A truly brilliant track, full of scathing northern wit.
7. Akira The Don - Babydoll
Who would have thought that Akira was capable? After this, everyone.
6. Nero - Crush on You
My friend is one of many who hates it, but I think this is the perfect combination of pop and dubstep into something that lights up dance floors.
5. Florence and The Machine - Shake it Out
I got so so sick of Florence's first album, it was overplayed into oblivion. It will however be a long long time before I get sick of this glorious track.
4. Olly Murs + Rizzle Kicks - Heart Skips a Beat
Yes, I know. I also do not care. This track is pop at it's absolute best. I don't care who you are, if you don't dance when that sub bass comes in you have no soul.
3. Dub Phizix - Marka
Normally I find this kind of minimal dub to be repetitive, but the great production and brilliant vocals make this an exception. I can't wait to hear this dropped in a club.
2. Circles - Eye Embedded
Not the most instant of metal songs. But there is about 50 seconds in this track that ranks among my favourite bits of guitar music ever made.
1. Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said
Great track proving that hip hop can still be meaningful and political without being boring; and the performance at the BET awards complete with #occupy tshirt and Erykah Badu in a burkah was truly stunning.
Also up there:
Kapital KO - Shut it Down
Floating Death Picnic - Wrong Song Choice
(Sadly not on YouTube)
Lana Del Rey - Video Games
Incubus - Adolescents
Visions of Trees - Sirens
