The Best of 2011 So Far: 20 Tracks
Written by Tiffiny // July 3, 2011 // Features // No comments
Can you believe that the year is already half over? Yeah, neither can we. Here are our 20 favorite tracks of 2011 from January through June, featuring everything from indie rock to folk to punk and creating a narrative of what the year has been like for us so far.
Amanda Palmer – In My Mind
I sometimes forget how very much I adore this song, then when it comes up on my iPod, I’m in love all over again. This is a really honest self narrative that I relate to strongly. [Tiffiny]
Death Cab for Cutie – You Are A Tourist
I’m at home in the world. I’ve moved more than 25 times in the past 16 years, and while I’m settled in my hometown for now, I know that eventually the intense longing to experience another city, state, or country will overwhelm me again eventually, and I’ll have to go. [Melanie]
And if you feel just like a tourist in the city you were born / Then it’s time to go / And define your destination / There’s so many different places to call home
Death Cab for Cutie – You Are a Tourist
Bebe Black – I’ll Wait
Lizzie introduced me to this track. Amazing pop song. I can’t stop listening to it. [Tiffiny]
Larry and His Flask – End of an Era
Everything about this track, from The Flask’s signature harmonies to their stellar command of every possible instrument, to its stark lyrics, is completely gorgeous. [Melanie]
Larry and His Flask – End of an Era
Ben Marwood – Toil
I try to choose singles for this list because it gives me a few limits on what I have to examine. However, I believe I’ve had this track in mind since January. For me, it represents the Ben Marwood experience; clever, wordy, and raw. [Tiffiny]
Eisley – Ambulance
The perfect song for when you’re feeling broken. [Melanie]
Bright Eyes – Haile Selassie
This is my favorite song off of The People’s Key. It’s a big, big track. Huge. [Tiffiny]
Sleepy Vikings – Flashlight Tag
This song makes exquisite use of every instrument layered over shouts, noise and soundbites all tied together by clever lyrics and gorgeous vocals. I could keep using blog words to tell you how good the song is, but what I really want to say is you gotta hear this one song, it’ll change your life, I swear. [Melanie]
Sleepy Vikings – Flashlight Tag
Frank Turner – I Am Disappeared
This is my song of the year, hands down. I don’t believe that I’ll ever capture the way it makes me feel better than I did in the album review [Tiffiny]:
“I Am Disappeared” is so sad that I almost can’t bear to listen to it. This sounds dramatic, but it’s true. I suppose it hits a little too close to home. With other sad songs I may get very caught up in a moment or two, but with this one it feels like I’m drowning and I can never quite come up for air. I mean this all as a compliment – it’s rare that a recorded song effects me in this way.
Frank Turner – I Am Disappeared
Explosions In The Sky – Last Known Surroundings
Every Explosions In The Sky song makes me emotional. [Melanie]
Explosions In The Sky – Last Known Surroundings
Kelli Schaefer – Black Dog
Kelli Schaefer is my life right now. This jarring track has paved the way as a single for the world that exists in Ghost of the Beast. [Tiffiny]
The Joy Formidable – Whirring
“Whirring” is all scuzzy riffs, dominating drums, and throbbing bass entwined with (the fierce as fuck) Ritzy Bryan’s ethereal, gorgeous vocals. This tune is absolute bliss culminating in a wall of sound so intense that it will knock your pretentious hipster argyle socks off. [Melanie]
Laura Stevenson & the Cans – Master of Art
This was the first new track to be released and I’ve only grown to love it over time. There’s a lot of subtle elements that may not come with the first listen. It really demonstrates what Laura and the Cans can do. [Tiffiny]
Laura Stevenson and the Cans – Master of Art
Frank Turner – One Foot Before The Other
This is the most hardcore song on England Keep My Bones, and (not entirely coincidentally) it is my very favorite on the album. I love everything from the wall of guitar (including the ass kicking and rarely heard electric riff) to the lyrics to the idea of living forever in the elements. [Melanie]
Frank Turner – One Foot Before The Other
Noah & the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N
I appreciated this song as a pop tune the first listen through, but at some point I stopped and realized that it told a great story as well. [Tiffiny]
Noah and the Whale – L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
Grouplove – Itchin’ On A Photograph
Last year, Grouplove’s self-titled EP soundtracked most of my summer, and this year it’s “Itchin’ on a Photograph”. What’s a sizzling hot season without hand claps and tambourines (and Christian Zucconi scream-singing in my headphones)? [Melanie]
Grouplove – Itchin’ on a Photograph
The Submarines – Shoelaces
We gave away this track earlier this year and it’s found a place in my library as well. This band is fantastic. [Tiffiny]
Ivan & Alyosha – Fathers Be Kind
Kindness and love and harmony (not to mention harmony) and good advice and oh, this track is so, so wonderful. Ivan & Alyosha make my life infinitely better. This track (and the band itself) is a true return to good, solid folk music. [Melanie]
Ivan & Alyosha – Fathers Be Kind
Wayflower – Stay A Little Longer
This is the sort of track that has me dancing around my living room with my headphones on. It’s ridiculously addictive in the best way. [Tiffiny]
Wayflower – Stay A Little Longer
Cage The Elephant – Around My Head
I go around singing this song a lot. Aside from its general awesomeness, it totally brings to mind that time in first grade when I was in a kazoo band. Doesn’t get more hardcore than that, does it? [Melanie]
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