Jeff the Brotherhood “Bummer”

Reminiscent of old home videos, Jeff the Brotherhood shot their video for “Bummer” while in Hawaii. All I can say is, they sure look like they had some great fun. Drinking coconut water, surfing, fishing, skateboarding. The song is the perfect soundtrack to the video. It seems more like two friends on a lacksadaisical adventure than anything else. The song is laidback, too. The only bummer here is that their trip must have come to an end.

Dare Dukes Band “Meet You at the Bus”

Puppy love. That’s what we got going on here. Sitting next to that pretty girl. Holding her hand. Teasing one another. A funtastic bicycle ride. “Two lovely creatures pressed against the plexiglass”. If we ever get to meet one, just one, person who can share a day like this with us, we should all consider ourselves lucky.

Nada Surf “When I Was Young”

I heard this song from Nada Surf a while back. I really do like it. The video shows more of a youthful puppy love budding romance. All lost by being stuck on a subway train that takes you away from the girl. This young man makes the most of it, by running the sidewalks of the city with a big ole’ grin on his face. This is the kind of self discovery I’m thristing for right now. It’s a touching song with an interesting visual aid here in the adventures of a misfit prep school adolescent.

iAm1 “Watching”

This is an interesting video. The animation here is brilliant covering different styles. The song is good too. iAm1‘s vocals give a personal, intimate feel tot he track. And the animation of a dancing man drawn in outline gives the sense of a hollow feeling to the track. Not in terms of lacking anything inside, but more about how sometimes we can just feel empty. But, for every down there must be an up. Like when the rocket takes off. You’ll see.

Unicycle Loves You “Piranha”

I don’t know what it feels like to have a piranha, or entire school of piranha attack you. But this video for “Piranha” by Unicycle Loves You might just be the visual equivalent. A lot of filmschool style, let’s just point a camera and see what happens antics going on here. But then again, I don’t think the song itself is really about anything. No message here, just jamming away. Hope you all had a good week. Good luck on your weekends.

10. Will Smith “Miami”
In “Miami.” Will Smith raps “all ages and races…Spanish, Hatian, Indian, Jamaican/Black, White, Cuban, or Asian.” This speaks to the important change in tone between the South Carolina primary and the Florida primary. While in South Carolina Newt Gingrich could play the sneakily racist cards, in Florida the racial makeup makes that less possible. Instead in Florida, you get to hear each candidates horrid accents as they record ads directed at the Spanish speaking population of the state.

09. The Mountain Goats “Tallahassee”
81.4% of the people who played Sporcle‘s US Capitals game knew that Tallahassee is the capital of Florida. It surprises me that that number is so high but maybe that’s because Sporcle players and Mountain Goats‘ fans seriously overlap. The title track from his epic album, Tallahassee tells the story of a couple who drink themselves to death in Sunshine state capital.
MP3: The Mountain Goats “Tallahassee”

08. Jan Hammer “Miami Vice Theme”
Do I even need to write anything about this? There is no song more iconic to the city of Miami than Jan Hammer‘s theme music to the 80s TV show, Miami Vice. It is Miami’s version of “New York, New York” or “Dirty Water.”

07. Sublime “April 29, 1992 (Miami)”
Sublime‘s “April 29, 1992 (Miami)” is about the Los Angeles riots in the wake of the Rodney King beating. Although, the track has “Miami” in the title, it is a fairly non-Florida based song. However, the unrest in the song does mirror some of the unrest seen today in protests like #OccupyWallStreet movement and the Arab Spring.
MP3: Sublime “April 29, 1992 (Miami)”

06. Rolling Stones “Tallahassee Lassie”
Freddie Cannon’s early rock ‘N’ roll classic, “Tallahassee Lassie” has become a standard, covered by the likes of The Rolling Stones, Jan and Dean, and Los Straitjackets among others. The track is basically about a girl from Florida’s capital who can dance; what more do you need out of a rock song?
MP3: Rolling Stones “Tallahassee Lassie”

05. Swedish House Mafia featuring Tinie Tempah “Miami 2 Ibiza”
I would be remiss to do an entire Florida post and not mention Miami’s booming dance scene. Of course, the best song about the Miami dance scene comes from Stockholm-based, Swedish House Mafia. Despite being from 5000 miles away, SHM know that Miami’s scene rivals that of dance meccas like Ibiza.
MP3: Swedish House Mafia featuring Tinie Tempah “Miami 2 Ibiza”

04. Less Than Jake “The State of Florida”
The sunny sounds of ska are usually most closely associated with California but Florida has just as much sun as California! Surprisingly there are not many high profile ska bands from the state. The most notable is Less than Jake and their most Floridacentric track is “The State of Florida.”
MP3: Less Than Jake “The State of Florida”

03. Modest Mouse “Florida”
Listening to Modest Mouse‘ “Florida,” I can not help but think whoever loses, Newt or Mitt, they will be singing this song as they leave the state. The poignant lyrical point being “Even as I left Florida…couldn’t quite seem to escape myself.”
MP3: Modest Mouse “Florida”

02. Wale “Miami Nights”
Florida’s biggest rap has to be Rick Ross. Despite naming his first album, Port of Miami he has never written a great Miami anthem. Signee to his label, Wale did on his latest album, Ambition. The track is called “Miami Nights” and basically describes the hip hop lifestyle in Miami, a glimpse into a world few of us will ever know.
MP3: Wale “Miami Nights”

01. Against Me! “Sink, Florida, Sink”
A good deal of political ire was directed at Florida after the debacle that was the Florida recount of 2000. The best of those anthems was Against Me!‘s “Sink, Florida, Sink,” which is no surprise since Against Me! sharpened their teeth writing pointed sociopolitical folk-punk. I can only imagine the political ire that will arise should Newt Gingrich win Florida.
MP3: Against Me! “Sink, Florida, Sink”

Secret Original “Arson”

Independent hip hop artist Secret Original gives us his first video for a track called “Arson”. It’s a video fitting of the song. It gives us shots of young adults as I think most people imagine them not to be as they should, but as they are. There is a party mentality that’s not so much about having a good time as just getting fucked up. I guess hip hop in general has taken that path which is unfortunate. But the question is does this song and video breath life imitating art, or art imitating life?

Miley Cyrus “You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go”

Funny how young people are so eager to grow up. I have to admit, because of her Disney beginnings, and the fact that she was a teenager when she started performing, but I’ve never thought much about Miley Cyrus. Particularly when she got a bit of emancipation and more control over her music. She became your typical party-going teen. Just out to have fun, and she was wealthy enough to do it. But I have to say, there is something about this song that is appealing. Cyrus doesn’t sound like her normal self. She sounds older, singing about a more serious topic. But the video is just her singing with musical accompaniment. There’s nothing flashy. It’s just down to earth, a place I thought she had forgotten. But maybe singing about heartbreak, or actually going through it, have a way of refocusing your life.

Cloud Nothings “No Future/No Past”

Co-produced by Urban Outfitters is the video for Cloud Nothings‘ “No Future/No Past”. You follow a middle aged man as he hovers on his back, face up nonetheless, out of his house and on his way. It’s an interesting watch. Particularly when it seems like the terrified look on the man’s face is because he is looking right at you. I have a feeling it’s a philosophical work. But don’t quote me on that.

Town Hall “The Middle”

Whenever someone does a cover it’s an awkward spot to be in. You have to be able to keep enough of the original piece’s integrity while adding something to it so that the song becomes a bit your own. Town Hall‘s take on Jimmy Eat World‘s “The Middle” seems more like the song should be. It’s a song about putting your life together. It takes some time, but everything will be all right. So this down to Earth number gets it down with more of a serious tone as a friend talking to you personally rather than someone trying to get you to come around in the middle of a loud party. And the chance to see the band performing and the facial movements as the duet sing show how emotionally packed this song really is.

And the Giraffe “Underground Love”

And the Giraffe‘s vidoe for “Underground Love” follows the journey of a box with a mysterious gift inside. Packaged, then left on a subway train, the package makes its way from person to person. Ultimately, it arrives at the feet of a young woman, who brings it back to the guy who wrapped it in the first place. He unwraps it, hands it back to her, and they embrace. Do we ever find out what is hidden in the box? I’m not telling.

10. Cheap Trick “Taxman, Mr. Thief”
Its not like a million bands haven’t ripped off the Beatles but no one has done it as blatantly as Cheap Trick on their track, “Taxman, Mr. Thief.” The track’s message is applicable. You’re a hard working everyman and an inhuman taxman is going to take your money. It sounds like a South Park episode.
MP3: Cheap Trick “Taxman, Mr. Thief”

09. Rick Ross featuring Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, and Trick Daddy “Luxury Tax”
Rick Ross, who is known for his ridiculously lavish lifestyle (at least in his lyrics, is in favor for a higher tax for the rich. As Lil Wayne raps “you gotta pay for this.”
MP3: Rick Ross featuring Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, and Trick Daddy “Luxury Tax”

08. Erase Errata “Tax Dollar”
On their 2009 track, “Tax Dollar,” Erase Errata connects the paying of taxes to the funding of war. Jenny Hoyston venomously spits “Yes, I really got away with murder/manslaughter/ All funded by my tax dollar.”
MP3: Erase Errata “Tax Dollar”

07. Cake “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle”
“Is it you or your parents in this income tax bracket?” lead singer, John McCrea asks in this Cake classic. The answer is probably parent if your name is Tagg Romney.
MP3: Cake “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle”

06. Drake “Over My Dead Body”
Although Drake’s “Over My Dead Body” is not a song about taxes, he does rap “shout out all to all my niggas living tax free/nowadays it’s six figures when they tax me.” While I am sure Mitt Romney’s taxes do rack up to six figures, I do not think it will stop the criticism of being taxed 15% when the average American is taxed 35%.
MP3: Drake “Over My Dead Body”

05. Zookeeper “Tax Collector”
Chris Simpson, formerly of Mineral fame, penned “Tax Collector.” The song sounds like the Decemberists but the sentiments is very Beatles.
MP3: Zookeeper “Tax Collector”

04. Perfect “Tax Extortion”
There is a surprising amount of tax protest songs by reggae artists. The income tax rate in Jamaica is fairly similar to the United States; although the sales tax is significantly higher in Jamaica than the US national average. Perhaps that is why Perfect is so upset on his 2011 track, “Tax Extortion.”

03. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings “What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?”
Sharon Jones has never seemed like the most political of singer but “What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?” is definitely just that. The singer suggests that if people stop paying taxes, it will cut off the funding for unwanted war. It does not get more political than that.
MP3: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings “What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?”

02. Mowgli “Tax”
Mowgli‘s “Tax” starts by sampling the musical Oliver: “why should we break our backs stupidly paying tax?” before the London emcee kicks in with his flow. His lyrics recount scenes of London of people being robbed and knived in the street.

01. The Beatles “Taxman”
Anyone who read the title of this post, immediately knew that the Beatles’ “Taxman” would be the top track. The George Harrison-penned classic is, of course, not about American taxes but rather about the 95 percent tax rate among Britain’s top earners in 1966, a far cry from Mitt Romney’s 15%.

Me “Naked”

From Melbourne, Australia we get ME. The band is looking to release their debut single “Naked” on March 5th this year. We get a taste of it from their video. Musically, they remind me of Muse with the movements of their song. Video-wise, we get the band in black and white all dressed up. Some gritty effects add some character, but we can’t look past the politically infused clips that are cut in. There is a message there somewhere between the lyrics, and shots of people being pushed back with fire hoses.

Joe Cool “I Wanna Sell Drugs”

Another black and white video. The song is about Joe Cool, who wants nothing more than to make money. But it’s hard to do that, so he’s thinking about selling drugs. There’s a metaphor there with the gun that is pointed at Joe’s head throughout the video. “I’m not a junky or a thug/I wanna do what I love/ makes me wanna sell drugs”. The realism of having a dream and struggling to achieve it, so you find yourself making bad decisions. Striking is the way that Joe writes on a pad, rips up the page, and rolls it into a joint.

Santigold “Big Mouth”

Honestly, I pretty much love everything Santigold does. After her killer flow on Major Lazer‘s “Hold the Line” I’ve been impressed by what she brings. On her track “Big Mouth”
she takes a stance against trash-talkers. The music is simple with a carnival beat. And though the video looks hokey, it’s worth the time. The ridiculousness of the animation and the fun loving feel of the video should work to lessen the meaning of the song. But honestly, when you’re as badass as Santigold I wouldn’t be surprised to know that this is the shit that goes on in her head when she’s about to hit the “on” button.

Jessie Baylin “Hurry Hurry”

It’s become rather cliche the way that movie stars want to be directors. But fortunately for us, there are music videos that need to be directed. This video for Jessie Baylin‘s “Hurry Hurry” was directed by Scarlett Johansson. The video has offset colors and was done in one take on The Manhatten Bridge. The video features Jessie herself strolling around “me”, as the perspective, on the bridge with a glow emanating from her from time to time. Perhaps it’s meant be a blur because Jessie, or “I”, are hurrying so fast. The old, if you moved fast enough time would seem to stand still theory. Only, time’s not so much standing as slowing. Still, gotta love someone who wants to try new things. And there certainly isn’t anything terrible about this video. Think of it as a film school project with a bigger budget. Or at least a famous director.

K’naan featuring Nas “Nothing to Lose”

If I had a “boy”, K’naan would be that boy. And I gotta admit, hearing that he’s got Nas on a track makes my eye
twinkle with some pride. The video for “Nothing to Lose” doesn’t have much to it. Some street views overlayed with the lyrics rolling in different ways, there’s not all that much to appreciate. But at the very least you won’t have to wonder what anyone is saying.

Doomtree “Bangarang”

Speaking of lyrics on the screen, Doomtree bring us a karaoke party with their video for “Bangarang”. This could be any of us, except me because I have a much cleaner look, getting together with our friends to
have a karaoke party. There’s also this local public access tv thing going on with the effects being the members in front of a green screen with some rather National Geographic backdrops. Still, the song is pretty tight. And if you’re not gonna go crazy with a vid, at least let the talent show off their skills.

10. Stevie Wonder “Happy Birthday”
Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” is not a great song but its strong ties to Martin Luther King Day make it a necessity for the top 10. The track was released in 1981 and was specifically written to give and anthem to the campaign to make MLK’s birthday a holiday. 30 years later, the tracks music sounds dated but the message remains true.

09. R.E.M. featuring Q-Tip “The Outsiders”
R.E.M.‘s first post-9/11 album was Around the Sun. Although the album is generally considered the band’s worst, it did contain several politically charged gems including “The Outsiders.” While the track has undertones of political conspiracy, standing up for what you believe, and scenes of protest, it is the outro rap by Q-Tip that invokes the words and name of Martin Luther King.
MP3: R.E.M. featuring Q-Tip “The Outsiders”

08. Times New Viking “Martin Luther King Day”
Who would have thought shitgaze frontrunners, Times New Viking would be such big MLK fans? Actually, I can not verify how big MLK fans they are. The fuzz out, lo-fi jam that is “Martin Luther King Day” is virtually incoherent. I assume they are singing the praises of racial equality and quoting the “I Have a Dream” speech, or they could just be singing about using the day off from school to get stone. Either way, it is a pretty good song.
MP3: Times New Viking “Martin Luther King Day”

07. Denny the Punk “King Luther Martin”
Sampling Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech has been a staple in dance music for more than a decade. I mean what could be better than creating a sweet instrumental with a famous speech laid over it? For example, take Dutch producer Denny the Punk who created this four-on-the-floor house instrumental and lays clips of the famous speech over it.

06. Young Jeezy featuring Nas “My President”
When President Obama was elected, many people felt it was the fulfillment of Martin Luther King’s dream speech. Who would be more equipped to lyrically summarize that then Young Jeezy, right? In the middle of yet-another-crack-rap track, Jeezy manages to interweave Martin Luther King, Obama, and hip hop culture in one easily digestible mix as he raps “Obama for mankind/we ready for change so ya’ll let the man shine/stuntin’ on Martin Luther, feelin just like a King/Guess this is what he meant when he that he had a dream.”
MP3: Young Jeezy featuring Nas “My President”

05. Murphy’s Kids “Thoughts on My Encounter with Martin Luther King III”
Ska has always been a genre that has fought racism and violence, so it is no surprise that there are more than a couple of ska songs with a Martin Luther King bend to them. One of the more recent examples is Virginia Beach’s Murphy’s Kids track, “My Thoughts on My Encounter with Martin Luther King III.” The track is about peace keeping and disarming both doctrines of MLK.

04. Lambchop “Sharing A Gibson With Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Only Kurt Wagner could drop references to Martin Luther King, Paradise Lost, and a glass of gin and vermouth with a pearl onion in a cool four-and-a-half minutes. “Sharing A Gibson With Martin Luther King, Jr.” is more of a fantasy encounter than a tribute but it does not change the fact that it is one hell of a story.
MP3: Lambchop “Sharing A Gibson With Martin Luther King, Jr.”

03. Common featuring Will.I.Am “A Dream”
Right now Common is more known for beefing with Drake than hocking peace and love but that’s exactly what he was doing on his 2007 single, “A Dream.” The track prominently sampled MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the will.i.am sung chorus.
MP3: Common featuring Will.I.Am “A Dream”

02. Public Enemy “By The Time I Get to Arizona”
“By the Time I Get To Arizona” was written by Chuck D in protest over Arizona’s refusal to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. day. With the tracks raw instrumental and angry, militant lyrics, it is no surprise everyone was a little scared of what would happen when Public Enemy hit the Grand Canyon state.
MP3: Public Enemy “By The Time I Get to Arizona”

01. U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)”
27 years after its initial release, U2‘s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” still remains the ultimate Martin Luther King tribute. It may seem odd that the ultimate tribute to an American hero comes from an Irish rock band but when you think about it, who knows more about racism than the Irish? Hibernophobia has been a problem in that part of the world since the Middle Ages so of course U2 would back anyone fighting racism. In their backing of MLK’s message they created a song that is a timeless tribute.
MP3: U2 “Pride (In the Name of Love)”

Belleruche “Stormbird”

Belleruche have a new LP “Rollerchain” coming out this year. Their first single “Stormbird” will be released in March. The video for it is out now. It reminds me of the early music videos when MTV first launched. Kathrin deBoer appears in front of the camera singing and dancing. The dancing seems to say, “I don’t know what I’m really doing, just look how cool I am in front of the smoke.” The video does feature some interesting shots of fencers going at it, and some footage of a match blown out played in reverse. There’s also a few shots of water and a feather, and plenty of more smoke.

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour “Heart Attack”

The new video from The Asteroids Galaxy Tour is a throwback to the psychadelic videos. Then it’s modern with flashy dancing in front of a room of mirrors. And back and forth. It’s a bit bi-polar with it’s modern and retro feels. Basically, it’s “Groove is in the Heart” mixed with Britney Spears. The songs fun, so’s the video. “Hey, are you ready?”

Loverush UK featuring Bryan Adams “Tonight in Babylon”

I had no idea that Bryan Adams was still involved with music. I’m sure some of the readers here don’t know who he is. Two interesting facts about his work with Loverush UK. One, he directed the video for “Tonight in Babylon”. Two, he got Roman Polanski’s daughter to appear in it. A musician directing a director’s daughter. The video features some partying, and not to say that the track isn’t a party track, but it’s Bryan Adams that gives the song a serious feel. The way he sings you feel he’s more sad than ready to party. And his antics on stage are far too serious. Turn the sound off and you’d assume he’s belting out another love ballad rather than rocking the disco. Still, the song’s good and the video is shot well. Give the band and Adams their due.

Death Cab for Cutie “Underneath the Sycamore”

Walter Robot directed Death Cab‘s 2009 video for “Grapevine Fires”. They’re back to have a crack at “Underneath the Sycamore”. The animated video follows a film noir themed private eye who-dunnit. It’s quite impressive.

Trae The Truth featuring MDMA, Lupe Fiasco, Big Boi, Wale, and Wiz Khalifa “I’m On”

Trae The Truth‘s “I’m On” isn’t flashy even with it’s all-star cast. It’s still a great song. The video stays true to form. No dancing girls, clubs, or million dollar mansions. It appears to feature each artist on the streets where they come from. From Chicago to Philly, down to Atlanta and back up to D.C. It’s nice to have a look at these rappers as who they are rather than the personas we see them as.

10. The Queers
The Queers have been releasing music for the better part of 20 years. With their strong affinity for surf music/culture, it is hard to believe they come from New Hampshire. Their home town of Portsmouth is on the water but I do not think anyone is surfing in Portsmouth Harbor. The Queers last album was 2010′s Back to the Basement, released on Asian Man Records.
MP3: The Queers “Punk Rock Girls”

09. Sarah Silverman
Sure, Sarah Silverman is more known as a comedian but she did release a musical accompaniment to her show, The Sarah Silverman Show. Like her show, it was completely ridiculous.

08. Mandy Moore
At this point, Mandy Moore is much better known as an actress than as a singer but back in 1999, the 17-year-old scored a platinum album with So Real. Mostly propelled by the success of the single “Candy,” sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Subsequent follow up albums were never able to duplicate the success of her debut. She continues to release music with her last album, Amanda Leigh being released in 2009.

07. Ellissentials
For the past decade or so, Ellissentials has created music that mixes breakbeat, house, and techno into one energetic yet ethereal mix. Who would have thought such sounds would come out of Center Barnstead, New Hampshire?

06. Drop Goblin
With an affinity for Norse culture that is usually reserved for black metal fans, Drop Goblin is actually a dubstep producer from Manchester, New Hampshire. Manchester being the New York City of New Hampshire, it is no surprise that Drop Goblin is not quite the most famous resident. That honor probably goes to Seth Myers of SNL fame. Sorry Drop Goblin.

05. Will Sheff of Okkervil River
This one might be a stretch too. Okkervil River consider themselves an Austin, TX band but lead singer/songwriter Will Sheff was born in Meriden, New Hampshire. As the creative force behind Okkervil River, he is credited with writing “Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe,” the opening track to the band’s 2007 album, The Stage Names. The track was #81 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007. It would be the biggest accomplishment of anyone ever from Meriden but fellow Meridian Ben Cherington was recently named General Manager of the Red Sox. Guess Will Sheff is going to have to aim for a triple platinum album to beat that one.

04. Jon Spencer
Hanover, New Hampshire is known for a couple of things: Dartmouth College, being named the sixth best place to live in America by Money Magazine and CNN, and being the birthplace of Jon Spencer. All right, the Jon Spencer thing might not be true, especially since a lot of awesome people have been born in Hanover including fellow musician Al Barr but Jon Spencer Blues Explosion have been rocking for over 20 years.
MP3: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion “Bellbottoms”

03. Ronnie James Dio
There are a bunch of states where Ronnie James Dio would top the list of musicians born but in New Hampshire, he ranks third. He is among hard rock royalty being the second best singer of Black Sabbath and fronting his own band, Dio. An elf of a man with a powerful voice, Dio sadly passed away in 2010.
MP3: Dio “Holy Diver”

02. Ray LaMontagne
Although Ray LaMontagne‘s contributions to music are not probably as great as Ronnie James Dio, I give him credit for being a fairly popular musician and not giving up his New England roots. Born in Nashua, NH, LaMontagne now resides in Western Maine. He is best known for his debut album, Trouble which went gold in the US and platinum in the UK.

01. GG Allin
When you think of the big, bombastic ridiculousness that is GG Allin, it is hard to believe he originated from Lancaster, New Hampshire. Noted for his live performances which includes self-mutilation, eating his own feces, and attacking audience members, GG Allin was the most extreme 80s punk. But all good things must come to an end and Allin met his in 1993 when he overdosed on drugs in New York City.
MP3: GG Allin and the Jabbers “Bored To Death”

19. R.E.M.: Collapse Into Now
As a huge R.E.M. fan, it has always been an exercise in restraint to not put their latest album somewhere on my end of the year countdown. When you factor in that Collapse Into Now is R.E.M.’s final album, I could not help myself. It helps that the record is the band’s best album since the departure of Bill Berry. “Oh My Heart” is the type of soulful ballad that allows Michael Stipe to shine while “Discoverer” recalls the great rock opening tracks of the group, specifically “Finest Worksong.” Overall, if you are going to go out, going out at the top of your game is the way to do it. Just ask Tony LaRussa.
MP3: R.E.M. “Oh My Heart”

18. Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde
When Smith Westerns released Dye It Blonde back in January it gained many critical accolades including being named Best New Music by Pitchfork Media. Fast-forward 11 month later and the album has been virtually forgotten. Banished from a surprising amount of critics’ lists, the record still sounds as fresh to me today as it did upon first listen. The record is filled with 90s britpop anthems complete with searing guitars, lush production, and airy vocals. How can that go stale in 11 months?

17. Childish Gambino: Campfire
Love him or hate him, Donald Glover made quite an impact in 2011. His debut album, Campfire mixed the glossy production style of Kanye West‘s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy with the rapping style of Kanye West’s College Dropout. The result is an album that some called “exaggerated, cartoonish…and overblown pop-rap.” Of course, your perspective determines if that is a good or bad thing. For me, the wittiness of Glover’s wordplay outweighed any untruths in his lyrical content. If we are going to punish him for not being real, why not punish Rick Ross? The truth is, very little rap is “real” nowadays so as long as it is done with some charm, go with it.
MP3: Childish Gambino “Heartbeat”

16. Justice: Audio, Video, Disco
It would have been easy for Justice to follow up † with an equally funky big beat record. Instead Justice threw their successful formula to the wind and made one of the most ambitious prog-rock records of the year. Audio, Video, Disco takes a run at 70s arena rock with a definitive 90s dance-tinge. With big guitar riffs and Italian disco beats, the record may have lost them a couple of fans but it was well worth it to see the duo truly stretch themselves creatively.

15. Kendrick Lamar: Section.80
If you were to peg a modern artist that is a “Black Hippy,” you might think of Wiz Khalifa or Kid Cudi. While both fulfill the stoner persona, neither have a strong enough social commentary side to embody the “hippy” lifestyle. Kendrick Lamar, on the otherhand, has the social side down pat and under plays the stoner aspects. While self-medication seems like his escape from the issues of society and politics which is more honorable than the rappers who seem to drink and smoke because it is part of their culture. Add on to that the fact that Lamar is one of the most verbally skilled rappers in the game, it makes Section.80 one of the best hip hop records of the year.
MP3: Kendrick Lamar “A.D.H.D.”

14. Acid House Kings: Music Sounds Better With You
Twee pop is not generally the most critically acclaimed genre. The music tends to be sunny and happy and the lyrics generally focus on love. Those characteristics appeal more to consumers than to critics but Acid House Kings’ Music Sounds Better With You seemed to appeal to both. For the band’s first album in six years, they make the poppiest indie record of the year with lyrics that, although not amazing, do not embarrass either. With every song sounding like a single, I was surprised not to see the record on more critics’ end of the year lists. While it might slip through the cracks for many, it was one of the records I listened to the most throughout the year.
MP3: Acid House Kings “Would You Say Stop?”

13. tUnE-YarDs: w h o k i l l
I will admit that it took me more than a few listens to understand what was so great about tUnE-yArDs‘ sophomore album, w h o k i l l. At first I found Merrill Garbus’ vocals a little off putting. Her voice has some masculine qualities with a power not heard in many female vocalists. Clearly she was not going for a cutesy, girly persona. Her persona is big and bold and that is a little intimidating. Once I got over Garbus’ voice, I was able to hear her lyrics. The lyrics on the album confront the ugliness in the modern world. Like the allegory of the cave, Garbus takes it upon herself to try to show the listeners that they are merely looking at shadows. The Platonic lyrics combined with ambitious musical techniques creates and album that takes some work to get into but ends up quite rewarding.
MP3: tUnE-YarDs “Bizness”

12. Real Estate: Days
New Jersey is known for their musicians who are uniquely outfitted with the ability to summarize the American experience, from Springsteen to Bon Jovi to Titus Andronicus. Real Estate is not that kind of band. Instead Real Estate’s sophomore album, Days is a lazy suburban record filled with lush production and strong surf-inspired guitar riffs. The record may not be the most ambitious record of the year but it is the best of its genre. Hazy, sun soaked pop has not sounded this good since The Beach Boys.
MP3: Real Estate “It’s Real”

11. Das Racist: Relax
On their first official record, Das Racist had a lot to live up to. Not everyone thought that Relax lived up to the hype. Certainly the record was not obviously witty as their previous releases. The wittiness was replaced by a caustic sarcasm dealing with race and hip hop culture with a sharpness of tongue most could not pull off. Because the critique was veiled in sarcasm it seemed less finger wagging and more playfully jabbing something they love, trying to make it better. When they rap “it’s a brand new dance/give us all your money,” they are not being accused of calling out the genre like Nas when he did “Hip Hop is Dead.” Instead their playful history allows them to dish it without having to take it. It must be nice to be Das Racist.
MP3: Das Racist “Michael Jackson”

10. Florence + The Machine: Ceremonials
There is an old adage: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Florence + The Machine seem to have this as their motto on their sophomore album, Ceremonials. They take the best moments of Lungs and turn it into a complete album full of tribal-drums, church organs, and Florence’s incredible voice. The voice never lets up throughout the album and neither does the poppiness. From the single-worthy opening track, “Only If for a Night” through “Shake It Up” and “What the Water Gave Me” the album is relentlessly Florence.
MP3: Florence + The Machine “Shake It Out”

09. Cut Copy: Zonoscope
Cut Copy‘s Zonoscope feels like a journey through an Australian summer. The album begins with “Need You Now” which starts off with a bouncing synth bass line before adding an almost primal beat featuring some traditional Australian percussion. The track adds Dan Whitford’s wispy pop vocals and an arena-sized chorus to complete the combo. But on Zonoscope no song truly ever ends, it just morphs into the next song. The album bounces between moods seamlessly; from the 80s-drench grooves of “Pharaohs & Pyramids” to the modern dancefloor banger “Blink And You’ll Miss A Revolution”, the group transitions while never dropping the beat.
MP3: Cut Copy “Need You Now”

08. Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2
To the Beastie Boys, it seems age is never an obstacle. While it has been nearly seven years since their last hip hop record, Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 shows no rust. Instead the Beasties sound more in form with 1998′s Hello Nasty. The album finds the Beasties taking up instruments as well as sampling and rapping fresher than ever. Their lyrics are irreverent but never amateurish and their energy is impeccable. While it is not exactly a comeback, it just makes listeners wish they would release albums more frequently.
MP3: Beastie Boys featuring Santigold “Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win”

07. Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes
Lykke Li’s sophomore album, Wounded Rhymes, found the Swedish chanteuse sounding more confident than ever while not losing the song writing ability that made her debut captivating. Wounded Rhymes was the year’s best feminist record with Lykke Li in control of her sexuality without seeming dirty and being able to address love without sounding like the victim. Even when she sings lines like “sadness is my boyfriend/my love is unrequited,” she still sounds powerful as ever.
MP3: Lykke Li “Youth Knows No Pain”

06. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: Belong
2011 was an unabashed celebration of the 90s with the twentieth anniversary of the decade’s great albums like Nevermind and Gish, so some band’s cashed in on the 90s nostalgia. No one quite embodied the 90s sound like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart’s sophomore album, Belong. The album took the shoegaze sound of My Bloody Valentine and added the pop sensibility of 90s Green Day to create something energetic and poppy but not devoid of emotion. Instead Belong sounded like the saddest happy album or happiest sad album of the year. Take your pick. Either way it was good.

05. Drake: Take Care
Last year, I agonized over whether or not Drake’s Thank Me Later on my top 20 list, eventually settling to put it at number 20. There was no agonizing over whether to include Take Care. The album showed a more fully-formed rapper who is comfortable to speak of the emotional highs and lows and has a better grasp over what is “his sound.” No blatant radio-friendly singles included, the album features no filler and few weak tracks; instead it explores a heady space most rap music fears to explore.
MP3: Drake “Marvins Room”

04. Wild Flag: Wild Flag
Bringing together some of the best female rock talent of the last two decades, Wild Flag’s debut album was not as angry or in-your-face feminist as expected. Instead the group worked to create poppy post-punk anthems that, although have some strong 90s qualities, do not sound dated or too retro. The result was the most solid guitar-driven album of the year.
MP3: Wild Flag “Romance”

03. Destoyer: Kaputt
Destroyer is a lightning rod in a lot of circles. Although he is generally critically acclaimed, his style can be off-putting to a lot of listeners. His singing voice has all the emotive qualities of a Broadway singer without the easy listenability. But for those who enjoy Destroyer, Kaputt seemed to be his best album to date. The ambitious mix of Italian disco and Roxy Music-style new romanticism created something avant-garde yet poppy. Bejar’s stream-of-consciousness story-telling is in full effect spinning yarns of cocaine-filled backrooms to lovers quarrelling in the street. A journey that could only be hatched from Bejar’s mind.
MP3: Destroyer “Kaputt”

02.Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch the Throne
In a year of Occupy Wall Street protesters, two of the richest rappers in the game released a celebration of excess. What makes Watch the Throne remarkable is that Kanye and Jay-Z do not just celebrate excess but they embody it from the album packaging (gold-plated quadrafolded cd jacket) to the production (The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Lex Luger, among others), everything about it was big. Follow that up with the year’s biggest tour, with most tour dates not featuring any seats under $100 and you have something down right gaudy. In an economic recession the likes of which not seen since the Great Depression, the album gave many people an escape from harsh reality to a land where Rolexes and Margiela are plentiful. It was a wonderful world done with the type of clout that only Jay-Z and Kanye can deliver.
MP3: Jay-Z & Kanye West “Niggas in Paris”

01. M83: Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
In a year filled with as much scary shit as 2011, music’s main objection should be to provide an escape to the listener. Did any album do that better than M83’s ambition double album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming? Frenchman, Anthony Gonzalez created a full-realized fantasy world filled with lush production, long-nosed golems, and, yes, magic frogs. No wonder it made the top 10 countdown of several of the US’ most established music publications and became M83’s highest charting album to date.
MP3: M83 “Midnight City”