As I said in my last post, 2011 was a great year for music; especially for singles. It feels like each record I listened to this year offered at least one or two fantastic tracks that I would return to throughout the year. That’s what it made it so incredibly hard picking at top 50. But here they are - my favorite 50 tracks of 2K11:

50. The Embassy - “St8”

49. The Strokes - “Under Cover of Darkness”

48. Zola Jesus - “In Your Nature”

47. Washed Out - “Eyes Be Closed”

46. YACHT - “Utopia”

45. Adele - “Someone Like You”

44. Smith Westerns - “Weekend”

43. Young Galaxy - “Blown Minded”

42. Cass McCombs - “County Line”

41. Jens Lekman - “An Argument With Myself”

40. Cut Copy - “Take Me Over”

39. Florrie - “I Took A Little Something”

38. Twin Sister - “Bad Street”

37. Dum Dum Girls - “Bedroom Eyes”

36. Neon Indian - “Hex Girlfriend”

35. John Maus - “Believer”

34. Patrick Wolf - “The City”

33. Battles Ft. Matias Aguayo - “Ice Cream”

32. Times New Viking - “Fuck Her Tears”

31. Lady Gaga - “Judas”

30. The Weeknd - “The Morning”

29. Atlas Sound - “Te Amo”

28. Drake - “Doing It Wrong”

27. Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris - “We Found Love”

26. Blood Orange - “Champagne Coast” 

25. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - “Heart in Your Heartbreak”

24. Chromatics - “Kill For Love”

23. James Blake - “Wilhelm’s Scream”

22. Beyonce - “Countdown”

21. St. Vincent - “Cruel”

Top 20

20. Lana Del Rey - “Video Games”

Lana Del Rey seemed to appear out of no where and with only two official tracks to her moniker, the singer-songwriter has made a quite a splash in the blogosphere — and rightfully so. Her smash single “Video Games” has been described as a gangsta Nancy Sanatra. Rey’s sultry charisma oozes throughout the track as she coos lyrics “Heaven is a place on earth with you/ Tell me all the things you want to do/ I heard that you like the bad girls/ Honey, is that true?” Her longing to please her man is played out - her desperate attempts to make someone love her are shown to the world. Despite her obvious rebranding there is no denying that “Video Games” is a killer song that has connected with millions.

19. Arctic Monkeys - “That’s Where You’re Wrong”

It’s hard to believe the Arctic Monkey’s critically acclaimed debut album came out nearly six years ago. And Alex Turner and co. are still turning out killer tunes. The closing track on their latest record, Suck It And See is indie-rock perfection with its catchy hook and the combination of Turner’s vocals and lyrics: “She looks as if she’s blowing a kiss at me/ And suddenly the sky is a scissor/ Sitting on the floor with a tambourine/ Crushing up a bundle of love,” he honestly chants. The song may not be as abrasive as AM’s past singles but the simple track shows a sophisticated and welcomed side of the UK band. 

18. Florence + The Machine - “Shake It Out”

2009’s “Dog Days Are Over” took the world by storm. Florence Welch’s hypnotic and captivating voice was something many people craved to hear. Fast forward to the band’s second album, Ceremonials and the lead single “Shake It Out” — a song that packs just as much of a punch as her breakthrough song. The vibrant track is full of Celtic inspirations with pounding drums and of course, Welch’s demanding vocals. Thanks to its powerful and booming presence it lands in the number 18 spot.

17. Elite Gymnastics - “Minneapolis Belongs to You”

Elite Gymnastics are powerful lyricists and on “Minneapolis Belongs to You” the duo is at their most honest and rawest. I mean, the track opens up with James Brooks barley sining “When you’re dead, you will be survived by a total absence of surprise/ By the wistful sighs and dejected shrugging of all the losers you were fucking,” while a brittle jungle beat pounds on and on. But the best lyrics in the song come in the last verse, after a smooth and tangible breakdown, “When you’re dead, they will toast your life at your friends’ shitty DJ nights/ No one will hear their speeches clearly, they’ll all just think it’s someone’s birthday,” Brooks chants. The song is on Xiu Xiu level depressing but much more accessible and ironically, danceable, which creates an awesome and interesting juxtaposition that draws you back for countless replays.

16. The Raveonettes - “Forget That You’re Young”

The Raveonettes are a band most people write off and count out of the game. And sure, their latest LP, Raven in the Grave, was a bit of a mix bag but it did give us one of the band’s best songs to date: “Forget That You’re Young.” It’s no secret that the duo is heavily influenced by the Jesus and Mary Chain but “Forget That You’re Young” is the cleanest and most modern interpretation the Raveonettes have done. The hook is outrageously catchy as Sharin Foo sweetly sings “And I hold you/ And I forget that you’re young/ And I kiss you/ And I know that you’re so young/ And I need you/ And I forget that you’re young.” The twangy guitar riff is classic Raveonettes (with that touch of Psychocandy) as are the rolling drums. The tender track melts the heart and is an outstanding effort by the Danish band.

15. Craft Spells - “After the Moment”

Just looking at the cover of Craft Spells’ debut album (and even single) you can tell the band is a product of listening to too much New Order. And that’s perfectly ok. “After the Moment” is an absolute killer. It’s a song that everyone likes. Old, young, hip or out-of-the-loop, the track can turn any bad day into a much better one. The song features lots of cowbell, warm synths, clapping and stellar guitar riffs. The sweet lyrics help too as the lead singer gleefully chants “Maybe it’s your kiss/ Or your touch/ That makes me want you more than love.” The slightly lo-fi track is one of those songs you never want to end and once it does you instantly hit “«.”

14. Lady Gaga - “The Edge of Glory”

It’s funny to think that “The Edge of Glory” was an accidental single. In the weeks leading up to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way release, she decided to drop a few drop promo singles, in order to get little monsters even more excited for The Fame Monster follow-up. After seeing the instant and overwhelming positive reception to “The Edge of Glory” Gaga made it her third single. And thank goodness, as it is one of the strongest tracks on the LP. The song is an ode to her grandfather who recently passed away but it’s full of so much life and embodies some of the best elements of 2011 pop music. Part rock, part super-electro dance, “The Edge of Glory” satisfies so many musical cravings: it is a song you can sing in a bar with friends, get down to at a club or listen to with your parents. Gaga’s vocals are sharp, the hook and melodies are at their best and then there’s that fucking amazing sax solo provided by the late Clarence Clemons - knocking the song out of the park into another homerun for the current Queen of Pop.

13. The Drums - “Money”

Although the Drums’ sophomore album Portamento wasn’t nearly as successful as their self-titled debut, the lead single “Money” shows that the band still has the power to make a fabulous song. Dark and depressing, “Money” showcases the bands best elements; Jonathan Pierce’s vocals are where I want them to be — wild and spastic. The new wave drumming, synths and guitar riffs are spot on and everything culminates together into a earbug where you will find yourself cooing Pierce’s moans, humming the band’s guitar work and singing the chorus “I want to buy you something/ But I don’t have any money.” You’re singing it right now. I know.

12. Ducktails ft. Panada Bear - “Killin’ the Vibe”

“Killin’ the Vibe,” was the only standout track from Ducktails’ III: Arcade Dynamics. If there is one thing that Matthew Mondanile can do well, it’s create perfect guitar riffs and melodies (see almost every track on Real Estate’s Days). And “Killin’” is no exception. While its repatitiveness could be found annoying, things are so catchy you only wish the song was longer. Mondanile easily sings, “Don’t go killin’ - killin’ the vibe/ I can’t take/ Your lame style/ Can’t you just/ Sit awhile/ And try your hardest to smile.” That’s all there is, well lyrically at least. But those few sentences are so wonderful and tell a story that can be applied to almost anyone. Backed with hand fun claps, oohing and aahing from Noah Lenox and a deep drum loop “Killin’” becomes a song that I can not only interact with, but become friends with.

11. Nicola Roberts - “Beat of My Drum”

Nicola Roberts is and most likely will always be the ultimate underdog in pop music. Sure we have acts like Robyn and Lykee Li but Roberts is the meekest member in the UK girl group, Girls Aloud. A band that gets very little coverage in the U.S. anyway. But with the help of Diplo, Roberts was able to transform herself from a supporting member to the lead role, thus pumping out one of the best pop songs of the year. “Beat of My Drum” is an unassuming club-hit smash and just like Roberts, it’s a little awkward and a lot weird. As you might imagine, the track is full of marching drums and crazy loops thanks to Diplo. “Beat of My Drum” is so instantly likable and catchy there is no denying its gooey-pop greatness. Once you hear Roberts chant the hook “L-O-V-E/ Dance to the beat of my drum” you’ll be hooked and dancing to the beat of her drum.

Top 10

10. Britney Spears ft. Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha - “Till the World Ends (Femme Fetal Remix)”

This year was pretty amazing for pop music: You had diva titans, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga go head-to-head by releasing records within a month of each other. Nicki Minaj’s “Super Bass” became a nationwide hit. Rihanna and Katy Perry had single after single climb the top 40 charts and their music filled dance clubs across the world. And you couldn’t escape Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)” and “Countdown.” Yes, the ladies did run the world in 2011 - as far as top 40 pop is concerned. But the track that made them all bow down features three powerful women who joined forces to make one of the most intense pop songs in recent history. Spears, Minaj and Ke$ha lend their “talents” to create “Till the World Ends (Femme Fatal Remix).” Ironically enough, one of the lines in the original track song goes, “Si-si-sicker than the remix.” Sorry Miss Spears, the remix is sicker. Nicki’s rap verse is perfectly comical as she spits about Ricki Lake, bananas and fried chicken. Then, co-writer, Ke$ha chimes in and sings the hook and you realize that this could easily be a Ke$ha hit. The combination of the three stars is a treat the seems to happen every blue moon. The remix is a modern, full-on party, that literally blows your mind, no matter how many times you hear it on your iPod, on the radio or in the club.

09. Destroyer - “Blues Eyes”

The second track off of Destroyer’s ninth album, Kaputt, best exemplifies the brilliant record as a whole. Mastermind Dan Bejar perfectly executes a number of 80s throwbacks, including girl-boy vocals, the unironic use of saxophones and trumpets, and the overly-romantic and dramatic lyrics. “I want you to love me/ You send me a coffin of roses/ I guess that’s the way things go these days,” he croons. At its core, “Blue Eyes” is simply a cool song, despite using elements that kids in the 80s would think are lame and cheesy — or even techniques most of us find lame and cheesy today. Instead of going down the typical new wave or electro/dance road, Bejar seeks out a sound that has been long forgot about but makes it  contemporary with hazy synths and sharp guitar work.  ”Blue Eyes” blossoms in every way imaginable and is slightly dark but all sexy.

08. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - “PONPONPON”

Whenever I show anyone the music video for “PONPONPON” their reaction is always the same: they laugh, have a confused look on their face but by the time the song is over, they’re singing the track’s infectious chorus. In an interview about the song and video, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu says she just wants to sing about things she likes and finds cute. You don’t even have to speak Japanese to realize that this song is the epitome of cuteness. “You make me happy,” she sings in English at one point. It also helps that mastermind Japanese producer Nakata Yasutaka helped craft the song, making it the powerhouse of fun that it is.

07. Glass Candy - “Warm in the Winter”

It was a good year for the record label Italians Do It Better. Mike Simonetti’s many projects were featured in the incredible movie Drive, including tracks from the Chromatics. Although Glass Candy didn’t have a song featured in the film, they put the glorious “Warm in the Winter.” It starts off sounding like a futuristic “Baba O’Riley,” with an electrifying synth line, then Ida No’s fragile voice cuts through, “Love’s in the air,” she softly sings. Then things lift off with a hollar and the track builds and builds magnificently. The 7 minute song is simply epic and triumphant. It is a journey of sound and feelings and No leads you by the hand. Somewhere around the 2 and a half minute mark No sings “I’m crazed like a monkey!/ E-E-WOHO/ Happy happy New Year/ Yeah, yeah WOHO.” Then, No transformers herself into a Debbie Harry figure and sing-speaks, “That’s right everybody, this is Glass Candy. Making our way around the world…We want you to know, if you ever should look in the mirror and wonder who it is that you are, and wonder what it is you came for, well I know the answer: you’re beautiful…and that’s why, I love you. We love you.” “Warm in the Winter” is Glass Candy’s best song to date: it is emotionally appealing but also a song you can easily get down to.

06. Real Estate - “Wonder Years”

“Wonder Years” is the shortest track on Real Estate’s Days. But it turns out to be one of the strongest songs on the album. Breakup songs are a dime a dozen and when listening “Wonder Years” it may take a few times before you have one of those “fuck” moments. You know, when that shit just clicks. Like the rest of the LP’s songs, “Wonder Years” is just as breezy, simple and straightforward. But sometimes that’s the breath of fresh air you need. Things don’t have to be overly complicated to be great. The track starts off with a classic Real Estate sounding guitar riff and Martin Courtney singing, “I’m not trying to be cool/ I only want to be kind/ I know that I piss you off/ Baby better rewind.” Then the homerun comes in with the painfully real hook “I’m not yours and you’re not mine/ No, I’m not OK but I guess I’m doing fine.” Love loss/breakups/being rejected is something we’ve all experienced and Real Estate nails it here in one of the most minimal ways possible. There are no tricks on this track just well executed indie rock at its best.

05. Drake - “Marvin’s Room”

Most of us have been there: that regretful drunk 3AM call to an ex or someone you’re trying to woo. Drake’s “Marvin’s Room” is the anthem to that embarrassing moment. The song opens up with a distorted phone call between Drake and the girl he can’t have. “I been in this club too long,” he sexily sings. “I’ve been drinking so much/ But I’m gonna call her anyway/ Fuck that nigga that you love so bad/ I know you still think about the times we’ve had.” Drake is incredibly successful as an R&B performer and “Marvin’s Room” is his best song to date. It’s dark, minimal, self-hating, sexy and real. “Are you drunk right now?” Drake’s ex yells to him in the middle of the track. Perfect. The spinning synths and drums brings you down to Drake’s level — making you feel a little tipsy yourself and a part of you can sympathize with him, despite singing the line, “I’ve had sex four times this week, I can explain.” Whether you’ve been in Drake shoe’s or not, it is easy to get involved with the song and see the drunken tale from both sides. “Marvin’s Room” is a hard, but universal story that can connect with a number of us, but something we don’t want to look back on but because of the track’s starkness it is easy to replay the song over and over again.

04. Hercules and Love Affair - “My House”

Hercules and Love Affair make it seem easy to turn out out-of-this-world jams. When you start “My House,” the lead single from the New York band’s sophomore album Blue Songs, you know the group has ditched the disco and has stepped into the realm of 90s Chicago…why yes, house. Andy Butler replaced Antony Hegarty’s androgynous vocals with Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke. And on “My House” everything works spectacularly. Okereke delivers a strong performance chanting “My heart is now in a higher place/ Free from your hands,” over a wobbling bass line and glitchy synths. The chorus features bouncing piano-synths that instantly bring you back to Robin S.’s “Show Me Love.” “But my house/ Is in order,” he sings for the song’s slutty hook. After the third verse, things build up with some scat. Loops of random sounds made by bandmates rickashay off each other until the track climaxes and fades into dance bliss.

03. The Rapture - “How Deep Is Your Love?”

“How Deep Is Your Love?” opens up with a disco piano loop that grabs you by the stomach. Luke Jenner pops in with his signature vocals and cries “All the love that you’ve given me/ It helps me see what’s right.” Things build up with sharp synths, tambourines and metallic drums. The song bursts wide open with Jenner chanting “Let me hear that song,” an undeniable perfect hook (and yes, maybe it sounds like Sisqo’s “Thong Song” but I’m pretty sure that just makes everything 100 times better). The track once again builds up with hand claps and Jenner just going for it. And of course, the song would not be what it is without a slithery saxophone solo that brings the song from the discotheque of the 70s to the clubs of today. “How Deep Is Your Love?” is a powerful number that confirms that the Rapture can still make brilliant dance tunes no matter how long they vanish for.

02. Real Estate - “It’s Real”

“It’s Real” was released months before Real Estate’s sophomore record Days. It was the perfect song to jam to during the summer months. I put it on a mix and listened to it in the car with my best friend while vacationing in Cape Cod. It is literally the perfect song to blast with the windows down, letting the warm, sticky summer breezy fill your lungs. Just like “Wonder Years” and the other songs on Days ”It’s Real” is simplicity done right. “When I tell you how I feel/ Believe me when I say ‘It’s real’” the band sings. The song is ideal and can easily soundtrack any summer moment with it’s sticky melodies and blissful harmonies, “It’s Real” is a pleasure to listen to. 

01. M83 - “Midnight City”

From the first time I heard “Midnight City,” I knew. I knew this easily be the best track of the year. I knew when I listened to it over 20 times in a day. Everything about the song is perfection and it is M83’s best song to date. It opens up with that unmistakable, sharp-hornish loop until Anthony Gonzalez’s newly styled confident vocals roll in, “Waiting in a car/ waiting for a ride in the dark/ The night city crawls/ Lucas needs a ride in the dark.” The city-praising, nighttime-driving, dream-like “Midnight City” showcases everything M83 was going for on Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.  The hit song is slightly confusing and hazy - with no real direction it can easily feel like a dream. Why are we waiting in a car? We’re in the city looking at the neon lights and the milky skyline. Everything feels like it’s cloaked in darkness. We feel like a child and an adult at the same time, all while the song swells with emotion and epic feelings. Finally, after the song winds in and out of powerful bursts of modern new wave, there is that sax solo. The sax solo that blows all the other sax solos in 2011 out of the water. The brass instrument enriches “Midnight City” and carries the song out until it fades away into the night city lights of your mind.