December | 2011 | Musical Musings of Ho

These are my favorite songs of the year that I blasted on repeat!

1. Adele: Set Fire to the Rain

This was the year of Adele- period. With an amazing sophomore album that blasted all the records and got maybe a little too much airplay, no one would doubt it has been a good year for her. While “Somebody Like You” and “Rolling in the Deep” has somewhat eclipsed the rest of album, I would say the best song on the album is Set Fire to the Rain- here Adele is simply at her best, soulful and passionate. There is something really interesting about the song- while we know that 21 is her ode to a particularly bad breakup, there is a lot conflicting messages to this song- is this a an angry break up song or a song of desperate reconciliation? While you ponder this thought, enjoy this fantastic song.

2. Airborne Toxic Event: Changing

I was not a huge fan of Airborne Toxic Event’s first album. I thought, oh that’s an interesting but kind of standard contemporary alternative band. But with their second album, All At Once, I really started to take notice. “Changing” is on my list of favorite songs this year because it’s just a fun romp that broke away from their normal sound and almost crossed into the Motown-style pop that you can’t but help stomp your feet to.

3. Foster the People: Call It What You Want

I call Foster the People the sleeper hit makers of the summer with “Pumped Up Kicks”. It definitely came out of no where and blasted off. I recently was able to listen to the album and I must say, I’m quite a fan of it. My favorite track off the album is the odd “Call It What You Want”, a kind of piano/disco sound that’s really fun to listen to (it is accompanied by an even weirder video). With an endorsement from The Edge of U2 (I couldn’t think of a better music endorsement) I think Foster the People has found a niche sound in the dance/pop/genre-buster genre that is uniquely their own. “Call It What You Want” is indicative of their style, it’ll make you sing a long, dance and just be happy.

4. Oh Land: Sun of a Gun

Imagine if Lykke Li/Bjork met an DJ, and looked like Heidi Klum. Yeah that’s kind of how to describe the import of Oh Land. Sun of Gun is a classic “it’s over and I through with you” kind of song at it’s core, but it’s different. Oh Land brings a quirkiness in her music that I really appreciate. I remember blasting this song when I first discovered it and I hope you will too.

5. Grouplove: Tongue-Tied

I’ll admit it. I heard this song on the Apple commercial and sought it out. It’s fun, its kitchy and damn it’s just plain catchy. Channeling Matt and Kim, its kind of the rocking “sloppy” song with a great piano track to back it up. The lyrics aren’t anything to be amazed by but I dare you not to listen and not sing along. I think this song proves the point is that great music is everywhere. You just have to listen for it.

6. Fitz and the Tantrums: We Don’t Have to Work it Out

I am loving this band right now. This band of course wear their inspirations on their sleeves- and by that, if you can’t hear the influence of Motown and Soul please leave now. But I think where Fitz really shines though, is their ability to modernize this classic sound and make it sound fresh again. Add that bumping baseline and I don’t understand how this isn’t on everyone’s list for the year.

7. Ellie Goulding: This Love Will Be Your Downfall

I think all my blog readers are tired of hearing about my Ellie Goulding obsession. I love Miss Goulding, period. But when narrowing it down to my favorite track from her album, Bright Lights I was in a pickle. I had several favorites from the album- “Starry Eyed”, “Guns and Horses”, “Under the Sheets” and “Biggest Mistake” were all clear winners in my book, but I narrowed it down to “This Love Will be Your Downfall.” There is something very real about this track to me. Ellie channels a lover who feels that maybe they don’t deserve the relationship that they are in and it comes off real, kind of tragic and a fascinating listen. I can’t wait to hear what Ellie is going to bring in 2012. Also if you STILL have not listen to her (even after my incessant badgering), do it NOW.

8. Lissie: Every Where I Go

I first heard Lissie when she did a cover of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness”. I had a feeling I would like this chick. A folksy and very “real” sounding artist, Lissie comes off as a friend coming over to share with you some of the songs that she wrote. She’s channeling Neko Case in “Everywhere I Go”- it’s slow, haunting, and profound in its lyrics. There is something beautiful about this song.

9. The One AM Radio: Sunlight

I feel like I describe songs horribly. You know when you hear a song and you just a get a certain “feeling”? You know, a song makes you feel a certain way and you can’t seem to articulate what that feeling is? I feel like this happens to me in music all the time. I love music, and I love the different ways it can make you feel, but I have no idea what these feelings are. Hahha, sorry to get a little side tracked, but this thought came to me as I pondered about how I was going to describe this song. “Sunlight” is just a “cool” song- one of my vague “feelings.” But weird feelings aside, this song was one of my favorite songs of 2011. I love the opening – there is just something great about ” the line, You wouldn’t think it would get this dark, driving down this stretch of Wilshire Boulevard.” I feel like I get taken to a dark city, lit up by street lights and that feeling you have as you drive home in deep thought. Simply put, put this song your playlist.

10. Fun: We Are Young

I dedicated the blog post title pic to Fun- it was a comeback year for Fun. I would say it openly, I am a massive Format fan. The Format was one of my favorite bands ever, and the album Intervention and Lullabies will forever remain as a CD that I could never part with. So, you can imagine by devastation when The Format broke up. Nate, the lead singer of Format then created Fun. While I must say that they are curiously Format like, I feel like (and I know this is blasphemous as some of my friends loved the first album from Fun) that it never truly compared to the Format. It was kind of, well Format-light. One of my friends turned me onto their new single, and I have to say “We are Young” is a return to form for Nate. I could easily imagine this being a Format song, and I know this bias is one of the reasons I put this song on here. But “We are Young” is more than just a throwback to one of my favorite bands, it is a great song that draws from youth, misunderstandings and of course the awesome Janelle Monae.

11. Florence and the Machine: Only If For a Night

Oh Florence. I love you so. Her sophomore album Ceremonials is just as good if not better than Lungs– but that debate is for another day. Florence comes back hard with even more drama, showmanship and those crazy pipes of hers. While she has several singles out, my favorite track from the album is the opening salvo, “Only for a Night.” I’ve told my sister that no one does frantic desperation/controlled chaos like Florence does. The song is dreamy, and draws in all the things that she did so well in the first album, including the grandiose nature of the entire production and creative usage of instruments that is simply the Florence sound. Also loving the imagery- “The grass was so green, in my new clothes.”

12. Flight Facilities: Crave You

I hate saying this- but what a cool song. Ug, “crazy hipster non-sense”. But seriously it’s a great song and one of my favorites of 2011. It’s dreamy, jazzy, relaxing all at the same time. It makes me think of high school days when you would ask, “why don’t they like me as much as I like them?”. It’s a perfect example of innocent longing and teen frustration put into a neat package.

13. Fenech Soler: Demons

There is something atmospheric/symphonic about Fenech Soler. Also what a cool name. But that’s beside the point.” Demons” is a throwback to the type of 80’s style new-wave that I personally am a sucker for (anyone who knows me knows that I can’t say no to a great Depeche Mode/Tears for Fears song). That synth drives home Demons and personally I think it makes the song. Fenech is great about you putting in a certain mood, and “Demons” is no exception. There is a sense of desperation and confusion amid the song and I love that.

14. The Naked and the Famous: Young Blood

A song that captures youth. It is youth personified. Clearly that is the point of the song, hence the title, but you can’t but help relieve those moments of youth and the nostalgia that comes with it. I clearly have no idea what half the lyrics are but I can “Yeah Yeah Yeah” at the end of the chorus like no other. I know it’s lame but when I listen to this song I think of a cheesey montage of teens running around, being stupid, and just being “young”. Yeah, this explanation was tacky, give me a break, at least I’m speaking honestly hahah.

15. Two Door Cinema: What You Know

There is something old school about Two Door Cinema and I just can’t put my finger on it. I love the guitar rift in this song and I feel like it is a throwback to some great British pop bands of the 60’s-70’s. I want to jam out to this song, which I believe is an essential criteria for a good song and I think there is something really clever about this song. I’m a fan of this retro- modernization and seems to be so popular.

16. Emeli Sande: Daddy

I have no idea how to pronounce her name, but that won’t stop me enjoying this track. A great R & B/pop song that talks about falling for the wrong one, and the worse part is that you know that they are the wrong- but you can’t help it. I do feel it is a little strange “the daddy” reference, but I think the message is pretty universal. I think there is something epic about the bridge of the song and I appreciate that Emeli becomes more passionate as the song drives on. There clearly is something wrong with this relationship and you’re just trying to get out of it.

17. The Ting Tings: Day by Day

The Ting Tings are cool. Admit it- you’ve jammed out to “That’s Not My Name”. If you haven’t, you have to do it sometime, you’re missing out. Katie and Jules are a perfect combination, she brings the vocals and sass and Jules brings the music to back it up. Their genre is really hard to pin down, pop, electronic, but there is something that is purely Ting Ting. I actually really appreciate it when the Ting Tings are sensitive (remember “Be the One” from their first album? Seriously, if you don’t, stop reading and listen to it). Here in “Day by Day” its a pretty simple message about honesty and getting through “day by day.” I think Katie voice is gorgeous and I can’t wait for their new album to finally come out!

18. Lykke Li: I Follow Rivers

You know when Lady Gaga is- “weird” in the sense that its her stage presence? I think Lykke Li is just weird in general. Like it’s just how she is, weird. “I Follow Rivers” is a strange experiment in pop music, and Li creates some kind of dissonance in the beginning of the song. The music kind doesn’t fit and they use tech to throw her voice off. But when she breaks into the chorus, you’ve hit a great song. Li is fantastic at writing great hooks (remember “I’m Good, I’m Gone?”) and the chorus for “I Follow Rivers” she does the same. She’s strange alright, but I wouldn’t have her any other way.

19. Favorite Cover Song: John Legend cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”

Disclaimer: Adele did it better. Period. But John Legend is a close second- and adds a soulfulness that only John Legend could bring. Everyone and their mother did a cover of this song and Legend’s version is just amazing. I approve of Legend’s choice to do a stripped down version, with no instruments- the only thing backing him up is his backup singers. It leaves him vulnerable and reliant on his voice- which there is doubt that Legend has an AMAZING voice. This is what a good cover should be, different but still faithful to the original. Kudos to you Legend. Kudos.

Finally- an ode to Amy Winehouse. Tragic that she had to leave so early because her talent is out in the stratosphere. I leave you with Amy’s “He Can Only Hold Her.”

Well that’s it- my favorite tracks of the 2011. Comments? Agreements? Praise? Disagreements? Criticisms? Please comment! I would love to hear what you thought about music in 2011. Other than that I’ll see everyone next year!