Ed Note: Bernie Trotsky is a Duran Duran obsessed quasi-hipster living in Peterborough, Ontario. He enjoys a good harlequin novel and has been known to start flat-earth debates.
This year's installment is the largest one yet. I was finally able to whittle down my list to the top 30 songs of the year. As always, an artist or musical act may not be represented on the list more than once. Listed below are honourable mentions, songs that were disqualified due to my asinine stipulation that artists may not be represented on the list more than once, and, if this wasn't hipster enough as it is, a reference to last year's list. Anyways, check it out!
Ten Honourable Mentions (in no particular order):
Real Estate - "It's Real"
Burial, Four Tet, and Thom Yorke - "Ego"
Metronomy - "The Bay"
Lana Del Rey - "Blue Jeans"
Death Cab For Cutie - "You are the Tourist"
TV on the Radio - "You"
Yuck - "Operation"
Toro Y Moi - "Still Sound"
PNAU - "Solid Ground"
Washed Out - "Amor Fati"
Ten Songs Ruled Out By "The One Song Per Artist" Rule*
Bombay Bicycle Club - "Lights Out, Words Gone" (LOVE THIS SONG...would've been a Top 10)
Craft Spells - "Party Talk"
Peter Bjorn and John - "Breaker, Breaker"
Digitalism - "Miami Showdown"
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Belong"
Cut Copy - "Take Me Over"
Penguin Prison - "Fair Warning (Oliver Remix)"
Justice - "Ohio"
Holy Ghost! - "Wait and See (CFCF Remix)"
Destroyer - "Chinatown"
Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks (on 2010 list)*
The Top 30 Songs of 2011
#30 - Second Chance by Peter Bjorn and John
While nothing can match the masterpiece that is "Writer's Block", this song from their latest is pretty decent.
#29 - Heart In Your Heartbreak by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
One of the best surprises and acts that I saw at Osheaga this year. Love the shout-out to My Bloody Valentine.
#28 - Civilization by Justice
I honestly expected a lot more from this album. Civilization, featured in that adidas commercial, was the highlight by a distance of 2.2 km.
#27 - A Truly Happy Ending by Junior Boys
While their last album was a bit of a disappointment, this one was much better. Check out the Diamond Rings remix too.
#26 - Flowers by Teeth
One of those songs I randomly click on that work out for the best. Weird? Yup. Trotsky Style? Definitely.
#25 - Bizness by tUnE-yArDs
I'd heard a lot about them but wasn't a particular fan of anything...until I heard this one.
#24 - 2 Hearts by Digitalism
This started out HOTT, but really faded as the year went on. Nice to hear some new stuff from them. Been a while.
#23 - Do It Again by Holy Ghost!
For some reason, this song reminds me of a Roxette song. This just edged out "Wait and See" for a spot on here.
#22 - Show Me Lights by Friendly Fires
Bought this album the day it came out and was not disappointed. I like this tune the best, though "Live Those Days Tonight", "Blue Cassette", and their cover of Depeche Mode's "Strangelove" are pretty great too.
#21 - Love U More (RAC Mix) by Sunday Girl
RAC does about 3 or 4 remixes each year that take a solid song and make them stellar. This is one of them.
#20 - Pop Song by Baths
One band I wished I had gotten to see at Osheaga but couldn't make work. Sigh.
#19 - Don't Fuck With My Money by Penguin Prison
I'd been waiting for this album for a looooong time. Well worth the wait. Get it. It's fantastic.
#18 - After The Moment by Craft Spells
Just a random discovery. Saw them in a basement in Toronto and they were so talented, yet so humble. Great sound!
#17 - If You Wanna by The Vaccines
So many elements of so many bands going on here. This was a summer playlist staple.
#16 - Holocene by Bon Iver
And at once I knew I was not magnificent...
#15 - True Loves by Hooray For Earth
Awful band name, but great video and amazing song.
#14 - Helena Beat by Foster The People
WARNING: PRETENTIOUS HIPSTER RANT: It's a shame that I got this song in January because it feels so stale and old now. It just lacks what it had at the start of the year. Combined with the fact that their singer is a coolie/douchebag deluxe, there's no wonder why it tumbled out of the top ten.
#13 - We Found Love by Rihanna feat. Calvin Harris
WARNING: NON-EXISTENT HIPSTER CREDIBILITY RUINED: Yes, I heard this for the first time on the radio in carpool on the way home from Havelock. Yes, it's Rihanna. Yes, the lyrics are repetitive. Yes, the video is disturbingly awkward. It's an amazingly catchy song and I hear it everywhere. I like it.
#12 - Contact High by Architecture in Helsinki
I need to listen to more of their earlier stuff. Check out the Clock Opera remix for a different take.
#11 - Poor In Love by Destroyer
This album's terrific. Since this is my favourite song on it, it gets placed here. Not a sound I'd normally go far. Guess i'm meeting last year's resolution to be more open to different music styles...
#10 - Need You Now by Cut Copy
This song is a total grower. It just keeps building and building...then boom goes the dynamite.
#09 - Don't Move by Phantogram
Had heard a couple of their previous songs, but THIS one is just spectacular. Love it.
#08 - What About Us by Handsome Furs
Initially, I hated how it slowed down. It eventually grew on me but it could've been top 5 if it stayed like the start.
#07 - Still Life by The Horrors
Yet another amazing group introduced to me by The Brothers Randall. This song harkens back to the 80's, which is enough in itself. I still think he should've hit a high note during one of the choruses. Love those horns.
#06 - How Deep Is Your Love by The Rapture
Always been a fan of The Rapture. Played that video of the turntable and disco ball a million times before the album came out. Check the record out, as there are only two crappy songs on it.
#05 - Julius by Starfucker
For a solid two months, this was the frontrunner for song of the year. They have a handful of decent songs, but this is the best by far.
#04 - Shuffle by Bombay Bicycle Club
Song of the summer for a number of reasons.
#03 - Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger Remix) by The Go! Team
Whenever this song comes on, I think of the glory of jerseys and jorts. The Go! Team's first album was a staple in my Japanese days and their second one had some solid tracks, but nothing matches this remix.
#02 - Money by The Drums
Absolutely love this song. The falsetto, ridiculous bassline, and a beat perfect for steering wheel drumming make it a deserving runner-up to...
#01 - Midnight City by M83
This song just blows everything else away. Listen to it now. Watch the video. It's the best of 2011.
Bernie Trotsky
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