Last year we decided to do our biggest feature to date, our “Remix of The Year 2010”. Whilst this post may not reach those heights of effort or user input, our inaugural “Best Songs of 2011” list is arguably just as important. You definitely won’t find any remixes here, this is purely what we believe to be the top songs of 2011 so far.
We have chosen 30 of our favourite tracks to grace our ears in 2011 and divided them in no particular order over the next 3 pages.
We aren’t a Pitchfork type of site so don’t be surprised to see some more commercial type songs creep into the list – we definitely appreciate songs that make you want to get up and dance on a night out. Also bear in mind that this “Best Songs of 2011” list is open to change based on: your feedback and also the caliber of songs we still have left to hear over the next few months.
We hope you enjoy!
Beastie Boys – Make Some Noise
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After three years away from the scene and a cancer scare inbetween, 2011 was the moment when the Beastie Boys presented their new single, Make Some Noise. The song is also the lead single of the reworked and retitled eighth LP Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2. It’s got a tasty old school beat that we normally associate with the trio and it comes packed with a killer synth.
SBTRKT – Wildfire
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SBTRKT may seem like he sprung up from nowhere, but Aaron Jerome has infact remixed MIA, Basement Jaxx, Mark Ronson and Underworld, and issued a bunch of singles and EPs over the past few years. Only in 2011 has he finally decided to release his eponymous debut album and Wildfire was one of the choice cuts from that record.
Radiohead – Lotus Flower
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Radiohead returned from a self-imposed exile in 2011 to release their eighth studio album The King of Limbs. As part of their unannounced comeback, a contender for one of the best songs of 2011 Lotus Flower arrived with possibly the greatest music video of 2011 – a video showing Radiohead’s frontman Thom Yorke throwing some of the best shapes we have ever seen.
Russ Chimes – Tonic
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After the stunning solo impact that Russ Chimes made with his Midnight Club EP in 2010, he definitely needed to release something in 2011 that would match the impressively high standards he had previously set himself. With the release of his double Tonic/Helix EP, Russ Chimes showed he clearly had the answer.
DJ Khaled – I’m On One
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DJ Khaled has the uncanny knack of unearthing one solid rap anthem per year and in 2011 his quota was filled by the incredible I’m On One. By enlisting Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross he was sure to have a solid set of verses for Drake to compliment with his talent for creating untouchable hooks.
Friendly Fires – True Love
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When the Friendly Fires returned in 2011 with their sophomore album Pala, it was obvious that they were going to bring with them a number of summer anthems. True Love was possibly the pick of the bunch with its infectious groove and catchy lyrics.
The Weeknd – Lonely Star
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It was inevitable that The Weeknd was going to appear at some point on this list but the trouble came when choosing which song to feature. The Canadian prodigy has had such a successful 2011 so far that he could have had a best song of 2011 shortlist all to himself.
When we finally had to make a decision it was the opening track Lonely Star from his new mixtape Thursday that made the cut purely because we haven’t been able to take it off repeat.
Frank Ocean – Novacane
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2011 has been a busy year for Frank Ocean so far, not only has be penned songs for Béyonce, provided vocals for Watch The Throne, but he still found time to release one of the most game-changing mixtapes this year with Nostalgia/Ultra.
Novacane was one of the picks from that mixtape and it gives us a glimpse into the new sound of R&B.
LMFAO – Party Rock Anthem
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Whilst many of you may be sick of LMFAO‘s Party Rock Anthem due to the sheer amount of repeat plays this song has garnered this year, it’s an undeniable achievement for the duo who had not even achieved a top 50 hit in the US before its release.
Using samples from Soft Cell‘s Tainted Love and Eric Prydz‘s single Call On Me to great effect, Party Rock Anthem had us all shuffling at some point this year.
jj – Still
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Swedish duo jj kicked off 2011 in fantastic fashion with the release of their cover/mashup mixtape Kills. The ten-track affair included their amazing opening track Still which expertly sampled Dr. Dre‘s street anthem Still DRE.
Jai Paul – BTSTU
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Jai Paul is yet another XL Recordings prodigy who you will remember featured on this year’s BBC Sound Of list. BTSTU was his breakout track, and it’s a beautiful number that layers his angelic falsetto vocals over some incredibly inventive production.
Kreayshawn – Gucci Gucci
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If we were looking for off-the-radar impact this year then there aren’t many better candidates than Kreayshawn, a girl who managed to get a record deal with Columbia, a gig to host the Red Carpet before the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, a Best New Artist nomination, and an offer to direct the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ comeback music video all off the back of her single Gucci Gucci.
Thanks to some rib-rattling low-end bass, creeping synths and some clever wordplay, Gucci Gucci has already amassed over 15m views on YouTube in just a matter on months.
DJ Fresh – Louder
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Boosted by the huge success of last year’s smash hit Gold Dust, and with the creation of another brilliant viral video, veteran producer DJ Fresh stormed to his first UK #1 this year with the unstoppable summer anthem Louder.
Tapping into the UK’s ever increasing appreciation for both Dubstep and Drum ‘n’ Bass, DJ Fresh created an incredibly infectious infusion of both styles which was topped off by recruiting Kosheen lead singer Sian Evans to provide some stunning vocals. If this isn’t one of the best songs of 2011 then it definitely takes the crown as this summer’s top offering.
Strange Talk – Climbing Walls
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At the very start of the year Neon Gold unearthed yet another gem in the form of Aussie 4-piece Strange Talk. Climbing Walls was the first song we heard from them, and it probably has the most energy out of every song on this list.
Sounding like a fusion between The Killers and Friendly Fires, Climbing Walls just makes you want to get up and dance forever.
Nicki Minaj – Super Bass
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Surprisingly omitted from the standard edition of Nicki Minaj‘s debut album Pink Friday, it has gone on to be the most successful solo record of her career so far (thanks in no part to Taylor Swift & Selena Gomez).
Assisted by production from Kane Beats, Super Bass is further evidence that Nicki is the top female rapper in the game at the moment.
The Strokes – Under Cover of Darkness
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Another band that seized upon 2011 as a chance to return from the recording wilderness was indie favourites The Strokes. Their comeback single Under Cover of Darkness was the first glimpse into what their new material sounded like and many were pleased to find that it channeled their ‘older’ sound found on previous albums Is This It? and Room on Fire.
Kanye West & Jay-Z – Niggas In Paris
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One of the shock announcements of the year was that two of the biggest names in hip-hop, Kanye West & Jay-Z, were once again joining forces, except this time on a collaborative studio album called Watch The Throne.
Kanye steals the show on Niggas In Paris, the Hit-Boy produced club anthem which was easily one of the best tracks from the joint venture.
James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream
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Originally a cover of the song Where to Turn by James Litherland (James Blake‘s father), it was eventually retitled after The Wilhelm Scream, a sound effect used in more movies than you can imagine.
Hailed as one of the most talented producers of this generation, you can certainly see why as he perfectly blends his almost robotic vocals with a cloudy crescendo of sound.
Nero – Me And You
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Nero have done immensely well since making the 2011 longlist for the BBC back at the turn of the year, and the catalyst for that success most probably came from the impressive Me And You.
It’s a quintessential Nero track full of big drum samples, heavy bass and Alana Watson on vocals.
Wiz Khalifa – On My Level
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Wiz Khalifa may have been a name in the rap game for a long time now but it was only in 2011 that he released his debut studio album Rolling Papers.
It may not be the best lyrical contribution you’ll find this year but there’s something about On My Level which is just fucking cool (although maybe we can thank Jim Jonsin for that).
Jamie Woon – Lady Luck
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Jamie Woon has only recently broken out into the mainstream media spotlight, but has already made waves with his ability to bring whole genres together in his endearing, acoustic-based, thought-provoking tracks.
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying the sheer talent and production quality that goes into his music, something which can be a rare commodity these days, and that’s why Lady Luck is an obvious contender for top song of 2011.
Lana Del Ray – Video Games
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After teasing us last summer with the fantastic Diet Mtn Dew the pressure was on Lana Del Ray to come back in 2011 with something big, and boy has she delivered with a bang.
Video Games is possibly her finest work yet. Languorous, sinister and cathartic, it perfectly describes that feeling of being ignored by the person you love. Lana signed recently with a major label, so we can expect even more stunning work from her in the future.
Devlin – Let It Go
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Devlin might sound like just some badman from East London, but a great deal of what he does is to try to change the tarnished image of Britain’s youth. That’s commendable in itself, but he also makes some bloody good music.
Well thought through and entirely typical of Devlin’s sound, Let It Go features Syco’s possibly greatest signing, Labrinth, and comes together to produce one of the best songs in 2011 to date.
M83 – Midnight City
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3 years in the making, the tracks we’ve heard on M83‘s latest album are nothing short of impressive. The first single Midnight City is a masterpiece in itself, the feeling that you’re listening to a precisely crafted piece of music is overwhelming.
Every synth, every vocal, every honk and twinkle is impeccably placed and to be honest we didn’t expect anything less from a band with such a rich history. If we were only talking about the love and care that went into these songs, we’d have a winner.
Lykke Li – Sadness Is A Blessing
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Lykke Li does one thing very well, and that is to paint pictures through her music. Capturing a mood perfectly through every last nuance of the song, Sadness Is A Blessing is no exception. Definitely a unique brand of music amongst today’s popular styles, but a niche that she fills to the letter.
Dirty South & Thomas Gold – Alive
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Dirty South & Thomas Gold, 2 impressive dance music prodigies in their own right teamed up together in 2011 to deliver one hell of a club banger called Alive.
If you were in Ibiza this summer then there’s a very high chance that this tune is still resonating through your soul. Progressive house at its finest.
Chris Brown – Beautiful People
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Charismatic and talented as he is, Chris Brown never seems to be having a good time in the public eye. However, when he produces music of a high standard, everyone will forget his flaws and you can be sure it’ll be played until the cows come home.
Beautiful People is no exception to this rule, as it has mostly dominated every dancefloor since it was released in March this year. An R&B leviathan of Brown’s calibre, steel drums and Benni Benassi‘s trademark production are a surefire combination to clubbing success.
JLo – On The Floor
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Jennifer Lopez has been a strong image for Latin culture in today’s industry, and On The Floor is clearly still in line with that. Mixing that Latin feel with typical clubbing beats, Lopez has created a song which people will be associating with “that incredible summer in [hot country]” for years to come. We’ve picked the Pitbull-less version, because it’s hands down the better song.
Rizzle Kicks – Down With The Trumpets
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The new kids on the block, Rizzle Kicks, have a fresh sound and a youthful zest about their music. Obviously a pair that don’t take themselves too seriously, it’s a great break from the norm in the industry nowadays. Down With The Trumpets personifies them perfectly, and is guaranteed to put smiles on faces everywhere. An excellent way for the lads to ‘kick’ off a career in music.
Mord Fustang – Lick The Rainbow
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Making a name for himself rather quickly this year, Estonian producer Mord Fustang (yes, yet another example of spoonerism) has been dominating dancefloors over the summer with his high-energy creations.
Since January he’s dropped five singles for Miles Dyson‘s Plasmapool label, with Lick the Rainbow enjoying his highest placement on the Beatport Top 100 to date. If he keeps on producing straight bangers like this then expect him to get snapped by a larger label rather fucking quickly.