Top 2011: Songs

2011-12-19T23:55:00.001+11:00

This is the moment of the year when people can begin to understand why S. never lets me have full control of the music. To say I have a broad taste in music is to understate it significantly. I don't much listen to the radio or read music magazines, so really it's my circle of friends, music festival line ups and the buzz on the internet that have informed my list this year.

It's not a completely accurate summary of my 2011 year in music. The list is compiled solely of songs either released or on an album released this year (with one exception) . Some of the tracks in this list I've only been listening to for a couple of weeks, others all year. My 'Soundtrack of the Year' list would probably be quite different, but also change less from year to year. Not as much fun though.

I will make a special mention of a 2010 album that I discovered early this year. James Vincent McMorrow's Early In The Morning was easily one of my most played albums of the year. His tracks If I Had A Boat and We Don't Eat would easily fit in the top five of the following list.

The songs are in no particular order, until the top 10, which are numbered.

Will Do | TV On The Radio

The album disappointed me but this song stood out. TVotR have always been masters of the ballad and this just adds to their impressive (though slight) catalogue of slower songs. Still no Ambulance though.

Belongings | Clock Opera

Midway through April I thought this might be my song of the year but instead of growing me even more it plateaued a little. Still, it's a beautiful track, with lovely lyrics and that incredible build at the end. I came to love Clock Opera because of their remixes, but I've stayed for their original work. Lovely stuff.

Yonkers | Tyler The Creator

I was lucky enough to see OFWGKTA when they came to Melbourne mid-year and was treated to the most insane and fun gig of the year for me. They struggled to hold the mostly hipster audience until about 20 minutes from the end, when they had another joint, and probably a few lines, and we got hit with the full force of their charisma.

It's hard to separate Tyler's charisma from this track. The lyrics don't say anything particularly shocking or new, though there are some beautiful turns of phrase in there, but his charisma oozes through every pore of this song, and its video, which is probably one of my top videos of the year.

We Found Love | Rihanna

It's not a particularly remarkable track, on paper. Calvin Harris' production is solid but nothing special, and Rihanna seems to be doing what she's done before. But something about this track rises above the sum of it's parts. I think it's got something to do with the video, which I loved on first view, and in my head has added grit and pain and real life to an otherwise fairly sugary track.

End Credits | Chase And Status (ft. Plan B)

This song went straight onto my list of 'Songs to Play at My Funeral'. Acoustic guitar, smooth warm vocals and some great drum and bass. Incredible.

Ain't Nobody | Clare Maguire

That BBC1 Artists to Watch in 20__ list is certainly a powerhouse. Clare Maguire was featured on it last year, which is how I came to listen to her music. The voice on this girl is incredible.

Gravity | Jamie Woon

Also on the BBC1 watchlist, Woon was probably the artist whose work I was most excited about this year. I was drawn in by Burial's production on favourite track Night Air (on my list last year). Album Mirrorwriting paid off the wait and this track grabbed me from first listen.

Anna Sun | Walk The Moon

This is my 'technical' exception to the 'released in 2011 only' rule. This track was on Walk The Moon's self released album I Want I Want I Want last year, but they weren't signed until this year and the video was made this year. I don't think it was officially released as a single, but close enough.

It's just so much fun.

Hanging On | Active Child

I didn't even realise I liked this song until I realised I never skipped it and knew all the words. It's a creeper. It sounds like molasses.

BTSTU | Jai Paul

This song has been on my playlist so long I thought it had been released last year and wasn't going to put it on the list. Fortunately I looked it up. It's hard to explain this track. I've heard it played by dubstep DJ's and asian teeny boppers. Either way, listen to it. Even Temper Trap can't bring the falsetto like this track (Don't let that put you off).

Video Games | Lana Del Ray

This is relatively new to my listening, though I've heard it around a lot this year. I know already, however, that this time next year I'd regret it if I didn't put it on the list. Also the video is gorgeous.

Less Unless | Civil Civic

Civil Civic are an Australian band I heard about through an American blogger. They're like the love child of The Black Keys and Explosions In The Sky. This track is my favourite, but also check out Street Trap, which should also be on this list but it was to long alread.

The Top Ten

10. No Church In The Wild | Kanye and JayZ feat. Frank Ocean

Otis and Ni**as In Paris are the much lauded tracks off this album, but it was this track that really caught my ear. I'm a sucker for Hip Hop and Theology. Also Frank Ocean kills on this track and I've really loved him this year and I wanted to fit him on the list somewhere.

9. Marvin's Room | Drake

Narcissitic, Self-Destructive, Hedonistic. This is the soft quiet corner of self-hatred, the whispered regrets without admittance or ownership. The cloud on the silver lining. The embodiment of everything Generation Y is derided for.

Fucking beautiful. Heart-breaking.

8. Flaws | Bastille

The silver lining. There's something grown up about the lyrics about this song, while it's melody is beautifully poppy and youthful. Juxtapostion. I like how the video clip attempts to make a romantic comedy out of Badlands.

7. Limit To Your Love | James Blake

This track was my access point to James Blake. It's where all of the complexity of his music and composition comes together in a moment of clarity. The bass speaks clearly.

6. Someone Like You | Adele

The SNL sketch summed it up beautifully but my lord this song. I've loved Adele for a long time and I will probably never hear a song that so beautifully and clearly spoke to and about me as much as Hometown Glory did when I was 20, but I've never loved her so much. She's just incredible, and deserves every accolade.

5. Running | Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx

Jamie xx has the hands of Midas. This is the song of end of night cigarettes and hot black tea in S.'s backyard. Also I showed him this album (as well as James Blake, I might add) which he adores, so this is where I can point and say 'Ha, I DO have a good taste in music'. (Not that he cares too much, I don't think, it's just my neuroses coming into play.)

4. Midnight City | M83

Teen Angst is one of my favourite tracks of the past decade so I was excited to find M83 making more of it's ilk, rather than descending into droning boredom as he is prone to do. The album is still growing on me, but this track has been a killer from the start, and I can't get enough.

3. House Of Balloons/Glass Table Girls | The Weeknd

I was blindsided at the drop. The balloons popped and the dark underside was unveiled. I fell in love. I actually struggle to articulate how I feel about this song.

2. Never Let Me Go | Florence & The Machine

I just can't help myself. Choirs and drums and slow builds and drama. It's like musical crack. I was surprised this track wasn't my number one, but I was frustrated by Ceremonials and let's face it, this track is no Blinding. And yet... and yet, when the choir comes in and her voice soars over them, and the minor fall and the major lift...

1. Civilian | Wye Oak

The quiet, the rumble, the voice. 'I am nothing without...' . Confessions. Anxiety. Longing. A quiet frustration amplified to an intense build let loose to a soaring roar. Raw.

This song was acquired incidentally. Without second thought. I listened without listening. Over and over. It never left my playlist and I never knew why. But I see my year in it. So much of this song is painfully real to me. Not literally, but LISTEN to it. I was asking myself what my song of the year was and this one tapped me on the shoulder and said hi. I was actually surprised to realise this about myself. I love that about music. I love that about lists.

Top 2011: Remixes

2011-12-19T21:36:00.001+11:00

Because my top songs list is long enough without including the remixes. I've only included my top five for brevity's sake.

5. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win | Beastie Boys and Santigold (Major Lazer Remix)

Major Lazer, Beastie Boys and Santigold all on one track? Yes please!

4. Figure 8 (Discotech Remix) | Outasight

This one grew on me. I like that the song is depressing as hell but it's such a cheerful mix.

3. Til The World Ends (DOCTOR ROSEN ROSEN Remix) | Britney Spears

Fuck the Haters. This track is amazing.

2. Rolling In The Deep (Jamie XX shuffle) ft. Childish Gambino | Adele

I actually love all of this track. The original, the Jamie xx shuffle, and this one with Childish Gambino. I decided to put this version on the list because the Childish Gambino verse is firing at all speeds, so great.

1. Houdini (RAC mix) | Foster The People

Not the biggest fan of Foster The People, and I'm sick of Pumped Up Kicks remixes, but this is amazing. I mean, it's RAC so of course it is. But seriously, the groove on this thing.

Bored @ Work: Teriyaki Tofu w. Mango, Green Bean & Roquette

2011-12-09T21:16:00.000+11:00

Bored @ Work: Mexicana Salad w. Guacomole & Corn Chips

2011-12-06T21:05:00.000+11:00

Orange Polenta Slice w. White Chocolate, Poached Pears and Toffee glaze

2011-11-28T14:29:00.001+11:00

One of my many work experiments. The loveable shambles of a cafe I earn my money in has no working oven and no freezer. I make most of our salads, pastas and curries on a battered old plug in electric cooktop. Work was quiet so I decided to try my hand at a gluten free dessert. It was going to be vegan until I found white cooking chocolate on special.

Method:
Grate the rind of a large orange, put aside. Juice orange and others until you have about 3 cups of orange juice. Heat in a pot with brown or castor sugar (whatever's on hand) cinnamon and nutmeg (to taste). When nearly boiling add in around 300gr polenta. Stir continuously, adding 3 cups hot water slowly as its absorbed. Stir in rind.
When fluffy and thick, pour into greased flan with removable bottom. Put in fridge to set.

Thinly slice 4 pears. Dissolve 3/4 cup sugar into pot of hot water, add cinnamon, nutmeg and a capful of vanilla essence. Add pears. Poach until deep golden brown.

Over the poaching pot melt a block of white cooking chocolate in a bowl. Take polenta from fridge. Ice with melted chocolate, put back in fridge until semi set.

Take pear off heat, let cool slightly. Place on top of chocolate layer in whatever pattern you feel like.

Make some toffee(3 parts sugar, one part water), I used brown auger so it would be more of a molasses type texture/glaze. Let cool and drizzle over set slice.

Eat all of it.

New Start

2011-11-01T16:23:00.000+11:00

A lot has changed since I wrote that last post. I didn't move interstate. I dropped out of university. I worked odd jobs. I began again. I applied for Art School. And got in. I found my tribe. I found my love. I found my womanhood. I grew up.

I have always loved the myth of the Phoenix, that funny little bird that always rises from the ashes. I felt that rather start completely anew, erasing the past, I would go back and make something out of what was already there. But better.

I still don't quite know who I am. But that's ok. I'll bake a cake and think it over.

D.S al fine.

2011-10-01T21:00:00.000+10:00

New start. I need a place to vent, to show off, to discuss, to think, to write, to get excited.

My other blog, Bear Mustard, will still be where I keep all my art related stuff.

Also follow me on Twitter @bearmustard, which will be updated more often.

I kept one of the old posts from this blog. Mainly because I still love that album. The rest were too excruciating to read.

2009-02-12T15:42:00.002+11:00

The new Bat For Lashes album, Two Suns, is amazing. I can't stop listening. Even better that Fur and Gold. There is no one else quite like her in the music scene right now...