Original photo by: Janelka
20. Blu – NoYork!
mp3:
Blu – Never Be The Same Feat. Sa-Ra & Noladarling
Blu – My Sunshine Feat. Nia Andrews
Blu – Soupa Feat. Suziana Louge
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19. Summer Camp – Welcome To Condale
Welcome To Condale features probably my favorite song of the year, “I Want You,” along with plenty others that I can’t get enough of.
mp3:
Summer Camp – I Want You
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18. Cities Aviv – Digital Lows
I watched this dude blow up over night, right before my very eyes. He went from being just another rapper with an album on bandcamp, to being featured on Pitchfork, Spin, etc. And the coverage he’s getting is well deserved. Digital Lows is very engaging. It took me a few listens of “Die Young” before I even realized it samples Depeche Mode’s “People are People.” And I have to say, the way he uses it, it sounds more fitting for him than them.
mp3:
Cities Aviv – Die Young
Cities Aviv – FuckEverybodyhere
Cities Aviv – Sixsixsixes
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17. BLOUSE – S/T
mp3:
Blouse – Videotapes
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16. Puro Instinct – Headbangers in Ecstasy
mp3:
Puro Instinct – Silky Eyes
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15. Ford & Lopatin – Channel Pressure
mp3:
Ford & Lopatin – Too Much MIDI (Please Forgive Me)
Ford & Lopatin – Emergency Room
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14. Washed Out – Within and Without
mp3:
Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed
Washed Out – Amor Fati
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13. The Chain Gang Of 1974 – Wayward Fire
mp3:
The Chain Gang Of 1974 – Undercover
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12. Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls
mp3:
Veronica Falls – Come On Over
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11. Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams
mp3:
Dum Dum Girls – Bedroom Eyes
Dum Dum Girls – Coming Down
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10. Real Estate – Days
mp3:
Real Estate – It’s Real
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9. Seapony – Go With Me
Some people may think these guys are a one-trick (Sea)pony (pun intended), with all their songs sounding the same. Well, if that’s the case, it’s an awesome song to hear over and over again on Go With Me.
mp3:
Seapony – Dreaming
Seapony – Blue Star
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8. Craft Spells – Idle Labor
mp3:
Craft Spells – Party Talk
Craft Spells – After the Moment
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7. Tennis - Cape Dory
mp3:
Tennis – Take Me Somewhere
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6. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
mp3:
Lykke Li – Get Some
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5. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
One line from the opening song “Free Press and Curl” best describes Black Up: “Catchy yes, but trendy no.” Spacey production and unorthadox flows is what sets Shabazz apart from the rest of the hip hop releases of 2011. But that doesn’t take away from the ‘bump factor’, there’s tons of jams on here to ride to.
mp3:
Shabazz Palaces – An echo from the hosts that profess infinitum
Shabazz Palaces – Swerve… the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)
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4. Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
It’s a good thing this list is based on albums alone and not live performances. I love Dye It Blonde, but to see Smith Westerns play these songs live just doesn’t live up to the sound on the album.
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3. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
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2. Selebrities – Delusions
2011 has been a great year for New Wave-revival acts. But I haven’t heard anyone pull it off quite as well as Selebrities have with Delusions. This has become an instant classic in my book, and an album I’ll play for years to come.
mp3:
Selebrities – Can’t Make Up My Mind
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1. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
“Zonoscope is by far my favorite album that has been released this year. Mainly because Cut Copy embraces all of the best synthpop of the ‘80s in this album.”
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Recap:
20. Blu – NoYork!
19. Summer Camp – Welcome To Condale
18. Cities Aviv – Digital Lows
17. BLOUSE – S/T
16. Puro Instinct – Headbangers in Ecstasy
15. Ford & Lopatin – Channel Pressure
14. Washed Out – Within and Without
13. The Chain Gang Of 1974 – Wayward Fire
12. Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls
11. Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams
10. Real Estate – Days
9. Seapony – Go With Me
8. Craft Spells – Idle Labor
7. Tennis - Cape Dory
6. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
5. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
4. Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
3. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
2. Selebrities – Delusions
1. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
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