Miike Snow- “Animal”
Best Reminder: no matter what shape you take, you are still an animal.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niKT-kJfUz4]
Dirty Projectors- “Stillness is the Move”
Best harmonies: beautiful and strangely soulful. At times both uncomfortable and mesmerizing.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPF6lpM0XM]
Kings of Leon- “Use Somebody”
Best late-night drunken lust anthem. This song has the potential to be covered by many blues & soul bands for years to come and butchered in karaoke bars forevermore.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnhXHvRoUd0]
Bat For Lashes- “Daniel”/”Glass”
It’s a tie here. Really, “Daniel” is the jam. It has that great driving rhythm and dark strings. But “Glass” has that note she hits. Yes, that note. Best imitation of breaking glass.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00ZHah-c0hQ]
M. Ward- “Never Had Nobody Like You”
A perfect M. Ward song from the near perfect M. Ward album Hold Time. Best interpretation of timelessness.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
Phoenix- “Lisztomania”
So many delicious pop morsels on Phoenix’s Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix it is so hard to pick a favorite. Some days I am more “Girlfriend” and some days more “Fences” or “1901”. But “Lisztomania” is pure sugar. Best sacrifice of lyrical sense for fun. Discuss discuss discuss discourage…
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BJDNw7o6so]
Camera Obscura- “French Navy”
Best combination of sweet and precious (without being too sweet and precious).
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3CkfvYMCWM]
Jay-Z- “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)”
Best message to the mainstream. Also, cool obscure guitar sample.
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z13AjI8n4I]
Franz Ferdinand- “Ulysses”
Best reason to chant “La La La La” on a road trip.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31sZ9xZr_Ew&NR=1]
Mayer Hawthorne- “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”
Best retro-soul attempt by a white guy.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBKx8PyE5qQ]
Avett Brothers- “Kick Drum Heart”
Best kick drum.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
White Rabbits- “Percussion Gun”
Best tom toms.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IClBpch9vmM]
Grizzly Bear- “2 Weeks”/”While You Wait for the Others”
Tie again. Is there anything that is not super fantastic on this album? Best overrated album that is actually not overrated.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ]
Jamie Foxx – “Blame It”
Best excuse. Actually, lamest excuse. But, it’s the best invocation of said lame-ass excuse. Wait, when did this song even come out? I don’t remember… Blame it on the…
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfjtpp90lu8]
Little Dragon – “Swimming”
Sexxy. Best use of feminine wiles.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQAT_nOuYVo]
The Heavy – “Sixteen”
Sexxxy. Best use of masculine wiles.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfB_sT3mHHo]
Thunderheist- “Nothing 2 Step 2”
Best soul-fueled dance anthem from Canadians.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80A_nUQ_7Ts]
Kid Cudi feat. Kanye West & Common (and ahem, Lady Gaga) – “Make Her Say”
Wow this song is super misogynistic and naughty. Proof that even though I love lyrics and female empowerment, a good groove and a hook, darn it, makes you feel wrong but oh so right. Best incorporation of the ever-ubiquitous Lady Gaga & “Poker Face” double-entendre.
LISTEN
WEBSITE
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKadumQvnWk]
Tom Waits- “Tom Tales”
Not an actual song- just one full disc of Tom Waits telling fantastical tales and random facts. Like sweet honey to an uber-Waits fan such as myself. Best reason for a double disc release.
WEBSITE
Julia Rose Cummings
Producer, Branded Music/Voice Talent
PlayNetwork, Inc.
