The Stuff Smart People Like Top 15 Songs of 2011

Hey everyone. We know that, in general, this blog generally ignores music. That being said, we thought we would take a stab at commenting on some of our favorite songs of the year. If you are so inclined you can also listen to them via Spotify or Rdio by clicking on the links below.

Listen to this list on Spotify
Listen to this list on Rdio

Ben

1. "Kiara" - Bonobo I'm a huge fan of Adult Swim and this song feels like a perfect "bump" song. I haven't yet met someone who didn't nod their head in appreciation to this chill tune.
2. "Sunrise" - Childish Gambino Donald Glover (aka, Childish Gambino) released my absolute favorite album of 2011. Camp is profane, insightful, sometimes funny, often times melancholy, and inspiring. This track is the most exuberant of the album.
3. "Always Like the Sun" - Release the Sunbird Now we take it down a few notches with this summer-evening-driver. You can just picture yourself with the windows rolled down, the sweet smell of fresh cut lawns on the air as you cruise.
4. "Jack Sparrow" - The Lonely Island We could all use some more laughs and Lonely Island's tribute to the bravest Captain to ever fight a squid-man is easily one of the best. Michael Bolton is a major cinephile.
5. "Only if For a Night" - Florence + the Machine "Shake it up" was the big hit on Ceremonials, but I have to give it up for the opening track. A little bit more subdued, it comes on like Autumn in the city and primes you for the rest of the album.

Ed

1. "Holocene" - Bon Iver I know that this will ruin my indie cred, but this year was the first that I listened to anything by this gifted gentleman. I love the ethereal sound of this track.
2. "Ni**as in Paris" - Jay Z and Kanye West Watch the Throne is the hip hop equivalent of a supergroup (i.e., the "Yardbirds" of rap) bringing together arguably the two most successful and talented hip hop artists in the business. Jay's smooth flow and Kanye's signature vocalizations work surprisingly well together HENH?! 
3. "Black Moon" - Wilco One of the only bands I have seen multiple times in concert. Probably their best album since Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. I like the guitar riff on "One Sunday Morning" better, but Black Moon is a better overall song.
4. "A Real Hero" - College, Electric Youth Anyone who has seen the movie Drive will know why I chose this song. Everyone else will think I did it for obscurity's sake.
5. "Little Black Submarines" - The Black Keys   They get cool points for naming the album El Camino and then plastering it with minivans. They lose points for claiming to never listen to Led Zepplin even though this song sounds like the lo-fi love child of Tom Petty and Robert Plant. This song was like a personal present to me: my favorite contemporary rock band paying homage to the classic rock that I lived on during my youth. Note: Spotify has chosen to remove all of El Camino except the single "Lonely Boy" which will have to suffice for the listener. But seriously, get you some Little Black Submarines on youtube.

Jordan - My songs are quite as eclectic as everyone else's due to my limited listening range, but here goes in no particular order.

1. M83 - Midnight City -  Great beat and rhythm, and it's now forever linked to women in lingerie. Thanks VS.
2. Foster the People - Helena Beat - This song was overshadowed by the repetitive "Pumped Up Kicks" but I think this one has better lyrics and a better beat.
3. The Antlers - I Don’t Want Love - A little more of a downer song than others on the list, but it stays with you.
4. Florence + the Machine - Shake It Out - For some reason this reminds me of the music video for "Walking on Broken Glass" by Annie Lennox. Only that video was much cooler because it had John Malkovich in it.
5. The Joy Formidable - Whirring (Reminds me a bit of Modest Mouse video-wise) - Technically a re-release of an older song, but it's my list so you'll deal with it.

Ed

Ed enjoys all forms of entertainment and has an unnatural love for quantitative methodology. He operates out of a basement in Northern Virginia (@edomaniac).

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This post originally appeared on Stuff Smart People Like. Subscribe to the Podcast.