As promised, I have put together my favourite 30 songs in (rough) order. It was quite challenging to do it and I would probably make a different list tomorrow but it is a good reflection of the music that moved me most last year.
As ever for me it is a mixed list. Some old and new and some things that I discovered and re-discovered in 2011. Let me know what your big tunes of 2011 were.
1) Jai Paul – BTSTU – Based: London. Released: 2010. In a word: Hypnotic.
2) Nguuni Lovers Lovers – Christmas Kitui – Kenya. ?. Joyous.
3) M83 – Midnight City – France. 2011. Urgent.
4) Jóhann Jóhannsson – The Cause Of Labour Is The Hope Of The World – Iceland. 2011. Substantial.
5) tUne yArDs – Bizness – New England. 2011. Vivid.
6) Fox the fox – Precious little diamonds – Holland. 1984. Kitschy.
7) Paul Simon – Spirit Voices – New York. 1990. Dreamlike.
8) Arthur Russell – This is how we walk on the moon – New York. 1994. Otherworldly.
9) Phantogram- Don’t move – New York. 2011. Adroit.
10) Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Ffunny Frends – Portland, Oregon. 2011. Incessant.
11) Darondo – Didn’t I? – San Francisco. 1973. Bold.
12) Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Round and round – Los Angeles. 2010. Raffish.
13) Washed Out – Feel it all round – Georgia, USA. 2011. Languid.
14) Donald Fagen – I.G.Y. (what a beautiful world) – New Jersey. 1982. Charming.
15) Teena Marie – I need your lovin’ – California. 1980. Audacious.
16) Napoleon – Cleopatra – Sweden. 2008. Exuberant.
17) Air France – It feels good to be around you – Sweden. 2011. Sunny.
18) The Bar-Keys – Open your heart – Memphis. 1980. Funky.
19) Bibio – Lover’s carvings – England. 2011. Radiant.
20) Yeasayer – Ambling Alp – NYC. 2010. Relentless.
21) Best Coast – The sun was high (so was I) – Los Angeles. 2009. Hazy.
22) Low – Silver Rider – Minnesota. 2005. Ominous.
23) Graham Parker and The Rumour – Heat Treatment – London. 1976. Raucous.
24) Fitz and The Tantrums – MoneyGrabber – Los Angeles. 2011. Retro.
25) Miami Horror – Holidays – Melbourne, Australia. 2010. Ebullient.
26) Curtis Mayfield – Move on up* – Chicago. 1970. Coruscating.
27) Mr.Fingers – Can you feel it? – Chicago. 1986. Powerful.
28) Kanye West – Spaceship – Chicago. 2004. Clever.
29) Tears for fears – Everybody wants to rule the world – Bath, England. 1984. Retro.
30) Japandroids – Young hearts spark fire – Vancouver, Canada. 2009. Vigorous.
* Joint #1 for all time
RjK