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20 Favorite Songs of 2011, #1-10
PJ Harvey – “The Last Living Rose” (from Let England Shake)
2:21 is the new 2:42.
EMA – “Anteroom” (from Past Life Martyred Saints)
‘Room’ = the place where cool music happens? ‘Anteroom’ = the otherwise lonely place cool music is transmitted to? In any case, most lonely-banishing in this transmission is the a cappella climax, as eventful as the rock-out that doesn’t come.
Julianna Barwick – “Prizewinning” (from The Magic Place)
Here’s a song that, though it should also be experienced, wants and needs to be described. The Pitchfork description is precise and instinctively narrative like the song and I can’t do better, except to add… the best kind of magic.
Patrick Wolf – “Together” (from Lupercalia)
One last threat of solitude as set up for union at its grandest, most complete. Cue the swells, angels, happy tears.
Cut Copy – “Need You Now” (from Zonoscope)
If music is fabric here’s ten yards of the richest, most fashion-forward (yet wearable) sheen and ripple.
Atlas Sound – “Doldrums” (from Parallax)
As usual we hear the little boy’s pain as pure magic, it’s sad that it must be so. Electro-shock bliss.
Jeremy Jay – “Shayla” (from Dream Diary)
A Blondie cover so simple and assured that it unlocks heretofore unsuspected realms of the natural melodic world.
Real Estate – “Green Aisles” (from Days)
The slow momentum of the onset is a thing for the ages. Careful application of force to denote lack of force.
R.E.M. – “Oh My Heart” (from Collapse Into Now)
The definitive vocal of this era in Stipe, like “S. Central Rain” or “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” or “Hope” before it.
Holcombe Waller – “Hardliners” (from Into The Dark Unknown)
It’s so easy to fall to solemn praise in the presence of true genius, but this one liberates praise from solemnity: rejoice!
