It’s that time of year again. Where I spend a solid four days trying to work out (read: obsessing over) what my favorite songs of the year are, and by extension, what said songs say about the year I’ve just had.
Hopefully, the actual list will be out sometime this week, but my staff (of one) is a little behind this year…just like every other year. As always, I hope you enjoy reading and listening to this list as much as I enjoy creating it. It was an incredible year of music, and I appreciate getting the chance to share it with you all.
Pure Bathing Culture: “Ivory Coast”
WHAT: The lovely, lazy single from Daniel Hindman and Sarah Versprille of Vetiver’s self-titled debut EP.
WHERE: Portland, OR
WHY: I’m a sucker for dreamy, languid guitar pop, and few did it better this year than thees indie-pop vets.
Schoolboy Q x A$AP Rocky: “Hands on the Wheel”
WHAT: The second most famous Black Hippy’s ode to “weed and brews.”
WHERE: Los Angeles, CA (with a little help from that pretty muthafucka from Harlem)
WHY: That sample. While I wasn’t as high on Q’s debut LP as many, I can’t deny his ubiquitous breakout single. Definitely one of the earworms of the year.
Julia Holter: “In The Same Room”
WHAT: The standout from the Nite Jewel-collaborator’s brilliant 2nd LP, Extasis.
WHERE: Los Angeles, CA
WHY: Oft compared to Beach House’s lo-fi early work, but she has much more in common with hyper-experimental artists like Grouper and Julianna Barwick — without really sounding like either. Though her music isn’t particularly accessible at first glance, if you give it some time, her dusty sound will wriggle its way into your heart.
Burial: “Kindred”
WHAT: The atmospheric, 11-minute opener from the dubstep legend’s near-perfect EP of the same name.
WHERE: South London, UK
WHY: This is the sound of a legend reminding all the new kids on the blogs that he’s still the king. Off the best EP of 2012.
Cat Power x Nico Jaar: “Cherokee”
WHAT: The NYChilean wunderkind’s sparse remix of the stirring leadoff track from Chan “Cat Power” Marshall’s solid return LP, Sun.
WHERE: Miami, FL + NYC
WHY: One of the remixes I felt compelled to include, Chilean wunderkind Nicolas Jaar strips back a lot of the superfluous noise from the original and beautifully frames the meat of the track: Ms. Marshall’s desolate, delicate vocal. Beautiful.
Danny Brown: “Grown Up”
WHAT: The surprisingly low-key single from the outrageously talented MC.
WHERE: Detroit, MI
WHY: Sometimes Danny Brown’s flamboyant personality and hyperactive flow make people forget what a thoughtful, reflective, and versatile writer he is. He’s easily the most likeable rapper in the game and is one of the most distinctive voices in all of music right now.
Bobby Womack: “Please Forgive My Heart”
WHAT: The heartbreaking first single from, The Bravest Man in the Universe, the 68 year-old soul legend’s first album of new material since 1994.
WHERE: Cleveland, OH
WHY: 40 years ago, Womack famously warned the masses about the dangers of the streets (in particular, 110th St.). 40 years later comes an erudite apology from a man who didn’t heed his own warning.
Grimes: “Genesis”
WHAT: The highlight of the Canadian’s uber-hyped debut, Visions.
WHERE: Vancouver, BC
WHY: While it may not be the masterpiece many have called it, Grimes’ debut definitely has its moments — notably the unraveling Casio funk of its lead single.
Evy Jane: “SAYSO”
WHAT: The Canadian bedroom-R&B duo’s sensual breakout single.
WHERE: Vancouver, BC
WHY: It’s a powerful statement of intent from a group that is full of potential. I won’t be the only one eagerly anticipating their 2013 debut full-length.
Grizzly Bear: “Sun in Your Eyes”
WHAT: The dramatic closer from the group’s triumphant 4th album, Shields.
WHERE: Brooklyn, NY
WHY: The blog gods will probably strike Thunder Penguin down for not finding a place in the Top 50 for GB. That said, it’s more of product of a brilliant music year than an indictment of the impeccably-crafted Shields.
Mikky Ekko: “Pull Me Down” (Ryan Hemsworth Bootleg)
WHAT: Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth excels at making deft changes to improve great pop songs, and his remix of the soulful Tennessean’s smooth single is no exception.
WHERE: Nashville, TN + Halifax, Nova Scotia
WHY: Because it’s just a perfect little pop song.
DIIV: “Doused”
WHAT: One of the breakout tracks from the hyperactive dreampopper’s debut, Oshin. Obviously spelling isn’t their strong suit.
WHERE: Brooklyn, NY
WHY: This must be what getting washed down a sink drain feels like. This swirling single is the high-point of the Beach Fossils-associates’ excellent debut.
TNGHT: “Higher Ground”
WHAT: Lead single from the eponymous, maximalist collaborative EP between Hudson Mohawke and Lunice.
WHERE: Glasgow, SCO (HM) + Montreal, QC (Lunice)
WHY: The duo crafted one of the most undeniable dancefloor fillers of the year with little more than a tiny vocal sample and a nasty baseline. Devastatingly simple.
