To save myself from TLDR, I decided to keep all my ramblings under 140 characters. Instead of trying to choose my absolute favorite songs, I stuck to only songs that were released as singles, just for my own sanity. Also, the list is in alphabetical order — no rankings. I also limited to one track per artist. If you hate Twitter-speak, fragments, and hashtags, soz. LOL im nt soz.
Though Spotify is missing a lot of stuff, here’s a link to a playlist with a bunch of the tracks on this list. LINK.
Ab-Soul: “Terrorist Threats” (f/ Danny Brown, Jhené Aiko)
Paranoia that the Geto Boys could be proud of. The only Black Hippy w/o a WikiPedia page breaks out. Danny with another genius verse.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/42243084″ iframe=”true” /]
Animal Collective: “Honeycomb”
Can you think of any other band that always sounds so new yet so familiar? Can’t wait for Centipede Hz…
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/45162527″ iframe=”true” /]
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Grafitti: “Baby”
LA-based uber-weirdos come together for not-so-weird take on one of most beautiful soul songs ever. #tearsinmykalesalad
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/48920870″ iframe=”true” /]
Beach House: “Myth”
Had no idea that existential crises could be this glorious. The most melodious song they’ve ever written, and that’s really saying something.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/43688540″ iframe=”true” /]
Bobby Womack: “Please Forgive My Heart”
That someone with a rap-sheet as lengthy as Bobby Womack wants to be forgiven isn’t a shock. That he can still make music this current is.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/39733207″ iframe=”true” /]
Cassie: “King of Hearts” (Richard X Remix)
How Diddy got his groove back. The best thing outta Bad Boy since Shyne’s widowmaker, “Bad Boyz.” Richard X turns perfect into perfecter.
CFCF: “Exercise #5 (September)”
Groovy Canadian electro producer listens to a shit-load of Sylvian & Sakamoto, makes incredible album. This is the pick.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44402238″ iframe=”true” /]
Chairlift: “I Belong In Your Arms”
1 of the lesser tragedies of John Hughes’ death is that he never shot a scene w/ a just-been-kissed teen rocking out 2 this song in her bedroom.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/34316074″ iframe=”true” /]
Chromatics: “Kill For Love”
If Glenn Close would have played this for Mike Douglas, he would have forgiven her, married her, and just bought the kid a new goddamn rabbit.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/41270014″ iframe=”true” /]
DIIV: “Doused”
Jangly, Brooklyn upstarts remind us that shoegaze doesn’t have to be snoozegaze.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/44950822″ iframe=”true” /]
Disclosure: “Boiling” (f/ Sinead Harnett)
A little bit neo-dubstep, a little bit synth-pop, a little bit R&B. A lot fucking awesome.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/43013019″ iframe=”true” /]
