KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#1 Midnight City - M83

Anthony Gonzalez was inspired by Smashing Pumpkins; Melon Collie & The Infinite Sadness to create Hurry Up We’re Dreaming, a double LP of his own that itself is a masterpiece very much like The Infinite Sadness was back in the day. In the album the second track (and first single) was Midnight City, a tribute to city life and musically a tribute to romantic new wave among other genres, written and performed beautifully, the song has everything from powerful vocals to nerve stinging synths to a perfect sax solo as the song reaches climax, true masterpiece for the ages. As with positions number 2 and 3 in the list, it is most likely due to its pop meoldy that Midnight City will end up becoming a mainstream success which is good to everyone but alternative crowds, I say go with the flow and enjoy the coming exploitation of M83, Phoenix recieved the same ammunt of attention in 2010’s Amadeus Phoenix and still is one of the gratest live bands of our time filled with some of the best musicians the indie money can buy. With any luck the overnight success of Gonzalez will make him create even more and sooner than expected.