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.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#2 Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. However, the mainstream media, YouTube kiddies and overall awful people made this more famous than it should have been, they made it a Pop culture hit and that my friends is a bummer. Like MGMT before them, Foster The People made the most of their 2012 release; Torches, with a bunch of singles and videos, remixes, etc. Exposure of great music is always nice but to prostitute one of the finest tracks of 2011 in EVERY MEDIA POSIBLE was kind of excessive, even that guy you HATE loves this now. ALSO IMPORTANT (And this happens everywhere) does nobody understand the lyrics in “Pumped Up Kicks”? How could you be so cheerful then? Google them damn it.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#3 Rolling In The Deep - Adele

Adele and Paul Epworth crafted what will become the Grammy Album Of The Year in 2011 with Adele’s 21. Filled with multiple singles, ballads and overall powerful confessions of Adele’s former relationships which besides all the wonderful music and terrific vocals made the soul of the album real. Rolling In The Deep, despite all the HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE covers that YouTube created, manages to portray the pain of betrayal in fantastic pop fashion only Adele could get away with.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF THE YEAR

#4 How Deep Is Your Love? - The Rapture

When In The Grace Of Your Love (The Rapture’s 2011 release) was announced followed by this track, it made my summer a true joy since the obvious 75’s Chicago influences on the piano and drums made it seem like it would be an all dance record, however the album itself was disappointing. How Deep is perhaps the prefect track of the summer stuck in a very wintery-type-a LP.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#5 Wait & See - Holy Ghost!

Probably one of the most smooth dance tracks of 2011, the synths, the baseline, the drums and the vocals are all pleads from Holy Ghost to make you shake those skinny jeans. Don’t believe me? Listen right now, you just wait and see.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#6 It’s Real - Real Estate

Their first album sucked. Their brand new one rocks. That is all you need to know. Oh and this is probably one of the best singles off their new LP.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#7 The Wilhelm Scream - James Blake

Dubstep kinda exploded this year and James Blake was behind 75% of the craze. This track is pretty great thanks to Blake’s fantastic arrangements and vocal audacity, a lot of people may not get James Blake but then again good music isn’t for everyone.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#8 Cruel - St. Vincent

This song is pretty scary, yes it has a fantastic guitar solo, but the vocals and the melody itself sound like a robot that develops human feelings…of hate. That scary feeling is what makes this such an amazing track.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#9 Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

So El Camino was leaked, even though The Keys said they wouldn’t release it on any streaming services,etc. You know what? The album itself is fantastic but even before it leaked we got treated to the opening track and Lonely Boy is one HELL of an opening track, featuring the more prominent synth and organ sounds first dropped in Brothers but with a new gritty mashed up sound that rocks the fuck out. Fantastic.

KNOCKOUT: THE TOP 20 TRACKS OF 2011

#10 Need You Now - Cut Copy

The opening of Cut Copy’s Zonoscope was critical since it set the mood and tone of the album, after one hell of an intro and the eventual drop of synths alongside Whitford’s mesmerizing vocals made this a hit. Just take a listen, you won’t regret it.