Putting together a top ten list of singles is always harder than it should be. There’s such a small body of evidence to judge success, unlike with a full album, that it usually ends up being a fight with futility. In the end I feel as though I was victorious and have each track in they’re respective places.
10. The Glass Canoe – “The Field” (from Chimera)
The Glass Canoe is a relatively unknown band out of San Diego that deserve some spotlight time for this track off their debut release. It’s ethereal opening that merges into prog nuances on top of rustic vocals is really all it’s cracked up to be.
9. The Strokes – “Undercover of Darkness” (from Angles)
I’m surprised to not see Angles on anyone’s top ten lists this year. It wasn’t the greatest album but sometimes the name carries great weight with it. After a bit of a hiatus The Strokes returned with this radio gold hit that reminded us that they’re stronger together rather than as individuals.
8. Olin & The Moon – “Waking Up” (from Footsteps)
Olin & The Moon add a little twang to my list this year with their delicate track “Waking Up”. 2011 saw some mild success for the band with an appearance on One Tree Hill but keep an eye on these guys in the future.
7. tUnE-yArDs – “Bizness” (from W H O K I L L)
Merrill Garbus is one of the most unusual acts that we’ve seen in the past few years which is probably what makes her music so tantalizing. 2009′s Bird-Brains received a little bit of attention but it’s her 2011 release, with “Bizness” as its top track, that brought the following that she’s been looking for.
6. Fleet Foxes – “Grown Ocean” (from Helplessness Blues)
It seems unfair to allow one band to claim two slots on a top ten list but it’s deserving indeed. “Grown Oceans” is everything that a fan loves about Fleet Foxes, fantastic storytelling, driving guitar that keeps the track moving and, of course, Robin Pecknold.
5. Cold War Kids – “Royal Blue” (from Mine Is Yours)
I’ve had a hard time fully getting behind Cold War Kids over the years but this year appears to be their crossover year in my book. Mine Is Yours is chuck full of radio worthy singles with “Royal Blue” being up at the top.
4. Fleet Foxes – “Helplessness Blues” (from Helplessness Blues)
Fleet Foxes somehow continues to find ways to outdo themselves. This title track off their sophomore release proves that they’ve learned quite a bit since their debut in 2008 and took the time that they needed to grow into their new found fame and opted on not rushing into the next album just to appease the fans or record label. Thank you for that.
3. Typhoon – “The Honest Truth” (from A New Kind of House)
Typhoon is easily my find of the year. I owe this discovery to Melissa who first scouted them out at this year’s SXSW festival and giving them the top slot of performances she saw that year. Melissa called them the “shocker of the festival”, “an attack of the senses” and had her “with watery eyes, the chills radiated through my body”. If I made a top ten EP list A New Kind of Home would take the #1 slot.
2. Florence + The Machine – “Shake It Out” (from Ceremonials)
Ceremonials will be making its way onto many top ten lists this year and that’s not without great cause. The album has a handful of tracks that could have made it onto this list but in the end I’ve decided on “Shake It Out”. My goal each year is not to have a track from my top ten list of LP’s also make an appearance on my top ten list of singles but this year it’s unavoidable. The track is fairly riddled with cliches but the delivery is outstanding.
1. Alexander – “Truth” (from Alexander)
Alex Ebert emits himself as a guy just going around doing his thing. It’s just that his “thing” is friggin’ fantastic.
