2011: The Year In Music

2011 – a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hits off the coast of Japan, near the city of Sendai, triggering a huge tsunami. Millions tune in for the royal wedding between Kate Middleton and Prince William. The US announces that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed. Amy Winehouse is found dead at the age of 27. Moamar Gaddafi is killed after being captured by fighters. A pretty bleak year of news … so let’s hope the music can pick us up!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Just Can’t Get Enough (The Black Eyed Peas)

The Black Eyed Peas continue to disappoint in 2011.

Fergie’s vocals are nice, I suppose, but “Just Can’t Get Enough” is too soppy and simple.

9 – Moves like Jagger (Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera)

“Moves like Jagger” was everywhere when I was growing up.

It played at school, it played in the hotel on holiday, god knows it played too much on radios. I like it but I’ve heard it enough for one lifetime.

8 – Super Bass (Nicki Minaj)

I went into “Super Bass” expecting a travesty. Thankfully, it’s not the worst song of the year.

I don’t much like Minaj’s rapping style but this song is harmless.

7 – Fuck You [Forget You] (CeeLo Green)

I’m surprised “Fuck You” made the top ten of the year. Not because of the swearing, but because it’s actually good.

Green’s vocals are excellent, and both the verses and choruses are really catchy.

6 – Grenade (Bruno Mars)

I quite like Bruno Mars. He’s one of the only “modern” Pop artists who I can stomach. That being said, “Grenade” is a bit too cheesy for me.

5 – Give Me Everything (Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer)

A classic club song. It won’t win any Grammys but it does the job.

4 – E.T. (Katy Perry feat. Kanye West)

I’d never heard of this Katy Perry / Kanye West collaboration until now. I wish I’d never heard “E.T.”

Boring songwriting, bad lyrics, and their styles don’t match whatsoever.

3 – Firework (Katy Perry)

One of Katy Perry’s biggest songs. One of the most annoying Pop songs of all time.

Even if you feel like a plastic bag, this song is shallow.

2 – Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO feat. Lauren Bennett and GoonRock)

It’s hard to judge how seriously to take “Party Rock Anthem”.

If it’s genuine, it’s too corny. If it’s a joke, however, it’s one of the most enjoyable songs of the year.

1 – Rolling in the Deep (Adele)

Step aside, every other artist of 2011. Adele’s here to show you how it’s really done.

Powerful vocals. A rousing chorus. Great production. “Rolling in the Deep” is the kind of hard-hitting music I’m looking for.

FAVOURITE – “Rolling in the Deep” (Adele)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “E.T.” (Katy Perry feat. Kanye West)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

As a quick disclaimer – the top three songs of the year originally came from “The Smile Sessions” by the Beach Boys, but I decided not to include them as they were all just songs from the 60’s.

10 – Little Black Submarines (The Black Keys)

I’d personally pick “Lonely Boy” or “Gold on the Ceiling”, but “Little Black Submarines” is still a great Black Keys song.

It starts off soft and introspective, then the drop comes in to please the crowds.

9 – Somebody That I Used To Know (Gotye)

I’m surprised “Somebody That I Used To Know” didn’t end up in 2011’s Biggest Hits … maybe it’ll make an appearance in 2012’s Billboard list.

For what it’s worth, I think this is one of the best Pop songs of the decade. It’s catchy and its songwriting and production are genius.

8 – Perth (Bon Iver)

“Perth” opens “Bon Iver, Bon Iver”. It’s pretty good.

It’s a grander song than what I’m used to for Bon Iver, but it sets the tone well.

7 – Under Cover Of Darkness (The Strokes)

“Angles” would’ve been a good addition to the best album list, but (spoiler alert) it didn’t make it. Oh well.

“Under Cover Of Darkness” is a really bouncy and fun Strokes song. That bassline pops off.

6 – Novacane (Frank Ocean)

We’re about to enter a new era of Rap, and there aren’t many better pioneers of the genre than Frank Ocean.

“Novacane” is a break-out song for him. The lyrical flow is excellent, and I loved how mellow and laid back the music was – very RnB.

5 – A.D.H.D (Kendrick Lamar)

Speaking of pioneering Rap artists, Kendrick Lamar has a good shout at being the best Rap artist of all time.

Like “Novacane”, “A.D.H.D” shows hints of being mellow but the lyrics keep you on your toes.

4 – Holocene (Bon Iver)

A gorgeous song. “Holocene” doesn’t wow me but I can see the appeal.

3 – HiiiPower (Kendrick Lamar)

Kendrick goes off in “HiiiPower”.

It’s as lyrically dense as some of his best work. “Stand for something or die in the morning“.

2 – Midnight City (M83)

“Outro” was another M83 song that could’ve made this list, but it was never going to beat “Midnight City”.

It’s one of my favourite songs of all time. The synth hook is killer, and the drops into the choruses always give me goosebumps.

1 – Helplessness Blues (Fleet Foxes)

Fleet Foxes made one of my favourite songs of the 00’s with “Mykonos” … so maybe my hopes were a little too high for “Helplessness Blues”.

The first half is a generic Folk song, but in fairness the vocal harmonies in the second are lovely.

BEST SONG OF 2011 – “Midnight City” (M83)

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

Again, I excluded “The Smile Sessions” from the top five as I felt it wasn’t a good representation of the year.

5 – El Camino (The Black Keys)

“El Camino” has some of the anthems of my teenage years.

I used to play “Lonely Boy” and “Gold on the Ceiling” so much … and yet I still love them. The Black Keys have such an old-timey, bluesy style of Rock that really works.

4 – The King Of Limbs (Radiohead)

I’m a big Radiohead fan … but “The King Of Limbs” is clearly a transitional album for the band.

The production is off-beat. The musicianship is still off the charts. In terms of individual songs, however, I like some but there’s nothing I love.

3 – Let England Shake (PJ Harvey)

PJ Harvey is a woman, apparently. I’ve learnt something new today.

“Let England Shake” is like if Bjork collaborated with Arcade Fire to write the tamest yet weirdest album they could. It’s more stripped back and intimate than I was expecting.

2 – Bon Iver, Bon Iver (Bon Iver)

I’m not really a Bon Iver fan.

“Bon Iver, Bon Iver” has some great songwriting and performances, like on “Holocene”, but I don’t think I’ll ever revisit it.

1 – Helplessness Blues (Fleet Foxes)

Again, this kind of stripped-back Folk style isn’t my favourite so Fleet Foxes were always fighting a losing battle.

I couldn’t tell you a specific song I liked as they all sort of blend together.

BEST ALBUM OF 2011 – “El Camino” (The Black Keys)

None of the albums truly won me over, so “El Camino” sort of won by default. I’m surprised “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” by M83 and “21” by Adele didn’t make the cut as they might’ve won. Oh well.

Final Thoughts

I was a bit underwhelmed by 2011 on the whole. The hits and albums weren’t as iconic as I’d hoped, so it was up to the individual highest-rated tracks to carry the year.

Overall Grade: C

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: