My favorite songs of 2011 . Part 2

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My favorite songs of 2011 . Part 2

6. Low Anthem - To Them Ghosts Who Write History Books

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7hOkCQogTk&feature=related

To me, another beautiful song about mortality, impermanence, sacredness of life. I’m also recently rediscovering how beautiful the clarinet can be when used tastefullly in song…all because of this band.

favorite lyric: to them ghosts who write songs/everyone asks would you write one about me

7. Beat Radio - Golden Age

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZcdOCdXAb8

My friend Brian Sendrowitz and his band Beat Radio make beautiful indie pop songs. This song is so honest, vulnerable, and absolutely undeniably hopeful. Like the coming year.

favorite lyric:I feel a little bit nervous, but I’m not afraid/I wanna make good on the plans we made/I love you now like I loved you then/I’ll never make those same mistakes again

8. Hooray for Earth - True Loves

It’s fun seeing people do awesome things with their music, and then be like “I was that guys RA in college!”. Yes, my former floor resident Noel Heroux continues to make great, anthemic rock music time and time again, with impeccable melodies, and captivating arrangements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVwSP51KVO8&ob=av2n

9. William Fitzsimmons - Let You Break

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHCmK40vLk

I’m biased here once again, since my friend Josh Kaler of Slow Runner co-produced William’s album, but this track is just so damn good. I give up.

10. James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc

So this guy pretty much blew up in 2012, which is great and I feel, much deserved. He just creates beautiful, atmospheric music and isn’t afraid to really explore the sonic landscapes in his arrangements.

lyric: I don’t know about my love/I don’t know about my lovin’ anymore/all that I know is I’ve fallen fallen fallen/might as well fall

11. Fleet Foxes - Montezuma

Another splendid song that consumed a good amount of my headspace for a while in 2011. I distinctly remember listening to this tune and letting God speak to me as I walked across the Boston’s Charles River during a very cold October night to see Slow Runner play in Cambridge. The water was irridiated with the embers of reflected night, and I joyfully continued my journey to see my friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdN2bfov9JQ

favorite lyrics: In birth and in exit/ both the slave and the empress will return to the dirt I guess/naked as they came

12. Elizabeth and the Catapult - Race You

A friend from school where she used to do her thing at the Songwriters Forum, Elizabeth Ziman has musically matured into a indie pop music gem creating monster. I remember hearing this song earlier this year and liking it, but not loving it…then my bassist friend Pete O’Neill invited me to see her perform at Rockwood 2. This song live was just absolutely memorable and genuine, that I had that butterfly feeling in my stomach that one associates with falling in love. Well, I fell in love with this song.

favorite lyrics: cuz there’s a shortcut down the beaten path/one step to the right and three to the left/the moon’s so high the wind’s so fast/makes us feel like goddesses

Those are my top 12. Yet the songs below also rocked my world, made me dance, made me repeat the youtube video at least 5 consecutive times, made me hum its melody while walking to the L train, made me butcher its lyrics while I showered for a brand new day.

Mike Doughty - Na Na Nothing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVbKJP_MJdM

Little Anchor - Until Our Eyes Adjust http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ8UAkO_5b4

Auto Happy - Slow Runner

Mates of State - Gets Better http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdoYK9jOltQ

And my other favorite songs (in no rank or particular order):

Oh Land - White Nights

Elbow- Mirrorball http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMD7FIpq11Q

Elbow - The Seldom Seem Kid

Mr. Jenkins - Off the Record http://mrjenkins.bandcamp.com/track/off-the-record

Hooray For Earth - Surrounded By Your Friends

Mates of State - Palomino

Rorie Kelly - This is Not A Love Song