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20. Sleigh Bells – Tell ‘Em
Don’t let the name put you off – Sleigh Bells produce tracks that are not remotely Christmas-related. Refreshingly loud and clashy but with gentler vocals creating a counterbalance so as not to be overwhelming. Gun-shot like beats with plenty of attitude and pounding energy set this band apart. Imagine cheer-leaders on cocaine.
19. Janelle Monae feat. Big Boi – Tightrope
Oozing cool and with a fresh soul vibe, Janelle Monae burst onto the music scene with an unrestrained modern masterpiece, The ArchAndroid. The stand out track from this brilliant album, Tightrope, is funky, fresh and flawless throughout. A really tight track Monae combines well with mentor Big Boi in the super cool video that packs a whole lot of sexy. A brassy foot-tapper that is sure to delight.
18. Sufjan Stevens - Impossible Soul
The major plus point of ‘Impossible Soul’ is that it runs to over 25 minutes; that’s longer than your average EP/symphonic movement/attention span. It arrives as the finale of Stevens’ latest album release Age Of Adz, an electro-influenced orchestral epic that has alienated about as many of his Illinois fans as it has gained him new followers. Balancing out almost an hour of paranoia, ‘Impossible Soul’ gradually spreads from tentative chords into something life-affirmingly joyful, with a utopian call to arms that will be bouncing around your head for days. It’s Sufjan, but not as we’ve known him. Long may this continue.
17. Dirty Projectors + Bjork - When The World Comes To An End
Nothing short of a match made in experimental heaven, the Icelandic songstress joined forces with Dave Longstreth's sextet earlier this year to create a digital album to raise money for the National Geographic Society. The ever-athletic vocals of the Dirty Projectors members are brought together as the centrifugal force for this track. Passionate, contrasting and with a guitar solo: what more could anyone want from an apocalypse?
16. James Blake – CMYK
Blake’s unique style of post-dubstep music has him pinned to be huge in 2011. With its relaxed but upbeat feel this song would be equally at home being played in your bedroom as it would in some of the biggest clubs. Bouncy and energetic; the 22 year old London producer is set for great things.
15. Hidden Orchestra – Dust
Expertly combining orchestral sounds with jazz influences and electro beats, this is a masterpiece of a song from an extraordinary new band. Cinematic soundscapes and a mesmerising soprano sax line will have you captivated from the start. Seven minutes of unfettered musical beauty.
14. The Hold Steady – The Weekenders
Echoing, metallic vocals from Craig Finn carry this song into our top 40. The Brooklyn band’s style of dense story telling keeps them interesting, but the lighter guitar rifts on this, fifth album Heaven is Whenever, makes them more accessible at last. The band is well known to rock the festival scenes both here and across the pond and hopefully we’ll see more of them yet.
13. Allo Darlin' – If Loneliness Was Art
Possibly the sweetest song I’ve ever heard. Simple and charming in a Belle and Sebastian-esque way, a track that never fails to make me smile. Even manages a “shalalalala” chorus without being at all corny. Irresistibly likeable. More please, allo darlin’.
12. School of Seven Bells - Windstorm
Get past the initial child-like psychedelia and ‘Windstorm’ is a track you won’t be able to stop listening to and you won’t quite be able to pinpoint why. There’s just something aurally addictive in its spinning textures, overdubbed vocals and slow-burner harmonies. It’s what you imagine The Big Pink might sound like if they realised that three chords and one distortion effect spread across four minutes doesn’t necessarily qualify said four minutes as a song.
11. Standard Fare – Philadelphia
A little rough around the edges, but that’s what gives this track its charm. Identifiable lyrics somehow managing to describe the difficulties of a long-distance relationship in an upbeat and positive fashion and a chorus of thundering drums and guitars make this one of my favourite songs of the year. Having won over crowds on the summer festival circuit with ease, expect to see more of these in the near future.
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