Best of 2011... Best Songs

    The year's best songs included breakout singles about break-up sex from The Vaccines, Coldplay doing their best Rihanna impression, Lady Gaga's arena anthem to Nicki Minaj serving up some bass, and Austra losing it. 

50. First Rate People - 'Someone Else Can Make A Work of Art'

           First Rate People lived up to their name with a playful, breezy summer single that we had in constant rotation.
  First Rate People - Someone Else Can Make A Work Of Art by Meet You At The Show

49. Ambassadors - 'Unconsolable'

           Industrial dums, shades of The Police and Hall & Oates it's a hidden pop gem. 
  Unconsolable by Ambassadors

48. Cat's Eyes - 'Over You'

           The Horrors' frontman Faris Badwan teamed up with Vancouver's Rachel Zeffira for '60s girl groups fun.
  Cat's Eyes - Over You by edin2sun

47. The Paint Movement - 'Fortune's Window'

            Boy/Girl vocals, an unpredictable melody, plenty of horns and just enough chaos to make things interesting and one hell of a joyous listen.
  The Paint Movement - Fortune's Window by Nevado
       

46. Bluebell - 'Normal Heights'

           An alluring rhythmic, symphonic pop track from a rather mysterious pop outfit had us hooked.
  Normal Heights by BLUEBELL

45. Mother Mother - 'Baby Don't Dance'

          Shimmering keys on a massive scale and a killer groove deliver an exhilerating single from the Vancouver outfit.
  Baby Don't Dance by Mother Mother

44. Jai Paul - 'BTSTU'

           The internet sensation finally arrives at a finished version, falsetto vocals ride over thundering drum claps on a jam with so many elements pack into a tight knit song, it by all accounts shouldn't work, but it does... it works out well!
  Jai Paul - BTSTU (Edit) by Jai Paul

43. Cults - 'Oh My God'

           An ampted up beat, and uplifting melody make the Cults' "Oh My God" disarmingly charming, it's sunny disposition is bright enough to require sunscreen. We've gone through several applications.
  Oh My God by Cults by coolhunting

42. Dan Mangan - 'Row of Houses'

          Ambitious, folk-rock featuring Mangan's husky vocals boasted a bigger, anthemic sound including an electric guitar and a beat the chugs along.
  Rows Of Houses by Arts & Crafts

41. The Weeknd - 'Wicked Games'

           Haunting purrs by Toronto's The Weeknd on his debut mixtape are summed up in the affecting 'Wicked Games' not soon to be forgotten thanks to it's sharp as knives lyrics.
  The Weeknd - Wicked Games by The_Weeknd

40. Ellie Goulding - 'Lights'

           Goulding's signature mix of folksy dance pop is no more alluring that on 'Lights' airy pop, with dark tones.
  Ellie Goulding - Lights [Single Version] by Interscope Records

39. Tune-Yards - 'My Country'

            A love-hate anthem about America, 'My Country' turns 'My Country Tis of Thee' patriotic theme on it's head, and it couldn't be more out of left field or enjoyable!
  My Country - Tune Yards by tracks_arte

38. Coldplay - 'Paradise'

          Coldplay's sonic pop borrows it's chorus ("Para - Para - Paradise") from RiRi's "Umbrella" and builds towards the heavens.
  Coldplay - Paradise by dual_bign

37. Destroyer - 'Savage Night At The Opera'

          We'd wake at sunrise to this cinematic single that pulls 80s references into modern day pop. It would fit right into any Molly Ringwald film.
  Destroyer - Savage Night at the Opera by crowlcrowlcrowl

36. Neon Indian - 'Polish Girl'

          Neon Indian takes us for a dreamy spin on the dancefloor with blissful synth pop.
  Neon Indian - Polish Girl by artsandcraftsmx

35. Smith Westerns - 'Weekend'

          Hazy vocals, shimmering sun bathed guitars and teenage boredom is as if these Chicago kids are discovering Bowie for the first time, but they capture a vintage aesthetic with surprising ease.
  Smith Westerns - Weekend by Vicente P

34. The Vaccines - 'Post Break-Up Sex'

           Short, punchy and just a bit awkward, it's a sing-a-long worthy fuzzed out guitar pop song that'll play in your head over and over again.
  Post Break-Up Sex by The Vaccines

33. Britney Spears - 'Till The World Ends'

          Britney's apocalyptic Eurotrash electro-pop became the new official track for last call at gay bars the world over. A chant worthy chorus and throbbing pulse beat made it pure dancefloor gold.

32. Lykke Li - 'I Follow Rivers'

          Swirling synths, pinging beats alongside lyrics "He the rebel/I the daughter", recall the Shangri-Las, with some reverb guitars for good measure.
  I Follow Rivers by LykkeLi

31. Sade - 'Love Is Found'

          The sultry yet dramatic mid-tempo electronic song off the band's The Ultimate Collection, its proof positive of Sade's lasting appeal.
  Love Is Found by SadeOfficial

30. Data Romance - 'Streetlights'
           The pulsating beat of the duo's electro-pop track is the standout on their debut EP, with a chorus hook that renders you defenseless, it's a track that bares repeating.

       

29. Pepper Rabbit - 'Murder Room'

           Psych-pop duo make bouncy pop tune that hides less than cheery lyrics, but we don't really care, it's just damn catchy.
  Murder Room by Pepper Rabbit

28. Beastie Boys feat. Santigold - 'Don't Play No Games That I Can't Win'

           The boys hook up with Santigold for a reggae groove and enough cheeky rhymes to make it one feel good hip-hop jam. 
  Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (featuring Santigold) by Beastie Boys

27. Lady Gaga - 'You & I'

           Gaga's '80s power ballad featuring guitarist Brian May of Queen, hits the heartland with a sing-along chorus that's all too good to be true. 
  Lady Gaga - Yoü And I by Interscope Records

26. The Joy Formidable - 'Whirring'

           Alt-rock the could blow the roof off a stadium, the Welsh rockers bring the '90s alt-rock revival on their explosive single you can do some serious head banging to.
  Whirring by thejoyformidable

25. Fleet Foxes - 'Lorelai'

          The warmth of Lorelai quickly makes you forget its bittersweet broken heart.
  Fleet Foxes - Lorelai by Republic of Music

24. Wavves - 'I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl'

          San Diego's lo-fi surfer punks render an addictive chorus hook about Nathan Williams' idol Dave Grohl on the standout cut from the Life Sux EP.
  I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl by WavvesWavves

23. Young Galaxy - 'Peripheral Visionaries'

           Thanks to a hypnotic groove and chilled vocals, not to mention a rousing chorus  "We have seen tears from the eyes of God!" make the Toronto outfit effortlessly cool.
  Young Galaxy 'Peripheral Visionaries' by paperbagrecords

22. Lianne La Havas - 'Age'

           Perfectly smoky vocals, lyrical wisdom beyond her years, 'Age' is a jazzy ditty, that is as cheeky as it is infectious. 
  Lianne - Age (live in LA) by PluggedInTV

21. Bon Iver - 'Holocene'

           Bon Iver ebbs and flows with the movement of chords on the poetic standout single from the band's sophomore album.
  Holocene by boniver

20. The Civil Wars - 'I've Got This Friend'

           Romantic folk ballad featuring boy/girl harmonies, and solid songwriting it charms the pants off even the coldest of hearts.
  02 I've Got This Friend by susanh

19. Braids - 'Lemonade'

           Disassembling and reassembling of 'Lemonade' is a fluid movement, that is both fascinating and daunting, but the Montreal quartet pull it off, toying and experimenting along the way.
  BRAIDS 'Lemonade' by kaninerecords

           

18. St. Vincent - 'Cruel'

           Annie Clark's purest pop song to date, 'Cruel' thanks to robotic funk, and Clark's light as a feather vocals, over galloping drums and fuzzed out guitars make for a hypnotic track.
  St. Vincent - Cruel by Posh Magazine

17. Robyn - 'Call Your Girlfriend'

           Demanding your full attention is Body Talk's most remarkable moments and thoughtful humane twist on the love triangle/break-up anthem. Oh and its damn good ear candy too!
  Call Your Girlfriend by robyn

16. Raphael Saadiq - 'Movin' Down The Line'

           Weaving flavours of Motown and '50s R&B into a contemporary groove to create a modern classic. 
  Movin' Down The Line by RaphaelSaadiq

15. Foster The People - 'Pumped Up Kicks'

          Shredded guitars, lo-fi vocals and a instantly catchy chorus, Foster The People owned the title of Summer Single in 2011.
  Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People

14. Austra - 'Lose It'

          Toronto trio's single "Lose It" had all the makings of a great single and we just couldn't get enough of their single or their massive hit album Feel It Break.
  Austra - Lose It by Annie Mac Presents

13. James Blake - 'The Wilhelm Scream'

          Blake's cinematic soundscapes rely on post-dubstep beats and hints of R&B demonstrate his wizardry as a producer, but it's the minimalist aspects that are truly enthralling.

12. Laura Marling - 'Sophia'

           Marling expands on "Sophia" beyond her usual guarded vocals and mellow guitars for enthralling folk-rock that challenges Mumford & Sons.
  Laura Marling: Sophia by lanewayfest

11. Oh Land - 'Sun of a Gun'

           Former Danish dancer, Oh Land's quirky bubblegum pop, think Bjork meets synth pop was about as infectious a pop single as we could find in 2011.  
  Sun of a Gun by OhLand

10. Jessica Lea Mayfield - 'Our Hearts Are Wrong'

           Ohio's Jessica Mayfield's alt-country confessional 'Our Hearts Are Wrong,' swells with guitar strings over reflective lyrics that could only come after a couple sorrow drowning shots of whiskey. 
  Our Hearts Are Wrong by Jessica Lea Mayfield

9. Mr. Little Jeans - 'The Suburbs (Arcade Fire Cover)'

         Covering on of rock's biggest little bands, Mr. Little Jeans turns the Arcade Fire's title track on its head into a dreamy pop jam with ethereal vocals and rapturous synths. It haunts you in all the right ways.
  Suburbs by Mr Little Jeans

8. Washed Out - 'Amor Fati'

        Gentle reverberated vocals, cosmic synth, lush melody, and dreamy atmosphere 'Amor Fati' is escapism at its finest with just a hint of optimism.
  Washed Out - Amor Fati by DominoRecordCo
                  

7. Gotye feat. Kimbra - 'Someone That I Used To Know' 

          Gotye's hooked up with Shattered Vinyl favourite Kimbra for his No.1 Australian single, that's so bittersweet it's addictive. Anyone with an ex can relate to Gotye's seething love/hate anthem.
  Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) by Gotye

6. Beyonce - 'Countdown'

       Irresistible punchy blasts of brass arrangements is like nothing else on the charts in 2011, it's Beyonce at her finest, pure pop gold.

5. Lady Gaga - 'The Edge of Glory'

         Gaga's arena anthem is undeniably '80s, but it's the golden touch of the late Clarence Clemons (E Street Band) and his silky sax that make us swoon to The Edge of Glory.
  Lady Gaga - The Edge Of Glory by Interscope Records

4. 1,2,3 - 'Riding Coach'

        Pittsburgh's 1,2,3 use hazy synth, electric guitars and smooth falsettos on "Riding Coach" for a mellower contrast to Foster The People's "Pumped Up Kicks," but it lingers longer and they aren't a one-trick pony.
  1, 2, 3 - "Riding Coach" by indiemusicfilter

3. Kimbra - 'Settle Down'

       Quirky, soulful and youthful it's hard not to be floored by the stunning scope and sound of the wunderkind. 
  Kimbra - "Settle Down" by Kimbramusic

2. Nicki Minaj - 'Super Bass'
        When a country/pop star like Taylor Swift openly lip synchs  your words at the American Music Awards, you know you've hit the big leagues. Minaj's rap/sung monster jam transends hip-hop and it's just too damn catchy for words.

  Nicki Minaj - Super Bass by yournastyface

1. Adele - 'Rolling In The Deep'
       No one could touch Adele in 2011, "Rolling In The Deep" is a scorcher like we've never heard before, and Adele's classic vocals make it an instant hit.