Top 5 Most Awesome Songs of 2011 According to D MILLZ

By Diane Miller
Music Editor

The following list is not listed in a particular order.

5. “Cruel” – St. Vincent

St Vincent is lead by a disgustingly beautiful “hipster” girl behind an electric guitar – not the usual acoustic guitar, violin, or keyboard. Now that is rad. She is a former band member of Sufjan Stevens and you can totally tell - she plays elements of pop sounds battered with playful, experimenting musical features. This tune in particular is completely nontraditional in a sense – it’s spacey and futuristic sounding with its drum beats, strange guitar effects, and ambiance juxtaposed with driving rhythmic patterns. At the same time, it’s pleasant and attractive.

4. “Nigg*s in Paris” – Jay-z and Kanye West

After listening to this song, everything other tune just seems to come from another planet. Master rappers Jay and Yey standardize music that is “dope”. Blend minimalism with a synthesized organ, add an electrifying hip hop beat, add two emcees whose heads are so wildly huge, their confidence speaks volumes, literally, add disdain from “haters” and old time folk, and you get “Nigg*s in Paris”.

3. “Hard Times” - Gillian Welch

Old time country music displays emotion in some of the most tasteful and satisfying ways possible. “Hard times ain’t gonna rule my mind no more” - what a bright and bold statement to make. It is a statement that resonates. Gillan Welch could not have created a better melody and musical frame to sing around these words. And David Rawlings, her guitar player, is one of the most adoring stylistic acoustic players out there. Now there is someone who commands his instrument and perfects vocal harmonies.

2. “Lorelai” – Fleet Foxes

These Seattle natives sing the most echoing harmonies I’ve heard from a modern folk group. It is incredible to hear how they have progressed from their first self-titled LP – still the same old Fleet Foxes, yet more developed and dynamic in their songwriting. The track “Lorelai” is no exception with its gorgeous intricate and interweaving melodies being held together in ¾ time.

1. “Look at Me Now” - Chris Brown featuring Busta Rhymes and Lil’ Wayne

God I love this song. This song captures the very essence of what I love about hip hop – sick, convoluted rhythms, “dirtiness”, and animated lyrical flows. Unlike Chris Brown’s mega hit song “Forever” – which makes me want to barf – “Look at me Now” ditches the overproduction and strips it down extra raw, just like I like it. Oh, and be sure to check out Mac Lethal’s much funnier version of the song on YouTube. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard because I know the original so well. Plus, to say Mac Lethal can rap fast would be like saying Tiger Woods is pretty good at playing golf.

Honorable Mentions: Tom Wait’s “Satisfied”, David Bazan’s “Wolves at the Door”, Radiohead’s “Lotus Flower”, My Morning Jacket’s “Victory Dance”, Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”.

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