Yeah, that’s right. Get the fuck out of my face, 2011. Dan Bejar, by the way, always looks condescendingly pissed. On stage, in press photos, at amusement parks, eating ice cream. Always. I’m actually kind of intimidated by him. His music on the other hand…also casually condescending and just a little peeved. But really good. Chris Atto knows what I’m talking about. He takes a run at his favorite tracks from the past year, making obscenely hyperbolic statements along the way.
SBTRKT – “Something Goes Right”(feat. Sampha)
From: Chris Atto
To: Natalie Snoyman, Chris Mollica, Jenn Lao, Brandon Hall
Hey Brandon et al,
First off, re: your philosophical musings on the traditions surrounding New Year’s Eve, it is pretty funny, because I’ve never really thought about it that way. We all plan to quit smoking, go to the gym, etc, starting on Jan 1 (I argue, if you’ve decided to make a change, why not start it immediately), yet we all go out of our way and plan for weeks to start out the new year in the most miserable state we can possibly imagine. How American of us!
As for your comment on the perks of being the first part of this conversation, I say unto you, as the age-old adage goes, first is the worst, second is the best. But that’s the beauty of this, that each of us have such different tastes that when our powers combine, we come up with the ultimate list of quintessential tracks from 2011. Oddly enough, off the top of my head, the only two tracks from your list I can even recognize in my head and pair with a melody are those from Lykke Li and Bon Iver. I won’t even get into my love for Justin Vernon and everything he does except to say that I totally agree on that note. But for me the track I couldn’t get out of my head from Wounded Rhymes was “I Follow Rivers,” quite expectedly. Because I would follow some long ass rivers to get closer to Lykke Li.
But on a more personal note, I feel that, just as you said, a personal top track should be the track that you listened to over and over again without ever thinking, “Is it weird if I keep listening to this song even though I love the rest of this album and there is a shit ton of other awesome music to be heard?” The answer for me is usually no. And for me, that track was “Something Goes Right” by British breakout artist SBTRKT. 2011 was the year I really got into that British bass sound and SBTRKT was the man who brought it to me. On what was such a memorable album, “Something Goes Right” was by far the standout. I think it’s due to some combination of the way this song quickly builds, or Sampha’s smooth as silk vocals, or that major two step beat in the chorus, or the simple, yet sort of profound lyrics, “Is it better to let you go? Or is it better to let you know?” Whatever it was, I listened to this song at least a million times this year, which is pretty good considering the album wasn’t even released until the summer. I also anticipate listening to it at least a million times more in 2012 and every subsequent year after that. This song also wins the award for “beat that is the most fun to play on your steering wheel while driving”.
When Saints Go Machine – “Add Ends”
On the other side of the spectrum, I’m kind of sad that Konkylie, the debut album from Danish outfit When Saints Go Machine didn’t get more attention (Pitchfork didn’t even review the album, despite posting a few of their tracks on the site before it was released.) because I think it’s one of the most unique and stunning albums released this year. And the penultimate track is also my winner for one of the most beautiful tracks of all time. Yeah, I said of all time. “Add Ends” is a pretty special song I think. All atmosphere, full of plucked strings, nearly a capella vocal breaks, and just a really damn catchy chorus. There’s also a pretty great video that accompanies the track that perhaps somewhat shaped my opinion, but I definitely listened to this one more than a few times.
Destroyer – “Chinatown”
While we’re talking about flowing melodies and beautiful tracks, how could I not mention Destroyer’s “Chinatown”? I’d maybe heard one Destroyer song before Kaputt was released early this year, but I instantly fell in love with that smooth as silk sound and those damn trumpets and saxophones permeating every nook and cranny of my brain. I hear those opening drumbeats and it’s almost impossible to keep a smile off my face. Mixed in with the reverbed horns and female vocals, this song is a little bit magical for me. I saw Destroyer live all by my lonesome earlier this year and it took everything I had in me not to grab the hand of the girl standing next to me and break into an extreme makeout sesh. I’m not even sure what she looked like, but this song is just a little bit sexy like that.
And last, but certainly not least, the sleeper pick for my favorite songs of 2011 is Toro Y Moi’s “How I Know.” Despite owning Underneath The Pine for months, I never really listened to it until Mr. Bundick came to town this fall, at which point I binged. I ended up loving the album, but after my first few listens, I kept trying to find that one song I heard in passing. The one with that funky keyboard intro and that chorus that comes out of nowhere and while I’m not usually a sucker for lyrics, I felt some weird connection with the chorus. Nobody is more surprised that this was one of my most listened to tracks than I am, but such is the case.
Toro y Moi – “How I Know”
Honorable mention shoutouts go to Purity Ring’s “Ungirthed”, the debut track from an act that I can see getting pretty huge, at least in the indie world, and “The Edge” by Chris Taylor’s side project CANT. OH, and how could I forget – perhaps THE song of the year, Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues.” Damn, that is a mighty fine folk song. I’m sure I’ll think of a couple thousand more as soon as I hit send, so don’t be surprised if you hear from me again.
“Can’t tell you how I know”,
Chris Atto
[ed: Bonus Video!]
Chris didn’t mention this song, but his reference to “Chinatown” reminded me that this video exists and it’s awesome:
Destroyer – “Kaputt”
AudioVole 
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