This is what you’re going to feel like on January 1, 2012. Believe it. Be prepared. Just hope the rest of the year is an improvement from this. Jenn Lao breaks down her love for Jay-Z, (which I don’t get. That dude is old.) and some of her other favorite jams of 2011 (by people she doesn’t so much want to bone, I’m guessing.) Check out her rundown after the jump.
From: Jenn Lao
To: Natalie Snoyman, Chris Mollica, Brandon Hall, Chris Atto
…and third’s a turd. Queue Jenn.
Thanks for pointing out the many ironies of the new year, resolutions and all. It is a miserable way to end the year, by reflecting on all the reasons why you sucked this year and what you can do to suck a little less next year. So we drink it all away. I guess I’d rather wake up to the new year with an empty bottle in my hand instead of a gym membership card.
Did anyone else notice the ad that came up with Adele’s video link? “10 ugly mistakes women make that ruin any chances of a relationship.” Ladies, don’t click on the link to the video. It’s bad enough the song yields relentless tears, but while you’re at it, go ahead and kick us square in the ovaries. I’m retaliating with Matt Skiba to counter that bullshit (while adding to the break up song list).
Chris A., while I dug your choice of Destroyer’s “Chinatown” (for obvious reasons – shout out to my peeps in Chinatown!), I never came to understand Fleet Foxes this year. The boat that sailed past Chris M.’s head for Adele’s “Someone Like You” continued right over mine for “Helplessness Blues.” However, Purity Ring’s “Ungirthed” – Yes, Yes, Yes.
If I think about the song I played the most this year, Little Gold’s “The Kid’s Got Heart” takes it. I wouldn’t say I played it a million times, maybe a close 20. I go into preserve mode when I hear a good song, thus I rarely play tracks repetitively. I also save the best bite for last on my plate. Anyway, this song I craved like a last bite. It was upbeat, subtle, and multi-faceted. “It’s a bad time for ringing in a new year.”
Gardens and Villa – “Black Hills”
There is something imminent about the song “Black Hills” from Gardens and Villa. When the song begins, you can feel something coming, but you’re not sure what it is. All you know is it’s gonna to be undeniably right. Fair to say this song snuck up on me this year and claimed it’s spot. As for the video goes, I agree with the comment posted below it, “For some odd reason, I feel this is how hipsters dream.”
Feist – “The Bad in Each Other”
Within the first few seconds off the first track (first, not the third, Brandon) of Feist’s Metals album, I was sold. The opening drums of “The Bad in Each Other” grabbed me. Further complimented by the strings, this made for a well-crafted song that stayed in my head on repeat. “When a good man, and a good woman / can’t find the good in each other. And a good man and a good woman / bring out the worst in the other / the bad in each other.” Feist, like Lykke Li and Adele, has had her share of heartache this year. All right, I guess we needed Beyoncé and Katy B to balance things out.
Kanye West, Jay-Z – “Otis”
Though, Beyoncé still didn’t top any of my lists in 2011…but her baby’s daddy did. Jigga Man dominated this year with the song “Otis” off the Watch the Throne album with Kanye West and – as alluded to – Otis Redding. Of course, it doesn’t help that I have the biggest crush on Jay-Z. Regardless, this track is straight up dope. Jay-Z hits those beats so hard, it’s reee-diculous. “It sounds so soulful, don’t you agree?” This is probably my favorite video of 2011 as well; hell, it features Aziz Ansari as a blind man trying to dance. Do me a favor, come the eve, put this song on your countdown playlist and thank me in 2012.
TV on the Radio – “Keep Your Heart”
Ultimately, my outstanding track of 2011 is TV on the Radio’s “Keep Your Heart.” I’ll leave it at that.
“If the world all falls apart / how am I gonna keep your heart.”
Jenn
AudioVole 
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