ETIAW confuddled me greatly, given that it's a cross between M83 and Bruce Springsteen. Not a bad song mind, just not as good as Paradise.

 

I find Paradise to be quite a hollow affair compared to ETIAW but it's a great pop song, incredibly catchy and commercial so a very good choice of lead single and I can see why most people seem to prefer it. ETIAW though for me manages to be anthemic but beautiful at the same time, whereas Paradise is just anthemic - but they both serve completely different purposes. Coldplay have always flicked between one or the other but rarely manage a song that delivers both.

#40

Paradise

Coldplay

 

Album: Mylo Xyloto

Chart position: #11 (so far)

 

Taken from their 5th album, ‘Paradise’ has been ever present almost everywhere ever since it was released back in September. A marketing anomaly meant that it couldn’t chart until the album was released, and has been racing up the charts ever since.

 

‘Paradise’ has been called (mainly by people on this board) the Coldplay song that it’s okay for pop fans to like. Given it’s heavily electronic backing, simple lyrical structure and a chorus that is basically just the title repeated, it’s hard to argue with that.

 

 

I would expected the track to be featured somewhere in the top 5, seems so low at #40

#35

Chaos and Mayhem

Pop Will Eat Itself

 

 

Album: New Noise Designed By a Sadist

Chart position: Did not chart

 

After a 15 year gap, Pop Will Eat Itself returned with a new batch of tunes (well, I say PWEI reunited, Graham Crabb is the only returning member to the fold). Chaos and Mayhem shows an evolving sound for the band, with its more industrial rock sound, and vocals from new co-lead vocalist Mary Biker (of Gaye Bikers on Acid). I got the chance to interview Graham around the time of release, and he was a great laugh (and so far, he’s the only person I’ve interviewed who remembered my name!).

 

#34

Holding on to Black Metal

My Morning Jacket

 

 

Album: Circuital

Chart position: Did not chart

 

From April to June, ‘Holding On To Black Metal’ by Kentucky rockers My Morning Jacket was almost unavoidable on 6music. This is not necessarily a bad thing, given how great the song is. Based around a hypnotic guitar riff that repeats throughout, the song is a throwback to music of the 60s.

 

#33

Cradle

The Joy Formidable

 

 

Album: The Big Roar

Chart position: Did not chart

 

The Joy Formidable finally got around to releasing their debut album in 2011, and with it came a re-release of one of their first singles, the noise-rock masterpiece ‘Cradle.’ Ritzy, the lead singer of TJF (whom I interviewed last year), is one of the best female rock vocalists out there, which is why the group are one of the most exhilarating live bands.

 

#32

The Day I Die

South Central

 

 

Album: Society of the Spectacle

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Dance duo South Central have toured with the likes of The Prodigy and Pendulum in the past, and based on ‘The Day I Die,’ it is not difficult to see why. The song is a uncompromising dirty-dance track that holds you be the cajonies and doesn’t let you go. The video is perhaps one of the most shocking you’ll see in 2011.

 

#31

The Seaweed Under the Sofa

Biscuithead & the Biscuit Badgers

 

 

Album: The Greatest Show on Toast

Chart position: Did not chart

 

A light hearted tale from Leeds based quartet Biscuithead and the Biscuit Badgers, ‘The Seaweed Under the Sofa’ is a George Fornby-esque number in which the protagonist recalls how he lost his girlfriend after eating a Chinese takeaway. When I played this track on the radio, we ended up laughing for 5 minutes afterwards.

 

#30

A History of Now

Asian Dub Foundation

 

 

Album: A History of Now

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Mercury nominated music collective Asian Dub Foundation released this song at the turn of the year, a rap-rock track that sounds firmly rooted in the 90s. Some clunky lyrics aside (you can’t download the sun), it’s a very infectious song.

 

#29

Ice Cream

Battles

 

 

Album: Gloss Drop

Chart position: Did not chart

 

No matter what Battles release from now on, they will always have an Atlas sized albatross around their neck. Which is a pity, given the awesome nature of their song ‘Ice Cream.’ Now a trio, having parted with the closest thing the band had to a frontman, guest vocals are provided by Matias Aguayo, which makes the song slightly more accessable.

 

#28

Houdini

Foster the People

 

 

Album: Torches

Chart position: Did not chart

 

American group Foster the People released ‘Houdini’ as their first UK single at the start of the year. Although it went on to be eclipsed by the much more successful follow-up, it still stands up as a great pop song in its own right, with memorable keyboard riff, and high falsettos that much only be audible to dogs.

 

#27

AKA…What a Life!

Noel Gallagher’ High Flying Birds

 

 

Album: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Chart position: #20

 

And the highest peaking song by any of the post-Oasis bands in 2011 goes to Noel Gallagher et al with the fantastic ‘AKA…What a Life’. What amazed me the first time I heard it is that it now only moves away from the sound of Oasis (although it could be argued that it shares production similarities with tracks from ‘Dig Out Your Soul), but it works as a song in its own right. It’s lengthy stay in the top 40 (well, for a rock song anyway) was well justified.

 

#26

I’ll Take Care of U

Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx

 

 

Album: We’re New Here

Chart position: Did not chart

 

A rather unlikely collaboration came about in 2011, with the vocal recordings rap pioneer Gil-Scott Heron (Rest in piece) being re-jigged over the moody beats of Jamie xx (of the xx). ‘I’ll Take Care of U’ was the undoubted highlight of the set, with its impassioned vocals working well over Jamie’s swirling, almost baleric production. This was a massive hit in the indie clubs this year, and with good reason.

 

A rather unlikely collaboration came about in 2011, with the vocal recordings rap pioneer Gil-Scott Heron (Rest in piece) being re-jigged over the moody beats of Jamie xx (of the xx). ‘I’ll Take Care of U’ was the undoubted highlight of the set, with its impassioned vocals working well over Jamie’s swirling, almost baleric production. This was a massive hit in the indie clubs this year, and with good reason.

 

Don't forget Drake and Rihanna did a great song together with this sample :heart: :kink:

#25

Reach a Bit Further

Wild Beasts

 

 

Album: Smother

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Three albums in, and Wild Beasts have settled into a comfortable pattern. ‘Reach a Bit Further’, the highlight of their ‘Smother’ album, features the avant-alt-rock meets searing Geneva-esque falsetto that made them so famous in the first place.

 

#24

Bigger than Us

White Lies

 

 

Album: Rituals

Chart position: #42

 

White Lies seem to have disappeared with a whimper in the second part of 2011, which is unfortunate, given that they started the year with the most exciting song of their relatively short career. ‘Bigger than Us’ follows on nicely from their gloomy debut, with a great emphasis on electronics, and a massive, massive chorus to die for. The music video, featuring an oversized chocolate bar receiving CPR, is gloriously bonkers.

 

#23

Lippy Kids

Elbow

 

 

Album: Build a Rocket, Boys!

Chart position: Did not chart

 

After landing two tracks in my top 50 of 2008, Mancunians Elbow make the top 50 this time around with ‘Lippy Kids.’ Lead singer Guy Garvey has claimed that the song is a defence of the British teenager, about how they get unfairly stigmatized as criminals. How ironic that the single release coincided with the London riots…

 

#22

The One

Amidships

 

Not on YouTube, but hear it here.

 

Album: Friendly Fire EP

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Belfast based folk-rockers make the list with this thundering love ballad. Those drums are so heavy.

Edited December 11, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler

#21

Oh Pity

Cashier No.9

 

 

Album: To the Death of Fun

Chart position: Did not chart

 

And from one NI band to another. After years slugging it out on the local scene, 2011 was the year that saw Cashier No.9 make a break for the rest of the world. Signing to Bella Union (the home of Fleet Foxes) saw their style change somewhat (in comparison to their early singles, like 42 West Avenue), with their sound taking on a more rootsy approach.

 

Thankfully, the band still had anthems by the handful up their sleeves, releasing ‘Oh Pity’ on the world in September. It got picked up by 6music, who put in on their A List, and was used as the theme for BBC NI’s sports coverage.

 

I'm still hoping that you will allow the previously unreleased Suede material (no pun intended :lol: ) to qualify :D

#20

Belong

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

 

 

Album: Belong

Chart position: Did not chart

 

Following on from the debut, POBPAH released their second album in 2011. In comparison with their debut, which was rather lo-fi, ‘Belong’ was a much brighter affair, with production from legendary producer Youth and a technicolour approach to the recording. The title track Belong is one of the standout tracks on the album, which sees the band take on a Cure-esque quality to their indie-pop styling.

Edited December 12, 201113 yr by Brett-Butler