MUSIC: G33KPRON’S Top 11 Of 2011 (Part One)
With 2011 behind us and a whole new year of music releases on the horizon, now is the time to give another appreciation for the best songs of the year. The gang at G33kpron put our heads together and this is what we came up with. We purposely glossed over and passed up on most of the popular music of the year lists; that way we could feature some of the little known tracks that were huge in their own right, and songs that shouldn’t be missed although many of them may have been. At the very least of it, these songs made OUR year in one way or another. In no particular order…
11. Teenage X – Wasted
This is the band I’ve been raving about all year. From Toronto, Teenage X know how to have a good time and that is pretty damn clear in this track. From the album dubbed the soundtrack of the summer, this was the song that had almost 300 people singing along to at Velvet Underground this past year – and none of the crowd had ever heard the song before. Listen and you’ll be singing (and maybe even drinking) along too.
10. Life In Vacuum – Commander Clark
Life In Vacuum haven’t been mentioned on G33kpron. Yet. But believe me, they have won over the G33kpron gang this past year and G33kbot itself has been raving about the band to anyone who will reboot them. If you like your alternative tunes to have a prog rock tinge, these dudes from Waterloo, ON will put the lotion in your basket.
9. The Foo Fighters – Rope
The Foo Fighters have likely made a few ‘best of’ lists this year but they can’t help it. They consistently make good music. It’s that simple. Dave Grohl could probably release an album of him making farting noises with his armpits and it’d be awesome.
8. Dum Dum Girls – Bedroom Eyes
Also featured on G33kpron previously, the Dum Dum Girls have really come to age with their 2011 album, ‘Only In Dreams’. They have always been full of lo-fi garage goodness, but this is the first single where you really get to hear singer Dee Dee belt it.
7. Fucked Up – Queen Of Hearts
The kings (and queen) of Toronto’s punk and hardcore scene are none other than Fucked Up. They have extended far past Toronto’s reach and 2011 threw them completely out of the ball park. If lead singer Damien Abraham’s Spin Magazine cover didn’t cement it (along with nabbing their year end ‘Best Of’), touring with Tenacious D and the Foo Fighters did. This is the opening track from their epic rock opera, ‘David Comes To Life.’
6. Nick Waterhouse – Some Place
It feels like just a few minutes ago when I was introduced to the legend in the making that is Nick Waterhouse, but ever since I have felt like someone gave me an IV infused with the swinging, rhythm & blues, rock & roll from the fifties and I love it. This song is the highlight on Waterhouse’s EP released earlier this year, and the vinyl 45′ version is already worth the big bucks. After shaking my ass big time to this track (and watching dance floors follow suit) I can see why.
Who will make the cut in the final five? Tune in tomorrow to find out. Same g33k time, same g33k website…
