{"id":8924,"date":"2012-01-23T00:05:05","date_gmt":"2012-01-23T08:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/?p=8924"},"modified":"2016-04-03T06:11:30","modified_gmt":"2016-04-03T14:11:30","slug":"the-year-in-music-the-best-70-songs-of-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/2012-01\/the-year-in-music-the-best-70-songs-of-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"The Year in Music–The Best 70 Songs of 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Best 70 Songs of 2011
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A bit late, but c’est la vie.\u00a0 The following were the songs that dominated our playlist in 2011.\u00a0 Except for an exceptional case or two, we purposefully limited bands to one song on the list in order to spread the wealth, all under the theory that many of the bands whose other songs might have warranted inclusion had already received proper recognition via our Best Albums of 2011 <\/strong>list.<\/p>\n

The songs below aren’t necessarily what you might think of as “singles,” but they’re songs that particularly moved us one way or another. \u00a0 Listed in order of merit, though slightly skewed to the old-world-vision of\u00a0 “singles” (and we can’t definitively explain differences in ranking after about No. 5).\u00a0 Included, where possible, is “Inspirational Verse” from each song (in homage to the self-dubbed \u201cDean of American Rock Critics,\u201d Robert Christgau).<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Radiohead–Separator<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Perhaps not as pumped up as some of the songs listed below it, this is simply one of the best songs of all time, with its multiple melody lines and rhythm layers, and the usual deft playing and singing.\u00a0 The melodies sneak in and take over your brain.<\/p>\n

Inspirational Verse:\u00a0 \u201cAnd if you think this is over, then you’re wrong.”<\/p>\n

Radiohead–Separator<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/08-Separator.mp3|titles=08 Separator]\n

2.\u00a0 Foster the People–Pumped Up Kicks<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Catchier than\u00a0chlamydia in Cambodia, it was the one song that stuck in everyone’s head this year.\u00a0 We prefer Weezer’s version<\/strong> below (until the songwriters get their live act down).<\/p>\n

Inspirational Verse:\u00a0 None really.<\/p>\n