Top 25 Favorite Songs of 2011

This was an incredible hard list to put together.  I had already decided on my top album list for the year before I attempted this list, and that was so much easier on which to decide.  I guess that means that I loved a lot more individual songs this year than I loved albums that I heard.  I had originally only wanted to pick 20 for the list, but after agonizing just to get it down to 25, I couldn't find 5 more songs that I could eliminate.  So, I decided to just say screw it and stick with 25.  Also, other than the top 3, I am not actually ranking the songs - I had a hard enough time just coming up with these songs, let alone ranking them.  Away we go!

1.) Jay-Z and Kanye West - "That's My Bitch"
  The best song from one of the best hip hop albums I have heard in along time (granted I don't listen to a lot of new hip hop, but still) - even better than Kanye's record from last year.  I could have probably put 2/3 of the songs from Watch The Throne on this list if I wanted to.

2.) TV on the Radio - "Repetition"
  TV on the Radio continues to be one of the most unique sounding bands out there.  This song is rocking and funky all at the same time.

3.) PJ Harvey - "The Words That Maketh Murder"
  This CD came out in the early part of 2011 and it remained one of my favorites all year.  This is another disc that could have the majority of its songs on this list.

Here are the rest (in alphabetical order) with occasional thoughts:

Beastie Boys -"Long Burn The Fire"
  While "Make Some Noise" was the song from Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2 that got the Beasties the most notice this year (and rightfully so for its epic, 30 minute video), this is the best song from that CD.  It has a great grinding kind of beat and it's amazing that these guys are still doing it like this in 2011.

Beirut - "Vagabond"

Bon Iver - "Towers"
  Yes, "Holocene" from this record earned Bon Iver a Grammy nomination.  And that is a very good song, but I just like this one better.  "Holocene" almost made this list as well, but it was a last minute cut (and will be on my "Honorable Mention" list.


British Sea Power - "Living Is So Easy"

Death Cab For Cutie - "Doors Unlocked & Open"


The Decemberists - "Dear Avery", "January Hymn", "Rox in the Box"
  I said earlier that I could have put multiple selection on this list from Jay-Z & Kanye and PJ Harvey, but I was able to limit myself to 1 song each since the 2 I selected were far and away the top songs on those discs.  That was not the case with The King Is Dead by The Decemberists.  When I got down to these 3 songs, I couldn't see eliminating any of them, so I just kept all 3.  Hell of a comeback year for The Decemberists after how crappy The Crane Wife was.

Destroyer - "Chinatown"

Feist - "Anti-Pioneer"

The Fruit Bats - "You're Too Weird"

Kurt Vile - "Jesus Fever"

Loney, Dear - "What Have I Become?"

Low - "Especially Me"

My Morning Jacket - "Holdin' On To Black Metal"

The Mountain Goats - "Age of Kings", "Beautiful Gas Mask"
  This was another case where I couldn't see picking one song over the other, so I didn't.  Maybe I need to be more decisive next year, but if I did that this year, this post would be coming out in January...

The Raveonettes - "Forget That You're Young"

Vivian Girls - "I Heard You Say"

Wilco - "I Might"

Wye Oak - "Holy Holy"

Yuck- "Get Away"

Since I can post an actual playlist from Spotify to go along with this blog, I decided not to say something about each song in an effort to get this damn post finished.  If you are curious about any of these songs, they'll be on the playlist that I am posting on Facebook.

Coming Soon: I will post an "Honerable Mention" playlist of the songs that just didn't quite make the cut.  Then, more year end blogs, including the top albums of the 2nd half of 2011 and the overall album list.

Thursday Night TV Roundup 12/1/11

After a few weeks off, the return of the Thursday night TV reviews!

Community
Community has really been on a roll the last half of the season, which means it is really hitting it's stride just as it will be going off the air for an indefinite amount of time (expect next week's TV Roundup to be almost entirely about Community).  Since it was announced that it was going on hiatus 2 weeks ago, the show's ratings have been slowly going up, which I hope is a good sign for when it returns.  New (or returning) viewers were treated to a very funny episode last night, and one of the few this year to make really good use of Shirley.  Pairing her with Jeff in the foosball plot made for some hilarious situations, from their frenzied game that transformed into anime to they way they showed up the crazily over the top (ind crazily funny) German foosball fanatics.  The anime sequence showed that Community can still have their bits of pop culture lunacy in the course of a "normal" episode without devoting the whole thing to the subject.

However, I am not sure that any episode that involves Abed, dressed as Batman, using a grappling hook (a Christmas present from Troy, of course) to repel out the window to confront the landlord.  This plot, while silly, was worth it alone just for the return of Abed's "Christian Bale" voice, and the debut of Annie's (which was excellent).  I can't believe there is only one more episode left...
Grade -> A-

Parks & Rec
This was such a fantastic episode, full of so many great little bits, that I didn't even miss that Adam Scott was only in it a little bit (I really like his character a lot on this show, but, honestly I love all of them).  I love the episodes where the whole staff rally together to help Leslie out for whatever reason.  It usually allows to them to do something good, while at the same time being their usual insane selves, and most of the insanity revolved around their testimony at the trial.  Ron was hilarious in his attempts to not have his cabin's location entered into the record.  April of course acted just like Janet Snakehole as she accused the stenographer (Ethel Beavers from the 4th floor!) of being guilty.  And, of course, poor Jerry, who it turns out is really named Gary. 

We finally got closure on the storyline that has been going on since last season - Leslie and Ben can now be together without getting in trouble.  I am looking forward as to what new job opportunities they will come up with for Ben - my vote is for shoeshine partner with Andy...
Grade -> A


The Office
SIGH.  I have resigned myself now to the fact that the best I can hope for in an episode of The Office are a few scenes to make me laugh amidst a mediocre episode.  This episode wasn't the worst, I just expected more than they gave guest star Maura Tierney as Mrs. California.  She proved on NewsRadio that she can do comedy very well, she just wasn't given much to work with.   Thinking back on last night, there were things that I enjoyed - Robert's frantic order not Andy not to hire his wife and his profane outburst when Andy spilled those beans to his wife.  Jim's rolling away exit.  Dwight thinking that Darryl wants to impress Val Kilmer (silly but made me laugh).  On a whole, though, just another bland episode.
Grade -> C

It's Always Sunny
This has been a very up and down season of Sunny.  Any season with both the Chardee MacDennis episode and the episode with Frank's brother can't be described any other way.  Last night's episode was somewhere in the middle.  It wasn't the funniest this season, but there was a lot that I did like.  I especially enjoyed the continuation of the subplot that Dennis is basically a rapist.  I also liked Frank trying to explain the gang's shenanigans to the horrified tourists.  Although, I think my favorite scene involved Mac and the motorcycle.  Anytime a character encounters a motorcycle in an action film, they automatically know how to ride it.  Not poor Mac (I also enjoyed that he continued to wear the helmet long after he had to abandon the bike). 
Grade -> B

Beavis & Butthead
There were 2 episodes last night!  And they were both were very funny.  B&B episodes really don't lend themselves well to analysis, as they are basically made up of the boys wandering around and saying funny things.   Needless, to say, I enjoyed their antics last night.  I especially enjoyed the new segment where they acted like Siskel & Ebert and analyzed The Human Centipede.  I hope that segment comes back, as it was well done. 
Grade -> B+

The Winner of the Night... Parks & Rec!