{"id":1393,"date":"2011-12-27T11:28:24","date_gmt":"2011-12-27T19:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/billchapin.net\/allthecitylights\/?p=1393"},"modified":"2015-01-12T09:31:51","modified_gmt":"2015-01-12T17:31:51","slug":"rankstravaganza-my-30-favorite-tracks-of-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/billchapin.net\/allthecitylights\/2011\/12\/rankstravaganza-my-30-favorite-tracks-of-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"Rankstravaganza: My 30 favorite tracks of 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Portait of the Artists as a Young Band. Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. was responsible for my favorite track of 2011. (via daleearnhardtjrjr.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I don’t know about you, but for me, 2011 was not a year of discovery. Most of the songs that bubbled their way to the top of my most-played tracks from last year were by bands I already knew and loved. Oh, there were some surprises along the way\u2014a Norwegian singer-songwriter here, a former Entourage<\/em> cast member there\u2014but mostly I listened to bands that continued streaks of great music. I hope that says more about the music released in 2011 than about me getting older and settled in my ways.<\/p>\n

If you followed this blog at all, you won’t be the least bit surprised to learn that the following list leans heavily to the indie-pop side of things, though there is some hip hop, R&B and noisy rock ‘n’ roll to be found.<\/p>\n

When the artists, their labels or established websites have provided free mp3 downloads of the songs, I have included links. Also, because all the cool kids are doing it, I created a Spotify playlist<\/a> featuring all the tracks except one that wasn’t available on the service. (Pssst! The Downer Party: Upload your most recent EP!)<\/p>\n

This is just the beginning of Rankstravaganza 2011. Before midnight on Dec. 31, expect to see (significantly shorter) posts on my favorite albums<\/a> and my favorite tracks by Bay Area artists<\/a>.<\/p>\n

30. “Used to be a Cop,” Drive-By Truckers<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Patterson Hood can still tell a story better than most. Set to a characteristically dark, southern-rock boogie by the Georgia band, this tale is written from the perspective of a creepy guy who just can’t get over the loss of his gun, badge or wife.<\/p>\n

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[free mp3<\/a> via Spinner<\/a>]<\/p>\n

29. “KMAG YOYO,” Hayes Carll<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The title is an unofficial military acronym that stands for “Kiss my ass, guys. You’re on your own.” Though the Texas singer-songwriter is more interested in how an impressive stream of rhymes can form a\u00a0 narrative\u2014detailing a young soldier’s journey from opportunistic drug trafficker to stratospheric test subject\u2014the result hints at the same sense of political outrage that Steve Earle does so well.<\/p>\n

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28. “Santa Fe,” Beirut<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Everything that makes Zach Condon’s melding of Eastern European brass and electronic burbling so intriguing is represented in this melodic ode to his hometown.<\/p>\n