Presenting our 100 favorite songs of 2011. Like our albums of the year list, we had to leave off a ton of great jams, but this is a pretty thorough representation of what we were most into this year. Turns out it was a pretty great one. Check the list after the jump…
GORILLA vs. BEAR’s SONGS of 2011
TOP 50:
50 John Maus + Molly Nilsson – Hey Moon
49 Pure X – Dry Ice
48 Joe Goddard – Gabriel feat. Valentina
47 Twin Sister – Kimmi in a Ricefield
46 Smith Westerns – All Die Young
45 Azealia Banks – 212
44 Neon Indian – The Blindside Kiss
43 Puro Instinct – Vapor Girls
42 Big K.R.I.T. – Dreamin
41 Bleached – Think of You
40 White Denim – No Real Reason
39 Kindness – Cyan
38 RUN DMT – Dreaming / Romantic
37 Dum Dum Girls – Coming Down
36 Massive Attack vs. Burial – Paradise Circus
35 Gang Gang Dance – Mindkilla
34 Tyler, the Creator – Yonkers
33 The Sandwitches – Joe Says
32 Beyonce – Countdown
31 Freddie Gibbs + Madlib – Thuggin’
30 Darkside – A1
29 James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream
28 Grouper – Moving Machine
27 M83 – Midnight City
26 Toro y Moi – How I Know
25 Jamie xx – Far Nearer
24 Diplo / Busta / Weezy, etc. – Look at Me Now
23 Korallreven – As Young As Yesterday
22 Jhene Aiko – Stranger
21 araabMUZIK – Streetz Tonight
20 Clams Casino – I’m God (instrumental)
19 Ford & Lopatin – Too Much MIDI (Please Forgive Me)
18 John Maus – Believer
17 The Weeknd – House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls
16 Grimes – Oblivion
15 Cass McCombs – County Line
14 Kurt Vile – Baby’s Arms
13 Julianna Barwick – Prizewinning
12 Real Estate – Green Aisles
11 Charli XCX – Stay Away / Nuclear Seasons
10 Girls – Vomit
09 Glass Candy – Warm in the Winter
08 A$AP Rocky – Peso
07 Purity Ring – Lofticries
06 Girls – Honey Bunny
05 Shabazz Palaces – Are you… Can you… Were you? (Felt)
04 Peaking Lights – All The Sun That Shines
03 Lana Del Rey – Video Games
02 White Denim – Street Joy
01 Panda Bear – Alsatian Darn
__________
NEXT 50 (alphabetical):
Adele x Jamie xx – Rolling in the Heat (the Heatwave refix)
Africa Hitech – Out in the Streets
Air France – It Feels Good to Be Around You
A$AP Rocky – Bass
Atlas Sound – Terra Incognita
Balam Acab – Oh, Why
Blouse – Videotapes
Bodies of Water – Open Rhythms
Danny Brown – XXX / Fields
Catcall – Satellites
Chromatics – Kill For Love
ceo – ave maria
Coasting – Portland
Elite Gymnastics – h e r e , i n h e a v e n 2
Friends – I’m His Girl
Jacques Greene – Another Girl
Grimes – Vanessa
Hotel Mexico – Dear Les Friends
Jai Paul – Flip Out
Jesse Ruins – Dream Analysis
Juicy J – A Zip and a Double Cup
Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers
Major Lazer – Original Don
Nite Jewel – One Second of Love
Octo Octa – I’m Trying
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
Panda Bear – Last Night at the Jetty
Peaking Lights – Tiger Eyes (Laid Back)
Perfume – Glitter (album mix)
Planningtorock – The Breaks
Rainbow Arabia – Without You
SBTRKT – Wildfire (feat. Yukimi of Little Dragon)
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – I’ll Take Care of U
Shlohmo – Seriously
Silky Johnson – Chasin Paper
Sleep ∞ Over – Romantic Streams
Soft Metals – Psychic Driving
Summer Camp – Better Off Without You
The Babies – Caroline
The Caretaker – Libet’s Delay / I Feel As If I Might Be Vanishing
The Field :: Then It’s White
Thundercat – For Love I Come
Mina Tindle – To Carry Many Small Things
Toro y Moi – Still Sound
Twerps – Dreamin
Vivian Girls – Sixteen Ways
Washed Out – Amor Fati
Widowspeak – Harsh Realm
Young Galaxy – Peripheral Visionaries
Zomby – Natalia’s Song
_____________
related:
gorilla vs. bear’s ALBUMS of 2011
gorilla vs. bear’s VIDEOS of 2011
cool 2k11
Panda Bear made 2011!
And Alsatian Darn is definitely my favorite too. Epic song.
Really? The Puro Instinct song you put on here is Vapor Girls? Out of that whole album? K…..
well, we had a few of the other jams on that album on our lists from previous years (2010 and 2009)
for a website that has strayed away from being related to pitchfork all year, this list is surprising. “vomit”, “hunny bunny”, and “kimmi in the rice fields” were def not what i was expecting. i thought if yall were gonna pick a Girls song it would be more gvsb, like “alex” or something. and “space babe” for twin sis. either way, i like the list. no destroyer tho :(((
This is officially the worst comment of all time
nah, its aight. i mean it aint no great gatsby, but it’ll do.
umm… where’s my Spotify playlist broski?
I know right?
second
Third
Spotify requires a facebook sign-in, thus excluding those of us non-sheep with out one.
ya, spotty please!!!!
(heres mine- http://open.spotify.com/user/shirleybeans/playlist/0Lb7o3evCApfO56QrS7rIs )
Here’s a spotify list of the songs I could find (around 65 of them):
http://open.spotify.com/user/mwparker2/playlist/7wOz5Hww2dzNrJLL27yqaV
ok list, but why no love for the epic singles from hdboyz and glass popcorn this yr???? :(
because, not everyone’s opinion on things is the same as your’s…is it that hard to understand?
Nice list. My favorite F&L song was “Joey Rogers”
agree bro
Great list, really does a beautiful job covering the year. The only misses that could’ve gotten a nod: The Antlers :: “I Don’t Want Love” / Deakin :: “Country Report” / Unknown Mortal Orchestra :: “Ffunny Ffrends” / Beat Connection :: “Silver Screen (dreamtrak Diamond Remix) Although with these top 100 it’s never easy to fit more in.
Lots to sift through, but this list looks absolutely amazing.
¿Where’s ___________ ?
I see a lot of my favorites. But I would’ve put Vapor Trails for my favorite Grouper song of 2011 and Crystal Ball for my favorite Grimes. Still good list, though!
frank ocean got robbed; thinking about you was definitely in the top 100. coulda been some spvcxghxztpvrrp in there as well.
agree on the Frank Ocean, but not so much on the Spaceghostpurpp. great list nonetheless. looking forward to 2012!
lovin the new wood background. dat shit cray
fucking great year, especially loving those top 3
honestly my favorite washed out song this year was the RAC remix of New Theory.
agree. amazing.
don’t understand how you have two girls songs in the top 10 but they didn’t make the top albums list
You’re song list is much better than your album one I have to say. Still great list. Young Galaxies “Peripheral Visionaries” was on last years list !
some of my fave tracks of 2011:
Moon Killer – Small Black
Paradisco – Charlotte Gainsbourg
As Young As Yesterday – Korallreven
Balance – Future Islands
Aviary – Mint Julep
Friend Crush – Friends
Grass Stain – Waxahatchee
Gone Gone Gone – Nikki Lane
Night Light – Little Dragon
Satellites – Catcall
Bedroom Eyes – Dum Dum Girls
Brave Tin Soldiers – Sarah Nixey
Weekend – Class Actress
One Second of Love – Night Jewel
Stay Away / Nuclear Seasons – Charli XCX
Money – The Drums
Our Hearts Are Wrong – Jessica Lea Mayfield
Wired – I Break Horses
Green Isles – Real Estate
High Wire – The KDMS
Blue Jeans – Lana Del Rey
Oblivian – Grimes
dude it’s artist – song not song – artist ur breaking me here
Surprised you didn’t throw any of the 3 jj tracks that came out this year on there. Also no Destroyer and only 1 Gang Gang song (Glass Jar was my jam). I’dve picked “Alex” for Girls and “Daniel” for Twin Sis, but it’s all good. Some decent tracks up there for sure.
And as for my faves:
Destroyer – A Savage Night @ the Opera/Chinatown/Blue Eyes/Kaputt
Gang Gang Dance – Glass Jar/Chinese High/Adult Goth
Grimes – Vanessa/Crystal Ball
Braids – Native Speaker/Lemonade
Panda Bear – Last Night @ the Jetty/Surfer’s Hymn
Twin Sister – Daniel/Kimmi
Tuneyards – Bizness
Thundercat – Boat Cruise/Daylight/For Love I Come
Toro y Moi – New Beat/Before I’m Done/How I know/Still Sound/Saturday Love
Metal Mountains – Structures in the Sun
Lia Ices – Daphne/Little Marriage/Grown Unknown
Julian Lynch – all of Terra
jj – no one can touch us tonight/ice/we can’t stop
Iron and Wine – Big Burned Hand/Rabbit will Run
Holiday Shores – Spells/We Couldn’t Be Together/Threepeat
Cults – Abducted/Never Heal Myself
Cat’s Eyes – Best Person I know/I’m not Stupid
Purity Ring – all 3 they’ve done
Girls – Alex/Honey Bunny/My Ma
200 years – Wild White/West Hartford
Balam Acab – Oh, Why/Motion
Good year.
Chris never likes to show Julian Lynch any love for some reason. I mean his albums are great.
Major props for putting Juicy J up there, We Trippy Mane ahah!
what the f***? monument to mediocrity, armless and bad taste? Is professionalism and originality in music no longer valued? music for the human herd. I feel sorry for these musicians and fans.
nah
Defective set of random sounds, drowned in reverb and delay. I vomit continuously.
Wot no Marshmellow Yellow?!
Surprised KRIT’s “Dreamin” made it. “R4 Theme Song” is by far my favorite cut on Return of 4eva
I liked how last year it was so fucking clear. No one song could stand to Round And Round’s awesomeness and second-wind structure. This year’s pretty different because my taste is refined to what I know I want to hear and because there was a lot more variety in sound and because the overall greatness bar was definitely raised.
In no real order, these are songs that I at least think deserve to be candidates:
My Morning Jacket – “Circuital”
Hudson Mohawke – “All Your Love”
Destroyer – “Suicide Demo For Sarah Walker”
Real Estate – “Green Aisles”
Sepalcure – “See Me Feel Me”
M83 – “Midnight City”
Mazzy Star – “Common Burn”
Jamie XX – “Beat For”
Four Tet – “Pinnacles”
Awesome list, Chris. You have well-defined tastes and that’s one of the main reasons I visit so often. Also, it’s nice to see Shlomo on there in some capacity, as I feel that that’s one act that has been vastly overlooked this year.
thanks dude
“Alsatian Darn” came out in 2010 on the flipside of “You Can Count On Me.” You know that! And I don’t think the Sonic Boom-produced version is different enough from the original single to merit consideration for “songs of 2011.”
Besides, “Last Night At the Jetty” (also 2010) is better ;)
yeah it was on my list last year too
‘Alsatian Darn’ is an amazing song but I would agree that ‘Last NIght at the Jetty’ is slightly better. Sonic Boom’s mixing definitely brought the songs to a new level.
Great list
That site gave me a virus, everyone stay away!
Andy Stott – Dark Details
Some of my favorite tracks:
A$AP Rocky – Peso, Bass
Heatwave – Rolling in the Deep Remix
Azealia Banks – 212
Black Keys – Lonely Boy, Stop Stop
Bon Iver – Towers
Clams Casino – Motivation
Drake – Take Care
Feist – How come you Never Go There
Fleet Foxes – Bedouin Dress, Sim Salsa Bim, Grown Ocean
Girls – Honey Bunny
Jay Z & Kanye West – Niggas in Paris, Otis, That’s My Bitch
Kurt Vile – Jesus Fever
M83 – Midnight City, Reunion
Panda Bear – Slow Motion, Alsatian Darn
Radiohead – Lotus Flower, Separator
Real Estate – It’s Real, All The Same
Shabazz Palaces – An Echo, Are You? Can You?, Swerve
Toro Y Moi – Still Sound, New Beat, How I Know
TuNe-YaRds – Bizness, Gangsta
Tyler the Creator – Yonkers, Sandwitches
Washed Out – Amor Fati, You and I
The Weeknd – House of Balloons, The Party and The Afterparty
White Denim – River to Consider
Wilco – I Might, Dawned on Me, Whole Love, Sunday Morning Song
Youth Lagoon – July
thanks for another year of great music journalism chris
no stolen dog?
The new player sucks a little because it plays video, that I don’t need because I only want to listen to the tunes while browsing or doing something else, and so it buffers a lot because my internet connection is not good enough to read smoothly video + audio. Is it possible to have audio only ?
If I want videos, I go on youtube.
The last sentence was a bit aggressive but it was meant to be funny. I’m french and have weird humor so forgive me.
You’re better than Youtube, yeah!
i ruv glass bubbles by all tiny creatures.
but my opinion is the most important.
Mine:
Austra-Lose It/Beat and The Pulse
Vondelpark-TV/Camels
Chairlift-Amanaemonesia
Mint Julep-Aviary
I Am Dive-I Was Sad So I Was Dancing/A Morning Walk
High Places-Sonora
M83-Midnight City
Serenades-Oceans
Dominant Legs-Hoop Of Love
Twin Sister-Bad Street
Destroyer-Kaputt
Cults-Abducted
no Jay and Ye? Who Gon Stop Me is a banger..nice list tho
Couldn’t agree more about ‘Alsatian Darn’ taking number one, easily my favorite song off ‘Tomboy’ and one of the most subtly emotionally-charged songs I’ve heard this year. (and last year, but I prefer Sonic Boom’s production on this song so I’m labeling 2011) List is awesome, although I think the best song off ‘Within and Without’ is Eyes Be Closed. Just my humble opinion. One love.
So Girls’ “Father, Son, Holy Ghost” contains 2 of the best 10 songs of the year (along with 3-4 more contenders I might add), yet it doesn’t warrant inclusion in the top 30 albums list?
I’m confused.
probably means these boys loved those girls songs but didn’t love the album
thought at least one A.Dd+ jawn was gonne be on here for sure…
Did the number of songs available to listen to dramatically increase from last night?
I’m pretty sure this list should be amended for HDBOYZ. and how could u sleep on “Popcorn Christmas”
where i can find this track from jai paul?
great list. much better than p4ks. inevitable comparison.
Agreed. I can’t take any list that puts Superbass at #4 seriously.
Father Son Holy Ghost has two of the top 10 songs, but the album isn’t in the top 50?
the album is definitely in our top 50. we only posted top 30 though
1. “212” by Azealia Banks
2. “Peso” by A$AP Rocky
3. “The Shine / An Argument” by Fleet Foxes
4. “Lord Knows (feat Rick Ross)” by Drake
5. “I Seen That Light” by Lil B
6. “Minnesota, WI” by Bon Iver
7. “Gotta Have It” by Jay-Z & Kanye West
8. “Grove St. Party (feat Lil B)” by Lil Wayne
9. “Novacane” by Frank Ocean
10. “A.D.H.D” by Kendrick Lamar
11. “We Found Love” by Rihanna
12. “Glass Jar” by Gang Gang Dance
13. “Love On Top” by Beyoncé
14. “Die” by Girls
15. “Forest Green” by Mike G
16. “All The Sun That Shines” by Peaking Lights
17. “Midnight City” by M83
18. “Yeah You” by Shabazz Palaces
19. “I Promise You” by La Sera
20. “Day By Day” by Lalon In Yesod
Honorable Mention
“Chinatown” by Destroyer
“For Love I Come” by Thundercat
“True Blue” by Dirty Beaches
“Still Sound” by Toro Y Moi
“House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls” by The Weeknd
whatchu think about it?
Just hollering because I like yr list.
Panda Bear’s song is really great but Panda is also the most boring live act I have ever seen.
nah the show we saw earlier this year with Sonic Boom was amazing
No Drums?… But lil wayne… awful
dude are you in the Drums? they’re wack, stop commenting about them on all of my posts
what about mp3 gorilla vs. bear 2011 mix (___ mb)?
[right click-save as to download]
Top Ten Songs 2011 (I played to death)
1. “Symphony in White, No. 2” -Sun Airway (Dead Oceans)
2. “Gangsta” -tUnE-yArDs (4ad)
3. “Hauntin’ Me” -Keep Shelly in Athens (Forest Family)
4. “Minor Keys” -Big Troubles (Slumberland)
5. “Grow” -The Last Dinosaur (Dearstereofan)
6. “Book of Revelation” -The Drums (Frenchkiss)
7. “Cyclopean Runways” -Circus Devils (Happy Jack Rock)
8. “Anyone but You” -Black Swan Lane (CDBY)
9. “Top Bunk” -Gauntlet Hair (Dead Oceans)
10. “Night is Young” -Southern Shores (Cascine)
Mad props for having Perfume on the list. Can you do the dance, Chris?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/14/143699630/the-20-unhappiest-people-you-meet-in-the-comments-sections-of-year-end-lists
lemonade ‘the place where you belong’ cover
Where is the rest of the hollers?
also kirko bangz ‘drank in my cup’
im looking for the spotify URL. Does anyone have it?
I didn’t make this, so I can’t vouch for the quality, but: http://sharemyplaylists.com/gorilla-vs-bear-songs-of-2011
thx!
Jesus! Young galaxy clearly deserve a place in the top 10, you crazy websters, OUT OF YOUR CAVE!
Props for Air France and The Careteker! But you’re missing one of my fav album of the year, Elephants At The Door by Dumbo Gets Mad!
My best of 2011 list:
http://ludditestereo.net/2011/12/13/best-music-of-2011-20-16/
Ballsy (now) call on “Video Games”. Glad to see you’re sticking to your guns. That’s a great tune.
Always striking: I generally find myself to have similar tastes to GvsB.2, but I think 3 of these songs (maybe a couple more if you count a different track but same artist) would have made my 50. I’ll use this list to reapproach some I didn’t give much time to, but I’d even take “Blue Jeans” over “Video Games.” “Sookie Now” over “Dreamin.”
Adding White Denim and Girls to my list of popular critics’ bands who just don’t jive with my ears. (Charter member: LCD Soundsystem.) Re: Girls, anyone ever listen to The Tyde? Not that everyone who comes first is inherently better, but in this case . . . “Go Ask Yer Dad.”
Are you me?
It certainly seems like it.
The Tyde’s first album is a blinder and I’d definitely take Blue Jeans over Videogames too.
However, White Denim are unbelievably good. Go see ‘em live, preferably somewhere small, I guarantee you’ll change your mind.
Great call on Alsation Darn. I would also put that as universally the most overlooked song of 2011 excluding this site. Person Pitch gets all the praise but this is his most beautiful composition to date in my opinion.
Last Night @thejetty kicks Alsation Darn’s ass tho
why is there no WARPAINT on this??! good list besides that
some good tunes this year.
good job the weekend (Y)
pretty good list. i think you should have included http://air-tycoon.bandcamp.com/album/im-stoned-living-ep
I like that you guys stick to your guns. I need to learn to do more of that…for example, like you I love “Dreamin’” by Big K.R.I.T. and always thought it was the best track on the album…but everyone was like nah, nah nah it’s all about “Country Shit”…and sure enough when my year end list came out, I put on County Shit rather than Dreamin’. Much love and much respect.
check out my blog http://www.themusicprecedent.wordpress.com for my lists….we have similar taste except I like A LOT more folk than you fools…to a great 2012!
Nice list you made!If you wanne hear something elses? This is mine:
http://www.eigenwijze30.nl/eigenwijze2011.html . With music from the whole world.
hi gvb, im listening to this playlist at work today
hey sspy. is it any good?