Adam's Top 10 Songs - January 2011

10. Modest Mouse - Float On
A throwback to start things off. I always wrote this band off due to their instant popularity and one-hit-wonder tendencies, but I have recently rediscovered this track and find it has more depth upon further investigating.

9. Kanye West - Gorgeous
The most arrogant artist ever answers back - and everyone is getting it.  I really do not care what he does outside of the studio and in turn can recognize that this album is nothing short of stellar.  

8. Lemon Jelly - Space Walk
Coming to us from across the pond. I caught their name word-of-mouth and did some listening intensive research. To put it bluntly, I am a fan of their voice over integration and relaxing atmospheric beats. 

7. Raq - Beauregard
Raq has decided to grace us with their presence in the past year. Since that reunion announcement I have delved back into my show collection. This is just one of those narrative-based tunes that always pleases. 

6. Big Gigantic - Step Up
Sax. Drums. Amazing back beats. Success. Check out the free iClips capture of their JamCruise 9 set. Amazing.

5. Pretty Lights - Still Night
The lead track from the duo's newest EP. One of those sounds that continues to innovate and sell out every club in the US. 

4. Zoogma - Jerry Diesel
Saw these guys play into the early morning at Aura Music Festival a few weeks ago after being addicted to the album for months. The inside joke question, "what the fuck is Zoogma?" was answered: bliss. 

3. Wiz Khalifa - All In My Blood (Pittsburgh Sound)
Another throw back track from an artist hitting the rap charts hard. I remembering hearing this beat thinking it sounded really old school yet it was an '06 track. Who knew he would end up at the forefront of hip-hop with another anthem for his town. If you click the link I posted under Big Gigantic and click the track "Black and Yellow" you will see some cross-genre props that might explain why I like both artists. 

2. Alpha Rev - Colder Months
Warm, eerie vocals mixed with a diverse acoustic ensemble and an underlying piano. The tension slowly builds and drops off with a resonating note from the keys. Its nice to see a band keeping it simple and less formulaic than most. New soft rock that does not suck, who knew it existed?

1. Papadosio - The Eyes Have Eyes
I am bias because I have watched these guys grow over the past half-decade, but you would be hard pressed to find a more innovative group of electronic artists at this stage of the game. They know how to work their magic in the studio and it translates extremely well in the live setting.