they jump around

Picking 10 songs is a bitch. At this point they are all way too good period. I KNOW I missed some, actually, I know I missed a lot and these all fall under EDM but whatever I’m too lazy to do a top 20. But fuck it, these songs here are always on loop, always so good. 2011 was a good year for music. so listen.

10: Below the Belt – Kid Gloves

Dubstep reigned supreme in 2011, but hiding in the back, secretly making everyone go-fucking-crazy was this big room disco house revival that Barbara Streisand seemed to usher into the masses last year. This tune is along the same lines with the same sort of big thumpy kick drums.

9: Hit’s Me Like A Rock (Dillon Francis Remix) – CSS

Another big thing in 2011 was the rise of Moombahton. What seemed to be lacking direction in 2010 got some SERIOUS producers jumping on and making some crazy tunes. Dillion Francis is probably the best example of this. Joining the ranks of Nadastrom, Munchi, and a select group of others in the upper level of moombahton heavy hitters, he has now solidified his roll in the genres development.

8: Toca’s Miracle (Warrior Music Remix) – Fragma

Bass music, or whatever you want to call it is huge. But we all know that. The thing that I like is that now producers are straying away for the “melt your face off with noise” sound and actually concentrating on putting actual melody into their songs (and still letting your face melt, but its much more enjoyable). This is by far one of the best tunes to come out this year in this respect.

7: 100% In The Bitch (Downlink Remix) – Porter Robinson

Once again, moombahton, huge. Having this remix on the EP just showed how big the genre got in the span of about a year and a half. I wouldn’t expect anything less from Downlink, and this remix destroys the original. Moombaton got more badass as the year went on, not that it wasn’t before with all the moombahcore, but this…this set a new standard.

6: So High – Knight Riderz

This song still baffles me. Listen to it LOUD and you’re in for a aural treat. I’ve always like faster tempo bass heavy music. I am still at a loss of how I would categorize this but I really don’t care to either. Part of a good song for me has to be the groove it lays down, and this song does nothing short of doing so instantly.

5: Dirty Dance (Alvin Risk Remix) – Oh My

At this point I’m almost thinking “fuck it, it should be a tie.” These songs are so good its hard to handle. This song hits is all. Its go girls singing…about dancing, throw in sex, and a HUGE beat and you have a hit. When I play this song people crazy, and who wouldn’t. Just listen, its almost too perfect.

4: Avril 14th (Terravita Remix) – Aphex Twin

You don’t find songs that will make people go crazy AND sound beautiful too often. This is one of them. Avril 14th on it’s own is quite the song and Terravita has really done an amazing an thorough job of keeping that melody and straight up prettiness of the original. And if the Kill the Noise remix of that Porter Robinson track is any sign, drumstep will be huge next year…but everyone will still think its dubstep.

3: Lick It (Original Mix) – Kaskade & Skrillex

Skrillex is a hot topic, be it with dubstep heads that are cooler than you or girls that want to dry hump dude’s with their shirts off. I for one think the guy is great. No, I do not like all of his songs. Yes, I think some are over the top, but fuck, the ones that are good are so good. This one came totally out of left field. I will honestly say that I don’t listen to much Kaskade, at all, not really a fan. I just would never really play his music, not my kind of sound. But this seems like such a far deviation of both Skrillex and Kaskade’s normal sounds. I go back to that big room disco house thump from the beginning of the post, add in some of Skrillex’s grime and here you go. This tune has melody, thumps, bangs, whatever you want to call it. They found the perfect balance.

2: Guilt – Nero

Nero’s new album that came out this year was nothing short of amazing. Symphonic is the only way I can describe it. They have found a way to fuze melody, bass lines, and all sorts of sounds to create this all encompassing wall of music. To me, this song is sonically perfect. As a DJ I find that the whole thing needs to be played, everyone needs to experience the whole of the song. Nero is on a level that no other producer (or duo) can seem to match.

1: What You Gonna Do – Codes

This is it, my favorite song of 2011. I am a slave to everything Slow Roast Records puts out and this tune is right up there. For the last time this post I’ll go back to the big room disco with, as Codes puts it in one of his interviews “big-fucking-kick-drums.” This song destroys dance floors and will put any club in a frenzy. I waited ever so impatiently for it to be released after hearing it one of Codes first mixes. But enough of my rambling, listen for yourself. Favorite song, hands down. A staple in my sets, and will be for a long time to come.