Best of MP3.com 2011: Vol. 1

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As 2011 draws to a close, we’re wrapping things up by putting together playlists of our favorite songs from the past year. To me, these are the cream of the crop. If you missed these the first time around, now’s your chance to check them out!

As 2011 draws to a close, we’re wrapping things up by putting together playlists of our favorite songs from the past year. To me, these are the cream of the crop. If you missed these the first time around, now’s your chance to check them out!

Today we’re kicking things with a little acoustic pop from [mp3com-artist]La Sera[/mp3com-artist], balaeric electro from [mp3com-artist]Air France[/mp3com-artist], hip-hop from [mp3com-artist]Pigeon John[/mp3com-artist], and a few others that I just couldn’t stop playing.  Check it out and let us know what your favorite MP3.com tracks form the past year were!

[mp3com-artist]La Sera[/mp3com-artist] is the solo project of Katy Goodman, bassist of the all girl punk band [mp3com-artist]Vivian Girls[/mp3com-artist]. Her solo stuff is a bit softer than her work with the Girls, but retains their sweet melodies.

[mp3com-download url=”http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/448740444/Never%2BCome%2BAround.mp3″ artist=”La Sera” song=”Never Come Around” email=”none”/]

[mp3com-artist]Fear of Tigers[/mp3com-artist] is a bit of a throwback, his track “I Can Make the Pain Disappear” came out a few years ago but was a bit of a sleeper. Really fun, uplifting house vocals over a hot beat.

[mp3com-download url=”http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/365055206/I%2BCan%2BMake%2BThe%2BPain%2BDisappear.mp3″ artist=”Fear of Tigers” song=”I Can Make The Pain Disappear” email=”none”/]

[mp3com-artist]Pigeon John[/mp3com-artist]’s acoustic sampling track “Before We’re Gone” is one of those genre melding songs that shows how artists can push the boundaries of their genre while still making easily enjoyable music.

[mp3com-download url=”http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/173215552/Before%2BWe%2527re%2BGone.mp3″ artist=”Pigeon John” song=”Before We’re Gone” email=”none”/]

One of [mp3com-artist]Casiokids[/mp3com-artist]’ signature tunes, “Finn Bikkjen!” is a great introduction to the Norwegian band. The guys have really developed their own sound of catchy, expressive electro-pop. It doesn’t even really matter if you don’t speak Norwegian, the song communicates its emotion clearly through melody.

[mp3com-download url=”http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/221766277/Finn%2BBikkjen%2521.mp3″ artist=”Casiokids” song=”Finn Bikkjen!” email=”none”/]

Another Scandinavian group, [mp3com-artist]Billie the Vision & the Dancers[/mp3com-artist] make more traditional rock/ pop music than[mp3com-artist]Casiokids[/mp3com-artist], but do it with the same uncanny knack for perfect pop melodies that seems to come naturally to all Swedish people. “You’d Better Watch Out Cause I Like You” is a fun twee song that has a nice little edge of menace to it.

[mp3com-download url=”http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/275820013/You%25E2%2580%2599d%2BBetter%2BWatch%2BOut%252C%2B%25E2%2580%2598Cause%2BI%2BLike%2BYou.mp3″ artist=”Billie the Vision & The Dancers” song=”You’d Better…” email=”none”/]

Even more Scandinavian music! [mp3com-artist]Air France[/mp3com-artist] are on the unstoppable Sincerely Yours label and live up to its reputation by making the type of gorgeous Balaeric electro that instantly transports you to a sunny beach on the Mediteranean.

[mp3com-download url=”http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/321142718/GBG%2BBelongs%2BTo%2BUs.mp3″ artist=”Air France” song=”GBG Belongs To Us” email=”none”/]

 


See all MP3.com’s Best of 2011 picks!