I'm Christio.
I am a human trying to create something beyond sound, electricity, and mortality.
Favorite Songs of 2011
#1: I Follow Rivers by Lykke Li
There was no way I could pick any other song but I Follow Rivers as my favorite this year. This has everything there is to love about Lykke Li on it. A love song to a catchy danceable beat. Using water as a metaphor for her love is interesting, as the song flows naturally like a river. Great songwriting as well. I found myself wanting to cover this one, but I never got around to it. Will do soon.
That’s it, y’all. Everyone have a fun and safe new year’s eve and a happy 2012 filled with good music.
Favorite Albums of 2011
#1: Lykke Li- Wounded Rhymes
I have to rush this as I’m getting ready for the NYE party. I don’t get how this wasn’t higher on a lot of critics’ lists this year. There was no other album I listened to this year that caught me like this one. I feel like I grew and got through things this year because of this album. Being in love, discovering new parts to my own sexuality, being afraid of losing love, being afraid of losing yourself to your lover. It was also the most musically cohesive album I listened to. It reminded me of listening to Back To Black for the first time. It’s a love story that’s so honest, it almost feels like intruding.
Key tracks: I Follow Rivers, Love Out of Lust, Jerome
Favorite Albums of 2011
#2: Bon Iver- Bon Iver
From beginning to end, this album is a journey. Perth is like the first few steps walking out the door on a cold morning. Michicant is when you’re wondering if you should turn back now before it’s too late. Calgary is when you realize all the mistakes you’ve made along the way. And Beth/Rest is when you’ve made it home and everything is okay. I know Beth/Rest was a love it or hate it kind of song, but I loved it’s KOST 103.5 vibe. The album is great, and even better live. I feel very blessed to say I had the opportunity to see Bon Iver live. It was a magical experience, one that I feel changed the direction I want to take my own work into. And this may sound corny but listening to this album while staring out a window of a cabin in Big Bear made it all come full circle. A winter’s album, for sure.
Key tracks: Perth, Calgary, Beth/RestFavorite Songs of 2011
#2: Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine
It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back.
I didn’t love Ceremonials as much as I’d like to, but Shake It Out had me at first listen. It was like she took all the good things off Lungs and put it into this one song. I’m a person full of regret myself, and hearing this song made me feel like that it’s fine to let things go and not let it haunt you. There were many times listening to this, that I couldn’t help but cry, and then dance, and cry some more, and dance some more. It was like being possessed and I had no other alternative but shaking it out.
Favorite Songs of 2011
#3: 1+1 by Beyonce
I don’t know when I’m gon’ die but I hope that I’m gon’ die by you.
It was tough picking this over Countdown, but I just had to. This song sets the tone for the whole album. A simple love song about needing nothing but your lover in this world. The song is so Prince, it oozes with raw emotion and lust, like any great Prince song does. It’s so heartwarming listening to this and just feeling how she means every single word of it. Simply, all around beautiful.
Favorite Songs of 2011
#4: Video Games by Lana Del Rey
I heard that you like the bad girls, honey. Is that true?
Probably the most hyped song of the year. I loved how this sounds like some lost 60’s record. It’s such a hauntingly beautiful confessional of how a person can surrender themselves completely for love. Love her or hate her, girl knows how to write a great song with attention to imagery. Or maybe I’ve just seen the video so many times it’s embedded in my head. Her other songs reach for the attitude and image of the whole bad girl thing, but I like that this one is a peek inside of the bad girl’s heart. I can only hope there’s more gems like this on her debut album.
Favorite Songs of 2011
#5: Set Fire to the Rain by Adele
I set fire to the rain, and I threw us into the flames.
Out of all the great songs on 21, this one stuck out to me the most. It was when I heard this way back in January that I knew Adele was going into pop stardom territory. This one took me back to being 15 and realizing I had to let him go and setting all our memories on fire. Throughout the year, when I’d hear this song, I felt that sinking feeling in my gut where your body gets hot, and you can’t hold your head up and you just want to cry. That’s the power of Adele.
Favorite Songs of 2011
#6: We Found Love by Rihanna
We found love in a hopeless place.
The best dance pop song of 2011, hands down, get the fuck out. There is no denying that this is the most infectious song of the year. To me, this song is so perfect because it sums up what every club love song should be: a song about finding love in the most hopeless of places. When the beat explodes, it’s pure ecstasy and optimism. Calvin Harris did such a great job on this one, and deserves all the success that’s come along with it.
Favorite Albums of 2011
#3: Beyonce-4
At a time when pop stars seem to have no choice but give into the dance music craze, it was refreshing for Beyonce to put out an album of love songs (except for Run The World, obviously). This album plays out almost like a Prince record. It’s got the ballads and the funky songs too. I found myself listening to this a lot as I was getting ready for my days.. Getting ready for a night in with the boyfriend (Love on Top). Getting ready for a drunk night with friends (Party, duh). Getting ready for my grind (Schoolin’ Life). This to me, was the most exciting and interesting release by a pop star this year.
Key tracks: 1+1, Love On Top, Countdown
Favorite Albums of 2011
#4: Lady Gaga- Born This Way
No, I am not posting the ugly ass real album cover. Even though I don’t love this album nearly as much as I liked The Fame Monster, I had to put it high because the songs I love on it, I LOVE. Let’s forget about her poor singles choices (except The Edge of Glory and Marry The Night) and get into some of the album tracks. I’m just gonna say it: the best songs on this album are what you’d expect to hear in the sluttiest of brothels. Government Hooker. Shiesse. Bloody Mary. Heavy Metal Lover. They are pure sex. Somwhere along the way, she sort of ditches the electro beats and decides to make music for arenas. Highway Unicorn is begging to be played live with a giant illuminated unicorn on stage. Electric Chapel is going to make all her crazy stans have a “religious experience” when she tours. Even the bonus songs were great, especially the Madonna/Whitney “borrowing” song, Fashion of his Love. Overall, Born This Way is hit and miss, but the hits on here are what make Gaga one of the more exciting pop stars of the moment.
Key tracks: Government Hooker, Shiesse, Fashion of his Love
