STS Top 100 Tracks of 2011: 1-10
Finally, we have made it to the top 10 tracks of 2011. I know that we’re already 20 days into 2012 but this series took longer than expected, plus we’re still listening to the best of 2011 from the biggest DJs, podcasts and XM radio shows. I want nothing but quality and depth in my writing so I wanted to ensure that none my posts would be rushed. If you’re just chiming in then I suggest you check out the criteria for our selections.
STS Top Tracks of 2011: 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, 91-100
#10 Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (Swedish House Mafia Remix)
It seems that this feel-good atmosphere was a common theme created with the most popular progressive house tracks of 2011. This makes perfect sense though, right? EDM is ultimately fortified by the emotions of its listeners, thus we tend to listen to cheerful music. We build our memories around strong emotions, such as extreme happiness or sadness, but what kind of person doesn’t want music to make them feel good? Who doesn’t want to be reminded of an amazing experience?
This feel-good progressive hit features two of modern music’s superpowers, the London-based pop-rock foursome of Coldplay, and arguably the biggest driving force in dance music in Swedish House Mafia. Indeed, it’s the combination of Swedish House Mafia’s uplifting synths and warm melodies with Chris Martin’s breathtaking vocals that makes this remix so enticing. When Skrillex, or as they say “Screeelex”, wasn’t dominating the radio in Puerto Rico, it was this remix and “Save The World” that was receiving considerable airtime. It’s also worth noting that Avicii also did a great remix to this track but it wasn’t as huge as Swedish House Mafia’s.
Coldplay – Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (Swedish House Mafia Remix)
#9 Diddy-Dirty Money – Coming Home feat. Skylar Grey (Dirty South Remix)
“Let’s go” might be some of the most inspirational words to ever come out of Diddy’s mouth. Yet, those two words were all Dirty South needed to give this track the most swagger of 2011. Just put on your shades, loosen up those shoulders and bob your head to one of the heaviest and yet grooviest drops of the year. This track has been going strong ever since its release in mid-March, as it always finds its place in the most diverse of sets. With the aid of Skylar Grey’s tranquilizing vocals and Dirty South’s subtle piano play, this track was an avenue that many DJs took for slowing down the tempo in their sets after peak-time for the home stretch.
Diddy-Dirty Money – Coming Home feat. Skylar Grey (Dirty South Remix) Purchase on Beatport
Silverlake To Soho exclusive interview: Dirty South tells us about how he works his sets and his favorite collabs in an interview with Fratalie!
#8 Tim Mason – The Moment (Steve Angello Edit)
If it’s not the emotions that makes progressive one of the most popular subgenres of EDM, then it’s the limitless bouts of energy. Not only has the energy drawn in the world’s best DJs/producers like Tiesto, Fedde Le Grand, and Sander Van Doorn into progressive, but it has drawn in virtually every big name talent to the US to perform. Watch any interview with anyone who matters, it’s obvious that the US is the place to play right now. Now that we are on the topic of energy, Tim Mason, the young Brighton-based producer who works chords better than anyone I’ve heard, delivers one of the most aggressive bigroom bombs of 2011. With regards to the progressive style of “The Moment”, I haven’t seen quality like this since Swedish House Mafia’s “One” and “Miami 2 Ibiza”.
Right from the start, we feel the attitude in the form of a bossy chord progression, of which builds and builds to evolve into a punchy drop of charging synths and a pulsating bassline. For a brief period in the breakdown (~2 min), we are taken away from the action and into a metaphysical setting to refresh our minds and recharge our muscles, in order to buffer the angry resurgence of an overzealous synth lead in one the most epic tracks of the year. If Tim Mason’s peak-time facemelter “Anima” wasn’t released so late in 2011 (Dec. 30th), then you might have seen this track somewhere in the top 20.
Tim Mason – The Moment (Steve Angello Edit) Purchase on Beatport
#7 James Blunt – Dangerous (Deniz Koyu & Johan Wedel Remix)
“I’ll be hanging on your heartache
Enough rope for my sake and losing everytime
I’ll be wrapped around your finger
Let the moment linger, then see you on the other side”
This might be the most sensitizing, face-melting and fervid lyrics to ever ingrain itself in my memory. Just when you think you can put yourself back together, Johan Wedel’s debilitating vocal distortion loop sends chills down your spine in one of the greatest (if not the best) builds of 2011. In truly a bipolar fashion, Deniz Koyu mercilessly flips the switch in perhaps one of the most barbaric and aggressive drops of the year. Luckily, I bought this track and then placed it on repeat during my flight to New York for Electric Zoo. When the time came during Dirty South’s legendary afterparty set Pacha, was I ready? Hell fucking no, he had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand, dropping straight fuego on fuego the entire night. Not only did “Dangerous” become my favorite track for the remainder of 2011, but it was also championed by heavy hitters Kaskade and Swedish House Mafia in some of the biggest sets of the year at Roseland Ballroom (Kaskade and SHM) and Madison Square Garen (SHM). Hell, even Avicii grew a pair of balls and decided to drop it when I saw him in Detroit the other week.
James Blunt – Dangerous (Deniz Koyu & Johan Wedel Remix) Purchase on Beatport
#6 Dirty South & Thomas Gold – Alive (Original Mix)
I’m a little biased on this track, considering Thomas Gold and Dirty South are two of favorite producers/DJs who both had incredible sets when I saw them live (Dirty South at Pacha NYC & the Mid Chicago, and Thomas Gold at the Mid). Discovered by Dirty South, fellow Aussie Kate Elsworth’s mesmerizing vocals made this track one of hottest summer anthems of 2011. Although the drop doesn’t exactly rattle your eardrums, Thomas Gold more than makes up for it by creating an arena type of atmosphere through his skillful play of massive chord structures and drum kickers.
Dirty South & Thomas Gold – Alive feat. Kate Elsworth (Original Mix) Purchase on Beatport
One of the most talked about sets of the year, Thomas Gold at Escape From Wonderland.
#5 Swedish House Mafia – Save The World feat. John Martin (Extended Mix)
The Swedish House Mafia succeeded in what they were trying to do with “Save The World” — receive worldwide recognition as musicians and to span EDM’s peripheries (namely pop) and beyond. With the help of fellow Swede John Martin’s heartening vocals, Swedish House Mafia‘s “Save The World” took over the radio and EDM airwaves. Radio-friendly, poppy, commercial house, or whatever else you want to call it — it’s an unbelievable track that gives off so much positive energy in any live set. Far from their characteristic monstrous drops and electrifying synths that charge your muscles with energy (“One” and “Miami 2 Ibiza“), “Save The World” is refreshing and extraordinarily simple. Its uplifting rock synths, emotional melodies, harmonious vocals and chant-along hook will indeed put you in a better state of mind.
In an interview with MTV, Axwell gave us his take on the track.
“I think a good thing is always to leave what you did there and start fresh,” he said. “Like with ‘Save the World,’ for example. It’s not the ‘One’ rip-off, it’s not the ‘Miami 2 Ibiza’ rip-off, it’s just something new. It seems like it’s what people want to hear.”
“We’ll have some duplication of the other [classic tracks],” Axwell explained, “[but] there’s a lot of music coming out [that sounds] similar. It’s nice to sort of break away from that a little bit, and we went completely the opposite way — like to indie dance, rock-inspired stuff. So, we just want to keep it fresh and interesting all the time.”
Swedish House Mafia – Save The World feat. John Martin (Extended Mix) Purchase on Beatport
#4 Bassjackers – Mush Mush (Original Mix)
You knew it was coming — there’s nothing like hearing the pressing snap-clap combo and the savaging swarm of bees buzzing in your ear mid-set. Released through Tiesto’s imprint Musical Freedom, the Dutch producer-DJ duo of Bassjackers created a festival staple and an essential 2011 dancefloor destroyer in “Mush Mush”. Just think of this track as one giant drop slapping you in the face with a clamor of spine-chilling shrieks, deranged echoes and a remorseless bassline. To make the track complete, “Mush Mush” features an impassioned breakdown of recharging synths to ensure that you’ll be able to keep up with the madness that ensues. Dropped by Benny Benassi, Sidney Samson, Hardwell, Sander Van Doorn, Swedish House Mafia and many others, there’s no doubt that “Mush Mush” was the festival anthem of EDC Las Vegas 2011.
Bassjackers – Mush Mush (Original Mix) Purchase on Beatport
Here’s a video Paul took of Thomas Gold dropping “Mush Mush” at Pacha NYC. It’s complete insanity when the cryo kicks in at 2 min! With Pacha’s killer speakers and Mush Mush’s endless drop, it was nearly impossible for anyone to get a clear-sounding video.
#3 Alex Kenji, Starkillers & Nadia Ali – Pressure (Alesso Remix)
Saying that Alesso had the best year in 2011 is not a far-fetched statement at all. Undoubtedly the hottest Swedish import since Avicii, the 19-year-old half Italian phenom has showcased nothing but quality in his refreshing and uplifting tunes. Not all of his tracks were commercial, feel-good progressive offerings–he showed us his darker side in tracks such as ‘Nillionaire’, ‘Dynamite’, ‘Raise Your Head’ and in his remix to ‘River Flows In You.’ Although he didn’t have that many shows in the US until after the summer, that didn’t mean he was not in high demand. He went from opening for Dirty South at the Electric Zoo afterparty to headlining a packed house at Pacha NYC at the end of the year. I noticed a huge transformation in Alesso from his EZoo afterparty set at Pacha to his opening set for Thomas Gold at the Mid. It was more of a double-headlining set rather than an opening set given how comfortable, fluid and energetic Alesso was up there. There’s no question that he’s learned quite a bit from opening for Dirty South, Kaskade and his mentor Sebastian Ingrosso. He’s becoming a great DJ who already has one key attribute — passion. You can tell he’s eager to learn more and get better, on account he came back on stage to ‘spin with/ learn from’ Thomas Gold for 45 minutes.
As for the track, I don’t have much to say other than it’s the best progressive house remix of 2011. From Nadia Ali’s seductive moaning, to Alesso’s signature stutter synth flurry, this track has the winning ingredients to make you feel warm inside.
Alex Kenji, Starkillers, Nadia Ali – Pressure (Alesso Remix) Purchase on Beatport
#2 Avicii – Levels (Original Mix)
It’s been over a year (12/11/2010) since the originally misnamed “ID” came into our lives from Avicii’s Essential Mix on BBC Radio 1. What we all heard that day was completely foreign to our senses. Hell, at first I didn’t really believe that I heard what I heard nor did I know how to describe it to my friends listening next me. I do however, remember how it made me feel right away. There was a statement that I said earlier this year about Avicii that really touched a friend of mine. ”When we think of jubilant cerebral sparks, auditory bliss, and this overall sense of self-worth, it’s Avicii’s work that encompasses all.” It was indeed Avicii’s song of the year that triggered such praise.
Whether you’re a follower who bled Bromance in 2010 and knows that Tim Bergling’s alias used be spelled Avici (check out his track “Manman”), or whether you’re ravebaby/teenie bopper/cinema girl now getting your feet wet in EDM, “Levels” will induce a transient state of euphoria in your system. It’s everything about the song’s craft that undeniably deserves to be the anthem of 2011. The amplifying chord progression and elated synth lead flawlessly integrated into a boisterous drop are elements that prepare any bipedal entity to demolish the dancefloor! If you’re not contagiously crooning or obnoxiously yelling the fruitful synth lead, then the invigorating vocal sample from Etta Jame’s “Something’s Got A Hold On” will leave an imprint in you.Whether it’s a brokeass DJ’s last resort to resuscitate the crowd or a part of a top-tier performer’s festival arsenal, “Levels” has taken EDM to a whole new level and perhaps direction. In November it was finally released through Avicii’s new brand LE7ELS, a sublabel of UK’s Ministry of Sound, and was backed by world musical superpower Universal Records.
Avicii – Levels (Original Mix) Purchase on Beatport
#1 Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso – Calling (Original Instrumental Mix)
Having been featured once in the last 5 posts (five songs in the top 50), I think we have given Avicii enough love. Now it’s time to get wet with Alessandro Lindblad, aka the Swedish wunderkind Alesso. Wait, “Levels” isn’t #1, what’s your reasoning? You’re probably thinking to yourself that “Levels” was more popular. If we looking beyond the EDM landscape then yes, “Levels” definitely reached more people. But if we look at popularity within EDM and more specifically progressive house, I will argue that “Calling” was just as popular, if not more popular than “Levels”. Since Sebastian Ingrosso released it through his label Refune near the end of the summer, “Calling” was the undisputed anthem to Electric Zoo and dominated peak-time in any big name set that mattered. The fact that “ID” was leaked as early as February really did it for me, as we all know how easy it is for track to get old in this fast-paced industry. Why do you think Avicii waited so long (until November) to release “Levels”? He needed to give it some life and some hype so that we wouldn’t forget about it. It makes sense that by releasing “Levels” towards the end of 2011, it would have a longer shelf-life that would carry into 2012. Although it may be fooling the mainstream, it’s not fooling us.
Technically, the two tracks have a similar impossible-not-to-hum-along atmosphere with a blissful chord progression. There’s a huge difference though, his name is Sebastian Ingrosso, he fucks clubs in the pussy for a living. The difference is evident as the more complete “Calling” has more structure to it, with those added rapturous and emotionally-driven melodies that “Levels” lacks. Not only is the production more crisp with a clicking bassline, but the teenie boppers, rolly pollies and Levels girls (formerly known as Cinema girls) kind of killed the track for me.
Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso – Calling (Original Instrumental Mix) Purchase on Beatport
Sorry but, Alesso > Avicii.
STS Top Tracks of 2011: 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, 91-100
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