Welcome back to Silverlake to Soho's top 100 tracks of 2011, if you're just chiming in then I suggest you check out the criteria for our selections. Looking back at the EDM boom of 2011 has been a rather long but always exciting journey, let's hope 2012 takes us deeper! We are officially in anthem territory!
STS Top Tracks of 2011: 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, 91-100
#20 Michael Woods - Bullet (Original Mix)
This may be my Michael Woods bias or this might be one of the hottest club tracks I've heard in 2011. Michael Woods played this at Electric Zoo during peak-time and Dirty South made this into one of the dopest mash-ups of the year when I saw him at the Mid Chicago. Dirty South's mash-up proved to be so hot that Swedish House Mafia surprisingly dropped it at Madison Square Garden (I officially lost my shit when they dropped that). From the get-go, we have Michael's driving club beat and a skulking progression, of which evolves into blistering bigroom synth lead and crisp bassline. If you're looking for a quick work out that is a safer alternative to ShakeWeight, then "Bullet" will do the trick in charging those guns of yours.
Michael Woods - Bullet (Original Mix) Purchase on Beaport
Bonus mash: Cassius vs. Michael Woods vs. Nero - I Love Bullet Promises (Del Pello & James Monteros Reboot)
#19 Dirty South - Walking Alone (Original Mix)
In an interview Dirty South had with Chubby Beavers, Chubby Beavers had asked: "what is the direction that house music is heading toward...Where do you think house music is gonna be in the next couple of years?"
Dirty South responded:
"That’s a hard thing to predict. I would like to see more emotion and more melodies, and more musicality in house music. It’s definitely getting more energetic. I think I’m gonna try and develop more melodic sounds, and introduce some more emotion into house music. Because that was what house music was always about, you know, the groove and the emotion, and now energy."
Emotion is exactly what Dirty South accomplished in his collaboration "Alive" with Thomas Gold and even more precisely in this track "Walking Alone". The combination of Dirty South's warm melodies and Erik Hecht's weepy vocals creates for one of the most emotionally driving tracks of 2011. Building off the pure human emotion induced in "Walking Alone", Dirty South collaborates once again with Kate Elsworth and Thomas Gold for a follow-up to the highly acclaimed "Alive" for a new track called "Eyes Wide Open".
Dirty South & Those Usual Suspects - Walking Alone feat. Erik Hecht (Original Mix) Purchase on Beaport
Preview: Dirty South & Thomas Gold - Eyes Wide Open feat. Kate Elsworth (Original Mix) which is out Jan 23rd via Dirty South's label Phazing!
Dirty South and Thomas Gold feat. Kate Elsworth - Eyes Wide Open (Live on Radio 1) by Dirty South
#18 Tiesto - Maximal Crazy (Original Mix)
To end the summer with a bang, Tiesto unleashed this deafening electro house bomb through his newly launched imprint Musical Freedom. Supported even by some heavy hitters in the trance arena such as Gareth Emery and Marcus Schussow, "Maximal Crazy" proved to be a success all across the EDM spectrum. Original to its core and impeccably Tiesto, it features a sound that can only be described as an obnoxious snake charming been flute (in the build and drop) and a fearless trance-influenced breakdown (3:50) of slapping synths. We should also note some hot and heavy remixes by Swanky Tunes & R3hab and Bassjackers that were released at the end of October.
Tiesto - Maximal Crazy (Original Mix) Purchase on Beatport
Here's some awesome footage of Tiesto smugly saying those famous words "My name is Tiesto" (as if we don't know who he already is) while he drops "Maximal Crazy".
#17 Tommy Trash - The End (Original Mix)
Let's call him the Garbage man because Tommy is always doing work taking out the trash! What a year for Australian native and now London-based electro house producer. His best remixes of 2011 include remixes to Dirty South & Thomas Gold's "Alive", Steve Forte Rio's "Slumber" (aka Tiesto), EDX's "Falling Out Of Love", Zedd's "Shave It", John Dahlback's "One Last Ride" (#98 on our countdown), and "Edge of Earth". Like I had mentioned earlier, at times it seemed like all of his remixes were a bit too similar due to the sheer volume he was producing at. However, that doesn't take away from the fact that "The End" is his best track of the year that made it in EVERY big name set in progressive. There's no need to name drop, if you haven't heard this track then you've been living under a rock during the EDM boom of 2011. With an odd flute riff that has some Middle Eastern/Aladden-esque flair and his signature cacophonous, seizure-inducing drop, "The End" is one of the most unforgettable tracks of 2011.
Tommy Trash - The End (Original Mix) Purchase on Beaport
This was one of the many moments during Swedish House Mafia's show at MSG where I was saying to a friend with my hands on my head "WHAT THE HELL, HOW DOES THIS EVEN WORK?"
The End vs. One vs. You've Got The Love (Swedish House live mash)
#16 Deniz Koyu - Tung! (Original Mix)
Deniz Koyu shouldn't be predicted to breakout in 2012 because he already broke out in 2011. Already receiving praise from Tiesto, Axwell, and Fedde Le Grand, it would be more accurate to predict that he will dominate 2012 even though he kind of dominated 2011 with top-tier productions in "Tung!", "Hydra", "Hertz" and his remix with Johan Wedel to "Dangerous". Used to immediately set the tone and ignite the energy early on in a set, Deniz Koyu's "Tung!" might be the funnest track of 2011. Released through Fedde Le Grand's Flamingo Recordings, "Tung!" features a contagious assemblage of bouncy horns and basslines to convert any dancefloor into a trampoline.
Deniz Koyu - Tung! (Original Mix) Purchase on Beaport
Absolute fuego dropped by SHM @ MSG: Calvin Harris vs. Deniz Koyu - Feel So Close vs. Tung (SillyBeats Mash-Up)
Check out Fratalia's interview with Deniz Koyu when we saw up perform before Fedde at Necto Ann Arbor.
#15 Hardwell & Tiesto - Zero 76 (Original Mix)
Dropped around the time of Fedde Le Grand and Patric La Funk's "Autosave", this is another anthem that I made sure would receive proper recognition (despite it being difficult to compare a February and a September release). Tiesto and his protégé Hardwell set the bar high with this high-octane bigroom tune, and it was also track that Hardwell used to gain momentum for his 2011 onslaught. It's kind of funny how you can tell which parts of the track can be attributed to each Hardwell and Tiesto.
Tiesto & Hardwell - Zero 76 (Original Mix) Purchase on Beaport
#14 Armin Van Buuren - Drowning feat. Laura V (Avicii Remix)
I think this was the most anticipated track coming off of Avicii's coveted Essential Mix of 2010, even though "Levels" proved to be more successful with the help of some proficient sound engineering. Not only was it track by the former #1 DJ in the world and trance god Armin Van Buuren, but it was remixed by the most promising artist of 2011. After listening to the heartwarming melodies, an enchanting synth lead, and Laura V's silky vocals, try not to drown in your own tears once you wake up from euphoria.
Armin Van Buuren feat. Laura V - Drowning (Avicii Remix) Purchase on Beaport
#13 Green Velvet - Flash (Nicky Romero Remix)
If we count the overall times Nicky Romero's remix to "Flash" was played at every big festival by every big name, then this track would undeniably be the most popular track of the countdown (EVEN over "Levels" and "Calling"). Sure it's a festival staple, but the rest of the tracks ahead indeed have higher productional value. Yes, I know this was released in 2010 but it would be unjust if this track wasn't recognized as a 2011 hit. Out of all the the 2010 tracks that flourished in 2011 (such as Marco V's "Reaver" and "The Island (Steve Angello, AN21 & Max Vangeli Remix)"), "Flash" circulated in the most diverse of sets. Ranging from the likes of Tiesto, Carl Cox, Mark Knight, A-Trak, Sander Van Doorn, Laidback Luke, Chuckie, Fedde Le Grand, Kaskade, and all the way to Swedish House Mafia, "Flash" was a part of a DJ's dancefloor arsenal whereas "The Island" was mainly dropped by the Size Matters crew and their affiliates.
From the infamous chant "Camera's ready, prepare to flash", to its uber catchy percussion pattern, everything about this track is contagious and memorable. This was arguably the anthem of Ultra Miami 2011!
Green Velvet - Flash (Nicky Romero Remix) Purchase on Beaport
Camera's ready, prepare to flash! This photo was actually taken during Sander Van Doorn's set at Electric Zoo, this guy was hysterical.
#12 Sander Van Doorn - Koko (Original Mix)
I don't think many of EDM's most knowledgable critics realized how unique this track by Sander Van Doorn really is. With exotic whistles and bird chirps that slowly evolve into a more robust and melodic lead in the drop, Sander truly creates a tropical atmosphere and platform for dancefloor demolition. Released through his very own Doorn Records, a sublabel of superpower Spinnin', this is what I like to call jungle fuego!
Sander Van Doorn - Koko (Original Mix) Purchase on Beaport
Here's Sander getting things started at Electric Zoo with this smasher.
#11 Coldplay - Paradise (Fedde Le Grand Remix)
Just short of the top 10, we have Fedde Le Grand's peerless remix to Coldplay's "Paradise". With magical remixes to "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall" by Avicii and Swedish House Mafia, and another "Paradise" remix coming from Tiesto, it seems that the pop-rock foursome knows who to turn to for their remixes in clubland. Coldplay's choice in remixers is also a smart move from a marketing standpoint, since EDM is the place to be. As for the #11 track in the countdown, Dutchman Fedde Le Grand goes a bit more progressive in remix but still within the range of his signature driving sound. With a throbbing chord progression, a stuttering synth medley, and emotionally charging melodies, Fedde Le Grand perfectly adapts to Chris Martin's already stunning vocals to create one of the cleanest remixes of 2011. And if you decide to see our interview, listen to how Fedde talks about how much he likes Deniz Koyu's older track "Grunge (Original Mix)", I believe it had a huge influence on his "Paradise" remix!
Coldplay - Paradise (Fedde Le Grand Remix) Purchase on Beaport
Here's Fratalie's interview with Fedde Le Grand where he talks about his label, Deniz Koyu (and his track "Grunge"), his own music, EDM in the U.S., and women!
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STS Top Tracks of 2011: 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70, 71-80, 81-90, 91-100
Twitter: silverlake2soho, danhernan7, fratalia
