Best of 2011: Superlatives Pt. 1

It's that time of year again! You know, that month when I suddenly remember I have a music blog and then post a flood of really awesome stuff.

Let's review the rules for my Best Of lists!

1. Songs will not be repeated on lists. For example, if a song is listed under best remix here in the Superlatives post, they will not appear on the list for Best Songs.

2. If an artist releases an EP and a full-length album in the same year, only the full-length album will be considered. For instance, Foster the People released their sef-titled EP in January 2011 and then their full-length Torches in May. For this reason, the EP will not be considered for the Best EP category.

3. Artists only get one song per category, including Best Songs.

4. For the Songs list, only those that are released on an album in 2011 are considered. Take fun.'s new single "We Are Young" for example: the song itself was released in 2011, but it won't be released on a full album until 2012, so it will be considered for next year's zeitgeist.

OK, let's play.  

2011 Superlatives
 

Best Mixtape - Peanut Butter and Swelly - Chiddy Bang This duo is ridiculously prolific. Xaphoon Jones has yet to run out of clever beats and Chiddy keeps it coming with his playful lyrics. It's just fun. Also, extra points for freestyling to Flux Pavillion's "I Can't Stop" before Kanye and Jay-Z.

"Heatwave" - Chiddy Bang ft. Mac Miller, Casey Veggies and Trae Tha Truth

Best EP - Dispatch EP - Dispatch After more than a year away from the studio, the folk trio is back with a new zest. It's edgier, but undeniably Dispatch.

"Broken American" - Dispatch

Best Mash-Up - "Crazy in the Deep" - Divide & Kreate Just the idea to put Gnarls Barkley's (I always just want to say "Cee-Lo") "Crazy" and Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" together is a really great catch, but this mash-up brings new color to already fantastic songs. It should be said that there were very few Adele mash-ups and remixes that I hated in 2011.

"Crazy in the Deep" - Divide & Kreate (Adele vs. Gnarls Barkley)

Best Remix - "Walking Away (Cosmonaut Grechko Remix)" - Druma Kina Russian Cosmonaut Grehko takes Brazilian Druma Kina's funky ditty and transforms it into this seriously smooth track. There was a lot of competition for this category, but this is a deserved title. (BTW, you can get Druma Kina's EP for free at this page. :) )

"Walking Away (Cosmonaut Grechko Remix)" - Druma Kina


MUCH, much more to come!