BBM’s Top Tunes of 2011

So here it is, in no particular order and numbering 67 tracks (because we like to be different) it’s BBM’s ‘Top Tunes of 2011′ list! We know you’ve all been waiting for it.

It’s been one hell of a mixed bag for music this year, possibly reflecting the carnival of chaos that has been the world of late, but one thing’s for sure: its been a year for the girls. From Adele’s astronomical success with her album ’21,’ which saw her make music history as the first ever female to top the Billboard Best Artist chart (not to mention six Grammy nominations); to veteran rocker PJ Harvey’s Mercury and NME wins with her album ‘Let England Shake;’ to new artist Anna Calvi’s plaudits as the best thing since sliced bread; to Rhianna’s continuing reign as the queen of all things R’n’B – though eccentric rapper Nicki Minaj is definitely yapping at her heels! That’s not to mention Florence Welch’s re-emergence as the Boadicea of power pop with the release of ‘Ceremonials,’ or Azealia Banks’ recognition as the coolest artist on the planet for her filthy mouth and bad attitude in ‘212.’

The boys have done OK too, with faces new and old shaking up 2011. Noel Gallagher has topped almost every chart going with his new band ‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ (the jury is still out on the pretentious name, however) as have Metronomy with ‘English Riviera’ and James Blake continues to excite us with his sultry soul. The lads definitely still reign on the dance scene with artists like Justice, Calvin Harris, Brodinski and of course, David Guetta keeping people raving into the early hours.

2012 is set to be a pretty exciting year for music too with hotly anticipated albums expected from the likes of Leonard Cohen, Emeli Sande, The Killers, The Strokes, Muse and lesser known bands tipped for hot things like Young Dreams. But for now, let us peruse the golden nuggets of 2011. Enjoy!

1. PJ Harvey – The Words that Maketh Murder
2. Anna Calvi – Suzanne and I
3. Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
4. Adele – Rolling in the Deep
5. Amy Winehouse and Tony Bennett – Body and Soul
6. Metronomy – The Bay
7. Iron & Wine – Walking Far From Home
8. Chikita Violenta – Tired
9. Beirut – East Harlem
10. Katy B – On a Mission
11. James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream
12. Laura Marling – The Beast
13. tUnE-yArDs – My Country
14. The Antlers – I Don’t Want Love
15. M83 – Midnight City
16. Florence and the Machine – No Light, No Light
17. Washed Out – Before
18. Battles – Ice Cream
19. Bon Iver – Holocene
20. Clams Casino – I’m God
21. Wild Beasts – Reach A Bit Further
22. Julio Bashmore – Battle for Middle You
23. Jamie xx & Gil Scott Heron – I’ll Take Care of U
24. Drake – Marvin’s Room
25. Jay Z & Kanye West – Otis
26. Tiger & Woods – Gin Nation
27. Blawan – Getting Me Down
28. Danny Brown – Scrap or Die
29. EMA – California
30. Katy B – Perfect Stranger
31. Spector – What you wanted
32. Peaking Lights – All the Sun that Shines
33. Bombay Bicycle Club – Shuffle
34. Tyler the Creator – Yonkers
35. Alex Turner – Piledriver Waltz
36. Arctic Monkeys – Library Pictures
37. Jagwar Ma – Come And Save Me
38. Last Dinosaurs – Zoom
39. Lana Del Rey – Video Games
40. Kasabian – Goodbye Kiss
41. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – AKA
42. Vines, The – Gimme Love
43. Gotye Ft. Kimbra – Somebody That I Used To Know
44. Grouplove – Tongue Tied
45. Bombay Bicycle Club – ShuffleJ
46. Oh Mercy – Stay Please Stay
47. Paris Wells – Mess Mr
48. Adele – Someone Like You
49. Wretch 32 – Don’t Go
50. Radio Star – I’ve Got You
51. Secondhand Heart – Tribute
52. Woodkid – Iron
53. Azealia Banks – 212
54. Kanye West ft Rihanna – All of the lights
55. Black Eyed Peas – Just can’t get enough
56. Leila – Anyway
57. Ed Sheeran – Gimme love
58. Pitbull Ft. Ne-Yo – Give me everything
59. Kelis & Calvin Harris – Bounce
60. Beyonce – Run the world (girls)
61. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Garden
62. Jill Scott – Quick
63. Chiddy Bang – Bad Day
64. Labrynth Ft. Tinie Tempah – Earthquake
65. Rizzle Kicks – Down with the trumpets
66. Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
67. Young Dreams – Young Dreams

Introduction by Rebecca Jones

Twitter: @RebeccaEJones