The Best Songs of 2011 | 75 - 51

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Check out songs 100-76. And keep up with the list on Spotify here.

75 The Kill Van Kulls - Lost and Found [buy the single] [more Kill Van Kulls on Speakers]

Jam of the Day | The Horrors - Still Life

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English quintet The Horrors have morphed quite a bit musically since their hard rocking debut, 2007's Strange House. 2009's Primary Colours dialed back the horror and channeled a softer (but still somewhat grim) new wavey 80's sound with elements of synth-driven dance music. The Horrors' new LP Skying, the band's third record, is already out in the UK but will be released on August 9 here in the U.S. (XL Recordings). If Skying's first single "Still Life" is any indication, these Brits are still living, and thriving, in the lush world of synthy 80's inspired pop. While singer Faris Badwan's voice remains deep and dark, there is something buoyant now in the music and lyrics that simply was not there when the young band got kicking years ago. Badwan croons; "The moment that you want is coming if you give it time. When you wake up, when you wake up, you will find me." We can't wait for that moment on 8/9/11 when we can all go Skying with Badwan and his bandmates.

Watch and listen to "Still Life," and stream the entire new record below.

Our 25 Most Anticipated Albums of 2011 (Quarter 3)

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Album art credit: Nate Burrell and Kristin Dennis

1 The Cool Kids | When Fish Ride Bicycles (Green Label Sound)
Release Date: July 12th
Listen: "Bundle Up"


2 Sleepy Kitty | Infinity City (Euclid)
Release Date: July 12th
Listen: "Gimme a Chantz!"

3 William Elliott Whitmore | Field Songs (ANTI-)
Release Date: July 12th
Listen: "Everything Gets Gone"


4 Washed Out | Within and Without (Sub Pop)
Release Date: July 12th
Listen: "Eyes Be Closed"


5 Old Lights | Like Strangers (self-released)
Release Date: July 15th

6 Theophilus London | Timez Are Weird These Days (Green Label Sound)
Release Date: July 19th
Listen: "Last Name London"


7 The Features | Wilderness (Serpents & Snakes)
Release Date: July 26th

8 The Horrors | Skying (XL)
Release Date: July 26th
Listen: "Still Life"


9 Matthew Ryan | I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Would Fall (Dear Future Collective)
Release Date: July 26th
Listen: "Summer in the South"


10 Union Tree Review | Death and Other Forms of Relaxation (self-released)
Release Date: July 30th
Listen: "44"


11 The New Mastersounds | Breaks From the Border (Blow It Hard)
Release Date: August 9th
Listen: "Can You Get It" (courtesy of WXPN)

12 Active Child | You Are All I See (Vagrant)
Release Date: August 23rd
Listen: "How to Dress Well"


13 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks | Mirror Traffic (Matador)
Release Date: August 23rd
Listen: "Senator"

14 Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV (Young Money/Cash Money)
Release Date: August 29th
Listen: "John (If I Die Today)"


15 Beirut | The Rip Tide (Pompeii)
Release Date: August 30th
Listen: "East Harlem"


16 Male Bonding | Endless Now (Sub Pop)
Release Date: August 30th
Listen: "Bones"


17 Peter Wolf Crier | Garden of Arms (Jagjaguwar)
Release Date: September 5th
Listen: "Right Away"


18 A.A. Bondy | Believers (Fat Possum)
Release Date: September 13th

19 Blind Pilot | We Are The Tide (Expunged)
Release Date: September 13th

20 Grouplove | Never Trust a Happy Song (Canvasback)
Release Date: September 13th
Listen: "Naked Kids"


21 Wilco | The Whole Love (dPbm)
Release Date: September 13th
Listen: "I Might"


22 Clap Your Hands Say Yeah | HYSTERICAL (Wichita)
Release Date: September 20th
Listen: "Same Mistake"


23 The Jayhawks | Mockingbird Time (Rounder)
Release Date: September 20th
Listen: "She Walks In So Many Ways"


24 Megafaun | Megafaun (Hometapes)
Release Date: September 20th

25 WATERS | Out in the Light (TBD)
Release Date: September 20th
Listen: "For the One"

Fanfarlo Debuts Not One, But Two Videos for "Fire Escape," Offers Up Free Live EP

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Fanfarlo couldn't decide which video to use for the awesome song, "Fire Escape," from one of my favorite albums of 2009, Reservoir. So, they went with both, a light and a dark, a happy and a sad. I like the way they do business.

Head on over to Stereogum to download the Dave Sitek remix of "Fire Escape" and get ready for the Fire Escape EP, due out July 13th, also featuring remixes by Toro Y Moi and The Horrors. Way to milk it, Fanfarlo.

The dark version:


More light and light:


Better still, the band is gifting you a live EP for $FREE.99 for your e-mail address. The songs were recorded at college radio stations around the country. Included are "The Walls Are Coming Down," "I'm A Pilot," and "Finish Line."