Top 89 Staff Picks: Daniel Nass, digital producer
by Daniel Nass
December 01, 2015
Top 10 Songs — LOCAL
10. Doomtree - "Gray Duck"
9. Katy Vernon - "Pearl"
8. Mixed Blood Majority - "Same Thing Coming"
7. Bad Bad Hats - "Midway"
6. Aero Flynn - "Dk/Pi"
5. Low - "No Comprende"
4. Prof - "Bar Breaker"
3. Hippo Campus - "Souls"
2. Lizzo - "Ain't I"
1. Reina del Cid - "The Cooling"
It was a fantastic year for local music, and quite a struggle to limit myself to picking only 10 great songs. I think every day I visited this list, I would change my mind about something. But the only spot that never changed for me was Reina del Cid's "The Cooling" at number one. I was first introduced to it via a video recorded at Hymie's Records, and I've been hooked on it ever since.
Top 10 Songs — OVERALL
10. The Milk Carton Kids - "Monterey" — I suppose the comparisons to Simon and Garfunkel are unavoidable, but the way their voices meld so effortlessly is haunting and beautiful.
9. The 1975 - "Love Me" — They're called The 1975, but I think you hear more of an 80s vibe from this Manchester quartet. Simply fun.
8. The Struts - "Could Have Been Me" — This tune has a wonderful nostalgic vibe and a chorus that's near impossible not to sing along with, combined with a dash of Freddie Mercury swagger.
7. Ezra Furman - "Restless Year" — I dig the combination of bouncing rhythm and snarling, sneering vocals on this track.
6. EL VY - "Return to the Moon" — There's a timeless quality to this song, but the surreal lyric content is what grabs me. A YouTube comment on "Return to the Moon" video: "Why do I get the feeling this song was written by Google Translate?"
5. Fidlar - "40oz. On Repeat" — Really getting into this group and their raw, garage rock feel. Check out their homage to the 90s in this video.
4. Wolf Alice - "You're a Germ" — There are a lot of great tunes to choose from on their My Love is Cool album, but this is my top pick. Fantastic video, as well.
3. Chvrches - "Leave a Trace" — "Leave a Trace" is considerably more pop than my typical jam, but it's unbelievably, and undeniably, catchy.
2. Courtney Barnett - "Depreston" — My favorite Barnett tune so far. Her lyrics have a way of making you nostalgic and melancholy about a place you've never been before.
1. Run The Jewels - "Blockbuster Night Part 1" — Even the Meow the Jewels/"Pawfluffer Night" remix probably would have cracked the top 10 for me. I can't wait to hear what this hip-hop superduo comes up with next.