AWESOME MIX 2014: MY FAVORITE SONGS OF THE YEAR
Every year my brothers and I make a mix for each other of our favorite songs of the year. We are obsessive about it, listening to and compiling hundreds of songs we break down to fifteen or twenty highlights (through these mixes, and others I made throughout the years, I suppose I was unconsciously honing skills I’d use putting together Awesome Mixes for Guardians of the Galaxy.)
One of the things I’ve heard the most this year is, “Oh, man, I wish they still made songs as good as the ones used in Guardians.” It’s important to note the songs we used in the movie were considered silly trifles at the time they were released. I believe the songs coming out today are just as good but, like then, we take what we have in the moment for granted.
Anyway, this is the mix I put together for my brothers this year. The songs are not listed from best to worst but, instead, put together in a way they best play as a mix.
Action Cat – Gerard Way
Not This Time – The 2 Bears
Drunk Dial (feat. Murs & Grieves) – CunninLynguists
Tin Foiled – Andrew Bird
Take Me to the Church – Hozier
Stronger Than That – Bahamas
Another Lonely Night – K-Rino
How Can You Really – Foxygen
Kwam Jing… Khae Nai Muea Wan – LOOKPONG – ลูกโป่ง AF4 (ภคมน บุณยะภูติ)
Our Time – Lily Allen
Do You – Spoon
Lost Stars – Adam Levine
Himlen Som Du Drömmer Om – Anders Wendin
Ben’s My Friend – Sun Kil Moon
No Good Way to Die – Chantal Claret
In the Clear – Foo Fighters
Say Yes – Afternoons
Idiot – Atmosphere
Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars) – Mark Ronson
Zombie – Jamie T
NOTES
1. As usual, this is a list of my FAVORITES, not the BEST. Therefore, arguments about songs that belong on this list aren’t really applicable, as it’s my list.
2. In fairness, the quality of the mix itself is taken into account when I make these lists. I like the Swans album, but adding one of their songs to the mix would be strange. Sometimes I strike songs that are too popular, too subtle, or too depressing from the list as well. I guess I’m just a populist at heart.
3. I also won’t use more than one song by an artist. If so, Gerard Way, Lily Allen, Jamie T, and Begin Again soundtrack cuts might have more than one song here.
4. That said, here are some other songs from this year I liked a lot – Turn on the Light – Jamie T, Rabbit Hole – Jamie T, Cold – Nick Hakim, A Step You Can’t Take Back – Keira Knightley, Like a Fool – Keira Knightly, Pictures on My Wall – People Under The Stairs, Luna – Bombay Bicycle club, Brother – Gerard Way, Sheezus – Lily Allen, I’m Not the Only One – SAM SMITH, Stay With Me – Sam Smith, Crown (feat. Diane Coffee) – Run The Jewels, Longer Than You’ve Been Alive – Old 97’s, Most Messed Up – Old 97’s, Vonnegut Busy – Sage Francis, All The Roads – Pigeon John, They Want My Soul – Spoon, Lost You (feat. Twin Shadow & D’Angelo Lacy) – ZEDS DEAD, When Mi Party – Popcaan, All We Got – Dem Atlas, Watabout – Dem Atlas, Blank Space – Taylor Swift, A Little God in My Hands – Swans, Chambers – Cymbals Eat Guitars, All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor, This City Ain’t Just a Skyline – Astronautalis, Really Love – D’Angelo and The Vanguard, When She Comes – EMA, Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran, Turtles All the Way Down – Sturgill Simpson, Perspective – Blueprint, Outside Looking In – Gabriel Teodros & SoulChef, Hot 97 Summer Jam – Chumped.
5. Feel free to post your own lists below and share your thoughts – just remember that kindness and respect are imperative (including to your fellow posters and the artists).