Here at Astralwerks HQ, we’re big fans of the app Soundtracking where you can post your current mood or favorite song via their app along with an image and your thoughts. Be sure to follow us at soundtracking.com/astralwerks and sign up for yourself to soundtrack the story of your life. Download it for free here on iTunes.
Read More2012 was a great year for Astralwerks with some amazing releases from some of our marquee artists such as The Chemical Brothers, Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta, AIR, Kylie Minogue + Pet Shop Boys.
You might have also caught wind of some of the label’s newer acts like the glam-pop sounds of Diamond Rings, the kinetic energy of Gold Fields and Brit-rockers Morning Parade who toured America with The Smashing Pumpkins + Silversun Pickups. Also, on the dance front, Eric Prydz headlined this summer’s Identity Festival and wowed crowds with his amazing + diverse sets. NERVO continue to jet set around the globe and were named the latest faces of CoverGirl.
Finally, 2013 brings the 20th Anniversary of Astralwerks as a record label and we are heading into the year with 3 Grammy nominations. Nominated artists include The Chemical Brothers, Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz.
Also, the staff have come up with their individual picks of favorite albums, songs + concerts of 2012. Thanks for all of your support and we can’t wait for 2013 and our 20th anniversary! Happy Holidays…..
Astralwerks HQ
TOP ALBUMS / SONGS / SHOWS OF 2012
Mark M
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – The Heist
First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar
Bat for Lashes: The Haunted Man
Geographer – Myth
Opossom – Electric Hawaii
Patrick Watson – Adventures in Your Own Backyard
Wild Nothing – Nocturne
Diamond Rings – Free Dimensional
Satellites – 01
Sigur Ros – Valtari
Top 5 Songs:
Damien Jurado – Museum of Flight
Pale Seas – Bodies
First Aid Kit – Emmylou
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Diamond Rings – Runaway Love
Favorite Show of 2012:
The Afghan Whigs @ Bowery Ballroom
Lawrence L
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Lana Del Rey- ‘Born To Die (The Paradise Edition)’
Jimmy Cliff- ‘Rebirth’
Storm Corrosion- ‘S/T’
Killer Mike- ‘R.A.P. Music’
Bomba Estereo- ‘Elegancia Tropical’
METZ- ‘S/T’
Beachwood Sparks- ‘The Tarnished Gold’
Maya Jane Coles- ‘DJ-Kicks’
V/A- ‘Fire in My Bones: Raw, Rare & Otherworldly African-American Gospel, 1944-2007’
V/A- ‘Strange Passion’ Irish Post-Punk compilation
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Bruce Springsteen- ‘We Take Care Of Our Own’
Rudimental- ‘Feel The Love’
Scandal- ‘Just Let Me Dance (Maxxi Soundsystem remix)’
Line & Circle- ‘Roman Ruins’Major Lazer ‘Get Free’
Iconapop- ‘I Love It’
Ice Choir- ‘I Want You Now And Always’
Beach Boys- ‘Strange World’
Dillion Francis- ‘Falling Up’
Favorite Shows of 2012:
Kraftwerk – live at MOMA
Bruce Springsteen – Live at Madison Square Garden
Hot Chip – Live at Pitchfork Festival
Crime And The City Solution – Live at Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Nicoloas Jaar – Live at the Mondrian, Art Basel
Chromatics – Live at the New Museum
Goyte – Live at Coachella
John Talabot – Live at Le Poisson Rouge
Jeremy R
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
Chromatics – Kill for Love
Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man
Jessie Ware – Devotion
Passion Pit – Gossamer
Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan
Lost in the Trees – A Church that Fits Our Needs
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
John Talabot – fIN Songs
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Grimes – Genesis
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Chairlift – I Belong in Your Arms
Killer Mike – Don’t Die
Donnie & Joe Emerson – Baby Event
Favorite Show of 2012:
Grizzly Bear – Radio City Music Hall
Matt K
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Grizzly Bear – Shields
Mac Demarco – 2
Hospitality – Hospitality
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Blouse – Blouse
Father John Misty – Fear Fun
Bear in Heaven – I Love You, It’s Cool
Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man
Matthew Dear – Beams
Nite Jewel – One Second of Love
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Sharon Van Etten “Give Out”
Dirty Projectors – “About to Die”
Tycho – “Dive”
Chvrches – “Lies”
Bat For Lashes – “Laura”
Favorite Show of 2012:
Built to Spill Tuesday, March 13th 1.00am @ The Belmont Austin, TX
Erin G
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Japandroids – Celebration Rock
Tanlines – Mixed Emotions
Beach House – Bloom
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Diamond Rings – Free Dimensional
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Grimes – Visions
Cloud Nothings – Attack on Memory
Metz – Metz
Sharon Van Etten – Tramp SONGS
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Titus Andronicus – In A Big City
Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe
Diamond Rings – Runaway Love
Sky Ferreira – Everything is Embarrassing
Favorite Show of 2012:
Have a feeling it’ll be Coldplay/Jay-Z at the Barclay’s center for New Year’s Eve!
Katie D
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Beach House – Bloom
Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
The Chemical Brothers – Don’t Think
Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
Jack White – Blunderbuss
Diamond Rings – Free Dimensional
Nada Surf – The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy
The xx – Coexist
Massive Attack – Blue Lines (reissue)
Lana Del Rey – Born To Die
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Hot Chip – Night and Day
Jack White — Sixteen Saltines
Gary Clark Jr. – Ain’t Messin ‘Round
Gold Fields – Dark Again
Alabama Shakes – I Ain’t The Same
Favorite Show of 2012:
Gold Fields at Nether Bar 10.13.12
Alisann B
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
The xx- Coexist
Bat for Lashes – The Haunted Man
Mumford and Sons – Babel
Gary Clark Jr. – Black and Blu
Grizzly Bear – Shields
Kendrick Lamar – good kid, m.A.A.d city
Fun. – Some Nights
Passion Pit- Gossamer
Divine Fits- A Thing Called Divine Fits
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Alex Clare – Too Close
Fun. – Carry On
Clique – Kanye West, Jay Z and Big San
Swedish House Mafia – Don’t You Worry Child
Katy Perry – Wide Awake
Favorite Show of 2012:
Madonna at MSG – She’s still magical after thirty years!
Dave L
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Bad Veins- The Mess We’ve Made
Fun.- Some Nights
David Byrne & St. Vincent- Love This Giant
Tanlines- Mixed Emotions
Nada Surf- The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy
Ben Kweller- Go Fly A Kite
Hot Chip- In Our Heads
Passion Pit- Gossamer
Delta Spirit- Delta Spirit
Beachwood Sparks- The Tarnished Gold Stars- Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Alex Clare- Hands Are Clever
Hot Chip- Don’t Deny Your Heart
Gotye- Someone That I Used To Know
Morning Parade- Us And Ourselves
Robert DeLong- Global Concepts
Favorite Show of 2012:
M83 in Portland, ME
Nick C
Metric – Synthetica
Chairlift – Something
Bob Mould – Silver Age
Air – Le Voyage Dans La Lune
Diamond Rings – Free Dimensional
Pet Shop Boys – Elysium
David Byrne & St. Vincent – Love This Giant
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man
Beach House – Bloom
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
The Good Natured – Video Voyeur
Chairlift – Amanaemonesia
Gold Fields – Dark Again
Pleasurekraft – Skeleton Key feat. Green Velvet
Kylie Minogue – Timebomb
Favorite Show of 2012:
Gold Fields @ CMJ (multiple excellent sets)
David M
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Husky – Forever So
Animal Kingdom – The Looking Away
Frank Ocean – Channel ORANGE
Morning Parade – Morning Parade
Wild Belle – It’s Too Late EP
The Mavericks – Suited Up and Ready EP
Alt-J – An Awesome Wave
Emeli Sande – Our Version Of Events
Wild Nothing – Nocturne
Eric Prydz – Presents Pryda
Top 2 Music Documentaries of 2012:
Marley – A Film by Kevin Macdonald
LCD Soundsystem – Shut Up and Play The Hits
Davis M
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Swedish House Mafia – Until Now
David Guetta – Nothing But the Beat 2.0
Tristan Prettyman – Cedar and Gold
The Presets – Pacifica
The XX – Coexist
Frank Ocean – Color Orange
Azealia Banks – 1991
Justin Bieber- Believe
Calvin Harris – 18 Months
Emile Sande – Our Version of Events
Top 10 Songs of 2012:
Bridgit Mendler – Ready Or Not
Icona Pop – Top Rated
Rihanna – Diamonds
Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing (feat Florence Welch)
Brandy – Put it Down
Azealia Banks – Esta Noche
Frank Ocean – Pyramids
Eric Prydz – Every Day
Christina Aguilera – Your Body
Emile Sande – Heaven
Favorite Show of 2012:
Tie between Eric Prydz at Roseland and Emile Sande at The Box.
Mauro D
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Emeli Sande- Our Version Of Events
Little Big Town- Tornado
Swedish House Mafia – Until Now
Eric Church- Chief
Rihanna – Talk That Talk
Madonna – MDNA
Watch The Throne – Jay-z & Kayne West
Coldplay- Mylo Xyloto
Muse- The 2nd Law
Lionel Richie- Tuskegee
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Titanium- David Guetta
Springsteen- Eric Church
Starships – Nicki Minaj
Don’t You Worry Child- Swedish House Mafia
Part Of Me – Katy Perry
Favorite Show of 2012:
Madonna – The MDNA Tour
Ashley W
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Bob Dylan- Tempest
Tame Impala- Lonerism
Bruce Springsteen- Wrecking Ball
Leonard Cohen- Old Ideas
Tamaryn- Tender New Signs
Gold Fields- Gold Fields EP
Here We Go Magic- A Different Ship
Allah-Las- Tell Me (What’s On Your Mind) EP
Donald Fagen- Sunken Condos
The Bryan Ferry Orchestra- The Jazz Age
Favorite Show of 2012:
Any Gold Fields show
Devin K
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Beach House- “Bloom”
Andrew Bird- “Break it Yourself”
Bat for Lashes- “The Haunted Man”
Sky Ferreira- “Ghosts EP”
Of Monsters and Men- “My Head is an Animal”
Sigur Ros- “Valtari”
Mumford & Sons- “Babel”
Japandroids- “Celebration Rock”
Spiritualized- “Sweet Heart Sweet Light”
Frank Ocean- “Channel Orange”
Honorable Mentions of 2012:
Deftones- “Koi No Yokan”
Morning Parade- “Morning Parade”
The Killers- “Battle Born”
Michael B
Top 10 Albums of 2012:
Bruce Springsteen- Wrecking Ball
Kendrick Lamar- good Kid, m.A.A.d city
Tame Impala- Lonerism
Lana Del Rey- Born To Die
Grimes- Visions
The Lumineers- The Lumineers
Robert Glasper Experiment- Black Radio
Emeli Sande- Our Version of Events
Swedish House Mafia- Until Now
Diamond Rings- Free Dimensional
Top 5 Songs of 2012:
Bruce Springsteen- The Land of Hope and Dreams
Icona Pop I Love It
Kendrick Lamar- Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe
Norah Jones- Happy Pill
Emeli Sande- Heaven
Favorite Show of 2012:
Gold Fields at The Delancey
November was an exciting month for the world of music! New releases from Swedish House Mafia and Diamond Rings recently set us up for a lot of work over here at Astralwerks HQ, but we still didn’t forget you guys. We have another awesome monthly playlist for you at Rdio ready to be played. Only the best music picked from our entire staff to make sure you have a great Thanksgiving. Enjoy the tunes, share and get ready to vibe to some awesome music.
Veronica S
Tegan and Sara- Closer
The XX- Chained
Tama Impala- Apocalypse Dream
Hook N Sling/ NERVO- Reason
Gold Fields- Dark Again
Matt K
Father John Misty- Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
Widowspeak- Ballad of The Golden Hour
Mac Demarco- Ode to Viceroy
Chad Valley – Tell All Your Friends
Chvrches – The Mother We Share
Katie D
Van Morrison- In The Garden
Alabama Shakes- I Ain’t The Same
The Walkmen- Heaven
Gold Fields- Dark Again
The Chemical Brothers- Sunshine Underground
Holy Ghost- It Gets Dark
Nick C
Bob Mould- The Descent
Gold Fields- Dark Again
Lana Del Rey- Ride
Pet Shop Boys- Leaving (PSB Freedom Remix)
Bruno Mars- Locked out of Heaven
Glenn M
Capital Cities- What She’s Doin
Imagine Dragons- Radioactive
Sky Ferreira- Everything is Embarrassing
Gold Fields- EP
Men Without Hats
Michael B
Tops- Double Vision
Walk The Moon- Iscariot
Flying Lotus- Zodiac Shit
Diafrix- Easy Come, Easy Go
Kendrick Lamar- Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe
Mark M
Pale Seas – Bodies
Sky Ferreira – Sad Dreams
Young Wonder – Flesh
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Thrift Shop
Bat for Lashes – Winter Fields
Dave L
Stars- Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It
Hot Chip- Don’t Deny Your Heart
Santigold- Go!
Robert DeLong- Global Concepts
Capital Cities- Safe And Sound
David Byrne and St. Vincent- Who and Weekend In The Dust
Cheatahs- The SwanPassion Pit- Carried Away
Motion City Soundtrack- Circuits And Wires
Lawrence L
Maya Jane Coles – No Sympathy (deep house bliss out)
Line & Circle – Roman Ruins (perfect guitar lines and postpunk ennui)
Ice Choir – I Want You Now And Always (like a lost Scritti Politti gem)
Crime And The City Solution – Live at MHOW (apocalyptic dirges on N 6th Street)
Rudimental – Feel The Love (anthem of the year)
Davis M
David Guetta & Sia- She Wolf
Rihanna- Diamonds
Calvin Harris- Sweet Nothing
Brandy- Put It Down
Demi Lovato- Heart a Break
July was a busy month here at Astralwerks HQ, but we’ve still got our monthly playlist from Rdio ready and waiting. Featuring hand-picked tracks from our staff of music lovers and experts, we’ve got everything covered from classic French House to cutting edge alternative. So sit back, relax, and let the Astralwerks music gurus show you what they’ve been jamming to for summer 2012.
Glenn
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
Metric
Poolside – Pacific Standard Time
Dirty Projectors
Hermitude – Speak Of The Devil
Eric
Bong- Deniz Koyu
Totally Worth It- Hot Mouth ft. Chris James
So Much Love- Fedde Le Grand
SW4- Eric Prydz
Young Blood (Tiesto & Hardwell Remix)- The Naked & Famous
Katie
Black Keys – The Wicked Messenger
Diamond Rings – I’m Just Me (YELLE DJS REMIX)
Bat For Lashes – Laura
Beach House – Myth
Lee Hazlewood – Chico
Lawrence
Poolside -Pacific Standard Time
Turing Machine -What Is The Meaning Of What
Major Lazer – ‘Get Free’
Futurisk – Player Piano
Hot Chip – live at Pitchfork Festival
K-Holes -Dismania
Steven
Stardust – Music Sounds Better With You
Relation – Your Tiny Mind (Lifeliek Remix)
Daft Punk – Digital Love
Doves – Pounding
Elton John vs. Pnau – Good Morning To The Night
Mark
Diamond Rings – I’m Just Me
Brad – Needle and Thread
The Dead Leaves – If the Shoe Fits
Wilco – Live at Prospect Park Brooklyn
Blur – 21 Box Set
Blur – The Universal
Davis
Todd Torje – Insepctor Norse
Brandy – Put It Down (feat Chris Brown)
Frank Ocean – Pyramids
Onra – High Hopes
Visti & Meyland – All Nite (Trentemoller Remix)
Nick
Purity Ring – Shrines
Kylie Minogue – Timebomb (Peter Rauhofer Big Room Mix)
Madeon – Finale
Hot Chip – In Our Heads
Pleasurekraft – Skeleton Key
Veronica
Beach House – Bloom
Lee Fields – Faithful Man
Passion Pit – Gossamer
Robyn – Body Talk
Josh Rouse – Nashville
David
Animal Kingdom – Mercury Lounge
Purity Ring – Shrines
Tristan Prettyman – My Oh My
Frank Ocean – channel Orange
Blur – Under The Westway
Dave
Bad Veins- Don’t Run
Alex Clare- Hands Are Clever
Bahamas- Caught Me Thinking
Ball Park Music – It’s Nice To Be Alive
Tanlines – Green Grass
Matt
Swing Lo Magellan – Dirty Projectors
Twin Shadow – Confess
Purity Ring – Shrines
Tame Impala – Apocalypse Dream
Eternal Summers – Correct Behavior
Every so often, we come across a recording artist that is quite decidely left of center, who baffle, intrigue and entertain us all at the same time. Sometimes they are our own artists, sometimes not. Past examples in recent years include HOT CHIP, LATE OF THE PIER, DIRTY PROJECTORS, CHAIRLIFT, and others. Now add to this list the wonderfully glitchy, mischievous tech-house productions of PLEASUREKRAFT. Long buzzed-about for their underground hit “Tarantula”, this trans-continental duo (Kalle Ronngardh from Stockholm and Kaveh Soroush from Washington DC) are making some of the most entertaining electronic music out there.
Right now we’re seeing a tendency for EDM compositions to become over-wrought, melodramatic and downright cheesy. Pleasurekraft’s vibe is goofy, techy, but deep and housey. In fact it reminds us a bit of the classic French-touch mixes of CASSIUS and the like. They recently gave the PK treatment to NERVO’s big room anthem “You’re Gonna Love Again” and released the excellent “Skeleton Key” featuring Chicago house maven Green Velvet. All this and more is on their Summer 2012 mixtape. Check it out and watch this space.. 
Read more on Beatportal + download their remix of NERVO’s ‘You’re Gonna Love Again’ here.
We’ve been super busy here the past few months, traveling around to various music festivals, digging into our own new bands Morning Parade + Gold Fields and frankly, still unpacking from our office move a few months ago. But we didn’t want you to kick off your Memorial Day weekend without a playlist of new albums + songs we’re obsessing over here at the office. Until next month, keep listening!
Mark M
Spiritualized – So Long You Pretty Thing
Patrick Watson – Into Giants
Birdy – People Help the People
The Afghan Whigs – 1st show back – reunion tour @ Bowery Ballroom
GINTY
Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built
Beach House – Bloom
Father John Misty – Fear Fun
Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts
DIIV – How Long Have You Known?
DCMILLS
Animal Kingdom – The Looking Away
Marley – Documentary Film
Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts
Santigold – Master of My Make-Believe
Coldplay – Tribute to MCA
KDLeighDT
Hot Chip – “Night & Day”
Santigold – “Disparate Youth”
Gold Fields – “Treehouse”
Leonard Cohen – “First We Take Manhattan”
Eric Prydz – “Pjanoo”
Nick C.
Eric Prydz – Presents Pryda
Charlift – Amanaemonesia
Beastie Boys – Check Your Head
M83 – “Midnight City (Eric Prydz Private Remix)”
Tegan and Sara – “Walking With A Ghost”
Glenn M.
Metric – “Youth Without Youth”
Keane – “Silenced By The Night”
Eric Prydz – Presents Pryda
Swedish House Mafia – “Greyhound”
Real Estate – “The Weekend”
Matt K.
Blouse S/T
Jack White Blunderbuss
Here We Go Magic A Different Ship
Patrick Watson Adventures In Your Own Backyard
Exitmusic Passage
Tycho “Dive”
Beach House- “Myth”
Veronica S.
Silversun Pickups – “Neck of The Woods”
Gotye – “Somebody That I Used To Know” (I think this song will continue to be stuck in my head for the next 6 months)
Gold Fields – “Treehouse”
Best Coast – The Only Place
Florence and the Machine – “Breath of Life”
Davis M.
Emeli Sande – “My Kind of Love”
Norah Jones – Little Broken Hearts
Scissor Sisters – “Let’s Have a Kiki”
Ivri Lider – “D.I.S.C.O.”
Eric Prydz – “Sunburst”
Dave L.
M83- “Reunion”
Ben Kweller- “Mean To Me”
Bad Veins- This Mess We’ve Made
IAMDYNAMITE- “Stereo”
The Drums- “Hard To Love”
Jeremy R.
Mister Lies – Hidden Neighbors EP
Chromatics – Kill For Love
Royal Headache – Royal Headache
Beach House – “Irene”
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Lawrence L.
Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light
Eric Prydz – Presents Pryda
Storm Corrosion – S/T
Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music
Väljasõit rohelisse – Külastus http://onesensemusic.bandcamp.com/
Simian Mobile Disco – Unpatterns
Nicki Minaj – ‘I Am Your Leader’
Bruce Springsteen – live at MSG
Kraftwerk – live at MOMA
Goyte – live at Coachella
Ashley W.
LIGHTSHIPS – Electric Cables
THE EXPLORERS CLUB – Grand Hotel
UNDERWORLD – 1992- 2012 Anthology
GOLDFISH – Washing Over Me (feat. Morning Parade)
BODYSPASM – Twenty Radios
March has flown by as many of us in the office were traveling down south either to SXSW or Ultra Music Festival last weekend but we’ve seen and heard some awesome music between the two festivals. We hope your spring is treating you well (it’s been HOT here in NYC!) and now it’s your turn to sit back and relax and find out what songs we’re enjoying while working away… Head over to Rdio to listen…
Mark M
Lost in the Trees – Red
Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s – Books About Trains
The Wedding Present – You Jane
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Seryn – So, Within
Jeremy R
Polica “Give You the Ghost”
Lost in the Trees “A Church That Fits Our Needs”
John Talabot “Fin”
Perfume Genius “Put Your Back N 2 It”
Saint Entienne “Tonight”
Veronica S
Gold Fields – Gold Fields EP (on repeat all day!)
Fiona Apple
St Lucia – EP
Of Monsters and Men – EP
The Hunger Games Soundtrack
Dave L
The Rapture – Miss You
Morning Parade- Headlights
Sleeper Agent- Some White Blinds
Electric Guest- This Head I Hold
Dum Dum Girls- Bedroom Eyes
Nick C
Chairlift – Something
Photek & Pinch – Acid Reign
NERVO – you’re Gonna Love Again (Alex Kenji Remix)
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Madonna – FCKNG DRDFL
Matt K
Peter Wolf Crier – Garden of Arms
Hospitality – Hospitality
Nite Jewel – One Second of Love
Craft Spells – Idle Labor
Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind Of Fix
Ashley W
The Amazing – Flashlight
Gold Fields – Treehouse
Kindness – SEOD
College & Electric Youth – A Real Hero
Ramsey Lewis – Julia
We’ve been knee deep in a lot going on since we returned from the break and it took us a little longer to come up with our staff picks for the start of the year… A few old classics in our picks and some new tracks that we’ve been digging. Enjoy the playlist and we’ll be back next month with some new tunes for you to discover!
Lawrence L
Marvin Gaye – Here My Dear
Bruce Springsteen – We Take Care Of Our Own
Skrillex – The Devil’s Den
Graveyard – Hisingen Blues
Mark M
Great Lake Swimmers – Easy Come Easy Go
R.E.M. – We All Go Back To Where We Belong
Veronica Falls – Right Side of My Brain
The Promise Ring – Red & Blue Jeans
Grafitti6 – Colours
Pulp – Mis-Shapes
Nick C
AIR – Seven Stars
Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know
M83 – Midnight City
Chairlift – Sidewalk Safari
Jeremy R
Porcelain Raft – Shapeless & Gone
Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days
Etta James – Tell Mama
Air – Seven Stars
Veronica S
Nada Surf – Jules and Jim
Rihanna – Drunk On Love
AIR – Seven Stars
The Kooks – How’d You Like That
Pulp – Disco 2000
Katie
Radiohead – Staircase
Tapes n Tapes – Badaboom
Wilco – Whole Love
Nada Surf – Clear Eye Clouded Mind
Delta Spirit – Peopple C’mon
Davis M
Drake – Doing it Wrong (feat Stevie Wonder)
Monarchy – You Don’t Want to Dance With Me (feat Britt Love)
Nadia Ali – Pressure (Alesso Remix)
Rihanna – Where Have You Been
The Astralwerks staff have chosen their personal Top 10 albums, Top 5 songs and # 1 live show of the year after plenty of thought and internal debate. Scroll down below to see all of our picks and listen to our favorite tracks via the Rdio player. Thanks for supporting Astralwerks in 2011 and we can’t wait to get 2012 started with some amazing new music and much more!
Glenn M
Top 10 Albums:
Stornoway – Beachcombers Windowsill
Foster The People – Torches
Florence & The Machine
Real Estate – Days
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Adele – 21
Salsoul Records – The History Of Salsoul
David Guetta – Nothing But The Beat
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Duck Sauce – Unreleased Debut Album
Kooks – Junk Of The Heart
Top 5 Tracks:
Avicii – Levels
Rihanna – We Found Love
Swedish House Mafia – Save The World
The 2 Bears – Bear Hug
The Good Natured – EP
Top Live Event:
Swedish House Mafia @ Madison Square Garden + LCD Soundsystem @ Madison Square Garden
Mark M
Top 10 Albums:
Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!
Yuck – S/T
Monarchy – Around the Sun
Future Islands – On the Water
M83 – Hurry Up we’re Dreaming
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – S/T
R.E.M. – Collapse Into Now
The Decemberists – The King is Dead
Wilco – The Whole Love
James Vincent McMorrow – Early in the Morning
Top 5 Tracks:
Cut Copy – Need You Now
Elbow – Open Arms
Death Cab for Cutie – You Are a Tourist
The Good Natured – Hourglass
Monarchy – You Don’t Want to Dance with Me
Top Live Show:
Stornoway @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Veronica S
Top 10 Albums:
Adele – 21
Florence & The Machine – Ceremonials
Kanye West and Jay Z – Watch The Throne
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Beach Fossils – What A Pleasure (it’s an EP but it has 8 tracks. I vote “album”)
Foster The People – Torches
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Friendly Fires – Pala
Real Estate – Days
Top 5 Tracks:
Rihanna – “We Found Love”
M83 – “Midnight City”
Adele – “Someone Like You”
Kanye West and Jay Z – “N***as in Paris”
Florence and the Machine – “Shake It Out”
Best Live Event:
Pulp at Glastonbury 2011
Lawrence L
Top 10 Albums:
Robag Wruhme -Thora Vukk
V/A ‘Shangaan Electro: New Wave Dance Music From South Africa
Acid House Kings – Music Sounds Better with You
Nero – Welcome Reality
Steve Mason & Dennis Bovell – Ghosts Outside
Metal Mountains – Golden Trees
Duck Sauce – (unreleased album)
Hercules And Love Affair – Blue Songs
Robin Guthrie - Emeralds
Original Soundtrack – The Muppets
Top 5 Tracks:
The Vaccines – Norgaard
Todd Terje – Snooze 4 Love
Joe Goddard feat. Valentina – Gabriel
Acid Washed – General Motors, Detroit, America (Blackstrobe remix)
Mobb Deep – Black Cocaine
Top Live Evet:
Kollektiv Turmstrasse – live at Blkmarket Membership NYC
Ashley W
Top 10 Albums:
Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!
The Horrors – Skying
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
White Denim – D
Tom Waits – Bad As Me
Cat’s Eyes – Cat’s Eyes
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
Washed Out – Within & Without
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
DCM
Top 10 Albums:
Tune-Yards — WHOKILL
Foster The People — Torches
Amos Lee — Mission Bell
Yuck — Yuck
Bon Iver — Bon Iver
M83 — Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Fleet Foxes — Helplessness Blues
Tinie Tempah — Disc-Overy US
Gold Panda — DJ Kicks
Ryan Adams — Ashes+ Fire
Elena L
Top 10 Albums:
Darren Hayes – Secret Codes and Battleships
Lady Gaga – Born This Way
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Hercules & Love Affair – Blue Songs
David Guetta- Nothing But the Beat
Rihanna – Talk That Talk
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Rome
Adele – 21
Top 5 Tracks:
Cut Copy- Take Me Over
Swedish House Mafia – Save The World
Darren Hayes – Black Out The Sun
Lady Gaga – You And I
Bruno Mars – It Will Rain
Top Live Event:
Swedish House Mafia Masquerade Motel – Miami 2011
Nick C
Top 10 Albums:
Yelle – Safari Disco Club
Monarchy – Around The Sun
Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow
The Good Natured – Skeleton EP
Foster The People – Torches
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
The Smashing Pumpkins – Gish (Re-Issue)
The Black Keys – El Camino
Top 5 Trackss:
NERVO – We’re All No One (NERVO Goes To Paris Remix)
Coldplay – Paradise
The Japanese Popstars – Shells Of Silver
Yelle – Que Veux-Tu (Madeon Remix)
M83 – Midnight City
Top Live Event:
The Japanese Popstars – Dance Here Now Festival @ Governor’s Island
Dave L
Top, ahem, 10 Albums:
Cut Copy- Zonoscope
Holy Ghost- Holy Ghost
Foster The People- Torches
The Lonely Forest- Arrows
The Naked And Famous- Passive Me, Aggressive You
The Chain Gang Of 1974- The Chain Gang Of 1974
Sleeper Agent- Celabrasion
Elbow- Build A Rocket, Boys!
The Kooks- Junk Of the Heart
Yuck- Yuck
White Lies- Ritual
The Wombats- The Wombats Proudly Present… This Modern Glitch
Top 5 Tracks:
Sloan- Unkind
Elbow- The Night Will Always Win
Cults- Bumper
Architecture In Helsinki- Escapee
Friendly Fires- Hawaiian Air
Foster The People- Pumped Up Kicks
Top Live Event (he doesn’t know how to pick just one)
Cut Copy at Terminal 5
LCD Soundsystem at Terminal 5
The Kooks at HOB Boston/Trocadero Philly
Jeremy R
Top 10 Albums:
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Destroyer – Kaputt
James Blake – James Blake
Yuck – Yuck
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
Top 5 Tracks:
AraabMuzik – Streetz Tonight
Girls – Vomit
John Maus – Hey Moon
Todd Terje – Snooze 4 Life
Active Child – Playing House
Top Live Event:
LCD Soundsystem final show – MSG
Erin G
Top 10 Albums:
Cut Copy – Zonoscope
Cults – Cults
Fucked Up – David Comes To Life
Yuck – Yuck
Holy Ghost – Holy Ghost
Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
The Decemberists – The King is Dead
Real Estate – Days
M83 – Hurry Up , We’re Dreaming
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo
Top 5 Tracks:
Frank Ocean –Novacane
Lana Del Rey – Video Games
Cass McCombs – Robin Egg Blue
M83 – Midnight City
Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris – We Found Love
Top Live Event:
LCD Soundsystem @ MSG
Matt K
Top 10 Albums:
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Wye Oak – Civilian
Destroyer – Kaput
Friendly Fires – Pala
Wild Beasts – Smother
Real Estate – Days
Yuck – Yuck
tUnE-yArDs – WHOKILL
Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
Cults - Cults
Top 5 Songs:
Lana Del Rey – Blue Jeans
Beirut – Santa Fe
Chase the Tear – Portishead
Toro Y Moi – New Beat
Joy Formidable – Whirring
Top Live Event:
LCD Soundsystem – Madison Square Garden 4/2/11 – Final show!
Davis M
Top 10 Albums:
James Blake – James Blake
Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials
Adele – 21
Oh Land –Oh Land
Penguin Prison – Penguin Prison
Foster the People – Torches
Yelle – Safari Disco Club
Wynter Gordon – With The Music I Die
Austra- Feel it Break
Top 5 Songs:
Beth Ditto – Open Heart Surgery
Avicii – Fade Into Darkness
Adele – Set Fire to the Rain
Robyn – Call Your Girlfriend
Sak Noel – Loca People
Top Live Event:
Yelle @ Bottom Lounge, Chicago 5/6/11
Katie D
Top 10 Albums:
The Black Keys – El Camino
Feist – Metals
Dom – Sun Bronzed Greek Gods
Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See
Cults – Cults
The Good Natured – Skeleton EP
Diamond Rings – Special Affections
Yelle – Safari Disco Club
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
The Japanese Popstars – Controlling Your Allegiance
Top 5 Songs:
Two Tears – Senso Unico
Arctic Monkeys – Piledriver Waltz
Of Monsters And Men – Little Talks
Cults – You Know What I Mean
First Aid Kit – When I Grow Up
Top Live Event:
Diamond Rings at First Avenue
Anna E
Top 10 Albums:
Kanye West & Jay Z -Watch The Throne
Drake- Take Care
The Weeknd- House of Balloons
Miguel- All I Want Is You
Wale- Ambition
Beyonce- 4
Frank Ocean- Nostalgia
Tinie Tempah- Disc-Overy
Rome- Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi / Starring Jack White and Norah Jones
The Black Keys – El Camino
Top 5 Songs:
Rihanna – We Found Love
Beyonce- Party
SBTRKT – Wildfire feat Drake & Little Dragon
Jay Z & Kanye West – N****s in Paris
Big Sean- A**
Top Live Show:
WATCH THE THRONE- Jay Z & Kanye West!
Alisan B
Top 10 Albums: (in no particular order outside of Adele which was by far, best album of 2011, in my personal opinion)
Adele – 21
Jay Z/Kanye West–Watch The Throne
Black Keys–El Camino
Lykke Li–Wounded Rhymes
The Decemberists–The King Is Dead
Bon Iver–Bon Iver
Florence and The Machine–Ceremonials
Drake–Take Care
Lady Gaga–Born This Way
James Blake–James Blake
Top 5 Tracks:
Adele–Someone Like You
David Guetta f. Usher–Without You
Jay & Kanye–Otis
Black Keys–Lonely Boy
Lana Del Ray–Video Games
Top Live Event:
Toss up between LCD Soundsystem’s Final Farewell at MSG and Swedish House Mafia at MSG….both were by far two of the most amazing live experiences I’ve had in a long time
Devin K
Top 10 Albums:
Fleet Foxes–Helplessness Blues
Adele–21
Bon Iver–Bon Iver
Kurt Vile–Smoke Ring for my Halo
Coldplay–Mylo Xyloto
Elbow–Build a Rocket Boys
Beastie Boys–Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
Joy Formidable–The Big Roar
Death Cab for Cutie–Codes and Keys
The Decemberists–The King is Dead
Apparat–The Devil’s Walk
Wilco–The Whole Love
M83–Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Cut Copy–Zonoscope
Washed Out–Within and Without
Top 5 Tracks:
M83–Midnight City
Naked and Famous–Young Blood
Coldplay–Every Teardrop is a Waterfall
Adele–Someone Like You
Foster the People–Pumped Up Kicks
Top Live Event:
Coldplay Live on Letterman
Mauro D
Top 10 Albums:
Adele–21
Sinatra–The Best Of The Best
David Guetta–Nothing But The Beat
Jay Z/ Kayne West–Watch The Throne
Radiohead–The King Of Limbs
Arcade Fire–The Suburbs
Norah Jones …Featuring
Tony Bennett–Duets II
Pitbull–Planet Pit
Lady Antebellum–Own The Night
Top 5 Tracks:
Adele–Rolling In The Deep
David Guetta–Without You
Foster The People– Pumped Up Kicks
Pitbull–Give Me Everything
SHM–Save The World
Top Live Event:
SHM @ MSG
Dave B
Top 10 Albums:
Wolf Gang-Suego Faults
Elbow-Build A Rocket Boys
M83-Hurry Up,We’re Dreaming
Adele-21
The Decemberists-The King Is Dead
St. Vincent-Strange Mercy
Real Estate-Days
Bon Iver-Bon Iver
The Kooks-Junk Of The Heart
The Black Keys-El Camino
Top 5 Tracks:
Morning Parade-Carousel-(Original Form)So what if I’m a year early. Nothing touches this.
Wolf Gang-The King And All Of His Men
M83-Reunion
The National-Think You Can Wait-(Win Win Soundtrack)
The Kooks-The Saboteur
Top Live Event:
All Kooks shows…….
Milton W
Top 10 Albums:
Florrie—Experiments EP
David Guetta—Nothing But the Beat
The Weeknd—Thursday
Kissy Sellout—Wild Romance
The Good Natured—Skeleton EP
Scratch Massive—Nuit de Reve
Monte La Monte—Cloud One EP
Soma Records 20 Years—Soma Classics
Acid Jacks—Apocalypse Meow
Shiny Disco Club Presents Millenium Disco vols 1 & 2
Top 5 Tracks:
Katy Perry—E.T. (Nicademass Remix)
Danny Daze—Ghetto Fab
Thee Mezcalateerz (Felix da Housecat, Steve Angello, Modzart)—Yes
Pallada–Dreamcatcher
Bingo Players—Cry (Just a Little) (Kids at the Bar Bootleg Remix)
Top Live Event:
SHM @ MSG
Lest we forget the origins of contemporary dance music, this handy little online tutorial form Thomson’s Blog in the UK aims to set the record straight in 20 seconds.
Follow