I’m obsessed with end-of-year lists, and since I made one last year, I thought it could become my new tradition.

The categories are a sneak peak of a project I’m working on launching in the new year. I would love to start collecting contributors, so if you like the idea of coming up with songs/bands/artists around a quirky theme, message me! 

Songs I Surprised Myself by Liking

This song’s entrance into my life may have been the beginning of the end of my obsession with all that nu-folk stuff. It’s a soft introduction to this new genre all the cool kids are calling “witch trance”. I like it because of all those clicking sounds and the lady vocals. It helps that it’s Canadian.

You’ll have to sign in to YouTube for this video because there are naked women in it.

Artist I Surprised Myself by Liking

The only reason I’m surprised I like Lana Del Ray is because she had collagen injected into her lips. On principle, I should hate her because I’m dismissive like that, but obviously, obviously I’m going to love the way she sounds. It’s nostalgic and sad and a total throwback to some time I’ve romanticized and feel is way better than the present.

I listened to her stuff back in October, when Zach and I drove to New York. We stayed in hotels, and had fights on both sides of the border and I drove in America, so listening to it reminds me of how I felt like a grown-up. Around this time is when I realized that if you “feel like” something, it means you probably aren’t.

Instant Obsession Material (ie. Fave New Shit)

I already had sexual thoughts about Donald Glover because I’ve been watching Community since it first aired, but then Hilary sent me “Freaks and Geeks” and I pretty much peed my pants and pledged my allegiance to Childish Gambino for all time. I send emails to my coworkers who don’t like rap with subject lines like “Adorable cats!” and “Cutest puppy and baby ever!” and link them to the “Camp” video. I seat-dance on the subway to “Heartbeat”.I sent my brother his dirtiest song and now he’s flying to Toronto for 1 night to see him play. We will be first in line and we will know all the words.

Most Played Song (like the rest of the world)

I’ve already talked about this, but this song was my jam for 2011. I’ve loved Adele for a long time, and I will love her for as long as she puts out quality pop songs. A friend of mine once told me that the reason why pop songs are so widespread in popularity is because the beat syncs to your heart, so you’re naturally attracted to it by human nature. I think that’s why it works so well - listen to all those different heartbeats layered on top of each other. It’s perfect.

Bands I Got Over

Even as I write this, I know I’m lying a little bit. I will always love Mumford & Sons in the same way I will always Facebook-creep that first dude who broke my heart. Great musicians, incredible song-writers, and they used to belong to me, but now they belong to everybody. Happy that they’ve had all kinds of success, but the quaintness is gone now that they’re playing huge venues and the whole sentiment feels a little hollow. Also, I really like Laura Marling and word on the street is that Marcus cheated on her then dumped her. Not cool. Image ruined.

Fave Jam (even though I didn’t play it as much as Adele)

Cults’ first album was the one I’d been waiting for all year, and when it came out last spring it pretty much blew my mind. I go weak in the knees for this early 60s retro shit, but what I love about Cults is how dark they can make that bubblegum pop sound. The vocals actually bust out of the frame of the song, then drags the rest along with it.

When I first heard it, I thought the lyrics were “I ain’t afraid of the light, yeah, you know what I mean”, and I thought, “I DO know what you mean! You mean, you’re not afraid of dying, as in going towards the light. Like I’ve been taught in every undergraduate literature class I’ve ever taken, death means orgasms. Cults, you looove orgasms.” Then I shared my theory with Sarah and she shut me down. Boo.

Best Opening Band

The Daredevil Christopher Wright opened for Dan Mangan and The Crackling (who are also so great) the weekend of Halloween, and I was immediately drawn to the complex harmonies and the drummer’s beard. They’re just a bunch of smart guys writing clever songs that sound great. I haven’t had enough time to discover them since their online presence is a little lacking and the vinyl I bought has never been played since I still don’t have my speakers from home yet. You should still check them out, though. They probably won’t ever blow up, but I hope they’re at least making a living by their music because they’re great.

Bandwagon I Just Jumped On

Everyone told me I should listen to Robyn. I told everybody to shut up. Then I watched this video and wished to be nothing other than a cool Swede wearing a fuzzy sweater and rolling on the floor. I loved platforms - I had like 100 pairs around the last time Robyn was cool.

Old Album I Listened to Most

OCMS’s Big Iron World makes me feel good and happy on long and boring commutes to work. This song will forever make me feel cooler than I am. They know cocaine is cool, and so do I. They may do it, I don’t. I just want to sit around a fire with all my friends and sing this song until we die. That, and this Those Darlins song that may be the tune my heart beats to.

3-Pointer at the Buzzer!

Just discovered this band last week after voting in CBC’s Bucky Awards. I also discovered how awesome the vocals are on this track, and how I will never tire of a little twang paired with a piano flourish. There’s that heartbeat again, too.

I think this is the most I’ve blogged all year.

Please, please, make a list like this. They entertain me for hours.