my top ten
As I anticipate Armin’s year mix, I couldn’t help but think about my own favorite trance/progressive tracks from the year. I listed the tracks in order and wrote a little blurb about each of them - why I found them to be so likable. I would love to hear your favorite ones as well. Oh, and to all my friends going to TAO, have fun and be safe.
1. Armin van Buuren - This Light Between Us http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9V9IGqpR3Q
What can I say, I’m a pretty die-hard Armin fan and this is my favorite song from his new album. Likewise, Christian Burns’ vocals have been a favorite as well ever since Tiesto’s “In the Dark.” You can tell from listening to this song how professional and intricate Armin really is, and I know for sure he’ll put his song in the yearmix. It’s truly a masterpiece that he crafted together perfectly. Let the colors show you how.
2. Dash Berlin - Never Cry Again (Jorn van Deynhoven remix) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HZ9B47fnsA
I can’t imagine what the play count on my itunes for this song must be. I think what really takes the cake for me off this track is it’s buildup, and I’m a sucker for sick buildups. In other words, I find that this song is pretty much a literal eargasm - the gradual buildup and release. To me, this track is the perfect definition of how progressive should sound. Further, it’s one of the few songs I tried to transcribe (although somewhat unsuccessfully) onto the guitar. When you come home, I’ll stop this.
3. Gareth Emery - Sanctuary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0AwhayOiCI
The trance community of ASOT apparently voted this as one of the top songs of the year along with Yuri Kane’s “Right Back,” and I couldn’t agree with them more. This track has several kinds of layers that sound fuckin’ beautiful when mashed together, and it’s one of my favorite songs to do lightshows to (second only to Flo Rida of course - see below). Gareth Emery really has gotten a lot better, check this track out. At the edge where you fade into me, we find the shelter we call home.
4. DNS Project - Mindful (Ronski Speed Remix) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQK_hB7gwKI
First heard this on ASOT 442, which is hands down my favorite episode of the year (since it contains multiple songs I list here). This song is eerie down to the core and I love every bit of its spookiness. Mixed in with that bass whatchamacallit beat (I think you’ll know what I’m talking about if you listen to it), I’m constantly electrified every time I listen to it. This is the perfect Halloween track, and I really enjoy the lyrics too. The sun is warm for me.
5. First State - Reverie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SvMHhrkS1g
Sarah Howells has a pretty voice, and I love a girl who can sing even if I don’t get a word she is saying. To me, this song is sort of similar to #3 because I feel like they share elements, but it doesn’t make me like it any less. The slow muffled piano part makes me feel like I’m swimming underwater (not the first time ie. BT - Every Other Way (AvB remix)) and I pretty much drift away in my mind every time I hear that part. Yeaa.. kinda hard to decipher what she says but I still like her voice.
6. Kaskade - Human Reactor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqSdafrOm5w
I was pretty bummed when I went to the Warfield in SF to see Kaskade and he didn’t play this track off his new album which is unquestionably my favorite. This track is pure energy and I love every bit of it. The electro-organ that shadows the verses of the song make me want to don a phantom of the opera mask whilst doing lightshows (even though I don’t know how to do lightshows). The vocals on this track are also pretty unique and I feel like I can relate a lot to the lyrics as well. Everyday I’m waking up to sobriety, nothing can erase this memory (sigh, so true.).
If I were to tell you to listen to just one track off this list, it would have to be this one. This is a gem that I feel deserves more attention.
“Maybe I could just choose to ignore this,Let it fade like water through the sandMaybe I could just leave this behind meSome things you’ll never understandCause this is such a fine lineA fine line to crossAnd this is not a question of whether you will or you won’tyou either have it or you don’t”Pure fuckin’ literary genius. Being a math major, I’m not a man of words, but I really, really like the lyrics in this track. Coupled with a sick back track, this song is a work of art.
8. Jonas Stenberg - Trademark http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAVznsz_0mI
I bought this one off itunes as soon as I heard it. It’s like a symphony vs. trance. I really recommend this one especially if you got a thing for classical music. It’s put together really nicely and it also has some pretty notable buildups that I’m pretty fond of.
9. Yuri Kane - Right Back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BmFP1RM_yo
I think the piano in this track is what makes this song great. It’s repetitive, but in all the right ways. The vocals are kinda eh and theres a sort of stagnant part in the middle of the song, but I still find this track soothing and moving.
10. Aly and Fila - Listening http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQUITzy7O88
I sure as hell don’t mind a little electric guitar to open a trance track - best of both worlds IMO. I also really like the lyrics to this track as well as well as the vocals of whoever sings it. Again, I sense you want to tell me more, go ahead. I’m listening.
Honorable Mention:
Flo Rida & David Guetta - Club Can’t Handle Me
Well I know this song doesn’t exactly fall into this category, I still kind of felt like this was one of the anthems that described my year if you will. I know the people who were teapartyin’ it up with me know what I’m talking about. I’m rockin’, I’m rollin’.
plur.
