Tor – Star of Wonder / None Shall Pass [Sufjan Stevens & Aesop Rock)
Aesop Rock is so lyrically abstract and imaginative that it’s hard to catch even a fraction of what he utters. Somewhere between gentle drug induced poetry and feverish diatribes, you always catch more with headphones on. Tor places Aesop’s signature flow over Sufjan Steven’s Star of Wonder, creating something beautiful and almost hypnotic.
Child Rebel Soldier – Us Placers (Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West & Pharrell)
A hip-hop supergroup like this was too good to be true. This song blew up over the internet, taking a lot of unsuspecting people off guard with the overwhelming artistry coming from such mainstream names. The delicate loop of piano keys and melancholy chorus from Thom Yorke leaves no mystery why this was one of the top 100 songs of 2007.
Atmosphere – Nothing But Sunshine
Atmosphere has had a long and remarkable career and shows no signs of slowing down. Many argue that the compilation of EP’s that make up Lucy Ford are the duo’s strongest work, and this song has always been the high point to me. The five minute tale tackles a multitude of human ailments; a truly captivating narrative which exposes slug’s soul with a brutal degree of candidness. Some of the story is fictional and some is genuine, but the song about death and pain is eerily beautiful, until the beat fades away and we listen to slug softly slaughter a cow. Whatever it takes to get you through the day I guess.
