The festivities may be well and truly over elsewhere but our party is still in full swing and bringing you the seventeen tracks that we liked most in 2011. So dig out the last of the sweet sherry and toast our top tunes!

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Playlist:

17 PJ Harvey – The Words That Maketh Murder

Chris from Dead Sea Apes

16 King Post Kitsch – Don’t You Touch My Fucking Honeytone

James from Appetite For Distraction

15 King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Bats in the Attic

Kathy

14 PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

Jeremy from Fingertips

13 Wild Flag – Glass Tambourine

Brian from The Enthusiasts’ Radio Hour

12 Fleet Foxes – Lorelai

Linda from Speed of Dark

11 My Morning Jacket – Victory Dance

Ram from DyingNote

10 Wilco – I Might

Greer from A Sweet Unrest

9 M83 – Midnight City

Kristen

8 Half Man Half Biscuit – Fun Day in the Park

Shaun from Cold Citrus

7 Wooden Shjips – Lazy Bones

Dirk from Sexyloser

6 Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Alex from Solid Sea and Southern Sky

5 Dawes – A Little Bit of Everything

Kev from Let Me Educate You

4 Radiohead – Lotus Flower

Greg from Broken Dial

3 Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks

Travis

2 The Lovely Eggs – Don’t Look at Me (I Don’t Like It)

Niels

1 Adele – Rolling in the Deep

Thomas from Better in the Dark

Our most grateful thanks go to James from Appetite For Distraction and Chris from Dead Sea Apes for their help in putting the festive fifty together this time around. The next two episodes of the podcast will be a double bill of High and Low … no Broccoli in sight! So much choice!!!

The Contrast Podcast likes to keep the festive season going as long as possible. So here is the second part of the 2011 Festive Fifty. Think of it as the filling in a tasty musical sandwich … or something like that.

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Playlist:

34 Imaginary Cities – Hummingbird

FiL from Pogoagogo

33 Wilco – One Sunday Morning

Taylor from T-sides

32 Florence + the Machine – What the Water Gave Me

Brendan from Muruch

31 Death Cab for Cutie – You Are a Tourist

Eleanor from Cassettes & Chocolate Milk

30 Beirut – East Harlem

Martin from No, your product

29 The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

Kymm from The Mighty Kymm

28 Feist – Caught A Long Wind

Rhiannah

27 Okkervil River – We Need a Myth

Andrew from Richmond Playlist

26 Cut Copy – Need You Now

Chip from Atomic Ned

25 Acid House Kings – Would You Say Stop?

John Q.

24 Foster the People – Helena Beat

Stuart from The Accies Blog

23 The Decemberists – Rise To Me

Robert T.

22 My Morning Jacket – Holding On to Black Metal

Rick from Are You Embarrassed Easily?

21 PJ Harvey – The Last Living Rose

Tim from The Contrast Podcast

20 The Decemberists – Rox in the Box

Brian Stoos

19 Wye Oak – Civilian

Mad Mackerel

18 The Decemberists – Calamity Song

Eiron from Old fridges can kill

Again our thanks must go to James from Appetite For Distraction and Chris from Dead Sea Apes for their help in the delicate construction of the countdown. Not long now until we find out who won. Woo hoo!

Hello everyone. The festivities are still ongoing and with the clock ticking over to 2012 it must be time for us to join the barrage of opinion on what made up the best music of 2011. So strap on a bottle of whatever tickles your fancy, cuddle up with a warm pair of speakers and enjoy the first of the three parts which will make up our fifth festive fifty!

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Playlist:

50 Washed Out – Amor Fati

Brendan from What Doth Life

49 Fountains of Wayne – Cemetery Guns

Bella from Let Me Educate You

48 Lindsey Buckingham – In Our Own Time

SAS Radio

47 The Black Keys – Lonely Boy

The In Crowd from I’m learning to share!

46 James Blake – The Wilhelm Scream

Mike from wearedust

45 Okkervil River – Your Past Life As a Blast

Tricia from I Sing in the Kitchen

44 Okkervil River – Wake and Be Fine

David S.

43 Kurt Vile – Jesus Fever

Nat from Another Aging Hipster

42 Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears – Booty City

Victoria from Muruch

41 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Heart in Your Heartbreak

Mrs Loser from Sexyloser

40 Death Cab for Cutie – Codes and Keys

Adam from Pretending life is like a song

39 Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers

Rachel from Untitled Records

38 Anna Calvi – Desire

Matt from Ear Farm

37 Hunters – Deadbeat

Bob from GIMME TINNITUS

36 Jason Isbell – Alabama Pines

Charles from Heartache With Hard Work

35 Billy Bragg – Never Buy the Sun

Paul M.

Our thanks must go to James from Appetite For Distraction and Chris from Dead Sea Apes for their help in the delicate construction of the countdown. The next part will arrive soon so keep your ears peeled.

Your esteemed host recently took at trip to the West Coast of the U.S.A. where he met up with Linda from Speed of Dark & The Mighty Kymm. Having so much contrast in one place meant that a theme was bound to arise – and oh boy, I’m not sure we’ve ever seen one quite this long!

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Playlist:(00:00) Morrissey – Glamourous Glue

Tim from The Contrast Podcast

(06:22) Art Brut – Moving to L.A.

Robert T.

(10:33) X – Los Angeles

Nat from Another Aging Hipster

(13:18) Charles Trenet – La Mer

Rick from Are You Embarrassed Easily?

(18:37) Bob Dylan – The man in me

Rhiannah

(22:10) The Decemberists – Los Angeles, I’m Yours

Linda from Speed of Dark

(28:19) R.E.M. – I remember California

Niels

(35:09) Loudon Wainwright III – Grey in L.A.

The In Crowd from I’m learning to share!

(40:50) Rufus Wainwright – San Francisco (Carnegie Hall)

Greer from A Sweet Unrest

(45:54) Grant Miller – California train

Eleanor from Cassettes & Chocolate Milk

(51:28) Tom Petty – Free fallin’

Kymm from The Mighty Kymm

(59:12) Dean Fields – L.A.

Andrew from Richmond Playlist

(01:02:40) Neil Innes – City of the angels

Mike from wearedust

(01:06:33) The Beatles – Blue Jay Way

Brian from The Enthusiasts’ Radio Hour

(01:11:15) Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under the bridge

James from Appetite For Distraction

(01:17:50) Fitz and the Tantrums – Moneygrabber

Thomas from Better in the Dark

(01:21:35) Jayne County Meets The She Wolves – California Uber Alles

FiL from Pogoagogo

(01:27:01) The Mothers Of Invention – Trouble Every Day

Chris from Dead Sea Apes

(01:34:29) The Rose Of Avalanche – L.A. Rain

Dirk from Sexyloser

(01:42:08) Warren Zevon – Desperados Under the Eaves

Jeremy from Fingertips

(01:48:27) Aeiou – Vivimos in L.A.

Tricia from I Sing in the Kitchen

(01:56:18) The Fall – L.A.

John Q.

(02:00:26) Frank Black – Los Angeles

Jerry from Red Red Wine on a Sunday

(02:05:16) Michelle Shocked – Come A Long Way

Adam from Pretending life is like a song

(02:10:30) Counting Crows – Goodnight L.A.

Ram from DyingNote

(02:14:48) Barbra Streisand – As If We Never Said Goodbye

Kev from Let Me Educate You

(02:20:39) The Dust Brothers – Medula Oblongata

Eiron from Old fridges can kill

I think I can honestly say that I’ve never heard those tracks back to back before! Thanks to all of you for your continued participation without which this podcast wouldn’t exist. The next three episodes will make up this year’s Festive Fifty, so get yourself some mince pies and wait for the santa of musical variety to bring his giant sack of tuneful difference down the chimney of holiday cheer … if you see what I mean?????

We had our first episode about the parts of the body around three years ago and we still haven’t exhausted the subject! This time we’re going to make you dance your feet down to the knees with songs about the legs.

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Playlist:

(00:00) The Monks – Nice legs, shame about her face

Tim from The Contrast Podcast

(02:28) Queen – Death on two legs

Eleanor from Cassettes & Chocolate Milk

(06:48) Katrina & The Waves – Walking on sunshine

Bella from Let Me Educate You

(11:09) R.E.M. – We walk

Rob T.

(15:37) Darondo – Legs

The In Crowd from I’m learning to share!

(20:15) Slow Down Tallahassee – Knees As Sweet As These

John Q.

(25:31) Gene Smith – Rubber Legs

Jerry from Red Red Wine on a Sunday

(27:59) Say Hi – Spiders

Linda from Speed of Dark

(31:31) 8 Legs – Tell Me What Went Wrong

Dirk from Sexyloser

(34:54) Mussorgsky – the hut with fowl’s legs (Oslo Philharmonic conducted by Mariss Jansons)

ZB from So the wind won’t blow it all away

(38:52) Shams – Break your legs

Bob from GIMME TINNITUS

(44:08) James Scott – Frog Legs Rag

Eiron from Old fridges can kill

(47:27) Rod Stewart – Hot Legs

Ram from DyingNote

(51:18) Gene Vincent – Crazy Legs

Kymm from The Mighty Kymm

(54:32) PJ Harvey – Legs

FiL from Pogoagogo

(01:00:56) The Housemartins – Get up off of our knees

Adam from Pretending life is like a song

(01:05:40) Frank Zappa – Big Leg Emma

Chris from Dead Sea Apes

(01:08:08) Kate Bush – The Red Shoes

Jeremy from Fingertips

(01:14:39) Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes – The Lemon Song

Nat from Another Aging Hipster

(01:20:57) The Rutles – Goose step mama

Mike from wearedust

(01:24:13) Bruce Springsteen – Mrs McGrath

Rhiannah

(01:29:00) No More Kings – Sweep the Leg

Andrew from Richmond Playlist

(01:32:39) Joe Tex – Skinny Legs

Greer from A Sweet Unrest

(01:41:47) The Shins – Sea legs

Tricia from I Sing in the Kitchen

(01:00:00) Flight of the Conchords – Leggy Blonde

James from Appetite For Distraction

Thanks to all of you who bared your pins for this one. The next episode will mark my recent visit to the City of Angels with the theme of Los Angeles. You will also be able to vote on this year’s festive fifty soon (details will appear on our Facebook page). So keep them peeled!

In this episode we will once again try to find the best tunes that have graced our ears since we last sang Auld Lang Syne. As usual it’s a popular subject, so sit back and prepare to be introduced to about two hours of wonderfulness, introduced by your favourite imaginary friends.

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Playlist:

(00:26) Elephant – Actors

ZB from So the wind won’t blow it all away

(03:29) Alex Turner – Hiding Tonight

Adam from Pretending life is like a song

(08:42) Okkervil River – We need a myth

Tricia from I Sing in the Kitchen

(16:41) King Post Kitsch – Don’t you touch my fucking honeytone

James from Appetite For Distraction

(21:35) Dananananaykroyd – Reboot

Chris from Dead Sea Apes

(26:08) White Denim – Is and is and is

Ram from DyingNote

(30:19) Wilco – Whole Love

Greer from A Sweet Unrest

(34:21) Ron Sexsmith – Late bloomer

Nat from Another Aging Hipster

(40:00) Hotel Lights – Falling Down

Andrew from Richmond Playlist

(44:46) Beyond all Reason – Until I die (acoustic version)

Rhiannah

(50:40) The Proctors – Perfect World

John Q.

(54:08) Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO

The In Crowd from I’m learning to share!

(59:26) Dawes – Little Bit of Everything

Kevin from Let Me Educate You

(01:06:46) Imaginary Cities – Hummingbird

FiL from Pogoagogo

(01:12:05) Tea Cozies – Dead Man’s Sister

Niels

(01:16:01) Radiohead – Bloom

Jeremy from Fingertips

(01:24:01) Nick Lowe – House for Sale

Thomas from Better in the Dark

(01:28:22) Julia Klee – Drunken Chess

Martin from No, Your Product

(01:33:53) Fountains of Wayne – Richie and Ruben

Kymm from The Mighty Kymm

(01:38:53) Pocketbooks – Harbour Lights

Eiron from Old fridges can kill

(01:43:45) Hunters – Deadbeat

Bob from GIMME TINNITUS

(01:46:38) Viva Brother – Darling Buds of May

Chip from Atomic Ned

(01:50:20) Dengue Fever – 2012

Linda from Speed of Dark

(01:55:04) A Winged Victory for the Sullen – Steep hills of Vicodin tears

Tim from The Contrast Podcast

Thanks to all of you who took part in this one. The next episode will continue our series about Parts of the body by stroking The Legs. If you would like to participate you’ll find the instructions hiding here.

Thanks to Jeremy from Fingertips this episode has a guest list to die for, filled with those lucky enough to have had songs named in their honor. So mix yourself a nice dry martini and enjoy the party to end all parties!

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Playlist:

(00:00) Veal – Judy Garland

Jeremy from Fingertips

(05:11) Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

James from Appetite For Distraction

(09:54) Art Brut – Emily Kane

Chris from Dead Sea Apes

(13:43) Christopher Bryant – Frank Sinatra

Thomas from Better in the Dark

(18:24) Arthur Alexander – Sally Sue Brown

Niels

(22:18) The Larks – Billy Graham

Dirk from Sexy Loser

(25:27) The 1990s – Hayley Mills

JC aka The Vinyl Villian

(29:36) Special AKA – Nelson Mandela

FiL from Pogoagogo

(35:47) The Jam – Liza Radley

Adam from Pretending life is like a song

(39:43) Prefab Sprout – Faron Young

Kevin from Let Me Educate You

(44:22) John Grant – Sigourney Weaver

Linda from Speed of Dark

(48:38) Venus Bogardus – Jacques Rigaut

ZB from So the wind won’t blow it all away

(53:19) Billy Bragg – Ingrid Bergman

Stuart from The Accies blog

(56:02) The Bis-Quits – Yo Yo Ma

The In Crowd from I’m learning to share!

(01:00:13) Velour – Janey Black

Tricia from I Sing in the Kitchen

(01:03:52) The Magnetic Fields – Reno Dakota
Reno Dakota – Stephin Merritt

Brian from The Enthusiasts’ Radio Hour

(01:06:47) A Tribe Called Quest – Bonita Applebum

Greer from A Sweet Unrest

(01:10:44) Simon and Garfunkel – Richard Cory

Kymm from The Mighty Kymm

(01:14:29) The Carpenters – Druscilla Penny

Mike from wearedust

(01:17:55) The Dicks – George Jackson

Eiron from Old fridges can kill

(01:23:40) Decoration – Joy Adamson

John Q.

(01:27:37) Talk Talk – John Cope

Robert T.

(01:33:36) Swamp Cat – Timun Mas

Pieter from Two Tramps in Mud Time

(01:38:11) They Might Be Giants – Ana Ng

Nat from Another Aging Hipster

Thanks to all of you who took part this time, and especially Jeremy for choosing the theme and starting the podcast off. The next episode will see us getting out our current crushes to show the best of 2011 so far. New contributors are welcome and can find the instructions here.