Best Songs Of 2011: 25 Underplayed Tracks We Can't Stop Spinning (AUDIO)

The Huffington Post     First Posted: 12/29/11 09:46 AM ET   Updated: 12/30/11 10:16 AM ET

Despite what the radio might have you believe, Adele was not the only artist with a song out this year. As much as we've enjoyed hearing "Rolling in the Deep," "Countdown" and "Party Rock Anthem," played ad nauseum, 2011 was also a bang-up year for the unchosen ones -- the Adeles, Beyonces and LMFAOs of a parallel universe. So in the spirit of making a few new discoveries before the year ends, we've compiled 25 underplayed songs we've been overplaying -- a modest sampling from the year that you can dance to at your new year's eve party, and groan to the morning after.

Check out the songs with commentary one-by-one below, or spin the playlist in full below. As always, please share your favorite songs of the year in the comments.

The Weeknd, 'The Party And The After Party'
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21-year-old mystery kid Abel Tesfaye dropped a mixtape back in March that left the internet dumbfounded, introducing us to a new breed of indie/R&B croons that are best displayed on this Beach House-sampling track.
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Spin the playlist in full:

The Weeknd, 'The Party And The After Party'
St. Vincent, 'Surgeon'
Modeselektor, 'Berlin'
PJ Harvey, 'Let England Shake'
Theophilus London, 'Love Is Real Ft. Holly Miranda'
SBTRKT, 'Wildfire'
R. Kelly, 'Shut Up'
Common, 'Celebrate'
Danger Mouse And Daniele Luppi, 'Two Against One,' ft. Jack White
Lupe Fiasco, 'American Terrorist III'
Raphael Saadiq, 'Good Man'
Cass McCombs, 'County Line'
The Roots Ft. Big KRIT, 'Make My'
Wilco, 'Art Of Almost'
Girls, 'Honey Bunny'
The Rapture, 'How Deep Is Your Love?'
Major Lazer, 'Original Don'
tUnE-yArDs, 'Bizness'
Atlas Sound, 'Angel Is Broken'
Bjork, 'Mutual Core'
Eleanor Friedberger, 'My Mistakes'
Tyler The Creator, 'Yonkers'
Mr. Little Jeans, 'The Suburbs' (Arcade Fire Cover)
Tom Waits, 'Bad As Me'
Bill Callahan, 'America!'

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Despite what the radio might have you believe, Adele was not the only artist with a song out this year. As much as we've enjoyed hearing "Rolling in the Deep," "Countdown" and "Party Rock Anthem," pla...
Despite what the radio might have you believe, Adele was not the only artist with a song out this year. As much as we've enjoyed hearing "Rolling in the Deep," "Countdown" and "Party Rock Anthem," pla...
 
 
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05:53 PM on 01/04/2012
Interesting list. I hadn't heard Bill Callahan before but enjoyed it. Glad to see St. Vincent, Eleanor Friedberger and Tom Waits here (although I chose Satisfied). http://www.kammentary.com/2011/12/my-favorite-101-songs-of-2011-details.html
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Femonanon
BI - Oh! yes, it's okay
03:40 PM on 01/02/2012
The question is: Are you ready to disco?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApN1cZoiX4w
12:48 AM on 01/02/2012
Check out "The Way I Feel" from Asa!
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Marvin Hadley Jr
Blinding Insight
12:42 PM on 01/01/2012
vulgar tunes all
10:49 AM on 01/01/2012
A song to revive

Rare Bird Sympathy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TMw92_q8Ac&feature=related
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Dionita
Love is the new black.
04:24 PM on 12/31/2011
I love the mix and have been cooking and cleaning to it for the last two days.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jvinylman502
My dogs eat out of their own bowls,why don't you ?
02:27 PM on 12/31/2011
I have always enjoyed sitting back and listiening to the mellow sound stylings of the Ramones , Slayer , The Saints and the softer but just as good Black Sabbath , Megadeth and System of a down.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
chrysostomos
Zizek built my hotrod,
10:01 AM on 12/31/2011
Solid list. Loved the modeselektor track.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
giono
08:02 PM on 12/30/2011
anything by Raphael Saadiq needs more listening...
07:56 PM on 12/30/2011
A lot of great songs there. Thanks for this!
07:32 PM on 12/30/2011
Thats a pretty good list.. Here is my list for the year. Enjoy and happy new year everyone! http://lovingrightnow.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-music-2011.html
03:41 AM on 12/30/2011
Pedro Abrunhosa: Eu NĆ£o Sei Quem Te Perdeu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Q6WPhsSug
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02:51 AM on 12/30/2011
PJ Harvey is God
07:37 PM on 12/30/2011
Yes.
01:10 AM on 12/30/2011
That Cass MCCombs' song is amazing. Check it out if you haven't.
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Jason Ungar
11:24 PM on 12/29/2011
That Wilco track rocks.