Best Of lists are difficult for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the issue of quantity - how do you properly review and round-up a years worth of releases? Secondly, how do know what was really the Best of a particular year without any distance or perspective on it? Wouldn't the best of the year have staying power that you can't quite predict?

Despite all these questions, I've put together a mix of songs that grabbed me during the 2011 calendar year. It is far from comprehensive (a second mix could easily be culled from those left out) but it does a good job of wrapping up some of the highlights. Hopefully you enjoy!