New York Magazine recently published a list of 40 songs that define the Brooklyn scene. The list was incredibly generic, outside of a couple interesting picks like Oakley Hall and Class Actress. Plus it was really lame to include to Grizzly Bear songs, even if they are a great band. There's no denying that Animal Collective, Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, and TV on the Radio are the kings of the Brooklyn scene, but a best of list that includes Das Racist, Ninjasonik, and Matt & Kim is an embarrassment to our scene And everyone knows that Vampire Weekend isn't from Brooklyn.
So NY Press made our own list of 40 songs that "gets a little closer to the spirit of Brooklyn’s current rock scene." I was one of many writers that fought to see some of my favorites make the list, and I think the end result is quite a respectable deeper look into Brooklyn's incredible rock scene.
I would have loved to have seen Rain Machine, Hopewell, Right on Dynamite, Milagres and quite a few others make this list, but isn't that the point of lists—no one's ever happy.
Here's a quick hint at what our list looks like. Go here to see the full thing.
1. “Coward Cracks the Dawn” by Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
2. “Ecstatic Rite” by Liturgy
3. “Open Shut” by Blank Dogs
4. “Don't Pass On Me” by Woods
5. "Bang For Changes" by Zambri
6. “I Hate New York” by Thorns of Life
7. “Hair Tapes” by Noveller
8. “Bear” by The Antlers
9. “Soda Popinski” by Javelin
10. “It’s Time!” by caUSE-coMOTION!
