Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2015, Part 3

In no particular order, I've selected the favorite tracks from 2015's playlists for our fourteenth annual Choice Cuts end-of-year mix. The next four:



9. The Scene Between -- The Go! Team

Ten years ago, I was intrigued by The Go! Team's use of sampling and odd vocals on catchy tunes like "Huddle Formation." In 2015, "The Scene Between" kept the fun cut-and-paste sound but added more depth and maturity to the mix.



10. 40 Watt -- Elel

Technically from 2014, but "40 Watt" and Nashville's Elel reached me in 2015. One blog calls it "indie-pop cotton candy for the ears." Hey, nothing wrong with that!



11. Pay No Mind (ft. Passion Pit) -- Madeon

Passion Pit had a new CD this year, and it was... just OK. I was much more excited by the band's collaboration with French producer Madeon, "Pay No Mind." The video is trippy too.



12. Long Way Down -- Robert DeLong

On a rare date night this year, Maria and I saw Robert DeLong perform at the Natural History Museum last February as part of its "First Fridays" series of events. Perhaps that makes me a little partial to "Long Way Down," but it's also just a strong track.

The next four tomorrow!

Also on Franklin Avenue:

Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2015, Part 1

Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2015, Part 2

Upfronts 2013: Kanye Rants, "Psych" Dances, Robin Williams Quips and Much, Much More

Every year the TV networks fly to New York and present their new fare wares to the nation's media buyers. It's called the upfronts, and although everyone grumbles that it's an outdated and expensive practice, there are still reasons to do it (as Joe Adalian explains here). This year the networks announced nearly 60 new shows -- and by Friday, it's hard to remember everyone and everything we've seen. But it will be hard to forget some of the other highlights of the week -- including Adult Swim's upfront party. Kanye West was the featured performer, and he definitely brought the crazy, in the form of a mid-concert tirade about... well, I'm still not sure. The media? The world? Celebrity culture? Whatever it was, it was fun. (Not so fun: Kanye's painful new track "Awesome," about you-know-who.) Kanye performed his entire show inside a mesh-covered pyramid (the Kanyeramid -- trademark pending), but briefly ran out to say hi to the crowd -- which is when I snapped this blurry pic. Meanwhile, other highlights included Passion Pit performing a few hits at the USA Network upfront; Icona Pop performing "I Love It" at the CW upfront; and attending the "Saturday Night Live" dress rehearsal featuring guest host Kristin Wiig. Some pics from my week in NYC:


Kanye performs inside his Kanyeramid (trademark pending).


Icona Pop at CW upfront.


Passion Pit at the USA upfront.


More of Passion Pit at the USA upfront.


Cousins Robbie and Stephen Amell, now stars of their own respective CW series. The CW breeding program is a success!


The pretty people of the CW.


The cast of "Psych" performs "Psych: The Musical" at the USA Network upfront.


"New Girl's" Max Greenfield cracks wise and shows off his guns on the Fox upfront stage (at the Beacon Theatre).


Rising star Rebel Wilson gives a deadpan speech on stage at the ABC upfront (at Lincoln Center).


The cast of hot ABC drama "Scandal" on stage at the network's upfronts.


"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." on the ABC stage.


Robin Williams at the CBS upfront.


Congrats to Paul Hewitt for getting this "#dropthemic" reference all the way through and on screen at the CBS upfront (at Carnegie Hall). Sadly, Leslie Moonves is not really on Twitter.


When David Letterman walked on stage for his first upfront in several years, we all started to brace for a potential retirement announcement. He hugged Moonves and started talking fondly about CBS. "This could be it," I thought to myself. And then it wasn't. Thank goodness. That would have turned our afternoon upside down.

Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2012, Part 4

13. Constant Conservations (St. Lucia Remix) -- Passion Pit

I liked the Passion Pit track "Take A Walk," but it's now being heard everywhere, and I can see where it might get old fast. This St. Lucia remix of "Constant Conversations" brings the tempo of the original down a bit, allowing for a more haunting, yet anthemic, quality.



14. Losing You -- Solange

Apologies, Beyonce, but Solange may be fast becoming my favorite Knowles sister. Watching her energetically perform in various South African street scenes makes for a fantastic video, and pairs nicely with the unexpected sounds of "Losing You."



15. High For This -- Ellie Goulding

I could have picked a number of Ellie Goulding tracks for my end-of-year collection, with "My Blood" a close second. But there's something about Goulding's cover of The Weeknd's "High For This" that convinced me to go this route.



16. Trip -- Vacationer

Vacationer had me the second "Trip" opens with that Martin Denny, "Exotica"-like riff. Quick, dark song that makes me want to, well, take a trip.

Previously on Franklin Avenue:

Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2012, Part 1

Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2012, Part 2

Choice Cuts: Franklin Avenue's Favorite Tracks of 2012, Part 3