Can you believe it's that time of year again? We can't... but here we are bringing you the first part of our mammoth fortnight of eclectic "best of..." lists. First up we announce The AU Review's Top 40 tracks of 2011, as voted by our fine contributors around the country.

40.

The Bamboos have an uncanny ability to completely funkify any song while still respecting and paying homage to the original track. They have totally outdone themselves with this brilliantly laidback jazz cover of “The Wilhelm Scream” originally by James Blake.

Ivy League Records is thrilled to bits to announce the enlistment of Sydney’s fabulous new recruits Deep Sea Arcade. Until now Deep Sea Arcade have taken their sweet time enjoying the mantle of one of this country’s most promising unsigned artists but that’s all about to change.

They join fellow Ivy League alumni Cloud Control, The Mess Hall, Sparkadia, Youth Group and Josh Pyke.

From Victoria comes Matt Walters and his gentle pop songs, a collection of which he is releasing as his second EP, Talking in my Sleep.

Upon the arrival of the new decade,
patrons of the Lorne Falls Festival were left scalded by the sun’s
rays and soaked through and through by one of the most treacherous storms
the event has ever seen. Nonetheless, most of the 15,000 or so attendees
were delightfully content with the whole three days.