Is this the beginning of the end for EDM in the USA? Following Storm Queen's 'Look Right Through' recently hitting #1 on the UK charts, Spin magazine has listed what it deems to be the top 40 best deep house tracks of all time and it's actually pretty on point, selecting actual tracks from the genre as opposed to much of the pop music currently moonlighting as deep house.
"The success of deep house as an alternative to big-tent EDM has helped it creep towards the mainstream." reads the article's intro from respected dance music scribe Philip Sherburne. "Pete Tong's "Essential New Tune" selections increasingly lean toward deep house breakout stars like Jamie Jones and Richy Ahmet, while the rest of his show favors crossover cornballs like Afrojack and Avicii; even trance grandmaster Tiësto now has a weekly deep house radio show on Sirius XM."
Spin Magazine's 40 Best Deep House Tracks Of All Time:
40. Steffi, "Sadness" (Ostgut Ton, 2011)
39. Faze Action, "In the Trees" (Nuphonic, 1996)
38. Tensnake, "In the End (I Want You to Cry)" (Running Back, 2009)
37. STL, "Silent State" (Smallville, 2009)
36. Fallout, "The Morning After (Sunrise Mix)" (Fourth Floor Records, 1987)
35. Axel Boman, "Purple Drank" (Pampa, 2010)
34. Omar-S, "Psychotic Photosynthesis" (FXHE, 2007)
33. Luomo, "Tessio" (Force Tracks, 2000)
32. The Other People Place, "Sorrow and a Cup of Joe" (Clone, 2002)
31. Kerri Chandler, Atmosphere EP (Shelter, 1993)
30. DJ Koze, "Cicely" (Philpot, 2007)
29. Justin Martin, "The Sad Piano (Charles Webster Remix)" (Buzzin' Fly, 2003)
28. Andrés, "New for U" (La Vida, 2012)
27. Roy Davis Jr. feat. Peven Everett, "Gabriel" (Large Records, 1996)
26. Dream 2 Science, "My Love Turns to Liquid" (Power Move, 1990)
25. Bobby Konders, "The Poem" (Nu Groove, 1990)
24. N.Y. House'n Authority, "Apt. 3A" (Nu Groove, 1989)
23. Ananda Project, "Cascades of Colour" (Nite Grooves, 1998)
22. Storm Queen, “Look Right Through” (Environ, 2010)
21. Gunnar Wendel, "578 (Omar S. Rude Boy Warm Mix)" (FXHE, 2010)
20. Robert Owens, “I’ll Be Your Friend” (RCA, 1991)
19. Iz & Diz, "Mouth (Brad Peep's Remix for Friends)" (Classic, 2002)
18. E.S.P., "It's You" (Underground, 1986)
17. Romanthony, "The Wanderer" (Black Male, 1993)
16. MK feat. Alana, "Love Changes (Deep Mix)" (Charisma, 1993)
15. Earth People, "Dance" (Kool Groove Records, 1989)
14. Chez Damier, "Untitled" (KMS, 1993)
13. Cajmere feat. Dajae, "Brighter Days" (Cajual, 1992)
12. Black Science Orchestra, "New Jersey Deep" (FFRR, 1994)
11. Frankie Knuckles Presents, "Your Love" (Trax, 1987)
10. Mr. Fingers, "Can You Feel It?" (Trax, 1986)
09. Saint Etienne, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Masters at Work Dub)" (Warner Brothers, 1991)
08. Theo Parrish, "I Can Take It" (Sound Signature, 2001)
07. Moodymann, "J.A.N." (KDJ, 2001)
06. Round Two, "New Day" (Main Street, 1995)
05. Crustation, "Flame (Mood II Swing Borderline Insanity Dub Mix)" (Jive, 1997)
04. Blaze, "Lovelee Dae" (Classic, 1997)
03. Joe Smooth Inc. featuring Anthony Thomas, "The Promised Land" (D.J. International, 1987)
02. Pepe Bradock, "Deep Burnt" (Kif, 1999)
01. Chez N Trent, "Morning Factory" (Prescription, 1994)