Better late than never, here is my best of 2011 Album List.
10. The Bewitched Hands – Birds and Drums These French rockers come from the small town of Reims--which is known more for producing champagne than it is for producing bands. And The Bewitched Hands bring a sound that is unique, playful and melodic music that is quite original.
9. Cults – Cults Listening to this album makes me think about the Jackson 5 of the 70's. Happy, optimistic music with a certain level of reverence to Motown melodies. It's hard to argue that Go Outside wasn't one of the best songs of the year.
8. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light TV on the Radio has quickly emerged as one of the best bands from the United States. While critics did not embrace Nine Types of Light as much as their earlier albums, I feel this was a highly-underrated work and solid from start to finish.
7. Jay Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne Typically, I do not add many rap albums to my best-of list, but my number 7 and number 6 on the list feature two rap albums. Jay Z and Kanye West turn in some of the best singles of the year with this album. And despite spending too much time bragging about their wealth, it's apparent that their talent has earned it.
6. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up Ishmael Butler leads this rap group and you can hear elements from his days with Digable Planets. This is one of the most creative rap albums I have heard in quite some time. There is an innovate, jazz-based sound that draws you in.
5. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo I am very late to the Kurt Vile bandwagon--and bought this album only after seeing it on my friend's best of 2011 list. And it's a shame that I found this album so late as it is a gem. Vile is a new breed of Lou Reed or Bob Dylan. Yet, his album is one that is from a guy who isn't trying to hard to fit into any specific formula.
4. Eddie Veddar – Ukelele Songs While my days of believing Pearl Jam can do no wrong are long gone, this simple album by Eddie Vedder was such a pleasant surprise in 2011. Just Eddie and a ukulele. And the combination of Vedder's baritone voice with the light and perky strum just goes together so well.
3. The Antlers – Burst Apart After buying Burst Apart, it quickly became an album I listened to every day on loop. It's drifty, sleepy sounds grab at your ears and keep a tight grip.
2. Portugal the Man – In the Mountain In the Cloud This album seemed to be overlooked by virtually every music critic when assembling their best of the year list. But this is a remarkable album that does not contain one bad song and I do hope it becomes one of those albums that gets a following a year after it's release.
1. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost Every year when I put together this list, I pick my number one album is the album I believe that if you had to spend any of your hard-earned money on, that it'd be worth every penny. This album is not just the best album of the year, but one of the best in the past five years. The songwriting is simple in its approach, yet the melodies are inspiring. Along with Pink Floyd-esque songs like My Ma there is a track (Die) that pays homage to 70's metal. Such a wide-range of sounds, yet it all comes together to create one heck of an addictive album.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Wilco – The Whole Love
Yuck – Yuck
Death Cab for Cutie – Codes and Keys
The Black Keys – El Camino
Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
MOST OVERRATED:
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy (One of the worst albums I have ever heard.)
10. Local Natives – Gorilla Manor This band that puts a hole in my theory that all bands from LA are terrible. Local Natives put together a wonderful debut album.
9. Broken Bells – Broken Bells Who knew that mixing one part Gnarls Barkley and one part The Shins would produce such good music. It’s a shame that this album was overlooked by so many this year.
8. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz My expectations were much higher for the first Sufjan album to be released in five years; and compared with his previous works, Sufjan’s Ade of Adz is a choppy, less refined piece of work. But the brilliance of Stevens still shines through in many of the tracks.
7. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs The previous Arcade Fire albums have landed in my #1 album of the year slots every time. While The Suburbs doesn’t quite live up to their earlier works, it’s still a very good album with several remarkable singles.
6. The Black Keys - Brothers When bands abandon their sound to get more radio friendly, it typically backfires. However, the Black Keys made it work with Brothers.
5. LCD Soundsystem – This is Happening I wanted to hate this album. The hype. The blatant foraging from the 80’s new wave catalog. But James Murphy is a master craftsman at making music and there’s no denying it; as evident by this catchy, creative album that is one of the best of the year.
4. Vampire Weekend – Contra A band with a sound that borrows from Paul Simon’s 1986 Graceland album, it’s easy to dismiss Vampire Weekend as a guilty pleasure. But over two albums, they have rarely produced a bad track. Contra is a fun, energetic and just darn good album.
3. Jeremy Messersmith – The Reluctant Graveyard After just one listen of this album by Minnesota native Jeremy Messersmith, I was hooked on his clever lyrics, excellent vocals and Beatles-esque song craftsmanship.
2. Sleigh Bells – Treats This band geeks out and doesn’t give a d*mn what you think. Heavy hitting base. Distortion. And. Just. Great. Music.
1. The Walkmen – Lisbon There are times when one’s pace is slowed because the task at hand is too difficult to grasp at faster speeds. Then there are times when the pace is slowed because—well—we want to take our time to enjoy the journey. The Walkman’s Lisbon album is in no hurry; they are taking their time to show you that they’ve mastered a sound all their own that you're sure to enjoy.
Honorable Mention:
Surfer Blood – Astro Coast
Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
The Bewitched Hands On Top of Our Heads – Hard to Cry EP
Here's my list of the best singles of 2009 in no particular order. Enjoy!
Roll Up Your Sleeves - We Were Promised Jetpacks Poised and Ready - Brendan Benson Losin Yo Head - Monsters of Folk Kiss with a Fist - Florence & The Machine Feeling the Pull - The Swell Season This Tornado Loves You - Neko Case Islands - The xx Don't Haunt this Place - The Rural Alberta Advantage Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective My Girls - Animal Collective Nothing to Worry About - Peter Bjorn & John The Fear - Lily Allen Daylight - Matt & Kim Young Adult Friction - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Lisztomania - Phoenix Rome - Phoenix 1901 - Phoenix Pulling on a Line - Great Lakes Swimmers When the Lights are Out - Cheap Trick Oh My God - Ida Maria I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked - Ida Maria Anti-Orgasm - Sonic Youth Idiot Heart - Sunset Rubdown 11th Dimension - Julian Casablancas River of Brakelights - Julian Casablancas You Never Know - Wilco Said the People - Dinosaur Jr. Breed (Live) - Nirvana Silver Hands Trembling - Flaming Lips
Best Singles Coming in 2010 Horchata – Vampire Weekend Written in Reverse – Spoon Heaven Can Wait – Charlotte Gainsbourg
Here it is. My annual list of the best albums of the year. Up Next Tomorrow: Best Singles of 2009 #10 Artist: Great Lakes Swimmers Album: Lost Channels
One of the many folk-pop acts that have flooded the music world over the last few years, Great Lakes Swimmers stands out from the crowd with well-crafted melodies and earnest, simple lyrics. In many ways, you can sense this band is still working at crafting their sound, but listening to them find their identity along the way has been a joy.
Listen to: Pulling on a Line
#9 Artist: Wilco Album: Wilco (The Album)
Our Chicago darlings still have yet to match the brilliance of their Magnum Opus, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. But their latest self-titled album certainly does take a cross section of all the sounds the band has embraced over the last decade and puts on display all of the wonderful musical talents of one of the greatest bands of our time.
Listen to: You Never Know
#8 Artist: Flaming Lips Album: Embryonic
Channeling Pink Floyd through a distortion-filled, sometimes overly-gimmicky filter, the Flaming Lips latest album, Embryonic, is like a great infomercial. At first, you’re not sure why you’re giving it any attention, but after 10 minutes, you’re fully sold.
Listen to: Silver Trembling Hands
#7 Artist: Julian Casablancas Album: Phrazes for the Young
Perhaps I miss the Strokes too much, but I couldn't’t help but fall for many of the tunes on this debut by Casablancas. From a Motown-inspired tune to an electro-synth pop song, the album is certainly ambitious—and certainly a good substitute until we can all hear the next Strokes album.
Listen to: 11th Dimension
#6 Artist: Nirvana Album: Live at Reading
Nirvana brought an energy that nary any other band has ever brought to the stage—and is fully apparent from the very first moments of this album all the way through to the last smash of a guitar. Yes, Kurt Cobain is still missed. But listening to his band at its peak of success will lend some pause to that longing.
Listen to: Breed
#5 Artist: Ida Maria Album: Fortress ‘Round My Heart
Some music is just meant to be fun: a hot mess of punk, youthful rebellion and energy. And with songs like “I Like You So Much Better (when You’re Naked), Ida Maria fits squarely into this category. With punk-pop, influences and a sometimes raspy, Rod Stewart-esque voice, this Swedish vixen brings a style that seems borrowed but still comes off as new.
Listen to: I Like You So Much Better (when You’re Naked)
#4 Artist: Sunset Rubdown Album: Dragonslayer
Spencer Krug’s lyrics are those of a cryptic poet—engaging but confusing, melodic yet disjointed, calming but chaotic. And somewhere in the middle of the mess came this great album that harnesses Krug’s talents just enough to make for an accessible sound, but not so much as to smother the creativity. After all, sometimes it’s beautiful when we color outside the lines.
Listen to: Idiot Heart
#3 Artist: Dinosaur Jr. Album: Farm
This is the greatest album that Pearl Jam never made: a collection of melodic guitar solos, heavy-hearted vocals and song craftsmanship that many a great band used to start the grunge movement (and many a horrible band went on to poorly copy and destroy the movement…yes I’m looking at you Creed.) J Mascis is a master at guitar solos and this album shows his skills off with three tracks that are well over five minutes long.
Listen to: Said the People
#2 Artist: Animal Collective Album: Merriweather Post Pavilion
A collage of accessible electronic psychedelic tunes that borrows from the Beach Boys, Grateful Dead and African tribal beats, Merriweather Post Pavilion is Animal Collective’s finest album by a great margin. Previous works by the band were too ambitious in my opinion, and lacked a cohesive melody and structure. This album is proof that just because you have a plethora of colors on your palette, you don’t need to use every one of them to make a great piece of art. And Animal Collective have done just that, crafting songs that are addictive, ecclectic and toe-tapping good.
Listen to: My Girls
#1 Artist: Phoenix Album: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
For much of the year, I liked to think of Phoenix’s latest album as my secret treasure of an album. But then something happened. The rest of the country discovered them and soon they could be heard on radio stations and Cadillac ads. And for good reason. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is an album that accomplishes a rare feat: every track from start to finish is really good. Many highly rated albums—even on my list—have the occasional one to three tracks that are “skipable,” or just not on par with the rest of the album. Using a combination of electronic and pop rock sounds, they’ve created the best album of 2009.
Best Albums of 2009 So Far (in No Particular Order): Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Wilco - Wilco (The Album) Great Lakes Swimmers - Lost Channels Sunset Rubdown - Dragon Slayer The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart Sonic Youth - The Eternal Cheap Trick - The Latest Matt & Kim - Grand Ida Maria - Fortress 'Round My Heart
Most Disappointing: Peter Bjorn & John - Living Thing
Band I Have Given Up on This Year: Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Still Trying to Get Around to Listening to the New Albums from: Modest Mouse Dinasaur Jr. Dirty Projectors Grizzly Bear St. Vincent Bat for Lashes The Flaming Lips Dead Weather Neko Case
Here it is. My official annual top 10 albums of 2008 list. This year, I've included You Tube clips of each band so you can see and hear them instantly! What albums did I leave off my list that you feel belonged on it? Comment on this post to let me know!
10. Swell Season – Live from Chicago
I admit this album is a bit of a “cheat” choice and a make-up addition to the list for not adding the Once soundtrack to my 2007 list. From a recording of their show at the Chicago Theatre in 2008—where I was in attendance—this group really delivered a performance that left nobody in the building doubting how downright talented they all are. If you haven’t seen the movie Once, go rent it ASAP. Then, go buy the soundtrack and music from Swell Season—featuring the Once duo with a full band. Some people are just born with the skill. And this band proves it.
9. Army Navy – Army Navy
I hated the Smashing Pumpkins when they first came out. I thought Billy Corgan’s voice was too odd for my ears. But the unique vocals were something I grew to appreciate and I was—until recently—a big SP fan. Army Navy can be described in the same way. The vocals my bother you at first. They sound whiny and flimsy. But once they grow on you, you’ll hear an album that is a fine and unique brand of pop music.
8. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
A critically-acclaimed album, so I was swayed into buying this album. Upon first listen, I admit I thought only one thing: overrated. But I gave it another shot and discovered this is an album that grows on you slowly. With elements of Prince, New Wave, Beck and old R&B, the group puts together a unique sound that draws you in deeper.
7. Santogold - Santogold
It took me some convincing to give Santogold a shot, as she seemed more like an M.I.A. copycat from a distance. But a closer listen to her self-titled album disproves this assumption with a wide range of sound that borrows heavily from the 80s, but updates the sound with gracefulness and rhythm.
6. Foals - Antidotes
Foals are a math rock band. (Math Rock is music that sounds electronic/techno, but is actually created with real instruments). Since I’m not generally a fan of this type of sound, it takes a good album for me to take a liking to it. Foals accomplishes this with Antidotes; a catchy, powerful album that demands your attention.
5. Josh Ritter – The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter
Technically an album from 2007, I had overlooked Josh Ritter for years until discovering this effort. (Truthfully, with the emergence of Robin Thicke—son of 80’s TV icon Alan Thicke—I made an unfair assumption of Josh Ritter and avoided his music altogether.) But I’m glad I gave the guy a shot, because he’s a heck of a songwriter. This album takes elements of Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and reworks them into Ritter’s own brand of sound.
4. Albert Hammond, Jr. – Como Te Llama
Albert Hammond Jr., of The Strokes fame, is not an easy guy to like; as is the entire Strokes group. They all act like they’re too cool for school; like you’re missing out on the big joke. But the annoying attitude does not transfer to Albert Hammond’s latest album, which picks up that Strokes sound; removing some of the punk elements and replacing them with more harmony. The result is a good, classic pop rock album.
3. Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight
Frightened Rabbit are what Snow Patrol had the potential to be: very good. An album that at first listen sounds like a Scotsman beat up the lead singer of Counting Crows and took over; but after a few more listens, you’ll realize it’s much more than that. This album is a truly great pop effort.
2. Clear Tigers – Brutal
This artist is hard to describe. Sometimes, you hear the Shins, other times I Am Kloot. But overall, the song development and creativity of this album is remarkable. Many textures and layers and a catchiness that will get you hook you in. My favorite song: Igloo, which sounds like a modern pop song using the framework of an old 1920s French tune.
1. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
If you would have told me at the beginning of the year that my top album of the year would come from a band whose primary influences seem to be African pop artists and 1980’s Paul Simon, I’d have said you are crazy. There is so much about this band that I should hate. One, the Paul Simon influence. Two, their overtly ivy school preppy style. Three, MTV has even pushed this band.
Yet ever since the album was released way back in January 2008, it has consistently found my iTunes and CD players and I knew it would take quite an album to top it for the year’s top honor. It’s catchy, well written and fun music that will get your toe tapping. I urge you to purchase this album and if you aren’t singing “Who gives a f*#@ about an Oxford comma?/I’ve seen those English dramas toHOO/They’re CruHOOL” within a week, then you can ask me to refund your money…and you can call me Al.
