And because of my deep rooted guilt I have made a list of the 39 other best albums of the year in no particular order...
Radiohead - Kings of Limbs I think that when people first heard King of Limbs they felt like I did when Kid A came out… I was a bit disappointed, but mostly confused. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting from them at the time and I was not ready to make the jump with them. I loved King of Limbs at first listen, though. I just got it. I felt like it was daring enough to be different and might be their best album since OK computer. It’s strange, minimalist, hollow, but full of sounds and beauty. It’s been called a headphone album… and it truly is. Many people would say this is a garbage album, but I beg to differ. King of Limbs potentially is the first original recorded album by Radiohead, if you believe the In Rainbows / OK Computer conspiracy (I do), in almost a decade… It’s a short album… I felt cheated… not going to lie. I feel as though they aren’t trying hard enough to get something to us… which sounds weird when writing about a band that gave an album out for free a few years back, but still true when considering the actual material being produced by them. I do wonder how hard it is for them to work together, but however hard it is, if it produces these short bursts of genius… I’ll accept it, but I’m not necessarily happy about it… BUT, Goddamnit they still managed to make one of the best albums of the year.
Toy - David Bowie First… I’ll say. This was recorded in 2001 and shelved. It’s an interesting album of new songs (new to 2001) and reimagining of older obscure songs. It was stolen and sold on Ebay. The guy who bought it ripped it and released it online. So it was made available publicly in 2011 and… it’s really good. Firstly… the download includes 14 songs, I doubt this would be the case with an official release, which excuses the very few clunkers, including the VERY annoying and weird in no good way first song uncle floydd, which had a much better (still weird) release later on Heathen as “Afraid.” Pass the few odd songs… this album is stellar. It would have come out in 2001 before heathen in order to put it into context. These were recorded during what would become the Heathen sessions and some of these songs were released as B-sides for Heathen Songs. This is perhaps my favorite Bowie era and a treasure and it was a nice surprise in 2011…
The Strokes – Angles So, it’s not “this is it?” but then again it’s not fair to judge them on this sort of level. No, the Strokes will never make another album quite like you want, but what can you do? ... This is the first album that the band actually wrote all their own parts… Julian just showed up a few times a week and sang over the recorded (probably finished) material the band had produced. Not much is different, though, the band plays exactly as Julian has been instructing them to for the past 10 years, but now they are coming up with it themselves and there are a few new turns and surprises like Machu Pichu, which at first listen sounds silly, but its full of Blondie reggae goodness until you realize it’s a new classic Strokes song.
Katy B On a Mission Best female dance pop album of the year; hands down goes to Katy B’s On a Mission. This album is good start to finish. Katy B has the chops to also back her attitude. Sure, it’s often vapid pop, but it’s so well done and executed it’s undeniably one of the best female pop albums in a long time. Katy B, trumps most famous pop tarts vocally and lyrically while never steering away from her real girl “bratty Brit attitude,” a role she (most likely lives and) emulates very well. I’ve seen many of her performances from many festivals (online) this summer and she effectively performs better and without much of the fanfare many other dance artist resort too and DELIVERS on her own terms. I haven’t even mentioned how this is one of the best collection of Dubsteb songs released like…
Ice Age - New Brigade These guys are brand new, but play like they’ve been at it since the ice age. Believe the hype! From the intro to the end these boys rock out slugecore style (and I LOVE IT.) I can only imagine the raw power of their performance… a barrage of raw sonic guitar klang with intense teenage dutch boys trashing around. They have been compared to nirvana in their early career and they could be a “Nevermind” away from accomplishing it… I think its possible and that album would be on my top 10 of that said year, for sure.
Smith Westerns - Dye it Blond So good… not much to say that hasn’t been said… this came out in January and I am still playing it all the time. Nough’ said. Ok, here’s a bit more: Teenagers with guitars write songs influenced by the Beatles, Beach Boys and the recent garage rock lo.fi scene. Probably the best act doing what I described. One line from “new still” describes this music best, “I wanna tell you, you’re hard to resist.” They are!
Male Bonding – Endless Now. On their second album, Endless now, Male Bonding has released one of the best garage fuzz rock albums of the year. They go a little soft on their sophomore album (see the pun, there… lol) and tone down the fuzz in the production and it’s not a bad thing at all… actually, it’s a good thing all around. The lyrics are much more audible and feel part of the music instead of simply muffled in along there with the music; this simple act almost takes them out of the whole lo/fi sub genre category all together… which in many ways they should not be associated to at all. This is a band that no one is paying attention to and it’s a big Shame! It breaks my heart.
Yelle - Safari Disco Club If, you wear skinny jeans and don’t agree that Yelle are the best or you don’t know who these guys are, then shame on you. For the rest of you I introduce you to the most fun album of the year! Yeah, yeah, yeah…It’s French and you probably won’t get what Singer Julie Budet is singing, but this is surely not the point to listening to Safarie Disco Club… necessarily, although the lyrics are really quite smart and, again that word: fun… and besides… learning French to understand the lyrics would be a great excuse and or reason to learn French! It’s been said that it’s hard to write a GOOD simple pop song. I think that’s true. It’s easy to write a bad one, though… and Yelle, just doesn’t know how to do that… but somehow… I really don’t think I’ts hard for them to write a good one either… sort of like Kesha… well let’s be honest sister can write a really good simple pop song
Beyonce 4 Bitch, listen to the album and tell me it’s not one of the best albums of the year. I don’t like Beyonce usually… not really I guess, but this album is undeniable. Beyonce amasses all her skills and strengths and uses them well and intelligently on a fairly unassuming album. It’s fresh to hear such an epic album without feeling the weight of some overly contrite concept weighing it down … It’s early good reviews made me curious to listen to it and its made its way on my Mp3 player ever since. Although, when writing this… and having to listen to it out loud in my apartment I felt a bit embarrassed… won’t lie. Which is stupid, but the truth is I listen to this album on my headphones all the time. It’s strange though that this album would make its way in a list I’d make especially when you look at what else is on my list and what I like in general, but… really. Lets be fair and fair I am. This was a great album. Now, I don’t listen to every song, but while I do skip some I realize others may love these songs I skip.
Lykke Lee – Wounded Rhymes I never thought I would be a fan of Lykke Lee, but then I heard Wounded Rhymes and I changed my mind, immediately. I am a huge fan of Charlotte Gainsbourg, which this is very reminiscent, and I think this is what Feist should be doing instead of the SOOOOO tiring, sad stuff she does… I really can’t compare this album to anything of Lykke’s past discography since I don’t know it, but I think it’s fair to say this is her more approachable album and somehow, therefore more interesting then her previous releases. Here’s another honesty moment; I knew this should appear on the list, but I hadn’t listened to it in a while, so as I’m compiling this list I realized I should listen to it in order to write about it and then I realized I should in turn listen to it more. And now I do. You should too! At times it feels like an album that doesn’t quite know what it’s suppose to be, but it is not that at all. It’s an artist with an ability to go from drum machine beat dance to country waltz to whatever next Lykke feels like doing next and that’s when you realize it’s an artist that has found that she can do whatever and she does… and beautifully, really.
Tyler the Creator – Goblin Tyler the Creators album did not prove to equal my anticipation. He’s promised his follow up, Wolf, would be less childish. Let’s hope, but there are a few other things Wolf should be. Goblin was much too long. Some songs ranging to 8 minutes… Although, I feel that Hodgy Beats and LeftBrain of OFWGKTL made a superior album then their figure head it’s undeniable that this was, by all means, the best solo male rap album to hit the shelves (aka the internet) this year. Yes, even better then Lil Wayne’s The Carter. Actually, notice the absences of Wayne’s album on my list… it’s a shame, but a reality. Tyler the Creator has made a name of himself due to his outrageous tongue, but this tongue is skilled and no matter what terrible obscenity it’s spitting… you can be sure to be entertained while you are offended. Tyler is a talented young creator and hopefully his next release might not be so ambitious and obscene and in turn work better.
Fucked Up – David comes to life David Comes to Like starts off strong with a great instrumental
reminiscent to sonic youth. It serves well as an opener of this Punk Rock opera. To the best of my knowledge I have never heard of a Punk Opera before. With having nothing to compare it to I still agree that they manage to effectively create a 90 minute punk rock tour de force. With that said it’s length would be its only fault. It’s too long. Punk rock’s three progression chord procession doesn’t lend itself well for long listening (unless you’re a punk, I suppose.) Even, by Fucked Up’s standards the 19 songs on this album, which are by all means great, are simply too much for one album, especially when most songs clock in at well over 4 minutes. In an ipod age I suppose most of us don’t sit and listen to one album much anymore and that my complaint may be irrelevant in the non album era we are approaching. Regardless this is another hard hitting album by one of the best punk outfits to exist in a while.
Atarie teenage riot – is this hyperreal Soooo many reviews state the fact that in the Obama era are a band like ATR necessary. Well, like (the HOTTEST man on the planet) Alec Empire would say, “YES” and probably more so now then ever… politics aside, which is nearly impossible with a band like ATR, this album is still totally necessary, last time I checked no one is doing anything like it at the moment… except for Crystal Castels, but its not quite the same.This is by far their best produced album… I am a fan of atarie teenage riot and I welcomed their new album and scoffing aside at how POLITICAL it is it’s a really good ATR album and that’s stating a lot… Putting politics into play I agree with everything that is said/sung/screamed on the album and I think everyone should take what Alec Empire and his cohorts are trying to say more seriously. But really if you have ever been a fan of ATR or Rage against the machine, for that matter this album is a complete gift. What’s nice is that these guys are for real. Honestly for goodness sake for real… as in like… they are reuniting to make this album… not for money… perhaps for fame, but it’s such a small scale of fame its not worth mentioning… This album was made out of sheer hate and love. And it’s really quite great.
Hunx and his punks – Too Young to be in love “WOOO, Wooo, wooo woo, Woo Yahwooo, Can you get the feeling?” The answer is yes. Openly gay lyrics sung over 60s du-op rock makes for the most devilishly fun album of the year. Unlike their previous albums this album is super clean, but its undertone is so great. Its 60s influences are used sooo efficiently. I’ve heard stories of their live show naked parties, and I can only imagine how these songs can translate to outrageous parties, but they are also songs laced in nostalgic 60s and simplistic songwriting. I play this at the café and there is no problem. It’s a favorite.
Bass Drum Of Death – GB City Bass Drum of Death are a fantastic garage rock duo! From the first rumbles of the drums on the opening song you know that you’re in for a raucous of a treat! And for the next 32 minutes there is no way you won’t shake a little tail bone. I even bet that within 2 minutes not only will you’re ass be shaking you’ll also be shaking your head along to the grove of their, well lack of better word - swag… and by the second song off of GB City you’ll be saying… these guys are my new favorite band… and they should be! They, obviously (to nauseam,) can be easily compared to the white stripes, but they are different in many ways. Heavier, better drummer and no weird restrictions on their songs are some of the differences, but one thing they have in common is how I felt when I first heard their music… JOY, to have found a new favorite band!
Das Racist – Relax Hipster rappers? Jokester Rappers… whatever they are they are really good at it including being rappers. I’ll be honest, (because I am.) I hadn’t really jumped on the bandwagon, but while compiling this list… I had to go and listen to stuff I had passed up that had been highly reviewed… a few made the list, this one did. It’s good rapping over awesome experimental imaginative productions. It’s often silly, but never as silly as their breakthrough hit “Combination KFC and Taco Bell.” Its fresh and it’s exciting sound is reminiscent of that first time I heard the Neptunes and it sort of makes a person wonder why its so hard for influential artist to make an album like “Relax” and that’s when you realize this album’s the bomb… sure it imitates, but anyone it imitates couldn’t hold a stick to their swag. Oh and I didn’t even mention that this features some of the best rapping all year.
Cut Copy – Zonoscope why is this one of the best albums of the year? I can’t explain quite put it into words, but listen to it and you’ll know why. Its chill, but you still want to dance, but not in a crazy way … just a nice swaying way. This is another band that whatever plagiarism or retro accusation you can throw at them; you can in turn simply state that they use their influences well and create their own discography that I am glad to add to my Mp3 player, etc… This is honestly a kind of album I could put on anytime and I’d be ok with it on. I mean… you would think something that can be best described as a 80s influenced sound would have to be something you’d need to be in the mood for, but nah. I really loved this album. I believe it is Cut Copies best album.
Washed out - within and without So, I really love this washed out act… from the album art, which was procured from a Cosmo magazine, really…. from an article entitled “is this the most satisfying sex position”… the Album art has been panned, but I think its genius and it fits the album well. I could see myself have sex to this album… I just think it would work for that purpose. This was the year of chill wave and Washed Out really stood out of the crowed in a scene of many and it did so by subtly making a Chillwave album instead off branching off to greater heights. Unlike a lot of washed out cotemporary’s, though, “Within and Without” can be appreciated with headphones and on speakers with different effects, but neither method diminish its washed out beauty. I’d play this at the café, in my living room with friends or in my bedroom while having sex and it would work all around… Albeit, on different levels, though. I’ll leave you with a line from another review I read on this album that I liked and I think best describes washed out, “Trip hop intended to make love to, instead of fucking.”
Grimes - Halfaxa/ Geidi Primes I am cheating a bit with these albums on my list. Firstly, these are two albums and secondly both these albums were somewhat released in 2010 (online for free and available on tapes…) I felt it was fair, though, since both these albums received reissues in 2011 and reached wider markets, and I figured that they could be placed in a 2011 list. All that aside, these albums deserve to be on here. Montreal, often witch house associated, artist Grimes (Claire Boucher) kills it on these albums and she effectively uses experimenting in order to create great pop numbers, and apparently she doesn’t know how to actually play music… AWESOME! It’s hard to explain Grimes. I’ve tried, but it always sounds abstract and or boring and … well on paper what she does sound like it would be, but it REALLY isn’t. So I won’t try. Just give Grimes a spin, but I am sure you will be in the near future as I predict a good career for Claire Boucher and her alter ego Grimes.
Handsome furs – sound kapital dropping all the guitars and amping the dirty electro feel of their sound works… really well. Sound Kapital is the sound of a band finding their sound and an artist learning to relax out of his previous shell. I got to see Handsome Furs while they were starting to write these songs and Dan Boeckner expressed his anxiety about letting the guitar go, but like letting Wolf Parade go this summer Dan did it and we are all the better for it, because we got what may be the first proper Handsom Furs album. It rocks without using any pick or guitar. It also finale sets them completely apart from many of there contemporary rock duos such as the Kills without really varying from what they were doing before.
Thurston Moore – demolished thoughts The last thing you would think the noisiest person in rock would do is make an introspective guitar and violin album. But he does… this is thurston’s third album and not even his best, but it’s still a great one! Beck and Thurtson Moore together on one album is soo much musical magic and it truly shines on this super low key and unassuming album. On first listen it’s easy to shrug it off, but it truly is a beautiful album.
The Naked and Famous New Zealand superstars and award winning duo Naked and The Famous didn’t quite make cross over to the American market as some may have hopped. This was an album that has been available and quite popular in most of Europe and Australia since 2010… Since the album was only released in March of 2011 it’s eligible for this list, but it’s a shame, though, that I hadn’t been dancing to this album already. This should be on everyone’s playlist. So what do they sound like? They sound unique, although using every indie band trick in the book and magnificently arranging this together under a sort of Thom York esthetic. In this case Thom Powers is the engineer behind Passive me, Aggressive you and he does a great job of making a relentless dance album that conjures the Stars, Radiohead, MGMT and so on and then there are moments that conjure sleigh bells or nine inch nails. Give the singles Young Blood and Punching in a Dream a try and I promise you’ll want to hear more.
Shotgun Jimmy -Transistor Sister Sackville famous, Shotgun Jimmy, releases arguably his best LP with this third release; Transistor Sister. Jimmy’s guitar playing is still spastic and a bit random, but the addition of a studio to this recording clearly has helped Jimmy put together a much tighter and cohesive album then his previous discography, but this of course doesn’t mean that Transistor Sister steers away from Jimmy’s normal influences like Pavement and early Flaming Lips, but instead it just means he can get that much closer to creating his crowing achievement; his slanted and enchanted or transmissions from planet earth. And in many ways it is. Jimmie Killpatrick is a very talented Canadian artist and I am honored to get to serve him coffee! But, on a more serious note I believe it will only take a little time and another album or 2 before Shotgun Jimmy gets a chance to blow up big.
Ryan Adams – Ashes and Fires Promised to be RA’s return to heartbreaker, not quite… But, it sure is his best work on one solo record. When you listen to the album its easy to scale down its sound to Ryan and a guitar and imagine how these songs were written by him plucking away, possibly on rainy afternoons. I’ve always loved Ryan’s voice and it’s really showcased and used on this album.
Mogwai – Hardcore will never die, but you will Mogwai return with their 7th album. Hardcore will never die is unarguably Mogwai’s best album. It is their tightest and strongest album to date. There is a lot less experimental bits on the album and there is of is reserved towards the end. Mogwai are the best hardcore shoegaze band around and albums like these prove this fact.
The Dears – Degenerate Street The Dears have long been a favorite band of mine. In the emergence of 80s inspired gloom rock I always thought the Dears did it best. The Dears create indulgent and grandiose songs; sung, sappily, with emotions reminiscent of Robert Smith and Morrissey over a wall of sound created by the collective of Montreal musicians. Degenerate Street sounds like the band unleashing unabashedly without worrying about expectations and they end up putting together 14 songs (spanning an hour) that make up a truly great album to add to a great bands discography.
Ema – Past Life Martyrdom It seems that in the last few years the weirder you can get the better you are… sometimes having no song structure can be a shtick or a thing you do because you can’t play. I find that a lot of indie critic latch on to different, experimental, hard to listen to music in order to be too cool for school and that annoys me. EMA could be one of those artist used in that respect, but there is more to EMA. First of all she is not one of the many recent ex-folk guitar troubadours that found sounds and interesting production to make their sound more interesting. EMA has been doing this for a while by her self and in a previous band called Gowns; you could call her a veteran of this stuff. Past Life Martyrdom is not a radio hits type of an album in any sense of the word. In fact, I’m not quite sure when this album is appropriate to be played and that might be its beauty.
Dirty Beaches - badlands What do you get when a film obsessed noise maker like Alex Hungtai tries to make a lo/fi 60s infused one man garage band album You get an album littered with screeching guitars over 60s surf rock; Badland is what you get. It’s a noisy affair of hollow guitar sounds and gentle warbling drums over repetitive chords and adding Alex’s maniacal howls this album is a very eerie lo fi album that really can’t be described. Oh, and it’s all really a good thing!
Braids – native speaker Man, Canadians love to make introspective shoegaze. But, that’s not a bad thing because bands like Braids keep proving to us and the rest of the world that Canada is Ace at it. Braids had a great year with the release of their widely well received debut album which was short listed on the Polaris Prize list. It enjoyed a lot of spins on radio college stations and they enjoyed some good press at international festivals such as SXSW.
Gauntlet Hair – Gaunlet Hair A bit late in the game… the album was realeased in the second week of Oct while I was compiling this list. The album absolutely blew me away and has instantly gained a place in my new favorite category! Lo-Fi noise/wave done right is always a treat! These guys are reminiscent of wavves with a little of the Cults pop sensibility. It’s quite nice, even if they are the gazzilionth act to sound this way this year. But, the way they drop Dub Step beats in with the crashing guitar and cymbals… you know you are hearing something new. On top of all this every song on this short album is a possible single. There are no major clunkers on the album and it moves along perfectly without stopping a beat
Cults – Cults The very anticipated debut album by Cults did not disappoint and definitely helped grow their fan base. Lead single Go Outside is a shoe in for my favorite song of the year.
Sloan – the double Cross I never thought I would say this in any year starting with a 2, but Sloan put out an amazing album this year. Like, no lie. It’s the album they should have made all these years, but somehow always managed to avoid making but… why? I am not sure. It’s great; enough said.
Yuck – yuck We can’t expect the Smashing Pumpkins to revisit their 90s era anytime soon. We, also, don’t want top listen to more then a few songs from most of the bands Yuck takes their inspiration from. In that sense this album is a best of album of songs from the 90s you’ve never heard before. oCOOL! These English lads are very press weary and hate to talk about their influences and would rather talk about their guitars. Yuck really is a return to the 90s esthetic in all the sense of the word. COOL!
Ducktails, III arcade Dynamics On this album Matthew Mondanile, of Real Estate, steers a bit away from his previous solo album and incorporates a stronger song structure in his usual ChillWave sound and it works great. In the last year we have been bombarded by these kinds of acts putting together these dream beat, hypnagogic pop albums/cassette tapes recorded on 8 tracks and overlaid with computer engineering late at night in their bedrooms, but I see nothing wrong with a somewhat oversaturation of new acts doing something I like. They each have their own thing and you can like Library Voice and Tapes on Tapes, while I prefer Ducktails and Gauntlet Hair… In fact, many of the acts on my list could be categorized as lofi, chillwave or dream beat and its not only a particular bias, but also I feel many of these artist are making some of the more interesting music at the moment.
Tennis - Cape Dory I’m a sucker for a cute love story. And Tennis is a cute love story. Newly weds Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley head out on the open seas and take a 7 month honeymoon trip around the east Atlantic seaboard. While, on this trip they start conceiving an idea for a band and album and a few months later we have the insanely cute album Cape Dory. Its nostalgic in tone musically and is an obvious love song to each other wrapped in sweet sha la la la’s and wooo woo wooo’s and finger snapping rhythm. I really hope that Tennis is able to replicate their sense of playfulness with a fuller and more produced sound on their upcoming album this would enhance their overall sound and perhaps bring a little more to the table. This was a great album, but somehow it feels flat and I believe this shouldn’t have necessarily been so.
Coma Cinema – Blue Suicide Here is possibly the most indie offering on my list. Coma Cinema is one man band Matt Cothran. Recording in his, now empty, childhood house Matt expects to continue recording in this house for the rest of his life. Good if it manages to produce such gems as Blue Suicide. At times while you listen you feel like you are listening to an early demo of Billy Corgan trying to find his sound and its entertaining knowing that we are listening to a new talent doing just that. If you are a fan of Shotgun Jimmy and the like this is right up your alley. Oh, and the guy doesn’t believe in selling his music so it’s available for free on his own website. He won’t even take donations for his music.
WU LYF – Go Tell Fire To the Mountain I’m not even sure how to pronounce that acronym, but I do know what it stands for; World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation. What does it mean? Why do they call themselves this? No one really knows and this band has been mysterious about everything it does except releasing its music and playing live shows. Outside of this not much is known and they intend to keep it that way. They fuck off the press, but they still proclaim them the best new band of the year. Cool! WU LYF comes across as a sort of Broken Social Scene on Heroine, dirty Heroine, fronted by Captain Beefheart. The album was recorded in an old church and this is evident in its huge propulsive sounds and heavy hollow sounding drum rolls and bass lines. So much hype was attributed to this album and this band and they didn’t really seem willing to ride the wave, but nonetheless they ended up touring and selling out all over the world. We will be hearing more about this band very soon.
Charles Bradley – no time for dreaming Charles is called the screaming eagle of soul and there is no better description for this powerhouse voice of his, and at the tender age of 51, after years of living as a chef and constantly dreaming, Charles Bradley is finale enjoying success doing what he loves doing; singing the blues. This was certainly the summer of Bradley. He played almost every summer musical festival you can think of, including headlining Sackville’s, very own, SappyFest. These performances have mesmerized and flabbergasted thousands who have seen Charles perform. These performances created a demand for his album to such an extent that it has to be reissued. In the era of download… it’s impressive that an artist can create a demand for reprinting and album… This album is for sure going to be on many best of list at the end of this year.
Neon Indian - Era Extrana As soon as you press play or double click on the opening song to this album you feel transported into a new world, due in part to the crazy intro that opens Neon Indian’s second proper release Era Extrana. When you think Chillwave, Neon Indian should come to mind. This was not a Chillwave album conceived with love making in mind, instead it feels larger then that and attempts to create huge songs that will fit will in arenas and huge festival stages. Neon Indian are known for their trippier approach to chillwave, but on this heavily produced album the sound is kept lush and tighter. Although, Psychic Chasm may be a better album, I would suggest to anyone to start with Era Extrana as a starting point to Neon Indian.
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