Best 11 albums of 2011

These 11 Albums represent, I feel if I were asked, “What were you’re favorite albums this year?” So I made a list of 11, since it’s 2011. Yeah, it’s obvious… but having one more then the usual 10, alleviates a lot of my guilt and anxiety over not putting other albums on the list. That’s also why I continued and made an exhaustingly long list of my 50 favourite albums… I could have continued, btw. But, alas… 50 is enough to come up with different things to say and write about. Read the next blog the 39 other, in my opinion, best albums of 2011:

Adele; 21, PJ Harvey ; Let England Shake, Imaginary Cities; Temporary Resident, The Coathangers Larceny and Old Lace, The Weeknd; House of Balloons, Kurt Vile; Smoke Rings for My Halo, Destroyer; Kapputt, The Kills; Blood Pressures, The Vaccines; What did you expect from the Vaccines, Austra; Feel It Break , Mellowhype; Blankendwhite.

*Adele – 21

Undoubtedly, the album of the year is 21 by Adele… a complete surprise to me that this artist would make it in America, but a completely happy surprise – I was not surprised by Adele’s talent, but people’s interest in the artist sure did surprise me. This, her second album, is an utterly beautiful record and it’s an album that even the hardest music-snob critic can’t deny; Adele’s, 21, is great. “Someone Like You,” still gives me Goosebumps each time I hear it. Adele’s beautiful voice, alone, is worth all the buzz and acclaim she’s receiving! I don’t want to write about this album, really. It’s been done, over done… you’ve heard it. You know her. But it’s undeniable that it was the best album of 2011. Tip o’the hat to Adele and Rick Rubin (producer)!

*PJ Harvey, Let England Shake

If there is an artist that you never quite know what their next album will sound like it is, Miss Polly Jean Harvey, but unlike a lot of her peers (ie Bjork, Tori Amos) she manages to effectively use her transformations to her advantage and she always maintains an air of rock artist even when playing the harpsichord. I would love to write this was PJ’s return to form, but it wouldn’t be quite true and only because PJ doesn’t revisit what she’s done in the past, but her energy on this album has returned in such a way that reminds me of her pre chalk (2005) work. The heavy themes on this album (war, death, corrupt government…) are a bit intimidating, but sung and played in a joyous (enough) fashion in order to mask the horrors of the subject and in the hands of PJ and her often cohorts; Mick Harvey and producer Flodd the album never feels too heavy for its own themes. It is an enchanting album that has won Polly many acclaims and is her best selling album since 1993s “Dry.” She worked 2 and a half year creating this album and it was worth the work for us and for her. This album has recently won PJ her second Mercury prize. This is a huge achievement; Polly was the firs female to win it in 2001 and she is now the first artist to win it twice and in exactly a decade. It could easily be said that these were shenanigans so that people could write what I just said but, I call hogwash to their shenanigans’ theory this is simply an amazing album and all its praise is valid. Polly is potentially the best Female Artist of our generation (last 20+ years) but, she is also the most largely ignored Female Artist in North America.

* Imaginary Cities – Temporary Resident

Two, potentially bored, Winnipeg musicians; Rusty Matyas (Waking eyes, Weakerthans) and Marti Sarbit started jamming together in some local watering hole; The Cavern. In turn, they created a set of songs that rival any album from any of their Canadian contemporaries including; Neko Case, the New Pornographers or the Weakerthans. Since releasing their, Polaris Prize short listed, debut album the duo has been touring relentlessly, including an opening slot for seminal indie rock band the Pixies (in which I was privy to their Moncton stop! Awesome, Marti Sarbit’s performance alone stole the show.) Imaginary Cities are not household names and Temporary Resident is not a platinum album, but it sure is the best Canadian release of the year. In the sense that it feels like a true Can Rock album and it is really well executed. Each song is beautiful and Marti’s voice is outstanding and enchanting like on song “Where’d all the living go,” which is definitely in the running for one of my favorite songs of the year, she manages to softly sing with such emotion. It’s good that it was recognized marginally and it will be remembered for its minor achievements, but I hope that we here more from them soon.

*The Coathangers – Larceny and old lace

An album you’ve never heard full of songs you’ve never heard… and if you have heard them… you know why it’s on the top of my top albums of the year. Larceny and Old Lace is a raw, Riot Girl/Math Rock, album with a thin wall of sound that is shaken with every yelp of singer/lead guitarist Julia Kugel… The Coathangers are reminiscent of Erase Errata, Bikini Kill and 90s rrrriot grrrl awesomeness… I honestly listened to this album at least once a day in the last 9 months or so… sometimes more then once… From the first thump of the bass drum and the feral yelps of the all girl band… all girls? I only realized that the main singer is not a guy when I read this bands bio… a cross between Joan Jet and 99% of all punk bands voices, these girls cross genders in ways, were you don’t know if girls are singing about girls or boys are singing about boys or vice straighta, but… its genius. IT’S NOT FOR EVERYONE AND I AM READY TO ACCEPT THAT A HUGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE MAY HATE THIS ALBUM, but this doesn’t decrease its genius if not it increase the credit its due to its achievements. Its dark and twisted lyrics about love and/or confusion of love don’t come off cheap or contrived. The simplistic lyrics are punctuated by sing song choruses you wonder how you hadn’t previously written yourself. This was, like I said above, an album almost no one heard about and it’s a shame, because it’s an album that everyone that has heard it loves it.

*Destroyer – Kapputt

The Trumpet playing on this album, alone, won me over, but then Dan Bejar’s voice is also very enchanting… The Lush sound of Kapputt is always full and the literary and word heavy lyricism of Dan Bejar molds together wonderfully. The Trumpet, I previously mentioned, spread through out the songs really helps the album cohesively. I have to admit that I have never really been a fan of Dan Bejar, but I did fall in love with this album. I didn’t go revisit his back catalogue or anything, perhaps in fear of gaining yet another favorite artist, of which I need no more. But really, I am now just expecting another album of this caliber from this artist and that’s good enough. Dan has a huge following and was a big draw a few sappyfest ago. This album has shown a brighter light on this star and I hope to hear more of him in the future. In the meantime I’ll listen to Kaputt, which has remained on my Mp3 player ever since. Often, reminiscent of Stars and such orchestral pop, Kaputt is clearly Canadian and also in the running for best Canadian Album of the year!

*The Weeknd – house of balloons

Upon listening to the first note on this lush beautiful hip hop/r&b/hipster-hop album, I was hooked and it led me through all the twist and turns it brought (and still brings) me through. If you haven’t heard Abel Tesfay’s magnetic voice, who’s managed to enchant Drake, you have to drop everything and listen to Wicked Games and then you’ll get the idea. Every other mixtape that’s been dropped by The Weeknd hasn’t quite matched House of Balloons, but… that just make me suspect there’s a hoarding of best songs from these sessions awaiting a major release. I say, wait for news and a major release from this artist in 2012. Nothing in R&B in the last few years can touch this album… House of Balloons is truly an instant classic and here’s to hoping it won’t be another one hit wonder for this producer and Abel Tesfay. It’s created a star of Tesfay and received the acclaim of many artist and critics and should be the beginning of a bright new career. Unfortunately, recently they have cancelled more shows then played and have chosen to be quite reclusive. It can potentially work or not for them, though… We should know more soon.

*Kurt Vile – Smoke ring for my halo

Having possibly the best title for an album, ever! Kurt Vile matched it with one of the best lo/fi- introspective guitar strumming album in a very long time… It’s beautiful. Kurt Vile’s guitar picking with his work with War on Drugs was great, but on his solo stuff Kurt really show his chops and crafts an album as lush as ring halos made of smoke. This is Kurt’s fourth solo album in almost less then 4 years and each one is absolutely genius. This guy is a prolific musical genius and with this last album he’s paved his way to a very successful follow up album. The beautiful opening song, “Baby’s Arms” is possibly the best love song of the year and definitely one of my favorite songs of the year. Kurt’s finger picking guitar playing is out of this world and his lyrical word play is remarkable. He’s a real poet both lyrically and musically like many of his influences (Bob Dylan, John Fahey, Stevie Nicks.) Kurt may not have the best voice, neither does Dylan, but he uses what he has so well and effectively he comes off as a great singer. This album will be featured on many best of list this year, for sure.

*The Kills – Blood Pressure

The Kills have never disappointed, yet they remain largely ignored…. not by the world at large, but just the mass American markets, which is a complete failure in the part of – insert name of idiots in charges. These guys could easily, and with Jack white’s full support, take the mantle the White Stripes left behind in the wake of their break up. IE market these guys better… Who knows why they didn’t with this album, though… there songs are rock, approachable, sexy, catchy, fuck’n hot, raw and are completely marketable? Again the Kills topped themselves with a better then last album and Blood Pressure should have been The Kills album that made them break into mainstream and it has in Europe or wider alternative markets, but they should have exploded in ways Adele did or something. Not to mention that both members have made names for themselves outside of their main project.( Getting married to Kate Moss and sharing lead in a band with Jack White.) I’ve been playing this album none stop since it came out and I wish it would also have been playing more around me when I wasn’t playing it myself…

*The Vaccines – What did you expect form the vaccines

The Vaccines, the band touted in all the British music rag’s as the band to bring back guitar-rock to the forefront in 2011… as though it had gone anywhere per say… Did they do it? No, but they sure made one of the best guitar rock albums of the year; one of the best in a long time, even. You should have heard the album or about them by now, if not… now that you have after reading this you should go and listen, now. (Actually, you should listen to all these albums on the list if you haven’t yet.) I’m a very skeptic music critic. I don’t believe the hype and for the most part hype can be a turn off for me, so when the first things I read about The Vaccines was that they would usher in a new era of guitar rock (they won’t,) I stopped reading and may have avoided listening to them all together, but I am glad I did listen after all. They aren’t ushering any new era, but they did produce a great first album of songs about underage girls, parties and awkward love songs in a way only a first time around band can and those albums are generally genuine, fun, adventurous and the best a band will ever make (see: The strokes, Yeah yeah Yeahs, Razorlight, etc.) With that said the album is one of the best of the year and deserves its credit where it’s due. Here I am giving it its dues. You should too, give it a spin, or a click…

*Austra – Feel it Break

With really amazing timing (with the so called witch house movement taking a foot) Katie Stelmanis finale puts together an outfit that might finale be worth her amazing talent. Austra has catapulted in the indie circles and the British music press… that’s usually enough to get some ears perched on this side of the border and they have accomplished that and it’s easy to say most ear bearers have liked what they’ve heard. The operatic vocals mixed in with the haunting minimalist 80s beat have enchanted not only me and thousands of other hipsters, but also the likes of Jay Z. No doubt, this album is remarkable. Try “Lost it” on for size and you’ll want to listen to the rest. It’s dark, no doubt, but it also forces you to dance… perhaps Katie’s voice isn’t your thing… I can get that, but Katie’s voice is definitely my thing and she uses it beautifully on this album. I am anticipating more from them, but again with Katie’s track record we are lucky we got an album… hopefully Austra survives the hype and is the band of the year in 2012 or sooner…

*Mellowhype Blackendwhite

Hoddgy Beat has been the fastest progressing and attention catching rapper in the whole Odd Future clan and he proves why this is true on here it with the help of fellow OFer LeftBrains making up the rap duo of Mellowhype. Mike G takes the mic a bit and does a few good verses and some less then great Tyler appearances on BlackndWhite also helps to show that Hoddgy Beat may one day come out the star of this group after all. The original release was good, but the re-release from label Fat Possum is a tighter album that accents the better songs due to fewer under produced amateurish songs like Gram, Loco, Stripclub and Hell weighing the original recording down. Although, there is one omission in Chordaroy feat Earl Sweatshirt. Of all the OF output this is, to my opinion, the best. I really like what Domo genesis makes and of course Tyler the Creator does great shit, but I think that goes to show how talented Hodgy and Left Brain are by having created Mellowhype’s Blackendwhite, a far superior album to a lot of rap albums out there at the moment. It’s daring, bold, controversial and absolutely ridiculous, but always dead on. The word bitch and fag are loosely thrown about and it should be offensive, but I get it and if you don’t I am not going to debate it.