Hell-o bitches!
(I suck at doing all those cool graphics)
YASss!! it's that time of the year. Time to look back. I'll be spilling the definition of THA BEST for you gerls, so you dont have to look into your dictionaries.
Let's get this straight, 2011 has been kind of a floppy year. But among the darkness, there are some stars. ATTENTION
I'll be posting the top 20 albums of the year, and the top 20 songs of the year. Before posting the ULTIMATE BEST, I'll throw in the 5 WORST songs of the year, just to vent.
#20 - BON IVER - BON IVER Well if this is #20, then you can only imagine what comes next. For Emma, Forever Ago was flawless, and this does not live up to it's standards. But it is amazing in a different way. More layered, and more interesting.
The secret to Bon Iver's success is how unconventional his songs are. And while FEFA had him lost in the woods, BI shows he returned to the actual world, and is preparing to leap for the sky. His sincerety hidden behind metaphors is at once relieving and breathtaking. From "And at once I knew I was not magnificent." in Holocene, to the epic conclusion of the theme in Beth/Rest, I can assure you this album will break your heart.
#19 - PAUL SIMON - SO BEAUTIFUL OR SO WHAT Don't worry ATRLers, the girls are coming. This is not some Pitchfork **** where I just ignore the good sis POP. But I've loved Paul Simon since his Garfunkel days. Bridge Over Troubled Water is MY ****. If there's an underrated musical legend is this man. He has managed to revamp his folk rock ways and make it sound fresh, while still experimentings with sounds from the world (Africa, India, and more). The album is hard to accept at first. The lyrics makes you face existentialist questions, but with a musical elegance only he can achieve. And while his peers have definitely peaked and settled, Simon may have just created a new rock classic.
#18 - FOSTER THE PEOPLE - TORCHES The dumb bitch who dated my brother used to stan for this band so hard, it was annoying. I listened to the album, and it was solid. I told her it was bad just to piss her off, but my conscience couldnt take it. I could not understand how that kind of music could fit in that hollow head, and then it came to me. Torches is an album of fun music. It instantly reminded me of the classic Oracular Spectacular, which is amazing. The contrast between weird lyrics and infectious beats is what made MGMT stars, and what makes Torches such a refreshing, endearing, windows-down-while-taking-a-road-trip debut.
Standout tracks:
-Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)
-I Would Do Anything for You
-Helena Beat
#17 - METRONOMY - THE ENGLISH RIVIERA This album is the definition of progress. Where many indie pop bands fail, Metronomy succeeds. Metronomy evolves, and if you ever called your fave's albums visionary, then think again.
They took their breakthrough record ‘Nights Out’ and expanded its sound, but controlled, and made more effective for it.
From recording albums in his London bedroom, to studios in Paris, Joe Mount (frontman) made a record that not only pleases die-hard fans, but also appeals to a musical and emotional depth the music scene haven't seen in a while.
Standout tracks:
-Everything Goes My Way
-The Bay
-Love Underlined
#16 - DAVID GUETTA - NOTHING BUT THE BEAT I know, I know, above Metronomy? Well, the guest stars in this album make it massive. Yeah, it's kind of One Love II. Guetta has found a comfortable sound, and is running to the hills with it. But still, he is responsible for mind-blowing dance-naked electropop.
It lacks cohesion, and it's definitely not a work of art. Hell, I can't even define a theme for it. But I'll just play this on a party, and people will enter club-heaven.
You gotta hand it to him, he can bring together a wide range of genres and pop stars only America's most idealistic DJs could hope for. The album is a testament to his ways, and to collective will. Now go dance.
Standout tracks:
-Titanium
-Turn Me On
-Without You
