| |
TC's top 40 albums of 2011
ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
|
PROGRESS: Winter · Spring · Summer · Fall · #40-36 · #35-31 · #30-26 · #25-21 · #20-16 · #15-11 · #10-6 · #5-1
The 5th installment is where things really get going. It's the part in which the house lights go down and you put your phone away. It's the "40 albums" part of TC's top 40 albums of 2011. LET'S GO!
Every list of albums must start with a really great one. Luckily, this year's no exception. We last saw Nicole Atkins in 2008 when Neptune City placed at #26. Since then, many things changed for Nicole, unfortunately not for the best at some points. The abandonment in multiple areas of her personal life drove some of the creative energy behind Mondo Amore, and the result is an emotionally volatile blend of more guitar-based, hard-edged music than we heard in her last record. Suggested tracks include "Vultures", "You Come To Me" and "War Is Hell" for starters.
Perhaps best known for getting thoroughly trashed by Pitchfork, Camp is Donald Glover's latest attempt at hip-hop under his stage name Childish Gambino. As it turns out, though, that infamous "review" was just a misguided personal attack on the guy himself. The album stands on its own merit as an introspective outlet for Gambino's struggle with race, maturity, social class and fitting in vs. being an outsider. Camp also has tons and tons of pop culture references, if that's your thing. Start with "Bonfire" and "All The Shine"; check out "That Power" as well.
The Ettes last clocked in at #34 on my top 40 albums of 2009 with their previous effort, Do You Want Power. This year, they're back for more with Wicked Will, a wonderfully titled album that brings us more of what they do best: Short, powerful garage rock tracks that pack a punch and leave you wanting more. At just 32 minutes running time, you'll want to listen to the whole thing back-to-back for the best effect. Try out "Teeth", "You Were There" and "Don't Bring Me Down" if you can't commit a whole half-hour of your life to the thing.
Kathryn Calder is a member of Canadian indie rock powerhouse The New ****ographers, but in recent years she's also been doing her own thing as a solo artist. Last year's Are You My Mother? barely escaped my radar for inclusion on my top 40 albums of 2010. This year, I stepped up my game for Bright And Vivid, a truly charming album that cements Kathryn's status as a solo musician, singer and songwriter who deserves your attention. "Walking In My Sleep" is my favorite track; "Turn A Light On" and "City Of Sounds" are also up there.
You might call them eclectic, indie, post-punk or art rock, but who cares what you call them. I feel like TV On The Radio focused up for Nine Types Of Light, an album that draws from their previous work on Dear Science and Return To Cookie Mountain to create a happy medium that's infinitely listenable and creates an environment that makes for good, chilled repetition. That is to say, put it on and let the music take you wherever it takes you. "Killer Crane" is an obvious starting point; try "Will Do" and "Second Song" while you're at it.
Next, the fun continues with installment #6, which will bring us up to album #31. I don't think you're ready for this jelly.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
|
I bloody hate Pitchfork. I've heard loads of great stuff about the Gambino album, so will def. check out based on your advice. Good words about TVOTR - "Killer Crane" is probably their most immediate song ever, and "Will Do", is probably their best.
Fall singles: HA! Bush and Bush. "Sound of Winter" was a sure **** surprise. Nice to see Riri and Clarkson on the list as well. Keep it coming!
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
|
Well, I'm glad to see that TVOTR did make the actual list, if only just. And Childish Gambino, of course. Oh, Donald.  /****y
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/9/2002
Posts: 6,789
|
This is a perfect set of albums! I love Kathryn Calder, and that's another album I have downloaded that I need to listen to (especially after your write-up). The Ettes!!!!! So happy to see them make your list again. They are some of the best folks making music today. Dong Lover, he's great. TVOTR, also great. Also really like seeing Nicole Atkins on your year-end. I remember you putting Neptune City on your year-end years ago, but I didn't listen to it. I did hear Mondo Amore though (as you know, since I posted that on my Albums that Missed List), and I love it. I need to go back to Neptune City, both the album and the place (dumb).
Looking forward to the next set!
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 1/26/2006
Posts: 17,384
|
haven't heard any of those, but Nine Types Of Light must be great according to its singles. 
|
|
|
|
ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
|
PROGRESS: Winter · Spring · Summer · Fall · #40-36 · #35-31 · #30-26 · #25-21 · #20-16 · #15-11 · #10-6 · #5-1
Installment #6 is here, which means it's time to move deeper into the top 40 albums, this time from #35 through #31.
With what I can only describe as an unfortunate band name and album cover, I feel like Yuck limited their audience from the beginning. It's hard not to think they were purposely trying to alienate in that regard, but who knows. The fact remains, this noisy indie band from London is one of the best rock acts to hit the scene in quite some time. Critics have compared them to Dinosaur Jr. and Sonic Youth, and I feel like you can't do better than that. My friend Matt Pinfield is a fan, and that guy is the walking encyclopedia of rock, so that's quite the endorsement. Bands like Yuck make me believe new rock is alive and well despite all the evidence to the contrary. The world just has to get on board.
Dum Dum Girls were on my radar last year but just enough for "Bhang Bhang, I'm A Burnout" from their previous album I Will Be to make it on my singles list. This year, I did better by giving their new album Only In Dreams a proper chance, and I'm glad I did. Dum Dum Girls specialize in a dreamy kind of noise pop that's loud, melodic and pushes boundaries. I really enjoy "Always Looking" and "Bedroom Eyes", but my favorite from the album is "Coming Down", an epic track at 6 1/2 minutes that winds around, circles and crashes into your ears.
I have to pay tribute to R.E.M. while we're here. These guys were one of the first bands I ever liked, as in, ever. I remember hearing "It's The End Of The World As We Know It" for the first time and going to the local record store (yeah) to pick up Document, and I was hooked. I went back to discover the rest of their catalog and kept up with their new music as the years went by. That's why I'm bummed that they've called it quits after 30 years. The upside is, they've left behind an entire grand canyon's worth of material for future music fans to discover. I'll let Michael Stipe have the last word, as he speaks on the closing track on Collapse Into Now, "Blue": This is my time, and I'm thrilled to be alive.
Sick of Sarah took an unconventional approach to promote 2205, their newest album released earlier this year: They put up a ******* and encouraged the world to download and share it with each other. It's hard to argue with free, so I was there for that right away. That said, the quality of the album far exceeds the price of admission. These five girls from Minneapolis carry out their fresh take on punky indie pop with strong success, kind of like Tegan and Sara but with harder guitar work. Start with "Overexposure" and work your way through this fun, enjoyable album.
I first got on the Decemberists train around the Picaresque days, when "16 Military Wives" was all the rage. I was all about that; I got to see them live around that time and it was a wonderful show. In recent years, though, I've struggled to stay with them. The Hazards Of Love was a good album but too long and drawn out for my tastes. That's why I was happy to see they reined that **** in and released a 40-minute powerhouse of an album in The King Is Dead. "Down By The Water" kicked off the year with the most enjoyable Decemberists song in recent memory.
If you're waiting around for something from the world of pop, I'll get there eventually. Next up, #30 through #26!
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 6/30/2007
Posts: 18,079
|
Haven't heard any of them  but I love the album covers.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/25/2011
Posts: 41,661
|
Interesting list. R.E.M. 
The album covers are great 
|
|
|
|
ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 12/21/2002
Posts: 20,569
|
R.E.M. ^_^
I need to check out Yuck.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 5/9/2003
Posts: 3,779
|
The Kind is Dead and Yuck! Love them. You're right about Yuck though, They don't have a chance with that name.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 6/25/2008
Posts: 15,884
|
The King Is Dead is awesome. I like REM and Yuck too.
|
|
|
|
ATRL Administrator
Member Since: 5/2/2000
Posts: 2,844
|
PROGRESS: Winter · Spring · Summer · Fall · #40-36 · #35-31 · #30-26 · #25-21 · #20-16 · #15-11 · #10-6 · #5-1
No time to slow down, friends! We must press on. Scroll up if you missed #40-36 and #35-31. Here's #30-26.
Jessie J has been somewhat of a polarizing figure in pop music since her debut with "Do It Like A Dude" late last year. Who You Are was released to mixed reviews from critics but she managed to top the BBC Sound of 2011 poll nonetheless, which should not necessarily be a surprise. There's a lot to enjoy here. I'm a fan in particular of the way Jessie pulls no punches, comes out swinging with strong vocals throughout and isn't afraid at all to exhibit her quirkiness and progressive attitude. In addition to "Dude", check out "Nobody's Perfect", "Mamma Knows Best" and "Domino" from the reissue.
What's not to like about My Morning Jacket? Not content to just be some rock band, Jim James and crew venture often into the psychedelic, trippy and unexpected. Circuital continues that exploration. Back when Evil Urges came out in 2008, it took me perhaps too long to appreciate it as much as I should have. This time, I was more prepared. "Holdin' On To Black Metal" was one of the inexplicable anthems of the year. Such a well done, grandiose, yet endlessly likable production. I also kept "Victory Dance", "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)" and "First Light" on repeat.
You might not be able to tell it from the old-school album cover, but Jessica Lea Mayfield is just 22 years old. She has a lot going for her. For one, she's from Ohio and apparently got her start singing covers of Foo Fighters songs at open mic nights. The resonance of her voice and her musical style are well beyond her years. Tell Me is an extremely pleasant experiment in indie folk rock, alternative country or whatever you want to call it. "Our Hearts Are Wrong" is a great place to begin; I really enjoy "Blue Skies Again" and "Trouble" as well. I wish Jessica tons of success.
Cults are one of those bands that came out of nowhere with an Internet hit ("Go Outside") and got signed to a major label to release their debut album, something not many bands have the luxury of doing. It couldn't have happened to a better group. Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion have crafted some really top-notch indie noise pop on their self-titled debut. Beyond the requisite "Go Outside", I'm partial toward "Abducted", "Rave On" and of course "Never Heal Myself", in which Madeline sings the words, but I can never heal myself... so **** you!, in the most bewilderingly charming and delightful tone I've ever heard someone say those words. I love it. You'll have a grand time with this album.
[img]http://tylerc.com/main/posts/bestof2011/album-****ed.jpg[/img]
[img]http://tylerc.com/main/posts/bestof2011/album-****ed.png[/img]
Hey, look! This worked out nicely. Madeline Follin of Cults contributed vocals to the absolutely epic "Queen Of Hearts" on David Comes To Life, this incredible concept album by ****ed Up. If you're not familiar with this excellent hardcore punk band from Canada, now is the time. Stop waiting around. I don't have time to explain the entirety of the brilliantly executed concept, but trust me, you'll enjoy trying to figure out the story throughout this rock opera as the wall of music blows your face off. The truly unique music video for "Queen Of Hearts" is also highly recommended.
The next handful of days, we are gonna steamroll through to the finish. Thanks for your continued support!
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 10/13/2003
Posts: 48,022
|
Jessie J. 
|
|
|
|
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2008
Posts: 87,284
|
WHo You Are
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 4/25/2011
Posts: 41,661
|
Cults Just listened to them out of curiosity and they're amazing 
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 6/9/2002
Posts: 6,789
|
Gosh, these past couple of sets. SOME HOT STUFF! Can't get much better than this.
My favourite from the past couple sets is ****ed Up. Very happy to see them make it on your list (and in such a high position!). They are some of the best people going right now.
I also really like Yuck, Dum Dum Girls, R.E.M., The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket, and Jessica Lea Mayfield. What an overflow of awesome! I also will continue to listen to the Cults album, as I hope it ends up clicking for me. I do like some of it, though! And that's really awesome what Sick of Sarah did, with the free ******* of their album. I like it when artists do things like that. I'll certainly have to check their album out!
Looking forward to seeing what's in the TOP 25.
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
|
Nine Types of Light  I love that album  also Jessie J and Cults' albums
|
|
|
|
Member Since: 3/2/2008
Posts: 17,012
|
Who You Are
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 3/19/2008
Posts: 37,076
|
Childish Gambino, TVotR, Yuck, REM, The Decemberists, Jessie J, MMJ, Cults 
|
|
|
|
ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
|
I was already convinced I needed to check out the "Yuck" album - and you've just solidified and sealed the deal on that decision.
Jessie J puzzles me. I like her, but I don't. It's a really weird relationship, I know.
Holy **** makes me proud to be Canadian. And not because I'm a huge fan, but just because they continue to bring it (based on what I read about them) with every album. So big up.
Decemberists - so much love. "Down By The Water" is truly special.
|
|
|
|
|
|
