PROGRESS: Winter ·
Spring ·
Summer ·
Fall ·
#40-36 ·
#35-31 ·
#30-26 ·
#25-21 · #20-16 · #15-11 · #10-6 · #5-1
Are you ready for more albums? Well you better be; you're gonna get some. This installment #8 brings us #25-21.
Just a few short years ago, Sleeper Agent's Alex Kandel was working as a barista doing covers of Adele songs on open mic nights, if Wikipedia is to be believed. Now she fronts one of the best new talents of 2011. I can't put it any better than
Rolling Stone, which described Sleeper Agent as shaggy kids from Kentucky whose songs are sweet, fizzy and combustible. That comes across quick on
Celabrasion, an immediately enjoyable album of alt-rock good times. "Get It Daddy" got the attention of mtvU this year for good reason. "Shuga Cane" and "Force A Smile" are also required listening.
It's always a good year when Red Hot Chili Peppers release another album. Still going strong after an incredible 28 years in the business, RHCP came back for more this year with
I'm With You, their latest effort. I was bummed that John Frusciante departed the band once again after wrapping up the epic
Stadium Arcadium, but the guys embraced a simpler, tighter sound on
I'm With You that works well nonetheless. "The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie" was indispensable this summer, but also check out "Brendan's Death Song", "Look Around" and "Monarchy Of Roses" among others.
Wye Oak is a wonderful duo that I feel like came into their own this year. Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack have hit a certain niche with
Civilian. I've been a fan of their earnest folk-influenced indie rock with touches of noise and dream pop, to borrow some words from
Pitchfork, since I first heard "For Prayer" last year, but it's
Civilian where I feel like the concept takes off and hits stellar heights. The title track "Civilian" and "Holy Holy" constitute what I can only describe as an incredible sonic experience, but do yourself a favor and listen to the whole album as directed for the best results.
If not for a seemingly random, one-off appearance on the Lollapalooza '11 episode of the
VH1 Top 20 Video Countdown of all things, I doubt I would've ever discovered Lissie, much less come to appreciate her excellent album
Catching A Tiger, which was originally released last year but garnered critical attention this year. I'm glad I happened to tune into that show. Lissie is an amazing folk rock artist who will run circles around you with her blues-inspired vocals and jaw-dropping guitar work. "When I'm Alone" is great, but the epic solo that ends "In Sleep" will leave you flat on the floor.
Yeah, you don't need to tell me that Coldplay stopped being cool in 2004, because I really don't care. I begrudgingly picked up
Mylo Xyloto after being underwhelmed by "Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall", but then it clicked for me. These guys are just doing the expansive, soaring guitar-pop that they do well, as
EW put it, and they're continuing to excel. "Paradise" was an anthem of the fall, "Princess Of China" featuring Rihanna was unexpectedly charming, and I even changed my mind about "Teardrop" once I heard the band perform it at Apple's event to remember Steve Jobs in October.
We've already hit the halfway point on TC's top 40 albums of 2011. Later today, we'll cross over into #20-16!
but I was expecting more from both albums 
