2011 in Music / Albums of the Year

[DustyDrB]

It's the end of the year, the time for looking back and appreciating the good things we experienced. So let's partake in the tradition, and name out favorite albums of the year. For some extra discussion, what are some trends in music you liked or disliked? Did your listening habits change any this year?

This was actually a slow year in my opinion. I started off the year reading an excellent book called Our Band Could Be Your Life, which chronicles a number of punk/alternative bands from the 80's to early 90's (Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Minutemen, Butthole Surfers, etc). So with that, I immersed myself in the music of these bands and didn't pay much attention to new releases for a good portion of the year. That's highly unusual for me.

But there were a few gems this year. And for me, they were:

Edit: I just realized I somehow cut out my #5 pick. Who has ever heard of a top 4? Anyway...

5. We Were Promised Jetpacks - In the Pit of the Stomach. Between Frightened Rabbit and We Were Promised Jetpacks, I'm really thinking I need to look to Scotland more for music. WWPJ's first album was OK. It's main issue was that songs just sounded too much alike. They switch it up more here and it pays off. Adam Thompson has one hell of an emotive voice. Personal highlight: "Sore Thumb" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inQaYV6A-20&feature=related].

4. Wilco - The Whole Love. Wilco has been my favorite band for nearly a decade now, but their previous two albums never really gripped me. The Whole Love brings back some of the magic they worked in the past. Personal highlight: "Art of Almost" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWP4bI37mCE].

3. The Decemberists: The King is Dead. It was departure for them. The album wasn't a concept album or an epic folk tale. Instead, it was a collection of pretty traditional Americana. But it was well-done and I've listened to it consistently throughout the year. Personal highlight: "Dear Avery" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixbdVfHKcnQ].

2. St Vincent: Strange Mercy. I actually didn't care much for St Vincent's previous albums. I've always felt Annie Clark is talented, but her past records often sounded rather forced. But Strange Mercy was a delight. The weirdness is still there, but the pieces just fit better. Personal highlight: "Dilettante" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=894MYqeAzIo].

1. Laura Marling: This is the second year in a row a Laura Marling album tops my list. She's grown in talent and her voice has become more dynamic. That sinister tone of hers that she used to such great effect in I Speak Because I Can doesn't show up as often here, but she's found other ways to be great. Personal highlight: "Sophia" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-TMl5oCRjk&ob=av2e].

The big disppointments: Iron and Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean, Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Radiohead - The King of Limbs

 

[Nouw]

My favourite album that came out this year would be Hot Sauce Committee Part Two by the Beastie Boys. I discovered them this year so I bought their latest album, I love it.

I don't really have albums of the year or such. I usually discover old artists and listen to them, like the Beastie Boys, Megadeth and Pink Floyd. Daft Punk and Gorillaz rarely release albums so that's a factor too. Or maybe I just need to pay more attention.

 

[Kenbo Slice]

My favorite album this year is Leveler by August Burns Red, seriously, that album kicks ass.

 

[Mr Somewhere]

As is the standard, not much caught my eye. Recent music trends don't really hook me. Well, The Last Werewolf by The Real Tuesday Weld, that was a great release. But asides from that, nothing else new caught my attention.

 

[NESJosh64]

Camp by Childish Gambino is pretty awesome.

 

[repeating integers]

The only album I've bought from this year was actually Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto (well, alright, mum bought it - for herself - I just happened to like them as well). It was pretty good, though it was no Viva la Vida.

More important was the awesomeness of Muse, live at Reading. My first proper gig ever, and my god, did I ever enjoy it. Anyone else go?

 

[vrbtny]

Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!

/thread.

 

[Trololo Punk]

I really enjoyed Anthrax's new release. And after a couple play through s was able to get into the new Mastodon album The Hunter(though not nearly as good as past albums).

My album of the year definitely has to go to Fucked Up's "David Comes To Life". Such a good album.

 

[DustyDrB]

snip

I like it. I'll have to check out the whole album.

And I forgot to mention my favorite song of the year. It was in Portal 2 (it played on a radio in one of the early rooms). I've loved The National for a good while so I was happy when I heard them in the game.

Spoiler: Exile Vilify

I... I am severely dissapointed that their was no mention of Dream Theater's latest "A Dramatic Turn of Events", which has to be one of their best albums in recent memory, hell it is my personal favorite since "Octavarium". "A Dramatic Turn of Events" can even be called the greatest Prog-Rock Album in the past few years if you want to be more dramatic.

I'm just not a fan of metal of most any subgenre. There was one I can remember liking a few songs. It was under some awful sounding subgenre like...Drone Metal or something. I appreciate the musicianship, but the sonic vibes of metal just do not resonate with me. But love for all genres is welcome here!

 

[MysticToast]

The only new stuff I really listened to this year was Chevelle's new cd. And I think it's their best one by far.

 

[xplosive59]

The two Devin Townsend albums this year were both masterpieces (they were no Ocean Machine but still really really good). The new Cynic EP was really good, the new Born of Osiris album also was very good, ICS Vortex released a good album if slightly flawed but Devins albums reigned supreme this year.

 

[Kadoodle]

Thank You Happy Birthday and Wasting Light are great albums.

 

[vrbtny]

I like it. I'll have to check out the whole album.

And I forgot to mention my favorite song of the year. It was in Portal 2 (it played on a radio in one of the early rooms). I've loved The National for a good while so I was happy when I heard them in the game.

Spoiler: Exile Vilify

[/qoute]

That's a mighty fine song. The piano is soothing, so is the guys voice. Are all his songs like that? I could definitely find myself enjoying it.

For listen to the Seldom Seen Kid and Build a Rocket Boys! All their stuff before is just as good, those albums are just the best to start with.

 

[MellowFellow]

2011 was sort of sad for me music wise because Innerpartysystem has been on an "indefinite hiatus" since near the end of August.

Rise Against's new cd was alright, there is a new Skindred album, but it hasn't released in the US yet so I don't have it yet.

I'm really looking forward to 2012 though, since Streetlight Manifesto is supposed to have a new album out in the Spring.

 

[Sacman]

Sublime with Rome's Yours Truly...


The first single, Panic...

The only album I bought this year that wasn't a massive and disappointing waste of money and space... or simply meh...<.<

no where near as good as previous Sublime albums but still pretty good...

 

[vrbtny]

I like it. I'll have to check out the whole album.

And I forgot to mention my favorite song of the year. It was in Portal 2 (it played on a radio in one of the early rooms). I've loved The National for a good while so I was happy when I heard them in the game.

Spoiler: Exile Vilify

That's a mighty fine song. The piano is soothing, so is the guys voice. Are all his songs like that? I could definitely find myself enjoying it.

For listen to the Seldom Seen Kid and Build a Rocket Boys! All their stuff before is just as good, those albums are just the best to start with.

 

[dj_8612]

everyone should check out Frank Turner 'England Keep My Bones'. An absolutely epic album

 

[DustyDrB]

I never really knew Dream Theater was Metal, I thought it was more of a "hard Rock". To me HR and M are very different. Metal to me is like the old Metallica, slow, hard, raspy. HR and DT seem to me to be more of a light, quick, fun type ideal.

I don't know. Metal is pretty nebulous term, and I could tie my mind in a knot trying to get all the sub-genres right. I remember a roommate of mine in college was obsessed with Dream Theater and he called them Progressive Metal. I tend to just use the major genre liberally. For example, I call Sonic Youth and Pixies punk.

I like it. I'll have to check out the whole album.

And I forgot to mention my favorite song of the year. It was in Portal 2 (it played on a radio in one of the early rooms). I've loved The National for a good while so I was happy when I heard them in the game.

Spoiler: Exile Vilify

That's a mighty fine song. The piano is soothing, so is the guys voice. Are all his songs like that? I could definitely find myself enjoying it.

For listen to the Seldom Seen Kid and Build a Rocket Boys! All their stuff before is just as good, those albums are just the best to start with.

Their songs are generally like that, yes. "Mr November" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzhNdCxhK28] is about as aggressive as they get, and that's was six years and three albums ago. They actually have a very good drummer, too. On the album Boxer especially, he uses some interesting [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbFWAtFb18k] rhythms [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgRsYkKb1eI&ob=av3e]. But if you like "Exile Vilify", then I think you're more likely to enjoy "Fake Empire" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FKk7dtgSVw] and "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a1UoljLWrY]