For me, 2011 represented a transition year in my musical
taste. Where music previously defined a large portion of my life, now, my relation
to music, and by default, my musical consumption, diminished greatly this year. While I
used to listen to everything under the sun hoping to find new artists, diamonds in the rough,
and great music from bands I had previously written off, I spent most of 2011
listening to artists I have previously enjoyed. Even though my list contains
some new artists, I must admit that I am less convinced about this list
representing the best of 2011’s music. Nevertheless, I hereby submit my top 25
albums of 2011.
Wasting Light is a
guitar player’s album. I imagine fifteen-year-old me would have placed this
record much higher on the list.
Fitzsimmons releases another collection of depressingly
beautiful songs. I enjoyed Gold in the
Shadow but found the timbre of the record to resonate too closely with his
previous recordings.
One of the newcomers to my list this year, this dubstep
musician wrote and produced rather enjoyable electronic music on his
self-titled release. I particularly enjoyed his piano-based cover of Feist’s “Limit to Your
Love”.
The from-nowhere-to-top-40 artist of the year, Foster the
People wrote an intriguing record outside of single “Pumped Up Kicks” that was
exponentially overplayed.
Gloss Drop is a
musician’s record from top to bottom. Mainly instrumental and exceedingly
technical, I suggest mastering an instrument before trying to enjoy this band.
So there’s this infectious NFL commercial where the Atlanta
Falcons drive a school bus to an elementary school and play football with kids.
That compelling beat was produced by The Go! Team. Upon hearing it, I had to
have more. Rolling Blackouts is
precisely the “more” I wanted.
Lead singer Robin Pecknold added lyrical depth to the
already gorgeous melodic structures of Fleet Foxes. I appreciate the attempt,
but I was not a huge fan of the lyrics. On music alone, Helplessness Blues is worth a listen.
This year’s chart topper, 21 is the kind of record that everyone ought to at least tolerate.
Adele sings her heart out and the neo-soul sound of London slices through the
speakers. Clearly written for the masses, 21
won’t give you much depth, but it’s a fun record to spin in the car.
With every record, principle songwriter Sam Beam increasingly becomes a
mainstream adult-alternative artist. Kiss
Each Other Clean sounds like Sam Beam singing with Dave Matthew’s backing
band. Good thing I’m not hipster enough
to disown Iron & Wine for such things.
Written during the happy days of Ben Gibbard and ZooeyDeschanel’s wedded bliss, Codes and Keys
is an upbeat Death Cab album. Strange right?
The latest installment in a prolific career, Graduation Ceremony deeply digs into
Arthur’s struggles and addictions.
A newer addition to my playlist, Tamer Animals makes this list on musicianship alone. I honestly
haven’t pried deep enough on the lyrics. As such, this rating might look silly
in a year or so. I look forward to finding out!
Emo for grown-ups, The Antlers explore the depth of human
emotion and suffering. Burst Apart is
dramatic, moody, and beautiful.
The second straight record announced out of nowhere, King of Limbs is nowhere near the
quality of In Rainbows. Telling of
Radiohead’s brilliance, an off album still makes the list.
Written in a rural farm on the outskirts of Portland, Colin
Meloy focuses much of his songwriting and lyrics on human’s relationship with
nature. Perhaps knowing something we didn’t, The King Is Dead borrows liberally from the style of R.E.M. almost
as if the album acts as a eulogy for a band we lost this year.
When you’re done laughing at me, remember that Lady Gaga isn’t
your average manufactured major label money maker. She writes her own songs and
possesses an artistic vision for the concept of a song, an album, and a
performance, just listen to "The Edge of Glory". Yes, she is over the top. Yes, she holds Madonna tendencies, but Born this Way is an exceptional pop
record.
Another recent addition, St. Vincent’s Strange Mercy feels gritty, technical, and powerful. An excellent
guitarist and a budding songwriter, I believe that Strange Mercy is St. Vincent’s best work yet.
The first releases after Curse Your Branches, Bazan’s breakup album with God, Strange Negotiations feels unhinged as Bazan’s first post-theist
work. The record is aggressive, sparsely arranged, and brutally honest.
In my opinion, Coldplay currently functions as the top melody
(both in lyric and in instrumentation) writers in the business. With Mylo Xyloto, the groups takes more
musical chances but maintains clear hooks. Ignore that song featuring Rihanna
that you hear on the radio and listen instead to "Charlie Brown". Mylo Xyloto
is just another positive step in Coldplay’s progression as the premier rock group of our generation.
Mine Is Yours
rates highly because of its hooks. Each song is catchy, singable, and fun.
Sometimes a good record doesn’t need anything else.
With complex arrangements and hummable tunes, Build a Rocket Boys! might be my favorite
Elbow record.
Most of Barton Hollow
is average-to-good filler. The record receives a high rating for its two
singles: “Barton Hollow” and “Poison & Wine”. Without speaking in
exaggerations, I submit that these two songs are the best live songs I have
ever heard.
Maintaining a foundation in Balkan folk, Beirut’s The Rip Tide melds Eastern European
musical styles with western pop. The result of this alchemy is gorgeous songs.
My wife and I sing “East Harlem” around the house two or three times a week.
Beautiful and brilliant, Metals
blends Feist’s hauntingly beautiful voice with layered production and poetic
lyrics. From first listen, Metals
demands your attention and affection. So listen to it!
You know those times when you listen to music and get
goosebumps as if the music became some sort of ethereal matter that brushed
against your skin? Well, Bon Iver’s self-titled release continues to carry this
influence on me after each listen. Songs such as “Holocene”, “Calgary”, “Perth”, and “Beth/Rest”
just move my soul. In my opinion, soul moving deserves the top spot on any
list. So there ya go #1!
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Posted by: Donovan Richards
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