my favorite new albums of 2011.
1. Bon Iver-Bon Iver
“And at once I knew I was not magnificent."
This year was tough. Honestly, the first five or six albums could have gone in any order. But as an entire album, from beginning to end, Bon Iver’s self titled release was the best of 2011. “Bon Iver” is extremely easy to listen to and you immediately get sucked into the lullaby like state he creates. From the very first song, “Perth,” you feel Bon Iver’s deliberate intent on making music that is professional and considered. Throughout the album, Bon Iver dramatically blends indie rock with hints of soul, rhythm and blues. “Holocene” is a fantastic song where you hear how Bon Iver puts actual thought into his music and is not afraid to try new things. The album ends on a high note with “Beth/Rest.” Even though his vocals can be difficult to understand with lyrics that can be perplexing, the perfect composition of electric keyboard, saxophone and guitar picks up any slack the lyrics leave behind. Bon Iver has done an incredible job on this album.
Listen to: Beth/Rest
2. M83-Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
“Your body is like a lightening rod. Capsize me and toss me in your bay.”
They say when you know better, you do better. Now that I know the power of M83, I can say with confidence they are quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. “Hurry Up We’re Dreaming” takes unusual synthetic pop music and drenches it in the sounds of the 80’s like in “Ok Pal” and “New Map.” The single off the album, “Midnight City,” may be my favorite song of the year. The synthetic beat intro that is then repeated throughout the track is so damn good and catchy it makes me jealous I can’t construct something that creative. However, the album is a bit long (22 tracks) and loses me with songs like “My Tears Are Becoming A sea” and “Fountains.” Trim the fat of the six or seven interludes and this album may have been my #1.
Listen to: Midnight City
plus who knew Anthony Gonzalez was such a hunk?
3. Noah Gundersen-Family
“I want to hunt like David; I want to kill me a giant man. I want to slay my demons but I’ve got lots of them.”
“I wanted to ask you man, what do you do in the daylight?”
Best described by my husband as “if Bright Eyes could sing,” this singer-songwriter gives us emotionally driven lyrics backed by heavy and repetitive acoustic guitar melodies. This album is strangely religious using multiple biblical references yet at the same time Gundersen manages to create an atmosphere of darkness and talks candidly of the temptations of beautiful women. With lyrics such as, “…happy to be here with all of my family, hookers in heels and the men who watch them like hungry black eels” Gundersen uses simple imagery to create such a depressingly beautiful song in the title track“Family,” I don’t know whether to cry, be angry or thankful. Thanks to Sons of Anarchy and their flawless use of Gundersen’s music during their episodes, I cannot wait to hear more from this man.
Listen to: Fire
4. My Morning Jacket-Circuital
“Don’t you know that the meek shall inherent the earth?"
While nothing extraordinary, “Circuital” is classic My Morning Jacket that won’t disappoint fans. The first song, which is untitled, carries a thick and heavy bass line you can feel in your chest and the title track “Circuital” is playful yet sneaky and displays Jim James’ old soul voice. However, easily the best song on the album, “Holdin’ On To Black Metal,” comes out of nowhere and is the glue that holds “Circuital” together. The horn section is shrill, loud and perfect. The female choir providing the background vocals is expertly used and is the cream cheese frosting on this red velvet cake of a song. A bit country (“Slow Slow Tune”) and a touch of soul, (“The Day is Coming”) “Circuital” provides a variety of sounds that will appeal to just about everyone.
Listen to: Holdin’ On To Black Metal
5. St. Vincent-Strange Mercy
“I don’t want to be a cheerleader no more.”
For a while now, I have refused to become a fan of St. Vincent. Perhaps out of feminine jealousy-do I really need another female musician to remind me how uncool I am? But with her newest album, I can’t deprive myself of her music any longer. “Strange Mercy” is different, combining groovy, metallic and sultry beats throughout each song. St. Vincent perfects organized chaos and provides multiple unexpected twists like in “Surgeon” and “Chloe in the Afternoon.” Her raw talent on the guitar and immense ability to sing saturates “Strange Mercy.” As much as it pains me to say it, St. Vincent rocks…well for a girl anyway.
Listen to: Strange Mercy
beauty AND talent. take that Kim Kardashian.
6. Radiohead-King of Limbs
“I’m such a tease and your such a flirt.”
What’s better than waking up on an average morning with the unexpected news that you can download a new Radiohead album by the weekend? Um, nothing. I have to be honest, the first listen through of “Kings of Limbs” I was not impressed. But just like Owen Wilson’s crooked nose, it grows on you. It’s freaking Radiohead-even when its bad its good. “King of Limbs” carries classic Radiohead charm and proves they do whatever the hell they want and make the music they fancy. Each song on “King of Limbs” is individual and conveys its own personality. “The Daily Mail” is sensitive yet aggressive while “Codex”is haunting yet kind. A pleasant surprise towards the end of the album, “Give Up the Ghost” is a hopeless romantic type of a song full of melancholy and bittersweet melodies. In a musical world full of mass produced hits with overtly sexual lyrics and artists who put no effort into their skill, a band like Radiohead is a cool breeze on a hot day, always giving us something authentic and attentive.
Listen to: Give up the Ghost
7. Mastodon-The Hunter
“Just close your eyes and pretend that everything is fine.”
It’s loud. (But not too loud.) It’s heavy. (But not too heavy.) It’s Mastodon. While “The Hunter” is definitely metal music, I don’t get a strange aggression to pierce rusty nails through my eyelids while I listen to it. Unlike other heavy rock bands, Mastodon can be catchy without sacrificing their sound as in “Stargasm” and “All The Heavy Lifting.” It’s also refreshing to hear actual music from a metal band. “The Hunter” showcases Mastodon’s talent as musicians who are out to do more than just create disorder and earsplitting noises that insult Grandmothers and old church ladies. That’s not to say “The Hunter” isn’t loud or offensive. “Blasteroid” provides the right amount nostalgic screaming vocals to remind me of simpler times and “Bedazzled Fingernails” is anything but appropriate for little girls. Although a better album at the beginning than towards the end, “The Hunter” is energetic and enjoyable to listen to.
Listen to: Curl of the Burl
8. Death Cab for Cutie-Codes and Keys
“Cause when she sings I hear a symphony…oh how I feel alive and through autumn’s advancing, we’ll stay young, go dancing.”
Yes I am that loser that keeps putting Death Cab For Cutie in their top 10. It’s not just out of loyalty though-I actually really like this album. “Codes and Keys” is classic Death Cab that for some reason slipped under the radar. “Codes and Keys” carries an atmosphere of bliss and sweetness with tracks like “Portable Television” that encourage you to clap along and a title track that is theatrical and dance inducing. “St. Peter’s Cathedral” provides lyrics only Death Cab can: “It’s either quite a master plan or just chemicals that help us understand that when our hearts stop ticking this is the end and there is nothing past this.” As with recent Death Cab albums, it can be hit and miss as some songs outshine others (“Unobstuctive Views” vs. “Some Boys”) and at times the album can appear cheap. However in my opinion, Death Cab still has it…for now anyway.
Listen to: Unobstructive View
