Music of 2011

[Taco-Calamitous]

So 2011 was a year. There was music to be heard in that year. Some of it was new, some of it was old. What did you think? Share some of what you heard. Follow my template, or give your own "awards."

Favorite New (as in first album this year) Artist:

At first, I was kinda like "eh. I've heard this before. Hooray for another mall punk band." But as the year progressed, they grew on me, and I found new tracks on their CD that I liked. I love fast, energetic music, and I can't deny that this is fast and energetic. And I still love Pop Punk.

Favorite Band that's New to You This Year:

My brother was into these guys already a few years ago, and played them for me while we were driving somewhere, but they didn't really catch on with me then. Then he made a mixed CD with this song on it, and it was super fun and catchy. So I bought some of their other stuff, and found that, for a change, I actually prefer the slower, more serious stuff. (I have such a great grasp of musical terminology.)

Favorite Release of an Old Favorite:

There were a number of releases from old fav's this year, and honestly... a lot of them disappointed. Almost universally, their albums were alright, but nothing really stood out. Foo Fighters and Architecture in Helsinki had a few I liked a lot while the rest of the album, was alright. (Probably would've listened to the TMBG release more if I hadn't gotten it off iTunes and could listen to it on my mp3 player...) "Greetings from Less Than Jake" is pretty much exactly what I was hoping for, though. Although I didn't realize this until after a few listens and it grew on me (same thing with GNV FLA a few years ago.) Think it was because a lot of this EP is pretty slow, and that offbeat ska guitar is kinda repetitive, but then the melodies are catchy, and there are enough change ups, so it ends up being fun.

Surprise Return of a Favorite:

SO FUCKIN' HAPPY. Didn't think it would happen in a million years, the way Reese had been talking. But on November 22nd, FIF announced that they were getting back together, and they released this single on their site for free. Also, they put up a kickstarter to fund the release of a new album, asking for $30,000. Fans pledged that amount within the first hour, and now their total is at like $165,000.

Running out of time, but I'll just quickly say that my favorite cover was this, and my favorite soundtrack this year is probably this. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Alpha]

Favourite new artist

I have several. The main one is Yuck. Noise/shoegaze, with members from several countries. I wrote a review of the (self-titled) debut album here. Some of what I wrote (I didn't write a lot) might not make sense. That's why it's on my blog and not here.

Because I know you won't read it, here's some of what I wrote:

Maybe it’s my bias towards noise/twee/shoegaze, but this album has everything my musical biases have me looking for, and since the first listen I have not looked back.

This 3/5ths London group evokes so much of the London I missed in the early 1990s. Feedback-drenched, lazily-jangly guitar riffs and dream-like vocals, I now have a contemporary noise band to follow and idolise.

I’m so excited about this neglected-side-of-the-nineties-that-is-being-retrospectively-revived uh, thing, and I swear, this will be the quintessential band of this movement in the 2010s.

Favourite band that's new to you this year

Explosions in the Sky. I got really into post-rock this year, and these guys are the crème de la crème of what I've listened to in the genre so far. I never appreciated how not singing allowed your imagination to go wild. I listen to their music, and every time I get something new. I lie on my bed, and just imagine shit. Anything goes; but it is always amazing. I've never had a band that gave me such an emotional reaction.

And...

I'm seeing them this Thursday in my city! So excited.



Also, got to mention the Dum Dum Girls. I'd be seeing them early January if not for work (oh, along with Yuck and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart* actually). Which actually makes me really sad that I'm going to miss out on so much awesome.

I also discovered the wonder that is Mazzy Star. I'll let her music do the talking. That is also Colin O'Croisig (I think that's how it's spelt) on guitar, also known as the drummer for My Bloody Valentine.



Favourite release of an old favourite

Radiohead's The King of Limbs. The band doesn't need an introduction. This album hasn't made such a splash, which I expected. It's more Amnesiac than The Bends, but I also really like their more experimental stuff, so, hey.

Surprise return of a favourite

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks' Mirror Traffic. I'm a huge (HUGE) Malkmus fan (just ****ing take me back to the 90s), but what made this special and surprising was that it is the long awaited Malkmus album produced by Beck. I've been eagerly awaiting this, and although I didn't get what I really wanted (a direct musical collaboration, with both of them singing), this is a solid album nonetheless.

IDK if this is the actual music video... Jack Black?

Favourite cover

This:



Released on The Dum Dum Girls' He Gets Me High EP. The album (Only In Dreams) is just as awesome.

Favourite soundtrack

Was Tron this year? It was right? That has a really awesome soundtrack. You'd expect that with Daft Punk though.

*Whose 2011 release, Belong, totally blew, especially in contrast to their debut, which I adore so highly. This leads me to another category...

2011's biggest musical fail

The Strokes' Angles. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING. I love all their albums, except this one. And I hate this one with such utter fury, I refuse to acknowledge its existence. Some band stole their name, and released this. It's all going to court now though, so don't worry. The real Strokes will be back in no time.



Vote Alpha for Music Guru 2011. Hope needs a second term.

[charliepanayi]

I'm still working on my absolute favourite songs and albums from the year, but for now following some of these categories:

Best new act of 2011
I've got two choices here:
1. EMA - kind of like Cat Power shone through a prism of noise rock and dark lyrics, and splendidly abrasive
EMA - Milkman (official video) - YouTube
2.Wild Flag - not new as such as the members are music veterans (Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss especially from the much-missed Sleater-Kinney), but this was a fiery debut, almost up there with the best any of them have done before
Wild Flag - Romance - YouTube

Favourite musical discovery of the year
I have to give a mention here to Swans (their mid-period and later stuff anyway - anyone interested in post-rock should check them out) but my absolute favourite discovery in 2011 was Arthur Russell, who sadly passed away in the 90s aged just 40, but left a huge amount of music behind him, ranging from disco-type stuff through to ambient
Arthur Russell - This Is How We Walk On The Moon - YouTube
Arthur Russell - In The Light of The Miracle - YouTube

Favourite release from an old favourite
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake. Enough said. She's one of the best musicians the UK has ever produced, and this was up to her usual high standards. I'd also give shoutouts to Tom Waits, Mogwai and Elbow too.
PJ Harvey- The Words That Maketh Murder - YouTube

I agree with Alpha about Yuck, but definitely don't agree about the second Pains of Being Pure at Heart album! That's one of my favourites this year.

[charliepanayi]

My list:

20. The Rapture - In the Grace of Your Love
19. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient
18. Tom Waits - Bad as Me
17. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
16. Summer Camp - Welcome to Condale
15. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
14. Tune-Yards - Whokill
13. St Vincent - Strange Mercy
12. The Decemberists - The King is Dead
11. EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints
10. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
9. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
8. F***ed Up - David Comes to Life
7. Yuck - Yuck
6. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
5. The Horrors - Skying
4. Low - C'mon
3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong
2. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
1. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

[hen5522]

My favorite song is Just have rain over me..i really like this song..In the list of favorite songs...

[Taco-Calamitous]

Finally took the challenge, heh. My top 20 of 2011:

20. Counterpunch: March of the Paper Tiger
19. Pulley: The Long and Short of It
18. Frenzal Rhomb: Bird Attack
17. Guano Apes: Oh What A Night
16. Flogging Molly: Revolution
15. Richmond Fontaine: Inventory
14. The Smoking Popes: Punk Band
13. I Fight Dragons: Kaboom!
12. We're Not Afraid: One Man Economy
11. The Vaccines: Norgaard
10. The Go! Team: T.O.R.N.A.D.O
9. Citizen Fish: How Far Does It Go?
8. Star ****ing Hipsters: 9/11 'til Infinity
7. Less Than Jake: Harvey Wallbanger
6. The Aquabats!: Pink Pants!
5. Ninja Sex Party: Dinosaur Laser Fight
4. Architecture in Helsinki: I Know Deep Down
3. Foo Fighters: Walk
2. House of Heroes: Love is For the Middle Class
1. Five Iron Frenzy: It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

I'm not very good at ordering things, really. As I was looking for links to these songs, I was thinking, "...do I really like this song more/less than this other one?" Not sure, for example, if that FIF song deserves to be that high, but it is. Also wonder if maybe I like another Frenzal Rhomb song better than that one. Or that I Fight Dragons song. Or "Walk" in place of "White Limo." Eh. Anyhoo...

Wuv, Yer Mom

[Tezcat]

Favorite New Artist: Save Your Breath - Vices
Favorite Release of an Old Favorite: Yellowcard - When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes

Also, I write for a zine and had to submit my top 10 albums and gigs of the year:

Gigs:

1 - Jimmy Eat World 22/06/11 HMV Forum, London
2 - Yellowcard (Acoustic) 06/09/11 Bush Hall, London
3 - The Wonder Years (Acoustic) 17/09/11 Banquet Records, Kingston
4 - Polar Bear Club, Man Overboard, Basement, Britishteeth 14/07/11 Waterfront, Norwich
5 - New Found Glory, Fight Like Apes, Save Your Breath 23/08/11 Electric Ballroom, London
6 - Taking Back Sunday, The New Regime, The Xcerts 30/08/11 LCR, Norwich
7 - Deaf Havana, Evarose 07/11/11 Arts Centre, Norwich
8 - The Dangerous Summer, Marines, Who's Driving? Bear's Driving!, Chase The Enemy 26/05/11 The Twist, Colchester
9 - Funeral For A Friend, Canterbury, Spy Catcher 13/02/11 Borderline, London
10 - The Revival Tour - Brian Fallon, Dan Andriano, Chuck Ragan, Dave Hause 15/10/11 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Releases:

1 - Yellowcard - When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes
2 - Bayside - Killing Time
3 - Fireworks - Gospel
4 - New Found Glory - Radiosurgery
5 - Deaf Havana - Fools And Worthless Liars
6 - The Swellers - Good For Me
7 - Save Your Breath - Vices
8 - Lights - Siberia
9 - The Super Happy Fun Club - Go Fun Yourself
10 - Childish Gambino - Camp

[Xanatos]

I honestly got nothing, I would usually say it was a bad year as far as my taste in music goes but I've only gone through two albums, both decent at best. Got few great songs out of The Unforgiving by Within Temptation though.

[Professor]

Top 5 songs from 2011, and let me say it is hard to narrow just five for me.

5. Shearwater- Animal Life
Shearwater - Animal Life - YouTube
This song is more indie folk but just overall nice on the ears.

4. Pete & and the Pirates - Little Gun
Little Gun // Pete & the Pirates - YouTube
Upbeat tune and lively guitars this song is made to move fast.

3. Phenomenal Handclap Band - Unknown Faces at Father James Park
Phenomenal Handclap Band - The Unknown Faces At Father James Park - YouTube
Indie and alternative, just a feel good jam.

2. Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) - official video - YouTube
for some reason he has been big in the Europe for quite a while but with this track he is blowing up here in the US!

1. Breakbot - Fantasy
Breakbot - Fantasy feat. Ruckazoid - YouTube
In 2009 Breakbot was signed by Ed Banger Records and they have had an all star list of artists. This song is quite simply amazing if you like dance, trance but not too much techno.

And I have to say my favorite album from 2011 has to go to...
Justice with Audio, Video, Disco