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Best Music of 2011 (according to moi)
As a music lover and avid music discovery guy, I can’t help but throw out this list. Thanks to my good friend TJ for the reminder. Here is my top 10 list of 2011 albums.
No real surprises other than probably what I’m excluding that the mags will praise. I did not enjoy Fleet Foxes or Toro Y Moi for example. I actually did not like most of the “chill wave glo-fi” stuff that came out and I hope it’s a trend that will wither away. But I do think it’s good music and excellent musicianship. It’s just too emo/pop sounding for me. I can’t believe how much really good music in 2011 was so emoish! Maybe a mood for this sound will strike me at one point but in general I do wish there was more boldness to the excellent sounds coming out lately.
I tried to restrain from glorifying albums that I heavily enjoyed such as Zomby’s Dedication, Modeselektor’s MonkeyTown and Rustie’s Glass Words because I know they are only good if you are as vested into the electronic genre as I am. However, if you like experimental electronic music, you MUST check those out.
I very much wish I could include some 2010 albums, such as Tame Impala’s Innerspeaker and Gold Panda’s Lucky Shiner. They were probably more awesome for me in 2011 than they were in 2010 and I would happily put them at the top of the list, so if you haven’t heard those two, get them now. And if you like good dirty guitars, definitely get Tame Impala. Best rock album in a long time for me.
I must also give an honorable pop mention to Katy B’s debut. I dug her pop music meets dubstep thing, amazing voice and good style. Call it my guilty pleasure.
So that’s my ramble. The list:
1. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient - I don’t know what it is about this album. Like Tame Impala, this band just knows how to rock with their balls clearly on. They have this Bob Dylan meets Tom Petty meets progressive rock meets indie rock thing that’s very alluring. Their album is more about the journey. There’s nothing to hit you on the face with awesomeness but when you finish it, you want to listen to it again and again. The textures are deep, the guitar is exactly what a rock guitar should sound like, and they just never get old. Not the best album of the year probably, but it is my favorite. I’d love to see an explosion of this type of rock (and Tame Impala) rather than all the emoish stuff going around, which is also partially on my list I suppose.
2. Girls - Father Son Holy Ghost - Chris Owens’ voice has always turned me off to this band, which is weird because it is also Girls’ best asset. On this second album, the strong instrumental guitar rock just helped me get past it, up to the point that I’m now into it. This is Jack Johnson meets Tame Impala or something. And I very much appreciate Owens’ different style now. If you are into good progressive rock with distinctive modern vocals - this will first throw you off, but then you will want more and more of it. This is probably 2011’s most unique rock album, and yes, it has balls behind the playful vocals. A+ for unique style.
3. Nicolas Jaar - Space is Only Noise - Nicolas Jaar literally floored me this year. I am in awe of this kid (he is 21 or 22) and for half the year I was devouring everything he’s ever done, every interview about him, all his singles, and everything released by Lamb & Wolf, the label he is on, and Clown & Sunset, the label he owns. Nicolas Jaar was my favorite musician to discover in 2011, but I have to say I don’t think this album is his best work nor do I think he has come out with his best work yet. This guy is going places. If you are into Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada or anything from the golden era of IDM, you’ll like this. But not because he sounds anything else like it, but because this guy has absorbed all the twists & turns that electronic music has done in the last few years, and incorporated them all to create his very own style. The work is mellow, mature, lots of subtext. Not nearly as explosive as he can be. But worth it. Also, if this allures you, get Gold Panda. Another major guy to look out for in electronic music.
4. The Antlers - Burst Apart - This is a very mellow album. But it’s just so beautiful, so haunting, so elegant. I don’t know a lot about the Antlers yet but these songs have stayed in my head throughout the last few months and every time I turn to this album I find a new golden nugget, a new discovery. If you are into melancholy and grandiosity, but you want to experience it with a peaceful mind and a relaxed vibe, this is the album for that mood in 2011 in my book.
5. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake - I just have to appreciate when an artist with a career history like PJ Harvey busts out an album as consistent as “Let England Shake” - from the grandiose ode ballad to England to the album’s rockier hits like “Let England Shake” this album fits in very well in 2011 - it sounds very different from Harvey’s previous works, it has lovely textures, and there’s a lot of stuff to discover jam packed in every song. The pace of the album is great too, something you can play repetitively and enjoy.
6. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care Take Care Take Care - This might be the less inventive album on my list but you can’t fault a band for sounding so good at being themselves. Yes, the era for grandiose progressive rock instrumentals is definitely not 2011. Hell, even Battles and Sigur Ros are now doing normal indie rock vocals. But Explosions in the Sky managed to release an album so detached from every trend going on right now that you can tell it comes from their heart. This is a beautiful work of great guitars, a solid mood, and not an emoish trace in the whole shebang, which I’m happy to keep repeating that it bothers me a lot. Every time I put this album on around people they comment on its beauty. Guitar lovers rejoice - this is the album for you.
7. Radiohead - The King of Limbs - If you know me, you knew this album was going to be here. So no surprises. When I heard the very first note of this album I was stoked. If your favorite Radiohead album is The Bends or OK Computer, this isn’t for you, but if you can honestly say you loved Kid A, this is Kid A for 2011. No longer being able to be electronically inspired by new sounds from Aphex Twin, Autechre and Boards of Canada, Yorke, an avid and very progressive electronic music fan now turned to Flying Lotus and Modeselektor for inspiration. Radiohead may no longer be cranking out albums that perfectly describe our moment in history, but they are still releasing very inventive music to keep us stimulated. People are going to change their minds about this one when they see it live too. Under all that electronic sound, there’s Johnny, Ed, Phil and Collin doing their thing. It’s not the most consistently stunning album they’ve done to be sure, but it does have a special place in their overall discography.
8. Cults - Cults - This band is very much “The XX” of 2011 - poppy, young, but darn talented - clearly evoking nostalgic feelings amidst that bubble gum. The opening track shows just how hard these guys can rock. Every other tune, while soft, has guitar textures that quite hit the spot. Cults, like the XX, have created an album that appeals to everyone, harms nobody, and leaves them open to go in just about any direction. The band knows how to maintain the balance between pop and experimentation extremely well on this album which is why it works so well and is so impressive. Let’s hope they keep this together. It’s a tough one to maintain.
9. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for my Halo - Kurt Vile, who somehow still seems to be a part of The War on Drugs despite not appearing in their latest album, has become much more popular than his fellow War on Drugs bandmates. And while I like the band more than his solo stuff, it’s clear this is just as talented americana rock with an indie/2011 flavor. Another great guitar album with very impressive songwriting that will make you pause to make sure you can absorb all of the lyrics. Not something I can say for everyone.
10. Bon Iver - Bon Iver - I’ll be terribly honest. I’m not that big of a fan. But the (retired?) music critic in me can’t help but put this on the list. It most certainly will be #1 in most lists this year. And I totally respect the musicianship in it. If only it wasn’t so darn emo! The textures are glorious, the mood is quite decent, and the album is definitely VERY 2011. Get it if you don’t mind the softyness. I’ll keep waiting for it to put me in awe, I know it has it in there.
Best track of the year: Mazzy Star - Common Burn. I cannot believe Mazzy Star released this track in 2011. This is an amazing California band from the glory era of the 90s that hasn’t released new material in many, many years. But when you put this on it sounds like something from a brand new band in 2011 with its mellow vibe, folksy/countryish guitar and clever lyrics - and it’s JUST AS GOOD if not better than their classic stuff. It’s amazing, I can’t wait for their new album. Much respect for this comeback.
Also must mention Burial’s massive tune: Street Halo. Burial’s keeping us in the waiting for a proper album release but the release of Street Halo and its 2 b-sides was more than enough to confirm why he is one of the most interesting electronic musicians right now.
Music I’ve Discovered in 2011.
The lack of ballsy rock took me on a journey back to the 60s where I discovered/ got into bands like Love, Iggy Pop, Ten Years After, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Blue Cheer.
My return to Venezuela got me all into Hector Lavoe who is my absolute favorite musical discovery for 2011. This man is legendary. And whether you like salsa or not you must check him out. Hector single-handedly got me heavily into salsa, merengue, cumbia and musica llanera this year, which I was happy to explore a whole lot of, including classics from Willie Colon and Oscar De Leon.
I just recently got the entire Columbia discography of Miles Davis and been into a jazzy mood lately. But it’s been contemporary jazz pianist Brad Mehldau who’s been stuck on repeat as of late in the jazz camp.
And my cousin who suddenly got a kick for old school soul got me turned on to Al Green (now that’s R&B I can listen to!) and The Zombies.
Long live music.
Boom Bip - New Order feat. Luke Steel and Josh Klinghoffer
The Wise Kode9
Great words from Hyperdub founder Kode9:
A lot of these naming conventions are obviously driven by journalists’ need to label things. Do you think those kind of cultural filters are important anymore?
I think they’re more important now than ever, because we’re more snowed under with random bullshit, too much information, shit music. You need filters. So I think more than ever you need good filters with good taste and a sense of the future, and a sense of the direction things are moving in. That’s as important for other writers and readers as it is for labels and producers and artists. Okay, so some artists don’t read anything and just sit in their studios, but I’ve always been interested in reading music writing. Because, here’s the thing: Good conceptual music writing gives me musical ideas. The one thing you can do faster in writing than you can do in music is splice together ideas. You don’t have to splice together two sounds. It’s quicker to splice together the ideas and experiment with an idea before you even experiment with a combination of sounds, or make connections between things you wouldn’t normally make connections with.
My Nu Leng - All Burial Mix
Tracklist
1. Burial - Speedball 2
2. Burial - Fostercare
3. Burial - Ghost Hardware
4. Burial - Gutted
5. Burial - End bit from Shell Of Light
6. Commix - Be True (Burial Rmx)
7. Burial & Four Tet - Moth
8. Jamie Woon - Night Air (prod. by Burial)
9. Burial - Unite
10. Burial - Night Bus
11. Jamie Woon - Wayfaring Stranger (Burial Rmx)
12. Burial - Archangel (Zeno Rmx)
13. Burial - Archangel
14. Burial - Versus
15. Burial - Stairwell
16. Burial - In McDonalds
17. Burial - Dog Shelter
18. Burial - Near Dark
19. Thom Yorke - And It Rained All Night (Burial Rmx)
20. Burial - Southern Comfort
21. Breakage ft.Burial - Vial
22. Burial - Etched Headplate
23. Burial - Endorphin
24. Bloc Party - Where Is Home (Burial Rmx)
25. Burial - Nite Train
26. Burial - Untrue
27. Burial - Shutta
28. Burial - Prayer
29. Burial - Forgive
30. Burial - UK
Burial is Back as King to the Electronic Music Throne
And just like that and out of the blue three new Burial tracks were released online today in pretty good quality. All three tracks will be up for digital sale on the Hyperdub label beginning next Monday, March 28. Hyperdub’s founder and producer-extraordinaire Kode9, who himself will be releasing his sophomore album very shortly, released a preview of two of the tracks on the Benji B show on BBC’s Radio 1. And the third one, “NYC”, can already be found on YouTube. Check them all out below. And to top things off, I’ve added the high-quality Vinyl version of the Burial/Four Tet/Thom Yorke collaboration that was released online only a week ago.
After three years of absence it’s certainly glad to see new Burial material come up. This is the dense, deep, melancholic Burial we’ve all grown to love, but showing us a groovier side of him as well which I can certainly embrace. He keeps showing us why he is on a league all of his own. I already want more!
Burial - Street Halo by weallwantsome1
Burial - Stolen Dog by weallwantsome1
Great wobbly-wobbly beats with MartyParty.
As dubstep gets more mainstream and more diluted the artists that started it all have been separating themselves from the genre. But every once in a while I hear an artist still doing the heavy bass beats the way it was supposed to be done, with innovation and experimentation at the forefront. MartyParty is clearly following the dubstep sound, but this NYC producer is very much his own man and his own sound and Blueberry Kush is a fantastic EP that reminds me of Benga’s debut in 2008, heavy bass, phat beats, and killer all the way through. The track playing is “Shorty” and this certainly reminds me why I still love me some dubstep.
I think there’s some sort of mass-awakening going on in our society today, one where we have it very clear that we were born in a time where society is more manufactured than ever, and after the horrible technocratic shock of it all, where Radiohead made its signature sound, there’s now a joy in being alive that comes from feeling more connected, more creative and hopeful that someone out there is actually a good guy and we can turn things around.
For some reason this track “Society is my Friend” made me think of that.
Kurt Vile is indie rock at its finest, reminding me of Tom Waits, Led Zep, electronic and indie rock all at once with a mastery of lyrics and guitar maestrosity.
“Mirror,” the Thom Yorke/Burial collab is a giant. Burial hasn’t been heard of for years and on this track he reminds us why he needs to come back with an album NOW. As previously confirmed by a Burial remix of a Thom Yorke solo track, Thom’s vocals blend excellently with Burial’s music. The way that they created a landscape that mixes Burial’s arrangements with Thom’s vocal work make this my favorite solo work by Thom in addition to creating further craving for Burial’s new album, whenever it happens to be. This track is on repeat.
I’d be remiss not to mention James Blake on this blog as I totally agree with the critics that he is sending music in a very forward direction. Blake blends r&b, trip-hop and IDM to push the mindbending side of the electronic genre forward while mixing it with some really popular elements. Successfully bringing pop vocals into IDM-derived music is a feat only a few have been able to pull off - Bjork, Thom Yorke, Mum. Blake sounds sexy like Massive Attack yet pushes trip-hop to a direction closer to Burial’s version of dubstep. I don’t necessarily love rn’b but I do appreciate where James Blake is coming from.
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of the new Strokes album but since I’ve taken a really good liking to Nick Valensi’s guitar, I will confess that I’m really enjoying some of the new tracks. The album opener is a perfect example of classic Strokes guitar work with a new sound that is different enough to sound interesting. It’s terrible catchy and I find myself listening to it a lot.
I also really the single, which is classic Strokes work, almost too classic, deceiving fans of what the album is really about. I have to say that the rest is hit-or-miss for me. There are experiments here that I just don’t think are worth doing, where they do sound different but more like a much crappier rock band trying to be on KROQ than anything we want them to experiment with.
They do very good work in this album but maybe the fact that I know how little they worked together to create it has dampened my excitement for some of the new roads traveled.”Machu Picchu” is great though.
I think the next record could be the beginning of the end or a serious comeback. There’s clearly still talent in them.
