2011.....The List

Been a few years since I've done this, and 2011 wasn't the greatest year to jump back into this game. There wasn't a lot of great albums out this year. Jeremy put it best; that Lady Gaga was just pure garbage. Horrible cover, horrible lyrics, and honestly you're not as shocking as you might think girlfriend! Death Cab's album was good for a few listens but didn't have any staying power, and they released that remix album and killed it for me. And don't get me started on Adele......

Anyway here's 10, maybe not the "best" of the year. But definitely 10 albums that I can say I enjoyed from start to finish.


10-The Decemberists "The King Is Dead"
Great album, enjoyed it immensely hearing it live. Why not higher on the list? It was a "safe album". "Hazards of Love" was a daring move; they had to do something safe and slightly mainstream sounding next to keep the momentum going. Don't get me wrong, masterful lyrics here but it's also not "Picaresque".
Favorite track-"This Is Why We Fight"


9-Noah and the Whale "Last Night On Earth"
I had just started listening to "L.I.F.E. G.O.E.S. O.N." right before we left for England. Overseas I grabbed two of their albums from a budget bin on a whim, hoping I'd like more of what I heard. While the other album "The First Days of Spring" was good, it was a little slow for me to put my whole heart into despite the rave reviews it gets. This album, however, was just so positive and uplifting. It had plenty of hooks and lyrics to catch your ear right away; kind of electronic and folk all at the same time.
Favorite track-"Tonight's The Kind Of Night"


8-Beady Eye/Noel Gallagher
Not going to comment on the whole Oasis drama; it's done. Let the British media eat it up. Here we will focus on the actual music. Liam's album obviously focused on his idea that he is in the Beatles (one of the tracks is called "Beatles and Stones" lol). This album comes at you hard right off the break and stays loud. There is some sputtering near the end but "The Beat Goes On" is a perfect ending track for this album. Noel's album, while not as accessible as Liam's, shows more solid writing behind the actual songs. It's a welcome relief to see Noel "step back out of the shadows" per se and take the spotlight. Couldn't decide between the two so you get both because they are both better than anything Oasis has done in the past few years together.
Favorite Track(s)-Beady Eye "The Roller", Noel "A Simple Game of Genius"


7-Miles Kane "Colour of The Trap"
Another album acquired from good old England. Some of you might remember him as "the other guy from that band that also had the guy from Arctic Monkeys" otherwise known as The Last Shadow Puppets. That little side project was a fairly decent album but after listening to Miles' solo debut, it makes me wonder if Alex Turner was holding him back. Face it, everything after the first Arctic Monkeys' album has been a downhill struggle. Miles crafts an exceptional pop album.....12 songs, and none longer than three and a half minutes. Blazing through a well-crafted 38 minute album.
Favorite track-"Happenstance"


6-Friendly Fires "Pala"
Definitely my favorite "dancey" album of the year. Got the synths, the hooks, and the pop to keep this playing over and over.
Favorite track-"Blue Cassette"


5-Horrors "Skying"
They started as an artsy, goth/punk band from England but over time formed into a song writing juggernaut. On this album, they channel their inner Joy Division and Cure to create an album that shows they wear their influences right out in the open as proud badges of honor. Even if you can only understand half of the lyrics.
Favorite track-"I Can See Through You"


4-Jon Fratelli "Psycho Jukebox"
The Fratellis suffered the typical sophomore syndrome on their second album and released quite a sub par album. His solo effort blows that album out of the water. Keeping all those excellent guitar riffs from their first album and dumping the strained lyrics of the second album, he manages to craft a nice album that makes us forget the second album even existed.
Favorite track-"Baby, We're Refugees"


3-Foster The People "Torches"
I can already here the groans for picking this. "Oh, you like that song they play on that radio, don't you?" Yes, I do. "Pumped Up Kicks" is a perfect example of an indie/hipster pop song. But this album is more than just the one song; in fact, it's not even my favorite on the album. Every song on here has a sound of its own. Some scream a falsetto reminiscent of Passion Pit. Some have that psychedelic pop edge that MGMT exudes on its debut. A few even have classic influence like the Beach Boys. It is a perfect summer record.
Favorite track-"Houdini"


2-Kasabian "Velociraptor"
Wow! Just wow! They are four albums in now. And each time they improve, change their sound, and yet remain the same. Here they manage to culminate all of England in one album. You can even hear some Beatles influence on here...don't believe me? Listen to "La Fee Verte" and tell me otherwise. "Switchblade Smiles" pulls some Prodigy into the mix. Probably classifies as a very eclectic album, but they make it work.
Favorite track-"Days Are Forgotten"


1-Florence & The Machine "Ceremonials"
I was very worried about the hype built up to this. She very easily could have succumbed to the sophomore curse. She took a dare and dropped a lot of the pop sound from her debut album. The orchestration and almost ethereal, gospel sound on this record creates a pop sound all her own. And fuck Adele! Florence has the voice!
Favorite track-"Strangeness and Charm" (a b-side too!)


And of course there are honorable mentions. Wye Oak....great record, just doesn't do it for me like their first two do. Still better than most of the year. Sound of Arrows.....everything is great about it. Synthy, kind of like Pet Shop Boys and Empire of The Sun. Just haven't given it enough play time yet. Not officially out in the US yet so maybe I can put it on my list next year. Coldplay.....loved this album. More than "Viva La Vida". I noticed that I like every other album of theirs. TV On The Radio....also really good, just didn't make the cut. And there's plenty of other things to still hear. Going to give The Weeknd a try! Maybe give the Wilco album another spin.

~StEvO