2011 was a pretty good year for music. It's also the first year in at least a decade that I actively followed new releases, read music blogs and sites, and purchased more than just a handful of albums. Here are some of my favorites for the year.
Favorite Labels of the Year
1) Tri-angle Records A couple of my favorite records of the year came from Tri-angle and will appear below, but I'd have to say that I love everything they put out
2) Warminal Records This little net label puts out super quality, chillish electro. I love the releases from Σ-Fly, Fedbymachines, and Essáy especially, but they're all worth a listen.
Favorite Band name of the Year
Adderall Canyonly. Their record, Asuuna is available as a free download and is another favorite of mine this year.
Favorite Cassette Release of the Year
I guess boutique cassette releases have been around for a few years, but I heard so much good music in this format this year -- well actually, digital downloads of cassette releases -- whatever. Moss of Aura's Still Parade was my favorite. Makes we want to put on a white blazer and boat shoes and drive my yellow 'Vette down to the beach.
Favorite Artists that were New To Me this Year that are Otherwise not Included on These Lists that Made me Love to Listen to Music
1) Mount Kimbie
2) Tycho
3) Das Racist
4) oOoOO
5) Nils Frahm
6) Rafael Anton Irisarri
7) Ólafur Arnalds
Favorite Songs of the Year
1) First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar. This song could have been on my soundtrack from 2003.
2) Neon Indian - Polish Girl. I still love a catchy song with a killer hook; this song has the killingest hooks.
3) Harold Budd - Haru Spring. Minimal. Serene. Beautiful.
Favorite Albums of the Year
1) The Caretaker - An Empty Bliss Beyond This World. There is a well-worn description of The Caretaker's music that it is the score for a haunted ballroom. This description is what initially set its hooks into me, but the themes of memory and Alzheimer's that run through this album are scarier than any dancing ghost.
2A) Destroyer - Kaputt. I've seen a critical backlash against this album by critics longing for the days of Streethawk, but for my money, Kaputt is second only to Your Blues.
2B) Panda Bear - Tomboy. Sometimes I hear a kind of music in my head that I just can't hear elsewhere. (or seem to make myself) Tomboy comes as close as anything to that unobtainable sound.
3) Holy Other - With U (EP). Just Creepy-Fresh and Awesome. The first of two Tri-Angle artists in my list.
4) Tape - Revelationes. Tape's Luminarium is one of my favorite records of all time, so Revelationes had a lot to live up to in my mind. It did. It's good.
5) Balam Acab - Wander/Wonder. The album cover draws you right into this odd little sonic world that I love to visit. The second Tri-Angle artist represents.
6) Downliners Sekt - Meet the Decline (EP). A fun-house mirror of an abstracted and fragmented bite-sized electro beam of light. And it's free.
Surprise of the Year
In the set-the-bar-always-lower realm of radio pop, I always thought Adele was one of the best. Her Tiny Desk Concert performance made me a fan.
2 comments:
great post and stellar list! i love year end lists cuz it gives me a chance to search out some gems that i missed out on the first go around and there's some here i'm excited to listen to.
this is awesome--thanks for starting this! i like the adele video a lot, too. i've never really bothered to listen to her, but she was awesome to watch. i'm looking forward to checking out some of this other stuff, too.
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