Welcome all! 2011 seemed to be the year of ostensible single-member bands (Washed Out aka Ernest Greene, Cold Cave aka Wesley Eisold, Wild Nothing aka Jack Tatum, New Division aka John Kunkel, Neon Indian aka Alan Palomo, etc). I’m not sure what this signifies for the future (or present) of music, but it’s certainly a curiosity. Anyway, on with the countdown...
ALBUMS
10. The Drums – Portamento
Not quite the tour-de-force as last year’s brilliant debut, but at least The Drums didn’t change their winningly lo-fi 80’s sound one iota.
9. Neon Indian – Era Extrana
Featuring enough distortion and electronic bits to open their own indie music shop.
8. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong
The first PBPH record to really grab me, NYC’s own heart-on-their-sleeve indie poppers released a pretty dynamite set of tunes.
7. Yuck – Yuck
At times seemingly a Dinosaur Jr tribute (not that there’s anything wrong with that), newcomers Yuck scripted a solid rocker from start to finish.
6. The Horrors – Skying
The Horrors continue to defy expectations, thoughtfully evolving their early creepshow rock into a remarkable atmospheric sound all their own. This band is somehow important.
5. I Break Horses – Hearts
A welcome new entry to the Swedish noisepop oeuvre, simultaneously blippy, textural and ferocious. Certainly channeling My Bloody Valentine, but not in an annoying or obvious way.
4. Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See
The best Monkeys release yet, for my money. Leader Alex Turner continues to flex his vocal chops, clever lyrics and darkening rock vision. One of the UK’s best and most underrated songwriters, they’ve come an incredibly long way (streets ahead?) since their teenage debut in 2006.
3. Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind of Fix
London-based BBC served up a bouncy and surprisingly layered set of tunes. Nothing earth-shattering, but solid and pleasant on the ears.
2. Cold Cave – Cherish the Light Years
Uber New Order-esque bass and electronics always get me. That said, Cold Cave’s debut still featured more than enough dark hooks to justify this lofty chart position.
1. The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
This Welsh three-piece burst onto the scene in 2011 with a staggering full-length debut of MBV-esque guitars, double-bass drums and writing chops. Ritzy Bryan (real name!) is the lady behind the sound, blasting out her effected guitars and vocals with breathtaking authority. This is a certified Must Hear, and the best record of 2011.
Honorable Mention
Real Estate - Days
Washed Out – Within and Without
Young the Giant – S/T
Wild Nothing – Geminii
SONGS (Top 30, plus bonus)
Spotify Playlist, listen at your leisure!:
http://open.spotify.com/user/shoegazer72/playlist/0ff7v3LbZJyBx40eVnrEu9
OR
spotify:user:shoegazer72:playlist:0ff7v3LbZJyBx40eVnrEu9
Bonus. Best song I first heard in 2011 that was released in 2009: “If You Run” – The Boxer Rebellion
30. “Junk of the Heart” – The Kooks
29. “Nocturnal” – The New Division
28. “Changing the Rain” – The Horrors
27. “Winter Beats” – I Break Horses
26. “Villains of the Moon” – Cold Cave
25. “Two Small Deaths” – Wye Oak
24. “New Theory” – Washed Out
23. “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” – Arctic Monkeys
22. “Polish Girl” – Neon Indian
21. “The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie” – The Joy Formidable
20. “Money” – The Drums
19. “Shuffle” – Bombay Bicycle Club
18. “Helena Beat” – Foster the People
17. “Pacing Around the Church” – Cold Cave
16. “Helpless” – Friendly Fires
15. “I’m Not Ready” – Surfer Blood
14. “Chinatown” – Wild Nothing
13. “Heart in your Heartbreak” – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
12. “Get Away” - Yuck
11. “Whirring” – The Joy Formidable
10. “Wired” – I Break Horses
9. “Lights Out, Words Gone” – Bombay Bicycle Club
8. “Confetti” – Cold Cave
7. “Sad Song” – The Cars
6. “Cough Syrup” – Young the Giant
5. “Tokyo” – The Wombats
4. “The Hellcat Spangled Sha La La” – Arctic Monkeys
3. “Every Love That Ever Was” – Home Video
2. “Golden Haze” – Wild Nothing
1. “Austere” – The Joy Formidable
Best EP
New Division – The Rookie
Wild Nothing – Golden Haze
Surfer Blood – Tarot Classics
Best Trend
One-man bands.
Bedroom-produced female vocal-fronted duos (usually from Brooklyn). Examples include Sleigh Bells, Cults, Best Coast, et al.
Most Overwrought
Florence + the Machine (ick)
Band I Can’t Listen To Due to Pretentious Name
The Head and the Heart
I Have to Admit
That Adele stuff isn’t too bad.
Most Disappointing
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Great Records from 2010 That I Didn’t Discover until 2011
Boxer Rebellion - Union
Washed Out – Life of Leisure
Wild Nothing - Gemini
Best Cover Album
Tokyo Police Club – 10x10x10
Worst Comeback
Beady Eye (Liam Gallagher)
Biggest Snooze (The “Somebody Wake up Mase!” Award)
Radiohead – King of Limbs
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake (what a misnomer!)
Decemberists – The King is Dead
ALBUMS
10. The Drums – Portamento
Not quite the tour-de-force as last year’s brilliant debut, but at least The Drums didn’t change their winningly lo-fi 80’s sound one iota.
9. Neon Indian – Era Extrana
Featuring enough distortion and electronic bits to open their own indie music shop.
8. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong
The first PBPH record to really grab me, NYC’s own heart-on-their-sleeve indie poppers released a pretty dynamite set of tunes.
7. Yuck – Yuck
At times seemingly a Dinosaur Jr tribute (not that there’s anything wrong with that), newcomers Yuck scripted a solid rocker from start to finish.
6. The Horrors – Skying
The Horrors continue to defy expectations, thoughtfully evolving their early creepshow rock into a remarkable atmospheric sound all their own. This band is somehow important.
5. I Break Horses – Hearts
A welcome new entry to the Swedish noisepop oeuvre, simultaneously blippy, textural and ferocious. Certainly channeling My Bloody Valentine, but not in an annoying or obvious way.
4. Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See
The best Monkeys release yet, for my money. Leader Alex Turner continues to flex his vocal chops, clever lyrics and darkening rock vision. One of the UK’s best and most underrated songwriters, they’ve come an incredibly long way (streets ahead?) since their teenage debut in 2006.
3. Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind of Fix
London-based BBC served up a bouncy and surprisingly layered set of tunes. Nothing earth-shattering, but solid and pleasant on the ears.
2. Cold Cave – Cherish the Light Years
Uber New Order-esque bass and electronics always get me. That said, Cold Cave’s debut still featured more than enough dark hooks to justify this lofty chart position.
1. The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
This Welsh three-piece burst onto the scene in 2011 with a staggering full-length debut of MBV-esque guitars, double-bass drums and writing chops. Ritzy Bryan (real name!) is the lady behind the sound, blasting out her effected guitars and vocals with breathtaking authority. This is a certified Must Hear, and the best record of 2011.
Honorable Mention
Real Estate - Days
Washed Out – Within and Without
Young the Giant – S/T
Wild Nothing – Geminii
SONGS (Top 30, plus bonus)
Spotify Playlist, listen at your leisure!:
http://open.spotify.com/user/shoegazer72/playlist/0ff7v3LbZJyBx40eVnrEu9
OR
spotify:user:shoegazer72:playlist:0ff7v3LbZJyBx40eVnrEu9
Bonus. Best song I first heard in 2011 that was released in 2009: “If You Run” – The Boxer Rebellion
30. “Junk of the Heart” – The Kooks
29. “Nocturnal” – The New Division
28. “Changing the Rain” – The Horrors
27. “Winter Beats” – I Break Horses
26. “Villains of the Moon” – Cold Cave
25. “Two Small Deaths” – Wye Oak
24. “New Theory” – Washed Out
23. “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” – Arctic Monkeys
22. “Polish Girl” – Neon Indian
21. “The Everchanging Spectrum of a Lie” – The Joy Formidable
20. “Money” – The Drums
19. “Shuffle” – Bombay Bicycle Club
18. “Helena Beat” – Foster the People
17. “Pacing Around the Church” – Cold Cave
16. “Helpless” – Friendly Fires
15. “I’m Not Ready” – Surfer Blood
14. “Chinatown” – Wild Nothing
13. “Heart in your Heartbreak” – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
12. “Get Away” - Yuck
11. “Whirring” – The Joy Formidable
10. “Wired” – I Break Horses
9. “Lights Out, Words Gone” – Bombay Bicycle Club
8. “Confetti” – Cold Cave
7. “Sad Song” – The Cars
6. “Cough Syrup” – Young the Giant
5. “Tokyo” – The Wombats
4. “The Hellcat Spangled Sha La La” – Arctic Monkeys
3. “Every Love That Ever Was” – Home Video
2. “Golden Haze” – Wild Nothing
1. “Austere” – The Joy Formidable
Best EP
New Division – The Rookie
Wild Nothing – Golden Haze
Surfer Blood – Tarot Classics
Best Trend
One-man bands.
Bedroom-produced female vocal-fronted duos (usually from Brooklyn). Examples include Sleigh Bells, Cults, Best Coast, et al.
Most Overwrought
Florence + the Machine (ick)
Band I Can’t Listen To Due to Pretentious Name
The Head and the Heart
I Have to Admit
That Adele stuff isn’t too bad.
Most Disappointing
M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
Great Records from 2010 That I Didn’t Discover until 2011
Boxer Rebellion - Union
Washed Out – Life of Leisure
Wild Nothing - Gemini
Best Cover Album
Tokyo Police Club – 10x10x10
Worst Comeback
Beady Eye (Liam Gallagher)
Biggest Snooze (The “Somebody Wake up Mase!” Award)
Radiohead – King of Limbs
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake (what a misnomer!)
Decemberists – The King is Dead
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