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Re: Albums of 2011

Romain
(I just want to know if gaga means senile in English as in French ?)
It does.

Listened to the album, and it's a fairly dull one, though I suppose if you liked The Fame Monster you'll dig this as well. Not even close to revolutionary or any other superlative mentioned by her and her fans.

Re: Albums of 2011

Revolutionary? No.

But I'll take it over most of Madonna's albums, and I like Madonna.

Re: Albums of 2011

I can't believe Tiny Mix Tapes gave her a 0/100. ZERO!!!!!!Those guys are total hardasses even more so than Pitchfork was in the early to mid 2000s (when they gave poor Liz a 0/100)They gave PJ Harvey, Fleet Foxes and Wild Beasts mediocre(the latter) to mixed reviews. They must be the sterotypical angry failed musicians that people like Bill Maher, Kid Rock and Prince like to make fun of.

Re: Albums of 2011

drewcannon3
Revolutionary? No.

But I'll take it over most of Madonna's albums, and I like Madonna.


How can you take it over Madonna when the title track rips off Express Yourself? And the other songs I've heard are rehashes of her hits from the last album. I hate to bash Gaga because she seems like a decent person and has stood up for a lot of good causes, but putting on a costume doesn't make her music original. I stand up for pop music more than most people on this forum other than Moonbeam, but she just isn't that good... although I do think she has the potential to be a great pop artist. She seems to have a head on her shoulders and if she's allowed to focus her energy into something original I think she has a great record in her. We'll see.

Re: Albums of 2011

I don't know what to listen to next.
any recommendations ? I mean recommendations for Uncle nicolas, who's not a big fan of indie rock ?

Good things I have heard

Fleet Foxes
Charles Bradley (yes BillAdama, it's great)
Decemberists

the last two being good genre albums (traditionnal R&B and Americana) without being masterpieces.
Fleet Foxes are amazing. So mature. Props.

PJ Harvey was a disappointment given the acclaim it got.
Heard a few tracks from the Low album and it sounds great.

Re: Albums of 2011

Nassim, La Femme sounds OK, but it sounds like the singer was standing as far as possible from the mike in the studio. It sounds like early 80's French new wave, but it's refreshing

The problem for a guy like me is that, for most of the indie scene the focus in terms of production and sound is on the late eighties - early 80's. obvious for TVOR.
Berlin Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, etc... cold funk. And.... (go to the first item in nj's Thanks we get it list)

Re: Albums of 2011

One of the best things I have listened to this year is Kurt Vile's album, smoke ring for my halo. I don't know whether it crosses into the indie boundary, but it does have a lot of heart, which for me is the most important thing.

Re: Albums of 2011

Zorg : I agree wholheartedly. I think most hyped indie bands are so obsessed by sounding different that they forget about the heart.
Don't gimme head music. Just gimme head (no no no no no that's a VERY bad joke).
More seriously this mainstream-indie opposition is really a drag, because there are very few crossover bands. You really can make good, smart and accessible music. But the problem is economic.

No recommendations in the field of hip hop / neo soul ?

Re: Albums of 2011

^^^

Raphael Saadiq!!

Re: Albums of 2011

Has anyone heard Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact?

I liked them before, but this album is the one that establishes them as a top-shelf band. It's instantly my #2 of the year behind PJ Harvey, with a good shot at becoming #1.

@Nicolas

Also, have you heard Alison Krauss's new record?

Re: Albums of 2011

I listened to Eye Contact before but didn't think it was particularly great. I'll give it another spin.

Nicolas: I'm surprised you don't like Bon Iver, particularly For Emma, Forever Ago is some of the warmest and most emotional indie rock out there, and I'd argue the new album is als far from cold.

Re: Albums of 2011

Stephan
Nicolas: I'm surprised you don't like Bon Iver, particularly For Emma, Forever Ago


Same here. I haven't heard the new Bon Iver yet, but I think For Emma, Forever Ago has real emotional weight to it. It was mostly recorded in a remote cabin in deep winter after a difficult year for Justin Vernon, and whenever I listen to the album there's a warmth like a crackling fire that shines through the isolation and loneliness of the music. But hey, everyone responds to music differently.

Nicolas, I would love to recommend some albums but I haven't listened to many 2011 releases yet.

Re: Albums of 2011

My problem with Bon Iver (along with a lot of indie acts) is the vocals. That falsetto. I'm very vocal-sensitive. But I'll listen to it again, for the 00's poll. The song "For Emma" is a good memory

Re: Albums of 2011

nicolas
My problem with Bon Iver (along with a lot of indie acts) is the vocals. That falsetto. I'm very vocal-sensitive. But I'll listen to it again, for the 00's poll. The song "For Emma" is a good memory
The falsetto? But you love Antony and the Johnsons and Fredo Viola! (not that that is a bad thing, I do quite enjoy them myself)

Re: Albums of 2011

But these guys have a much richer, wider vocal range and timbre !! Then again, maybe I paid too little attention to Bon Iver, so we'll talk about it again when 2007 comes around in the naughties poll.

Re: Albums of 2011

F*cked Up's 'David Comes To Life' is going to be widely regarded as one of the albums of the year. Just wait.

One listen and I'm blown away. 78 minutes of accessible, catchy, melodic and yet pounding, visceral punk/hardcore. Doesn't outstay it's welcome at all, either. It's already got a 9 from Spin, a glowing review from BBC and the praise will keep flooding in I'm sure. I'm gonna get on the record now and say Pitchfork are going to score it between 8.9 and 9.2. Seriously, keep an eye out.

Re: Albums of 2011

BillAdama
Has anyone heard Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact?

I liked them before, but this album is the one that establishes them as a top-shelf band. It's instantly my #2 of the year behind PJ Harvey, with a good shot at becoming #1.


Yeah, it's my AOTY so far. (With PJ #2.) Posted about this a week or so back, and my opinion has not changed.

Re: Albums of 2011

Cults is AWESOME.

Re: Albums of 2011

sonofsamiam
BillAdama
Has anyone heard Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact?

I liked them before, but this album is the one that establishes them as a top-shelf band. It's instantly my #2 of the year behind PJ Harvey, with a good shot at becoming #1.


Yeah, it's my AOTY so far. (With PJ #2.) Posted about this a week or so back, and my opinion has not changed.


Top 5 for me, probably top 3 in fact, alongside The Smith Westerns, Big K.R.I.T., Kurt Vile and Wild Beasts

Re: Albums of 2011

Ahhh, I found the album of the year for me :
The Kills - Blood Pressure
The White Stripes are not here but the Kills, yes !!

Re: Albums of 2011

Gillian Welch is BACK

Re: Albums of 2011

White Denim - D is blowing me away.

These layered guitar riffs are simply incredible. One of the best of the year.

Re: Albums of 2011

1. Cults - Cults
2. Milkman - Algorithms
3. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo
4. Lupe Fiasco - Lasers
5. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
6. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
7. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
8. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde
9. The White Panda - Pandamonium
10. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

Re: Albums of 2011

BillAdama
White Denim - D is blowing me away.

These layered guitar riffs are simply incredible. One of the best of the year.


Now that's some good news!
Last Day of Summer was arguably my 2nd favorite album of last year, so I'll look for their new album as soon as possible.

Re: Albums of 2011

Tori Amos returns in September. After the disappointing and excessive last three records i shouldn't care no more, but after hearing that is based in classical music and plays from the last 400 years - also being reportedly released via a classic music label - i'm excited to see what she will deliver. Just play the piano again, Amos. :p

Re: Albums of 2011

St Vincent just announced a new record slated to september

Re: Albums of 2011

Ddiamondd
F*cked Up's 'David Comes To Life' is going to be widely regarded as one of the albums of the year. Just wait.

One listen and I'm blown away. 78 minutes of accessible, catchy, melodic and yet pounding, visceral punk/hardcore. Doesn't outstay it's welcome at all, either. It's already got a 9 from Spin, a glowing review from BBC and the praise will keep flooding in I'm sure. I'm gonna get on the record now and say Pitchfork are going to score it between 8.9 and 9.2. Seriously, keep an eye out.


The music is pretty good but I'm having a lot of trouble with the guy's voice. I love me some visceral punk but he has zero range.

Re: Albums of 2011

drewcannon3
Cults is AWESOME.


Yes it is. Definitely my AOTY right now.

Re: Albums of 2011

After performing a new song at sidney rumours are that Bat for Lashes will unveil her third album pretty soon and is supposedly slated to the end of the year.

Re: Albums of 2011

I agree. Most of the songs aren't fast paced enough to be considered punk. If he toned it down a bit it would be a terrific alternative rock album otherwise it just sounds like the Arcade Fire fronted by the Ultimate Warrior

Re: Albums of 2011

More than a month further ... time for an update:

(1) 1 Fleet Foxes
(2) 2 PJ Harvey
(-) 3 The Antlers
(3) 4 Lykke Li
(4) 5 Elbow
(-) 6 Wild Beasts (heard it only twice yet)
(8) 7 The Decemberists
(-) 8 The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
(5) 9 Radiohead
(6) 10 Anna Calvi

TV on the Radio disappoints me and I did not hear Bon Iver yet.

Re: Albums of 2011

My current list:

1. Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise
2. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
3. Radiohead - The King Of Limbs
4. White Denim - D
5. TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light
6. Dalriada - Igeret
7. Cascadeur - The Human Octopus
8. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contract
9. Wye Oak - Civilian
10. Natural Snow Buildings - Waves Of The Random Sea
11. Gang Of Four - Content
12. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing
13. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
14. Stupeflip - The Hypnoflip Invasion
15. Josh T Pearson - Last Of The Country Gentlemen
16. Bibio - Mind Bokeh
17. Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
18. Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose
19. Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
20. Amon Tobin - ISAM

One I couldn't connect with at all is the new Battles. It's like they have good ideas but no idea how to patch them together into something listenable, and no idea how to edit themselves.

Cults are going to make a very high appearance on my list.

Re: Albums of 2011

so far this is what I've heard....

1. James Blake- James Blake
2. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey
3. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
4. Tomboy- Panda Bear
5. The King of Limbs- Radiohead
6. Cults- Cults
7. Zonoscope- Cut Copy
8. Kaputt- Destroyer
9. Nine Types of Light- TV on the Radio
10. Angles- The Strokes

No bad albums, but nothing as strong as my top 5 albums from 2010.

Re: Albums of 2011

I'm going to be months behind, and just singmypraises for Fleet Foxes. Been a long time coming (3 years!) but I've finally got into both their albums, and I'm absolutely LOVING Helplessness Blues. I can't remember who said it, but i agree with whoever said that "The Shrine/an Argument" was the best thing they've done.

1. Kurt Vile - Smoke ring for my halo
2. smith westerns - dye it blonde
3. fleet foxes - helplessness blues
4. wild beasts - smother
5. radiohead - the king of limbs
6. pj harvey - let england shake
7. bill callahan - apocalypse
8. iron and wine - kiss each other clean
9. tune-yards - whokill
10. the go! team - rolling blackouts

still to listen - TVOTR, Cults, bon iver, James Blake, Tomboy, Zonoscope, kaputt, and many many more...

Re: Albums of 2011

I've still not found a classic from 2011 yet. Admittedly, I haven't heard a great deal of albums from 2011 (8?), but nothing has been that impressive.

Re: Albums of 2011

Gilliam Welch LP "The Harrow and The Harvest" is amazing. Its been a long while since she has released anything. This record could be a big one.

Re: Albums of 2011

Liking WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain.

Re: Albums of 2011

Kevin
Gilliam Welch LP "The Harrow and The Harvest" is amazing. Its been a long while since she has released anything. This record could be a big one.


Looking forward to this record since she announced her return. Didn't know it had leaked! The reviews i saw have been extremely positive.

Re: Albums of 2011

I recommend Antonia Font - Lamparetes

I don't know whether or not they're well known in Spain, but it's atmospheric indie pop with lush piano.

Re: Albums of 2011

Current top 10:

01. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
02. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
03. The Antlers - Burst Apart
04. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver
05. Low - C'mon
06. Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise
07. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
08. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light
09. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
10. Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

Re: Albums of 2011

I'm terribly disappointed by Bon Iver

Re: Albums of 2011

Moonbeam
I've still not found a classic from 2011 yet. Admittedly, I haven't heard a great deal of albums from 2011 (8?), but nothing has been that impressive.


Same for me; I cant find an excellent surprise (except Fleet foxes, but they're noe a surprise)

Re: Albums of 2011

Cat's Eyes isn't too bad. Cults is perfect. I think I even like them more than Tennis. If you're going to compare Tennis to Best Coast might as well do the same with Cults. They sound more like Best Coast than Tennis do. And neither really sounds that much like Best Coast at all. Tennis sounds like a cross between Neko Case and the Dittybops.

Re: Albums of 2011

For me, my top 4 are 'potential classic' level. That is, PJ Harvey, Nicolas Jaar, White Denim, and Radiohead. And I think Gang Gang Dance has a shot at reaching that level.

There's also a robust second tier of 'Really good but sub-classic'.

Re: Albums of 2011

My favorite album so far is Rival Sons - Pressure and Time.

I didn't care for Radioheads new album. But then, it's not my genre of music. (Anymore.)

Re: Albums of 2011

New album of the year:

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de couleur libres

Best new jazz album I've heard in a LONG time.

Re: Albums of 2011

It's July ... another update:

(1) 1 Fleet Foxes
(2) 2 PJ Harvey
(3) 3 The Antlers
(4) 4 Lykke Li
(7) 5 The Decemberists
(5) 6 Elbow
(8) 7 The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
(6) 8 Wild Beasts
(-) 9 Bon Iver
(10) 10 Anna Calvi

Re: Albums of 2011

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up ... Sub-pops first hip-hop release sounds unlike anything in the genre

Re: Albums of 2011

I've just heard a few tracks by a very promising Danish band called Treefight For Sunlight
Their shiny, dreamy brand of classic pop is delicious and impressing for a first album

Re: Albums of 2011

Laura Marling releasing a new record in September 13. A Creature I Don't Know is the follow up to last year's critically acclaimed and British favorite I Speak Because I Can.

Girls also releasing the follow up to Album the same month.

Re: Albums of 2011

In the midst of all the metal albums in the RYM top 100, don't miss this little marvel.

Well, I mean if you like progressive metal of the 70's



Too bad they lack of a good singer

Re: Albums of 2011

The Horrors' new album is out. Anyone heard it/has an opinion of it?

Re: Albums of 2011

If you like the Wu-Tang, Fugazi and/or mash-ups, you should lend a hear to the Wugazi's first album "13 chambers".
Quite a few people have released mash-ups of 2 artists since the beginning of the year (including a quite likeable mix of Black Keys's Brothers and Big Boi's Luscious Left Foot) but this one tops them all.

Re: Albums of 2011

New M83 single ROCKS.

Girls and Dum Dum Girls returning in September. Maybe the latter will experience the acclaim it should've received with last year's I Will Be. And Real Estate also returning. Washed Out has been seen as a disappointment among some reviewers but i'm yet to listen to. The Horrors has been receiving raves and i need to check that one too.

Re: Albums of 2011

HRS
Washed Out has been seen as a disappointment among some reviewers but i'm yet to listen to. The Horrors has been receiving raves and i need to check that one too.


I love the Washed Out record, I like it a lot more than I would have expected in fact. The Horrors is definitely good, I haven't listened to it enough to say for sure, but it seems a tad overrated.

Re: Albums of 2011

Chris K.

I love the Washed Out record, I like it a lot more than I would have expected in fact. The Horrors is definitely good, I haven't listened to it enough to say for sure, but it seems a tad overrated.


The main criticism is that it sounded cleaner and more limp than previous recordings. I enjoyed it. Still need to give the Horrors a fair spin.

Re: Albums of 2011

HRS
The main criticism is that it sounded cleaner and more limp than previous recordings. I enjoyed it. Still need to give the Horrors a fair spin.


It's definitely cleaner but the songwriting is stronger, especially vocal wise.

Although on that note, my only problem with the Horrors so far is that it seems a bit too clean.

Re: Albums of 2011

I need to hear that one. It must have a later US release date than UK.

Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact is now my #1, and Return of the Country Gentlemen has entered my top 10.

Re: Albums of 2011

Feist releasing her new album Metals October, 2.

Re: Albums of 2011

HRS
New M83 single ROCKS.


I've discovered and started to enjoy this band through the 2000s poll. Looking forward to this album.

Re: Albums of 2011

Shabazz Places - Black Up rocks. One of the best rap albums in years.

Re: Albums of 2011

I was wondering whether anyone has listened to the album called "Wolf Notes" by *AR, released in June this year. I guess you can define the album as ambient music BUT don't let this put you off! This is a hidden gem and a masterpiece in my opinion.

This album along with PJ Harvey's Let England Shake are my favourites this year

I think it's okay to post this little url if you care to listen to it

http://typerecords.com/releases/wolf-notes-2

Re: Albums of 2011

Dum Dum Girls's single Coming Down is excellent. The song bears a-little-too-much resemblance with Fade into You but is still really enjoyable. The biggest surprise is Dee Dee's delivery. A cleaner production really improved the band's sound. It will sure receive more attention than their previous effort from 2010.

Re: Albums of 2011

Has there really been not a single post about Watch the Throne?

This is the first album release that felt like an event to me since Radiohead.

It's good. That's all I'm positive about for now.

Re: Albums of 2011

Also, I'm a little taken aback at how much I'm enjoying Vanessa Carlton's new album.

Re: Albums of 2011

Lana Del Rey might become the next big indie chanteuse. Her track "Video Games" is already one of my favorites breakthroughs of 2011. A vocal hybrid of Cat Power, Laura Marling and Fiona Apple.

Re: Albums of 2011

new Girls record will be fawned over massively. Could be looking at a very popular top 5/10 AOTY choice

Re: Albums of 2011

New Laura Marling is her best, yet. Even if the leak has an awful quality. Her last album was much more mature and low-key. She's more playful, yet grounded, now.

New Dum Dum Girls and Girls are also their best, yet.

Re: Albums of 2011

Listening to Slave Ambient by The War on Drugs at the moment. Sounds really good.

Re: Albums of 2011

The Field's new record 'Looping State of Mind' is lovely also, out mid-October so it's seen a v early leak. Thought the Thundercat record was a bit noodly and didn't enjoy it, will try again soon though.

Around two months ago it looked pretty darn bleak for the second half of 2011, but now seems to be a decent amount to look forward to:

Tom Waits - Bad As Me
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Zola Jesus - Conatus
The Field - Looping State of Mind
Atlas Sound - Parallax
Lou Reed & Metallica - Lulu
The Weeknd - Echoes Of Silence
Bjork - Biophilia
Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica
Laura Marling- A Creature I Don't Know
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
Wilco - The Whole Love
Neon Indian - Era Extraña
The Dream - The Love IV
Das Racist - Relax
Mastodon - The Hunter
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Florence + the Machine (for those that dig her)
Cass McCombs - Humor Risk
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Drake - Take Care
Justice - Audio, Video, Disco
The Drums - Portamento
Tori Amos - Night of Hunters
Feist - Metals
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

perhaps new ones from Queens of the Stone Age, Rick Ross, Franz Ferdinand and that long-awaited DOOM/Ghostface Killah collaboration if we're lucky too. And the David Lynch record!

Then into early 2012 there's gonna be new material from Animal Collective, The Knife and The Avalanches

not too shabby a list, we could have a handful of gems from that. I'm optimistic!

Re: Albums of 2011

I've been listening to Battles' Gloss Drop a lot lately. That one got some acclaim a couple months ago when it came out but still seems somewhat overlooked. "Ice Cream" and "My Machines" are jams. For some reason I still haven't heard Mirrored but that will change come next month when we do the `07 poll.

Also EMA's Past Life Martyred Saints is an excellent album; I enjoyed that one more than I expected to.

Re: Albums of 2011

Dum Dum Girls' new LP is great. It's a lot cleaner than I Will Be, and a lot more mature. I'm very impressed.

Girls' on first listen is pretty good as well. Not sure if it hits the heights of Album though.

Re: Albums of 2011

Zorg
It's a lot cleaner than I Will Be, and a lot more mature.


Not necessarily a positive for that genre.

But then again I've already bought the concert tickets.

Re: Albums of 2011

I think they've changed a LOT since I Will Be. Songs like Coming Down aren't the noise pop that we saw in I Will Be, they're more measured, the slow drum beat in Coming Down is even somewhat shoegazy (though that may be stretching it). I think they've left the noisy girl power pop behind them. And I certainly won't be complaining, I listened to it like 5 times yesterday.

Re: Albums of 2011

I love n***** in paris it is a play loud rocker and after 3 weeks it still rocks

Re: Albums of 2011

New top ten albums of 2011-

1. James Blake- James Blake
2. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey
3. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
4. Bon Iver- Bon Iver
5. The King of Limbs- Radiohead
6. Kaputt- Destroyer
7. Cults- Cults
8. Zonoscope- Cut Copy
9. The Whole Love- Wilco
10. Whokill- Tune-Yards

I'm currently excited for albums by Justice, Coldplay, and Girls.

Re: Albums of 2011

I just had a peek here:

http://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-music-of-2011-so-far

and downloaded 2 albums from the website from the Weeknd. Some decent R&B music. If that's your cup of tea, you should take a look as well.

Re: Albums of 2011

The new Ry Cooder is.. well.. first and foremost, very odd. However, it's also pretty damn funny and at times incredibly good. Might be his best solo album since Paris, Texas.

Re: Albums of 2011

I don't think much of the Cults album, I have to say. It's just too...empty for me. Perhaps easy to like, but difficult to love.

Re: Albums of 2011

AM posters don't really go outside of the "big" releases it seems, do they? Any of the lesser known albums anyone is digging?

Re: Albums of 2011

does someone like something apart from indie/poppy bands?

Re: Albums of 2011

musictoad
AM posters don't really go outside of the "big" releases it seems, do they? Any of the lesser known albums anyone is digging?


Dalriada - Igeret (Hungarian folk metal)
Antonia Font - Lamparates (Spanish indie rock)
Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol 2 (Progressive jazz)
Cascadeur - The Human Octopus (French indie pop)
Tyler, The Creator - Goblin (Rap)
Anna Jarvinen - Title I can't remember
Snowman - Absence
White Denim - D
Chelsea Wolfe - Name I can't remember with Greek letters

Check out the 'Esoteric' list on RYM, which can also be filtered by country of origin.

Re: Albums of 2011

I'd like to add one more release to that list since there is a distinct lack of mentions of him in this thread, and since I saw him live Saturday and he was phenomenal. Josh T. Pearson's Last of the Country Gentlemen is awesome.

He wasn't the highlight of that night because The Tallest Man On Earth was there too and gave a fantastic show, but it was damn close. Pretty cool to have the maker of your favorite 2011 album and the maker of your favorite 2010 album at the same festival performing within 15 minutes of each other.

Re: Albums of 2011

Stephan, that's quality, good for you! What I wouldn't give to see The Smith Westerns support Kanye, haha

Anyway, I called it about a month back: Girls are getting mad love (from some quarters). 9.3 from Pitchfork! Way too high, putting it on par with In Rainbows and many others. If I had to hazard a (very early and probably silly) guess at their EOY top 10:

1. Bon Iver
2. Girls
3. The Weeknd (3 combined, like James Blake last year)
4. Fleet Foxes
5. Shabazz Palaces
6. James Blake
7. tUnE-yArDs
8. PJ Harvey
9. Destroyer
10. St Vincent

in no order, 11-20: Atlas Sound, The Field, Fucked Up, Panda Bear, Kurt Vile, Das Racist, The Smith Westerns, Gang Gang Dance, Cut Copy, Zola Jesus

who knows though? there might be another Weeknd/Shabazz that is out of leftfield and blindsides everyone

Re: Albums of 2011

I like playing guessing games. Here's my try at Pitchforks top ten of 2011.

1. Bon Iver- Bon Iver
2. Father, Son, Holy Ghost- Girls
3. James Blake- James Blake
4. The Weeknd- (All 3)
5. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey
6. Whokill- Tune-Yards
7. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
8. Kaputt- Destroyer
9. David Comes to Life- Fucked Up
10. Black Up- Shabazz Palaces

So yeah, Ddiamondd, you pretty much got it right as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Albums of 2011

Last Of The Country Gentlemen is an excellent album.

I will also add Vanessa Carlton - Rabbits On The Run to the list of 'Best of the year'.

Also, there is a new St Vincent album coming out soon that seems to be getting no buzz at all except I saw a 9/10 on Popmatters. I'm expecting this to be easy top ten material.

Re: Albums of 2011

The last Miossec's album is really great. "Chansons ordinaires" is the best French album of the year right now. Very rock !

Re: Albums of 2011

Definitely, one of the best albums of 2011 is Adele's 19!

I'm currently listening to Adele's BEAUTIFUL songs:

1. Someone Like You
2. Rolling in the Deep
3. Make You Feel My Love

These are great, great songs. Poetic and pleasing to the ears aren't to describe their beauty! By the way, I usually download them through Fast-Debrid.Com since I hardly have any problem using this downloading website!

By the way, the Adele's Someone Like You released the crybaby in me!

Re: Albums of 2011

First time I can ever recall p4k giving back-to-back 9+ scores (9.3 to Girls on Monday, 9.0 to St Vincent on Tuesday). wow.

Re: Albums of 2011

I'm listening to Laura Marling's new album, and so far it's one of those instant 'holy shit' level albums of the sort that only comes along a few times a year.

It's got the emotion of her previous albums, only she's also doing this folky stringy thing that just works perfectly.

Edit: Ry Cooder's is on the same level. I picked up these two and St Vincent's in one trip to the store. This is like that time last year when High Violet, Archandroid, This Is Happening, and Hadestown all came out within a week of each other. The overall quality of 2011 new releases just skyrocketed instantly.

Re: Albums of 2011

musictoad
AM posters don't really go outside of the "big" releases it seems, do they? Any of the lesser known albums anyone is digging?


Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'
Fatoumata Diawara - Fatou
The Field - Looping State of Mind
A Hawk and a Hacksaw - Cervantine
Araab Muzik - Electronic Dream
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine
A Winged Victory for the Sullen - A Winged Victory for the Sullen

PS: And Ry Cooder has quietly come out of nowhere to release a strong contender for album of the year with Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down

Re: Albums of 2011

I know I was mostly alone in my unabashed idolatry of Alexi Murdoch's 2006 Time Without Consequence, my #57 of all time, but I'm not entirely alone in also loving the new album, Towards The Sun, which I only just found despite it being released back in March. It's basically a reissue of an EP in LP form, but it's phenomenal nonetheless. I love the calm and the quiet.

New top 10:
1. Josh T. Pearson - Last Of The Country Gentlemen
2. Alexi Murdoch - Towards The Sun
3. Wild Beasts - Smother
4. The Antlers - Burst Apart
5. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver
6. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
7. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
8. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
9. TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light
10. Ry Cooder - Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down

Pretty acceptable if it were an EOY-list and we still have more than 3 months to go.

Re: Albums of 2011

Meital Dohan's "Yummy Boyz" Remix album is my favorite!

Actually, I Just saw this hilarious video of this singer Meital Dohan talking about fitness, so funny… I guess musicians really aren’t the athletic type…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZIUPY1DnHo&feature=channel_video_title

Re: Albums of 2011

musictoad
AM posters don't really go outside of the "big" releases it seems, do they? Any of the lesser known albums anyone is digging?


Siriusmo - Mosaik (a scattered collage of electronic sounds)
Male Bonding - Endless Now (fuzzy power-pop)
Hudson Mohawke - Satin Panthers EP (quality grey area between hip-hop and wonky dubstep)
How To Dress Well - Just Once EP (heart-wrenching versions of his best tracks, scrubbed up and with orchestral backing)
Elite Gymnastics - RUIN 1 (like a harsher, sample-based chillwave)
Rozwell Kid - The Rozwell Kid (basically just '94-era Weezer, so much fun)
Machinedrum - Room(s) (Juke, footwork, dub all spliced up like Burial on speed)
Wugazi - 13 Chambers (staggeringly good Wu-Tang Clan and Fugazi mash-up album, extremely well made)
Big K.R.I.T. - Return Of 4Eva (one of the best hip-hop releases in a long time. intelligent, world-weary, varied, fun...free as well!)
Boxcutter - The Dissolve (futuro-funk)
The Psychic Paramount - II / The Men - Leave Home (both ferocious, intense, noisy hard rock records)
Vanilla - High Life (instrumental hip-hop, comparable to Teebs or J Dilla)
Africa Hi-Tech - 93 Million Miles (a veritable smorgasbord of the wide-ranging mutations of UK electronic/bass music - funky, house, dubstep - interspliced with world sounds)
Mariachi El Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx II (another great record from NY hardcore band The Bronx's Mexicano alter egos. Love, life, loss and redemption, with big hooks, guaranteed to put a smile on your face)

So there's 15, all from 2011. don't assume we're all about the big guns. and this is coming from someone who rarely ventures outside of English language music!

Re: Albums of 2011

Best album of the year. The first one is, by far, better than the others. It's like the MGMT's first album. All the songs are incredibles.

1. Pete and The Pirates - One Thousand Pictures
2. The Kills - Blood Pressure
3. Cults - Cults
4. Metronomy - The English Riviera
5. Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi - Rome
6. Cascadeur - The Human Octopus
7. Black Lips - Arabia Mountain
8. Keren Ann - 101
9. The Go! Team - Rolling Blackouts
10. Hubert Felix Thiefaine - Suppléments de mensonge
11. Grails - Deep Politics
12. White Denim - D
13. Kasabian - Velociraptor!
14. Kaiser Chiefs - The Future is Medieval
15. Panda Bear - TomBoy

Re: Albums of 2011

Cole World is really, really, really good.

Re: Albums of 2011

The new Neon Indian rocks.

I kind of got lucky. I wasn't even going to pay attention to that one, but they happened to be playing it when I went into a record store. They sound like MBV.

Re: Albums of 2011

Saw Drive in the cinema yesterday (best film I've seen this year) and some songs on the soundtrack are a ton of fun, although as usually the case with soundtracks the whole thing is not that good on its own. Nightcall and A Real Hero I can particularly recommend to Moonbeam though; they're synth galore!

Re: Albums of 2011

Miranda Lambert's new album is faceless.

I think the Crazy Ex Girlfriend has officially fallen in with the wrong crowd. I guess pop-country-lame is a sexually transmitted disease.

Re: Albums of 2011

Bit of a hiatus when it comes to good new music?

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