The Year In Review - Best Albums of TWO OH! 11
EVERY single blog I’ve been perusing for the past two weeks has featured it’s favorite albums of 2011 and I feel really left out and I believe that my view on the best albums of 2011 is muy muy muy importante and me not sharing my musical tastes with you is a CRIME. And because I desperately want to believe that you all give a rat’s ass about what I care about, and who knows? Maybe you share my views and we’ve been listening to the same things all year and we never even knew it! How cool would that be? We were iTunes buddies all along!
Now, without further ado…
PS: The top three are the actual TOP THREE ! All those that follow are in no particular order because I really have severe issues when it comes to picking favorites. You should see me when someone asks “choose between sex, food, and sleep”. I seriously have a nervy-b and I start over-analyzing that shit like I’m Freud.
1. Bon Iver, “Bon Iver”
I don’t think I need to explain this one. This album means the world to me. It will go down as a record that holds a special place in my heart and that I’ll never get tired of and that will bring me back to amazing feelings. Beth/Rest especially.
2. The War On Drugs, “Slave Ambient”
First discovered this band in early ‘11 with “Baby Missiles”. It was such a rad song. I found it really sexy too and always secretly dreamed of making out to this song. Oops! Not so much a secret anymore. Doesn’t matter. The year is over. I then heard the whole album and fell in love with Adam Granduciel’s voice. When I hear “Best Night” or “Blackwater” I get tingles and I sometimes feel like I am hearing Bob Dylan, if Dylan had went through a nasal-softening operation, if such a thing actually exists.
3. Tie between The Antlers, “Burst Apart” and Kanye West & Jay-Z, “Watch The Throne”
I have always been a huge fan of The Antlers and this album just solidifies what I already know and love about them. “No Widows” and “Corsicana” are two of the most sensuous songs of the year. The whole album has that ethereal, celestial feel to it that makes me feel like taking a bath and lighting candles. Amazing to study to as well or just lie with your eyes closed in bed. It really takes you away.
Jay-Z and Kanye are my dudes. They can do no wrong. The whole album is genius. I’m slowly accepting what they did to Otis. I give them chops for their creativity. It’s feel-good, funny, fast-paced, everything a collaboration between these two should be. “Niggas in Paris”, “Why I Love You”, “Welcome to the Jungle”, “That’s My Bitch”, “New Day” … let’s collaborate again soon please.
4. R.E.M., “Collapse Into Now”
Their break-up is the worst break-up news to come out of 2011. Sorry Kim K and Katy P, no one gives a fuck that you couldn’t stay married for longer than a presidential term. You will be sorely missed and this album is just further proof of why that is.
5. Florence + The Machine, “Ceremonials”
Talking about celestial, ethereal songs - this album is it. Florence Welch has not hit the sophomore slump, and with songs like “Never Let Me Go” and “Shake It Out”, we understand why. “Never Let Me Go” goes down actually as one of my favorite songs of the year.
6. Adele, “21”
“Someone Like You” - enough said.
7. STS, “The Illustrious”
Bringing back a bit of old school feel to hip-hop. Amazing production.”WWW”, “Hello Sunshine”, “The Interview”, “Here Tonight” are just a handful of songs that will get you thinking and get you moving.
8. Cliff Martinez, “Drive” soundtrack
Probably will be the most listened to soundtrack on my iTunes. Every song on it is a hypnotic experience. Also an album I’d love to have on while otherwise engaged. Don’t judge me until you’ve listened to it.
9. The Decemberists, “The King is Dead”
I LOVE FOLK MUSIC. THAT IS ALL. ALT-COUNTRY-FOLK AT IT’S BEST.
10. Blue Scholars, “Cinemetropolis”
Although nothing will ever beat “No Rest for the Weary”, I do love that they are trying something new. It’s a bit of electro, drop beat, ambient, and all of it mixed in with strong hip-hop rythms. “Tommy Chong”, “Lalo Schifrin” and “Anna Karina” are all strong songs that will keep you hooked for a long time.
11. Fleet Foxes, “Helplessness Blues”
I still get a real feel for the baroque-folk rock that these guys deliver. It’s an impeccable album: it is an effortless mesh of what we’ve learned to love and expect from them (“The Shrine/An Argument”) with a more eclectic/exotic sound that illustrates that they really do have range.
12. Peter Bradley Adams, “Between Us”
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I am a total folk-head (is that even a term? who knows). Peter Bradley Adams is less indie-alt-folk and more americana-pop-country folk. I am totally overdosing on hyphenating right now. But I digress, PBA is nothing short of amazing. His songs are often played on CW shows or basic cable dramas, but don’t let that fool you. He’s legit. In no way does that take away from the quality of songs this man can throw at you. Each album is a slew of melodious, heartwarming, and soothing songs that remind you that there are still some GOOD singer/songwriters out there.
