What a year! Riots! Occupy! Pepper Spray! Herman Cain’s pseudo porn commercial ad! Crazy year for a lot…but it had some great music along the way to riot in the streets to! Now some of you might disagree on what I have here for my top ten because 1.) I didn’t hear much of Bon Iver’s now Grammy nominated album and 2.) I still think dub step is overproduced robot sex moans but, mainstream and independent music had some great offerings this year. Although some of the bands listed here are new to my collection, certain bands that I truly admired came out with sophomore slumps this year (I’m looking at you Cut Off Your Hands and The Rifles!). I like when a band changes up their craft to experiment or try new styles of genres, but when you do a one-eighty to which you are unrecognizable, then you lost me. Well, better luck on the next album. And honestly, I bet the new Black Keys’ El Camino is great, but I haven’t heard all the other tracks yet and didn’t buy it.
There’s honestly no winner for being “number one.” All albums have a special atmosphere in what they delivered in style and genre, and what story they had behind the production. So grab a beer (or pre-mixed whiskey infused eggnog), a Glade holiday candle, and some headphones and say goodbye to 2011 with bang!
The Joy Formidable- The Big Roar
-This Welsh three-piece blew my mind when I saw them perform at Harlow’s here in Sacramento. With pixie-eyed Ritzy Bryan on guitar and vocals, she took the stage along with bass and drums (and an armada of guitar effects by her feet) by playing songs such as “Cradle”, “I Don’t Want To See You Like This”, and “The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade” and kicked the audience’s teeth in. Reminiscing back to Smashing Pumpkins and Pixies guitar work and indie pop sensibility, they managed to combine a beautiful, yet triumphant, debut album of different musical landscapes.
Wilco-The Whole Love
-Tweedy and Co. come out swinging again on their new label and still prove they aren’t going away. “I Might” and “Capitol City” are markers that show the band’s collective diversity from their previous albums.
Foo Fighters-Wasting Light
-I like it when a band enters a studio and lays the question out, “What do we have to prove anymore?” The Foos return with a solid album of white-knuckled adrenaline shots such as ‘White Limo” and reunions “I Should Have Known” which features ex-Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl playing together for the first time since Nirvana.
Fleet Foxes-Helplessness Blues
-Besides giving birth to the grunge movement, Seattle has one hell of a setting for giving the best folk album this year. Beautiful harmonies that ring the influences of Crosby, Stills, and Nash and Simon and Garfunkel are what contributed Fleet to create the most illuminating album of their career. Songs to check are “Lorelai”, “Battery Kinzie” and “The Shrine/An Argument”.
Sharks-The Joys of Living 2008-2010
-Once again, as I raved up a few posts ago, the torch from The Clash has been handed to these guys. Although this album is just a collection of previous E.P.s, it’s a solid flow of middle-class punk and has the consistent flow of sounding like an album. “Bury Your Youth” and “Three Houses” are what lit the fire for these guys to run harder and faster.
Fucked Up-David Comes To Life
- Pete Townsend of The Who first created the term “rock operas” for his concept albums Tommy and Quadrophenia. Rock+ Story=Rock Opera. Now Fucked Up took that idea and added hardcore punk to the equation. Balls to the wall! The only downfall of this album was that the band decided to call it quits after only a few months of the album being released. No particular songs to pick—the entirety is what makes the album epic. Now, not ever seeing them play this live, that’s fucked up.
My Morning Jacket-Circuital
-Every time a new MMJ album comes out, I get in a certain space in my head to relax and embrace everything from all different directions. Circuital is a step-up from 2008’s Evil Urges and shows the diversity from their earlier albums. Some of the best highlights of the album are “The Day Is Coming” and “You Wanna Freak Out”. These dudes will always abide.
Sister Crayon- Bellow
-Throwing in some local love, Sister Crayon came out with their first release on Manimal records. If you ever get the chance to see them, go without hesitation. Terra Lopez’s haunted and soulful pipes draw the crowd’s attention to the stage while having an ensemble of ambient electronica flow through the crowd. Key tracks: “(In) Reverse”, “Souls Of Gold”, and “Thief Boxer Asleep”.
Miles Kane- Colour of The Trap
-More under the radar in America than the U.K. for sure. The other half of The Last Shadow Puppets, former lead for The Rascals, and now on his own, Miles Kane delivered one of the most solid rock albums. Although it reminisces the 1960’s British Invasion era, other hints of solo-Lennon and Link Wray play an important part of this record. “Rearrange” and “Take The Night Away From Me” are what drives this album to being a solid, solo debut.
Arctic Monkeys-Suck It And See
-Back again from Humbug, the Monkeys jump back in with dirty swagger on their new album. Alex Turner throws around a variety of songs on this album that echo back to their debut and the influences they love now. Key tracks: “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala” and “Reckless Serenade”
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds- S/T
-The comeback of the year. You leave your brother and band, and decide not to sweat the small stuff. Back in the studio, Noel jumped back in to write some of the best songs of his career. Beady Eye has some catching up to do. Key tracks: “The Death of You and Me” and “If I Had A Gun”.
