Here is a short list of my favorite albums of 2011.
Honorable Mentions:
Undun by The Roots,
Dye It Blonde by The Smith Westerns
Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
w h o k i l l by tUnE-yArDs
The Top 5:
5. The King is Dead by The Decemberists
Good country, folky, Americana music. The album’s early release solidifies it as my most played for the year. Although more simple and focused than Hazards of Love, it does not have the story telling and lyricism of their first three albums. They know what they’re going for though, and the album has its fair share of great, sing-along hooks.
"Rox in the Box"
4. Bon Iver by Bon Iver
I wasn’t sure what to make of this album on my first listen or even the tenth time through. It’s an album the grows and reveals itself more upon each listen. Synth-heavy, with a much more slick and intricate production contrasts the minimal brilliance of their debut. Although I would favor For Emma as a whole, Bon Iver brings some pretty amazing tracks (“Perth,” “Holocene,” “Calgary”) that are – as of now – highlights of Vernon both as musician and lyricist.
"Calgary"
3. Metals by Feist
Feist provides an album that shows her diversifying the things that she does well. Sultry, bluesy, and at times rollicking, the summation is a slow burn of personal and self-reflective thoughts on love loss. She has the smarts to not buy into poppy hooks and simplistic romanticism, but at the same time showcases her melodic and harmonic capabilities that promote listen after listen.
"How Come You Never Go There"
2. House of Balloons/Thursday by The Weeknd
An R&B, hip-hop singer in the same vein as Drake (but much better), brings the world of the party to us, but - as Kanye did on MBDATF - shows us that the party is not really glitz and glamour, but dark, seedy, and lonely. His falsetto provides an appropriate vehicle for taking us into a surreal, dreamlike journey into the nightlife. I’m not huge on this genre (I really do not get Drake) but these two albums are unlike anything I’ve heard, and they hold a seductive quality that makes one return, as to a party they know they should not enter.
"Wicked Games"
1. All Eternals Deck by The Mountain Goats
John Darnielle gives us some pretty profound images and glimpses of life. Showing us the simple joys, yearning regrets, and unrealized passions, the album plays out as a metaphysical insight into both who we are and who we could be. Like his preceding album, Darnielle relies on everyday scenarios, coupled with biblical references, developing stories that are enlightening and at times heart breaking. This album has my favorite song for the year, a song that parallels the progression/evolution of mankind with the more personal reflection of our own lives.
"Sourdoire Valley"
Here’s my 2011 mixtape, some favorites I’ll recommend for additional listening. In no particular order:
1. The Other Side – The Roots
2. Midnight City – M83
3. 1+1 – Beyonce
4. Weekend – Smith Westerns
5. Go Ahead – The Rosebuds
6. My Baby’s Arms – Kurt Vile
7. Go Outside – Cults
8. Bizness – tUnE-yArDs
9. East Harlem - Beirut
10. Video Game – Lana Del Rey
11. Mind Eraser – The Black Keys
12. Limit to Your Love – James Blake
13. Words That Maketh Murder – PJ Harvey
14. Why I Love You – Jay-Z and Kanye West
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