Top 25 Albums of 2011

Yeah yeah, okay okay...so we all know the year is winding down and that tomorrow marks the beginning of always mistakingly writing down "2011" instead of "2012".  I swear it takes me at least two months to remember to put the new and correct year down on tests or papers.  Tomorrow also symbolizes a time of change with people devoting themselves to resolutions and new hopes, a time of mystery and wonder of what's to come, a time to start anew!  In a less emotional sense that actually pertains to the blog, there is a new excitement that brews with the onslaught of new releases that is soon to come our way.  Our questions will finally be answered!  Will Passion Pit finally come out with new music?  Will Lou Reed and Metallica hastily ready a follow-up EP to this year's Lulu?  Will Dr. Dre unleash Detox upon us at long last?!  (No).  Will LCD Soundsystem give in to their urges and decide to regroup?  Who knows, but those questions will be answered in due time.  For now, it is a time of reflection of the past year, and what a fantastic year it was.  Since it is the last day of the year, and since everyone else is doing it, I've put together a list of my favorite 25 albums of 2011. Below is a compilation of albums that truly grabbed me, it's straight-forward and honest.  I have ordered them based purely on listening enjoyment, trying not to worry so much about what may have been "cutting-edge" or "ahead of its time".  Is this good or correct?  I dunno.  Either way people will disagree with some selections regardless. Anyway, the list is posted below for those interested.  Enjoy!

25.  On the Water by Future Islands

Balance

24.  936 by Peaking Lights

Key Sparrow

23.  Era Extraña by Neon Indian

Polish Girl

22.  We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves by John Maus

Hey Moon

21.  Diamond Mine by King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

Bats In the Attic

20.  Civilian by Wye Oak

Dogs Eyes

19.  Parallax by Atlas Sound

Mona Lisa

18.  Quilt by Quilt

Young Gold

17.  Nostalgia, Ultra. by Frank Ocean

Novacane

16.  Kaputt by Destroyer

Chinatown

15.  Twerps by Twerps

Coast To Coast

14.  Yuck by Yuck

Sunday

13.  Bon Iver by Bon Iver

Michicant

12.  Underneath the Pine by Toro y Moi

How I Know

11.  Tomboy by Panda Bear

Alsatian Darn

10.  Hurry Up, We're Dreaming by M83

OK Pal

9.  Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes

Montezuma

8.  Burst Apart by The Antlers

French Exit

7.  Within and Without by Washed Out

Soft

6.  Idle Labor by Craft Spells

After the Moment

5.  Dye It Blonde by Smith Westerns

Dance Away

4.  Slave Ambient by The War on Drugs

Baby Missiles

3.  Days by Real Estate

Out of Tune

2.  Zonoscope by Cut Copy

Pharaohs & Pyramids

1.  Smoke Ring For My Halo by Kurt Vile

Smoke Ring For My Halo

Have a happy new year everyone!  Have fun and be safe!  I'll see ya in 2012 for another great year in music!

Frank Ocean

For months and months I've done something incredibly stupid...I have been completely dismissing Frank Ocean.  You see, I am not a fan of the rap ensemble Odd Future in the least.  More specifically, I cannot stand Tyler, The Creator (the group's founding member).  I congratulate him on his blossoming success, but I just don't get it.  Not a fan at all. So when I first heard Frank Ocean, another Odd Future participant, had released a mixtape, not a fiber in my body had a desire to listen to it.  Fast forward to three weeks ago...I am sitting on my computer browsing through a few "Top 2011" lists and Frank Ocean's Nostalgia, Ultra. is on just about every single one.  Curiosity eventually wins me over, and I give it a shot.  This proved to be a marvelous decision.  I couldn't stop listening to it; with this album, Frank Ocean put something together entirely different than I was expecting.  Nostalgia steers clear of any "horrorcore" label, and actually is way more of an R&B compilation than one consisting of rap.  Ocean does a great job of exhibiting his voice, flexing his vocal muscles over smooth, confident beats and (at times) remixes of several pop hits like MGMT's "Electric Feel" or Coldplay's "Strawberry Swing".  What adds to the brilliance is Ocean's delivery, laid-back and cool, giving him a reputable swag.  Despite this, he is also brutally honest lyrically, never afraid to sing about his own heartbreak or childhood memories, a seeming rarity amongst modern day rappers who are too caught up in drugs or money.  Nostalgia, Ultra. not only brings something new to the table, but offers up a refreshing listen with addicting hooks, catchy choruses, and a heavy dose of creativity.  The best part?  Frank Ocean has offered it up as a free mixtape.  You can pick it up over here, but catch a few tracks below. Enjoy!

Swim Good

Songs For Women

Lovecrimes

Roku

A few days ago, beat maker Roku sent over his Music for Misfits album for a listen.  It's an ambitious project, a release consisting of 24 tracks which also includes three bonus songs.  Some of these are brief skits and interludes barely eclipsing the minute mark, but many are full-blow jams.  In this time, Roku packs tons of jazz-influenced, hip-hop instrumentals into a singular package that brings to mind J Dilla's Donuts.  In many of Roku's Facebook photos, he's pictured digging through crates and testing records to find the perfect mix for a beat, as well as a picture with his most "prized possession" as a musician...Illmatic on vinyl (seen above).  In this fashion, he's similar to J Dilla and all others of that genre like The Avalanches or DJ Shadow, and in his own fashion he fiddles with a magnificently constructed laid-back prowess, an open ended invitation to sit back and chill.  There a few highlights below, but you can hit up Bandcamp for the entire Music for Misfits as a free download.  Check it!

Quilt

In continuation from my previous post, Quilt is another band that has gone largely unnoticed this year. After their forming members Shane Butler and Anna Fox Rochinski met as visual arts students at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, a bond developed over "weird, experimental jams and pop harmonies". This connection evolved into a debut album aptly named Quilt on the Mexican Summer label, which includes such bands as Best Coast, Real Estate, and Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti (not bad company!).  The result is a fantastic record, based heavily in the late-60s psychedelic folk music.  Quilt is full of breezy guitars and lush harmonies, paying homage to the likes of Jefferson Airplane or The Mamas and the Papas.  Accented with a slight cassette hiss, the album sounds raw and vinyl-ready, you would never even guess it was made in the present day.  Due to these qualities, it's easy for Quilt to be labeled as hippie music, to which I reply: "So what?"  Ha!  Like that's a bad thing.  Take a listen below and decide for yourself! Enjoy!

Milo

Utopian Canyon

Twerps

In the spirit of the all the end-of-the-year hubbub going on throughout the internet, I'd like to acquaint you with the young Australian band called Twerps.  Following an EP in 2009, the group released the self-titled LP Twerps earlier in October, an album which has flown completely under the radar. It marks a period of growth for the quartet, who have refined their pop tendencies to an addicting combination of jangle-guitar technique and lo-fi aesthetic.  A certain confidence is also on display; lead vocalist Marty Frawley's nerdy delivery complements the unabashed name "Twerps" without fear, and lyrics containing instances of youthful (at times straining) experiences are compiled with troubles of young love.  While there is a degree of melancholy that speaks from the guitar, there is never a feeling of overwhelming sadness.  Instead, Frawley's off-kilter wails lift us up from depths and show us all there is to enjoy in adolescence and start-up adulthood.  It's almost as if Frawley is saying "yea, life can be tough, but so what?"  All of this is beautifully constructed into a smooth, rewarding listen that goes down easy; nothing on Twerps is overly complicated, for its candor and simplicity make it accessible to just about everyone.  It hasn't gotten the credit it deserves.  I've posted some of my favorites from the album below, if you like what you hear you can always hit up Chapter Music to find out more.

Through the Day

Who Are You

Bring Me Down

Terracotta Blue

Let's switch it up to a little bit of chillwave, shall we?  I figured I might as well try and give something a little more calming to unwind the nerves of those who just their finished finals week. Unless you're me of course and have a huge accounting exam on a Saturday.  Awesome!  Enjoy your Friday night, world! Either way, whether you're free from the shackles of education or not, I present to you Terracotta Blue, an electronic-based solo artist from Maryland.  Three days ago he released a new single over on Bandcamp with the songs "Arcade" and "Healer", both are high quality jams with a stark contrast in their mood.  "Arcade" is the more intense of the two, forceful and commanding with a peaceful subconscious.  "Healer" on the other hand is way more of the chillwave breed with tranquil, Oriental undertones and a well-placed sample of Japanese metal band HeavensDust.  The end product is pretty neat, forming to create a style of chillwave that's a little off the beaten path. I suppose you could throw downtempo and trip-hop into the mix of genres, which allows for a pleasing fusion of ideas.  It's tough to pick which song to put up, but I'll have to go with the easygoing "Healer".  Of course, if you're interested in hearing the other or downloading both, hit up the ol' Bandcamp for your daily dose of free downloads.  Happy Friday everyone!  I'm jealous of you all....

The Russian Apartments

Earlier in January, Mike Caulfield (who goes under the name The Russian Apartments) released his full length album The Last Last You.  The release showcased Caulfield's appreciation for '80s music, never straying away from cascading synths or manufactured string sections.  Not all is bright and cheery, though, many of his songs carry a darker resonance muddled under a thin layer of gloom.  Within his songs there are slight interludes, breathers in a way, that allow him to speak his mind.  These thoughts are enveloped by adorning instrumentation, magnificent electronics lavishly fabricated to move the listener from idea to idea.  This contrast between the murky and enchanted allows for an interesting listen, a kind of intensity that gets better and better with each spin.  Earlier this week, Caulfield sent over his new video for "Gods", the second track off of The Last Last You.  I've posted the video below, as well as his more recent "Summer Rails" single to demonstrate some of his range.  Take a look or listen below, then head over to the ever-reliable Bandcamp for some downloads he has put up for free.  Enjoy!