My favorite albums of 2011
/////// LPs \\\\
{in order: favorites first}
The Year of Hibernation :: Youth Lagoon [Fat Possum]
Both sonically and lyrically, this feels like a thoughtful retrospective of one’s emerging adulthood. Trevor Powers carves out a unique sound that sounds instantly familiar.
Tomboy :: Panda Bear [Paw Tracks]
It sounds less bright than Person Pitch, but Tomboy is more assured and comfortable in tone. Along with In the Grace of Your Love and, well, really a lot of the stuff on this list, there was something of a microtrend this year of indie rock acts focusing more on the spiritual and intensely personal than is typical, it seems.
+ spotify
James Blake :: James Blake [Atlas]
James Blake totally acts the part of the student of modern music, but this record trades the referential samples of “CMYK” for affecting introspection and internalization of those influences.
+ spotify
4 :: Beyonce [Columbia]
At the risk of reading too much into the subject matter on 4, Queen Bey also got personal this year. I can’t count how many times Amanda and I sang along to “Countdown” in the car, and even the relatively maligned stuff here (“Run the World (Girls)”, “Best Thing I Never Had”, “I Was Here”) rewards repeat listens.
+ spotify
In the Grace of Your Love :: The Rapture [DFA]
The buzz about the return of The Rapture and this record’s marriage of disco and the devotional wouldn’t matter without great songs. Those are here, especially with the irresistable “How Deep is Your Love?” and “It Takes Time to Be a Man”.
+ spotify
Ruin :: Elite Gymnastics [self-released, then Acephale]
I had cared very little about Elite Gymnastics’ previous work before this record, which led me to reassess their back catalog. I still don’t love anything they did before this, but Ruin is melodic, warm, and inviting - and surprisingly diverse for a record with as much self-referentiality as it has.
+ spotify
Instrumentals :: Clams Casino [self-released/Type]
In theory, this is uninteresting: unknown producer collects the best beats a range of internet-famous rappers have used and releases them instrumentally. In reality, this is fascinating, with beauty and emotion I rarely connect with in any instrumental music.
We’re New Here :: Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx [XL]
Jamie xx had an incredible year - his remix of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” was my favorite version of that song, “Far Nearer”, the a-side of his debut solo single was outstanding, the various other mixes and remixes he put out this year were all excellent. This might top it all, though, if only for sheer degree of difficulty, and it never sounds like a full-length remix album, which I mean as a compliment.
+ spotify
Strange Mercy :: St. Vincent [4AD]
St. Vincent’s Annie Clark is one of the most inventive guitarists going right now, I think. It’s not about sheer virtuosity, but the way she crams all sorts of unusual textures and solos into what are otherwise rather baroque, melodic pop songs.
+ spotify
Dye it Blonde :: Smith Westerns [Fat Possum]
I might have mentioned this elsewhere, but this sounds like it was made by a different, much better band than their first album. They shot for a pretty saturated target, and managed to hit it, basically by writing some really great songs, occasionally with sing-a-long, raise-a-lighter/phone hooks.
+ spotify
Bon Iver, Bon Iver :: Bon Iver [Jagjagwuar]
“I was not magnificent” is the central lyrical idea of “Holocene” and maybe the record. This is simultaneously more reigned in emotionally and more adventurous musically than For Emma, Forever Ago, but not necessarily better or worse for it.
+ spotify
All Things Will Unwind :: My Brightest Diamond [Asthmatic Kitty]
Two things really corralled me into loving All Things Will Unwind: Amanda’s enjoyment of it, and seeing My Brightest Diamond live. There’s thematic richness here that I can’t possibly get at in one brief paragraph/blurb, but this is really a wonderful listen on many levels.
Helplessness Blues :: Fleet Foxes [Sub Pop]
I love “Helplessness Blues” as much as the next guy, and I don’t necessarily think this is a step down from their self-titled debut. I just honestly have not spent as much time with this record as I’d like to, which is not to say I don’t like it a great deal.
+ spotify
Mylo Xyloto :: Coldplay [EMI]
In which Coldplay largely embrace pop super stardom with grace (to pinpoint a moment, it’s when the beat really comes in earnestly on “Paradise”). The silly indie/mainstream false dichotomy feels like it’s fading in some ways through fragmentation, so hopefully that means we can all agree that it can be quite nice to have gigantically popular acts.
The King of Limbs :: Radiohead [self-released/Ticker Tape]
If you were slightly let down by TKOL, I’d challenge you to listen to it again, with fresh ears and maybe without expecting it to be Kid A. It’s still a layered, beautiful listen - yet I still wish it were more direct.
+ spotify
Cults :: Cults [In The Name Of/Columbia]
In contrast, this record isn’t lacking in directness. Maybe its release was perfectly timed, but this record encapsulates those carefree early days of summer to me.
+ spotify
/////// LPs: Honorable mention \\\\
{in no specific order}
Camping :: The Dogs [self-released]
I’ve liked this on a small number of listens, and just honestly need to give it more time.
+ bandcamp
Laminate Pet Animal :: Snowmine [self-released]
I could basically just copy + paste my comment for Camping.
+ bandcamp
Higher Ground :: Rimar [self-released/Bella Union]
This is essentially a beat mixtape, not terribly unlike Clams Casino’s Rainforest EP (on down below), although its source material and implementation does tend to differ significantly.
+ bandcamp
Belong :: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart [Slumberland]
POBPAH go widescreen here, and I already feel like I might have shortchanged them on my songs list.
Lenses Alien :: Cymbals Eat Guitars [Barsuk]
Lenses Alien, to me, feels like a lot of what was ascribed to Yuck’s debut record. It also reminds me a lot of Brand New, which I mean as a compliment.
+ spotify
Father, Son, Holy Ghost :: Girls [True Panther]
I didn’t get the fuss around the first Girls record, but this seems like a huge leap forward to me. Thank “Honey Bunny”, I think.
+ spotify
Wounded Rhymes :: Lykke Li [LL/EMI]
I think the first seven songs here are great, but I don’t love the end of the record.
+ spotify
Days :: Real Estate [Domino]
It’s quite possible that in a few weeks I’d put this higher, but it took me awhile to come around to listening to it since I had found Real Estate’s previous work to be pretty boring. Start with “It’s Real” and see if you don’t soften to them as I did.
+ spotify
nostalgia, Ultra :: Frank Ocean [self-released/he’s signed to Def Jam, who released the singles]
I don’t love Ocean’s bawdier and more popular “Novacane” and “Songs for Women” nearly as much as “Strawberry Swing” (his rework of the Coldplay song of the same name) or “Swim Good”. Some of his best work - “Thinking About You” and Beyonce’s “I Miss You” - isn’t even here.
New History Warfare, Vol. 2: Judges :: Colin Stetson [Constellation]
This is largely unlike anything else on this list, but I’ve never heard anyone make music like this with a saxophone.
+ spotify
\\\\ EPs ///////
{in no particular order - also honorable mentions of a sort}
Sweater Weather Forever :: Mood Rings [Double Phantom]
I don’t know much about Mood Rings, but I know this EP hits some of the 50s and 60s pop signifiers better than a lot of much more celebrated music.
+ bandcamp
Rainforest EP :: Clams Casino [Tri Angle]
Like Clams Casino’s Instrumentals, but made intentionally to be released instrumentally. “Gorilla”, especially, is enormous.
For Summer EP :: Gracie [self-released/Absent Fever]
A promising collection of patient, spare pop.
+ bandcamp
Echo Tongues EP :: Echo Tongues [self-released]
Panda Bear-influenced bedroom folk, but better than that description might indicate.
+ bandcamp
A Silent Planet :: Teen Daze [self-released/Lefse]
A chillwave concept EP about Out of the Silent Planet? Sure!
+ bandcamp
I should also mention Adam Taylor Young and Purity Ring, as both of them put out several great songs this year but neither put out an EP or LP. Start with the songs here.
