2011 Albums of the Year

Some of these picks might be new to you, some definitely mainstream--all definitely talked about in previous posts but as a whole I think 2011 brought some light and hope regarding new music.

Most of the artists here take some retro influences or in some artists case their earlier work. Some went in an entirely new direction than previous albums. but the one thing they all have in common? Heart.

I decided I am not going to list them in numerical order starting with the best. But give them specific catagories I made up  instead. I will probably add more later on and forgive me if some of these albums came out in late 2010.


Best Rock Album (return to Rock God Glory)
Foo Fighters Wasting Light-- Best Foo album in years! not all the tracks are necessarily radio play worthy, but I feel like this album was more for hardcore rock fans than previous albums that I thought catered were more mainstream commercially pleasing ''hits'' Dave Grohl's scream at the beginning of Bridges Burning? I called Foo's return to rock when DG appeared on Slash's album for the ''Watch This'' track. I would love to see more Foo albums stay this direction.

Music Appreciation Album--Death Cab-- Codes and Keys
 what I mean by this catagory is that Death Cab has been around a long time, some albums are cult classic and some no so much. This album combines everything fans love about death cab into one album (essentially a greatest hits'' but with new lyrics. See ''Monday Morning'' but shows serious growth. They aren't all just sad bastard songs, they talk about growing up, settling down, and generally being stable and content with your postion in life. ''Stay Young Go Dancing'' But by no means is this album boring. Doors Open & Unlocked, is a true jam song and defintely my favorite.


Best Breakthrough Album on a 2nd try.--
Cage the Elephant-Thank you Happy Birthday--when I heard the lead vocal I was excited & nostalgic. I watched the video of some grungy skinny, young guys. It reminded me of what might have been if Kurt Cobain had an nephew or cousin in a band. Are they as creative or groundbreaking? Not yet. But they are fun and Angsty. ''Shake me Down'' ''Aberdeen''

Most eclectic (comeback) album you proably haven't listened to yet
Lenny Kravitz-Black & White America--this album has a little bit of everything, rock, rap, soul, funk, dance. It epitomizes why I have been a Lenny fan for 10+ years. Let Lenny Rule!

Most Potential--Childish Gambino
Known best for his role as Troy on Community, Donald Glover's rap alter ego has really created a persona that people should listen up and watch for next year. He has a message and the potential to appeal to a broader audience beyond the confines of the obvious fans of rap.

Best Breakout Brit(Tie)-- Ed Sheeran-- Plus & Birdy
I fell in love Ed  awkward nerdy ginger genius once I discovered that Birdy (had covered his song A-Team)
and more notably the song  he did''Lego House'' video that features Rupert Grint ''Ron'' from HPotter. a lovable musican with a sense of humor.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4BLVznuWnU

but note he is not just a guitar strumming swoonworthy heart melting musician. he can have range!--
check out this electro inspired track '' You need me I don't need you''

Birdy is on her way to pop superstardom ( A younger equally talented and soulful Adele) She has already covered Bon Iver, the xx's(my fave) Ed Sheeran, and she's only 15! Can't wait to hear what else she's capable of!--
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXwPUYU8rTI


Most artistically creative album
Bon Iver-Bon Iver
(I think this is an album you either love or hate, you get it or you don't. It IS abstract. more big picture concepts than just those that insprired ''Skinny Love'' but I called it with his collaboration with St. Vincent, that this is the right direction for him.


Best ''Sad Bastard'' Album
City & Colour-Little Hell-- not since Adele have I heard such a soul strring, hearachingly beautiful voice (Dallas Greene) about love, reflection, life, growth. and anything that comes from a real place that people don't like to talk about. The feelings we all keep buried but are still there all the same. I didn't think he could top his last album ''Bring me Your Love'' but he does it here, and shows more versatility to boot adding some bass, keyboards, ect, and some funk to ''Fragile Bird,''

Best ''Recovering from a Breakup Album''
The Drums-Portamento

I love that the Drums are the closest band I can get to my favorite of all the The Cure no --infectious beats and melodies that make me want to dance 80's style and still hold my middle finger in the air to stick to whomever. ''How it Ended'' and ''Days'' & ''I Need A Doctor''--this last track belongs inserted into John Hughes Pretty in Pink

Best Dance Album
Friendly Fires- Pala
(I'm kind of dissappointed that they were not recognized for best alternative or dance album) :( picture this album played during a beach party, skate party with an awkward yet hot skinny Brit dancing around in snake formation).. How could you not love it??

Best re-creation album comeback of genre The Cults
when this band released their first album I fell in love with the overall vibe remniscent of a Motown 60's girl group, nothing that i've heard until the release captivated everything that included joy, youth, and the energy that made this genre a classic. Previous bands never had all the elements. and when Madeline's sweet innocent voice combined with companion Brian (her real life love) it was magic. -- I am a bit disappointed that said magic doesn't translate as well live as it does in the studio, (energy was there, but the sound quality was terrible, lead singer is not a belter so everything was a quiet whisper even in the first five rows it was hard to hear)-- But I have to wonder.. Is this going to be a one album band, future attempts will not be as good?

Luckily they are experimenting with rap collaborations--http://stereogum.com/882022/cults-bad-things-remix-feat-freddie-gibbs/mp3s/ I like this
I would love to see a dance remix with them with the right DJ

Best Cover Album (Remake of U2) Achtong Baby
This album really was all I wanted it to be from Jack White, to Depeche Mode & the Fray, they really did the album justice. The Snow Patrol cover of Mysterious Ways was too out of the box for my taste, but the Damian Rice balanced that out.

 Let's end the list on a hopeful note what am I most excited about for a year in music next year?

Best Artist on the Rise-- James Blake-refer to entire post on JB featuring collaborations with Bon Iver, and Drake Remixes.. he's Indy now, but he is truly a renaissance man, limited to not just one type of music. One fo the best mix master's I've ever heard.

New Music November

The Cults colloborate with Freddie Gibbs (The Cults, who I've actually seen live open for Foster) amazing concept of a band doesn't necessarily translate live, with the exception of Go Outside, & Bumper their music isn't very bouncy, or energetic. but soulful, melodic, reminiscent of a 60's girl group meets angsty heartbroken type of songs.. I'm glad they tried a different approach for this song! It worked.
 http://nylonmag.com/nylonblogs/blog/2011/11/18/freddie-gibbs-joins-the-cults/

 The Knocks(best potential for mainstream)  http://nylonmag.com/nylonblogs/blog/2011/11/17/premiere-the-knocks/

Childish Gambino(a.k.a Donald Glover the actor) came out with his much anticipated rap album the Camp
You can stream some of the tracks here:

http://www.somekindofawesome.com/journal/2011/11/7/listen-childish-gambino-camp-full-album-stream.html

(he definitely sounds legit to me :) I could become a fan with a few more listens!

Coastal Cities(could be the next Vampire Weekend) I really love Think Tank : and No Room for Heroes http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=article&parid=7196


Meanwhile-- THE FRAY IS BACK! (I couldn't be happier about it!)

First with the U2 cover  Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_Ue4DW1CRc&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLA7B04A032A868228

Then with their new single ''Heartbeat'' I immediately downloaded this to my Ipod and the lyrics won't escape my head (as with many of their songs) "I feel your heartbeat come around... try to let me in"

The Fray-Heartbeat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp0_2fjPlbM&ob=av2e

(Upcoming: Live Reviews of City & Colour & hopefully the Kooks!--we'll see if i can score tix!--No better way to spend thanksgiving weekend then one with good friends and great music.)

I am thankful to all those who read and enjoy this. Have a wonderful thanksgiving weekend friends!

xoxo

if this doesn't make you smile I don't know what will!

New Black Keys Single/Video

http://www.somekindofawesome.com/journal/2011/10/26/listen-the-black-keys-lonely-boy.html

 

 

I am so amped that Danger Mouse is back producing this record, I can't put my finger on it but I can definitely tell when the element of DM is missing on a BK record. It's just got my edge to it I guess

 

 

Can't wait to get home and listen to my ''to listen to'' tracks so I can update!

Covers Part 2 (let's hear it for the girls Robyn/Adele)

http://www.spinner.com/2011/10/06/best-adele-covers/

Includes, a 10 year old from the UK covering ''Someone Like You''

Santigold adding her funky twist to Hometown Glory (complete with tom-tom's)

Dallas Greene of City & Colour giving a solo acoustic performance of Hometown Glory

James Vincent McMorrow ect.


While I never thought of someone like Robyn covering Coldplay, I like the concept.. maybe she just had an off day, but I wish the vocals were stronger.. worth a listen.

http://www.somekindofawesome.com/journal/2011/7/26/listen-robyn-every-teardrop-is-a-waterfall-coldplay-cover-ra.html

The Art of the Rock-umentary: My new Obsession

So with all of the 20th anniversary albums recently released such as Nirvana's Nevermind and
Pearl Jam, and U2's Achtung Baby the rock documentaries/dvds are following.

Some are just concert dvd's Nirvana Live at the Paramount is definitely on my Christmas/Amazon Wishlist

and some are actual documentaries Kings of Leon is set to release a documentary this year.

Phoenix is film i'm most excited to see from a band, and I along with many other Phoenix fans are in luck, the documentary in its entirety has been posted online here:
http://nylonmag.com/nylonblogs/blog/2011/10/18/screen-the-phoenix-doc-here/
clocks in at almost an hour, so it's not too long, i'm not sure what to expect and the band is French so at least you can hear some sexy accents:)


I also just watched the (2008) documentary ''It Might Get Loud'' starring Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) The Edge (U2) and Jack White (White Stripes/Dead Weather/The Raconteurs). It's amazing! Not only do all three extremely talented musicians jam out together, or Edge/Jack White stand in awe of Jimmy Page while he starts playing ''Whole Lotta Love''

This film is also about the song writing and music playing process for each artist, and their background, how they came to become the talented musicians that they are, what inspired them. You don't necessarily need to be a fan of these artists to enjoy this, but a fan of guitar playing and the music process.

Coincidentally, Jack White Covered U2 on the Anniversary album of Achtung Baby, I love that he manages to make every single track his own adding a painfully soulful voice to rock and roll with a twisted goth edge,  without totally disintegrating the original... I'm sure U2 is proud (especially the Edge) http://www.spin.com/articles/hear-jack-whites-howling-bluesy-u2-cover

Here is a trailer to check out, I found a copy at my local library! so it's definitely worth checking out (Also on my Christmas/Amazon Wishlist!

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys2LKKfwTjU

Since watching this I have become an even bigger fan of Jack White. Hope to get to Detriot soon to check out his old stomping grounds and he and Meg White (bandmate of the White Stripes) have released 1 concert DVD and 1 documentary

I would prefer to watch the documentary but both are worth owning because of the recent breakup of the band.

Check out

The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights

I think that the recent releases of these films help capture the artists doing what they love so that the viewer can understand the creative process and re live moments that they have seen live. It helps humanize the artist and bring them to a relatable level. So many times the focus is on the ''celebrity status'' of an musician as opposed to what they are really.. ARTISTS. they are here on earth to create... something new and different.. to display pieces of themselves continu for the world to share. That is a strong point that Jack White makes in ''It Might Get Loud''.. the moment an artist becomes content or satisfied its over. You have lost your passion, lost your art, it should be a process on constant creation and trial and error, there is always new things to be tried especially with the way music is evovling naturally. (outside of the processed ''industry''/money making of it all/

Hooray! Florence + the Machine/ Jack's Mannequin

Florence + the Machine's new album Ceremonials is set to be released on October 31st.

My favorite website SKOA has posted 4 high quality fan video's of Flo's new songs!

Haven't had a chance to listen to them yet but wanted to book mark them here:  http://www.somekindofawesome.com/journal/2011/10/17/listen-florence-the-machine-debut-four-new-songs.html


Jack's Mannequin has released a new album People Running I found that out on Spotify, it's classic Jack. some upbeat sounding songs towards the begining but classic breakup/painstaking lyrics. ''Release Me'' is my favorite- for better sound quality I would go to Itunes or Spotify
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQu7QRPjxoE 


The title track ''People Running'' is also, good overall I just love the concept and something I can relate to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUBbIdjNwbE

Here is a link/interview with Andrew lead singer/founder talking about the new album...
http://www.jacksmannequin.com/news/andrew-people-running


I even made a playlist called People Running, maybe I should post it later??...

I'm so glad both bands have come out with new songs, because they are both staples on my Ipod and the old stuff has been overplayed.

Summation & Affirmation of September postings

Once again I found an article to affirm all the things I've been posting about this month

*Nirvana
* Cover Songs (the importance and relevence)
* Joseph Gordon Leavitt


It's nice to have your views confirmed by yet another hot source, it proves that everything I'm talking about is relevant in the music realm today.

Read & Enjoy!
http://www.nylonmag.com/?section=article&parid=6991

P.S. How dare Hole cover anything by Nirvana:( makes me sad.