And thus it was, even so… 2011 is done. As such, it becomes this not so humble music fan’s (see hipster) duty to tell the world via a lame blog what the correct top albums of 2011 were (just in case the reader wasn’t paying attention this year). Hipsters have a bad rep these days, it wasn’t always so… back 10 years or so, the term would identify some cool cat who praised the Strokes and wanted to tell the world about them. Now-a-days, the term relates to someone who thinks they are cooler than music and therefor can only find satisfaction from liking something that someone else doesn’t know about. Once this knowledge has been revealed to the general public (see world-at-large), the “hipster” a’band’ons his band and searches for the next big thing. Reader, you know I love good music and just want to share in its sonic goodness. Granted I do hate it when songs are overplayed, but mere popularity of new groups doesn’t make me think they are no longer “relevant”. That’s up to the group to decide.
As a side note, go visit Emily's Blog for a very well thought out 2K11 list. Emily Clay rocks and I can only hope to emulate her blog and try to be as cool as her. (I’m excited to listen to a few on her list as they are yet unknown to me, and I trust her with my ears and you should too!)
Alrighty, now that I, a self proclaimed hipster, am now off the soapbox, it’s time for me to get to the real soapbox for this occasion…the music of 2011. Mind you, this is my list and I’ll write it how I want. So “2011” is subject to my own experience (ala, if it was new to my life in 2011, it might as well have come out in 2011 for purposes of this exercise) There are 3 major awards I would like to discuss:
The albums and songs that rocked my Audits/Reviews/Engagements ETC.: These are the albums that looking back on 10 years hence, will always be associated with a specific audit. As this blog is journal-esque I figure I’d include this section.
Synopsys, Inc. 2010 audit: The award of my first audit definitely goes to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. Much has been said by others and myself about how great this one is. It was most appropriate that it was the album that transitioned me into the workforce.
Geeknet, Inc.: I was only on this one for a week, so I don’t have too
much musical memory with it. What I do have is a Crystal Castles song
featuring Robert Smith "Not in Love".
__: This one holds a very special album… Illinoise by Sufjan
Stevens. I had this album before this audit, but for some reason it
had gotten lost in the shuffle as it were. I gave it its first proper
chance during this audit and it became one of the most fantastic
additions to my musical rotation. I wouldn’t say it was a “perfect”
album (whatever that means) but the first 12 tracks, if they were an
album… it would be “perfect”
SuccessFactors: The Strokes: Angles was kind of a let down in many
ways. After the perfect 10’s of the first 2 albums and the faltering
of the 3rd album, I’d hoped for another 10 after their long break.
That being said, I think it’s a fairly strong album looking back on
it. Life is Simple in the Moonlight is 10 material.
Applied Micro Circuits Corp: LCD Soundsystem (all of the albums) At AMCC I continued to gain appreciation for these geniuses. Every album is chock full of insight, wit, and catchy beats that stay with you. Masterpieces
Extreme Networks: The Moldy Peaches (all of the albums) I had this
band on the backburner for a while…I knew I liked them, but only
really through the Juno soundtrack. They are hilarious and catchy (if
not a bit crude)
Sanmina: Sea Wolf: Leaves in the river was an amazing album that I
listened to a ton during the audit. I think I discovered it a little
late for my hipster cred, but that don’t matter none (see revised
hipster def above), I love it now! Its kind of a strange lovechild of
the Decemberists and BRMC.
Performant Financial Corp: Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto. This album
continues to grow on me. It took a bit to get used to the crazy bass
overdubs (very pop-ish and in vogue in 2011) but it really is a great
album. I got to know it at Performant as I drove all the way to and
from Livermore. It was perfect timing to listen to the whole thing
going one way. Hurts Like Heaven and its bubbly sparky goodness is up
there with the best of them. U.F.O. is another contender for the best
song of the album. The album is slightly tainted due to a weird brake
up I had but not nearly tainted enough for me not to enjoy it. (my
close friends know what I’m talking about, just ask if you’re curious,
if you aren’t interested… why are you reading my blog you stalker!) I
agree with Emily about the unfortunate guest pop star though… oh well.
Synopsys, 2011 audit: Peter Bjorn and John Gimme Some is the album of
my second Synopsys audit. As a second year associate, I felt a little
more comfortable pumpin up the stereo (of my headphones) and this
album was the one I kept going back too. Its entirely too short, but
I love every song and it’s a joy to listen to.
There were other engagements (Roamware I’m looking at you) but I won’t
force a song or memory for those audits if it wasn’t there…
The albums/groups/songs I discovered this year: These are in no particular order of amazing-ness. Note: songs, albums and other insights in the Audit section above will not be repeated below… this blog is bloated enough as it is.
Songs:
Ivy, Distant Lights: I’ve loved Ivy for years now, but I wasn’t
prepared for how awesome this song was going to be. It’s synth pop
perfection. When I got my new subwoofer in early summer, this song
was repeated with much gusto.
Cults, Go Outside: This is a new band for me this year… the memory I
have most associated with it is going to a concert in San Francisco.
The DJ beforehand had an amazing mix that I should have asked him
about. This was one of the songs and it was featured heavily on my
indie satellite radio station… good stuff.
The Raveonettes, Aly Walk with Me: As part of the aforementioned
playlist, this is a song I actually already had the album at the
time. At the concert, this song blew me away and I rediscovered it.
It was so loud, raw and intense and I couldn’t get enough of it. It
has a very indie hipster nerd aura that perfectly captured the fun of
being at a live concert in San Fran.
Metric, London Halflife: I kind of pinned metric as a new “The
Cardigans”, which is a good thing. This song took me totally by
surprise and against all my principles; I listened to it on repeat
many-a-time. It’s tragically short, but her voice and the general
melancholy-cool vibe gave me a newfound appreciation for Metric. It’s
fun getting to know their other stuff, and I hope to find other gems
like this one.
Neon Indian, Polish Girl/and Terminally Chill…ok the whole album.
Infectious, lovely, charming, with a sonically pleasing landscape,
these guys are a lot of fun. Lyrically, I can’t hear much, but the
music sets a certain giddy joyful mood that can’t be denied.
Kraftwerk, The Model/ The Robots. So this was made in the 70’s but I
discovered it this year. Wow, thanks Indie Old School show on XM…
these guys were genius. I suppose if you take the work of the Cars
and mix it with The Flaming Lips and add a dash of LCD Soundsystem
this is what would result. My life is very much enriched for having
discovered these fine folks.
Radiohead: Lotus Flower. I saw this on a talk show and it totally
made me go from “this song is kinda out there” to “dang its out there
and I am too!” Watching 2 drummers hammer out the complicated beat was
fascinating and listening to Mr. York croon is always a pleasure.
Foo Fighters: These Days. So these guys keep surprising me.
As much as I love their old stuff, I always figure that the “next
album” will lose the magic. Fortunately I’ve been wrong, and this
song is classic Foo Fighters melody and hard rock along with
meaningful lyrics. Oh David, one of the rock gods of our era…
Albums: (again, those included above are not listed below…)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra: How can u love me? Ffunny Friends, Jello and
Juggernouts, and of course Thought Balloon. The aforementioned
concert above was for Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Although strangely
enough, the first band “Gauntlet Hair” has been on the radio more (at
least when I’m tuned in), I really enjoyed the progressive rock of UMO
much more. Each song was quirky and fun and reminiscent in a way
to one of my new bands last year "Fitz and the Tantrums" in the a way
i can't point my finger at, happy listening.
Also special thanks to Lena Schoemaker for winning the tickets!
Wilco, The Whole Love: You knew this was coming, of course. Wilco!
Love these guys. This was somewhat a return to the more experimental
days of yore, but still straightforward enough for the new fans. My
favorite song is Art of Almost… so many layers, and the rockout at the
end always leaves me breathless… bravo Mr. Tweedy, bravo.
M83, A similar band in nature to Neon Indian, again I found it most
groovy. Actually I can almost copy paste my previous description of
NI and put it down here. It was a good year for this electronic rock
style hybrid.
Fountains of Wayne: Sky Full of Holes: You probably knew this was
coming too, this album is a ton of fun. As always, the fine folks at
FOW populate this album with a fun cast of characters and guitar hooks
that make it a joy for any power pop fan to listen in on. Someone’s
gonna break your heart is probably my fav, its got that power pop
mixed with melancholy wistfulness. Next up is Richie and Ruben, got
a ton of classic pop hooks + hilarious characters.
Girls: All the albums: So this was a random find but Oh So Protective
One and Heartbreaker were too catchy not to put on this list.
Tennis: The first song I remember is actually a cover of the Zombies
Tell her no. It was fairly true to the original, and very much fun. Upon
further inspection, I love these guys original stuff too. Origins is a
great song, her voice and retro vibe is lovely.
The albums/groups that I think I’ll discover in 2012:
Danger Mouse: Rome: So after hearing Two against One, I figure I’d
like the rest. + I like the concept of making a classic Italian
soundtrack… sounds fun. Also, i'm desperate for more Jack
White.
Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues, so this shouldn’t be on this list, it
should be above… The fact is I loved Fleet Foxes when I saw them open
up for Wilco in 2009 and ate up their first EP and Album. For some
reason (which is really sad) I’ve only heard one song from the new
album. I liked it, not loved it but moved on to something else. This
albums day will come, rest assured… in fact in the time it took to
write this section, I probably could have youtubed it :D
Thanks, if you made it this far, you don't need glasses. Happy listening and please comment on all the amazingness i've overlooked, all thats going to rock in 2012, and what party's you are planning for February 29th.
