In which I'm making a list
Dec. 15th, 2011 02:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kylezyAh, the old 'favourite albums of 2011' post.
I could only manage nine. Wait, that's not entirely true, I really, really, really super duper love this album by North Highlands, and could easily slot that into number ten, but I downloaded it just a few hours ago, so aside from being unfair to the other albums, I might also be suffering from a bit of ~new album love~. WHATEVER.
I mean, if I had to, I could squeeze Radiohead or St. Vincent in there, they both offered up class and even Death Cab For Cutie showed a marked improvement from recent years. But, to be honest, while these albums are great for a listen, they don't keep me coming back for more.
These do:
9. Mieux - Stray Kites
Sounds Like: your brother's band, a secret handshake, waking up in your trashed house the morning after a party
Is Actually: Lo-fi experimental pop
Somebody Else Said: If the duo's previous effort was just to have fun, Mieux is the day after. They've composed themselves so much more here. The music is more refined, the songs stand proud with added integrity, and the whole thing has risen high above the level set by their debut. [Source]
Best songs: Mirror Talk, Talking Plaster Walls pt. 3, Dust To Dust To Dust To Dust
8. In Light - Givers
Sounds Like: a first kiss, tire swings, cartwheels in the grass
Is Actually: Pop
Somebody Else Said: Speaking strictly sonics, In Light is literally the brightest album I’ve heard in ages (Insert "Gotta Wear Shades" joke here), but it’s far from slick — the heat generated comes from the sweat of its players, who sound as if they’re tracking live from a sweltering jungle on Mars. [Source]
Best songs: Up Up Up, Noche Nada, Atlantic
7. Making Mirrors - Gotye
Sounds Like: singing in front of the mirror with your best friend, being pulled into a hug, the first smile after sobbing for hours
Is Actually: Electric pop
Somebody Else Said: Once again, this could just be me but when I am walking along listening to Somebody That I Used To Know I find myself wanting to make my own video to it, I have even done a scrunch my hair up sexy pose when Wally busts in to one of his wails. God dammit I am totally suckered in. [Source]
Best songs: Somebody That I Used To Know, Smoke And Mirrors, Save Me
6. We Sink - Sóley
Sounds Like: the beach on a cold wet day, being lost and alone backstage at a carnival, dried blood on the walls
Is Actually: Avant ethereal pop
Somebody Else Said: It is an extraordinary songwriting approach and Sóley deftly manipulates her listener's mood to one of quiet consternation and distrust. [Source]
Best songs: I'll Drown, Bad Dream, About Your Funeral
5. I Am Very Far - Okkervil River
Sounds Like: getting lead poisoning in the middle of the desert, a leaky boat, driving past a funeral procession
Is Actually: Alternative-country, folk rock
Somebody Else Said: As a result, Sheff's songs never truly sound settled but remain lively and prickly, especially as various images repeat throughout the album, motifs instead of concepts that suture these songs together. [Source]
Best songs: The Valley, Show Yourself, Your Past Life As A Blast
4. Civilian - Wye Oak
Sounds Like: waiting for your dealer to arrive, nervously shaking hands with the person you like, daydreaming while the kettle boils
Is Actually: Folksy post-rock
Somebody Else Said: Truth is, Civilian is a fantastic record. Not just for it's tranquil soothing qualities or the way it neatly cuts through the emotional waves between Triumphantly Epic Rocks and the Cliff Edges Of Weakness, but also for what it doesn't do. The unsaid parts. The way it doesn't attempt to shake your body until you pay attention. Doesn't overload you with ideas and sharp shifts and show-off strutting of purposely conflicting styles. This is an album of amazing clarity. [Source]
Best songs: Holy Holy, Dog Eyes, Civilian
3. Build A Rocket Boys! - Elbow
Sounds Like: buying your first packet of cigarettes, realising there's still one more round to go before it's your shout, saying goodbye to your best friend at the end of a night out
Is Actually: Brit rock
Somebody Else Said: Too old to have their heads turned by mainstream success, but too big-hearted, maybe too grateful, to spurn it with a churlish how-do-you-like-us-now gesture, Build a Rocket Boys! sees Elbow doing perhaps the smartest thing you could under the circumstances: carrying on regardless. [Source]
Best songs: The Birds, Lippy Kids, With Love
2. Burst Apart - The Antlers
Sounds Like: dried tears on your cheek, fucking on painkillers, the wait it takes someone to find you during a game of hide-and-seek
Is Actually: Dreamy alternative rock
Somebody Else Said: And while brimming with tragedies, they’re the tragedies that we all have gone through and survived, instead of the unconquerable summits of Hospice. [Source]
Best songs: French Exit, Parentheses, Putting The Dog To Sleep
1. Spectroscope - Chris Letcher
Sounds Like: the clearing in a forest, magnetic repulsion, dipping your feet in a cool river
Is Actually: Orchestral pop
Somebody Else Said: These songs allow you to feel more than think. [Source]
Best songs: The Sun! The Sun!, The Loneliest Air, Twin Fins
---
So, what made your best of list this year, guys?
I could only manage nine. Wait, that's not entirely true, I really, really, really super duper love this album by North Highlands, and could easily slot that into number ten, but I downloaded it just a few hours ago, so aside from being unfair to the other albums, I might also be suffering from a bit of ~new album love~. WHATEVER.
I mean, if I had to, I could squeeze Radiohead or St. Vincent in there, they both offered up class and even Death Cab For Cutie showed a marked improvement from recent years. But, to be honest, while these albums are great for a listen, they don't keep me coming back for more.
These do:
9. Mieux - Stray Kites
Sounds Like: your brother's band, a secret handshake, waking up in your trashed house the morning after a party
Is Actually: Lo-fi experimental pop
Somebody Else Said: If the duo's previous effort was just to have fun, Mieux is the day after. They've composed themselves so much more here. The music is more refined, the songs stand proud with added integrity, and the whole thing has risen high above the level set by their debut. [Source]
Best songs: Mirror Talk, Talking Plaster Walls pt. 3, Dust To Dust To Dust To Dust
8. In Light - Givers
Sounds Like: a first kiss, tire swings, cartwheels in the grass
Is Actually: Pop
Somebody Else Said: Speaking strictly sonics, In Light is literally the brightest album I’ve heard in ages (Insert "Gotta Wear Shades" joke here), but it’s far from slick — the heat generated comes from the sweat of its players, who sound as if they’re tracking live from a sweltering jungle on Mars. [Source]
Best songs: Up Up Up, Noche Nada, Atlantic
7. Making Mirrors - Gotye
Sounds Like: singing in front of the mirror with your best friend, being pulled into a hug, the first smile after sobbing for hours
Is Actually: Electric pop
Somebody Else Said: Once again, this could just be me but when I am walking along listening to Somebody That I Used To Know I find myself wanting to make my own video to it, I have even done a scrunch my hair up sexy pose when Wally busts in to one of his wails. God dammit I am totally suckered in. [Source]
Best songs: Somebody That I Used To Know, Smoke And Mirrors, Save Me
6. We Sink - Sóley
Sounds Like: the beach on a cold wet day, being lost and alone backstage at a carnival, dried blood on the walls
Is Actually: Avant ethereal pop
Somebody Else Said: It is an extraordinary songwriting approach and Sóley deftly manipulates her listener's mood to one of quiet consternation and distrust. [Source]
Best songs: I'll Drown, Bad Dream, About Your Funeral
5. I Am Very Far - Okkervil River
Sounds Like: getting lead poisoning in the middle of the desert, a leaky boat, driving past a funeral procession
Is Actually: Alternative-country, folk rock
Somebody Else Said: As a result, Sheff's songs never truly sound settled but remain lively and prickly, especially as various images repeat throughout the album, motifs instead of concepts that suture these songs together. [Source]
Best songs: The Valley, Show Yourself, Your Past Life As A Blast
4. Civilian - Wye Oak
Sounds Like: waiting for your dealer to arrive, nervously shaking hands with the person you like, daydreaming while the kettle boils
Is Actually: Folksy post-rock
Somebody Else Said: Truth is, Civilian is a fantastic record. Not just for it's tranquil soothing qualities or the way it neatly cuts through the emotional waves between Triumphantly Epic Rocks and the Cliff Edges Of Weakness, but also for what it doesn't do. The unsaid parts. The way it doesn't attempt to shake your body until you pay attention. Doesn't overload you with ideas and sharp shifts and show-off strutting of purposely conflicting styles. This is an album of amazing clarity. [Source]
Best songs: Holy Holy, Dog Eyes, Civilian
3. Build A Rocket Boys! - Elbow
Sounds Like: buying your first packet of cigarettes, realising there's still one more round to go before it's your shout, saying goodbye to your best friend at the end of a night out
Is Actually: Brit rock
Somebody Else Said: Too old to have their heads turned by mainstream success, but too big-hearted, maybe too grateful, to spurn it with a churlish how-do-you-like-us-now gesture, Build a Rocket Boys! sees Elbow doing perhaps the smartest thing you could under the circumstances: carrying on regardless. [Source]
Best songs: The Birds, Lippy Kids, With Love
2. Burst Apart - The Antlers
Sounds Like: dried tears on your cheek, fucking on painkillers, the wait it takes someone to find you during a game of hide-and-seek
Is Actually: Dreamy alternative rock
Somebody Else Said: And while brimming with tragedies, they’re the tragedies that we all have gone through and survived, instead of the unconquerable summits of Hospice. [Source]
Best songs: French Exit, Parentheses, Putting The Dog To Sleep
1. Spectroscope - Chris Letcher
Sounds Like: the clearing in a forest, magnetic repulsion, dipping your feet in a cool river
Is Actually: Orchestral pop
Somebody Else Said: These songs allow you to feel more than think. [Source]
Best songs: The Sun! The Sun!, The Loneliest Air, Twin Fins
---
So, what made your best of list this year, guys?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-12-14 07:12 pm (UTC)I am the pretentiousest, my beautiful sweetums. I AM THE MOON, AND THE EARTH, AND THE WIND. your Eoin-inspired baby deepness CANNOT compare, alright? NO HEARTBURN FOR ANGIE B.
also- I am downloading Soley because I like the tilde and The Antlers because of 'Parentheses'.
ANG, OUT.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 03:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 06:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 08:32 am (UTC)One (http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?4fsdrd4rnazcdl1)
Two (http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?woeinpqq3ev4okx)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-15 08:47 am (UTC)