…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – Tao Of The Dead
Rock album of the year. Just as you think they can’t get any more massive, any further, more vast, more adventurous, they come out with an album like this. An ocean of stories, denotations and culture to dive into.
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Annie Clark, the next the bobdylan, sufjan, macca, only smarter, handsomer, better sounding and slightly more awesome. The songs get better and better, though I still love Marry Me. Her songs are like trip, more luscious versions of anything Joni Mitchell has ever composed, as trippy as Magical Mystery Tour or as strange and intriguing as Pet Sounds. Album of the year.
Junior Boys – It’s All True
Good, tiny, electronic album from Canada. The Tavastia gig was also one of the best ones this year.
Little Dragon – Ritual Union
This album came out a year ago, just before the year changed, but Spotify seems to give it the year 2011, so it made the list. The record is awesome. Maybe not as great as Machine Dreams, but still great beyond a lot of albums this year.
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Best “soft rock” album of the year. Beautiful melodies, moods and songs. You really don’t need much more.
Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Wolfroy Goes To Town
It’s Will Oldham. That’s about it. I really hope next year’s new Bonnie & Matt Sweeney -album is going to be as good as Superwolf-masterpiece.
Jamie Woon – Mirrorwriting
James Blake – James Blake
These albums, like brothers, are eery, moody, interesting compilation of songs. Blake found a sound on his first long play, clearly. Woon made a great, great album, but the live performances have yet to reach its level. Blake on the other hand wiped the floor other performers at Flow 2011 -festival.
Com Truise – Galactic Melt
Neon Indian – Era Extran̂a
Toro Y Moi – Freaking Out
Siriusmo – Mosaik
Justice – Audio, Video, Disco
Interesting year for electronic albums. Electric and electric, I don’t know, but hey, they have good songs in them. Interesting melodies.
Mazes
The 90’s alternative revival. Yuck lost and Mazes won.
Jane’s Addiction – The Great Escape Artist
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Two very solid rock albums. Foo Fighters’ gig in Finland was one of the year’s highlights.
Hexvessel – Dawnbearer
Very peculiar and strange mood in this one. Death folk? Swamp rock? Occult acoustic? Give it a listen, I bet it’ll challenge you in a way you didn’t think was possible
Paul Simon – So Beautiful Or So What
Simon’s at it somewhat in the spirit of his masterpiece Graceland. Works well, it’s easy to feel the recording session’s easygoing experimental atmosphere.
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Good songs. What else do you need? Anthony Gonzalez has decided to start composing and not only doing anthems for the alternative emo’s.
The Shit of 2011:
Lulu
Gerry Rafferty died
Columbo died
the Big Man, Clarence Clemeons, died
Gil Scott Heron died
Pete Postlewaithe died
