Musings on 2011 (So Far)

2011 has been an interesting year for music thus far. It's been a solid mix of let-downs, unheard-of blind sides and fulfilled prophecies. So, without any further delay, I'll offer my lists.

(in no particular order)

There:

Destroyer - Kaputt

Tim and I are both in firm agreement on this one. Really just a fantastic record. And, one of the best shows of the year to boot.

tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

I've got enough time on my hands to type it out. I'm a sucked for this stuff. Much like I loved Bitte Orca a couple years back, I'm really taken with this album. The rhythm and melodies are engrossing, and Merrill's voice is transcendent.

Motel Beds - Sunfried Dreams
Maybe the most consistently good album of the year. Nothing over the top mind-blowing; but there isn't a skippable song on it.

Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

The most ambitious album of the year. I'm not sure why it strikes such a chord with me, but this album pumps me up and engages me throughout.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

A solid continuation of their self-titled, this album is hard to challenge.

Close:

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

I throw on this album at work and it goes unnoticed for a few tracks, and then people become fascinated and curious. It's a unique and enjoyable album without a great song to put it over the top.

Sic Alps - Napa Asylum

A solid effort with great attitude. There have been a lot of great lo-fi releases this year (The UV Race, Hospital Ships, Motel Beds), and I think this album is a definite stand-out.

Panda Bear - Tomboy

Really atmospheric and wonderful with a lot of stand-out tracks.

Woods - Sun & Shade

Great songs without cohesion.

Yuck - Yuck

My most listened to and most disappointing album of the year. Side A is unbelievable, but it loses momentum so hard on side B that the album as a whole becomes merely good.

Fell Short

Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

So delicate that it commands no attention.

TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

Maybe this needs further analysis, but this seemed like a major let-down effort from a fantastic group.

Tyler, the Creator - Goblin

Talk about flash in the pan. Bastard killed and commanded respect. This album was bothersome in a lot of ways.

YACHT - Shangri-La

What a disappointing listening experience. And the skits. Why?

Tennis - Cape Dory

People love this record for some reason. I guess the whole 80s mining thing is becoming stale to me when it isn't done in any unique way.

Needs Further Examination:

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

I liked this album a lot on first listen, because I love soft rock. On repeat listens it's losing a lot of its luster.

The Antlers - Burst Apart

Gave it a once-through and liked it; but I really loved Hospice, so I'll probably have to check this one out a few more times to fully grasp it.

Wye Oak - Civilian

I haven't heard this album yet, but from all of the covers and live video I've seen of Wye Oak this year, I am really optimistic.

Crystal Stilts - In Love With Oblivion

Hear great things.

Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See

Hear great things.

What I've Been Listening To The Most:

Harry Nilsson

Going back through his entire catalog. Stunning stuff.

Randy Newman

Especially Sail Away. The 70s L.A. scene produced so many fantastic musicians.

Spoon

Revisiting and reconnecting with their catalog.

Kaputt

Probably album of the year so far.

Side A of Yuck

Probably the best album side of the year so far.

Anticipated:

Dirty Projectors

They're in the studio!

Cymbals Eat Guitars

I've really enjoyed their last album, and I'm optimistic.

Beirut

The songs I've heard have been unbelievably good. This may end up being my album of the year when all's said and done.

-e.

First Half Albums of 2011

6 months has already pass in 2011. A good time to take stock and see where we are:

12 Favorite Albums (in somewhat decreasing order; fine, I'll # them...)

12. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo - another solid offering

11. Radiohead - The King of Limbs - their best since Amnesiac

10. Yuck - Yuck - the great rockers on this one make up for the occasional dud

9. Mars Classroom - New Theory of Everything - the best of the 4 Pollard releases (so far)

8. Tim Cohen - Magic Trick - lead singer of Fresh and Onlys delivers retro-tinged pop ditties

7. Motel Beds - Sunfried Dreams - such a fun, upbeat, out-of-nowhere record all the way through

6. The Caretaker - An Empty Bliss Beyond This World - one of the most unique and fascinating listens of the year

5. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues - love it already and only going to get better

4. Woods - Sun and Shade - contains some of their best songs; embracing the two extended jams is key

3. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? - I am as surprised as anybody that I love this record, but it just feels so easy and carefree

2. Hospital Ships - Lonely Twin - had a revelation today; so much going on with this record, I feel like I've only scraped the surface

1. Destroyer - Kaputt - still the best thing I've heard all year

10 Biggest Disappointments (disappointing in the sense that I really like(d) these bands but wasn't inspired to listen to them their albums more than a couple times each - if that)

10. James Blake - just can't get into it yet, not sure I'll ever be able to

9.  Papercuts - a couple really good tracks, but dull as a whole

8. Generationals - first song is so killer, the rest is just a let-down

7. Bill Callahan - I'll try again in the fall

6. Sonny Smith - he's gone too 50's for my taste

5. The Decemberists - almost time to stop paying attention to this band, save a couple songs here and there

4. Iron and Wine - don't even remember how this one sounded

3. Dodos - steady decline since their first album (as Dodo Bird)

2. Mountain Goats - only listened to it once, so many better MG albums to listen to

1. Smith Westerns - that one song had a good outro, but that's about it; what happened to these guys?

17 Albums That Didn't Hook Me Immediately But Probably Warrant More Listens Before Passing Judgment (random order)

* Bon Iver

* The Antlers

* Panda Bear

* Cass McCombs

* Gang Gang Dance

* Tune-Yards (I refuse to type it the stupid way)

* WU LYF

* Peter, Bjorn, and John

* TV On The Radio

* The Wooden Birds

* Peaking Lights

* Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr

* Black Lips

* Toro y Moi

* Chad Vangaalen

* Okkervil River

* Times New Viking

What do you think?

- tk

Electronic Resonance Across Decades

Put on your dancing shoes. This mix is a smattering of early electronic sounds done by old and new artists. I like the way it flows. I also like how no matter how danceable and poppy the tracks are, there's still an undercurrent of darkness. Ghosts in the machinery, if you will.

Tracks:

1. Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses

2. Destroyer - Savage Night at the Opera

3. Soft Cell - Memorabilia

4. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change

5. Rod Stewart - Some Guys Have All the Luck

6. Ultravox! - Hiroshima Mon Amour

7. Human League - Seconds

8. Depeche Mode - But Not Tonight

9. Cut Copy - Alisa

This mix is either going to inspire you to dance, serial kill, or both. Any way you take it, enjoy.

-E.

April's Tattered Clothes

I can no longer wait idly for spring to arrive.

Tracks

1. The Generationals - Ten-Twenty-Ten - the best moment in this song is the :04 mark, when you realize it is not actually this song. 

2. The Spires - TAM - a simple idea, perfectly executed. I have yet to delve into the back catalog but am excited to do so.

3. Motel Beds - Obey Your Lunch - from one of the best albums of the spring; I absolutely love the drums on this track. Check the whole thing out. 

4. Yuck - The Wall - I am still not completely sold on the album, but this song pushes all the right nostalgia buttons, and puts me square back in 1996-1997. Pretty sure these guys were about 5 years old back then.

5. Mars Classroom - Man!Wine!Power! - of the 3 releases from Robert Pollard already this year, Mars Classroom is my favorite. I love/hate the rhythm guitar tone on this song; it's so unlike anything else he's done in the past 5 years. 

6. Tim Cohen - I Am Never Going To Die - from the lead singer of Fresh and Onlys; I hope this album doesn't get overlooked. I actually bought it twice on Amazon (honest mistake), so if anyone wants a free digital copy (without taxing your conscience), let me know - it's already been paid for.

7. BOAT - Forever In Armitron - just a good guitar rock song from a good guitar rock band. 

8. Surf City - Headin' Inside - these guys are from New Zealand and have a new album out that I still need to listen to. This song's from an older release and is really good, obviously.

9. Woods - Pushing Onlys - my song of the spring. Sure, it sounds pretty similar to To Clean, but that was also a great song.

The mix is published here and is available for download here. If you don't already have the 8tracks app for the iPhone, you should go get that now. It's great. 

What have you been listening to this spring?

tk

Erik's 2010 Mixes

Hey All! Here are my mixes for 2010 in review. It's 2 discs, one of which has all male singers and the other all female. Enjoy!

Mix #1 - One For The Boys


Track List:
01. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Bright Lit Blue Skies
02. Deerhunter - Memory Boy
03. The Walkmen - Angela Surf City
04. Woods - Suffering Season
05. Harlem - Friendly Ghost
06. Wavves - King of the Beach
07. Flight - Real Estate
08. Yeasayer - Madder Red
09. The National - Terrible Love (Alternate Version)
10. Perfume Genius - Mr. Peterson
11. The Morning Benders - Excuses
12. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords
13. The Books - Beautiful People

Download: http://ge.tt/5kJDdtc

Mix #2 - Girlz Rule!


Track List:
01. Dum Dum Girls - Bhang Bhang, I'm a Burnout
02. Best Coast - Happy
03. Marnie Stern - Cinco De Mayo
04. No Joy - Hawaii
05. Land of Talk - Swift Coin
06. Warpaint - Shadows
07. Cults - Go Outside
08. Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill
09. Beach House - Walk in the Park
10. Janelle Monae - Oh, Maker
11. jj - And Now
12. Joanna Newsom - On A Good Day
13. Zola Jesus - Lightstick

Download: http://ge.tt/7FeFdth

Enjoy!
Erik