My Top 10 Albums of 2011
10. Joyce Manor- Joyce Manor (punk rock)
I'd loved Joyce Manor's EP Constant Headache before I heard this album, and the full length didn't disappoint. It's some catchy, emotional, relatable punk rock. It's easy to get into and never gets old. Joyce Manor avoids letting their songs sound too much alike, a trap that similar bands fall into.
Favorite song: Beach Community
9. Jay-Z and Kanye West- Watch The Throne (hip hop)
I put off listening to this album for a long time, which I can't really explain since Kanye's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was one of my top 2010 albums. I didn't listen to it until December 29th, and now I can't stop listening. Maybe if I've had more of a chance to get into it I would have moved it up on this list. Jay-Z and Kanye are both fantastic rappers, of course, and the lyrics and ideas on this album are powerful, especially on Murder to Excellence and Made In America. I feel like there is so much more to this album I have yet to discover.
Favorite song: Otis
8. Das Racist- Relax (hip hop)
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Das Racist is my favorite rap group, and while I prefer their previous mixtape Shut Up, Dude to this release, it's still a stellar album. They are delightfully weird and unique and their lyrics are consistently clever and hilarious. This album is tons of fun, they never take themselves too seriously.
Favorite song: Brand New Dance
7. The Black Keys- El Camino (rock)
While in my opinion, this album is nothing compared to Brothers, it's still a solid album. Just some fun, well-done rock & roll. The Black Keys are extremely talented; masters of writing catchy rock songs I can listen to again and again.
Favorite song: Lonely Boy
6. Red City Radio- The Dangers of Standing Still (pop-punk)
This is an album you can’t help but scream aloud to. Everything about this anthemic pop-punk (emphasis on the ‘punk’) was made for that-there are “whoa-oh”s and lyrics like “together we can burn this fucking city to the ground”. It’s definitely a style that’s been done before, but this album manages to still be unique and refreshing. Even though it was released at the beginning of 2011, it has stayed in my rotation the entire year. It’s Red City Radio’s debut full length and I can’t wait to see what great releases they put out in the future.
Favorite song: Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug
5. Timeshares- Bearable (pop-punk)
Bearable is similar in style to The Dangers of Standing Still, and is also Timeshares’ debut full length. At least for me, though, the two albums are different enough that I can listen to them both and not get bored. I’ve been waiting for an LP for these guys for a couple years; their 3-song demo is my favorite demo ever and this lived up to all my expectations. Bearable makes me so so happy every time I listen.
Favorite song: Oh No Not That
4. The Horrible Crowes- Elsie (punk-ish/folk-ish/soul-ish/rock?)
The Horrible Crowes consists of Brian Fallon (of The Gaslight Anthem) and Ian Perkins, his guitar tech. Usually side projects from my favorite bands annoy me-they’re rarely satisfactory, and I just want them to just write another album for their main band already. But Elsie is just as good as any album released by The Gaslight Anthem (and that’s saying something), yet is very different and distinctly a different band. Brian Fallon is an absolute master songwriter; this album is amazing from beginning to end. It will make you want to get sailor tattoos.
Favorite song: Go Tell Everybody
3. Laura Stevenson and the Cans- Sit Resist (indie/folk?)
Laura Stevenson is so talented, and this album is incredibly beautiful. The songs are often slow and soft, but never boring. The lyrics are personal, but relatable. Her voice continuously blows me away. I listen to this album over and over again and never get tired of it.
Favorite song: Barnacles
2. Beastie Boys- Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (hip hop)
The Beastie Boys are awesome. This is a fact. But who would have thought that three white guys in their mid 40’s could release such a kick-ass hip hop album? I don’t have much to say about this one-it’s basically everything you can wish for from the Beastie Boys, fulfilled.
Favorite song: Make Some Noise
1. Bomb the Music Industry!- Vacation (punk rock)
Bomb the Music Industry! is my absolute favorite band ever (both my LJ username and journal title come from their song titles), and Vacation is (at least currently) my favorite ever album from them. This album means so so much to me. It’s apparent how much they’ve matured from their first release until this one-while Jeff used to sing about being a depressed, alcoholic failure, now he can sing about those things but with better lyrics and song structure-and some hope, too. It’s ridiculous how much I can connect to Jeff’s lyrics in this album. While it sounds like a happy summer album, it’s about not wanting to face depression/the winter, but telling himself he will make it through: “winter never kills me.”
Favorite song: Sick, Later
Listen to my favorite songs from each of these releases on this Spotify playlist: http://open.spotify.com/user/1211318343/playlist/6C7F4emwzuoKVBVdv67kFb