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The Best Album of 2011

Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here

What is it: The all round awesome Jamie xx takes the freshly recorded vocal stems from Gil Scott-Heron’s 2010 album I’m New Here, fucks with them on a foundation of UK underground garage, electro and dubstep and creates a cohesive collection to the point where you wouldn’t believe it’s a remix. Oh and most of it was made on The xx tour bus.

When to listen to it: On the way to a party. The sharp edge of the synths, the twisted warping of the vocals and the driving beats make it the perfect pick me up.

Favourite tracks: Home, NY Is Killing Me

 

The Second Best Albums of 2011 (11 way tie)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

What is it: Part Jefferson Airplane, part Jay Reatard. Following on from the untimely demise of The Mint Chicks, Unknown Mortal Orchestra blew up when Ffunny Frends went viral and they wasted no time dropping this solid effort. Guitar and vox melodies vibe like they’re on acid and flow over smooth repetitive rhythms. 

When to listen to it: In the car. Or in private if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t like getting caught belting along to guitar hooks. 

Favourite track: Ffunny Ffrends

James Blake – James Blake

What is it: Dubstep, I think. Sparse production. Hi hats. And classic James Blake vocal fuckery. His strange style is intimidating and totally confusing, but smooth and flowing and wicked catchy. This album would probably have had the best chance of coming in first in the absence of We’re New Here.

When to listen to it: When you have absolutely nothing to do. This album isn’t the greatest motivator. The beat won’t drive you to do anything but relax. You should probably be smoking weed to it to be honest.

Favourite tracks: Wilhelms Scream, To Care (Like You)

Metronomy – The English Riveria

What is it: Pure pop goodness. To me it just feels like the 80s. But a fun 2011 version of the 80s. No gimmicks, no glam just catchy melodies, funky basslines and cheesy vocals.

When to listen to it: When you’re in the mood to sing and hum the melody. Sunny days driving with the window down on the way to somewhere fun.

Favourite track: She Wants

St Vincent – Strange Mercy

What is it: Art rock? I suppose so. Weird timing, lots of layered instrumentals, and a hauntingly beautiful voice that follows it’s own rhythm. It’s really clever music, meticulously constructed and elegant. 

When to listen to it: Anytime. It’s a beautiful album that leaves you feeling good. 

Favourite track: Chloe in the Afternoon

The Weeknd – House of Balloons

What is it: Part of the new prog RnB movement, it’s a soulful, passionate album that plays on Abel Tesfaye’s voice to convey harsh emotions. The beats are tight with heavy production, but it’s the new prog style, using guitars and Siouxsie and the Banshees samples that gives this album a real edge. It’s kinda fucking scary too. 

When to listen to it: When you’re coming down.

Favourite tracks: High For This, House of Balloons – Glass Table Girls

John Maus – We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

What is it: Ariel Pink bandmate John Maus creates another contemporary pop album that sounds like it was ripped from an 80s VHS soundtrack. Almost on par with Before Today, the album is sludgy and lo-fi, with cheap synths and droning vocals.

When to listen to it: Doing the dishes, or any other household cleaning. I don’t know why psychedelic synth pop just does it for me when I’m cleaning, but it does.

Favourite tracks: Streetlight, Quantum Leap

Washed Out – Within and Without

What is it: Chillwave bro.

When to listen to it: When riding chillwaves.

Favourite track: Before

Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost

What is it: Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, The Beach Boys. Girls are the epitome of good old school rock music. Their influences are apparent and yet no one song could be considered a rip off. Their sound is huge. Guitars, vox, bass, drums, maybe a touch of organ. Fuck the rest. 

When to listen to it: Whenever you want to feel shit about why your band sucks. Listening to Girls makes you realise it’s because you’re just not that good.

Favourite track: Vomit

Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica

What is it: Experimental madness. Oneohtrix Point Never sounds like their name would suggest. Fucking weird. Sample mashups sit on odd timings with a lot of repetition. There’s not much to sing along too, you can’t even really hum the melodies. Which is why I like it. It’s different. 

When to listen to it: At work. It’s too unpredictable to distract you. You’ll never find yourself lost in the melodies or hanging for the next verse. And the complete lack of lyrics mean you can write to it easily without new york is killing me.

Favourite tracks: Replica, Up

Battles – Gloss Drop

What is it: Weird like Oneohtrix but in a different way. Battles pretty much just play guitars in many, many ways. Actually I wrote a review of it back in the AU days. http://www.theaureview.com/albums/battles-gloss-drop-2011-lp

When to listen to it: At the gym, believe it or not. The lack of standout pop melody removes distractions and the steady, repetitive rhythms just sit well to zone out to your reps.

Favourite tracks: Africastle, Rolls Bayce

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

What is it: Classic PJ. What more can I say. If you love PJ, you’ll love this. Her best album to date? Probably not. But another addition to an already impressive catalogue. 

When to listen to it: A BBQ with friends. Harvey’s wailing voice hanging out while you drinks beers and talk shit.

Favourite track: Let England Shake

Tom Vek – Leisure Seizure

What is it: Leisure Seizure is one of those albums that doesn’t fit into any neat mold. Vek’s voice is unique, it’s drony and sounds like he’s bored. But perfectly bored. Entertainingly bored. Ha! He plays with a whole heap of synths and is heavy on production technique. And this accents the big focus on beat. From the first song you know the whole rhythm section is off tap.

When to listen to it: Pre-drinks. It’s a bit of a funky sounding hipster album. Rent a hotel room before you go to the city and drink vodka and dance to this. 

Favourite track: Seizemic

 

The Best of the Rest of 2011

M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Neon Indian – Era Extrana

Ty Segall – Goodbye Bread

Cults – Cults

The Antlers – Burst Apart

Tyler, the Creator - Goblin

Cass McCombs – Wit’s End

Danger Mouse & Danielle Luppi – Rome

Gotye – Making Mirrors

Foster the People – Torches

Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra

Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean

City & Colour – Little Hell

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Why There Are Mountains

Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine

Zola Jesus – Conatus

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong

Real Estate – Days

 

Ones that I’ve downloaded but haven’t listened to yet enough times to know if they’re really worthy of a best of title

Fiest, Com Truise, The Vaccines, Friendly Fires, Sebastian, Holy Ghost!, The Horrors, The Weeknd (Thursday), The Rapture, Das Racist, Shabazz Palaces, Wu Lyf, Atlas Sound, Kurt Vile, Lykke Li, Bon Iver, Handsome Furs, SBTRKT, The War on Drugs, The Field, Youth Lagoon, EMA, Gang Gang Dance, Tuneyards, Panda Bear, Yuck, Wooden Shjips, Explosions in the Sky, Elbow

 

Disappointments of 2011

Justice – Audio, Video, Disco

DJ Shadow – The Less You Know, The Better

Wilco – The Whole Love

TV On The Radio – Nine Types Of Light

The Strokes – Angles

Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde