Best Albums of 2011?

[mdb]

I liked quite a few albums this year but I think I played these most:

Blind Pilot – We are the Tide

Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol.2: Judges

Dolorean – The Unfazed

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Hospital Ships – Lonely Twin

John Vanderslice – White Wilderness

La Dispute – Wildlife

Owen – Ghost Town

Yuck - Yuck

[deafmx]

Hella good. No pun intended.

Highly recommended. It's streaming on the Hella Bandcamp site.

oh, I don't doubt this for a second. I've got it on order from IVWT, just waiting on it to ship. waiting to spin the record before listening.

I threw on Animals As Leaders "Weightless" and it rules. $30 single LP rules? meh, not quite. sounds good though.

[Guest]

i dug the following this year, but there were probably better albums.

Animals as Leaders-Weightless

Between the Buried and Me-the Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues

Boris-Heavy Rocks

Circle Takes the Square-Decompositions - Vol I. Chapter 1. Rites of Initiation

Giant Squid-Cenotes

La Dispute-Wildlife

Mastodon-the Hunter

Disappointments:

Thrice-Major/Minor

Black Tusk-Set the Dial

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster-IV

[birdwell]

do keep in mind, I didn't listen to every single record released this past year...this is just what I felt about the ones I did delve into

My Favorites of 2011

A.A. Bondy -- "Believers"

Beirut -- "The Rip Tide"

Chuck Ragan -- "Covering Ground"

Cymbals Eat Guitars -- "Lenses Alien"

Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room -- "Hurricane Season"

David Bazan -- "Strange Negotiations"

Defeater -- "Empty Days & Sleepless Nights"

Dengue Fever -- "Cannibal Courtship"

Explosions In The Sky -- "Take Care, Take Care, Take Care"

Farewell Continental -- "¡Hey, Hey Pioneers!"

Fleet Foxes -- "Helplessness Blues"

Fucked Up -- "David Comes To Life"

G-Side -- "The ONE... COHESIVE"

Gillian Welch -- "The Harrow & The Harvest"

Hayes Carll -- "KMAG YOYO (And Other American Stories)"

The Horrible Crowes -- "Elsie"

Into It. Over It. -- "Proper"

La Dispute -- "Wildlife"

Laura Stevenson and The Cans -- "Sit Resist"

Make Do And Mend -- "End Measured Mile"

Mariachi El Bronx -- "Mariachi El Bronx (II)"

Owen -- "Ghost Town"

Touché Amoré -- "Parting The Sea Between Brightness And Me"

Wilco -- "The Whole Love"

The Wonder Years -- "Suburbia: I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing"

Albums I Feel Deserve An Honorable Mention (Not Great, But Not Terrible Records)

Algernon Cadwallader --"Parrot Flies"

Between The Buried And Me -- "The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues"

The Black Keys -- "El Camino"

Frank Turner -- "England Keep My Bones"

Glassjaw -- "Our Color Green"

Glassjaw -- "Coloring Book"

Glossary -- "Long Live All Of Us"

Grown Ups -- "Hand Holder"

Hot Water Music -- "The Fire, The Steel, The Tread" b/w "Adds Up To Nothing"

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit -- "Here We Rest"

Look Mexico -- "Real Americans Spear it"

Maria Taylor -- "Overlook"

Mariachi El Bronx -- "Plys Yr Fvrt Sngs"

Mastodon -- "The Hunter"

Mates of State -- "Mountaintops"

Mister Heavenly -- "Out Of Love"

P.S. Eliot -- "Sadie"

Paleo -- "Fruit of the Spirit"

Pianos Become The Teeth -- "The Lack Long After"

Portugal. The Man -- "In The Mountain In The Cloud"

Radiohead -- "The King Of Limbs"

Rival Schools -- "Pedals"

Riverboat Gamblers -- "Smash/Grab"

Ryan Adams -- "Ashes & Fire"

Small Brown Bike -- "Fell & Found"

Sondre Lerche -- "Sondre Lerche"

Triumph Of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death -- "Some Of Us Are In This Together"

Ume -- "Phantoms"

Albums That Disappointed Me In 2011

Jay-Z & Kanye West -- "Watch The Throne"

Jonah Matranga -- "You're All Those Things And Then You're None (v1.0)"

Jonah Matranga -- "You're All Those Things And Then You're None (v2.0)"

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground -- "Introducing Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground"

Lemuria -- "Pebble"

Man Man -- "Life Fantastic"

Manchester Orchestra -- "Simple Math"

Maritime -- "Human Hearts"

Polar Bear Club -- "Clash Battle Guilt Pride"

[jblahmaster]

A couple i forgot:

Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Totem 3

Psychic Paramount - II

Oren Ambarchi, Keiji Haino, and Jim O'Rourke - In A Flash Everything Comes Together As One

[kimme]

Alpinist/Masakari Split

Radare - Hyrule

Beau Navire - Hours

Oathbreaker - Mælstrœm

Weekend Nachos - Worthless

This Will Destroy You - Tunnel Blanket

Deafheaven - Roads To Judah

Kidcrash - Naps.

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[plasma36]

@birdwell: It definitely took me about 4 or 5 listens through "Pebble" to enjoy it, and while I don't think it's nearly as good as "Get Better" it certainly has great songs on it.

[Guest markovianprocess]

1. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic

2. House Boat - Thorns of Life

3. Example - Playing In The Shadows

4. Laura Stevenson & The Cans - Sit Resist

5. Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong

6. Panda Bear - Tomboy

7. Gwilym Simcock - Good Days At Schloss Elmau

8. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam

9. Boris - New Album

10. Good Luck - Without Hesitation

Gwilym Simcock is an unbelievably good pianist. Watch the section at 1:35. I've never seen anyone do this with a piano.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6GbGhLGUy4&hl=en&fs=1

[Guest]

1. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic

2. House Boat - Thorns of Life

3. Example - Playing In The Shadows

4. Laura Stevenson & The Cans - Sit Resist

5. Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong

6. Panda Bear - Tomboy

7. Gwilym Simcock - Good Days At Schloss Elmau

8. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam

9. Boris - New Album

10. Good Luck - Without Hesitation

Backed on the Panda Bear and Boris. Night Birds, Big Eyes, Thee Oh Sees, The Underground Railroad To Candyland, City of Ships, and Young Widows all made killer records this year as well.

[birdwell]

@birdwell: It definitely took me about 4 or 5 listens through "Pebble" to enjoy it, and while I don't think it's nearly as good as "Get Better" it certainly has great songs on it.

I'm not the biggest fan of Lemuria in the first place, I don't hate 'em, but I don't love everything they've done either. There were just a few songs on Pebble that were just awful and ruined it for me, I made it all the way through more than a few times to give it a fare shot, and just didn't dig it as a record. Most people seem to enjoy it though, so, I feel my displeasure of the record isn't a mass opinion...I'm just not sure what people dug about it.

[Guest markovianprocess]

@birdwell: It definitely took me about 4 or 5 listens through "Pebble" to enjoy it, and while I don't think it's nearly as good as "Get Better" it certainly has great songs on it.

I'm not the biggest fan of Lemuria in the first place, I don't hate 'em, but I don't love everything they've done either. There were just a few songs on Pebble that were just awful and ruined it for me, I made it all the way through more than a few times to give it a fare shot, and just didn't dig it as a record. Most people seem to enjoy it though, so, I feel my displeasure of the record isn't a mass opinion...I'm just not sure what people dug about it.

They are such a hit and miss band. I love Get Better. Pebble has a few good songs. The majority of their material before Get Better has been rubbish. Their songs on the Cheap Girls split and the song Ozzy are great though.

[stongo]

Exhumed - All guts no glory

Ghoul - Transmission zero

Cannabis Corpse - Beneath the grow lights

[Guest markovianprocess]

Also, am I the only one that was a bit disappointed by the Night Birds album? It didn't really have a Prognosis Negative, Killer Waves, Thrilling Murder, Send Me Home... kind of stand-out track for me.

It's a good record, but I expected a few more 'hits'.

[Guest]

Also, am I the only one that was a bit disappointed by the Night Birds album? It didn't really have a Prognosis Negative, Killer Waves, Thrilling Murder, Send Me Home... kind of stand-out track for me.

It's a good record, but I expected a few more 'hits'.

I will admit I had really high expectations for the LP, especially after playing the demo and 7"s a ton. At first I was a little unsure of what to think, but after a few plays I really started to dig it more. Still a great record, especially considering a lot of the garbage that is being praised as "good" music nowadays.

But you're right, it didn't have the same initial impact as the early releases.

[youmightbewrong]

Balance & Composure - Separation

Pianos Become The Teeth - the Lack Long After

La Dispute - Wildlife

Young Statues - S/T

Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies

Banquets - Top Button, Bottom Shelf

Bayside - Killing Time

Fireworks - Gospel

I Am The Avalanche - Avalanche United

Joyce Manor - S/T

Touche Amore - Parting the Sea

Kevin Devine - Between the Concrete and Clouds

All Get Out - The Season

The Wonder Years - Suburbia

Living With Lions - Holy Shit

A Loss For Words - No Sanctuary

The Story So Far - Under Soil and Dirt

This Time Next Year - Drop Out Of Life

Animals As Leaders - Weightless

Transit - Listen and Forgive

Mixtapes - Maps & Companions

Sainthood Reps - Monoculture

Saves The Day - Daybreak

The Swellers - Good For Me

Thrice - Major/Minor

Great year for new music imho.

edit: almost forgot Mansions - Dig Up the Dead

[mclz]

BEST OF 2011 LIST

Full Lengths

1. Chuck Ragan – Covering Ground (SideOneDummy)

2. Swingin’ Utters - Here, Under Protest (Fat)

3. Nothington - Borrowed Time (Red Scare)

4. Dead To Me – Moscow Penny Ante (Fat)

5. Dan P. And The Bricks – Watch Where You Walk (Asian Man)

6. Banner Pilot - Heart Beats Pacific (Fat)

7. Dropkick Murphys - Going Out in Style (Born & Bred)

8. Brian McGee – The Taking Or The Leaving (Brian McGee Music)

9. I Am The Avalanche – Avalanche United (I Surrender)

10. Screeching Weasel – First World Manifesto (Fat)

EPs

1. Jimmy Cliff - Sacred Fire EP 12” (Collective Sounds)

2. The Old Firm Casuals – various 7” releases (Oi! The Boat / Randale)

3. Pulley – The Long And Short Of It (When’s Lunch)

4. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Sing In Japanese (Fat)

5. Old Man Markley – Party Shack 7” (Fat)

Comps/Collections/Re-Releases

1. Lagwagon – Putting Music In It’s Place Boxset (Fat)

2. Plow United - Sleepwalk: A Retrospective (Paper + Plastick)

3. V/A – Oi! This Is Streetpunk (Pirates Press)

4. The Suicide Machines/Rudiments – Skank For Brains 2xLP (Asbestos/UCR)

5. Against Me! – Total Clarity (Fat)

[beans]

LP’s-

1. Red City Radio- The Dangers of Standing Still

2. Heartsounds- Drifter

3. Defeater- Empty Days and Sleepless Nights

4. Samiam- Trips

5. The Copyrights- North Sentinel Island

6. Dead To Me- Moscow Penny Ante

7. Banner Pilot- Heart Beats Pacific

8. The Horrible Crowes- Elsie

9. Nothington- Borrowed Time

10. New Found Glory- Radiosurgery

11. Thrice- Major/Minor

12. Swinging Utters- Here, Under Protest

13. Touche Amore- Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me

14. Dan Andriano In The Emergency Room- Hurricane Season

15. Atlas Losing Grip- State of Unrest

16. Bomb The Music Industry!- Vacation

17. Polar Bear Club- Clash Battle Guilt Pride

18. Mastodon- The Hunter

19. The Slow Death- Born Ugly, Got Worse

20. Banquets- Top Button, Bottom Shelf

EP’s-

1. A Thousand Effigies- Old Habits Die Hard

2. Gallows- Death Is Birth

3. This Is a Standoff- Be Delighted

4. Teenage Bottlerocket- Mutilate Me

Best Album of Songs That Sound Even More Awesome Rerecorded-

1. Sick Of It All- Nonstop

[dreamover]

im going to give this a better shot:

washed out - life of leisure

I'm thinking you meant within & without?

[imaminorthreat]

I'm not the biggest fan of Lemuria in the first place, I don't hate 'em, but I don't love everything they've done either. There were just a few songs on Pebble that were just awful and ruined it for me, I made it all the way through more than a few times to give it a fare shot, and just didn't dig it as a record. Most people seem to enjoy it though, so, I feel my displeasure of the record isn't a mass opinion...I'm just not sure what people dug about it.

They are such a hit and miss band. I love Get Better. Pebble has a few good songs. The majority of their material before Get Better has been rubbish. Their songs on the Cheap Girls split and the song Ozzy are great though.

they're absolutely terrible live. i saw them and wanted to leave baaaadly... but stayed to keep my spot for the headliner. totally loathe that band.

[yancey47]

My album of the year: Vivian Girls - Share the Joy

Other tops of the pops:

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of light I

The Roots - Undun

R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

Boris - Heavy Rocks

Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High

Thee Oh Sees - Castlemania

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

[putol]

these are the albums I enjoyed the most this year (in no particular order)

Transit - Listen & Forgive

City & Colour - Little Hell

Balance & Composure - Separation

La Dispute - Wildlife

Basement - I Wish I Could Stay Here

The Wonder Years - Suburbia I´ve Given You All...

Thrice - Major/Minor

Touche Amore - Parting the Sea...

Thursday - No Devolución

[hoss]

Adding:

Dead to Me - Moscow Penne Ante

Banner Pilot - Heart Beats Pacific

[gutzonborglum]

Alright, here's my list so far. I'd have to say my favorite release was

Amateur Party - Truncheons in the Manor

Underground Railroad To Candyland - Knows Your Sins

Haley Bonar - Golder

The Gateway District - Perfect's Gonna Fail

Restorations - S/T

The Taxpayers - To Risk So Much For One Damn Meal

Bruce Peninsula - Open Flames

The Slow Death - Born Ugly, Got Worse

Red City Radio - Dangers of Standing Still

Banner Pilot - Heart Beats Pacific

Banquets - Top Button, Bottom Shelf

Sarah Krueger - Dancing With Phantoms

Dead Man Winter - Bright Lights

Josh Small - Juke

That's really all I can think of right now. Other albums that haven't had a chance to sink in with me are

Lee Corey Oswald - Moon Songs

Young Statues - S/T

Hospital Ships - Lonely Twin

[kidamnesiac]

My official list:

http://thewallpaperlife.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011.html