Thursday, December 15, 2011

Favorite Albums of 2011

So much great music came into my life this year, including a number of kick ass albums! They are the albums that I have played on repeat in obsessive ways, or forced upon my loved ones, readers and strangers on the street screaming, “Seriously, you HAVE to be listening to this!”

To be clear, this is not a ‘best of’ list. I am in no way qualified to determine what has been better or worse than others. Bon Iver seriously doesn’t do it for me no matter how many times I have played his pre-pubescent voiced album, but apparently he’s fantastic. No, this is a list of my favorite albums. These are albums that in 2011 I fell deeply, madly, hopelessly in love with. Interestingly, the majority of my favorite albums are freshman albums. They are in no particular order. 

Torches: Foster The People


Torches has been a serious addiction this year. I even met one of the boys while listening to their album on my ipod. Foster The People have a captivating sound, danceable melodies, strange and poetic lyrics, and completely weird music videos. Their stories range from the socially controversial “Pumped Up Kicks” to the sentimental, “Waste.” It is a dynamic, rich, fun, upbeat, kick ass album from start to finish. I am anxiously anticipating their sophomore album and what the boys will come up with next. In the meantime, I’m still waiting for them to choreograph their entire next music video (Warrant, please!) with Mark Foster’s shouldery dance moves. I think it would be brilliant!





21: Adele


Seriously, have you listened to it? The girl is unreal! I have openly wept at least twice while listening to her perform songs off of this heart wrenching album. Adele's crossover into Top 40 has been a breath of fresh air to those stations and a testament to how brilliant she is. She took writing about heartache to a whole new beautiful level and I can't stop belting her out while driving in my car, or just about anywhere. 




In Light: Givers


In Light is a whimsical dance party by Givers. I love the quirky, rich, and percussion-heavy instrumentals. The percussion often adds a tribal celebratory feel, especially in songs like “Saw You First” and “Up Up Up”. Taylor and Tiffany belt out soulful harmonies and it is easy to hear their giddy smiles through my speakers. Aptly named, this album is about light and I dare you not to actually start bouncing with delight when you hear "Up Up Up"! In fact, I will take this opportunity to apologize to my downstairs neighbor as every listen (and there have been oh so many!) has usually erupted in crazed, euphoric dancing. 






Pickin Up The Pieces: Fitz And The Tantrums


Pickin Up The Pieces is a modern, retro, pop album that makes me want to dress up in sequence and heels and go dancing somewhere hip and glamourous. The wail of the organ and the jazzy sound of the saxophone blend with Fitz and Noelle‘s harmonies, creating a rich, soulful groove. Fitz and the Tantrums are all kinds of fun and so is this album.




Nothing is Wrong: Dawes


There really is nothing wrong with this Dawes album, and if push came to shove I would have to choose this as my absolute number one favorite album of the year because it is just so damn good. While so many albums on my list I love for the dance parties that usually erupt while listening to them, Nothing Is Wrong strikes at a much different place. Taylor Goldsmith is a poet and a brilliant songwriter. I get something new out of his lyrics with every listen and his melodies are their perfect complements. (the video is grainy, but it's my favorite song off the album and I had to share)





The Head And The Heart: The Head And The Heart


This self-titled album by The Head And The Heart has a beautiful folk sound, rich in harmonies and undertones of melancholy. Many of the songs start simply and build up in emotional and beautifully instrumental ways. This album is music that fills me up to the very core and songs like, “Down In The Valley” make me homesick for a place I’ve never even been to. This is a band I am eager to see grow and mature.




Portraits: Wheeler Brothers


Representing Austin on this list, Wheeler Brothers are definitely a favorite this year. Portraits is a well rounded folk-rock album with Texas rock inspirations. Like so many of the albums I have loved this year, this is their first LP, but with an incredibly mature and cohesive sound. You may not have heard of them yet, but you will. 




What were your favorite albums this year?

4 comments:

  1. Manchester Orchestra, Wye Oak, War On Drugs, Fucked Up,

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  2. I love War on Drug and Wye Oak too!

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  3. Great list. Just gave them all a listen at the rental shop today. I enjoyed the flashback of where/when I first heard the different albums

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  4. I am so happy with Adele's victory in the Grammys. i think she deserve every single award she has received. She's on my top 5 best all time favorite singers. Every performances she does is soul-stirring. She knows how to pierce my heart.

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