tisdag 27 Dec 2011, 17:04
Well what can I say. 2011 ended up being a good year in music. For the first time in a long time I has a hard time narrowing the list down to just 20 albums. Plus this year saw the release of same really awesome EP's so I had to put them on their own list. So lets get this started. This review will be in groups of ten but besides that no real order.
Josh Garrels - Love & War & The Sea In Between. There is not enough good I can say about this album. It will not show up on many best of charts this year as Josh is still indi but he gave this one away though you can leave a tip for him at noisetrade.com. Just an amazing album with great beats, smooth melodies and sweet hooks. Do yourself a favor and go download his album and you will not stop listening to it. It's acoustic rock with a beat but so much more.
The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow Probably the first really great album of 2011. The perfect blending of Joy and John Mark's voices is amazing as is the simplicity of their music. This is folk music at it's finest. Now some of you may be thinking they are a country act but at this point they are defiantly not. The two or so songs on the album that do lean old school country really are my least favorite but over all this album is near perfect in it's simplicity. The parts I don't care for as much are more a matter of taste than in their quality.
Switchfoot - Vice Verces. Ok enough with the acoustic stuff for a minute. This album will rock your face off. It is nothing short of well amazing. If you want to good rock album this is the album for you. It will get the blood flowing and the adrenaline pumping in no time flat. The song writing is top notch and the production is just right. It is all good. Also if you get the special edition you get the entire Hello Hurricane album recorded live. It's just awesome. Possibly the best Switchfoot album since The Beautiful Letdown.
MuteMath - Oddsoul. Keeping with the rock MuteMath is back with it's strange flavor the introduces their fans to a newer sounds and the same crazy licks. Taking notes from the Black Keys, MuteMath brings in a bit of a lowfi and sometimes bluesy sound among the crazy drum beat, and synth sounds. I dig this album but I must admit it may not be fore everyone. Still it is one of the more original and creative albums of the year.
Daniel Bashta - The Sounds of Daniel Bashta. I have been a fan of Daniel since I picked up his My Worship in Motion album of noisetrade.com. Most of those songs have been refined and rerecorded for this new album along with new material. If you like John Mark McMillan and the raw sounds coming from indi worship leaders this album is for you. It also helps that the hit song Like a Lion which Daniel wrote is also on this album.
Needtobreathe - The Reckoning Needtobreathe is back with a new album during a whirlwind year opening up for Taylor Swift. I was a bit concerned that they may have picked up a bit of a country sound after that tour. Happily I was wrong, they brought the rock. This is their most rocking album full of stadium anthems and great rift. Thankfully Needtobreathe's brand of southern rock is all their own. They are by no means a derivative of other bands or a copy of Third Day. This album really brings them forward as a talented group that should be around for years to come. For those fans of their softer stuff don't worry it's still there.
Daft Punk - Tron Legacy Reconfigured
Now for something completely left field. That's right a remix album of a soundtrack. The soundtrack to Tron Legacy was pretty good but many of the tracks just felt incomplete. This album fixes all that and adds large quantities of awesomeness. The list of artist remixing on this album include The Crystal Method, Moby, and Paul Oakenfold among several artist I had never heard of but did killer jobs on their remixes. This is by far on of my favorite remix albums of all time. Looking for some killer technoish stuff then this is for you.
Mat Kearney - Young Love This album is just fun. Mat Kearney is back with a new album and to the sound that got him noticed in the first place, his brand of acoustic hip/hop. The difference this time is he is happy and in a good mood. Not to say that some of the songs aren't serious but they have a bounce, a feel to them that makes you smile. Kearney who is newly married wrote many of the songs on this album about falling in love with his wife as well as stories of people he met while being a cab driver in Nashville, TN.
Gungor - Ghosts Upon the Earth Micheal Gungor and crew return with a new album that may redefine worship music as we know it. This experimental album not only has lyrics that worship God but music that brings you on a unique worship experience. This is also a concept album from Genesis to Revelation as well. This album just has to be heard to really be described. Needless to say if you like Gungor's previous work and enjoy ethereal, experimental music you need to listen to this.
The Black Keys - El Camino Over the last year I have become a big fan of The Black Keys. After hearing Brothers I eventually purchased all of their albums and they have been my go to group for music this year. So I was excited to hear they where putting out a new album so soon. They did not disappoint and yet they did. The album is good, don't get me wrong. It's got a great groove and should have several hits and more songs that you will hear in commercial over the next year. So how did they disappoint? It's just a small thing but the blues have really taken a back seat on this album where it sat prominently on their previous albums. Still this is a really good album and should be listened to.
So there are my top 10 albums for 2011 in no particular order. So now on to the next 10.
Amos Lee - Mission Bell So you may ask why I do a top 20 and not just a top 10. Because of album like this that are still amazing even if they didn't make the top 10. I was introduced to Amos Lee a little over a year ago by a friend and really enjoy is style of music which is a relaxing folkish smooth music. Lee delved into country music a bit on this album which is what probably kept it out of the top 10 and some of the country elements he chose to include are the ones I don't like. Still looking for something to chill our and relax to then this is for you.
Hillsong United - Aftermath Hillsong United is back with a rare studio album, and to be honest it is good but the energy felt on their live albums is missing. Still they try some new things and the fact you have several vocalist and song writers on the album being a freshness and creativity not heard much today. You will probably be singing some of these songs in church in the coming years.
Eisley - The Valley Eisley has had a ruff few years but they return with a new independent album and a more mature sound. The trials and errors of the past few years come through in their songs and while the music is cool and sometimes fun the lyrics can be dark but their is a light at the end.
Burlap to Cashmere - Burlap to Cashmere It's been close to 10 years since we last heard from these guys, but they are back. This album though sounds more like the lead singers solo work than their last album. Not that is a bad thing it is just not as energetic and more introspective. Still these guys are amazing musicians and taught Jar of Clay how to tour. It's still the B2C just a bit more relaxed.
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi - Rome Ok first of all there is no move called Rome that this is the soundtrack to, now that we have that cleared up this is a really cool album. It reminds me of some of the old Ennio Morricone soundtracks with a modern flair. Norah Jones and Jack White show up as well to provide vocals on a few tracks. If you want a great soundtrack you can makeup your own movie to this is it.
Viva Voce - The Future will Destroy You Husband and wife duo might bring to mind the White Stripes but with more structure. These guys can be just as crazy as those they get compared to but with a sound that is their own. This is just good rock nuff said.
Some Guy Named Rob - Up Seems So Down Rob is not a big national act touring all over the US. He is a family man in Arkansas writing and recording music and playing the local scene heavily. His newest album sees Rob explore various styles and continue to tell his stories. If you want something that is truly unlike anything on the radio check him out.
Leigh Nash - Hymns and Sacred Songs Leigh Nash who? You know the lead singer for Sixpence None the Richer. She has released her second full length solo album as the world waits for Sixpence to solve their label troubles again to release a new album. This album is hymns uses some unique arrangements and Leigh's unique and amazing voice to bring some classics back to life.
John Mark McMillan - Economy The guy that wrote How He Loves is back with a new album and more songs about faith and life. There is not a stand out single to drive the sails of this album just solid song writing and good musicianship.
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto To be honest this album wasn't even going to make the list. I had another album picked out but less listened to than this one. I guess I was leaving it off because it was going to make so many lists but then last night I saw them perform on Austin City Limits live for New Years Eve. Needless to say I have a new respect for the band and the songs from this album came to life. So I re-listened to this album and put it on the list. It really is good.
There you go the 20 best album I got in 2011. But wait there is more. 2011 really was the year of the awesome EP. Several good ones came out so here you go.
The Getaway Car - Ready - Set The Getaway Car is a outfit out of Boise ID that is making great pop rock. They are releasing a series of 3 ep's call Ready, Set, Go. Ready and Set both have released this year with Go, due early in 2012. These guys are making great music and will get you going on any day.
Sleeping at Last - Yearbook Ep's This year saw the completion of a very ambitious EP project by Sleeping at Last. Their goal was to release a 3 song ep every month over a years time. So this year we saw the release of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September. They are all good eps in their own right. Sure some songs are better than others but there is a consistency to the quality of the songs that had to be hard to maintain. If you are looking for some mellow ambient music check these ep's out.
All Sons and Daughters - Brokenness Aside EP No. 1 What if The Civil Wars made worship music? That is what you get with All Sons and Daughters. Now don't think this is just some group riding on coat tails. Both groups started about the same time. Beautiful harmonies and simple song writing make this worship group stand out above the rest. Look for more eps and maybe a full length LP this new year.
The Hawk in Paris - His + Hers Most people rushed out and bought this EP because Jars of Clay's lead singer Dan Haseltine is in the group. They where surprised by solid modern/80's synth pop and lyrics about love and love lost. No spiritual value here just a good clean outlet of creativity for members and former members of Jars of Clay.
Alright now I have told you all what is good take those gift cards you got for Christmas and go get it. Most of the above is available at iTunes and Amazon.com/mp3. Enjoy the music while we wait for the good music of 2012 to arrive. First up David Crowder Band's final ablum. Drool….. Happy New Year everyone.