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My Review of 2011 [albums #50-1; songs #100-1]
I did this last year and have begun writing the countdown over on my blog, so thought I might as well share it with you :spin2: I've expanded on last year's lists though: instead of 30 there'll be 50 albums, and instead of 50 there'll be 100 tracks.
Just my opinion, so if you've come here to troll then bugger off :] Albums: #50 "Into the Murky Water", The Leisure Society http://www.normanrecords.com/images/...4780_thumb.jpg It failed to set the world alight as much as their 2009 debut did, but there was still something beautiful about this band and their penchant for fully orchestrated folk songs. #49 "Suck it and See", The Arctic Monkeys http://covers.mp3million.com/0546437...0and%20See.jpg Despite an initial burst of enthusiasm from me, this album has largely dropped off the radar for me. Whether this is out of a fondness for their earlier material, a higher placing for Alex Turner's soundtrack on Submarine or just a whopping lack of tunes is irrelevant - this album wasn't without its charm. #48 "Mirrors", U.S. Royalty http://covers.mp3million.com/0556751...%20MIRRORS.jpg Bold, brash and rather bloody lovely. #47 "Go Tell Fire to the Mountain", WU LYF http://covers.mp3million.com/0553570...20Mountain.jpg The indie press might have raved about them like excitable lunatics, and it's certainly a decent album, but I can't really place it too highly here - again it's something I've loved for a brief period of time and feel little inclination to return to. #46 "Bread and Circuses", The View http://covers.mp3million.com/0540506...20Circuses.jpg I started the year loathing them and have ended it with a big deal of respect for this, their third album, which packed more tunes than most indie bands can cram into a debut. #45 "Born This Way", Lady GaGa http://images.kalahari.com/ann/all/l...9143471535.jpg I was slightly generous with my score of 8.5 for this back in May, but whilst it was easily a worse record than 'The Fame Monster', it had a solid selection of nonsense pop tunes that were just let down by some unoriginal ideas. #44 "The Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2", Beastie Boys http://monkeyboxing.com/wp-content/u...tee-Part-2.jpg One of only two reviews this year that's earned me death threats, but hey ho. The Boys had a triumphant return and, celebrity cameo videos aside, were on top form again. #43 "Burst Apart", The Antlers http://www.lyrics.as/images/album/th...Apart16312.jpg A genuinely atmospheric, dark and brooding album that tried its best to dampen my summer. #42 "El Camino", The Black Keys http://therecordexchange.com/wp-cont...-El-Camino.jpg I've yet to review this, but it boasts just as many solid tracks as last year's 'Brothers', which is slightly remarkable given the time that's passed. #41 "Wasting Light", Foo Fighters http://media.prefixmag.com/site_medi...0x1024_q85.jpg 'Walk' was my first choice of song for my iPod after stepping out of the house for a good fortnight or so, and this was their strongest album since One By One. |
The only one I've listened to is BTW :love:
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Claudia [2] :
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Wasting Light and Suck it and See :love:
I really should check out Beastie's new album |
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before you get disheartened by a low Gaga placing Smithy, you should note I've reviewed 144 albums this year so far :tongue:
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cocknbullkid will be #1
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Albums
#40 - "Holy Ghost!", Holy Ghost! http://static.gigwise.com/artists/Image/holyghost.jpg If you're going to buy just the one synthpop album from 2011 - this is very much one of the frontrunners. Listen to 'Do It Again' now. #39 - "Twist Again", Bodies of Water http://image.kazaa.com/images/62/656...st_Again_2.jpg I still much prefer the band's outings as 'Music Go Music' but if you're a little afraid of ABBA revivalism and fond of folky nostalgia, this won't disappoint. #38 - "House of Balloons", The Weeknd http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--VSJMcABGm...OfBalloons.jpg I didn't review this when it came out because it totally escaped me, but having downloaded it a couple of weeks ago I found it surprising, exciting and basically what Bon Iver might have been had they worked more with Kanye West. #37 - "Veliciraptor!", Kasabian http://filtermagazine.com/images/siz...OR-200x200.jpg It was totally daft but it's nice to see that at least one British mainstay has retained the ability to put out an album of original tunes *glares at Beady Eye* #36 - "Angles", The Strokes http://www.mp3crank.com/cover-album/...kes-Angles.jpg I really wanted to place this higher on accounts of its highlights, but a wobbly middle section was picked up upon by more reviewers than me - some brilliant songs though. #35 - "Rolling Blackouts", The Go! Team http://www.lyrics.as/images/album/th...kouts16195.jpg Energetic, vibrant, silly, catchy and wonderful. In that order. #34 - "4", Beyoncé http://images.artistdirect.com/Image...once_4_200.jpg It was no 'Sasha Fierce', but nothing has made me so joyfully flamboyant this year than 'Run the World (Girls)'. WHO RUN THIS MOTHA? #33 - "Nine Types of Light", TV on the Radio http://sputnikmusic.com/images/albums/73376.jpg Sadly accompanied by the death of bassist Gerard Smith, the alternative 00s gods put out a wonderfully eclectic album this year that was maybe a little too out-there for the critics. #32 - "Adulthood", CockNBullKid http://covers.mp3million.com/0573723...0Adulthood.jpg British popstars, and I mean pure popstars not Adele-powerhouses or Florence-weirdos, have been sadly lacking this year but one stands head and shoulders above the rest. #31 - "Build a Rocket, Boys!", Elbow https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9...lbow-build.jpg I don't care if they're boring, you try writing a song as blissfully beautiful as 'Lippy Kids'. |
Need the next 10 I only listened to BTW out of these too (and only know of Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters out the rest :laugh:)
Edit: I spoke too soon :tongue: |
I never got around to Rolling Blackouts, I might download that later.
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Have you listened to Section.80, Shaun? If there's one hip hop release this year that everybody needs to listen to, it'd be that.
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are you posting the full list tonight?
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I hope Rebecca Fergodson is in the top 10
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good god no (@ both of you)
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:laugh:
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Albums:
#30 - "Mirrorwriting", Jamie Woon http://covers.mp3million.com/0543034...rorwriting.jpg **** James Blake. This was the interesting post-dubstep solo album of early 2011. #29 - "The Big Roar", The Joy Formidable http://www.punknews.org/images/cover...e-big-roar.jpg It was just a refreshing surprise to see that Wales actually has good acts. Name me another one. Go on. #28 - "21", Adele http://static.gigwise.com/artists/Image/adele21.jpg The statistics speak for themselves. A few dud tracks but at its best it was painfully and resonantly emotional. #27 - "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds", Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds http://i43.tower.com/images/mm119142...-cover-art.jpg I know I worshipped the pants off of it in my review but an enduring love for the top 25 has put this in a surprisingly low position. #26 - "Submarine OST", Alex Turner http://files.musicmp3.ru/bcovers/alb55243.jpg The only soundtrack placing on my list, Submarine was a small but sweet collection of lovely songs culminating in the excellent Piledriver Waltz (which the full band sadly destroyed) #25 - "Anna Calvi", Anna Calvi http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov...17909uni67.jpg It must have been quite frustrating for a breakthrough artist so noticeably similar to PJ Harvey to release an album this year, but Calvi brought a tonne of 50s Western influences for one of the coolest records of the year. #24 - "On A Mission", Katy B http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqwjQc9MQ5...00/3289393.jpg I slightly underrated this upon its release because of a little scepticism for the UK garage genre - and I still maintain that it's 90% ****e - but Katy B has pretty much dominated my party playlists this year. #23 - "EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\", Glasvegas http://i43.tower.com/images/mm117267...-cover-art.jpg Another band that, prior to 2011, I loathed (mostly on account of lead James Allan's conduct in interviews and press appearances) but their second release was a deliciously dark and rich wall of emotion that was impossible to avoid. #22 - "Wounded Rhymes", Lykke Li http://images.artistdirect.com/Image..._lykke_200.jpg The only non-Brit in this segment, Lykke's debut back in 2008 failed to impress - but the classic rock-n-roll songwriting here helped reign in her passionate energy into something much more intriguing and attention-grabbing. #21 - "A Creature I Don't Know", Laura Marling http://cdn.recordshopx.com/cover/normal/2/28/286669.jpg I'm beginning to think that Marling could record an album whilst sat on the toilet so long as her beautiful Joni Mitchellesque chords and vocals are present, and I'd love it. |
You have very eclectic taste Shaun. Oooh, big word for a Monday afternoon :D
My fave is Gaga out of all these so far. |
Number 38 :worship:
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Anna & Lykke <3.
I agree with your thoughts on Angles. |
Elbow are not boring and will never be boring, simply inspiring and uplifting. Pleased you have it so high <3.
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David Guetta, LMFAO & Cher Lloyd are so gonna be top 3 I can feel it.
-doesn't read your reviews a lot or anything- |
don't forget kelly rowland :@
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Oh **** how could I forget. :o
"Artwork Watch: Blue tints are never a good sign. Ewww x 100." :lovedup: x 100. I love that comment so much. :love: |
katy b :worship:
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Albums:
#20 - "A Different Kind of Fix", Bombay Bicycle Club http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ind_of_fix.jpg This was the year they progressed past the point of a one-hit-wonder in my mind (Always Like This) and this record possesses a great number of hooks and tunes. #19 - "Dye It Blonde", Smith Westerns http://i43.tower.com/images/mm117165...-cover-art.jpg Richly influenced by David Bowie, T. Rex and, more recently, Suede, it's naturally packed to the brim with a heap of glamrock goodness. #18 - "Zonoscope", Cut Copy http://product.nuji.com/small/abce6c...dd570f56ca.jpg Amazing tune after amazing tune. Along with Metronomy they've seen multiple tracks end up on my going-out playlist, and kickstarted summer that little bit earlier. #17 - "Cults", Cults http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UTNy6CJolq...lbum-cover.jpg I instantly fell in love with the pair once I heard 'Abducted', and that was just one of a selection of infectious, retro pop songs. #16 - "Smother", Wild Beasts http://i43.tower.com/images/mm117288...-cover-art.jpg I missed their first two albums entirely and have still yet to investigate them, but this stood out this year for me because of its intimacy, great songwriting and some excellent vocals (if you like Antony and the Johnsons, you'll like this). #15 - "Lupercalia", Patrick Wolf http://i43.tower.com/images/mm117292...-cover-art.jpg I'd always regarded Wolf as a pretentious outrovert that was all style, no substance, but this year's record totally turned that on its head. A beautiful, romantic album that's just laced with ecstacy and has soundtracked the recovery from a personal hell this year. #14 - "The Golden Age of Apocalypse", Thundercat http://image.allmusic.com/13/amg/cov...28817pxpj0.jpg I started the year hoping for another Janelle Monae and this was as good as I got - not to say I was disappointed. A dazzling and fascinating merge of classic jazz/R&B and futuristic landscapes that really grew on me. #13 - "Skying", The Horrors http://www.mobilechilli.com/images/b.../K/1237168.gif Listening to this is one of the closest experiences you might get to flying - just staggeringly epic and imaginative. #12 - "Yuck", Yuck http://img.mp3mixx.com/images/covers...666698_big.jpg Almost every song here has ebbed away at my subconscious at some point this year and they really should've got more attention. Excellent, excellent songwriting. #11 - "Within and Without", Washed Out http://www.lyrics.as/images/album/th...thout16474.jpg Probably the sexiest album of the year (and not just because of the sleeve), it's an intoxicating record that resparked a very-much-dead love for synthpop. |
Has listened to #45, #34, and #28 :D
Shaun is JLO's On The Floor going to be #1 in the singles list xoxo (Joke!) |
I've heard Born This Way, Adulthood, Within and Without, 21, Katy On A Mission & 4 from them. I'm going to listen to the whole Top 10 though. :)
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Albums: #10 - "Gloss Drop", Battles http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/art...sGlossDrop.jpg Genuinely one of the most fun records I've heard all year - dizzyingly energetic and full of weird grunts and guest appearances that all mash together to make one gooey, unusual mess (mess can be a good thing, right?) And as usual the drumming is superb. #9 - "Conatus", Zola Jesus http://www.thedwarf.com.au/var/plain...esus_album.jpg For someone to release an album every year is quite admirable, but for them to improve in quality is quite unexpected: her previous two releases, as well as the majority of her extra singles and EPs, have often treaded too close on the line between art and boredom, but Conatus reigns in the hazy edges and polishes them into excellent, beautiful songs. #8 - "Biophilia", Björk http://cdn.pastemagazine.com/www/art...smart_q85.jpeg In a year where I fell more and more in love with her, this seemed to polarise critics. I'm firmly in the fan camp, though, and Biophilia's thematic backstories and cohesive sense of minimalism made this a really gentle but fascinating experiment. #7 - "The English Riviera", Metronomy http://www.metronomy.co.uk/wp-conten...re-300x300.jpg Maybe there's a little bit of hometown bias in my placing of this album so high, but in all honesty can you blame me when it paints Torquay as some kind of tropical idyll? I've lived there 21 years, I can tell you it isn't, but at the same time the sunkissed bliss of this album made me think twice about that. #6 - "Watch the Throne", The Throne http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/8045...rone-cover.jpg It's unlikely you'll see so much bragging and arrogant boasts on album again quite like this - choice quotes being "Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy laid beats" and "I guess I'm getting high on my own supply" - but lately it's like Kanye can't do anything wrong by me. Tune after tune after tune but some heartfelt sentiment ('New Day' finds the pair hoping for the best for their future children) made this more than an ego boost. #5 - "Helplessness Blues", Fleet Foxes http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg It might not have strayed too far from the blueprint to their debut self-titled album, but this somehow excelled it. Mellow, poignant and opulent, it's like stepping into another world. #4 - "50 Words for Snow", Kate Bush http://www.clashmusic.com/files/imag...s-for-snow.jpg Speaking of stepping into fantastic worlds, there's still noone as richly descriptive and simply beautiful as the undisputed goddess of music, Kate Bush. At first glimpse the long track lengths might put you off, but with a little patience the rewards are almost spiritual. Even the descent of a 'Snowflake' is poised with angelic vocals and sombre gentility - and this is perhaps my favourite Kate record since Hounds of Love. #3 - "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming", M83 http://onethirtybpm.com/wp-content/u...NG-300x300.jpg An endearing, exciting and innocently conceptual album, this touches virtually every aspect of nostalgia and emotion through the means of some brilliant, brilliant pop songs. #2 - "Bon Iver", Bon Iver http://planetill.com/wp-content/uplo...lbum-cover.jpg Another act that it took me time to get into, Bon Iver's follow-up to the highly revered For Emma, Forever Ago far exceeded their debut in my opinion. The vocals are divine, the far-away romantic instrumentals shine beautifully and the emotion is heartbreaking. #1 - "Let England Shake", PJ Harvey http://17seconds.co.uk/blog/wp-conte...land-shake.jpg This has been predictably anticipated as the #1 of many many lists and that's not to be taken for granted: the sheer power and overwhelming bleakness this record paints of modern England is undeniable. You'd have to be made of stone not to get shaken a little by this, and as usual Harvey's careful yet exuberant arrangements and unusual means of getting her message across continue to bewitch me, and pretty much the rest of the music world. |
I've heard #3 :amazed:
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I've yet to get into 50 Words For Snow. I don't think I have the patience for it.
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Heard 3 & 2. Bon Iver. :worship:
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some kate fan you are dean :hmph:
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I actually like the #1 album so far, on track 4. :amazed:
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I thought you didn't like The Dreaming, dean :suspect:
but yah atm I'd say The Kick Inside > Hounds of Love > 50 Words > Sensual World > Never For Ever > Dreaming > Aerial > Lionheart > Red Shoes |
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Hounds Of Love> The Kick Inside> Sensual World> Lionheart> Red Shoes> Never For Ever> Aerial> Dreaming. I've yet to listen to Snow properly yet so I won't rate it just yet. |
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