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Best albums of 2011

Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 3:54 pm
by philipgar
The year is rapidly winding down, which brings us to a million end of year lists. I haven't compiled one myself just yet, but figured I'd see if anyone else has yet.

Up until this week, I had the jayhawks mockingbird time at the top of my list... but Micah Schnabel's new album is technically a 2011 release, and I think that one will end up on top. Everything that guy does is brilliant. I'm also waiting for Shane Sweeny's new album to show up on my door, as I'm sure that's got some gems.... So hard to make up a list, I'll try later when I'm at home.

Phil

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:56 pm
by rockinbrian
1.Ledisi - Pieces of Me is it Revolutionary? Groundbreaking? No. But I found myself listening to this album over and over without becoming bored.
2.Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy ~ Kanye/Jay Z Watch the Throne While Kanye's album is technically a 2010 album released 11/22/2010 I did not really absorb it till this year. Prog/Rap Masterpieces. When I needed energy these are the albums I turned too.
3. Butch Walker and the Black Widows -Spade A near perfect slice of pop rock
4. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light Was glad to see them turn it up to 11. One band who I have not seen live that I really want to see.
5. The Original 7ven (The Time) -Condensate Prince may have taken back their name but I think he is wishing he could put out an album this good.

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:37 pm
by better late
"Playlist: The Very Best of Soul Asylum" :)

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:36 pm
by Sometime to Return
I'd say 2011 has been a pretty good year; it could have be better though... :shock:

My favorites this year…
Bad as me – Tom Waits
The whole love – Wilco
Outside- Tapes –n- Tapes
Beyond magnetic- Metallica
Paper airplane- Alison Krauss
Damn this town- John Hiatt
Family sign – Atmosphere
Collapse into now – REM
Blessed- Lucinda Williams
Modern art- Matthew Sweet

Non favorites…
Hard times and nursery rhymes- Social Distortion
Suck it and see – Arctic monkeys
Join us- They might be giants
Lulu- Metallica/ Lou Reed; to say it’s terrible is an understatement. Its awful
_________________________________________________________________________________
Haven’t picked up…
One man mutiny- Tommy Stinson

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:03 pm
by zany
gosh i am sooooo far behind on listening to music the last year....it's pathetic.

BUT i accidentally found the receipt for Mockingbird Time today.... so i know i'm getting it for christmas! (shh don't tell my husband - he says i always ruin surprises. but i swear i wasn't snooping!)

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:28 pm
by philipgar
I suppose it's my turn to make an actual attempt at posting about this. My musical year has been interesting. I purchased far fewer albums than normal due to funding issues, although I mostly corrected that after I started working in August. However, turntable.fm has really changed how I listen to music, and now I find myself not listening to the new CDs I buy nearly as much. I need to fix that, having days set aside for only listening to music I own. Anyhow, here's an attempt at a list

1. Micah Schnabel - I'm Dead, serious - this is a late runner to the list, as I just got it last week. Micah (the lead singer from two cow garage) does not disappoint. The songs are catchy, and the lyrics are so amazingly been there, oh god do I understand etc. Just an amazing album. No offense to soul asylum, but in the past year or two, my love of two cow garage and everything related has grown tremendously.... To the point now that if I had a choice between seeing an SA show, and a two cow garage show, I'd have a hell of a hard time deciding which to go to.
2. The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time - The reunited Jayhawks put out a tremendous effort this year. So wonderful to see them back together, and the new album was an instant classic. It's hard for any band to put out an album as good as this one.
3. The Old 97's - Grand Theater volume 2 - Better than the first grand theater, which itself was a great album, this album stands strong alongside too far to care. The song I'm a Trainwreck is one of my favorites.
4. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest - Jason's best album to date. Far better than the truckers output the last few years. A solid album, however the song coedine is one of those that should have been a hit everywhere. Possibly the best track I've heard this year.
5. John Hiatt - Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns - Hiatt never disappoints, but I'd put this as some of his best work since Master of Disaster. Great songs, great singing, just well worth listening to .
5. Jeremy Porter and the Tucos - Night on the Town - this is more of a single than anything, but great songs. I met jeremy from the man without ties board, and really dug all of his music. This single is well worth checking out, I think its available for free from his website.
6. North Mississippi Allstars - Keys to the Kingdom - Everything the allstars do is gold. This album is just fun to listen to. If you like blues rock, you need to check these guys out.
7. Glossary - Long Live All of Us - These boys from Tennessee do not disappoint. I'm still waiting for my vinyl to arrive, but the download code I got for the album is great. Wonderful songs, that fit right in with them. I saw many of these songs live a few weeks ago in little rock (along with two cow garage and slobberbone), and they were great live.

Unranked Albums - these are albums I like, they're enjoyable, but I haven't really developed an opinion of them yet, and don't know where to put them yet. These are all relatively good albums, but I don't think I'd put them as examples of the artists best works. Hopefully by this time next year I'll know how to rank them better.

Tommy Stinson - One Man Mutiny
Steve Earle - I'll never get out of this world alive
Lucinda Williams - Blessed
Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire

Waiting to listen to
Shane Sweeney - The Finding Time -Shane is two cow garage's bass player, and I'm still waiting for my vinyl to arrive. it shipped the other day. everything I've heard from it is great, and what I saw live was awesome. Cant wait to spin this one.
Deer Tick - - I've heard a lot of good things about these guys, need to check them out
Ghost Shirt - Daniel - I've been meaning to check these guys out.. I think they have two albums out now
Vulture Whale - Long Time Listener First Time Caller - I've heard these guys on turntable and they are awesome. I really need to get their stuff!

Album i wish I could like
Wilco - The Whole Love - I want to like this, but I just can barely listen to it. I've listened to it 4 or 5 times and it seems to drag on to me. Just nothing that sticks. The best track from the deluxe edition I have is Nick Lowe's Love My Label, which is a great tune.

I'm sure there will be more albums thrown into all the categories later, but here's the best attempt I could make at a list for now.

Phil

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:00 pm
by mystic_spiral_3
My favorites from 2011:

The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time
REM - Collapse into Now
Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire
Old 97s - Grand Theater Vol. 2
Weird Al - Alpocalypse
Eddie Vedder - Ukulele Songs
Soundtrack to the Muppets Movie :oops:

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:15 am
by erocmann
Here are my favorites from 2011:

Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Megadeth - Th1rt3en
Soul Asylum - Promises Broken Japanese Single (Hey, I just bought it and there are 3 songs I'd never heard before, so it's new to me!)

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 3:50 pm
by TravisSaves
Anyone else a fan of Steel Panther? Their newest CD, Balls Out, is definitely #1 on my Top 10 albums list of 2011!

If you're not familiar with them, they're a comedy-ish band who plays music in the vein of 80's hair metal. When I saw them live, I was half in awe at how phenomenal they are as musicians and the other half of the time I was laughing hysterically.

Here's proof:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84bIV_NJAFU[/youtube]

Re: Best albums of 2011

Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:59 am
by Beauchamp
I love the Bon Iver's album Emma. The best album by Bon Iver is For Emma, Forever Ago which is ranked number 103 in the overall greatest album chart with a total rank score of 9,601.