30 Dec 11
As you get older, you get more set in your ways and it’s hard to keep up, seek out and absorb new music and much easier to just flip on Pandora (or the radio, if you’re 100), and just go with the flow. Keeping up with your favorites is easy but generally your favorites tend to disappoint just an album or two after they’re anointed with the distinction. Albums by The Strokes and Radiohead fell short this year which left room for some discoveries. The music I listened to most in 2011 was a mix of my favorite bands (Okkervil River, Handsome Furs), newer artists (Smith Westerns, Lykke Li), bands I’d already written off (Fountains of Wayne, Wilco) and a few artists that had been around for decades but had never clicked with me until now (PJ Harvey, Stephen Malkmus).
1. Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
Favorite Tracks: Piratess, Rider, Wake And Be Fine
2. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Favorite Tracks: Let England Shake, The Last Living Rose, The Words That Maketh Murder
3. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde
Favorite Tracks: Weekend, Imagine Pt. 3, Dye The World
4. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
Favorite Tracks: I Follow Rivers, Unrequited Love, Get Some
5. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Favorite Tracks: My Ma, Vomit, Jamie Marie
6. Stephen Malkmus - Mirror Traffic
Favorite Tracks: Tigers, Stick Figures In Love, Long Hard Book
7. The Black Keys - El Camino
Favorite Tracks: Lonely Boy, Dead And Gone, Run Right Back
8. Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes
Favorite Tracks: The Summer Place, Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart, Cemetery Guns
9. The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong
Favorite Tracks: Belong, Heavens Gonna Happen Now, Heart In Your Heartbreak
10. Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital
Favorite Tracks: Memories Of The Future, Repatriated, No Feelings
Notable: Alex Turner, Beirut, Bon Iver, Cults, Drive Soundtrack,Fleet Foxes,Radiohead, The Strokes,TV On The Radio, Wilco.
music
listomania
okkervil river
pj harvey
smith westerns
stephen malkmus
lykke li
girls
drive
wilco
fountains of wayne
pains of being pure at heart
handsome furs
tv on the radio
fleet foxes
bon iver
28 Jun 11
13 Apr 11
1 Apr 11
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
I was kinda late getting into TV On The Radio but fell in love immediately with their last album “Dear Science” and went back to rediscover the whole catalog. They were also amazing live when I saw them during the summer of ‘09 so I’m very much looking forward to seeing them again at Radio City in a couple weeks (especially since I somehow managed to get front row tickets, how did this happen?) Their new album “Nine Types Of Light” (out April 12) is definitely a more mellow affair.
Recorded in LA instead of Brooklyn the LP finds the band in more relaxed almost ballad mode. This mellower direction may disappoint some fans (first single “Will Do” was quickly followed up with the more upbeat album closer “Caffeinated Consciousness”) but after a few listens to the whole thing songs you might have not thought much about start distinguishing themselves as being really good. Like the first track “Second Song” which I completely missed at first and now it’s probably my favorite.
music
mp3
tv on the radio
12 Aug 09
8 Jun 09
31 Dec 08
1. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
favorite tracks: Play Your Part (Pt. 1), Shut The Club Down, Play Your Part (Pt. 2)
2. TV On The Radio - Dear, Science
favorite tracks: Dancing Choose, Family Tree, Love Dog
3. The Walkmen - You & Me
favorite tracks: Seven Years of Holidays (for Stretch), Four Provinces, I Lost You
4. Kanye West - 808’s & Heartbreak
favorite tracks: Amazing, Paranoid, Coldest Winter
5. Nada Surf - Lucky
favorite tracks: See These Bones, Are You Lightning?, Ice On The Wing
6. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
favorite tracks: Today’s Lesson, Albert Goes West, Lie Down Here (And Be My Girl)
7. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
favorite tracks: Soldier’s Grin, Language City, Fine Young Cannibals
8. Okkervil River - The Stand-In’s
favorite tracks: Lost Coastlines, Blue Tulip, Calling And Not Calling My Ex
9. Jay Reatard - Matador Singles ‘08
favorite tracks: See Saw, Screaming Hand, You Mean Nothing To Me
10. Beck - Modern Guilt
favorite tracks: Orphans, Gamma Ray, Profanity Prayers
11. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
favorite tracks: Oxford Comma, M79, I Stand Corrected
12. Port O’Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing
favorite tracks: I Woke Up Today, Stuck On A Boat, Fisherman’s Son
13. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
favorite tracks: Lost!, Lovers In Japan / Reign Of Love, Death And All His Friends
14. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
favorite tracks: Constructive Summer, Stay Positive, Slapped Actress
15. Deerhunter - Microcastle
favorite tracks: Never Stops, Little Kids, Nothing Ever Happened
listomania
girl talk
tv on the radio
the walkmen
kanye west
nada surf
nick cave
wolf parade
okkervil river
jay reatard
beck
vampire weekend
port o brien
coldplay
hold steady
deerhunter
