Hello everyone. Happy New Year!
So, I’m about to tell you my favourite singles and albums from 2011.
Here we go:
Top 10 Albums of 2011
Austra – Feel It Break
Hands down my favourite album of 2011. I’ve listened to it so many times and I’m still not bored. Every track is amazing and the album as a whole is very refreshing. There aren’t many artists out there with this sound at the moment. Katie Stelmanis’ powerful operatic vocals over rich gothic electro music makes for an incredible mix. One of my biggest disappointments of the year was not being able to see them play when they toured Europe.
Howler – This One’s Different (EP)
It’s probably cheating because it’s an EP, but I love every track on it and again they have such a unique, refreshing sound. Definitely looking forward to their debut album next year,hopefully they can live up to the hype of this EP.
Braids – Native Speaker
A hugely promising start from Braids. Lead singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston’s vocals are beautiful and dynamic throughout. To sum up the record in three words I’d go with: surreal, dreamy, haunting.
CSS – La Liberación
I was so glad to see CSS back on form this year, having been slightly disappointed with 2008 album Donkey. Full of catchy, pop-infused tracks, La Liberacion is great fun to listen to, but also combines some slightly more serious, sombre tracks such as ‘Echo of Love.’ I was also able to see them live. Lovefoxx was incredible as ever, and that gig definitely made it’s way into my top 5.
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
This record was as epic as Anthony Gonzalez had promised, both in quality of sound, and the sheer amount of tracks it included (74 minutes worth!). Though a double-album may seem a bit daunting to get though at first, Gonzalez made it easy. The record is dramatic, beautiful, and, well, epic. Let’s face it, Saturdays = Youth was always going to be a hard act to follow, but thankfully M83 didn’t disappoint.
Tegan and Sara – Get Along
‘Get Along’ is a live album consisting of songs spanning Tegan and Sara’s decade long career. This was one for the fans, and I’m sure each and every one loved it as much as I did. Played in front of an intimate audience, it includes a stripped down, acoustic selection of some of their most popular songs taken from their six album catalogue. Amazing stuff.
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
Following a quick rise to internet fame, Toronto based Abel Tesfaye was able to follow the hype and create a nocturnally-themed, chillwave infused, r&b record.
Chelsea Wolfe – Apokalypsis – A dark, gothic record filled with haunting vocals, Apokalypsis is powerful and original (once you get past the ‘interesting’ first track ‘Primal//Carnal’). Chelsea Wolfe is part of an interesting new sound that’s coming out of LA at the moment along with the likes of EMA and Zola Jesus (whose 2011 albums Past Life Martyred Saints and Conatus both narrowly missed out on making this list) and I’m really liking it.
Feist – Metals
Like The Reminder, Metals is a wonderfully soulful, and relaxing record. Leslie Feist’s vocals are as beautiful as ever, running over earthy, jazz-infused melodies.
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Of course Harvey’s Mercury award winning album had to make it onto the list. A critique of war, this album (her 10th!) is designed not only to be controversial, but to make the listener think. She continues to prove that she is one of the most talented singer songwriters to come out of Britain.
Top 10 Singles:
(In no particular order because it’s too hard!)
- ‘Man Down’ – Rihanna (Loud)
- ‘Divided’ – Tegan and Sara (Get Along)
- ‘Crying’ – Austra (Feel It Break – Deluxe Edition)
- ‘Hikikomori’ – Zola Jesus (Conatus)
- ‘Plath Heart’ – Braids (Native Speaker)
- ‘City Grrrl’ – CSS (La Liberacion)
- ‘Mer’ – Chelsea Wolfe (Apokalypsis)
- ‘Intro’ – M83 (Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming)
- ‘I Told You Once’ – Howler (This One’s Different EP)
- ‘Contrails’ – Astronautalis (This Is Our Science)
Favourite moment in music:
A Call For Change – http://www.teganandsara.com/news/a-call-for-change/ – Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara taking a stand against the misogyny and homophobia that exists within the music industry.
“It is not without great hesitation and hand wringing that I enter into the discourse about Tyler, the media who glorifies and excuses misogyny and homophobia, and the community of artists that doesn’t seem remotely bothered by it. I can only hope that someone reading this might be inspired to speak out. At the very least, I will know that my voice is on record.”
Come on, it’s 2012 now, hate speech still has a place in the music industry? Not only do I love Tegan and Sara’s music, but they are such amazing human beings too. If only everyone would take a stand for what is right. Can you imagine what would happen if some artist was making extremely racist records? Do you think they would win worldwide critical acclaim and prizes? So why then is Tyler, the Creator allowed to be so misogynistic and homophobic in his music, and on top of that be praised for it? You can make good music without being completely hateful and offensive. CHANGE PLEASE. Well said Sara Quin, you’re an idol.
feelalltheshades 