Best Music of 2011

[Jeremy Blackman]

Anyone have a list yet?

We apparently didn't even have a So Far This Year 2011 thread.

I could definitely use some recommendations. Not entirely happy with what I've heard this year, even after considerable searching.

[O.]

What kind of music are you looking for? I've got a few I could recommend, but the spectrum is enormous.

[Alexandro]

tom waits - bad as me (rock for lonely bars and souls)
cities aviv - digital lows (hip hop)
primus - green naugahyde (rock)
ema - past life... (grunge rock something)
gang gang dance -eye contact (extraterrestial contact)
girls - father, son, holy ghost (hipster shit)
m83 - hurry up, we're dreaming (ditto)
shabazz palaces - black up (hip hop experimental)
st. vincent - strange mercy (girly cool rock)
stephen malkmus - mirror traffic (jam rock)
unknown mortal orchestra (hipster stuff)
tune yards - whokill (everything)

[Jeremy Blackman]

What kind of music are you looking for? I've got a few I could recommend, but the spectrum is enormous.

I didn't mean to turn this into my own personal recommendation thread, but it would definitely be appreciated. I've been disappointed by so much this year, and it's really getting to me. I'm not so much into what's been appearing in the critical consensus... most of it is either boring or annoying. So far I've loved only 3-4 records this year, which is not normal. Seriously, my top 6 from 2009 would usurp everything I've heard this year.

Okay, to answer your question, generally I put a lot of value in skillful/inventive/melodic songwriting and interesting sounds. Usually not a fan of metal, hip-hop, folk, or lo-fi.

But it's probably better to look at my lists from the last 2 years:

2010
2009

[mogwai]

[Jeremy Blackman]

I started listening to that a few days ago, actually! It's kind of plain for a Mogwai album, but I like it so far.

[squints]

best songs/videos of the fucking year:


Grimes - "Vanessa"

M83 - "Midnight City"

Azealia Banks - "212"

[Jeremy Blackman]

M83 - "Midnight City"

Definitely... I absolutely love that song. Disappointed with the rest of the album, but I can't complain. It's a bit derivative of Yeasayer, but in a completely forgivable way.

[squints]

Yeah i agree the whole album's not really up to par but that song is great. Been trying to think of whole ALBUMS that I really liked this year and not too many are coming to mind. Its gonna take me a sec to put together a good list.

And BTW, M83 have been around about half a decade longer than Yeasayer, so if anyone's being derivative, it's Yeasayer.

[Jeremy Blackman]

And BTW, M83 have been around about half a decade longer than Yeasayer, so if anyone's being derivative, it's Yeasayer.

Sorry that's not what I meant... I'm talking about "Midnight City" in particular. The toms and the background vocals/yelps are straight out of Odd Blood. But not in a bad way.

[O.]

good ol rock, album "el camino"

[Reel]

good ol rock, album "el camino"

is my favorite song on the album. I love that riff.

[malkovich]

anyone?

[tpfkabi]

Here's what I bought - all albums from artists that I'd bought previous work from:

Adams, Ryan - Ashes & Fire
Atlas Sound - Parallax
Bazan, David - Strange Negotiations
Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
Bjork - Biophilia
Black Keys, The - El Camino
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Bright Eyes - The People's Key
Cake - Showroom of Compassion
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Death Cab For Cutie - Codes & Keys
Decemberists, The - The King is Dead
Deerhoof vs. Evil
Destroyer - Kaputt
Eisley - The Valley
Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!
Elected, The - Bury Me in My Rings
Feist - Metals
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Friedberger, Eleanor - Last Summer
Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital
Harvey, P.J. - Let England Shake
Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean
Low - C'Mon
Moonface - Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped
My Morning Jacket - Circuital
Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
Panda Bear - Tomboy
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Real Estate - Days
R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Mirror Traffic
Strokes, The - Angles
TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light
Wilco - The Whole Love

Now looking over Best Of lists, and other various it seems these are ones I am interested to hear:
oneohtrix point never - replica (showed up on a lot of artist's lists - actually have streamed this and enjoyed it)
kurt vile (showed up on a lot of artist's lists)
cass mccombs (both Christopher Owens of Girls and Jenny Lewis said this was their fav)
youth lagoon
those darlins (actually learned about a new artist via a video on mtvU)
neon indian (enjoyed their Fallon appearance)
antlers
dodos
metronomy
shabazz palaces
watch the throne
pistol annies
battles

[diggler]

anyone?

This music video alone puts it in my top ten: