Looking back on everything that came out last year made it that much more apparent that 2011 will solidify itself as one of the best years for music in the past decade. Electronic artists finally putting out full albums made this list an all around keeper. Takes me back to 2007 when Justice, Soulwax, Boys Noize and others set the bar for solid electronic albums. Here are the picks for best of 2011. Happy new year everyone!
CONTRO11 ALT DELIGHT
It’s been an interesting 52 weeks. As we wind down towards the end of the world, we’ve seen the music industry evolve at a faster rate than ever. Collaborations coming from every which direction, electronic music infiltrating every aspect of our lives, and artists giving away music for free like they’re on the Venice boardwalk. The best part of all the competition and lack of record label influence on releases is the amount of shit that’s coming out now. You can’t go more than a week without grabbing a mixtape/EP/album that you’ve been waiting to listen to. I love it. Since we’re not doing “Worst of” lists, I’m just gonna throw it out there that Tha Carter IV was the worst album of the year. I’m not a big numbers guy, so here are the best albums/EPs/mixtapes I think 2011 produced. If you don’t agree with my opinion tell me why! I wanna hear what I should’ve been listening to this past year.
(more…)
FULL POST
It’s been an interesting 52 weeks. As we wind down towards the end of the world, we’ve seen the music industry evolve at a faster rate than ever. Collaborations coming from every which direction, electronic music infiltrating every aspect of our lives, and artists giving away music for free like they’re on the Venice boardwalk. The best part of all the competition and lack of record label influence on releases is the amount of shit that’s coming out now. You can’t go more than a week without grabbing a mixtape/EP/album that you’ve been waiting to listen to. I love it. Since we’re not doing “Worst of” lists, I’m just gonna throw it out there that Tha Carter IV was the worst album of the year. I’m not a big numbers guy, so here are the best albums/EPs/mixtapes I think 2011 produced. If you don’t agree with my opinion tell me why! I wanna hear what I should’ve been listening to this past year.
(more…)
FULL POST
EPs (extended play) were in steady flow this year. They’ve been more common for DJs trying to find their niche in different subgenres, but that didn’t keep indie/rock artists teasing us with little samplers before releasing an album. Given the success of these EPs, it’s safe to say we can expect bigger things from these cats in 2012:
2011 has been a memorable year to say the least. These are exciting times in the music realm (if you can forget that Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj exist for a moment). It seems more than ever that as far as music is concerned, anything goes. This year saw the release of some amazing follow-up albums. Albums like Starfucker’s Reptilians (which happens to be my #1 album of the year), The Black Keys’ El Camino, Portugal. The Man’s In the Mountain In the Cloud and Arctic Monkeys’ Suck It and See quickly nudged their ways into my “favorite albums of all time” list. I obsessed over indie-rock newbies Cults and Yuck and the Vaccines. On the more experimental side of town, dream-pop outfits like Porcelain Raft and Purity Ring dominated by their own right. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of the likes in 2012. Anywho, I have compiled my most played indie/rock/indie-rock jamz from the past year. Check ’em out.
Top Indie/Alternative Tracks of 2011
15. Junk of the Heart (Happy) by The Kooks
14. Shook Down by Yuck
13. Take Me Over by Cut Copy
12. Gangsta by tUnE-yArDs
11. Machu Picchu by The Strokes
10. Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now) by Portugal. The Man
9. Honey Bunny by Girls
8. I Can’t Feel It by Ty Segall
7. Sister by The Black Keys
6. All Die Young by Smith Westerns
5. Stuck On the Puzzle by Alex Turner
4. Never Heal Myself by Cults
3. Green Aisles by Real Estate
2. Suck It and See by Arctic Monkeys
1. Death as a Fetish by Starfucker (feat. Mattress)
FULL POST
2011 has been a memorable year to say the least. These are exciting times in the music realm (if you can forget that Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj exist for a moment). It seems more than ever that as far as music is concerned, anything goes. This year saw the release of some amazing follow-up albums. Albums like Starfucker’s Reptilians (which happens to be my #1 album of the year), The Black Keys’ El Camino, Portugal. The Man’s In the Mountain In the Cloud and Arctic Monkeys’ Suck It and See quickly nudged their ways into my “favorite albums of all time” list. I obsessed over indie-rock newbies Cults and Yuck and the Vaccines. On the more experimental side of town, dream-pop outfits like Porcelain Raft and Purity Ring dominated by their own right. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of the likes in 2012. Anywho, I have compiled my most played indie/rock/indie-rock jamz from the past year. Check ’em out.
Top Indie/Alternative Tracks of 2011
15. Junk of the Heart (Happy) by The Kooks
14. Shook Down by Yuck
13. Take Me Over by Cut Copy
12. Gangsta by tUnE-yArDs
11. Machu Picchu by The Strokes
10. Got It All (This Can’t Be Living Now) by Portugal. The Man
9. Honey Bunny by Girls
8. I Can’t Feel It by Ty Segall
7. Sister by The Black Keys
6. All Die Young by Smith Westerns
5. Stuck On the Puzzle by Alex Turner
4. Never Heal Myself by Cults
3. Green Aisles by Real Estate
2. Suck It and See by Arctic Monkeys
1. Death as a Fetish by Starfucker (feat. Mattress)
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