So there is was, my Albums of 2011. Bon Iver topped it for me, but I gotta say that 2011 has been a brilliant year for music. Click here to have a recap of the list.
I have really enjoyed reading everyones end of year lists, and have been introduced to some great music in doing so. Its also been great to see the variation in lists, and some of the similarities, and some of the weird and wonderful choices, mostly present in blogs.
There are quite a few albums which almost made the cut, and also quite a few which would have but I have only got into them over the last few weeks when I’d already started posting. Most of these albums are ones I’ve found through other peoples end of year lists. So I thought I’d make a little list of albums which were just missed off my list, for one reason or another.
Slow Club- Paradise
The Antlers- Burst Apart
Feist- Metals
Ryan Adams- Ashes and Fire
Girls- Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Sea of Bees- Songs for the Ravens (UK release was 2011, but US release was 2010)
Others… Josh T. Pearson, PJ Harvey, Noah and the Whale, Lykke Li, Other Lives, Wye Oak, Real Estate.
Coming next is my Ones to Watch for 2012 posts, followed by some most Best of 2011 posts (such as best gigs and songs) and then we’ll be back to normal for the new year!
The new Noah and the Whale album is now out. I’ve heard lots of high praise for it and also lots of criticism. The Noah and the Whale fans from their first album seem to hate it, but people who were not into that twee folk sound love it. Its full of synths and electric instruments, a million miles away from the fun fun fun of ‘Peaceful the World Lays Me Down’. I however, do like it. One thing that hasn’t changed is the strength of songwriting from Charlie Fink and this album has produced some of his best yet. There are a few songs I’m not too keen on, such as the first track ‘Life is Life’ but L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. as well as others are brilliant. This is Wild Thing.
Noah and the Whale also did a Track in a Box Takeover for a week. I found this through that, I’ve heard of Arthur Russell before but never listened to him, anyway this is a brilliant song.
I saw and loved The Pins when they supported Laura Marling on her last tour. They have now renamed themselves Louise and the Pins, and have also successfully got through to the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition Finals! There music is stunning, a little country, a little folk and a little 50′s girl group but ultimately a great unique sound. I expect an album out around summer but until then this is Louise Hull from the Pins and Laura Marling singing a gorgeous little duet. They are playing Communion on April 3rd, the day after the Glastonbury ETC Finals.
Last Monday I went to see Georgia Bruce at Proud ahead of her playing my Lazy Sunday night at the Roundhouse. Also performing at Proud was O. Chapman, he is a singer-songwriter and performed some stunning duets with a girl called Faith Barker. You can download a song called ‘Morning Song’ from iTunes which I highly recommend and this is a song called ‘Come On Down’.
Josh T. Pearson has just made a very nice album. I don’t really know any of his older stuff, but this album is really lovely to listen to. He played a few of the songs in a church for Cargo sessions and they are stunning. This is ‘Sweetheart I Ain’t Your Christ’.
Found this the other day, its very nice. Taken By Trees playing a cover of ‘My Girls’ by Animal Collective, but its called ‘My Boys’ now.
The Lykke Li album ‘Wounded Rhymes’ is out now and I am liking it a lot. I prefer her first album, there is a lot of stomping percussion on this one which is good in places but I prefer the prettier sounds of Lykke Li. This is my favourite song from her new album, its called ‘I Know Places’. I can’t find the album version on YouTube so this is Lykke performing the song on the moon.
Essie Jain has a lovely voice, her songs are very pretty and this song is called ‘What a Big Wide World’. So sweet!
The last thing I am going to include is something not new but something I have recently come back to. I decided to listen to The Reminder album by Feist the other day and fell in love with it all over again, such a stunning album. This track is my favourite, the mixture between her voice and the male voice is beautiful.
Not done one of these since before Christmas! Too long, so I hope some of this lovely stuff makes up for it! First, Noah and the Whale are back and better than ever in my opinion. A few of the songs are floating round YouTube and the best one is this one, L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.
Rachel Sermanni is one of the artists being pushed by Communion at the moment. When she appeared on the compilation back in April I didn’t think she stood out but after giving her a second listen, I think I have fallen in love with her melodies and sweet voice. This song is called ‘Song for a Fox’ and I also recommend you to check out ‘My Friend Fire’.
Roo Panes was my new treat a while ago and since then I am forever going back and listening to his lovely songs. A few new ones have appeared recently, you can have a listen here. I recommend ‘Thoughts for an absent friend’.
I found this lovely song a while back, perfect and summery. Its a very nice video too.
Got a copy of the new Marcus Foster EP yesterday. It is rather good, he is very very talented. I will write a review of it in the next few days with details of when it is going to be released. But until then, enjoy this, the second track called Tumble Down.
Bat For Lashes is one of my all time favourite artists. She’s had a bit of a break since her 2009 album ‘Two Suns’ and I am hoping she will return in 2011. I found this song the other day, its old but stunningly beautiful.
I like this band a lot. This song is wonderfully catchy and has a lovely summery, 60′s feel about it. Can easily see this becoming the soundtrack to the summer.
And lastly, Laura Marling. Yes, I know I write about her way too much, but this is a brand new song and I think it might be one of her best yet.
Coming soon- Marcus Foster review, brand new Festival News feature, New Treats, lots of New Bands and the best of some of the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition entries!
There are so many songs which define this year, from the terrible songs of Lady Gaga to the amazing success of alternative bands such as the Temper Trap. This is a list of some of the songs which has defined my year:
Florence and the Machine- You’ve Got the Love
Florence is amazing, and this song was made for her. I think it deserved alot more success than it got, but even so, amazing song!
La Roux- In For The Kill
Love her or hate her, and despite her apparently being pretty bad live, this song is amazing to dance to and sticks forever in your head.
Noah and the Whale- Blue Skies
One of my albums of the year is The First Days of Spring, the second album from Noah and the Whale, which was written along with a film. This song defines both the album and the film and is just a beautiful summer song.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes- Home
Edward Sharpe do not fail to make me happy and this song makes me wanna jig about, and run barefoot through the desert, total freedom.
The Temper Trap- Sweet Disposition
A band which you would normally think would stay under the radar, saved only for alternative fans, but this song has had massive success this year which they really deserve.
Mumford and Sons- Little Lion Man
I have loved Mumford and Sons for so long and this song got people wouldn’t normally listen to folk music to do so, I predict wonderful things for next year!
Jamie T- Sticks and Stones
This song reminds me of Glastonbury so much! A artist I would never normally listen to but this song made my summer!
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Heads Will Roll
I am not at all a dance music fan, but Karen O is amazing (listen to her soundtrack for Where the Wild Things Are) and this song again, like In For The Kill, is amazing to dance.
Lily Allen- Not Fair
Lily Allen was back this year and this song was my favourite of her album! She also gave an amazing Glastonbury performance!
The XX- Crystalised
A band I really should listen to more of, and who I think will have massive success in the future, this song is amazing.
