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!
“This collection of songs is called Civilian because I believe everyone wants to be normal, but no one truly is.” Those are the words of Wye Oak’s lyricist, singer and guitarist Jenn Wasner. The Balitmore duo, completed by Andy Stack, are releasing there third record on City Slang on March 8th. Beginning with the sounds of a crowded and chattering room, the album develops into a atmospheric and mature work about loneliness, both the good and bad kinds, moving on and letting go. It’s a compelling album, mixing folk and shoegaze, ringing echoes of Beach House, another Baltimore duo, but manages very well to stand on its own two feet. Wasner’s voice has a relaxed subtle tone and the simple instrumentation triumphs in places, and in others shows how much a synth can bring to a simple song.
The first track ‘Two Small Deaths’ doesn’t sound like the cheeriest of openers and no its not, but it sets the theme of the album perfectly. Quite reserved and repetitive in its instrumentation, the track has a very dreamy, woozy quality. It is followed wonderfully by ‘The Alter’ begins much more stripped down with Wasner’s voice layered to create some wonderful harmonies. ‘Holy Holy’ is heavy on its guitars, loosing some of the Beach House comparisons while ‘Dogs Eyes’ is again a step away from the dreamy synths into some complex guitar rhythms.
‘Civilian’ was all over blogs at the end of last year and still stands as perhaps the highlight of the whole album. The vocal against the solo guitar line is wonderful and something which is copied at different points throughout this album but triumphs during this song. ‘Fish’ has a wonderful chorus but the rest is a little simple and repetitive. ‘Plains’, another woozy number has a great riff which is repeated throughout the song right up until the last line which creates a very nice ending to the song. ‘Hot As Day’ is very shoegazey and ‘We are Weath’ has a great build-up but its the last track ‘Doubt’ which creates the highlight of the second half of this album. Featuring only vocals and electric guitar, the vocal melody is stunning and creates a wonderful and quite different end to the album. Whereas the majority of the songs are dreamy, full of instrumentation and a little dreary in places, this last song is light and simple and shows off some wonderful songwriting skills.
Although this is not the most ground-breaking of records, there is still something wonderful about listening to this album. Her voice mixed with the dreamy guitar sounds mix so well, and the songwriting so compelling in places, this album is a stunning listen. With tours planned for the rest of the year and a slot at SXSW, Wye Oak are certainly ones to watch for 2011.
