Best Music of 2011

[X.]

11 favorite records from the year 2011.

If you guys have Spotify (does it even work *outside* the US?), those friends with me on FB, can listen to a playlist I made titled "Best Music of 2011"; it includes one track each from every album on the list.

For everyone else, there's YouTube (and I've already done the work for you!).

Now; on to making that other and more important Best of 2011 list...

1. CIVILIAN (Wye Oak)
2. SKYING (The Horrors)
3. CREEP ON CREEPIN' ON (Timber Timbre)
4. COVERS 80's (Duncan Sheik)
5. SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO (Kurt Vile)
6. CIRCUITAL (My Morning Jacket)
7. STRANGE MERCY (St. Vincent)
8. EXTRA EXTRANA (Neon Indian)
9. KING OF LIMBS/ THE DAILY MAIL (Radiohead)
10. HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE, BUT YOU WILL (Mogwai)
Honorable Mention: THE DEVIL'S WALK (Apparat)

[X.]

For convenience and you non-Spotify users, here are a few helpful YouTube links:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Mssm8Ml5sOo&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Mssm8Ml5sOo&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5cra6LRqSIk&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5cra6LRqSIk&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/6jB4GuZOCWY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/6jB4GuZOCWY&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/y5zkX00SXKM&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/y5zkX00SXKM&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/H0ztizmGsFA&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/H0ztizmGsFA&rel=1</a>

[X.]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/9GZb0yZb5kI&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/9GZb0yZb5kI&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/RGIbR5jdA58&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/RGIbR5jdA58&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/LlIpZOy5vlg&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/LlIpZOy5vlg&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/McuHVXgR8dA&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/McuHVXgR8dA&rel=1</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/NAsGYzkXbPY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/NAsGYzkXbPY&rel=1</a>

Honorable Mention:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qtrOs-okKrE&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/qtrOs-okKrE&rel=1</a>

[X.]

And for Shariq and any one else listening to this is as a *playlist*, I created a special mixed order of the tracks.

For maximum pleasure, here's the *recommended playlist order*:

01. "Heart: Release" (Neon Indian)
02. "You Said" (The Horrors)
03. "The Day is Coming" (My Morning Jacket)
04. "Civilian" (Wye Oak)
05. "Surgeon" (St. Vincent)
06. "Ash/Black Veil" (Apparat)
07. "Rano Pano" (Mogwai)
08. What is Love? (Duncan Sheik)
09. In My Time (Kurt Veil)
10. The Daily Mail (Radiohead)
11. "Swamp Magic" (Timber Timbre)

[fizz]

Nice..I've just heard 2 of these tracks (Radiohead and Duncan Sheik)....how shameful is that?

Can't view or listen to any of these at work...hopefully once I'm home.

[X.]

Fizz, I had a feeling you'd pick out Duncan Sheik from the list -- we've both been fans of his work...since we started speaking I think. And GREAT EXPECTATIONS!

Knowing you, I have a feeling you're really going to love the cuts from Apparat, Mogwai and Timber Timbre.

Mad, I think will really dig Kurt Veil; if he cares to listen.

[fizz]

"Barely Breathing" you mean? Still on my playlist. Still awesome.

Now that I've gotten back to driving to work on my own after a 2 year hiatus, I really should be picking up new stuff to listen to instead of giving time to Katie Perry groaning about her innuendo filled sexual escapades on the local Radio. This thread will serve as my wake up call!

[X.]

Is Spotify valid for your region? I've been using it for a couple days and am absolutely hooked! It integrates perfectly with Facebook (Sean Parker is a director at Spotify) and allows FB friends to track each other's listens/lists and send songs to each other.

It's the future.

[fizz]

Because almost half the sites on the web are blocked by my sanctimonious employers, I can't validate whether Spotify works.

I assume its like LastFM or GrooveShark? I have accounts on both those sites.

[kaytee]

Unfortunately Spotify doesn't work here.

[X.]

It's a music rights issue. Spotify and Pandora has deals with US publishers and they need to cut new deals with RestoftheWorld publishers. A pity. Spotify is a really great service. For Sean Paker, after Napster, he has come full circle...

[madali]

I havent had a chance to listen to music in a while, but I do have a new office, once I get a speaker, I'll start listening to it

[fizz]

"Heart: Release" (Neon Indian) - I like the ambient start, but it gets too jazzy/folksy for me.

"You Said" (The Horrors) - Wonderful song, would make for a great driving track.

"The Day is Coming" (My Morning Jacket): Nice, reminds me of something early Duran, Duran were capable of.

"Civilian" (Wye Oak) - Wow! This is your no 1 pick and I can see why. Wow again. I learned later that this track was used in the opener for the Walking Dead TV show. The one minute riff at the end is EPIC!

"Surgeon" (St. Vincent) - I'm not crazy about this song. It's too laid back and there's nothing great about it really.

"Ash/Black Veil" (Apparat) - Excellent stuff, very moody and experimental in the way it sounds.

"Rano Pano" (Mogwai) - Is the entire album like this? Instrumental?. If so, I'm getting it.

What is Love? (Duncan Sheik) - A great artist, remaking one of the most iconic songs from the 80's. Have the album and love it.

In My Time (Kurt Veil) - It's a pleasant enough song, I'm just not crazy about it.

The Daily Mail (Radiohead) - Sigh, what can I say about this band that hasn't been said. Great song, great song.

"Swamp Magic" (Timber Timbre) - Space cosmic rock? A noir soundtrack? I can't tell the difference, but whatever it is, and experimental as it is, I like the sounds of it. Surreal video too! Again, is this an instrumental album? If it is, I'm getting this one too.

[X.]

Listen to the full albums; these tracks are single-servings of the whole experience!

"Civilian" (Wye Oak) - Wow! This is your no 1 pick and I can see why. Wow again. I learned later that this track was used in the opener for the Walking Dead TV show. The one minute riff at the end is EPIC!

I haven't seen THE WALKING DEAD, but glad to hear that Wye Oak is gaining mainstream attention. They've been around for a while, making really mature/intense/spiritual/soul music. The lyrics are very very strong.

"You Said" (The Horrors) - Wonderful song, would make for a great driving track.

I got into The Horrors in a strange way... via Chris Cunningham! He made a video for them starring Samantha Morton, called "Sheena is a Parasite." The Horrors were relatively unknown and he plucked them out of obscurity.

Ironically, Chris Cunningham has become a sort-of musician himself -- actually, he's more of a "visual artist" creating visual + sonic experiences and doing shows around the world. I relate very much to him, his acute sense and use of sound.

"Rano Pano" (Mogwai) - Is the entire album like this? Instrumental?. If so, I'm getting it.

I have a timeless relationship with Mogwai. Five years ago I made this really shitty, Shyamalan-esque short film in Dubai (don't worry -- *no one* will ever see it, ha ha..) and I used Mogwai for the end credits. By the way, you've probably heard Mogwai's music one way or another in a Michael Mann movie! Great post-rock band. I believe I reviewed one of two of their albums on the forum...

What is Love? (Duncan Sheik) - A great artist, remaking one of the most iconic songs from the 80's. Have the album and love it.

Great soulful music from a soulful man. His album PHANTOM MOON is an all-time favorite. For COVERS 80s he takes 80s music (which is experiencing a huge resurgence now) and does something *very different* with it. Love this new album. Very underrated too. No one is talking about it!

"Swamp Magic" (Timber Timbre) - Space cosmic rock? A noir soundtrack? I can't tell the difference, but whatever it is, and experimental as it is, I like the sounds of it. Surreal video too! Again, is this an instrumental album? If it is, I'm getting this one too.

This is the most fascinating album on my list in that it is the most "cinematic" and the most "scariest." Like Bernard Hermann crossed with experimental rock, futurism and paganism!

[fizz]

Thanks for the background ak. Owing to your recommendations I'm now getting the Wye Oak, Mogwai and Timber Timbre albums. More if I can manage to get the time. I've heard a Mogwai track that was on the Miami Vice soundtrack but it didn't leave an impression on me. Nice to know you keep bumping into iconic people in the industry like Chris Cunningham. Wonder why he never made the transition to directing movies (maybe that's a good thing - look at Michael Bay!).