Aside from the fact that one of my ultimate faves, Neon Indian, put together a mehriffic stinker another great year in music has come and gone. In case you were not paying attention, I put together a list of stuff I really liked. Sorry, Wilco did not make the list and neither did the new Muppets soundtrack even though Man or a Muppet is a brilliant song and the things they do with chickens are pure magic. The 2009 list saw such awesome bands as: . 2010 was also amazing with. Stupid honorable mentions and housekeeping from past years aside, let’s rock 2011. You can cruise to the end of the article if you want to to find a Spotify playlist.
10. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks- Mirror Traffic
This guy is one of the greatest songwriters of our time. Wait, you’ve never heard of Pavement? There’s clever around every corner. Malkmus just sees the world in a deliciously different way that our brains cannot comprehend, but thank GOD we can enjoy. Check out Senator first.
9. Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine
Chill and bounce simultaneously. You can’t understand how amazing it is until you try them both together. Also has the distinction of being the most disgusting cover of 2011.
8. Atlas Sound – Parallax
hi fi or lo fi… how about both?
7. Metronomy – English Riviera
Just plain fun. Cranky bass and persistent, snippity drumming makes this one for me.
6. Real Estate – Days
It’s more of the same from them. Their more of the same is amazeballs.
5. Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
These guys are trying to reinvent beach rock and they are doing a damn fine job. I thought someone would pick up Modern Art for an ad this year because it’s so catchy and unique.
4. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for my Halo
According to Wikipedia, his music has been likened to that of Bruce Springsteen[3] His influences include Fleetwood Mac, John Fahey, Bob Dylan and FM Rock generally. I like him anyway.
3. Crystal Stilts – In Love with Oblivion
Remember Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry? Of course you don’t. If you did though, you would recognize that this is who they meant to be. This could have been my top album. The other 2 are that good. It’s backdoor, it’s trashy, it’s droning, it’s fucking incredible. You might hate it. That’s OK. Try it anyway.
2. Built Like Alaska – In Troubled Times
You have never heard of these guys and you may never hear of them anywhere but here. That’s OK. It happened. You are better off. Listen to this one top to bottom for a few days and you will be glad you did.
1. Washed Out – Within and Without
TAKE THAT NEON INDIAN!!! This should have been you.
I picked a song from each album and made a list on Spotify. Here is my 10 Awesome Modern Rock Albums of 2011 on Spotify. Enjoy and commence telling me what I missed in the comments.
