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Your favorite records of 2011.

Jan 21, 2009
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Title says it all. What are your picks for top records of the past year?

I'm a hip hop head so may picks might not be to popular with the TB gang, who cares:

-Action Bronson , both of his 2011 records , Lecter & Well Done
-The Roots: Undun
-Shabazz Palaces :Black Up
-Common : The Dreamer The Believer

I'm a huge jazz fan also, but I didn't get to many awesome 2011 releases, hit me up with a few I might have missed.
 
The Clones- Self titled debut. Much better than their band name would indicate. A Nashville via Chicago based band with huge influence of JJ Cale, Mark Knopfler, etc., and delivered in a original package.

William Topley and The Black River Band-South On Velvet Clouds. Topley reunited his backing band from his Black River era and the rersults are outstanding. Honorable mention to his joint project with Guy Fletcher, Blues Club Vol. I.
 
Them Crooked Vultures: Self- titled album.
John Paul Jones on bass!

Mastodon: The Hunter
Great melodic metal album. Not as technical as their older stuff, but still great.

and Wilco:The Whole Love.
I've always liked their bassist, John Sitirratt. I like his bass tone on this album.

There were a few more, but I cannot remember them right now.
 
Dub Trio - IV
Russian Circles - Empros
Red Fang - Murder the Mountains
Primus - Green Naugahyde
Cage the Elephant - Thank you, Happy birthday
Black Cobra - Invernal
Graveyard - Hinsingen Blues
Abedeski Shank - This is the Second Album by Abedeski Shank
Battles - Glass Drop

Special Mentions to:
Mogwai - Hardcore will never die, but you will
Young Widows - In and out of youth and lightness
****ed up - David Comes to Life
 
Them Crooked Vultures: Self- titled album.
John Paul Jones on bass!

Mastodon: The Hunter
Great melodic metal album. Not as technical as their older stuff, but still great.

and Wilco:The Whole Love.
I've always liked their bassist, John Sitirratt. I like his bass tone on this album.

There were a few more, but I cannot remember them right now.

Them Crooked ST album is from 2009 not 2011
 
Now we just have to wait for stuff that was promised for 2011 - QOTSA's next album and TCV's next album. Oh boy.
While i'm dreaming of things I want now, I'd also like a third Dead Weather album, please.
 
My favorite of the year was Amos Lee - Mission Bell. Gorgeous, soulful, simple, and genuine.

2nd favorite was Josh Garrels - Love & War & The Sea In Between. His songs are a really cool mix of acoustic folk and elkectronica: Josh Garrels

I also liked The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow (heavy acoustic folk with dark harmonies), and Gungor - Ghosts Upon The Earth (the rare Christian band/album that's actually good).
 
  • Typhoon (Portlandia 14-piece indie rock band)-A New Kind of House (puts pop industry to shame)
  • Dear Sister (Canadian Americana trio)-Dear Sister
  • Julia Marcell (Polish singer-songwriter)-June (strings, synths, and other noise-making experiments)
  • Geoffrey Keezer and Peter Sprague (world class musicians)-Mill Creek Road (super awesome hive-mind jazz)
  • Buck Owens-Bound for Bakersfield: Pre Colombia Recordings
  • Feist (Canadian singer-songwriter)-Metals (worth buying if you like music at all, which is damn near everyone here)

Some of the better stuff I've heard this year. For more, check my sig (shameless plug).
 
Lady Antebellum - Own The Night. My lady and I really like this one. Nothing groundbreaking, just some enjoyable tunes by 3 folks who write most of their own stuff. Also, Rob McNelly plays guitar on most of it. I like him from his work w/Delbert McClinton.

Edit: Oops! Forgot Warren Haynes' "Man In Motion" and Tedeschi Trucks Band "Revelator"! Great stuff on both!