So...What I'm going to do instead is just randomly post crap that I liked in 2011. In no particular order. So here it goes:
Iceage
Yeah, these Danish punks are insanely good for their age. Not that they're crazy original or anything. They just do straight-up punk really really really fucking well. Compelling and refreshing. Made me really interested in punk again after years and years of shitting on punk and telling people to go listen to noise instead...
Steve Hauschildt
Steve Hauschildt
This guy released a great album this year. Tragedy and Geometry. He's a part of the experimental band "Emeralds". This was definitely one of the best ambient/electronic albums I heard in 2011. Good album to "vibe out" to.
Angel Olsen
Angel Olsen released her first LP "Strange Cacti" this year. She's an incredible folk musician and one of the staples of the music scene in my old neighbourhood back in Chicago. She also toured and recorded with Bonny Prince Billy this year. Big year for her. Anyway, her music is haunting, classic and occasionally very biting. A brilliantly unique and beautiful voice. Oh, and she's fucking hot.
James Ferraro
I really liked James Ferraro's new album. It's so experimental it doesn't even sound like an experimental album. The whole album is fake. A completely glossy, poppy ruse. And I think that's awesome.
Quilt
This was one of my favourite finds of 2011. Quilt's beautiful self-titled album was really refreshing. I wonderful mix of 60's hippy shit and 90's slacker rock. A bit heavier on the hippy shit to be honest. Occasionally, it made me feel like I was in some weird 60's cult... orgies, LSD, Charles Manson. It was awesome.
Joan of Arc
Chicago's Joan of Arc made a great album this year... and no one gave a shit.
Clams Casino
Clams Casino had an amazing year. "I'm God" ended up being my favourite track of 2011. But basically everything he released was incredible. Such a cool style. Dark, deep, blurry, ethereal hip-hop tracks. Completely brilliant.
Holy Other
Manchester's Holy Other was one of my tip-top favourites of 2011. I feel a bit like he's the David Hume of witchhouse. Taking the genre and leading it to it's ultimate dubstepy conclusion... and doing it better than anyone else. Very erie, dubby, elegant and haunting music.
Grimes
2011: The year I fell in love with Clair Boucher.
Mayor Daley and Cacaw
One of the most fun bits of 2011 was watching Chicago's budding new Noise-Metal scene. Mayor Daley and Cacaw where the two big ones. Best live shows of the year by far. In a year filled with people fooling around with laptops, going to a Cacaw or Mayor Daley show in a dark, suffocating, graffiti-filled warehouse and getting your ears blown off was just what we all needed. Think the members of Black Sabbath on even more acid being thrown through a cement grinder and going straight to hell...
John Maus
I saw John Maus in London recently playing for his 2011 album and he was amazing. He basically does karaoke with his own songs and has a nervous break-down. Anyway, he does more of that "experimental music is now pop" stuff that James Ferraro does. Except Maus is totally honest. Heartbreakingly honest.
Julianna Barwick
Julianna Barwick's album "The Magic Place" was definitely one of my favourites of 2011. Made me rethink ambient music. Where most ambient stuff deals with electronics and shit, Barwick uses only her voice to create some super beautiful soundscapes. Extremely refreshing in it's naturalness.
Ford and Lopatin
The Ford and Lopatin album was like an extremely fun bad dream after watching "Back to the Future" over and over again falling asleep in a microchip. Very catchy at times. The kind of music that you keep finding new things to love about. Sadly, I don't think they'll be playing together again. Good thing Lopatin's solo shit is just as good.
Julia Holter
Remember Lau Nau? Yeah, most people don't. Anyway, it's great to have another talented female musician making freaky, delicate and uncompromising music. Fun album.
Lil' B
Swag.
No comments:
Post a Comment