Callahan and Malkmus Both Had Records This Year: Best of 2011 Thread

[davy]

I think this is the first year I'm really gonna need the extra two weeks to sort mine out. Jeez.

[YojimboMonkey]

fuckit I could keep tweaking the order halfway through 2012, here's my final top 20 and maybe I'll edit in comments later.


 1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 2) White Denim - D
 3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 8) Low - C'mon
 9) Yuck - Yuck
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
13) Absu - Abzu
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
20) Russian Circles - Empros

[mountmccabe]

13.Times New Viking, "Dancer Enquired'

Forgot that this existed! To the point that I have not listened to it!

11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon

Hmm. This didn't occur to me but I might have to include it too.

[alistarr*]

9) Yuck - Yuck

And I forgot this existed! What an excellent album.

[justinh]

Is that the first Bon Iver vote? BOOOOO

I relish the opportunity to be a contrarian and embrace the mainstream simultaneously

13.Times New Viking, "Dancer Enquired'

Forgot that this existed! To the point that I have not listened to it!

Though at first I didn't care much for this record, it has been a grower.  It continues the tradition of Times New Viking records that are 2/3 very good, 1/3 annoying. 

 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica

20) Russian Circles - Empros

Although if I was going to include more metal records in my list, it would probably be these two. 

[dieblucasdie]

It's been a long time since the Grammys have meant anything to me, but I cannot wait for Nicki Minaj to beat Justin Vernon and then for him to write a petulant probably-vaguely-sexist tweet about how the Grammys don't matter

[Antero]

I have been paying so little attention to the Grammys that until I got to the end of the sentence I thought you were suggesting that Nicki Minaj was going to physically assault Justin Vernon, which I thought was an awesome idea.

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

this ain't about albums, but would you dudes be interested in a massive 4-hour 2011 songs mix? i ask because i was going to assemble one anyway as spotify lacks certain crucial house and hip-hop tracks i've dug this year

[fishjim]

this ain't about albums, but would you dudes be interested in a massive 4-hour songs mix? i ask because i was going to assemble one anyway as spotify lacks certain crucial house and hip-hop tracks i've dug this year

YES YES YES

[fishjim]

fuckit I could keep tweaking the order halfway through 2012, here's my final top 20 and maybe I'll edit in comments later.


 1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 2) White Denim - D
 3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 8) Low - C'mon
 9) Yuck - Yuck
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
13) Absu - Abzu
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
20) Russian Circles - Empros

Yojimbo, I'm amazed we're the same generation. I think I recognize three of the bands here.

[YojimboMonkey]

I am an old fat hipster

None of them hold a candle to David Bowie's Hunky Dory though

[fishjim]

None of them hold a candle to David Bowie's Hunky Dory though

On that point, we are as one.

[Nick Ink]

fuckit I could keep tweaking the order halfway through 2012, here's my final top 20 and maybe I'll edit in comments later.


 1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 2) White Denim - D
 3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 8) Low - C'mon
 9) Yuck - Yuck
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
13) Absu - Abzu
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
20) Russian Circles - Empros

Yojimbo, I'm amazed we're the same generation. I think I recognize three of the bands here.

I am also of that generation, and I also recognise 3 bands. I wonder if they're the same 3?

[Babar]

fuckit I could keep tweaking the order halfway through 2012, here's my final top 20 and maybe I'll edit in comments later.


 1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 2) White Denim - D
 3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 8) Low - C'mon
 9) Yuck - Yuck
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
13) Absu - Abzu
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
20) Russian Circles - Empros

Yojimbo, I'm amazed we're the same generation. I think I recognize three of the bands here.

I am also of that generation, and I also recognise 3 bands. I wonder if they're the same 3?

I'm not of that generation and I recognize 2. Low and Fucked Up. What kind of band is the Joy Formidable?

[Good Intentions]

Intimidatingly fun, you would imagine.

[RoyBiggins]

You know, I'm shit at keeping up with new music.  But I just got around to REALLY paying attention to "Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle" today, and goddamn.  I hope this record was really well-received when it came out, and I have to track down whatever that new Callahan joint is.

[nonotyet]

You know, I'm shit at keeping up with new music.  But I just got around to REALLY paying attention to "Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle" today, and goddamn.  I hope this record was really well-received when it came out, and I have to track down whatever that new Callahan joint is.

I got Sometimes I Wish from the library because it was the only Callahan they had and I was curious from the discussion in this thread.  Am considering not giving it back.

[monkeypants]

fuckit I could keep tweaking the order halfway through 2012, here's my final top 20 and maybe I'll edit in comments later.


 1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 2) White Denim - D
 3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 8) Low - C'mon
 9) Yuck - Yuck
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
13) Absu - Abzu
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
20) Russian Circles - Empros

Yojimbo, I'm amazed we're the same generation. I think I recognize three of the bands here.

I am also of that generation, and I also recognise 3 bands. I wonder if they're the same 3?

I'm not of that generation and I recognize 2. Low and Fucked Up. What kind of band is the Joy Formidable?

I just checked them out for the first time this morning, as I've been seeing the name a lot lately (and not just on lptj.)   On first listen, I'm impressed.  Kind of a shoegazery thing going on, but harder rocking.  I dig it!

[dieblucasdie]

You know, I'm shit at keeping up with new music.  But I just got around to REALLY paying attention to "Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle" today, and goddamn.  I hope this record was really well-received when it came out, and I have to track down whatever that new Callahan joint is.

I got Sometimes I Wish from the library because it was the only Callahan they had and I was curious from the discussion in this thread.  Am considering not giving it back.

You guys realize it was the LPTJ #1 in '09, right?

[nonotyet]

if we did we would not be posting about how we just discovered Bill Callahan in this thread

I mean, obviously

[nonotyet]

Wow. So here we are. Mr. #1, some dude I've never heard of with a song about birds and an album with horses and script on it. I'm gonna love this shit. Actually 'Too Many Birds' could be kind of metal. I could imagine a table covered with dead, partially eviscerated avian carcasses. Or your standard The Birds scenario.

[alistarr*]

Even the boss liked it:

http://www.lastplanetojakarta.com/2009/05/remaining_aware.html

[YojimboMonkey]

fuckit I could keep tweaking the order halfway through 2012, here's my final top 20 and maybe I'll edit in comments later.


 1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 2) White Denim - D
 3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 8) Low - C'mon
 9) Yuck - Yuck
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
13) Absu - Abzu
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
20) Russian Circles - Empros

Yojimbo, I'm amazed we're the same generation. I think I recognize three of the bands here.

I am also of that generation, and I also recognise 3 bands. I wonder if they're the same 3?

Please report which 3 bands each of you recognized, I cannot go on without knowing.

Meanwhile, here's a bit of a writeup, nothing comprehensive, and a sample of each of my picks. and y'know keep in mind these are just the 20 albums I've heard this year that I've liked the best and I don't claim to be any kind of music expert or anything.

20) Russian Circles - Empros
 This is a Chicago-based heavy post-rock / post-metal band. I've liked a couple of their albums. Moments on this one seem to reach into the black metal toolkit.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iH-vmOGh3s
19) Deer Tick - Divine Providence
 davy turned me on to this one. It makes the list mostly on the strength of the song "Let's All Go To The Bar" which is like a dose of refined Replacements, free-based by a giant meathead like me.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QubByFr9DZA
18) Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming
 Imagine that a soul album from 1967 was somehow catapulted into the Artic where it was perfectly preserved until it was unearthed this year.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moiUyFQQE-0
17) Hunters - From Birth To Soil
 Take your basic High On Fire template of sludgy stoner metal, crank up the groovy bits a bit and throw in some moments of death metal intensity
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3azOj7X8UK8
16) Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
 now y'all know who Jason Isbell is, don't fuck with me. He's still DBT's best songwriter, only the band backing him up now doesn't have DBT's balls. Still good.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCMsUQmS0Bo
15) Symphony of Science - Symphony of Science
 Something I've been nerding out over recently. They've taken a bunch of science/nature program voiceovers & science lectures, etc., autotuned them and made songs out of them, and they're great  (edit: They've been doing this for a few years as youtube videos, but just released them as a downloadable MP3 "album" this year which is why I've got it on the list) (also don't know why I put this here, nobody is reading this)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbc
14) Larry And His Flask - All That We Know
 The obligatory punk rock bluegrass album on my list
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86uHrVmkEEY
13) Absu - Abzu
 insane thrashy black metal
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZDowNse1Fk
12) Tombs - Path Of Totality
 depressive metal meandering about the space between Neurosis-style post-metal, black metal, and "good" Mastodon/Gojira/etc.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXhLPqnBRmw
11) Original Cast Recording - The Book Of Mormon
 Show tunes! Slick as hell, incredibly offensive and profane show tunes.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IjBi1eEaAA
10) Necrocomiccon - Hot Dog Cart Hunger
 this is one of mixed cats' husband's projects. Amazing black metal covers of 80s pop tunes.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPwvUbcxQsM
9) Yuck - Yuck
 Dinosaur Jr. worship. Burned myself out a bit on this album earlier in the year but it's still top 10 material.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz7vyrFhFE8
8) Low - C'mon
 mellow, amazing vocal harmonies. Lyrics could maybe use some work, that's alright though.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBtJpVY7NkE
7) Elliott Brood - Days Into Years
 Canadian "Death Country" band I've been following for the past several years. This album in a way is more of the same, but their songwriting has improved.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjpubr-bj9E
6) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
 This is a pretty epic concept album, indie punk with harsh vocals that were pretty offputting to me initially but have grown on me. If this says anything, I could pick almost any song on this album to demonstrate its quality.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Qn5R_Nbrk
5) Liturgy - Aesthethica
 Hipster metal, or so I'm told, also maybe a connection with some LPTJ members? This is like somebody took the pieces of a puzzle that was intended to be a black metal album and put it together to make something else, math rock at times, noise rock at others, something weird and indescribable occasionally.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t65Li7hLDpI
4) The Red Hills - I'm a Nightmare
 I found this on bandcamp I think and don't really know a lot about it but kept coming back to it all year. It's boozy alt-country, sometimes raucous and sometimes more moody but every bit of it is good.
 http://theredhills.bandcamp.com/track/news-bombs
3) Amerigo Gazaway - Fela Soul
 This is exactly what it sounds like, a seamless mashup of Fela Kuti's afrobeat with De La Soul & related projects. It's incredibly well done.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6O7ml31nnE
2) White Denim - D
 I first heard this band on turntable.fm. Austin-based indie rock with some chops, they get a bit wanky from time to time but I dig that.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpRgceq54NU
1) The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
 Like someone said already, they've got an early 90s shoegazy MBV kinda thing going on but harder hitting.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePl2wFAo108

[Nick Ink]

I have heard of Deer Tick, Fucked Up and Yuck, although I am sorry to report I don't believe I have heard any of them. I know I should listen to the Yuck. I don't think the name is helping though. If they were called A Winged Yuck For The Sullen or something, I dunno.

[alistarr*]

They're kind of dinsoar jr-ish. I like 'em.