Favorite albums of 2011

Not as strong as 2010 but the top music was still GREAT!

1.  Cloud Nothings- "Cloud Nothings"
Imagine being on an intense, hook-filled, pop/punk sugar rush for 28 minutes! You will play it again and again and again and again...

2.  Lykke Li - "Wounded Rhymes"
Phil Spector meets Swedish ice queen and sparks fly! From the pounding "Get Some" to the melancholy of "Sadness is a Blessing" it's a glorious trip!

3.  The Joy Formidable - "The Big Roar"
Never has there been a more aptly named album. Guitarist/singer/ human dynamo Ritzy Bryan and co. create a crushingly melodic wall of noise!

4. The Black Keys - "El Camino"
Test drive this van and throw those Grammys out the window! This is the most rockin' Black Keys album in years!

5.  Pains of Being Pure at Heart - "Belong"

Their second album is full of more fuzzed-out melodic pop. Just gets better and better with repeated listening (uh-oh, I may have to move it up a place).

6.  Cults - "Cults"
There's enough beautifully souped up retro girl group music here to hold you over until the next "Best Coast" album. Nice!

7.  Yuck - "Yuck"
England's latest indie-rock darlings debut is heavily influenced by Dinosaur Jr. and their 90s like but in the best way with strong songs and buzzing guitar.

8.  R.E.M. - "Collapse Into Now"
My favorite band has never disappointed me and they bow out in style. Thanks for the incredible musical ride guys!

9.  Fleet Foxes - "Helplessness Blues"
Robin Pecknold crafts another set of heartmeltingly beautiful songs in the vein of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

10.  Real Estate - "Days" 
Strong sophomore effort has Real Estate spinning dreamy 6-string pop.


Honorable Mention - Dum Dum Girls - "Only In Dreams", Atlas Sound - "Parallax", Decemberists - "The King is Dead", Death Cab For Cutie - "Codes & Keys", Fountains of Wayne - "Sky Full of Holes", TV on the Radio - "Nine Types of Light"

Something old...something new (#14)

"Rock 'n' Roll Animal" by Lou Reed (released 1974 - remastered 2000)

"Lou Reed sucks, but 'Rock' n 'Roll Animal' rules" - customer review on Amazon.com

   Following the demise of "The Velvet Underground" Lou Reed embarked on a solo career which for the most part has been highly forgettable save for "Rock 'n' Roll Animal" and "Lou Reed Live" which sit like shimmering twin diamonds on a mountain of garbage. Lou hit the road in 1973 with a red hot band (Guitar - Dick Wagner & Steve Hunter, Bass - Prakash John, Drums - Pentti Glan, Keyboards - Ray Colcord) and the result was one of the finest live albums ever released! Reed wisely stays with his Velvet Underground work whose seminal songs were originally recorded in a very minimalist fashion but hold up and even blossom under the savage 6-string work of Hunter and Wagner. Their twining guitars are staggering right from the get go with a blistering intro that leads into the classic "Sweet Jane". The amazing and haunting autobiographical "Heroin" follows which even at thirteen minutes suffers not a dull moment. Lou is in fine form throughout and is obviously energized by his powerful band. "White Heat/White Light" and "Rock 'n' Roll" are two other searing guitarfests separated by the lovely "Lady Day". It is worth buying the 2000 remaster for the two bonus tracks, "How Do You Think it Feels" and "Caroline Says" (between these two tracks Lou pricelessly speaks his only recorded word as fans yell out requests -"Shaddup") For more of this concert search out "Lou Reed Live" which features six more songs including "Vicious" and "I'm Waiting for the Man". This album full of supercharged Velvet Underground music took FM radio by storm in 1974 and remains one of my favorites today!

"Lucky" by Nada Surf (released 2008)

   Nada Surf is a trio from New York that have been quietly producing outstanding music appropriate for sunny summer days or cold winter nights for the past 15 years. The band continues to gently refine it's sound with each release culminating with the gorgeous "Lucky". Their sound is an irresistible mix of catchy guitar driven pop, smooth harmonies and choruses you will be humming long after the songs are over. On the opener "See These Bones" vocals soar over a shimmering bed of guitars and set you up for an album full of equally memorable and brilliantly produced songs. The perfectly named "Beautiful Beat" is my favorite, with it's uplifting sound and message that music has the power to help you through despair. "Whose Authority", "Weightless", "Ice on the Wing" and "From Now On" continue the parade of chiming rockers that are found on most of the CD. "Here Goes Something" is a charming acoustic tune that will have you smiling and longing for another verse. "The Fox" captivates with a mesmerizing tremelo guitar figure that is complimented by violin and a stunning bridge. Ending with the quietly beautiful "The Film Did Not Go 'Round" this is an album that makes an impact on first listen and gets better after each play. Their previous release"Weight is a Gift" is also highly recommended and I am anxiously awaiting their new release January 24!

Something old....something new (#13)

I plan to review one golden oldie from my collection and one relatively new release that I really enjoyed each week. I welcome any ideas, comments or ideas for future topics.

"Billion Dollar Babies" by Alice Cooper (released 1973 - remastered 2001)

"Billion Dollar Babies" is the Alice Cooper Band's musical and commercial pinnacle. Every song sparkles with the twin guitar attack of Glen Buxton and Michael Bruce. Buxton has an unerring ability to play fills and solos that perfectly complement the melody and imprint themselves indelibly in your mind. It's simply not possible to imagine any way his licks could be improved upon. "Hello Hooray" features an appropriately majestic intro to the song and the album. Alice's vocals shred on "Elected" which includes a punchy horn section. The title track is a sick rock monster showcasing terrific guitar solos by Buxton and a wild vocal assist from Donovan! "No More Mr. Nice Guy" rounds out the singles portion of the disc with more six-string ear candy and hilarious lyrics making for a pop friendly hit. Other coulda' been hits are the hard rocking "Raped and Freezin" and criminally overlooked gem that is "Generation Landslide". "Sick Things" sounds like a Nine Inch Nails outtake while the creepily exciting singalong "I Love the Dead" crowns Alice as the king of necrophilia. Parents were aghast at this music when it was released but we kids knew a good thing when we heard it. It was a Looney Tunes horror show with tongue planted firmly in cheek and the live show put it all over the top. This was a red hot band and the reissue includes a bonus disc of a great live show from 1973. If you can only own one Alice Cooper CD (a sad thought), this is the one!

"The Big Roar" by The Joy Formidable" (released 2011)

The Joy Formidable are a noise pop/rock trio from Wales and "The Big Roar" is appropriately titled. Fronted by the dynamic guitarist/singer Ritzy Bryan this band can whip things into a frenzy quickly and often with an effervescent mix of shoegaze and driving power pop. The band has a thunderous rhythm section and Bryan's fuzzed out wall of guitar noise is mesmerizing. Some highlights are the crashing beat of "The Magnifying Glass", the melodically rollicking "Austere" and the hypnotically pounding "Whirring" which climaxes in a whirlpool of sound. "Cradle" is a showcase of everything great about this band; buzzing guitars, catchy melody, head banging rhythms and great vocals. "The Greatest Light is the Greatest Shade" is a ballad that closes the album on an epic note. This is a disc that demands to be played LOUD! Live, Ritzy Bryan is as commanding a front woman as I have seen. She stalks the stage with her guitar like a woman possessed but is unassuming and has a beautifully clear voice. In the end The Joy Formidable is able to create an extremely heavy sound and yet somehow be uplifting at the same time. "The Big Roar" definitely is!

Something old....something new (#12)

"Seconds of Pleasure" by Rockpile (released 1980 - remastered 2004)

   The only release from these legendary English new wave/retro rockers. Featuring Nick Lowe (bass, vocals), Dave Edmunds (guitar, vocals) Billy Bremner (guitar, vocals) and Terry Williams (drums, drums, drums) Rockpile revs up American rockabilly and R&B to perfection. Every song is filled with memorable melodies and is bursting with hooks. Covers of "Teacher Teacher" and "If Sugar was as Sweet as You" get things off to a rollicking start. The bouncy "Heart" features an outstanding vocal performance by Bremner and a blistering solo from Edmunds. Chiming guitars and brilliant harmonies propel "Now and Always". Cracking drums launch the shuffle "Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)" "Wrong Again" is a spunky number highlighting Edmund's vocals and guitar. The bubbling soul of "When I Write the Book" is driven by drums and organ. "Fool Too Long" is a dark rocker filled with crashing guitars and vocal harmonies. The album ends with the ripping "You Ain't Nothin' But Fine" maybe the best song Chuck Berry didn't write. The remaster includes the songs from the 45 issued with the original pressing of the LP. It features four Everly Brothers songs lovingly sung by Lowe and Edmunds. There are also three excellent live tracks making this remaster a must buy. It's sad that this is the only release by Rockpile but we're fortunate they left us with this little slice of pop brilliance. 

"Majesty Shredding" by Superchunk (released 2010)

    I am late to the party in regards to "Superchunk", a four piece indie-rock outfit from North Carolina who have been around for over 20 years! Two members (Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance) formed Merge records which continues to be an influential tastemaker for indie music (Arcade Fire, Dinosaur Jr., M. Ward) and this is their first album in almost ten years! This release sounds incredibly fresh, radiates positive energy and is an astoundingly great record from beginning to end. The disc opens with a howl of feedback and some splendid distortion-fueled guitar skronk on"Digging for Something".  The strangely titled "My Gap Feels Weird" follows up with more glorious guitar crunch and strong vocals. "Rosemarie" is a beautifully melodic mid-tempo rocker which leads to my favorite track "Crossed Wires". Buzz saw guitar riffs fuel the tune into a super catchy chorus and more fuzzed out six-string bliss. If they just repeated these same songs again and again I would be satisfied, but no, there's more! The frantic punch of "Slow Drip, the string enhanced "Fractures in Plaster", the roaring twin guitar hum of "Learned to Surf"and the hyper punk workout "Rope Light". "Everything at Once" closes the album in majestic rocking style. Passionate vocals, sugar-coated guitar noise, great songs, if you like Husker Du at their melodic best you will love Superchunk! 

Something old....something new (#11)

I plan to review one golden oldie from my collection and one relatively new release that I really enjoyed each week. I welcome any ideas, comments or ideas for future topics.

"The La's" by The La's (originally released 1991 - remastered 2001)

    The one and only release by "The La's" is my favorite CD of the 90s! The brilliant pop eccentric Lee Mavers labored long and hard to produce this power britpop touchstone which is mainly remembered for the pure perfection of the sterling earworm "There She Goes". Overflowing with hooks, jangly guitars, unforgettable melodies and Maver's vocals (think Oasis) this is a cleanly produced pop/rock masterpiece! Opener "Son of a Gun" is a pretty song resting on a bed of acoustic guitars, "I Can't Sleep" comes out rocking and crashes into a short burst of a guitar solo, "Timeless Melody" features more chiming guitar, the hypnotically herky-jerkiness of "Way Out", the singalong joy of the ironically titled "Doledrum",  The hard rocking "Failure", the delightful falsetto voice and poppiness of "Feelin'" and so it goes for twelve tracks (17 on the remaster) of amazing precision pop. All the tunes clock in at around three minutes and have concise and beautifully constructed guitar solos until the epic eight minute finale of "Looking Glass" which ends amid rhythms accelerating to a noise filled crescendo. A bonus track highlight from the 2001 remaster is the punchy "Knock Me Down". It is astounding how much raw energy and life leaps from the speakers given the perfectionist mentality that went into the making of this album. I never tire of hearing these songs and if you want more there is a great BBC Sessions disc and lots of Youtube live footage (they sound great). Long live the pop perfection of The La's!

"The Pains of Being Pure at Heart" by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (released 2009)

      The debut from this Brooklyn quartet is a delicious slice of dream pop. Ten wonderful tunes featuring warm fuzzy guitars, powerful choruses and winsome vocals that drive this album from the first note to the last. The hard charging beauty of "Come Saturday" is pure ear candy. "Young Adult Friction" employs nice harmonies and a scintillating choppy guitar break. "This Love is F**king Right!" is shoegazing music in the best way, a wash of beautiful rhythm and melody. "Everything With You" mines a similar vein while "Stay Alive" is a pretty ballad placed in the middle of the disc to nice effect. "A Teenager In Love" has an 80s vibe due to the synth sounds and is followed by "Hey Paul" a catchy two minute blast of pop/rock energy. "Gentle Sons" finishes off this musical treasure with a majestic wall of fuzzed out guitar noise. This short but incredibly beautiful focused effort may not break any new musical ground but it is a real pop rush (a top 5 pick for me in 2009) and I look forward to hearing the new "Pains of Being Pure at Heart" disc "Belong" which has just been released. 

Something old....something new(#10)

"Rush" by Rush (released 1974)

   The first album by this Canadian trio remains my favorite of all their releases. They portend to be nothing more than a great mid 70s hard rock band and succeed on every level. Recorded before uber-drummer Neil Peart would join the band and help steer them down the path of progressive/fantasy/rock megastardom this album is the oddball in their extensive catalog. The first track, "Finding My Way" fades in slowly until exploding with Geddy Lee's yelptastic voice and Alex Lifeson's crushing guitar. Each song is full of memorable choruses and gobs of glorious crunching guitar riffs and solos. "Need Some Love" and "Take a Friend" lighten the mood before the heaviness of "Here Again" and "What You're Doing" spotlight Lifeson's guitar mastery. "In the Mood" is catchy boogie rock (complete with cowbell) that will keep your head bobbing and have you singing along on the chorus. "Before and After" begins as a beautiful instrumental ballad before switching gears to a charging rock monster. Finally, "Working Man" is the classic masterpiece that closes the album. Beginning with an instantly recognizable heavy riff  Geddy sings about the universal struggle of surviving the daily grind and delivers us to the solo where Lifeson has his "Free Bird" moment and propels the tune into the stratosphere! Critics may dismiss this album as Led Zeppelin lite but the songs easily stand on their own and Geddy Lee's voice is unlike any other in rock helping to make this album a classic gem that still sounds fresh and vital today. What a RUSH!

"Wounded Rhymes" by Lykke Li (released 2011)

   Lykke Li is the latest in a line of outstanding Swedish pop/rock acts (Caesars, Soundtrack of Our Lives, Loney Dear, etc...) that are deserving of more attention in America. Produced by Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn & John) this release is a huge step forward from her 2008 debut "Youth Novels" where she seemed musically unsure and inconsistent from one song to the next. "Wounded Rhymes" commands your attention on every track with dense production and bold vocals. Most of the tracks strongly echo the reverb-filled wall of sound 60s girl group productions in the best way. Her riveting voice has a cold charm that is hard to resist and leaves the impression that here is a girl capable of anything (good and otherwise). This last quality is blindingly clear via the Bo Diddley tribal stomp and foreboding lyrics of the ominous "Get Some". "Youth Knows No Pain", "I Follow Rivers" and  "Jerome" start with percussive polyrhythms leading to huge choruses of multi-tracked vocals. "Love Out of Lust" and "Sadness is a Blessing" are gorgeous tunes with Lykke Li letting down her guard and showcasing beautiful vocals over blissful melodies. The album closes with the good vibes of "Silent My Song"which is very reminiscent of "Best Coast" (see something old...something new #1). "Wounded Rhymes" is a remarkable achievement by Lykke Li and should be near the top of my Best of 2011 list!

Something old....something new(#9)

"The Wild, The Innocent & the E  Street Shuffle" by Bruce Springsteen (released 1973)

The sophomore release from Bruce Springsteen lives up to all the promise and brilliance foreshadowed on "Greetings From Asbury Park". A working class kid from Freehold, New Jersey presents a panorama of city life with some of the most stunningly original street poetry ever set to music. Each song is populated with characters (Spanish Johnny, Puerto Rican Jane, Rosalita, Kitty, Sandy, Madam Marie, Billy) and stories so fully realized that they are indelibly stamped into your consciousness forever. These songs are bursting at the seams with the energy of youth when anything seems possible. Springsteen's transcendent lyrics transform grimy urban street scenes into universal visions of hope and beauty. Each song seems a living thing, using a wide variety of intrumentation to paint vivid imagery in your mind. You can feel the heat and dust rising from the street during "The E Street Shuffle"(dig the funky guitar and brass). Hear the boardwalk sounds and young hearts beating in the romance of "4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy)" (courtesy of Dan Federici's Accordion). A stinging guitar solo kicks off the cool rock/jazz of "Kitty's Back" (Powerful guitar and organ solos take things to a fever pitch). Side two is my favorite of any album ever released! Beginning with the gorgeous cinema verite of "Incident on 57th Street" through the pull-out-all-the-stops, dream-come-true, redemption party that is "Rosalita" and ending with the stunning "New York Serenade" featuring strings and sensational piano by David Sancious. "Born to Run" would cement Springsteen's status as one of rock music's greatest writers but he has never equalled the incredible poetry, narratives and arrangements found on this release.

"Up From Below" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (released 2009)

My favorite release from 2009 is a time machine back to the late 60s/early 70s when people would congregate for the sheer joy of creating music. It is so refreshing to find this brilliant diamond in the sea of garbage the corporations promote as "music". This group of 10 to 12 west coast (where else?) musicians are led by writer/vocalist Alex Ebert and excel at delivering community hippie rock in it's most endearing form. There is a lot of music here and they are somehow able to present it with such a loose natural feel it's as if they are recording first takes but nothing could be further from the truth. Each song is complex in arrangement and structure yet the performances shine with effortless energy. Ebert has a clear expressive voice and when Jade Castrinos joins in the songs reach a truly magical level. The first two tunes "40 Day Dream" and "Janglin'" are contagiously addictive singalongs and let you know immediately that you are in for a treat. The tempos, rhythms and arrangements change from song to song creating an "I can't wait to hear what's next" atmosphere. From the beautiful reverb drenched vocals of "Desert Song" to the hypnotic and melodic "Please Come In". The centerpiece of this album is the iridescent "Home". The whistling intro leading to Alex and Jade trading lines with lyrics so corny ("Alabama, Arkansas, I sure love my ma and pa") you can't help but love every minute of it. The quality and variety on this disc is astounding and I can not recommend it highly enough. Get your inner hippie vibe on and enjoy!