I’m not always fond of making top five lists, but in the interest of talking about something I love—music—I don’t mind taking a stab at a rundown of the top five new albums I’ve listened to this year. My taste is, admittedly, probably pretty different for Texarkana and much of the reading audience I have at the Gazette, but I love to recommend some good tunes in the hopes someone will find them too. This year has been an excellent one, as far as I can tell, for new music.
My top three albums would likely be: Bon Iver’s “Bon Iver,” M83′s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” and The Decemberists’ “The King is Dead.” Bon Iver’s album just landed the band well-deserved Grammy nominations. It’s a powerful, eclectic and intimate spin on folk rock music using the orchestrated meanderings of horns, piano, guitar and the falsetto of Mr. Bon Iver himself, Justin Vernon, to great and finely-crafted effect. The surreal lyrics are a mystery but a welcome one, and the album has been on continuous rotation for my ears on many a morning drive. If forced to choose, I’d say it’s the top listen for the year.
Then there’s M83′s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” an album my late cousin Ryan, who had such a keen and appreciative ear for great music, told me quite rightly would be “epic.” It’s full of dreamy synth-pop greatness and it’s a double album, to boot. It’s the kind of music I want to hear while gazing up at the stars.
There’s also “The King is Dead” from Portland, Ore., a gorgeous addition to indie folk, full of lyricism and wry humor. It felt like a great, full summertime album when I first bought it, but on cold mornings last week it was a wholly positive kick in the pants to enjoy the day.
To round out the top five, I’ll mention Radiohead’s “The King of Limbs” and Death Cab for Cutie’s “Codes and Keys.” Both albums felt like fresh directions for these respective bands—welcome adventures.
Current earworm: two SomaFM radio stations, Xmas in Frisko and Christmas Lounge. Right now I’m listening to Louis Prima “Shake Hands with Santa” and Julie London’s “I’d Like You for Christmas.”
What’s the best new music you heard this year?
- Aaron Brand
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December 16th, 2011 at 8:03 am
That’s a pretty good list and I’m a little embarrassed I have yet to listen to the latest Bon Iver album. Every friend I have that has seen his current tour says it’s easily the best tour of the year.
Anyway, my favorites of 2011:
Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire
Head & the Heart – Head & the Heart
Black Keys – El Camino
Dawes – Nothing is Wrong
Middle Brother – Middle Brother
Civil Wars – Barton Hollow (might be 2010)
Adele – 21 (might be 2010)
December 16th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
Thanks, Patrick. There’s so much good music to listen to out there if you do some digging around that it’s hard to catch it all. That looks like a good list you have, too. I think that Adele album is going to land her some Grammy Awards in a few months. As far as I’m concerned, she is this generation’s Aretha Franklin when it comes to contemporary soul.