yonkers tyler the creator massive native instruments

More American beard-folk for youse, although I like this one better. I have endless respect for someone who can create something both monolithic and deeply personal, and that's exactly what Robin Pecknold has done. But if it's all going to be this good, then why the hell not? Fleet Foxes' sophomore album is a huge, sprawling affair with big songs and little songs and in-between songs, all immaculately composed and produced. Ģ011 was, without a doubt, the year for American beard-folk revival. Before you go ripping on it for that, stop to consider that that's exactly the point. Without changing one thing, this record sounds like it could have been made in 1982. I'll always have a special affinity for post-punk (you know, the likes of Joy Division, New Order, Wire, The Cure, and so on), which is why there will always be a place on my shelf for bands like Cold Cave. It rocks harder, the melodies are stronger, the ambition is more varied, and the overall product is superior. Taking tips in equal part from Radiohead, The Cure, and Talk Talk, Burst Apart is a lean and muscular reinvention of the funereal dirges that haunted their 2009 breakthrough Hospice. Albuquerque feels left out, though, so I'll give an honorable mention to Interpol Sunshine Theater. Once again, this list does not geographically discriminate. Arcade Fire Ukrainian Cultural Center (Los Angeles, CA) The Rosebuds Santa Fe Brewing Company (Santa Fe, NM)Ġ1. VNV Nation House of Blues (San Diego, CA)Ġ2. Yeasayer The Music Box (Hollywood, CA)Ġ3.

This year I had the pleasure of attending eighteen shows and one three-day festival (which, for obvious reasons, can't be ranked). Mark Foster (center, of Foster the People)Ĭut Copy, ' Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution'įoster the People, ' Call It What You Want'

The Most Underrated Artist of 2011: The Rosebuds have been excelling at pop songcraft from the depths of obscurity for the better part of a decade.Ĭhloe Alper (formerly of Pure Reason Revolution).The Most Overrated Artist of 2011: James Blake, whose supposedly groundbreaking debut sounds to me like little more than auto-tuned lounge music.May we see you all reunite someday.Īnd now for the fun stuff. to a handful of personal favorites: Pure Reason Revolution, Sunset Rubdown, Wolf Parade, Innerpartysystem, R.E.M., Lou Reed and Metallica's good taste - you will be dearly missed. 2011 cruelly relegated many artists to the musical graveyard. A year spent in transition, absolutely, but a good one nonetheless.īefore we begin celebrating, however, let us first have a moment of silence. There were tons of songs and records and concerts that are likely to go down in the annals of personal history for each and every one of us, and as such it's hard not to call 2011 a success. We'll get to that.)Įven so, the year held its own. (I did have such an epiphany for my #1 song, though. It's just that 2011 is the first year I can remember when I didn't have that Moment. Everything I'm about to go over, albumwise and songwise, is tremendous. Not that it isn't a fantastic album, mind.

My #1 album always felt like it could be nudged out of place at the last minute. When I heard Ashbury Heights' Take Cair Paramour last year, I knew immediately it would be the best album of the year. I think my biggest nagging problem was its distinct lack of an album that just felt like an unequivocal home run. In fact, its only real problem was that it had the unenviable task of following 2010, which was an outstanding year for music. Overall, 2011 was a very good year for music. I know what I like, and it ain't always what your snotty online music 'zine of choice likes. However, you're also going to see a host of other names that are unlikely to crop up on similar lists. It's universally acknowledged that they put out some great music this year. I'm going to spoil it for you: yeah, M83 and Bon Iver are on here.

Yonkers tyler the creator massive native instruments