Mark’s Best of 2011
2011 was truly a blessed year for music. Many of my favorite groups released new records and, as always thanks to NME, I found some fab new ones to geek out over. Without further adieu, here are my Top Ten Albums and Top Ten Tracks of 2011 (Click on the album or track to purchase).
Albums
10. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
This Portland, Oregon band have a a combo lo-fi, groovy throwback sound that makes me smile. “Thought Ballune” is a must download.
9. American Revival – The Worst Is Over Now
My fave new local band by way of Pete getting me back into alt.country. Their debut is magnificent. Here is their first video which showcases one of the best local bars, Williams Pub.
8. Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
Yes, these Ramsbottom, Bury lads sound like Genesis avec Peter Gabriel but so what? Every new release sees treasure after treasure.
7. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
I can’t wait to see all the music this band is going to make over the years. Caught them live in a warm up for the Arctic Monkeys last spring. Bril!
6. Noel Gallagher – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
It’s about time that Noel did his own thing. I say it all the time – he’s the better singer. This album has been like a comfy blanket to me of late.
5. Beady Eye – Different Gear, Still Speeding
I was pleasantly surprised to see Liam try on some different musical styles. The results speak for themselves.
4. The Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See
Another great fucking record from the Sheffield lads. I don’t think it’s possible for them to make a bad one.
3. The Kooks – Junk Of The Heart
Every three years The Kooks make an album that is seamless from the last one in its perfection. Just a joy to play over and over again…like this Simon and Garfunkel-esque gem..
2. The Original 7ven – Condensate<
This barely missed being the album of the year. The only thing that honestly held it back was it came out later in the year (October) and I haven’t lived with like I did with my #1 pick. Morris, Jerome, Jimmy, Terry, Jesse, Monte, and Jellybean made the best Time album out of the five with this absolute corker of a record. Done without the help of that dude from Chanhassen, the greatest band in the history of funk delivered a stunner that has deepened my desire to be Morris Day.
1. Friendly Fires – Pala
The soundtrack to my summer and, indeed, the entire year. I think I have played this disc at least 200 times start to finish since it came out and I still find layers to it previously unheard. Pala sets a mood that is sorely lacking today, not just in music, but in our culture in general. I’m not entirely certain I can describe it in words but it’s reminiscent of what the most gorgeous flower would sound like as it blooms…in a club at 1:30am with piles of sweaty bodies writhing around to massive and thumping beats. And if it could tell Robert Browning-esque love stories. Like their self titled first release, Pala deserves to be forever enshrined in any Hall of Fame.
Lay back in the sun and listen to the title track…
Tracks
10. “Whirring” – The Joy Formidable
I imagine this song as being the soundtrack to an indie love story. A true gem from this North Wales group.
9. “Endless Blue” – The Horrors
It begins like a gentle kiss from a beautiful woman and switches mid way through into a full on frenetic, saliva-dripped shag…just like love making should be.
8. “Boogabear” – American Revival
“I’m so tired of fighting the battle for who could care less…” singer Thomas Pendarvis croons in my fave from the Mpls alt. country outfit’s debut. This song is now officially the anthem of every bar in every small town for every person having a cold one. (No video here so go listen to the track by clicking on the song).
7. “Minnesota, WI” – Bon Iver
The Eau Claire, WI natives perfectly captured that autumnal shimmer that I write about constantly. A nice shout out to my neighborhood of the country.
6. “Wasted” – Glass Rock
I love the mood this song sets and the album cover art is the best of the year. It’s a photo I would take. And it came out on my birthday! (No video here so go listen to the track by clicking on the song).
5. “Shuffle” – Bombay Bicycle Club
This Crouch End, London group may become my new Brit Rock darlings. This track struck me as sounding very different from what I normally hear from across the pond. It’s free on Amazon!
4. “Days” – The Drums
This is my son’s best track of 2011. He wanted me to make note of it and it’s funny because it’s appropriate considering the video below. This Brooklyn based guitar pop outfit continues to make great music with their third release, Portamento.
3. “Post Break-Up Sex” – The Vaccines
If Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks is the best break up album of all time, this track holds the best break up song mantle. We’ve all been there, and it’s wonderful.
2. “Junk Of The Heart (Happy)” – The Kooks
A perfect pop song in just about every way. Luke does it again!
1. “Blue Cassette” – Friendly Fires
Not simply the best track of 2011, but one of the best of all time. Friendly Fires really outdid themselves with this stunning song that waxes nostalgic about cassette tapes and lost love. My heart melts every single time I listen to it.
Those are my albums and tracks. What are yours?
He Stands The Test of Time…Like Beatles and Stones
(Beady Eye, Live in the Main Room, First Avenue, 5 December 2011)
Liam Gallagher is doing just fine without Oasis. Well, actually, he took most of Oasis with him and formed a new band called Beady Eye so he’s not really suffering. Last night, this new outfit descended on First Avenue and put on a corker of a show. Part of it had to do with the venue, of course, as I hadn’t seen Liam in such a small setting for quite some time (1994, at the now departed Uptown Bar on Oasis’ first ever US tour before the “Supersonic” single had even come out).
Here was their set list.
Four Letter Word
Beatles and Stones
Millionaire
Two of a Kind
For Anyone
Three Ring Circus
The Roller
In the Bubble With a Bullet
Bring the Light
Standing on the Edge of the Noise
Kill for a Dream
The Beat Goes On
Man of Misery
The Morning Son
WigwamEncore:
World Outside My Room
Sons of the StageAs you can see, no Oasis songs were played but that was just fine with me. Beady Eye’s first album, Different Gear, Still Speeding, brings a fresh mix of styles as well as familiar, Beatles-esque yarns. Highlights for me last night were “The Roller” (another channeling of Liam’s inner Lennon), “Bring the Light” (the first single from the album which I didn’t really like right away but has since grown on me with its Jerry Lee Lewis piano…ballin’!) and “Kill For A Dream” (I think I got a contact high from this number and the pot was from 1967).
The show also saw Liam being his usual self (posing god like, picking fights with the crowd, general misbehavior fueled by titanic hubris) which made me crack up several times. The rest of the band showed the crowd their musical talents as well. Gem Archer and Andy Bell were both fantastic on the guitar. Chris Sharrock drummed his fucking heart out. Matt Jones added several layers of texture with his keyboard work.I’ll be looking forward to the second record which Liam has promised will drop late next year. Mega!
Check out the band’s remaining tour schedule for the US.
Here is my photo album from the show.
The Older Brother Speaks
Earlier this year, Beady Eye (AKA the rest of Oasis fronted by Liam) released their first full length album, Different Gear, Still Speeding. As I noted here, it was and is quite good. In fact, I will be seeing them live in 2 short days (review coming soon, natch) in the Main Room at First Avenue. The pilgrim will walk to one of the prophets…
Most of us Brit geeks have been waiting for the elder Gallagher to put his stamp on 2011 and boy has he ever with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds released just a few weeks ago. The album is magnificent and how lucky all of us are that Oasis broke up as we now get double the output from the dueling Mancunians. Don’t expect many surprises with this one. It has all the signature Beatles-dripped magic sung by the brother who I have always felt is the better singer. Noel wouldn’t agree of course but this is one of his rare self-deprecations. Songs like “If I Had A Gun…” (a deeply passionate love song) demonstrate the sheer beauty and emotion of his voice. “AKA What A Life” (a sister song to Oasis’ “Falling Down”) kicks this sentiment up another notch as Noel “takes that tiger outside for a ride.” With “Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks,” we hear a rare political rant that is most welcome. The infectiousness of “Dream On” easily draws anyone in.
And, is usually the case with Brit bands, the best track from these sessions is not on the regular album (but is available on the deluxe edition and the single, “The Death of You And Me”). “The Good Rebel” made me grin from ear to ear the moment I first heard it. Using the metaphor of cleansing rain, Noel washes his past away and stakes out new territory for himself. The older brother has spoken and the future looks very bright indeed with this great idea for a stocking stuffer this holiday season.
Check out “The Good Rebel” below and keep an eye out for Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds coming to our side of the pond early next spring!
Life Without Noel
When I first heard that Liam Gallagher was forming his own band after the acrimonious split with his brother Noel, I simply thought the new group would be a little above average. I winced when I heard the name of the band figuring that Liam must’ve spent one too many nights ’round the pub.
His own songwriting within Oasis had blossomed, though, over the last couple of albums, turning out some really amazing songs (“Born on A Different Cloud”, “I’m Outta Time”) which, I know, sound a lot like John Lennon but so what? They are fucking good tunes, man.
Taking all this into account, I still kept my hopes in check. When I heard that the group would be comprised of the remaining Oasis members (Gem Archer, Andy Bell, Chris Sharrock), I still tried to tell myself that it would be just alright. After all, I’m such a geek for Brit rock that I felt that I at least had to try to be a little more discerning.Yet the thought of it basically being a super group with Bell (who was the center of a great Brit rock band of the 90s, Ride) and Sharrock (drummer for The La’s) did, I admit, raise my expectations a tiny amount.
So, when the debut album from Beady Eye was finally released, even though I was making every effort to be level headed, I couldn’t help myself. I freaked out at how amazing it was right from the start and it’s totally not my fault. Because, folks, the album not only exceeded my expectations but is a complete curve ball. Why?
It’s essentially a potpourri of everything that’s great about rock and roll: Heavy (“Four Letter Word”), Psychedelic and Beatle-y (“Millionaire”), John Lennonesque (“The Roller”, “The Beat Goes On”), Mod (“Beatles and Stones”), 70s Dripped Haze (“Wind Up Dream”), 50s Ballin’ (“Bring The Light”), Tiger Beat Love (“For Anyone”), Noel Like-yes Noel Like! (“Kill For A Dream”), AOR Borscht Belt Grist (“Standing on the Edge of the Noise”), The Upbeat Ballad (“Wigwam”), Pop Star Angst (“Three Ring Circus”), and the Reflective Show Closer (“The Morning Son”)…all wrapped up in one wonderful gift of an album.
Who would’ve thought that baby brother would turn out such a tome to the gods of music? It’s sitting on top of my CD player right now next to the deluxe edition of Are You Experienced and, y’know, it fits in perfectly. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering he does come from the Holy Land.
Beady Eye | Web Site | Buy Different Gear, Still Speeding
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