• Best of Lists

    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 OrchestraUnknown 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 RevivalThe 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. ElbowBuild 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 VaccinesWhat 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 GallagherNoel 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 EyeDifferent Gear, Still Speeding

    I was pleasantly surprised to see Liam try on some different musical styles. The results speak for themselves.

    4. The Arctic MonkeysSuck 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 KooksJunk 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 7venCondensate

    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 FiresPala

    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?

  • Rock

    This House Is A Circus, Berserk As Fuck

    In what now has become a bi-annual tradition, The Arctic Monkeys descend on First Avenue and remind the Twin Cities why they are the Colossus of UK Banks. Last night’s show was unique in several ways.

    To begin with, First Ave recently installed a high capacity roof air conditioner (announced on their Facebook page to much rejoicing) so the sold out show would be cool and comfortable. This proved to be extremely beneficial as the pit became insane about a third of the way through the Monkey’s set.

    This was also the first time I had ever seen the Monkey’s before they released their new album. Suck It and See is not due out until June 6th in the UK (June 7th stateside).  I had only heard one new track (“Brick by Brick”) so the rest were going to be new to me. I was pretty amped to hear the new songs for the first time AND live!

    They also brought a support band with them that has blown up quickly just like the Monkeys did when they released their first album. The Vaccines took the stage a little after 7pm and played a fantastic 35 minute set which included many tracks from their debut disc, What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? Check out their video for the instant and hilarious classic “Post Break Up Sex.”

    After The Vaccines left the stage, the pit began to swell with humanity. My buddy Paul and I camped out underneath The Forbidden Staircase which has an excellent view of the stage from the right side of the pit. The Premier League like crowd started to get rowdy and sweaty when the announced set time (now posted on Facebook (mega!) for each show) came and went. I quietly blessed the owners of First Ave as I felt the soft wisps of cool air coming down on my head and shoulders.

    Finally, the Monkeys took the stage and, without playing a note, the crowd went berserk. As all of us sang “O-lay, O-lay, O-lay, O-lay” as the lads led off with “Library Pictures” from their new record. A fast tempo surf punk diddy, the song impressed me immediately as being (yet another) departure from their previous work. After that was “Brianstorm” and that was pretty much it for any sort of control in the pit. Bodies flew everywhere as the set progressed through songs from all four of their releases.

    Highlights for me were, first and foremost, the new tracks. “Don’t Sit Down Because I’ve Moved Your Chair” and “Brick by Brick” were amazing. “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala,” aside from being a fantastic song title, recalled (of all bands) The Doors and late 60s/early 70s California.

    A very large highlight for me was the crowd. As the lads played their older songs, their ridiculously loyal fans sang (no, screamed) along with every word. I, of course, was one of them. In many ways, we were all part of the performance as they did “Still Take You Home,” “Teddy Picker,” “Crying Lightening” and all of the others.

    Coming as the second to last song of the night, “The View From The Afternoon,” took on a whole new meaning. The first track on their first album, which sets up the journey that a late adolescent man takes as he imagines what sort of evening he is going to have round the pubs and clubs, seemed last night more like confirmation of a premonition fulfilled completely. In looking at their body of work, on full display at First Avenue, The Arctic Monkeys have managed to evolve past that young man while still maintaining that spark of anticipation of what will always be a fucking riot of a night if they are playing a gig.

    For the full set list, click here.

    For my photos from the evening, click here.

    Here is a live performance of “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala” from the Jools Holland Show.

  • Rock

    Yes, Please

    I was recently lost in thought about the state of Brit rock when I realized it was high time we had “THE NEXT BIG BAND FROM THE HOLY LAND.”

    Honestly, we haven’t had one since Friendly Fires in 2008 so I knew it was only a matter of time before NME started blowing loads of some new band. Of course, I always roll my eyes when they do this…for about a millisecond…and then I proceed to fully embrace whomever they are amping and blow my own mammoth load far more voluminous than they ever did.

    Which brings us to The Vaccines.

    Their first single (Wreckin’ Bar) is 1 minute and 24 seconds of pure, unadulterated fun. Upon hearing it, I felt the same things I felt when I heard “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor” by the Arctic Monkeys or “Eddie’s Song” by The Kooks. Their next single, “Post Break Up Sex,” made it official: these London lads are the real deal.

    Interestingly, they have a real sense of the history of rock and roll in their band. Taking part of the 1950s-Under-the-Boardwalk style of Glasvegas and making it their own, The Vaccines have a sound that propels you to time where broken hearts and hope chests ruled the lonely nights. “Blow it Up,” for example, sounds like a half speed surf tune for Atlantic City.

    Their first LP, What Did You Expect From the Vaccines, is out in the UK now with a stateside releaser later this spring. They will be opening for The Arctic Monkeys (!!!) on their tour in the US later this spring. I’ll be at the First Avenue show. Check out the video for Post Break Up Sex