as i laid on the couch last night, cause thats where i have been relegated to the past month or so, but thats another story – nothing bad, i was listening to a record that shall remain anonymous. even though its still 85+ degrees here in new orleans, its almost the october, and the end of the year. so i gots to thinkin, at this point what are my top ten records of the year? so i started rattling off records, in my head of course, and came to the conclusion that this year, 2011, has been the best year in music, at least shit i like, in a long time. coming up w/ a definitive top ten has been almost impossible, real world problems, but especially the top 5 or 6 cause i love them for very different reasons. every one of could be end up being my favorite of the year, or can i just have favorite 1a, 1b, 1c, etc? the one thing i struggled with was differentiating between what i have enjoyed the most, and what has made the biggest impact? they dont go hand in had, all the time, but this year it seems be the exception to the loose rule. strangely enough, there are two concept records in the top ten. roadside graves’ take on the s.e. hinton classic “the outsiders,” and richmond fontaine’s fucked up tale of lost souls all taking place in a logging town. surprise record of the year? has to go to the decemberists the king is dead, considering i wrote them off about 3 record ago, but i guess you bring peter buck in and it makes everything better. so as it stands, right now, here is my top ten of 2011, prematurely. btw, i highly recommend not “googling” premature unless you want to endure infinite sadness.
1. centro-matic – only in my double mind off candidate waltz
2. jason isbell and the 400 unit – codeine off here we rest
3. roadside graves – love me more off we can take care of ourselves
4. richmond fontaine – lost in the trees off the high country
5. mount moriah – only way out off self titled
6. glossary – the flood off long live all of us
7. william elliott whitmore – bury your burdens in the ground off field songs
8. the decemberists – down by the water off the king is dead
9. austin lucas – darkness out of me off a new home in the old world
10. jill andrews the mirror off the mirror
Nice. I’d have to get Rural Alberta Advantage on that list. I’m with you on at least 5 of them and really like the Centro-matic album. I think it’s been a damn fine year for music.
CRYSTAL ANTLERS!!! I do not understand how a list of the best releases of 2011 would not have the Crystal Antlers…
I AM BAFFLED!!!
Yeah i dont really like em…
That’s a solid list. Any top 10′s this year are going to be tough. I though last year was a pretty solid year, but this year’s been over the top good.
Same #1 on my list…
http://whenyoumotoraway.blogspot.com/2012/01/wyma-favorite-music-of-2011-john.html
My fellow bloggers had some of the others on their lists…
I like your blog.