Album Of The Year

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 05:12:41 PM

Yeah, we're only halfway through the year and all, but I thought this would be an all encompassing thread of any year of music. What would you consider the best album of *insert year here* or maybe what you think the best album of the year currently is?

IMO, last year was a wash for me, but this year contains a few gems already and I'm hoping we get a few more by years end. So far I'd vote for Rolling Blackouts by The Go! Team and Rock n Roll Submarine by Urge Overkill as being the albums of 2011 so far. How about you guys?

Foggle · July 31, 2011, 05:25:25 PM

Smoove & Turrell's Eccentric Audio is amazing and features some really fun and groovy funk. Tracks like Higher, In Deep, and Hard Work are damn near unbeatable by anything else out today. I think I preferred 2009's Antique Soul overall, however, but only by a slight margin.

Still waiting for the new That Handsome Devil album to drop (should be sometime next week), as well as American Style Cardboard's first EP and the inevitable Electric Six and The Brains releases before I declare anything as the year's finest, though.

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 05:32:28 PM

Any links?

I've been trying to hype up Rolling Blackouts everywhere I go, but I'm not sure how to do that since it offers something different in every song. For instance, this, this, this, this and this offer a pure variety in sound that I just don't hear anymore. Especially on the radio.

So far that's easily my favorite album released this year.

Foggle · July 31, 2011, 05:50:59 PM

Here are some of my favorite Smoove & Turrell songs! Unfortunately, I can't really find anything from their new album for free online. Take my word for it, though, it's all great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsrSECWZFIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnahB3SYN84
http://www.we7.com/#/song/Smoove--Turrell/Latin-Groove
http://www.we7.com/#/song/Smoove--Turrell/Slow-Down-Radio-Edit

Quote from: Desensitized on July 31, 2011, 05:32:28 PM
I've been trying to hype up Rolling Blackouts everywhere I go, but I'm not sure how to do that since it offers something different in every song.

Sounds like That Handsome Devil and Electric Six. Both groups are talented as hell and capable of playing all different types of music. THD actually spans multiple genres across each album while E6 mostly encompasses different shades of weird on an album-to-album basis (but they never cease being awesome... coulda' done without most of Flashy and Sexy Trash, though). I have a hard time recommending them to people, since not everyone likes combinations of rock, jazz, and hip-hop or funk rock and dance-pop.

Avaitor · July 31, 2011, 06:00:18 PM

I have a definite top 5 for now. Not sure if I want to share it yet, though.

You guys think I should?

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 06:07:14 PM

Oh, I know That Handsome Devil and Electric Six. But, have you listened to the Pietasters? Totally overlooked, and Willis from 1998 is one of my all time favorite albums.

Check it out:
Trust Yourself
Crazy Monkey Woman
Fat Sack
Night Owl
Dollar Bill
Crime

And sure, Avaitor. I'd like to see it.

Foggle · July 31, 2011, 06:23:16 PM

Pretty much sold on The Go! Team now. Good shit, especially The Running Range and Yosemite Theme. I also checked out Back Like 8 Track, which was totally kickass. Can't say I enjoyed Buy Nothing Day, though. I'll check out Pietasters later, then report back.

Quote from: Desensitized on July 31, 2011, 06:07:14 PM
Oh, I know That Handsome Devil and Electric Six.

Being in Guitar Hero and Rock Band certainly helps with that.

Not many do, though. A shame... they're both criminally underrated.

Quote from: Avaitor on July 31, 2011, 06:00:18 PM
I have a definite top 5 for now. Not sure if I want to share it yet, though.

You guys think I should?

Do it!

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 06:37:21 PM

Oh yeah, also check out the first Go Team album "Thunder Lightning Strike" if you liked that stuff. One of my favorite albums.

Good stuff overall, Foggle.

Avaitor · July 31, 2011, 07:32:58 PM

5- The Mountain Goats- All Eternals Deck

I love John Darnielle so much. Every interview, editorial, and piece of info I read up on him makes him sound so amazing, and his taste in music is extraordinary. And his Twitter is great. Surprisingly, the new Mountain Goats only makes it to fifth on my list. It has great replay value and like most of his work, tells a fascinating story, but I've found other albums that simply intrigue me more. It's still really worth checking out, though.

"(Damn These) Vampires"

4- Ghost- Opus Eponymous

I'm shocked that something like this not only turned out to be completely incredible, but is actually catching on in the metal community! A group of unknown Swedish metal musicians put on corpse paint and robes, while the lead singer rocks a cardinal and mask, and play Blue Oyster Cult-meets-Mercyful Fate style heavy metal. But hey, mystery aspects have worked for bands numerous times before, and I could make a whole thread on the comeback of traditional heavy metal, so it shouldn't be that surprising.

There's also the fact that the album is just REALLY FUCKING GOOD, whether you're a huge fan of this type of music or not. The production values are very good, and it hits that fine line between having a vintage sound and not feeling too ancient. This is just the type of music that I want to hear more of, and it seems like that is going to be very likely before long. There's a few other albums in this vein already out, but nothing sounds as fresh or catchy as Ghost.

"Death Knell"

3- Cold Cave- Cherish the Light Years

I've gushed about Love Comes Close, their debut, a bunch, and this is a worthy follow up. A lot more danceable, it doesn't lose LCC's melancholy, and sounds a lot bigger than before. The songwriting is out of this world, too. Can't recommend both enough.

"Confetti"

2- PJ Harvey- Let England Shake

This is considered to be Polly Jean's Zeppelin III, and I can see the obvious comparison. The thing is, like Harvey's other stuff, the rest of this album is just unclassifiable. There isn't anything really like it, nor will there likely be in the years to come. It has such a huge sound, and achieves everything it aims for.

The title track

1- The Kills- Blood Pressure

Fucking VV needs to stop being so fucking hot and making such awesome music. It's been a while since the last Kills album, since Alison's been focusing on Dead Weather and Jamie Hince just married Kate Moss, but they returned with what I consider to be a masterwork of an album this year. The two have amazing chemistry together, trading off vocals, Alison's brooding, and Jamie adding some light into the music. There's some unusual post-punk and blues influences in here missing in other Kills albums, but it works much better than anything they've done yet. If you're lamenting the lack of "real" rock, as in down-tuned, Stonesy stuff, you need to check this out.

"Satellite"

Holy estrogen! My top 3 each have major contributions from women in them.

The rest of my top 10 has a lot more metal, but since you guys aren't really big/as familiar with that as I am, I decided to give you my first half of the list. I'll post a full 10 when the year ends.

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 08:03:40 PM

It's so hard to believe that PJ Harvey is still going strong after so long. That's some true talent there. I didn't even know the Kills had a new album out! Good stuff Avaitor!

Avaitor · July 31, 2011, 08:10:21 PM

Yeah, this is her first album in a while, and it's going to be her last in a while, too. Eh, if long periods between release dates are what it takes for her to remain fresh, I'll take it.

I still want her to make the soundtrack for one of my movies, though. I think she'd be perfect for it.

You didn't know about the new Kills album? I've been seeing a lot of advertisements for it on YouTube and even Watch, which really surprises me. Still am, too.

This has been a pretty good year so far. 2009 was my favorite in a while, but this is building up to top it. And there's still a lot for me to explore for now, as well.

And I don't think I posted my top 5 from last year.

5- Toro y Moi- Causers of This
4- High on Fire- Snakes for the Divine
3- Alcest- Écailles de Lune
2- Iron Maiden- The Final Frontier
1- Agalloch- Marrow of the Spirit

I need to go back into digging to recall the rest of my list.

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 08:14:58 PM

I haven't noticed the ads at all. I guess I've just tuned them out.

I honestly don't remember much music-wise from last year. I'd have to remind myself.

Avaitor · July 31, 2011, 08:18:47 PM

Oh yeah, TYM have a new album out this year, as well. It's pretty good too. It's on my list for now.

I dunno, I love the first 3 to death and a bunch of others, including the other 2, to lesser extents, but 2010 doesn't really stick out in my mind as well as recent years has. Chillwave was really picking up in 2009 but kind of stagnated last year and is slowly starting to get back into its own thing, metal was stuck up its high ass in terms of wankery, and indie was boring as shit.

Everything is off to a good start as of now, though.

Spark Of Spirit · July 31, 2011, 08:40:26 PM

I just remembered one of my favorites. 2003 Album Of The Year is easily Mad Caddies' Just One More. Yeah, a ska album as album of the year? But shit, it's true. It's easily the best ska album of the last decade that manages to be fully original and even have some moving lyrics. I have yet to enjoy another ska album even remotely, they all sound so uninspired next to this one. IMO, after this released, the genre just seemed to fall to shit. Such a shame. Judge for yourself:

Leavin'
Drinkin' For 11
10 West
Last Breath
Villains
Spare Change?

Such a fantastic album regardless of genre classification.

Avaitor · July 31, 2011, 08:46:36 PM

That's pretty chill. Love the drums. And yeah, good ska is hard to come by these days.

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Album Of The Year