Bolster Your Holster

This is intended to be a new and recurring feature to be presented at the end of each month.  A small list of things that I listened to every month, new or old.  I have been creating monthly playlists for the last 5 years now, and it is always interesting to go back in time to important landmarks to hear the music that you were listening to at the time.  To see your tendencies and trends.  To see how your life events effect your listening, or vice versa.

January tends to be one of those months that has you looking back at what you have accomplished, and has you planning for the future.  This January was a lot busier than anticipated.  I ended up working on a feature film (including my acting debut (in an extremely small role)), which took up a lot of time.  And the Best of 2011 lists proved to be a large undertaking.  But this allowed me to go back and look at the year in music in more depth, which also yields new finds and develops new connections to older pieces.  January also tends to be a cold month that usually lends to colder music.  Maybe not so much this year as it was unseasonably warm.  Alright, so here we go.

5.  Hit the ground (Superman) – The Big Pink

After their fantastic album “a brief history of love” was released in 2009, their follow-up was a heavily anticipated album for me.  Unfortunately it doesn’t seem to live up to the expectations quite as much as I hoped.  It is a good album, but it is a safe album.  One that doesn’t push things forward.  But the first single “Hit the Ground (Superman)” is a great little pop gem that I have been listening to all month.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9_xniHg8pc&w=560&h=315]

4.  Young Blood – The Naked and Famous

So this track goes back to 2010.  I had heard it a number of times, and likely thought it was a Passion Pit track.  But I recently watched “The Art of Flight”.  A brilliant snowboarding film with an equally great soundtrack.  This song simply stood out, and I just can’t get enough of it.  It also appears in a remixed form on the new Underworld Film soundtrack.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lcJlTQgdoc&w=560&h=315]

3.  Montreal – The Weeknd

In Late December the 3rd album from The Weeknd was released.  And it was an instant hit for me.  The lead off Michael Jackson cover of Dirty Diana (which happens to be a top 5 fav of his) is extremely good, but Montreal is the original that I have been listening to nearly every day.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MrPN5pXRI8&w=560&h=315]

2.  Somebody that I used to know – Gotye

I had been listening to Gotye for a few years, but never really got into them.  But all of a sudden Facebook was all abuzz with Gotye.  Which I thought to be weird.  But I decided to check out what all the hype was about.  It centered around a song that was very Peter Gabrielish, the accompanying body paint stop-motion/hybrid video, and a subsequent 5-person on 1 guitar cover video.  But ultimately it is a hugely infectious song that just doesn’t go away. “Now you’re just somebody that I used to know”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY&w=560&h=315]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9NF2edxy-M&w=560&h=315]

1.  Travel as Equals – Joseph Arthur

As I pointed out a couple weeks ago Joseph Arthur released a new double album for free on his website.  The following day he was on David Letterman with a fantastic performance with full band accompaniment. He performed the lead off track “Travel as Equals” which is definitely one of the standout tracks on the album.  ”The only way we can survive, is travel as equals or not at all”  This is an album that will likely stand as his some of his best work ever.  A true return to form and a step forward.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOwK7nCGZD0&w=560&h=315]

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhYU1NOH4Co&w=560&h=315]

 

Once again it is time for the requisite best of lists. As always, I have issues narrowing things down as I tend to like everything. So to start things off, I have the 111 songs that soundtracked 2011 for me. Not necessarily the best songs of the year, but rather the songs that occupied my earballs throughout the year. It seems that there was a lot of garage rock, mellow music, bands with a lot of members, post-dubstep, and bands that sound like old bands. And since I chose a rather large selection of songs, it takes forever to write about and post them, so I will be very brief with most songs, and may even just quote some lyrics for some. I’m lazy like that. – Shaun

111. Ode to Janice Melt – Army Navy
Just can’t get enough of that bouncy piano. A catchy little ditty.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89W1iF0eLVc&w=560&h=315]

110. Too Much Midi (Please Forgive me) – Ford and Lopatin
This retro 80’s synth number apologizes for its awesomeness.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHYyazhBXcw&w=420&h=315]

109. No Church in the Wild – Jay Z, Kanye West, and Frank Ocean
The opener from the most extravagant album of the year. It also happens to be one of the most restrained songs on the album, and it benefits heavily from the presence of Frank Ocean.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ4qVeLMybo&w=560&h=315]
108. Can See Miles – I’m From Barcelona

This 27 member band from Sweden always brings a small to my face. My favourite track from a strong 4th album.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UeBPtSM7K0&w=420&h=315]

107. St. Peter’s Cathedral – Death Cab for Cutie
The way all Death Cab for Cutie songs should be.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r73MxE3d6wQ&w=420&h=315]

106. Morning Thought – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Scattered electronic intro opens into a layered rock track that slowly textures as it progresses. Fantastic song from a great debut.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTdg7Hj9wY&w=560&h=315]

105. Bizness – Tune-Yards
One of the most unique voices in the bizness. My Standout track from a breakout album.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ1LI-NTa2s&w=560&h=315]

104. Sweet – Common
Common is BACK!!! His new album was released just as this list was being made, and it is most definitely a return to form. Also, one of Common’s angriest tracks in awhile

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAo6s94X2sk&w=560&h=315]

103. Tornado ’87 – The Rural Alberta Advantage
The RRA excel at turning Albertan tragedies into love stories.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8hdSF7OzEY&w=560&h=315]

102. Shoulders and Turns – The Belle Game
A simple and pretty song. Harmonies and lots of instruments. What else do you need?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVNmwZ7ul6g&w=560&h=315]

101. Windows are Rolled Down – Amos Lee
Blue Eyed acoustic Soul Americana at its best.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4xY__FoDzY&w=560&h=315]

100. Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men
My favorite new band out of Iceland! Multi-instrumental New Folk that takes a lot of cues from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes. One of the happiest sounding songs of the year.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Dw8qdmT_aY&w=560&h=315]

99. Baby Missiles – The War on Drugs
Having become a fan of Bruce Springsteen in the last 5 years, I have become attracted to bands that are heavily influenced by The Boss. Baby Missiles is an E-Street rocker that brings you right back.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oTxcBElAxo&w=420&h=315]

98. Heart Attack – Raphael Saadiq
Mr. New Jack Swing is a huge part of the great new-soul movement. Just enough old soul and new soul to keep it fresh.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfJe_Cl6CpU&w=560&h=315]

97. Bust-Out Brigade – The Go! Team
The perfect soundtrack to any sports medley. Just enough over-the-top Marching Bandness to be awesome.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCyzdsyDl-E&w=560&h=315]

96. How it Starts – The Features
I could listen to the Features all day. There is a certain energy to their songs, and this song is no different.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh96CaVE2_4&w=420&h=315]

95. I Mind – James Blake
On an album full of non-singles, certain tracks stand out at different times. This is a song that I played over and over on vinyl for a few days in a row. This one is all about the layers of samples that build and overlap and separate and then rebuild and the fracture and then attack with a glitchy drum loop that draws you in deeper.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyb9LNLIJd0&w=560&h=315]

94. Feeding Line – Boy & Bear
This Australian band picks up the space that Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers left by not releasing an album this year. This infectious new folk song builds perfectly.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AeKD2oHrFg&w=560&h=315]

93. The Birds (Part 1) – The Weeknd
One of the biggest surprise debuts of the year was the Weeknd. Releasing 3 freely released albums (Mixtapes) that dominated the year. The Birds was part of the second mixtape, which may be the least exciting of the three. However, The Birds was the perfect centerpiece to the album, focused around a dirty martial drum beat that develops and crescendos in just the right parts.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_YyRBYZjM&w=560&h=315]

92. No Harm – The Boxer Rebellion
A haunting slow burner. ‘Nuff said.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlxiOGTIV0A&w=420&h=315]

91. Jessica Jalbert – Paris Green
A Local Edmonton Artist that I recently discovered that embraces the lazy female led rock of the 60’s and 90’s.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2qDwSPSE_8&w=560&h=315]

90. Fuck it. You Win. – Hanni El Khatib
Garage blues rock that sounds like the Black Keys first albums. It also reminds me of what Kris might sound like if he sung some garage rock.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2qDwSPSE_8&w=560&h=315]

89. Baby’s Arms – Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile’s gorgeous opener sets the pace for his brilliantly understated album. His interesting delivery and flourishes set him apart from the standard acoustic fare.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63KB-EJKdyI&w=560&h=315]

88. The Valley – Okkervil River
One of my favorite Okkervil River songs in a very long time. It has an intensity that I didn’t think that they were capable of.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCAAceeWA_Q&w=420&h=315]

87. Black Leaf – The Cave Singers
Another intense burner that sounds like the guitar was routed through a carboard box. Rough and Raw.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJPoPkoKRGc&w=560&h=315]

86. Helen/I’m on Fire – Felix Riebl
Another Springsteen influence that touches on his more acoustic phase. The delicate beauty of Helen segues so perfectly into the subdued cover of I’m on Fire.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MxzuYCMx_c&w=420&h=315]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHS8RKAos80&w=420&h=315]

85. Love the way you walk away – Blitzen Trapper
This song soundtracked a small moment in the TV series Chuck, and it stuck out enough to be played over and over and over. The best track on a varied album.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Go8yeUSV4g&w=420&h=315]

84. The Round – Pickwick
Pickwick is just one of those artist’s that I can’t get enough of. Unfortunately, there are only 6 tracks that they released this year. This is a perfect hybrid of classic soul and the new folk sound.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5xN3_OWuZc&w=560&h=315]

83. Graveyard – Feist
What all Feist songs need is mournful horns. I just can’t get enough of the last half of this song, it could have fit on Bon Iver’s new album.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-xJ-2DHgFA&w=420&h=315]

82. This is Why We Fight – The Decemberists
My Dad likes to listen to the Satellite Radio upstairs while I work downstairs and listen to my music and movies. I would always pause my stuff to hear this song.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLSOzcEQjiE&w=560&h=315]

81. Trust Me – The Streets
The second last song on Mike Skinner’s final album as The Streets. A nicely paced cadence overtop a sampled 80’s soul groove. Exiting on a high note.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsW8J_vuAko&w=560&h=315]

80. Rumour has it – Adele
Adele’s sophomore debut was riddled with hits, and this one is one of the more lively ones.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgJyoKUHzpQ&w=560&h=315]

79. Without You – Rainbow Arabia
Mix tribal rhythms with the Knife-style vocals and you have the potential for greatness. Kris introduced me to this fantastic band.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1U7M6DHKpY&w=420&h=315]

78. Cinema – Benny Benassi
Pure pop with a dubstep influence. Very guilty, and very addictive.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k01lcSB0-g&w=560&h=315]

77. As Bright as Your Night Light – Nerves Junior
This Kentucky band relies on it’s rock and electronic influences to create a sound that is heavily in sync with today’s scene, yet still sounds original. An all around mid-tempo rocker.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_adFQMZrG0]

76. My Body – Young Giant
“My Body tells me no, But I won’t quit, Because I want more”. A huge dance number at the Sasquatch festival.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYpF2pCkLI&w=560&h=315]

75. Move On – Bing Ji Ling
This member of the Phenomenal Handclap Band, releases a fantastic retro sounding soul album under the moniker Bing Ji Ling (Mandarin for Ice Cream). This one sounds like it is straight out of the Motown era.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oGto1uiB50&w=420&h=315]

74. 2 Hearts – Digitalism
This German Electro-house Duo released this catchy track that borrows heavily from the dance-punk scene of the last few years.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppRQEXhNC-o&w=560&h=315]

73. Truth – Alexander
Whistling makes music fun. The dude from Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes whistles his way into our heads on his solo release.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9yibUR5KNI&w=560&h=315]

72. Shuffle a Dream – Little Dragon
If we had to pick our favourite non-North American country to source music from it would be a close call for me between Iceland and Sweden. This band from Sweden features the always-intriguing vocal affectations of lead singer Yukimi Nagano. This song was also featured on Gossip Girl, which I of course overheard as my wife was watching.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD65vfuNhI8&w=560&h=315]

71. Ya Messinagh – Tinariwen (Feat. Dirty Dozen Brass Band)
This track comes from an album recorded in a desert in Algeria. The raw and acoustic Tuareg sounds features a brilliant horn accompaniment from the great dirty dozen brass band. Some of the best sounds out of Africa in a long time, or from anywhere for that matter.

70. Eleven – Thao and Mirah (Feat. Tune-Yards)
A collaboration between Thao (and the Get Down Stay Down) and Mirah. This album was produced by Merrill of Tune-Yards and this track features her contributions quite obviously. Three multi-talented female voices combined in one kickass track.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m0IEC6Q4QM&w=420&h=315]

69. Think You Can Wait – The National (Feat. Sharon Van Etten)
From the disheartening movie Win Win, The National do what they do best. Melancholy. Sharon Van Etten’s contributions add to the melancholy and beautify this simple track.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx3PW1mqadA&w=560&h=315]

68. Perth – Bon Iver
This track sets the stage for Bon Iver’s transitory album. A song that builds upon Bon Iver’s past and explodes with a fervor that only his live shows hinted at. Martial drums hint at what is to come. And then it arrives. A clear standout on the album, and in his live show.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3GN9CqxKAY&w=560&h=315]

67. Gathering Stories – Jonsi
This year saw Jonsi relatively quiet. His band Sigur Ros released a live film and accompanying album, and he scored/soundtracked the movie “We Bought a Zoo”. This song co-written with Film Master Cameron Crowe somehow manages to make Jonsi even more cinematic.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyKK55SUqDk&w=560&h=315]

66. For 12 – Other Lives
This song is almost like a cross between post-rock and classic country road songs. Maybe its just that one rolling guitar lick, and the jangly acoustic, and the rambling feel of the track. And those ambient string swells overtop. Or its all in my mind. Either way. A song I enjoyed all year, and loved live.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWMqgeIDJs8&w=560&h=315]

65. The Sound – jesh de rox
I first heard this song live and acoustic in my Dad’s living room. It was one of those experiences that is hard to explain. Then came this updated studio version that sounds like it was produced by Coldplay. Its over-the-top production transforms the song completely, and somewhat appropriately. There will always be two versions to me, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

[bandcamp track=807628007 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

64. Shuffle – Bombay Bicycle Club
I love me some piano, and this partially shattered piano loop has me hooked. I like this new direction they are headed on.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDuif301F-8&w=560&h=315]

63. Half Moon – Blind Pilot
On an album full of songs I became enchanted by, it’s hard to select favorites. The deluxe edition came with a t-shirt with “Hold high how faint your reason” taken from this song. A classic Blind Pilot track that makes me feel good inside. Also featured in a Chuck Episode this season.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68EIBy9Z-ew&w=420&h=315]

62. Life is Life – Noah and The Whale
As with Blind Pilot, I had trouble choosing favorites from this album as well. This song resonated with me on several levels. A song about reinvention. About moving forward.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HKdXbTI49U&w=560&h=315]

61. Wildfire – SBTRKT
The UK Bass Dj featured different vocalists on his breakout album. This track features Yukimi from Little Dragon. This is Bass music for the masses.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-LEiOzXHWM&w=560&h=315]

60. 1 + 1 – Beyonce
Never been a huge Beyonce fan, but when you combine The Dream and have him rip off Purple Rain, you got gold, err, purple.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaasJ44O5lI&w=560&h=315]

59. Go Outside – Cults
The perfect summer anthem.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAM9diyVRiM&w=560&h=315]

58. Future Starts Slow – The Kills
This album is killer. Loaded with great songs. This one stands out because of the pounding drums, the simple guitar riffs, and the competing vocals.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLjuRG3hoE&w=560&h=315]

57. Original Don – Major Lazer
This single released ahead of the album due in 2012 is a very promising sign. The dance anthem of December!!! Run the Track!!!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKKdJoXF7PI&w=560&h=315]

56. Summer Home – Typhoon
A close second to “Honest Truth”, Summer Home is pure large band heaven. Horns, strings, keys, guitars, multiple drums. This band has it all. A camping favorite for me.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IrsZ65TacE&w=560&h=315]

55. She Will – Lil Wayne feat. Drake
Lil Wayne and Drake together will almost always work out perfectly. They seem to be made for each other. By far my favorite track on IV.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7nYuyfkjCk&w=560&h=315]

54. Serve the People – Handsome Furs
Clearly an 80’s inspired synth-rocker. But, clearly more than that as well. A very anthemic song that soundtracked the last half of the year. Parts of it sound like it was recorded on Bebot.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIKeQTjeo0M&w=560&h=315]

53. Near Light – Ólafur Arnalds
Ólafur Arnalds decided to record a song each day in his living room. The result is a short EP that exudes beauty at every turn. What makes Near Light stand out from the rest is the burst of electronics and beats that migrate into the last half of the song. It’s the perfect song for a late night in the living room.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHVh_L_kv1Q&w=560&h=315]

52. Helplessness Blues – Fleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues is obviously Fleet Foxes. But something about it feels different.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyP0DACgdgc&w=560&h=315]

51. Video Games – Lana Del Rey
Could there be any more hype around this girl? She seems to polarize listeners, but her sultry voice and her nouveau retro sound are striking. “I hear that you like the bad girls honey, is that true?”.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO1OV5B_JDw&w=560&h=315]

50. Atlas Hands – Benjamin Francis Leftwich
“I will remember your face, because I am still in love with that place”. A gorgeous single from a strong debut album.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyue2N1XZ0M&w=560&h=315]

49. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (feat. Ray Dalton)
Just let the rhythm grab you. This song is so sonically captivating you just can’t help but move.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KngfGA9oenI&w=560&h=315]

48. Out on a Limb – Joseph Arthur
“Hanging out on a limb in plain sight.” A plaintively beautiful acoustic track with subtle string accompaniment.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtVRQjGXzOg&w=560&h=315]

47. What the Water Gave Me – Florence and The Machine
From an album that shows no restraint, this is a song that doesn’t apologize for its bombast. It begins with hints, and like all great Florence songs, it builds until it wraps you whole and then squashes you.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am6rArVPip8&w=560&h=315]

46. You and I – Washed Away
Washed Away’s album is one you put on from start to finish and just relish in its simplicity. But You and I is one of the tracks that stands on its own. A playlister so to speak. At times it sounds like the record just isn’t keeping up, but that is part of its charm.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoN2IvLlK8w&w=420&h=315]

45. Time – Black Lips
Every time this song comes on I am reminded of the early Beatles recordings.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JGydfoQcRQ&w=420&h=315]

44. Dig Down Deep – Vandaveer
Vandaveer are one of the best bands in the new folk movement. Their sound is traditional and bold. Forward thinking, but strongly rooted in the past. Dig Down Deep is laden with harmonies. It rises and falls, swells and recedes.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kLylyZciMg&w=560&h=315]

43. Lucky Now – Ryan Adams
A song about the passing of his former band mate. Heartbreaking Ryan Adams at his best. “And the night will break your heart, but only if you’re lucky now.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp064T7rQSk&w=560&h=315]

42. How Deep is Your Love? – The Rapture
This 6.5 minute dance anthem captivates. The religious overtones never overpower the groove.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTIKffFPFv0&w=560&h=315]

41. Rolling in the Deep (XX Remix) – Adele (feat. Childish Gambino)
Rolling in the Deep was everywhere this year. A song you just couldn’t escape. Jamie from the XX remixed it into a dancey claptastic affair, and then Childish Gambino added his own touches with a verse at the end. After getting sick of the original, this version brought back my love.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkTMj0McIvc&w=420&h=315]

40. The Wolves – Ben Howard
This is the song that introduced me to Ben Howard, and it remains the one I just can’t get enough of. It has a shuffle feel that reminds me of a train rolling through the countryside, and the vocal inflections in the howls and when he pushes his voice to the edge elevate the song to a new height.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLQaGEI5D2Q&w=560&h=315]

39. Buckjump – Trombone Shorty
I have always been a fan of horns, and this track is an exercise in mostly instrumental horn-based hip-hop. Funky fun.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSD8iFtkE1Q&w=560&h=315]

38. Freaks and Geeks – Childish Gambino
Donald Glover returns to the list only 3 tracks later. This comedian/actor/writer/rapper released an EP and an LP this year. The LP was too much of the same, but the earlier released EP featured this great track. A very explicit track like all of his, but this one features some of the best pop-culture based rhymes in a very long time.

37. East Harlem – Beirut
A beautiful track from a beautiful album. “Another rose wilts in East Harlem, and uptown, downtown, a thousand miles between us.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzORRh6lzg4&w=420&h=315]

36. So Much for Love – Gramatik
Sample-based instrumental electronic glory.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C56h08hMLnM&w=560&h=315]

35. Sophia – Laura Marling
A different approach for Laura Marling on this album, and this song showcases her new sound. A progression from her last album into a more band oriented feel, this song builds throughout the first half into a country-folk jam when the band joins in.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-TMl5oCRjk&w=560&h=315]

34. County Line – Cass McCombs
Cass McCombs released a very quiet album this year. County Line is not only one of the best songs on that album, but one of the best of the year. It borrows heavily from 80’s Hall and Oates era instrumentation, but sounds like a song that could’ve been written in the 70’s, yet not feeling out of place in 2011. It is a song that latches onto your soul, pulling it in and down. “You never really tried to love me, whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOcnITphyjk&w=560&h=315]

33. Lady Luck – Jamie Woon
More UK Bass music up on the list. Jamie Woon’s brand features his silky smooth soul/R&B vocals overtop a polished sampled beat.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsfGhEqnXE&w=560&h=315]

32. Tongue Tied – Grouplove
Grouplove released a killer EP last year that hinted at what was to come this year. Tongue Tied perfectly embodies their sound. Upbeat, fun, interesting indie-pop. Also featured in a iPod touch commercial later in the year. “Don’t take me tongue tied, Don’t wave no goodbye”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x1wjGKHjBI&w=560&h=315]

31. Rolled Together – The Antlers
The Antlers returned this year with more sad songs. “Rolled together with a burning paper heart” is repeated throughout overtop a bed of Sigur Ros sounding layers.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utLtAU9uCNk&w=560&h=315]

30. Numbers in Action – Wiley
One of the catchiest tracks by Wiley off his great LP. After a few listens, you will be singing the hook nearly every time someone says numbers. “I wanna see numbers in action”.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkYJuv82ME0&w=560&h=315]

29. Losers – The Belle Brigade
An anthem for accepting yourself, even if you are a loser. “Don’t care about being a winner, Or being smooth with women, Or going out on Fridays, Being the life of parties, no, no more, no.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0-HLG7Dxec&w=560&h=315]

28. We Lay in Caves – Campfire OK
I find it hard to pinpoint what it is exactly that really draws me into this song. It has all of my favorite elements in it, but I think it is the way that they all mix together. A song I found myself playing a lot as I drove alone.

[bandcamp track=649571538 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=venti]

27. Houdini – Foster the People
After the huge success of last years “Pumped up Kicks”, Foster the People became a household name. This was a song that my wife and I would dance to in the kitchen in the summer when we were BBQing up some dinner.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DHXXZP2L7w&w=420&h=315]

26. I’m Getting Ready – Michael Kiwanuka
This is a lazy soulful number that reminds me of Otis Redding and Bill Withers with a hint of James Taylor. It takes you back a few decades, and puts a smile on your face.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFXKb491QcQ&w=560&h=315]

25. Twins – Gem Club
My roommate came home to me laying on the couch in the dark listening to this track. She then proclaimed it to be the most depressing song she has ever heard. But I just hear the beauty of the song. It sounds like it is being performed right in your living room. The echoey piano and foot pedals are accompanied by mournful cello and horns and then there is that Dexter-ish fill that gives you chills. Best heard in the dark.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn7vYoZcKxw&w=560&h=315]

24. Novacane – Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean is going to be big in 2012. The best R&B of the year was all released free online, and this picks up on a similar sound to The Weeknd. Sexually explicit and drugged up R&B for the masses. “Cocaine for breakfast, yikes”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMfPJT4XjAI&w=560&h=315]

23. Lonely Boy – The Black Keys
The Black Keys are back with what may be the catchiest song they have ever done. Watch the video, and try not to dance along.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8&w=560&h=315]

22. Need you Now – Cut Copy
Need you Now is classic Cut Copy. And that is a great thing.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2xovJyBo-0&w=560&h=315]

21. Rivers and Roads – The Head and the Heart
A live staple for the Head and the Heart that got released on the 2011 SubPop rerelease of one of my favorite albums of 2010. A great addition.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AclhwQKlgfw&w=560&h=315]

20. Get Some – Lykke Li
Lykke Li’s sound changed significantly this year. Get Some is the anthem of the new sound. A little more grown up. A lot more sultry, sexy and dirty. I like it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TTPGAy5H_E&w=560&h=315]

19. Little by Little – Radiohead
I listened to “The King of Limbs” a lot this year. And this was the song I always came back to. It wouldn’t seem out of place on any of their last 5 releases.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDpiJ7cyWz4&w=560&h=315]

18. Crystalline (Omar Souleyman Remix) – Bjork and Omar Souleyman
Iceland meets Syria. Bjork’s Biophilia album felt flat. It was unique, but it felt cold and calculated. Omar Souleyman remixed 3 of the tracks from the album. The remix of Crystalline elevates it to something that has energy and even picks up the uniqueness quotient. Best Bjork track in awhile.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPXZ-NPEjvk&w=420&h=315]

17. It’s Real – Real Estate
This one of those songs that you just like and don’t know why. It has a hidden charm.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HWcViTXdYc&w=560&h=315]

16. We are Young – fun. (Feat Janelle Monae)
Somehow fun. have become popular. They toured with Janelle Monae, get played on the radio, and were covered on Glee. This is the song that changed things for them. An advance single from their album due to be released on my birthday in February. As mentioned earlier it features some of my favorite storytelling set to song this year, and they just released a new video for it.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts&w=560&h=315]

15. Laut – Lockerbie
Icelandic post-rock bliss.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdlwdCC4ff0&w=560&h=315]

14. Dirty Paws – Of Monsters and Men
3 of the last 5 songs are from Iceland. Of Monsters and Men released a fantastic debut album this year that borrows heavily from American sounds. I just can’t get enough of Dirty Paws and its animal story.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP4DAlKocIY&w=420&h=315]

13. Niggas in Paris – Jay Z and Kanye West
Best hip hop track of the year. That Shit Kray!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXMJ-V6MCzw&w=560&h=315]

12. Blue Jeans – Lana Del Rey
Taken from her upcoming album to be released January 31st, another slow burner that sounds fresh and timeless. “I will love you til the end of time”.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t-I-Lqy06g&w=560&h=315]

11. I Don’t Know – Kassidy
A classic premise. The getting over you song. But really, can you stop singing along to this? I don’t know. Harmonies, claps, and sing-alongs.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L0Xlr3bAS4&w=560&h=315]

10. Hacienda Motel – Pickwick
A soulful number about the death of Soul legend Sam Cooke. Live versions are fuelled by bring your own tambourine moments and jazz hands.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRpo2zWZ6lc&w=560&h=315]

09. Wicked Games – The Weeknd
Rough and Raw R&B fuelled by more sex and drugs. Another popular theme in music… I am so depressed that I just need you to pretend to love me. A theme that Frightened Rabbit has perfected. “So tell me you love me, Only for tonight, Even though you don’t love me.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9PuAm7d0PA&w=560&h=315]

08. Get Away – Yuck
This song take me back to high school. A time when rock was noisy, and feedback and distortion were used in abundance. “I want to but I can’t get this feeling off my mind, I want to, I need to.”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz7vyrFhFE8&w=560&h=315]

07. We are the Tide – Blind Pilot
A simple acoustic rhythm guitar repeated over a lumbering elephant-sounding drum, fleshed out by pedal steel, harmonies, trumpet and harmonies. A sweet and simple song that just makes you feel good. “Everybody on the street is singing like it’s a Sunday”

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZzfAWcHZns&w=420&h=315]

06. Heart is a Beating Drum – The Kills
Back when I was a kid listening to Nine Inch Nails, I always wanted to use odd everyday samples as rhythms in Rock music. One of those was Ping-Pong balls. Heart is a beating drum uses Ping-Pong samples so perfectly its crazy. “It’s not the door you’re using, but the way you’re walking through it”.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0td9a-0cMv0&w=420&h=315]

05. Tonight’s the Kind of Night – Noah and the Whale
One of those perfect pop songs. A story of transition. A catchy chorus. A timeless sound. This was my anthem for the year.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDudIT93m_s&w=560&h=315]

04. Midnight City – M83
The pieces of this song come together so well to create a song that is pure 2011. It’s a song to dance to. To run to. To drive to. It’s a song that just fits the year perfectly.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmtq_MfOs6E&w=560&h=315]

03. The Honest Truth – Typhoon
A complete reworking and rebuild of last year’s “Mouth of the Cave” that turns the 45 second acapella interlude into a 4-minute new-folk anthem. This is a song that dominated the year. One I came back to several times a month.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHRFhLxuLj8&w=560&h=315]

02. Holocene – Bon Iver
One of the most beautiful sounding songs in a very long time. Seemingly nonsensical lyrics that appear to support the music that builds upon layer upon layer. “…And at once I knew I was not magnificent” A song that stands on its own and supports the magnificent album it hails from.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcyIpul8OE&w=560&h=315]

01. The Wilhelm Scream – James Blake
This song came as a surprise to me. It somehow steals you away from everything else. Blake’s voice has enough sorrow and soul and emotion to captivate you and make you feel what he feels, yet it is purposefully detached as well. And then there is the minimalist beat throughout layered with electronic and organic sounds that eventually erupt into a cacophony of sound that shrinks the world around you, bringing you in deeper. Then it releases you in a flash, and you return, wishing you could go back in.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVgEaDemxjc&w=560&h=315]

Thanks for paying attention. Stay tuned for the best albums of the year.

-Shaun

With last year’s unfortunate passing of Jay Reatard, we were left with a void in our musical hearts. Jay Reatard’s music was raw and passionate and brought me back to the 90′s when raw garage pop was at it’s best. He and his music can never be replaced, but the new London band Yuck picks up where he left off, perhaps less frenetic and more focused. Yuck is essentially a bunch of kids around the age of 20 that make awesome music that reminds me of my teenage years. It’s melodic and catchy. It’s noisy and raw. It’s fun and it’s angry. Their debut album is a prime contender for top 5 album of the year for me.

I was first drawn in by the album opener “get away” and it’s accompanying video. It has a sense of urgency and immediacy that so much music lacks. The bass in the forefront and the distorted vocals back in the mix instantly bring you back a decade and a half, but still sounds fresh and new.

Other highlights include “Shook Down” with a guitar lick that reminds me a lot of one of my favorite bands from the 90′s. dada. It’s like a cross between the riffs from”Surround” and “Scum”.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qabk8xWiPHw&w=640&h=390]

“Holing Out” is another gritty rocker, whereas “Suicide Policeman” is among the best of the quieter tunes.

The awesome people over at Daytrotter have a 4 song live ep that is well worth downloading. So make sure you grab it and check out their other recent sessions like the great “Fitz and the Tantrums” and “Junip”.

- Shaun

And Part III of the list.  For part one and two click them.  Tomorrow, my top songs!

20 – Sleigh Bells – Treats

This album Kicks.  HARD! Every song except one is over the top in your face pounding noise.  And it works.  Right from the get go your speakers and head get a workout.  Full of great melodies, hooks, and Bass!  Turn it up and Enjoy!!!

19 – Angus & Julia Stone – Down the Way

This Australian duo provides catchy mid-tempo rootsy tracks that are full of soul.  The songs trade featuring vocalists and blend together as well creating a great mix of the two artists.  A great album to work to.

18 – Antony and the Johnsons – Swanlights

Once again Antony provides an amazing album of standout tracks that showcase his incomparable voice.  On swanlights the arrangements are a little sparser at times, showcasing the songs themselves a bit more.  The duet with Bjork is worth checking out on its own.

17 – The Black Keys – Brothers

I have to admit, I was disappointed at first with this album, but with each persistent listen I grew to realize how mistaken I was.  This is an album of varied styles all familiar to the Black Keys fans, capitalizing on their talents.

16 – Local Natives – Gorilla Manor

I am not sure what it is about this album, but it charms its way into your head and heart.  It’s an album with great singles and repeated listenability.  But its hard to describe why.  Sometime things are just really good.

15 – Lissie – Catching a Tiger

Catching a tiger is the follow up to her promising EP from last year.  This album would have placed higher if it were a more focused album, however the variety lends to showcase her varied talents.  If you get a chance, check out some of her live hip hop covers.  Well worth the listen.

14 – Junip – Fields

Jose Gonzalez and Company return with an EP and LP this year proving that there is more to Jose than really mellow acoustic songs.  But don’t expect it to rock hard.  The songs on “Fields” are like a more fleshed out solo Jose album.  And they put on an amazing live performance as well.

13 – Vampire Weekend – Contra

Some people expressed dissatisfaction with this Vampire Weekend outing.  However, I found it to be a great progression of styles for the band.  Contra is full of great single-worthy songs and the rest accompany it quite nicely.  But Vampire Weekend seem to be one of those love em or hate em bands.

12 – Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More

This is the album that rekindled my love for banjo music.  This band hails from the same region as Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale.  I am not sure what is in the water out there, but the talent it produces is inspiring.  “Sigh no more” is an album of Banjo and guitar lead rockers mixed with a few of the mellower sorts.  It was hard to escape “Lion faced boy” this year with good reason

11 – The Head and the Heart – The Head and the Heart

A strong and surprising debut from this Seattle Quartet.  This album is all about harmonies.  The Head.  And The Heart.  This was the album I went to the most when I was working.  It has a great emotional quality to it and their intimate live renditions (available online) are mind blowing.

10 – Yeasayer – Odd Blood

A huge departure for this Brooklyn Band that worked amazingly.  Odd Blood is full of huge songs.  Grand statements.  Massive dancers, great lyrics, and rhythms that you just can’t ignore.  Also, the videos for the singles are insane, in a great way.  Where do they go from here?

09 – Jamie Lidell – Compass

Jamie Lidell just can’t release an album similar to his last.  Each seems to be a progression or regression of sorts.  After the very polished and peppy “Jim”, Compass is raw and rough and dark at times.  Beck assisted with the production, and there are a lot more pseudo-organic elements throughout.  But in the end it comes down to the songs.  And there are so many great ones.

08 – The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt/Sometimes the blues is just a passing bird (EP)

This Swede sure has a killer voice.  And he pens some amazing songs to showcase it.  Both of these albums feature mostly acoustic based tunes of prose.  Drawing obvious comparisons to Dylan, this is an album that warrants conscious digestion.

07 – Laura Marling – I Speak because I can

Following her amazing Mercury Prize award nominated debut album, Laura Marling steps out of her boundaries and creates an album that is even more exceptional.  Each song on “I Speak Because I Can” is lyrically strong.  But its the instrumentation and band participation that pushes the album ahead.  Devil’s spoke is the song that we didn’t know Laura was capable of, and Alpha Swallows is the pinnacle of the album.  She was rumoured to release a second album this year, but alas there was none, so here is hoping for one early this year.

06 – Frightened Rabbit – The Winter of Mixed Drinks

This Scottish sad-sap band releases another album of melancholic songs.  Is it better than their last?  Hard to say.  It’s different enough, but similar enough.  Every song on this album is quality.  The perfect accompaniment to a sad day, or when you just feel like it.  “Swim until you see land” may just be their best song to date.

05 – Robyn – Bodytalk Vol. 1-3

Robyn Returns!!! Releasing 3 EPs culminating in a 15 song best of LP she dominated the year with timed output.  It takes talent to appeal to the music critics and the radio.  But Robyn finally seemed to break through this year.  “Dancing on My Own” is the perfect blend of pop music with credibility.  I chose to highlight the 3 EPs as opposed to the final album output as there are more songs, and the compilation is missing some key tracks.  If you get a chance to check her live, do it.  She doesn’t stop dancing!!!  A great year for Robyn!

04 – The Arcade Fire – Suburbs

In a year of fantastic albums, The Arcade Fire come through again.  Suburbs is one of those loosely based concept albums that works.  Nearly every song can stand on its own, but as an album is where it excels.  There are some definite style bumps, and the Bruce Springsteen influence becomes ever more apparent.

03 – The National – High Violet (Expanded Edition)

Following up “Boxer” is no simple task.  But “High Violet” is a worthy accompaniment to their catalog.  Melancholy never sounded better this year.  Every song is great, and my favourite just seems to rotate each listen.  But “Bloodbuzz Ohio” is the first song I heard from it, and the one I go to first.

02 – Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

What hasn’t been said about this album that I can add to the stream of praise?  Kanye’s return is a triumphant one.  Is it perfect? no.  Is it his best album?  perhaps.  Is it great?  Yes.  This is an album that shouldn’t work, but does.  I just wish that the outro to runaway was a separate track, the outro lost in the world was not a separate track, and that Chris Rock skit just didn’t exist.  Full of amazing tracks, this is an album that deserves most of the praise it is receiving.

01 – Jonsi – Go

And yes, the number one album of the year for me is no real surprise.  It is the lead singer of my favourite band’s solo outing.  He put on one of the best live shows I have ever seen.  The album itself is unique.  It stands out.  It explodes with joy!  And it crashes with despair.  It is sparse and crowded.  It is dynamic and visual.  Its sung in English and Icelandic, but the majority of the lyrics are unintelligible.  From the opener Go Do, to the swell of Kolnidur to the sombre closer Hengilas.  Go is a journey of emotions through instruments.  Nico Muhly’s arrangements add a lushness and extravagance to the album.  Rarely is an album so visually uplifting and sad at the same time.  Go is the album that dominated 2010 for me.

Thanks

-Shaun

And as promised here is part II of III of my Favourite albums of the year.  For part I click here.  Part III to arrive tomorrow.

40 – The Cat Empire – Cinema

This is perhaps the horniest album on the list.  And by that I mean it is loaded with horns.  And hooks.  Supposedly they are a ska band, but I don’t get that vibe from this album.  This Australian group packs in a pile of energetic songs filled with groove that gets you going from the inside out.  Reminds me of some mid 70′s groove based classic rock at times.

39 – Gogol Bordello – Trans-Continental Hustle

If you ever get a chance to see these guys, go.  Their live performances are killer and crushingly energetic.  This album on the other hand shows some form of restraint, and I think it is better for it.  A slightly less punk album than its predecessors, but it still gets you dancing.  The best slavic punk band out there.

38 – David Ford – Let the hard times roll

Another stellar release from David Ford.  This East Sussex singer put out another album full of genre hopping rock that covers subjects of life, love, and politics. Maybe not as flawless as his first solo release, but definitely a standout.

37 – The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang

A band I discovered early last year, these Jersey boy pump out some ounce influenced american style rock.  Their Bruce Springsteen influences are hard to ignore, and just like the Boss this album is a more complex progression from from their previous release.  The songs have become more elaborate and more varied, making for a more satisfying listening experience.

36 – Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon II:  The legend of Mr. Rager

An album that was not well received critically, but I couldn’t stop listening to it.  It’s hard to classify this as hip hop or rap sometimes, but this is a mellow stoner rap album that just slinks into your head.  This is an album that can be played front to back without missing a single radio hit.

35 – For a Minor Reflection – Höldum í átt að óreiðu

The second of 4 Icleandic artists/bands on the list.  This is an exciting post rock outfit consisting of 4 men in their young 20′s.  This album is a sonic journey that builds and swells, and crashes, then comes back down only to rebuild and repeat several times.  And right in the middle is dansi dans, a lovely pliancy piano number.  Recommended if you like the heavy instrumental passages of Sigur Ros, or Mogwai.

34 – Gorillaz – Plastic Beach

One of 2 releases this year (the other on Christmas Day) by Gorillaz.  This is a pseudo concept album about the plight of the earth that just happens to have a lot of great songs on it.  Less overtly poppy than previous albums, this is an album that took awhile to grow on me.  Enjoy the mellow synths and slow beats and think about what we are doing to the planet.

33 – Dax Riggs – Say Goodnight to the World

This year is the first I have heard of Dax.  He produces some dark sludgy songs that haunt your soul.  This album fills the place in me that Danzig’s “IV” filled 15 years ago, but a little less dark.  Not an album to smile to, but it definitely has a place.  Say goodnight to the world.

32 – Gayngs – Relayted

A 70/80′s easy listening revivalist supergroup.  Hell Ya!!!  All those songs that you were forced to listen to on the easy listening stations (specifically 10cc’s “I’m not in love”) seem to be the main influence of this band created by Ryan Olson features an autotuned Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, members of Megafaun, Rhymesayers, and a collection of Jazz hornsmiths.  This is an album that makes the 80′s seem cool again.

31 – The Dream – Love King

And on the topic of the 80′s, this is the album that Prince would have made had he still been in his 20′s today.  Direct referencing and emulating 80′s Prince at times, this sprawling and lush album of sexy R&B comes out dripping and doesn’t stop.  This is sexy R&B done right.  Whereas most music of this style is straightforward, this album boasts a complexity and precision that is seldom seen.  The back to back combo of “Yamaha” and “Nikki Pt. 2″ is the strong standout of this album full of sweaty romps.

30 – Deer Tick – The Black Dirt Sessions

This alt-countryish band lets it all out on this release of songs recorded along side their fantastic album “Born on Flag Day”.  Full of raw and naked songs this album will leave you hurting inside.  The almost unbearably sad song “Goodbye, Dear Friend” is as somber as they come, and that voice sure knows how to emote despair.

29 – Girl Talk – All Day

In complete contrast to the previous album on the list is Girl Talk.  Girl Talk for those who don’t know is what would happen if you took all the fun songs in the world, through them into a bottle, shook it, and sprayed it.  It is pure mashup goodness.  This is what you put on when you want to dance, or roadtrip.  Hip hop and pop/rock never sounded so good together.  And since this is his third album it doesn’t sound as innovative as it did 3 years ago, but man is it awesome.

28 – Broken Bells – Broken Bells

Danger Mouse and James Mercer of the Shins side project is not surprisingly really good.  A logical combination of the two talents yields a number of great tracks and a very cohesive album that exudes summer and a beer.

27 – Josh Ritter – So Runs the World Away

Another fantastic album from this folky singer that shows a strong progression with the band.  As always his songs tells great stories and evoke memories of the past.  This album took me a good month to really grasp, and after seeing him in concert for the third time the album really showed it’s strengths.

26 – Olafur Arnalds – …And they have escaped the weight of Darkness…

The third icelandic artist on the list is Olafur Arnalds.  He blends classical piano and strings with minimalistic electronics to create sweeping pieces that develop into your mind.  You can’t help but imagine and create landscapes of swirling colours like in fantasia.  This was an album I listened to while working, driving, reading, sleeping, or whenever I needed a creative boost.  We also got a chance to see him twice in Iceland.

25 – Drew Grow and the Pastor’s Wives – Drew Grow and the Pastor’s Wives

The first clangs of the opener show off the gospel roots that are inherent throughout this debut album from this Portland band.  The second track then picks up the roots and slams it hard with a raucous crunchy anthem laden with harmonies.  Drew Grow knows how to play songs that range from mellow acoustic number to electric bluesy romps and they fill them all with soul.  Building to the closer featuring some of the best harmonies of the year.

24 – Tunng – …And then we saw land

This was an album that surprised me.  The opener “hustle” is a song that I just couldn’t shake all year.  It’s opening piano bits that leads into the acoustic guitar then yields into the fantastic banjo roll, and then the tambourine, and then the harmonic vocals.  It’s a pop masterpiece.  The rest of the album continues in the multi-instrumental sound and builds in different textures creating an album that feels organic and evokes feelings of autumn.

23 – Fyfe Dangerfield – Fly Yellow Moon

Former lead singer of the Guillemots released this album early in the year.  The majority of this album is straightforward British rock music that wouldn’t sound out of place on the guillemots albums.  But its the 4 out of left field tracks that lift this album above the standard fare.  Most notably is “When you walk in the room” that exudes so much happiness that is had a place in our wedding ceremony.  You just can’t help but strut when this song comes on.  And “faster than the setting sun” and “she needs me” keep the momentum going.

22 – Big Boi – Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

Proof that Outkast could be a successful one man show.  This release is full of hip hop anthems.  Full.  Nearly every song is huge and pushed to the limit.  This is southern hip hop to the extreme.  Big Boi’s unique delivery coupled with at least one guest on nearly every track allow the album to stay fresh and yields multiple listens.  Add in the numerous standouts that work on their own and you have a classic album that should hold it’s ground for a few years to come.

21 – Fistful of Mercy – As I call you down

This supergroup featuring Ben Harper, Joseph Arthur, and Dhani Harrison wrote and recorded nine songs in 2 days.  The result is an album that showcases the talents of all three artists and ends up being very rootsy and bluesy.  The all acoustic gutter based numbers feature harmonies and subtle embellishments that add to to the sparseness.

-Shaun

So it is that time of the year again.  We evaluate and reevaluate all the music that we have consumed in the last 12 months, and then we try to put an arbitrary order to it.  It seems to me that each year seems to get harder for me.  It may not be that there was that much more great music per se, but that with this new technology around us that we have so much more exposure to different music.  My list isn’t necessarily a list of the “Best” music, because it is too subjective.  These are my favourite albums.  These are the albums that soundtracked my life for the year of 2010.  Albums that connected to me at the right time.  Some took a long time to get to know, others where quick loves that faded away, and others were classics that will likely remain in my playlist for years to come.

As with Kris, I will be splitting them up for easy consumption.  Unlike Kris I will be starting with Albums instead of Songs.  So here are the first 20 albums of my favourite 60.  Yes 60!!!!  Look for the next 20 to arrive tomorrow.

60 – Sufjan Stevens – Age of Adz

This was one of my most anticipated albums of the year.  I put it on and immediately fell for the opening track “Futile Devices”.  This was what I had been waiting for.  And then that track faded out, and in came some gurgling electronics and weird noises.  I was confused.  But the more listens I gave it, the further up it crept into my head, and onto this list.  It may end up deserving a place further up, but this is where is lies today.

59 – Delorean – Subiza

This album is full of poppy dance/electronic songs that is great for a summer chill session or to listen to when you want to maintain that good mood.  Sounds like what I think summer in Southern Europe would feel like.  This album just beat out CEO for this spot, so be sure to check them out if you like this sound.

58 – Kylesa – Spiral Shadow

A year in which I re-explored the darker side and listened to a lot more Black Metal and Heavy music.  Kylesa ended up winning the battle for me with this fall release.  Although this is far from Black Metal, It was the perfect harmony of melody, angst, chugging rhythms, and mostly comprehensible lyrics.  If you get a chance you should also check out the releases by Nachtmystium and the body.

57 – Maximum Balloon – Maximum Balloon

When this first released I anticipated it to be way further up the list, but here it sits.  David Sitek’s (Tv on the Radio) solo release with loads of guests is immediately grabbing.  It is loaded with great songs, but I just found myself listening to it less and less in the winter making me think its a summer album.  Guests include Karen O, and David Byrne.

56 – Surfer Blood – Astrocoast

Kris mentioned this band to me in November and it turned out I already knew their song “Swim” from a compilation.  So I checked out the rest of this great album and was pleasantly surprised.  I anticipate this to be much further up Kris’ list, and I expect I will agree even more with him later on.  Reminds me of a Vampire Weekend/Beach Boys Hybrid, but better than that sounds.

55 – The Roots – How I got over

This year the Roots put out a great album that I found myself listening to a lot more than it’s predecessors.  Lots of great guests and great songs lead to a great album.  Proving they are more than just the “Best band in Late night”.

54 – She & Him – Volume Two

She & Him are Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward.  They put out pretty retro songs.  This album is full of them.  It is not groundbreaking.  But like Zooey herself, it has this unknown charm that drags you in.  It is just a lovely album of originals and covers that sounds like the good old days I wasn’t around for.

53 – Axiomatik – Ripped Apart… Or So She Seems

The only local band on my list this year.  This is an album that had me singing along on first listen because I recognized them from the live shows.  Tangible melodies, clever writing and a sound that is neither boring nor offensive.  Lead singer Shawn Lamble’s voice also reminds me of the lead singer of the Bluetones, so be sure to check them out as well if you like.  Be sure to check out one of their local gigs in Edmonton, they put on a great show and like to mix things up a bit.

52 – Horse Feathers – Thistled Spring

One of 2 bands from Portland on the list, this album is the perfect accompaniment to a great book, a couch, and a sun filled window.  It has flourishes of strings, jangly piano bits, lovely banjo rolls, and poetic lyrics.  A beautiful album.

51 – Cee Lo green – The Lady Killer

Another highly anticipated album that seemed to disappoint yet managed to stay on the list.  Following the release/leak of 2 songs from the album, I expected this to be up in the top 5 perhaps.  However, there is too much filler to allow it to reside in the upper echelon of the list.  Luckily there are way too many great songs on here to not have it place.  “F*$k you” and the great cover “No One’s gonna Love you” are some of the best of the best pop tracks released this year.

50 – Nico Muhly – I Drank the Air Before Me

Nico is one amazingly talented man.  Whether he is helping create pop masterpieces that grace this years and last years list, scoring a a film, dance or theatre piece, or creating complex classical compositions he hits the mark every time.  “I drank the air before me” is one of two release by him this year on the Decca label.  This album is complex, dark and moody, flitting, and pure genius.  Put this on when you have a chance to appreciate everything it offers.

49 – Seabear – We built a fire

Seabear is an icelandic group that creates luscious multi-instument pop.  One of the bands we were looking forward to in Iceland, they did not disappoint.  Lion face boy is a gem, filled with horns, hushed vocals, and nice violin lines, and the rest of the album follows along in a similar vein.

48 – Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here

Gil returns with a modern day classic.  His first album since 1994 is a combination of classic soul backing with a spoken word quality stream of thoughts and prose put to a unique style of song.  Just don’t let the melodies and rhythms distract you from the words, as he has a to say that is worth listening to.

47 – Titus Andronicus – The Monitor

Sludgy and epic.  Two words that seemingly don’t belong together.  But they describe this album perfectly.  With 4 songs out of nine clocking in at over 7 minutes this is a an album that warrants your attention for a long period of time.  This is not an album you throw on during a dinner party.  Titus Andronicus combines elements of punk, classic rock, sludge, americana, and Bruce Springsteen.  The Monitor is an album that deserves your attention.  Especially tracks like “A Pot in which to piss” and “A more perfect Union”

46 – Get Cape.  Wear Cape.  Fly – Get Cape.  Wear Cape.  Fly

Third album from this English “band” that continues in the same style of his previous releases.  Combing folktronica with new elements and clever compositions this album is a standard progression of sound, and one that keeps things fresh yet familiar.

45 – Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles

A fantastic electronic album.  Any album that samples Sigur Ros deserves to be on this list, but this album is all over the place in a good way.  Filled with dancefloor anthems, experiments, ambient, and pop tracks this is one album that does not disappoint on the variety scale.  Check out “Year of Silence” (feat sigur Ros), Celestica, or their new hit “Not in Love” with Robert Smith.

44 – The Mynabirds – What we lose in the fire we gain in the flood

As featured earlier on the blog, “what we lose…” is a folky album that harkens the sounds of classic 70′s folk pop of neil young and others of that ilk.  Perfect music for a rainy day.

43 – Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid

This is a strong debut for this eclectic R&B singer.  With varied production and guests this is an album that fuses the different generations of soul music and pushes things forward more than most current R&B Artists, yet pays homage to the originators.  One of the more funky pop albums of the year.  Also be sure to check out her performance of “Let’s go Crazy” at the BET Awards show.

42 – Reflection Eternal – Revolutions per Minute

This Collab between Talib Kwelli and Hi-Tek is the first release in 9 years and is just as good as their release in 2001.  One of the best hip hop albums of the year, they rarely miss on this 17 track album.  Clever and meaningful rhymes, excellent production, and hooks galore.

41 – Hot Chip – One Life Stand

This new release from Hot Chip is a slight departure from their great 2008 release.  But it does not disappoint.  Half of the album is overtly dancey while the other tracks are of the mellower brit pop variety.  A good combination of paces to keep things interesting.  The addition of Steel Drums is an interesting texture for the album as well.  “I feel better” is a dominant standout with a fantastic video” and “One life stand” is an album definer.

Stay tuned for Part  II