top 10 albums of the year: #9

9.


Trust - Joyland


Toronto artist Robert Alfons' first solo foray (his cohort Maya Postepski left for Austra) hits both melancholy and buoyant strides. Populated with nods to Kon Khan, sound effects (birdsong, bleeps, atonal cries), wintry strings, acidic synths, Alfons' low-register vocals and beaming beats, the album is a glowing electro reverie.

"I write music that has to be emotional, so it starts from there. That's what gets me excited to make music in the first place. I'm not a gear nerd, I'm not somebody who sits around and pours over that. I would rather write melodies and songs and build it from that point." -Alfons (of Trust)

painful like

New single from Austra.

home

Video for Austra's "Home."

tu(n)esday!

New single from Austra...





Molly...





Around you...





Sunset...





The Rhye album is great! Here's the opener...





What a bad day (it's been going through my head)...





Wings...





Mix tape from D E N A...

top 10 albums of 2011

Here are my Top 10 Albums of 2011.

10.
James Blake - Enough Thunder (EP) & James Blake

Two extraordinary works by electro prodigy Blake featuring his swoony, not-of-this-earth vocals.

9.
Adele - 21

The unlikely pop smash of the year.  A breath of fresh air: well-written ballads, gorgeous, emotional vocals; a smoky version of The Cure's "Lovesong."

8.
Austra - Feel It Break


A throwback to Kate Bush's Hounds of Love: a moody mix of electronic pop and classical (lead singer Katie Stelmanis was a trained opera singer).

7.
Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!


Insanely catchy (and fun) electronica album.

6.
Toro Y Moi - Freaking Out (EP) & Underneath the Pine


Bubbling hot lava nu-disco beats from the creative beat producer and chillwaver.

5.
Feist - Metals

Didn't make as big of a splash as her last album (and radio friendly single "1234" did) but Feist has crafted some magnificent, intimate tunes here.

4.
The Roots - Undun

The haunting tracks on this album makes a remarkable statement while tracing the life and death of a fictional character in reverse chronological order.

3.
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne


Two rap pioneers making good music.

2.
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake


A truly unique album with its percussive hits and horns and Harvey's intense vocals--harboring a global perspective (including testimonials of troops in Afghanistan) of passion, anger and fragility.  Definitely her best in years.

1.
Bon Iver - Bon Iver


A swath of lush, melancholy indie rock and a great closer that's a melodic (and unexpected) throwback to mellow 80s pop in a major key.

top 10 singles of 2011

2011 is almost over.  Happy Holidays & New Year, dear readers!

Be sure to check out my Top Films of 2011 next month!

Here are my top singles for the year.  What tunes were you feelin' this year?

TOP 10 SINGLES

10.
The Hood Internet - "Sprawl of Glass"

A perfect mashup of Blondie and Arcade Fire!

9.
The Go! Team - "Apollo Throwdown"

A rousing, cheerleader stomp.

8.
Lykke Li - "I Follow Rivers"

Haunting electropop.

7.
St. Vincent - "Cruel"

Builds beautifully.

6.
Austra - "Lose It"

Aching vocal from Katie Stelmanis.

5.
Bon Iver - "Holocene"

Sprawling mood piece.

4.
Adele - "Rolling in the Deep" / "Someone Like You"

Finely written and performed torch songs by the talented young songtress.

3.
Foster the People - "Pumped Up Kicks" / "Call It What You Want"

The year's catchiest single was disarmingly topical.  "Call It What You Want," with its tumbling piano riff was one of the best dance-pop tunes.

2.
Jay-Z & Kanye West - "Ni**as in Paris"

Fun verses over a skittery, staccato beat.  Dubstep breakdown.

1.
M83 - "Midnight City"

Layered electro number with a killer sax solo.

lose it

"Lose It" by Austra