TOP ALBUMS OF 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, it's that time of year to look back at the music from this past year and highlight the true standouts. As I mentioned half way through the year, and still holds true today, I have been excited by the diversity of great music this past year...music that takes me places. And that really is the magic and gift of music and the artists that create it.

1. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins, Diamond Mine
Scottish singer-songwriter, Kenny Anderson, who records under the moniker  King Creosote, has a long and impressive body of work that has spanned over forty albums since 1998. Add Diamond Mine, Anderson's phenomenal new collaboration with English electronic composer and producer Jon Hopkins, to his special collection. 

A heartfelt reflection on the town and landscape of Fife, where Anderson lives, this absolutely beautiful and stunning album exemplifies what is possible when two artists can marry two very different musical reference points in a cohesive and near perfect way. Together Anderson and Hopkins have created a magnificent and timeless musical space where Anderson's quiet and soulful songs radiate earth and warmth and richness and perfectly capture his fondness and love for life in this small town. This is a very, very special album and is Scattered Black and Whites top album pick for 2011.

2. Destroyer, Kaputt

The 9th album from Vancouver, BC native, Daniel Bejar, who records under the name Destroyer, is simply irresistible. Uncompromising, Bejar is one of those artists that seems to change musical direction with each new release. On Kaputt, Bejar creates dreamy-ambient pop songs that pay tribute to the sounds and sensibilities of the Brian Eno and Bryan Ferry at their best. The songs here are chalk-full of wonderful musical elements. I love the inclusion of the trumpet, sax, and flute on many of these songs. This album was an immediate favorite of mine and has stayed at the top of the heap all year.

3. Metronomy,  The English Riviera
British synth-pop band Metronomy has evolved nicely over three albums and musically takes a great step forward on The English Riviera. Less electronics and more live instruments bring warmth to these songs that was missing on earlier albums. Laid back rhythms and bass lines also create a nice, relaxed overall feel to the album. While a few songs revert back to a more angular sound that can be heard on earlier albums, they still fit in with the overall feel of the album. This one will be in my listening rotation for a while.

4. Noah & The Whale, Last Night On Earth

Last Night On Earth is not only one of my favorite albums of the year, but probably the most played in my house. Noah & The Whale's third studio album is loose concept album about....the Last Night On Earth, or not. But as far as concept albums go, this one succeeds by not trying to do too much with the concept. There is a great mid-'80's rock-anthem feel to these songs without the band every pressing hard to create bigger-than-life songs. Honestly, one song is better than the next and singing along becomes an automatic reflex when the music starts.

5. Angus & Julia Stone, Down The Way
Brother and sister, Angus and Julia Stone's sophomore album, Down The Way, was huge hit in their home country of Australia, ultimately capturing the Album of the Year award and Single of the Year award at the Australian Record Industry Awards in 2010 and rightfully so. Down The Way is a charming album with beautiful and subtle vocals and music. This is an album that has remained on high rotation for me with their song Yellow Brick Road being a highlight. 

6. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Bon Iver's self-titled album was one of most amazing listening experience that I have had this year. Justin Vernon, the mastermind behind Bon Iver, delivers a breathtaking album that is bigger, bolder, and significantly more ambitious than his debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago. With a newly installed, expansive sound, Bon Iver creates a musical landscape that is sonically rich and beautifully textured. This is an album that can and should be explored over and over again. With each listen there is more to discover, making for a special and unique listening experience each time. Plug yourself into this album with some good headphones and allow yourself to be taken away by this one.

7. My Morning Jacket, Circuital
My Morning Jacket has played with the sound of their music and the space in which they have been creating it for the past decade. While I am a huge fan of the band, I have felt at times the music, and especially Jim James' vocals, were set just too far back with too much reverb. For their sixth studio album, the band took up shop and recorded in a church gym. The result is a sound that is naturally open and airy and sounds just great. The collection of songs on Circuital is also more cohesive and focused than the musically ambitious and diverse last album, Evil Urges. Getting back to their southern rock roots, this is the album that I wanted back in 2008.     

8.  The Antlers, Burst Apart
Burst Apart is another spectacular album by Peter Silberman and The Antlers. Relationships don’t seem to come easy to Silberman. Being loved and/or not being loved haunts him and he struggles through these songs to make sense of what he wants or needs. Carrying and conveying the weight of his words and feelings is Silberman's dynamic and emotional voice (especially when he goes up into his falsetto range), and his gorgeous and lush guitar work. Burst Apart is an album that stick in your mind long after you stop listening. You can read a more in-depth review of the album here.

9. The Leisure Society, Into The Murky Water
Using woodwinds, strings, an 18th century harpsichord, and a bevy of other instruments, The Leisure Society prove that great pop songs don't have to be modern affairs. On Into The Murky Water, lead singer and songwriter Nick Cummings' delights with his songwriting. Nick has said that he was in a much more hopeful state of mind when writing this album, and it shows. Musically and lyrically, there is a wonderful, whimsical quality and nature to these songs and listening to them is such a pleasure. I just love this album. You can read my interview with Nick here.

10. Nick Lowe, The Old Magic
Over the past few albums, Nick Lowe has completed a transformation from punk and new wave rocker, that defined not only him, but a generation of British artists in the '70's, to a crooner with a subtle and refined way about him. With his last album, At My Age, Lowe found a voice and a groove that seemed so natural, it made it almost impossible to listen to the younger Lowe and believe that it was the same person. On The Old Magic, Lowe not only matches what he accomplished on that album, he surpasses himself. Once again, drawing inspiration from '50's country-tinged standards and ballads and easy-going rockabilly songs, Lowe sings and moves with grace and warmth through this collection of eight original songs and three covers. Every song on The Old Magic sounds and feels classic, timeless, and familiar, which makes listening to this album so completely satisfying. I absolutely love this album.

11. The Roots, Undun
Last year, I made the mistake of not including The Roots' album, How I Got Over, as one of my favorite album picks of the year. A year later, it is one of the few albums released last year that I listen to on a regular basis. What was I thinking? I have always appreciated and loved The Roots incredible combination of musicianship and social consciousness that permeates their lyrics. And Undun is another absolutely stunning and phenomenal album that blends the two perfectly. Described as the existential retelling of the life of a fictional street hustler named Redford Stephens, the album follows his brief rise and fall. It's a gripping and tragic story, and it should not be missed. 

12. Elbow, Build A Rocket Boys!
Behind Guy Garvey's poetic lyrics and captivating voice, Elbow creates gorgeous and complimentary musical phrasings and arrangements on Build A Rocket Boys! At times gentle, at times angular, Elbow's music tells as much about the stories in these songs as the lyrics. As for those marvelous lyrics, Garvey is still drawn to life's passing and the memories that are collected along the way. There is weight and melancholy as Garvey reflects on childhood, family, friends, aging, and death, but he is never heavy-handed, sappy, or clichéd. A truly wonderful album. You can read my longer review of the album here.

13. Brett Dennen,  Lover Boy
My whole family and I are big Brett Dennen Fans. My kids still talk about seeing him performance at a Tully's coffee shop a few years back for a KMTT Mountain Music Loung segment here in Seattle. Barefoot, full of charm, energy, enthusiasm, and optimism, Dennen and his music are infectious. Dennen's sound has continued to grow with each new album as his backing band has grown in numbers, but musically he never strays too far from what he has done so well for so long and this is just fine by me. I do like the cool '70's vibe that he has brought to many of the songs on this collection and I just love the album overall....and so will you!

14. The Decemberists, The King Is Dead
The Decemberists are back!! After the very ambitious rock opera-like The Hazards Of Love, The Decemberists have stripped their sound back down and set sail on a new musical direction. The King Is Dead, rooted in a kind of folk-rock Americana, stays away from the grand story telling that was seen on The Decemberists' last few albums. Each song here is allowed to stand on its own, yet collectively they deliver a rich and near perfect album. I know that it is early in the year, but I expect to see this album on my list of top albums for 2011.

15. Empresarios, Sabor Tropical

This album is just down right cool. Grooving to a mix of cumbia (a form of traditional Latin American dance music), reggaeton, dub, and house music, Empresarios have released an impressive debut album. The layering of sounds, beats, and rhythms of traditional instruments and electronics is flawless here. I found myself moving to these songs the first time I played this album. Yet, what really moved me was the shock that I got when I learned that Empresarios hail from Washington DC. Just goes to show that great music can come from the most unlikely of places.

16. David Lowery, The Palace Guards
Not many musicians have found continued success for decades with not just one, but two bands. As the creative driving force behind both Cracker and Camper Van Beethovan, David Lowery has remained a strong presence in the world of indie rock. Now, for the first time, Lowery steps out with his first solo album. Lowery has said that the songs on The Palace Guards are songs that he has written over the years that did not really fit into the 'camp' of either Cracker or Camper. I'm glad that he waited on this one. At the age of 50, Lowery brings a maturity to these songs that may not have been there earlier in his career. This is a great solo effort.

17. Death Cab For Cutie, Codes And Keys
I was lucky enough to see Death Cab For Cutie last month, when they performed live for the first time in over two years. What struck me, when they played the sold out show at the Showbox Sodo in Seattle, was how good they sounded. A crisp sound that was sonically rich and finely textured, the band had an invigorated musical sense about them. These qualities can be heard on Codes And Keys, the band's new album. Lyrically, the album also feels a bit anew, reflecting a more upbeat mood than what I am accustom to getting from the band. But, as always, Ben Gibbard's writing is superb. Overall, another fine outing from a band that I have highly respected for many, many years.

18. Diego Garcia, Laura
Laura is a romance record in every sense of the word. Written to get his girl back, Laura is all about reflections on a failing relationship and where Diego Garcia was in his life at that time. Making a complete departure from the kind of music that he made with his last band Elefant, Garcia hearkened back to the South American romance records from the 60’s and early 70’s, that he had heard as a child, for inspiration. Heavily influenced by these albums, the songs on Laura feel timeless and tug at the heart strings. In April I spoke with Diego about the album as part of Scattered's Sounding Out interview series. We had a wonderful conversation that you can read here.

19. Bahamas, Pink Strat

Recording under the moniker Bahamas, Canadian singer-songwriter, Afie Jurvanen, released this album in Canada back in 2009. The album is being re-released in the States today. Jurvanen is a well seasoned musician who played guitar and piano in support of Feist for some time. Stepping out on his own, he shows that he is a special artist, who's easy natured songs radiate a genuineness that is missing from so much music today. I just love the collection of songs on Pink Strat. This is definitely one of my must-haves of the year. 

20. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes follow up to their self titled, debut album, one that sold over a million copies world wide, is something to behold. I Liked Fleet Foxes. I love Helplessness Blues. The band's music, often described as neo-folk or folk-rock, centers on richly textured songs that feature beautiful, choral-like harmonies (Think Simon and Garfunkel) that have a certain Ethereal quality to them. On Helplessness Blues, songs are more focused, lyrics are more personal and poetic, and the harmonies reach new heights.  

ON ROTATION

After almost a year of listening to lots and lots and lots of music, I will admit that I get a bit burnt out and it becomes harder for new music to get me excited. And the music that does get me excited, I frankly want to simply enjoy listening to it and not necessarily write about it. With this said, here are four recently released albums that I have been listening to and enjoying....a lot! All are quite special and definitely rise above many of the albums that I have reviewed this second half of the year.

M83, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Anthony Gonzalez, the French wonder-musician behind M83, has been dazzling with his electro-shoegazing music for a decade now. And his latest album, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, is by far his most ambitious outing to date. A 22 song, double album, it's epic in its shear scale and effort. Fortunately, the album is also packed full of music that lives up to the ambition. While many of the songs have an early '80's synth sound to them, the album feels quite contemporary. I really like how Gonzalez is less interested in creating pop songs, than a body of work filled with richly textured pieces that create a great listening atmosphere and space. 
Midnight City  

Lisa Hannigan, Passenger

Irish, singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan has one of the most beautiful voices that I have heard in a very long time. The first time I heard her I was absolutely captivated by it. Matching her wonderful voice is her songwriting and musicianship which is every bit as good. In general, I really, really like Hannigan's sophomore album, Passenger. What I absolutely love are the quieter and more tender songs and moments on the album where her voice just shines. She can convey so much with her voice, and it is sometimes lost in the 'bigger' songs. Regardless, this is a wonderful album and it has what is one of my favorite songs of the year in Little Bird.
Little Bird   

The Roots, Undun
Last year I made the mistake of not including The Roots' album, How I Got Over, as one of my favorite album picks of the year. A year later, it is one of the albums released last year that I listen to on a regular basis. What was I thinking? I have always appreciated and loved The Roots incredible combination of musicianship and social consciousness that permeates their lyrics. And Undun is another absolutely stunning and phenomenal album that blends the two perfectly. Described as the existential retelling of the life of a fictional street hustler named Redford Stephens, the album follows his brief rise and fall. It's a gripping and tragic story, and it should not be missed. 
Make My 

Amy Winehouse, Lioness: Hidden Treasures
I was always a fan of Amy Winehouse. As much as I liked Back In Black, her sophomore-break through album, it was her debut album, Frank that really grabbed me. She was only 19 at the time, but she sang with the power, confidence, and knowledge of someone who was much older. She magnificently blended influences of of soul, jazz, and blues from decades that came and went..decades before she was born. On Lioness: Hidden Treasures, I am once again reminded at how special Winehouse was at interpreting the music that so heavily influenced her and how she was so easily able to make it relevant, exciting, and fun. 
                                                       Best Friends, Right? 

ON ROTATION

Real Estate, Days
I have been listening to Real Estate's Days for...days now, actually weeks. I just can't get enough of this album. There is such a great, soft, breezy, and laid back groove to the band's music. I love their vocal harmonies and their guitar work, which is simply impecable and so richly textures these songs.  I am reminded of the Beach Boys and The La's when listening to Days. Real Estate manages to capture some of the timeless qualities of these bands and it make you feel like these songs have been with you for a long time, which I am sure they will be. While All The Same is my favorite song on the album, Green Aisles really showcases what the band does so well. 
Green Aisles  

Josh Rouse and The Long Vacations

Josh Rouse is one of the few artists that I can point to and honestly say that I never tire of listening to any of his songs or albums. Rouse has a wonderful way about him as a songwriter and storyteller and his music is always so warm and inviting. Rouse's new collection of songs is no exception. As the musical influences of his time living in Spain continue to seep deeper and deeper into his music, Rouse's songwriting and music is becoming gentler, sweeter, more rhythmic, and enchanting.
Oh, Look What The Sun Did!   

Ryan Adams, Ashes & Fire

Ryan Adams is a prolific songwriter and musician with ever shifting musical interests. With each new release, you are never quite sure what to expect, except that it is going to be all Adams. With Ashes & Fire, Adams strips down his sound and songs and operates in the singer-songwriter mode that produced such wonderful songs like Two and Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.. It is a quieter and more laid back album than his last few and a welcome change. While I always enjoy Adams' musical exploration, I am most connected with his music when he is alone or close to it, with his guitar and words.

Dirty Rain 

Other Lives, Tamer Animals

A few months back, Other Lives, who hail from Stillwater, Oklahoma, release there sophomore album, Tamer Animals. I had read that it took the band almost 14 months to complete it. Listening to it, you know why. It is a dramatic album that is both orchestrally and sonically rich. The attention that the band has paid to detail throughout the album is self evident and listening to it becomes a wonderful exercise in identifying all of the instruments and sounds placed within these songs.  

Last week I had an opportunity to see Other Lives play live at the Paramount Theatre here in Seattle. Having listen to Tamer Animals many times, I was very curious to see how they actually built these songs and how much of what I was hearing on the album was done with live instruments vs. using synthesizers and sampled sounds. I was amazed to see and hear that almost everything that I was hearing was actually being played lived by all five members of the band. They are all multi-instrumentalists in every sense of the word. At one point I had counted six different instruments that Jonathan Mooney had played in the span of two songs: violin, piano, guitar, trumpet, xylophone, and percussions. After seeing them play live, my appreciation for what they have accomplished with Tamer Animals is even greater than before. 

Below are three in-studio performances that the band did last week for hear*ya at Shirk Music & Sound in Chicago. Seeing them play some of their songs again live was a real treat and very cool. Instruments change from one song to the next so take the time to watch them all. They are a very impressive band.

Sóley, We Sink

A few months back I heard I'll Drown, the first track off of Sóley Stefánsdóttir's recently released debut album We Sink. I was completely captivated by the song and by Sóley.

Sóley's, who is a member of the Icelandic band Seabear, has a beautiful, warm, and subtle voice that floats in a just under-the-radar kind of a way. She reminds me of Emiliana Torrini, who I have admired for a long time. I had read that after many years of singing in private, Sóley got used to the sound of her own voice and finally discovered her own vocal skills. I'm glad she did.

Released last month, We Sink is a wonderful album that feels less like thirteen individual songs and more like a journey through a dark and restrained musical dreamland. In it, Sóley uses her subtle vocal style and singing to weave stories, some quirky, some odd, all seemly other-worldly, through her musical landscape. With open and minimalistic instrumentation, perfectly placed elements and little touches throughout.....a simple dancing piano line, adding something whimsical to an otherwise dark and somber moment, a snapping finger or clapping hand to create musical texture, as well as rhythm....Sóley ultimately creates imagery in one's mind that that lingers long after the music has stopped. This is especially true for songs like Kill The Clown and About A Funeral which have a Danny Elfman-Like feel to them. 

I'll Drown 

While my first listen to We Sink was enjoyable, I did not truly appreciate it until I listened to it again and let myself be drawn into it's stories and landscapes. We Sink is an artful album on which everything Sóley does is intentional, but nothing feels forced or false. This is a great debut for Sóley and one that is definitely worth taking the time to explore.  

Smashed Birds 
One of my favorite songs on We Sink is Smashed Birds. It's a beautiful and haunting song. Below is a video for the song that really compliments it well. Enjoy.