The Best of 2011

[Neesh]

We listen to music with different ears, and hear uniquely with our own brains. When absorbing sounds- we listen for different things. Some of us pay attention to just the lyrics, but there are plenty of other characteristics folks look for; production quality, technicality, rhythms, melodies, riffs, tones, beats, song structures, emotional association…. When I hear something new- I keep many of these aspects in mind.

For the first time in several years, I find myself overwhelmed with all the terrific music that graced my ears in 2011. It felt, for so long, like music had hit a dead end. But at the end of 2011... I filled up a whole notebook sheet merely listing the records that came to mind! Well, below are my top 3 favorite releases of the year, followed by a playlist of albums from 2011 listenable on Spotify, followed (in the next post) by 3 more releases that really struck me hard. Please lend an ear; I hope you too can be moved by these selections. Be sure to share your favorites of the year in the replies!

1.

Weerd Science - Sick Kids

listen • digital • physical

Josh Eppard wore his heart on both sleeves (both literally and figuratively) during this record. Its truly a cinematic aural masterpiece, allowing the audience to look into and experience Mr. Eppard's downfall as he descended into the dark world of drug abuse, comfortably leaving a platinum-selling, genre-defining rock band and blowing all that success money on the habit.

With the help of his friends, Weerd Science throws this heavy shit on us while still entertaining us with his cleverly crude humor, and blowing our minds with his technical skill. Not only does Science have a one-of-a-kind flow, but he also rocks multiple instruments- giving the album a truly organic feel.

Despite having been selected by Modern Drummer magazine as the 5th best Progressive Rock drummer in 2006, Josh Eppard left Coheed and Cambria mid-tour overseas, just a few months later. He became consumed by Heroin, and was only able to climb out through the music. Now at the end of 2011, Eppard is back in Coheed and Cambria, working on their 6th album.


2.

3 - The Ghost You Gave To Me

listen • physical • Amazon MP3 • iTunes

3 is one of those bands that can never disappoint, as long as you listen with open ears. The band began in the early 90's as a Pop Funk Rock outfit consisting of Josh Eppard, Joey Eppard, and Chris Bittner. The latter moved on to Applehead Recording and Production where he has been the house Engineer/Producer for the past decade. Chris Bittner produced the album in my #1 and also engineered The Ghost You Gave To Me. He is currently producing Coheed and Cambria's 6th album (the past 2 Co&Ca albums were done elsewhere - 3 hadn't worked with Chris Bittner since the debut album, Paint By Number). Drummer, Josh Eppard, left 3 to pursue a career in studio drumming (mostly at Applehead) and eventually joined Coheed and Cambria. Most are not aware that 3 is Coheed and Cambria's progenitor.

Now, 3 has taken a heavier direction- laden with poly-rhythms. When I listen to The Ghost You Gave To Me I'm unsure if I should bang my head or shake my hips! I have yet to come across another band that confuses my musical response so greatly. Every single song on this album is incredible. Joey Eppard's vocals are unmatched, as is his hybrid slap/flamenco style of playing guitar. This record is truly unique, and should be listened to from start to finish.



3.

Moving Mountains - Waves

listen • iTunes • cd • vinyl

So. Much. Emotion.

Moving Mountains designs such beautiful soundscapes. Each and every song on this album, pardon the cheesiness, but each and every song on this album contains enough dynamics and intensity to- move mountains.


These are the releases (aside from my top 6) that caught my attention in 2011:
>lend an ear to these releases on Spotify

• The Flatline Symphony - This is What They Call Surgery


• Saves The Day - Daybreak


• The Bunny The Bear - If You Don't Have Anything Nice To Say…


• The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum


• Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster - IV


• New Found Glory - Radiosurgery


• Opeth - Heritage


• Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning


• Portugal. The Man - The Mountain in the Cloud


• Thursday - No Devolución


• Zechs Marquise - Getting Paid


• Animals As Leaders - Weightless


• Emily Long - Dirty Face


• ††† (Crosses) - EP †


• Velta - Dead Ringer


• La Dispute - Wildlife


• Polar Bear Club - Clash Battle Guilt Pride


• Time Travels - Time Travels


• All Get Out - The Season


• O'Brother - Garden Window


• Man Overboard - Man Overboard


• Handguns - Don't Bite Your Tongue


• The Get Up Kids - There Are Rules


• Defeater - Empty Days & Sleepless Nights


• Snowing - I Could Do Whatever I Wanted If I Wanted


• Grieves - Together/Apart


• Pianos Become The Teeth - The Lack Long After


• Balance and Composure - Separation


• Circle Takes The Square - Decompositions, Vol. I: Chapter 1. Rites of Initiation


• Joshua - Choices


• The Wonder Years - Suburbia I've Given You All And Now I'm Nothing


• Childish Gambino - Camp


• Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math


• Ill Bill & Vinnie Paz - Heavy Metal Kings


• Banner Pilot - Hearts Beat Pacific


• I Am The Avalanche - Avalanche United


• Glassjaw - Our Color Green


• Transit - Listen & Forgive


• The City Never Sleeps - Madison


• Hot Rod Circuit - Hot Rod Circuit


• The Venetia Fair - The Pits


• MC Lars - Lars Attacks


• Cloudkicker - Let Yourself Be Huge


• The Agonist - The Escape


• Lower Definition - the infinite et cetera


• Joshua​/​Nightmares For A Week - split 7"


• Artifex Pereo - Ailments & Antidotes


• Adele - 21


• Lights - Siberia


• Britney Spears - Femme Fatale


• The Swellers - Good for Me


• Bayside - Killing Time


• Seahaven - Winter Forever

Selections #4, 5, 6

[Neesh]

4.

Thrice - Major/Minor

listen • iTunes • physical • in stores

Over the past decade, Thrice matured beautifully. This record is heavy, melodic, passionate. Stupendous final album to go out on hiatus with!


5.

Glassjaw - The Coloring Book

only available on the February-March tour

It's not often that we hear from Glassjaw. Their last full album, Worship and Tribute, was released in 2002. In 2006 GJ premiered a handful of new songs live. We couldn't get our hands on studio versions on those tracks until fall 2010, when Glassjaw began to release vinyl singles- once a month. The releases culminated in the digital release of Our Color Green on January 1st, 2011. Then Glassjaw announced that there would be ANOTHER EP, consisting of entirely new songs, and that it would ONLY be available during their upcoming tour. Concert attendees were handed a physical copy of The Coloring Book upon leaving the venue.

This EP shows an evolved side of Glassjaw. It starts loud and nasty, but ends softly and sweet. It's without a doubt, the EP I listened to most this year.


6.

Hidden Hospitals - EP 001

listen • Buy

My top releases list concludes with the best EP I heard this year, from a completely new band. My attention was drawn to Hidden Hospitals when they opened on the Chicago date of Hot Rod Circuit's reunion tour in November. The band consists of members from Kiss Kiss (Eyeball Records) and Damiera (Equal Vision Records). Hidden Hospitals has great potential, I cant wait to hear a full length!


What releases moved you most in 2011?

[DrugstoreCowboy]

Awesome posts. I could have guessed your number 1 would have been Weerd Science :P

I never heard Hidden Hospitals before and I really enjoyed it. A little bit different than I normally listen to, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Also that entire Moving Mountains cd is great. Definitely nailed it when you said so much emotion.

For me, I have to go with Wildlife by La Dispute for best release of 2011. La Dispute is a group of guys from my home state of Michigan, so I can remember years ago, going to 'local shows' and watching them play. Their live performance is unforgettable and probably, dare I say, the best? So much talent in writing and the way they 'sing' is just so different than most artists. So when Wildlife was released in late 2011, I was reminded of the past albums and just how much I missed seeing and listening to them. Probably an acquired taste, but this music is what does it for me.



The other albums that really hit me, you already mentioned, but I'll throw them out here too:
Man Overboard - Man Overboard
The Wonder Years - Suburbia: I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
That's Outrageous! - Teenage Scream
Transit - Listen & Forgive

[Vote4Nixon]

You forgot about REAL black people club music:



This is best of 2012 so far.

EDIT: needs more Zamounda

[Vote4Nixon]

In seriousness though, great post! I actually learned about a few new cool bands.

[dragonte]

Great post with a lot of great information. Thanks for this.

EDIT:

You know, with all the stuff you gave me to go check out, I never answered your question.

Sick Kids is also my top pick and Dear Sam Unrapped my absolute favorite, as the people at tt have probably figured out. The raw emotion in there hit me so hard because I could identify with it. Lars Attacks by MC Lars would be second but I have to say this: if it wasn't for MC Lars, I never would have heard of Weerd Science. I am now a huge fan of indie Hip Hop, mostly nerdcore. Adam WarRock is at the top of my list as well as Thought Criminals and the solo work done by their members. All of it is new to me and I'm not sure what is new this year so I'll leave it at that. You already posted a video of my favorite Hip Hop song.

I got very into Hip Hop this year but there are a few things on my Rock list too. 3 - The Ghost You Gave To Me, already mentioned. Here is one I would like to share: Art of Dying - Vices and Virtues. It has been inspirational to me. This song is "Get Thru This."

[DTDsphere]

I know this was made in 2010 but it was in the 2011 Album "Retaliate".

[JasonKey]

Wow, fantastic post! Definitely gives me more to learn and listen too ..

Training the old man up!

[kisler]

I pretty much agree with that top 6.

[Krayz]

I really love Moving Mountains, never heard of them before!