Below is a list of my top 5 albums, favorite soundtrack and favorite music video all from 2011, as well as the album I am most excited for in 2012.
1) Portugal. The Man — In The Mountain In The Cloud
This is the album I wish MGMT would have made. I think this was the best complete album released in 2011. It’s just awesome. There isn’t a bad song to be found anywhere near this album. I didn’t see this on any other top 10 list I’ve seen and I really can’t explain it.
2) JAY Z and Kanye West — Watch The Throne
This is what happens when two of the biggest names in hip hop decide to get together. An onslaught of genius punch lines that read like a road map on how to navigate the American dream and a live show that rivals anything I’ve ever seen. For video from the live show click here.
3) Cold War Kids — Mine Is Yours
The flow of this album is great and sequence of the first four tracks is amazing. I fell in love with this album the first time I heard it. When you listen to the song “Royal Blue” you’ll understand.
4) Dirty Vegas — Electric Love
After seven years of silence Dirty Vegas came back. You remember Dirty Vegas. They had that catchy song “Days Go By” with all the break dancing in the video and the song was in an Eclipse commercial. I liked these guys a lot before and prefer Electric Love (what a great name) to any of their previous work. Get ready to dance.
Little White Doves by dirtyvegas
5) The Strokes — Angles
Maybe the most highly anticipated release in 2011. As leaked tracks like “Machu Picchu” and “Under Cover Of Darkness” spread through the blogosphere like wildfire it was pretty obvious that this was going to be a huge album once it was actually released. The Strokes didn’t disappoint.
Best soundtrack
I have to give the best soundtrack of 2011 to Drive. Kavinsky’s song “Nightcall” was an excellent fit and helps to make already disturbing scenes even more unsettling.
Best music video
I really wanted to get Tune-Yards on my top albums list with her 2011 release W H O K I L L but I just couldn’t find room. However I can’t ignore the excellent, and a little crazy, video for her song “Biznass”. It feels like a dream I had once but I’m not sure if it’s the type you want to live in forever or wake up from immediately.
Most anticipated record of 2012
For me this has to be the new Modest Mouse project because they got an assist from Outkast’s Big Boi on at least three tracks. I have no idea what this is going to sound like but I can’t wait to hear what Big Boi’s southern rap influence does for Pacific Northwest indie rock.
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