Make good stuff, then make it easy for people to buy it. There’s your anti-piracy plan.
“
| — | Jonathan Coulton, definitively. (via merlin) |
I remember staying up and watching this in August of ‘94. I was soooo excited for their new record. The record that would be ‘Amorica’, the record that changed not only my life, but how I listened to music forever. Good times.
I have a dream that one day this nation will use my message of equality to promote drink specials in shitty bars on 8th Avenue.
My Favorite Records Of 2011
It’s that time of the year again, when every douchebag who considers themselves either a writer or music fan compiles their annual “best of” list. At first I thought it might be a challenge to come up with 10 albums I truly loved this year, but looking back 2011 actually produced more good music than I realized. So without any further adieu:
10. Wilco - The Whole Love: I’ve not really given a shit about anything they’ve done since ‘A Ghost Is Born’ and I really only liked about half that record. Jeff Tweedy seems to have finally overcome his obsession with weirdness for weirdness sake and remembered to write good songs.
9. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire: Not quite the 2nd coming of ‘Heartbreaker’ that some made it out to be, but still probably his best record since ‘Jacksonville City Nights’. Considering the guy puts out like 3 albums a year that’s actually saying a lot.
8. Mastodon - The Hunter: The only metal album on this list, and really the only metal record I loved this year. These guys have picked up the slack with Pantera and C.O.C. gone. Brutal but with melody and actual singing.
7. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong: I wanted desperately to not like this album. I’d be fine if I never heard The Head & The Heart or The Civil Wars or Mumford & Sons ever again, and I lumped Dawes in with that whole “new folk revival” scene. Fortunately they’re NOTHING like those other bands. “Time Spent In Los Angeles” may be one of the prettiest songs I’ve ever heard. This is what folk music in 2011 should be. I don’t think any of the band members wear overalls or dungarees either, so that’s a plus.
6. Jason Isbell - Here We Rest: Not much to say other than he’s established himself as one of the best singers/songwriters/guitarists there is. “Codeine” is just as good as anything he’s ever done.
5. Fucked Up - David Comes To Life: Hardcore punk with a message. Everyone who has ever spent money on a Green Day, Offspring or Blink 182 album should be forced to listen to this repeatedly. Lyrics that could be straight from a mid-70’s Springsteen record only angrier.
4. Fitz & The Tantrums - Pickin’ Up The Pieces: I think this album actually came out in 2010, but I didn’t hear it until this year so it still counts. I think I may have listened to this record more than any other. Too damn catchy to turn off = repeated listenings.
3. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds- S/T: Makes Liam and Beady Eye sound like the untalented garage band they are. Could easily be the 3rd best Oasis album. It’s like Brit-Pop never died. Unapologetically retro and beautifully so.
2. Butch Walker - The Spade: In almost any other year this would easily be number 1. My favorite record so far by one of my favorite artists. “Summer Of ‘89” was definitely the song of my summer considering I listened to it about 87 million times.
1. …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Tao Of The Dead: Beautiful, sprawling, epic, inspiring, confusing, incredible. If these guys aren’t the greatest band on the planet right now I have no idea who is. It’s like Pink Floyd crossed with Big Star with a bit of Rush, Faith No More and acid jazz era Miles Davis thrown in for good measure. This is what the future sounds like. Only the future is happening right now.
Honorable Mentions: Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part II, The Black Keys - El Camino, Foo Fighters - Wasting Light, The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time, Paul Simon - So Beautiful Or So What, Steve Earle - I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive, Tom Waits - Bad As Me
