(reckless abandon)

2011 was a fantastic year for music. I will look back on this year and think of how this was the year that was filled with one good release after another. I could barely keep up with the constant onslaught of new albums. This was not the year of the legendary/iconic album (a la Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy from 2010). My number one album for this year got that accolade for being the album that I listened to the most and had the most fun with. I don’t think it’s going down in history. I don’t think I’ll be constantly listening to it 10 years from now. This was also the year of the song. I think the blogosphere will look back at 2011 and think of that one Adele song, or that one moving Bon Iver track or that catchy Foster The People song on the radio. There were so many great albums with so many amazing songs that quite frankly it was a daunting task to approach a year end best-of list. Which is why I have my top 20 albums, instead of the usual 10. If I wanted, I probably could have added even more, but I know you can only scrollllllll down so much. And remember, these are just my favorites from this last year. I’m not going to try and say these are the best albums, because that would be like me trying to convince you that juicy pear is the best flavor of jelly beans. Everyone has their own taste. This is mine:

20. Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes

19. This Is Where We Are - Seryn

18. The Reckoning - NEEDTOBREATHE 

17. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars

16. Ghosts Upon The Earth - Gungor 

15. Ceremonials - Florence & The Machine

14. The King Is Dead - The Decemberists 

13. Mine Is Yours - Cold War Kids

12. El Camino - The Black Keys 

11. Mylo Xyoloto - Coldplay

10. Vice Verses - Switchfoot

Jon Foreman and co. release another solid record, even stretching their sound a bit (“Selling The News”) while maintaining their steady rock anthems that they’re known so well for. Not quite as good as their last album, Hello Hurricane, but a respectable release that plays great live. I saw them this year with Anberlin and once again, seeing them live made me love their new tunes that much more.

9. Mountaintops - Mates Of State

I’m way late to the Mates party. This is the first record of theirs that I’ve heard and I loved it. It’s simple and it’s catchy and I can’t wait to listen to it on vinyl this summer when it’s 100 degrees in my house. How can you not bob your head to “Palomino”? And tell me Kori Gardner’s vocals aren’t amazing on “Mistakes”. Just try.

8. In Light - Givers

I saw this band at the Troubador and I immediately fell in love with lead vocalist Tiffany Lamson. All this girl wants to do is belt it out and beat the hell out of her drums with her hair flying everywhere. I love the dynamic of a lead singer/percussionist. There’s just no way to not be high energy when you are beating something. And it’s infectious. The more I listen to “Up Up Up”, “In The Meantime” and “Saw You First” the more I know that this band is going places.

7. Simple Math - Manchester Orchestra

Andy Hull’s concept album is pure rock and roll. It had been a while since I’d been to this pure of a rock show, but when I saw him play at the Glasshouse in Pomona, it reminded me of the shows I went to in college. Andy’s grit, emotion and desperation translates perfectly through his music. “Simple Math” is one of my favorite songs of the year.

6. Bon Iver- Bon Iver

I mean what needs to be said about Justin Vernon? We all know. At this point of the list you were just wondering when this album would show up. Of course it’s on here. It’s brilliant. Bon Iver is making some of the most beautiful music of our generation. I didn’t think he could follow up For Emma, Forever Ago, but oh, he did. From the subtle opening of “Perth” to the gorgeous “Holocene” to the 80’s ballad “Beth/Rest” the record is just about flawless.

5. Watch The Throne - Kanye West and Jay-Z:

No other album grew on me as much as Watch The Throne. When I first heard it, I was very meh about it. Then my roommates kept playing it. And I heard it at parties. And out at bars. And I realized that this is just a damn cool rap record. “Otis” started it all with that ridiculous music video (with Aziz!) And then “Ni***** in Paris” got huge (and it’s good, which is a rare combo). And Frank Ocean showed us he was a baller and could sing and hold his own on “Made In America” Eventually I was listening to the whole thing without skipping a track and I realized that this was my favorite rap album of the year. So there you go.

4. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming - M83

So I though Saturdays=Youth was my favorite M83 album. Then the frenchman Anthony Gonzalez released the epic double album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. And it can’t be touched. “Midnight City” is one of the top five songs of the year, and I will always think of driving around Los Angeles at night listening to this song at full blast. I hate when the word “epic” is overused, but it’s fitting here. All Gonzalez aimed to do was to make an album that would blow you away and make you get lost in the electronic power ballads that he seems to write so effortlessly. I’m seeing him on Thursday in Los Angeles at Club Nokia and it’s hard to not expect absolute greatness after such an incredible double album. Favorites are “Midnight City”, “Wait” and “Claudia Lewis” with that dirty bass.  

3. Odd Soul -MUTEMATH 

When one of your favorite bands releases a new record all you can do is hold your breath and cross your fingers. Especially after the release of a somewhat disappointing sophomore effort. Odd Soul did not disappoint. It was different, it was a  new sound, but I love it. It’s jazz fusion funk rock. How does that not end up sounding awesome? As soon as  I heard “Blood Pressure” I knew I was gonna be hooked. I ended up seeing MM 3 times this year (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Album release show at the Troubadour in Hollywood and a small acoustic set at Warner Bros) and the new stuff sounded amazing. ”Allies” and “All or Nothing” are two other favorites and I can’t wait to hear them again at Club Nokia next month, now that I am much more familiar with the record. But my favorite MUTEMATH moment of the year? Hoisting them up on my shoulders with my best friends for a picture. 

2. Passive Me, Aggressive You -The Naked and Famous*

*Okay so I know this album technically came out in 2010. I don’t care. No one listened to it then. To me this was a 2011 album and this was the year that I was obsessed with it. So I’m breaking the rules. 

I got the same feeling hearing The Naked and Famous for the first time that I did when I heard Lovedrug or MGMT. They’re fresh. They’re innovative. They inspire me. They know how to layer Alisa Xayalith and Thom Power’s vocals together splendidly. They know how to incorporate the electronic feel and the synth layers without over doing it. “Young Blood” is in the running for my favorite song of the year. “Punching In A Dream” and “Girls Like You” are absolutely marvelous and were better than I could have hoped for when I saw them live at The Music Box. This album was so good that I didn’t even hesitate to buy a ticket to see them when they come to The Wiltern in March. 

1. Torches - Foster The People

My most listened-to album of the year. It can’t be denied that Mark Foster knows how to write a catchy mo-fo of a song. I guess it’s in his nature since he used to write commercial jingles and all. I know “Pumped Up Kicks” has been over played on the radio and all, but honestly I’m okay with it. I still don’t change the station when it comes on. I don’t think I’m going to tire of this album. I’ve woken up several times with a random Foster song stuck in my head. How does that even happen? I’m not sure which live Foster experience was my favorite this year - getting my head blown off by their show at The Wiltern (the lasers, oh the lasers) or the small, intimate, acoustic experience on the top of The Hollywood Tower that I won tickets on the radio to see. Mark Foster is killing it right now, on the radio, on the stage, even sitting on a stool singing acoustically doing that weird head bob thing he does. This was my favorite record of the year and I’m in no way close to tiring of it. Favorites: “Helana Beat” and “Houdini”. 

Honorable Mentions:

Katie Herzig: The Waking Sleep, Hoodie Allen-Leap Year, Childish Gambino- Camp, Cut Copy- Zonoscope, Courrier - A Violent Flame, Mat Kearney- Young Love, Gotye- Making Mirrors, The Roots- Undun

Most Disappointing:

Radiohead: King Of Limbs

I love Radiohead. I always will. But I have yet to get into this album. I hope that changes.

Sufjan Stevens: Age of Adz

-See above.

Most Anticipated for 2012: 

Paper Route. fun. The Shins.