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Albums Of The Year 2011 CE
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keith a
9564 posts

Re: Albums Of The Year 2011 CE
Jan 06, 2012, 17:48
1. C’mon – Low
Following the experimental and slightly disappointing Drums & Guns and the ensuing four year break, Low return to doing what they do best. It obviously helps that C’mon features material that ranks amongst their best.

2. Red Barked Tree – Wire
Apart from the odd raucous moment like Two Minutes (a cross between Parklife and Spacemen 3’s Revolution!) this is more textured and melodic than Wire have been since they got back together some years ago. There are even some gentler moments that sound unusually pre-punk for Wire.

3. Apocalypse – Bill Callahan
Another Bill Callahan album. Another great collection of songs. All sung in that deep Leonard Cohen-like voice.

4. Coldest Winter In A Hundred Years – The Wild Swans
There was a danger that this was going to be something of anti-climax. It’s been a long wait after all! But fear not - Paul Simpson is on great form here with melodies to die for. And his reference points – be it geographical or musical – are ones that chime well with me. The young Wild Swans keyboard player Richard Turvey has done an excellent job production-wise, too.

5. Dead Legs & Alibi’s – Dark Captain
The band formerly known as Dark Captain Light Captain may have lost half of their name, but musically this is more of the same - quality songs, hushed vocals and gorgeous harmonies.

6. Rome – Danger Mouse & Daniel Lippi
American producer and Italian composer collaborate on album inspired by spaghetti western soundtracks, using some of the original musicians to breathtaking effect. There’s something almost regal about what’s on offer here.

7. Galaxsea – Lunar Dunes
Lunar Dunes return with expanded line-up and an album that is full of tasty basslines, great beats and, well, lots and lots of atmosphere!

8. Ventroloquizzing – Fujiya & Miyagi
Lovely throbbing electronic pop with glam beats. Kinda like Black Cherry-era Goldfrapp but without the kitsch sex appeal.

9. Hotel Shampoo – Gruff Rhys
Solo set from the Super Furry Animal mainman that oozes quality pop.

10. No Thyself – Magazine
Howard Devoto’s post-punk legends finally follow up those live dates a couple of years ago with new material. And it’s not bad! I’ll probably never rate this as highly as their first three classic albums, but it’s definitely better than their admittedly disappointing fourth! It’s great to hear Howie’s voice again, and Noko has done a great job stepping in on guitar.

11. Inside The Ships – Tarwater
12. Corner Of The World – Solus 3
13. Sniper – Marc Hurtado & Alan Vega
14. Ersatz GB – The Fall
15. Night Gallery – Eternal Tapestry & Sun Araw
16. The Stone Turntable - Transglobal Underground
17. Blood Pressures – The Kills
18. Lucid Thoughts – Deep Magic
19. Exitudes – Saso
20. Blueprints – Celluloid
21. Raptureland – Alphabet Saints
22. Secret Astronomies – Black Tempest
23. The Crooked Debut Of... - Michele Bombatomica
24. Mazes – Moon Duo
25. Staring At The Sea – Blow Monkeys
26. In Nightfall – Seabuckthorn
27. Party’s Over – King Post Kitsch
28. Incantations V – WIKAN
29. Destroyed – Moby
30. Ancient Romans – Sun Araw


BUBBLING UNDER...
Hookworms – Hookworms
Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls
Hearts – I Break Horses
Trans-love Energies – Death In Vegas
Let England Shake – PJ Harvey
Saturday Aquatic Pixie Acid – Pets With Pets
Bring The Exhibits... - Dressed In Wires

(I've only heard a couple of these bubblers once or twice at the moment or they might have ended up higher!)
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