So, 2011 is behind us, and depending on how much stock you
put in the Gregorian calendar (or maybe even Boris Johnson’s ability to safely plan
global sporting events), the best part of human history has probably passed us
by as well. All told 2011 has been
a strange year; infamous people died all over the shop, and the members of McFly found out people like them more when they’re not playing music. The population of Great Britain got overly excited as two
people they don’t actually know got married, whilst Arabia experienced the
longest spring since records began. On top of all this an American Presidential hopeful quoted Pokémon in a political speech... Progress truly is a beautiful thing.
Musically, 2011 also ended up being a bit of an odd year. Innovation
was seemingly confined to expounding upon dubstep, a genre that slowly started saturating the pop music market place at the
beginning of the year. By the end of 2011 however, chart music had co-opted dubsteps’ double time beats and wavey bass forms into a formula for
mundane and unfulfilling chart success: 'Flo Rida' anyone? What made the charts of 2011 all the more unbearable was the abundant and cheap use of sampling, often without imagination.
2011 for all intensive purposes was the year of the remix or
re-hash, depending on your sentiments. In a year in which dullards churned out
duller tunes, it was largely down to Producers to rework spoilt canvases
into something worth appreciating. Indie music provided a wealth of all right tunes, which, when revamped by
creative minds (usually adding this years bassy flavours) felt exciting; well, on first listen at least. With so few memorable tunes coming directly from the original artists themselves, 2011 proves difficult to remember fondly; it sort of
felt like one huge megamix: most of which was filler or the DJ messing around with that
phaser effect before unleashing the killer drop.
Of course, talking in generalities is dangerous, and there
are always exceptions to the broad statements and theories like those I'm spewing. In fact, I’m pretty sure over the last 12 months I have seen and heard
a number of exceptions. I'm also pretty sure I quite like remixes... So! Enough with the negativity! Here are some tunes that
did make me smile, and hopefully will make you smile as well. Furthermore, they
are neatly listed in vaguely logical and intelligible ways, so everybody wins. Except Charlie Sheen. He wins waaay to often.
POP
Regardless of your opinion about ‘Pop Music’ (the most contentious
categorisation in modern music) sometimes it is quite fun. Thus, in no particular order
here are 10 of the best ‘Pop indulgences’
of 2011:
- Madeon – Pop Culture
- 3lau – All Night Long
- Coldplay – Paradise
- Krewella – One Minute
- Olly Murs ft. Rizzle kicks – Heart Skips A Beat
- Emeli Sande – Heaven
- Group Love (Captain Cuts Remix) – Colours
- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (Whole Z Remix) - Home
- Mausi – Sol
- Patrick Wolf – Time of My Life
Adele - Rolling in the Deep
Katy B - On a Mission
Live Music
I was fortunate enough to see loads of live music in 2011. Not only was I
was lucky enough to attend Glastonbury for a 3rd time, I also got see a studio recording of ‘Later.. with Jools Holland’. Not forgetting the
countless gigs I managed to attend. So, below you will find 10 live highlights of 2011 with a brief and less than illuminating explanation. Regardless of the ordering, they are all definitely worth seeing if you get the chance.
Flying Lotus - Electro, but not as you used to know it
Duke - Guitar and beatbox fun
Bo Ningen - Eccentric J-Rock with attitude and a unique dress sense.
- James Blake - Bass, so much bass
- Morrisey - Still controversial, still a genius
- Queens of the Stone Age - Josh Homme = the epitome of on stage cool
- Pretty Lights - Big beat bliss
- Wild Beasts - Chilling and haunting
- Ben Folds - All round awesome-ness
- Barenaked Ladies - Showmen, and the best fun
- Dananananaykroyd - Inspired crowd control
- Bright Eyes - Amazing songwriting, only lessened by his choice of cape
- B.B King - Owner of the greatest guitar tone ever
Flying Lotus - Electro, but not as you used to know it
Duke - Guitar and beatbox fun
Bo Ningen - Eccentric J-Rock with attitude and a unique dress sense.
10 Albums of 2011
This year, just choosing 10 albums has been incredibly
difficult. In the last year (to my infinite shame) I’ve bought a lot more
digital singles, individual tracks and E.P.s than ever before. I’ve also probably
seen more music than I’ve actually bought. These two factors combined have definitely
not done my album collection any favours.
Regardless, I did buy and enjoy a good number, the highlights of which
are listed below. I’ve also put a small description, and a representative track to try and persuade you they are all really pretty good.
1) Cloud Control - Bliss Release
Chilled out, arty and down right summery Aussie vibes
Representative Track: There's Nothing In the Water We Can't Fight
2) Wild Beasts - Smother
Probably the most distinctive and imaginative outfit in the UK right now... Every track on this album is sublime
Representative Track: Bed of Nails
3) Bonobo - Black Sands
Originality and genius that remixes itself.
Representative Track: Eyes Down
4) Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Delicate composition in union with a concept
Representative Track: Holocene
5) Crystal Fighters - Star of Love
Heartfelt, tribal, and with killer bass
Representative Track: Champion Sound
6) Little Comets - In Search Of Illusive Little Comets
It's (meta)physically impossible not to smile whilst listening to this album. Its just so happy and upbeat.
Representative Track: Lost Time
7) The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
New Zealander synth-pop goodness. Some filler, but the killers is twice as potent.
Representative Track: Punching in a Dream
8) Ben Folds - Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective
A must have for any fan, and a rounded introduction for any first time listeners.
Representative Track: Landed [Strings Version]
9) Yuck - Yuck
DIY Garage Grunge
Representative Track: Georgia
10) Radiohead - King Of Limbs
Radiohead being progressive. Again.
Representative Track: Giving up the Ghost
Worthy Mentions
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
The Horrors - skying
1) Cloud Control - Bliss Release
Chilled out, arty and down right summery Aussie vibes
Representative Track: There's Nothing In the Water We Can't Fight
2) Wild Beasts - Smother
Probably the most distinctive and imaginative outfit in the UK right now... Every track on this album is sublime
Representative Track: Bed of Nails
3) Bonobo - Black Sands
Originality and genius that remixes itself.
Representative Track: Eyes Down
4) Bon Iver - Bon Iver
Delicate composition in union with a concept
Representative Track: Holocene
5) Crystal Fighters - Star of Love
Heartfelt, tribal, and with killer bass
Representative Track: Champion Sound
6) Little Comets - In Search Of Illusive Little Comets
It's (meta)physically impossible not to smile whilst listening to this album. Its just so happy and upbeat.
Representative Track: Lost Time
7) The Naked and Famous - Passive Me, Aggressive You
New Zealander synth-pop goodness. Some filler, but the killers is twice as potent.
Representative Track: Punching in a Dream
8) Ben Folds - Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective
A must have for any fan, and a rounded introduction for any first time listeners.
Representative Track: Landed [Strings Version]
9) Yuck - Yuck
DIY Garage Grunge
Representative Track: Georgia
10) Radiohead - King Of Limbs
Radiohead being progressive. Again.
Representative Track: Giving up the Ghost
Worthy Mentions
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now
The Horrors - skying
15 of the Best Tracks of
2011
Whilst great albums where thin on the ground, 'one-off' greats where plentiful in 2011. I am therefore proud to present, 15 of the best (in a very loose, if not irrelevant order).
- Bonobo - Kiara (with Prelude)
- Jonsi - Go Do
- Bon Iver - Towers
- Cloud Control - There's Nothing In the Water We Can't Fight
- Wild Beasts - Albatross
- The Naked and Famous - Young Blood
- Yuck - Get Away
- Metronomy - The Look
- DZ Deathrays - Gebbie St
- The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness
- Coyote Kisses - Acid Wolfpack
- The Burns Unit - Send Them Kids to War
- Pretty Lights - Run DMC "It's Tricky" Remix
- Exitmusic - The Sea
- The Horrors - Still Life
Worthy Mentions
Jenny and Johnny - Big Wave
Radiohead - Lotus Flower
Bon Iver - Skinny Love (Das Kapital Re-rub)
Glitch Mob - Bad Wing
Jamie Woon - Lady Luck
Little Comets - Tricolour
Peter, Bjorn and John - Second Chance
Karen Anne - My Name Is Trouble
Gruff Rhys - Sensations In The Dark
Fenech-Soler - Demons
Belle and Sebastian - I Want The World To Stop
Glitch Mob - Bad Wing
Jamie Woon - Lady Luck
Little Comets - Tricolour
Peter, Bjorn and John - Second Chance
Karen Anne - My Name Is Trouble
Gruff Rhys - Sensations In The Dark
Fenech-Soler - Demons
Belle and Sebastian - I Want The World To Stop
Friends and Local Music
2011 also proved to be a productive year for my musically
inclined friends and acquaintances. A wealth of musical goodness has been
crafted by these guys 'n' gals, so do check them out:
Mausi
Hailing from Italy via Newcastle, this lot are responsible
for one of the summeriest tunes this year: Sol. Imagine Italian sunshine
trapped in a bottle of Newcy Brown (actually
don’t, that’s completely inaccurate and gross).
Grinsidious
Marrying synthpop, jazz guitar, rock and dubstep is no easy
feat, but these guys do it supremely.
His Majesty
Indie Rock as only the French Rivera can create. Upbeat,
happy, and stylish.
Oliver Corrigan
Single handedly re-writing the Jazz fusion rule book.
Emperor (DnB)
If you struggle take consume your recommended daily
allowance of bass, this guys is you’re 5-a-day, and some.
Birds Vs Planes
After rocking Radio One’s Big Weekend in Carlisle, this
Cumbrian band keep going from strength to strength.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLs1wH6TMec&list=FLvJTQN0bitt1ptlHotpZRew&index=54&feature=plpp_video
Fiona Clayton
Room full of Owls singer Fiona Clayton has had another storming solo year. Radio 1's big weekend amongst the highlights.
Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra
Proveyors of most pleasant vibes, from Newcastle Via the Lakes
Polarsets
Releasing songs through Kitsuné, this Newcastle outfit have
had a pretty grand year.
Little Comets
With an album at the start of the year, and an E.P. to close
it, the Little Comets continue to be one of the most exciting, upbeat bands
around.
Kill it Kid
With their second album ‘Feet Fall Heavy’ released this year, Kill it
Kid continue to, well, Kill it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6HZQnyf2Fc
Outro
Now, by no means am I claiming this review of the year to be
definitive. to be honest, this review of 2011 has been more an overview of what soundtracked my year personally. This of course means I have been blissfully ignorant of lots of amazing
work, and I would love it if you, the reader, suggested bands and tracks for me to check out! I'd appreciate it lots. Truly.
For example, in
writing this review I spotted that I completely overlooked Foster the People, and PJ Harvey (admittedly an absolute travesty given the critical reception and Mercury success PJ Harvey has had). So please
do comment! I'd hate to miss anything else.
Thanks for reading, and best wishes for 2012 and beyond!
Scott
