Soooooo, it’s the time of year again where we realize it’s almost no longer 2011. 2012 looms around the corner with it’s great foretold prophecy of ultimate destruction by a civilization that barely lasted long enough to finish foretelling much of anything (I wonder if they saw that coming, also [brief aside re: 2012; it's my firm belief that the Mayans just stopped making calendars at this point because the people who made them got pretty tired of making calendars that far ahead)].
I make these lists every year and I like sharing them. Mostly, I like the idea of seeing what everyone else likes too. I’m encouraging folks to share as I post on both Facebook and my personal blog, which people don’t read anyway. As usual, I’ll throw in some write-ups, a bonus, and maybe even the tracks themselves? On maybe only on Facebook. Wellllllll…
1. Bar’s Open – Shotgun Jimmie (Transistor Sister)
Let’s just warm things up? Yes?
2. Black Night – The Dodos (No Color)
This whole album is amazing. Since I primarily listened to it at the gym, I can’t really hear it without imagining myself on an exercise bike. But that’s awesome anyway? Also, this album was my first Dodos experience. Now I’m a huge fan. I have no idea how 2/3 guys can sound so huge. It’s so good.
3. Rope – Foo Fighters (Wasting Light)
Uhh… this track is, like, better than anything this band has done since The Colour and The Shape. It’s really quite something. I don’t feel too strongly about the rest of the album? But man. Also, Pat Smear!
4. Erase Dwarf – Force Fields (Live at The Capital, June 25, 2010)
An easy highlight for the Show Of The Year would be seeing Force Fields at The Capital during Harvest where they set up on the floor and faced the middle of the room while a bunch of us got crushed by huge tones. I insist that Force Fields are the best band in Atlantic Canada and it’s ridiculous to me that they are not know internationally for being fucking incredible. Tour up, boys!
5. Midnight City – M83 (Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming)
At first it’s like, “oh, this is pretty poppy”, but then later it’s like “fuck, listen to these hooks!”, and then you’re all “where the fuck did that saxophone come from?! What’s even happening! This is the best!”. That’s what it’s like.
6. Glass Deers -Braids (Native Speaker)
After seeing them live at Pre-Pop I sort of fell in love with Braids all over again. I can’t really understand how four people manage to make all these sounds live and sound better than the album. Easily one of the best things I saw live this year. And they’re how old? Jesus.
7. Grey Ship – EMA (Past Life Martyred Saints)
I’m not too huge on the rest of this album, really. I tried. But this song is incredible. I think this lady is one of the coolest ladies in indie rock. She reminds me of Courtney Love if you took out the crazy and were just left with aesthetic and talent.
8. Kings of the Animal Kingdom – The Burning Hell (Flux Capacitor)
This is easily the saddest song humanity has ever written. It’s devastating. I told Mathias Kom (The Burning Hell‘s wonderful frontman) this and he said, “yessss, excellent!”
9. This Is Why We Fight – The Decemberists (The King is Dead)
This album was definitely a grower. I felt like it was a return to simpler Decemberists fare but then realized that none of the songs were specifically about murders or being out to sea. It’s Americana. It wasn’t until mid-summer that I finally came to the conclusion that I like the album. I maybe don’t love it. Either way, “This is Why We Fight” is the standout. I love the bass-line.
10. Everything I Saw – The Weather Station (All of it Was Mine)
I saw The Weather Station twice this year. Once at Sappyfest in the Vogue Theatre (where I was sort of underwhelmed) and once in Fredericton at Gallery Connexion (where I was totally floored). The lady crafts a fine song, let me tell you. I picked the album up after I saw her in town and it’s been on pretty steady rotation since. I love it when a live show really turns me around on an artist.
11. Tennessee – Gillian Welch (The Harrow & The Harvest)
This lady is a legend, and I’m sort of disappointed that I didn’t understand it until this year. This track is basically perfect? Her voice is unstoppable.
12. True Love – Catherine MacLellan (Silhouette)
I once said “I’m going to crawl into Catherine MacLellan’s mouth and live in her voice.” This would be terrifying. I’d still like to, though. She doesn’t play Fredericton enough at all.
13. Asa – Bry Webb (Provider)
Late entry! But man, Provider is so good! Who knew that I’d like Bry Webb’s songwriting even more when I could understand what the fuck he’s saying?
14. Michicant – Bon Iver (Bon Iver)
Well, I mean, obviously?
15. Leaves, Trees, Forest – Dan Mangan (Oh Fortune)
Thanks Dan. You don’t even know. :)
16. Bandages – Hey Rosetta! (Seeds)
It’s pretty stupid to me that I haven’t seen Hey Rosetta! live. They played the Market in town just before this album fell into my hands and I pretty much super regretted not going. I think I get the appeal. And this album is front-to-back excellent. I had a long conversation with my friend Andrew Lockhart about how Hey Rosetta! always write songs the same way… soft, build, break, soft, build, huge… and it’s more or less true? But I don’t like the album any less for it.
17. Black Water – Timber Timbre (Creep On Creepin’ On)
My mid-summer rainy-day jam. Every time.
18. Say Yeah – Bruce Peninsula (Open Flames)
I liked their first album a whole lot but I had no idea they even had this in them. They were unbelievable the day they played at Gallery Connexion. 2012 will be the year Bruce Peninsula conquer Canadian hearts.
19. All Year – Jenn Grant (Honeymoon Punch)
Oh, Jenn. You’re so good. Keep it up.
20. Stamp – The Rural Alberta Advantage (Departing)
Though they were quasi disappointing at HPX (a church just can’t contain the energy of this band, I don’t think), Departing was something I listened to a ton in 2011. Also, it always makes me think I’m at The Capital because Ferg played it between sets all the time. Feeling like I’m at The Capital is never a bad thing. Not ever.
21. Final Approach – Buck 65 (20 Odd Years)
Hooks. So many hooks. All over the place.
22. The Undiscovered First – Feist (Metals)
This album is the first time Feist has really grabbed me. I think it’s all super great. This track gets so huge on the album. Definitely watch the video I linked here. It’s a black cab session where they use the cab interior for percussion. It’s amazing? Yes, yes it is.
23. Surgeon – St. Vincent (Strange Mercy)
This album is definitely in the running for my favourite of the year. It’s one of those situations where I listened to it at exactly the right time for the entire thing to seem brilliant. I listen to it a little less now, but I can’t believe Annie Clark even exists. She’s incredible. We should all want to have her babies.
24. Brain Gallop – Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks (Mirror Traffic)
I smile every time I hear this. And the outro guitarmonies! Oh man. Easily one of the best albums of the year.
25. New Decade – Marine Dreams (Marine Dreams)
You’ve Changed are the best label? Is that fair? Can we all just agree on that right now? And all of these people are sweethearts who write awesome songs? Yesss.
26. Swamp Magic – Shotgun Jimmie (Transistor Sister)
The Man of the Goddamn Year. I saw Jim somewhere between 6-10 times this year. At Sappyfest (He was my highlight of the festival, even topping the Arcade Fire surprise [note: this is largely because of a surprise cover of Hanging on the Telephone]), at HPX, in town… (IN MY DREAMS MAYBE WHO KNOWS). Transistor Sister is an excellent album. Perfect, really. It’s filled with pop nuggets. I want to curl up in it.
27. Bar’s Closed – Shotgun Jimmie (Transistor Sister)
Play us out, Jim!
** So that’s that! Here’s one more list!
Top 5 albums of the year:
- Shotgun Jimmie – Transistor Sister
- St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
- Bruce Peninsula – Open Flame
- M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
- Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks – Mirror Traffic
Top 5 shows of the year:
- Fucked Up – HPX
- PIXIES – Moncton Casino
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor – The Olympia Theatre? I think? (Montreal)
- The Arcade Fire – Sappyfest
- Force Fields – The Capital (Harvest)
Braids and Jimmie are honorary mentions!
OMG ALRIGHT ALREADY YOU SHARE YOURS.
I’m gonna do this this year for the first time in forever.
I also quite like that St. Vincent album. She’s playing here on Friday, and I really super want to go but I can’t make it because things are super busy these next couple of weeks. Surgeon is totally my favorite track there too.
Also Brain Gallop is the best SM track since the paleolithic age.
You ain’t kiddin’. Also, you would love Shotgun Jimmie. I’ll maybe send some your way. Should I re-RSS Smiling Politely?
Dude where have you been SP is off the hook these days!
Actually it’s kind of sad because I get no more comments. Blogs are so 2005.
Dave will comment. I’ll let him know it’s back via Facebook.