So in the spirit of Severum's annual list I figured I would go ahead and get this list started.
The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
Side projects are always tricky, so when I found out Brian Fallon would be making a record with Gaslight Anthem's traveling guitarist I was really skeptical. Luckily, I was wrong. Elsie is a far moodier and darker record than anything TGA has released to date and was a great holdover until the next Gaslight effort. The Springsteen comparisons will always be there when Fallon is involved, but this record plays a lot more like Tom Waits than the Boss.
Arkells - Michigan Left
Canadian blue collar soul rock. I guess. Trying to find a proper description for this band is next to impossible. However, their sophomore effort is as close to a perfect record as I've heard in a long time. Technically this album doesn't release in the states until later this month, but the import is available on Amazon.
Frank Turner -England Keep My Bones
I had the privilege of getting obnoxiously drunk with Frank at The Revival Tour at One Eyed Jack's a few years ago. Therefore I probably love this record even more as a result of that. But it truly is a great record and his most mature to date. It's less acoustic-punk and more folk-country than his other efforts, but that's a good thing in my opinion.
Sharks - The Joys of Living 2008-2011
I'm still trying to figure out how a band this good wound up on a label as Rise Records, but here they are. If you were to ask me who my favorite band of all time is, I would answer The Clash in a heartbeat. This is probably the closest I will ever get to a a new album of Clash material. The singer even kind of looks like Joe Strummer. This is an agglomeration of all of their EP's over a 3 year period, with their first proper full length to be released sometime this year.
Red City Radio - The Dangers of Standing Still
Apparently this band falls under a classification called orgcore. I have no idea what that is or dictates, but if this is what it sounds like sign me up. To me this is pretty clearly punk.
Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness
I became a fan of this group after their release Romance is Boring. This is a much deeper record and not nearly as pop. However, it still is a great record.
Nightmares for a Week - Don't Die
NYC three-piece punk outfit. A really solid debut.
Viva Brother - Famous First Words
This band had a huge hype when this record was coming out (as seemingly every brit-pop band does) and after it's release it's like nothing ever happened. But, I still submit that this is a good rock 'n roll album even if it is a bit overproduced.
Look Mexico - Real Americans Spear It EP
I love the guitar players in this band. And every song title is a line from a Vin Diesel movie. That is all.
I'm sure I'll probably add to this list, but those are the most memorable right now. Look forward to seeing what albums you guys enjoyed this year.
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Originally Posted by blackngold4877
frankly I'm an idiot who wastes too much time on the internet.
You either love or loathe his Odd Future Crew, Frank has a fantastic vocal talent that sets him apart. There's a reason artists like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Nas and Pharrell are working with him nowadays.
And So I Watch You From Afar - Gangs
My favourite band proceed into 2012 with an unclear future after their lead guitarist left to pursue a solo folk career, but Gangs was a huge album last year for me. You'll hear elements of everything on this album. Their self titled debut was attractive in how raw and unrefined it was, but the musicianship and intricate detail on this second album blows me away every time.
Childish Gambino - Camp
Hip hop in a way I haven't heard it done anywhere else. The lyricism and flow Donald Glover showcases on this made it all the more amazing for me when I found out rapping was his side deal.
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
I approached this album quite reluctantly as I was quite underwhelmed by the previous album. But I was pleasantly surprised to find some quality rock songs which grew and grew on me until I heard them live over the summer. Probably the best band I saw all year.
Jay Z and Kanye West - Watch the Throne
I tend to listen to Hip Hop while I exercise and I find myself always coming back to this album. Probably listened to it all the way through once a week since it came out, and it doesn't get old, making it probably my personal favourite album of the last 12 months. It's a piece of work oozing with creativity, fire and energy, from start to finish. Every track is great in a different way and I think the pair worked better together than a lot of critics gave them credit for. There are so many standout lines as well. The whole thing was a very ambitious project which could have easily resulted in an over-hyped flop, but thanks to the oft self-proclaimed genius of its creators, it ended up far from that.
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"Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely"
The one I was most looking forward to (for once) didn't disappoint and completely lived up to its billing. Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator. It is music grounded in the past but it is presented in a new light. This one really is everything I thought it might be when I heard about it.
In the same vein the Warren Haynes solo album (Man in Motion) was very good too. It made use of some good New Orleans talent and it doesn't sound like just another Mule album.
Having mentioned both of those, I'd be remiss to not also include the new Gregg Allman album, Low Country Blues.
The live John Butler from Red Rocks:
Joe Bonamassa - Dust Bowl. Here is a cover of the Tim Curry song, No Love on the Streets.
Jorma and Jack released a new album this year: Hot Tuna - Steady As She Goes. This song is the first track, Angel of Darkness.
Howard Levy rejoined the Flecktones to re-create the original lineup and they released a terrific album that is new material but doesn't forget about the first three Flecktone albums.
Finally, this list would be incomplete without a mention of the live Levon Helm album, Ramble at the Ryman.
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Victor Butler on Saints fans: "I haven't played a down for them yet & I feel like 20 million people have offered me a home cooked meal"
1. Kendrick Lamar - Section.80
2. The Roots - Undun
3. Cunnylinguists - Oneirology
4. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver
5. Times of Grace - Hymn of a Broken Man
6. Drake - Take Care
7. J. Cole - The Sideline Story
8. Childish Gambino - Camp
9. Atmosphere - Family Sign
10. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia
So in the spirit of Severum's annual list I figured I would go ahead and get this list started.
The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
Side projects are always tricky, so when I found out Brian Fallon would be making a record with Gaslight Anthem's traveling guitarist I was really skeptical. Luckily, I was wrong. Elsie is a far moodier and darker record than anything TGA has released to date and was a great holdover until the next Gaslight effort. The Springsteen comparisons will always be there when Fallon is involved, but this record plays a lot more like Tom Waits than the Boss.
Frank Turner -England Keep My Bones
I had the privilege of getting obnoxiously drunk with Frank at The Revival Tour at One Eyed Jack's a few years ago. Therefore I probably love this record even more as a result of that. But it truly is a great record and his most mature to date. It's less acoustic-punk and more folk-country than his other efforts, but that's a good thing in my opinion.
Must have been great to hang out with Frank Turner. He seems like a fun guy to drink with. I'm totally in to both these albums (have I ever mellowed out in terms of taste in music now that I'm pushing 40 ) I have tickets to see Frank Turner in Ottawa in April. Sure hope the Horrible Crowes tour soon. Along this genre, I think Chuck Ragan's Covering Ground is quite a good album this year too.
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Football was invented by one mean dude and that's the way it was meant to be played.
in no particular order, but i haven't had the opportunity to listen to a lot of new music.
fleshgod apocolypse - agony
foo fighters - wasting light
alestorm - back through time
rise against - endgame
puscifer - conditions of my parole
the dreaming - puppet
hollywood undead - american tragedy
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I’ve gotta say what I’ve gotta say and then I swear I'll go away, but I cant promise you'll enjoy the noise.
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Victor Butler on Saints fans: "I haven't played a down for them yet & I feel like 20 million people have offered me a home cooked meal"
Must have been great to hang out with Frank Turner. He seems like a fun guy to drink with. I'm totally in to both these albums (have I ever mellowed out in terms of taste in music now that I'm pushing 40 ) I have tickets to see Frank Turner in Ottawa in April. Sure hope the Horrible Crowes tour soon. Along this genre, I think Chuck Ragan's Covering Ground is quite a good album this year too.
Frank was awesome. It was just a couple of weeks after Poetry of the Deed had been released, so he wasn't too big at the time. Dude freaking loves Jager bombs. One of the worst hangovers of my life, but totally worth it.
Not sure we'll be seeing many Horrible Crowes tours any time soon, unfortunately. I know Brian is currently recording with TGA in Jersey right now, but I do know that Ian is with him. With any luck they'll do a few spot shows before the new Gaslight album hits, which I would imagine would take Brian on the road with them for the fore seeable future (Especially now that they are signed to Mercury Records).
I've always enjoyed Chuck Ragan's music and really got to see an interesting side of him on the Revival Tour with Frank. Although, admittedly, I probably haven't given his albums the time they deserved. May just have to do that.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by blackngold4877
frankly I'm an idiot who wastes too much time on the internet.
) I have tickets to see Frank Turner in Ottawa in April. Sure hope the Horrible Crowes tour soon. Along this genre, I think Chuck Ragan's Covering Ground is quite a good album this year too.
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