‘Top 10 albums of 2011′ by Victor Koressel

Victor Koressel December 15, 2011 0

Next in our lists for best of the year in albums is music writer Victor Koressel.

To read Alexandra Voigt’s list, click here.

To read Alexandra Fletcher’s list, click here.

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After wrapping up my list of 2010’s best albums, I looked ahead to what this year would bring. At first, I was worried that I would have ten titles to consider. However, now that the end has come, I find it difficult to determine the top twenty. This list does not necessarily reflect the individual scores I gave each album, considering I did not have the time or foresight to listen to and review them when they were released, and some notable albums are missing. The most important issue is that of longevity; some albums that received my highest ratings regrettably fell out of favor soon afterwards, and a few records simply got better and better. But you probably only care about what I did and didn’t choose, so without further ado:

10. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care by Explosions in the Sky

When I reviewed Take Care… back in April, I was convinced that it would be my Album of the Year. However, as time passed, it slowly dropped from my rotation in favor of other records. Still, it managed to land at 10^th place, and for good reason. Explosions in the Sky has proven time and time again that they are the best at what they do (whatever you would like to call it). Take Care… instantly comes to life and paints as detailed a picture as any EitS album without sounding like a rehash of their earlier work. I am quite interested to see where the quartet will go after this, and if the results will (or can) be any more enthralling.

9. Diamond Mine by King Creosote and Jon Hopkins

I first listened to King Creosote (real name Kenny Anderson) on a whim a few months ago, with no prior knowledge of his immense catalogue. I was immediately hooked by the soft-spoken Irishman, whose Damian Rice-like presence and soothing melodies form an eerie yet calm atmosphere. Diamond Mine, Anderson’s 46^th album, was made in collaboration with English electronica composer Jon Hopkins and is a strikingly beautiful collection of quiet arrangements and honest, open lyrics. I have not attempted to explore King Creosote’s prior works as such a venture would surely disrupt all daily functions, but if it is as welcoming and immersive as Diamond Mine, I would consider doing so.

8. Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Cliff Martinez and Various Artists

Drive, Nicholas Winding Refn’s newest work, surprised me in more ways than I can count. The film itself is cunning, brutal and brilliant, and no soundtrack could better complement a movie. Cliff Martinez’s tense, ominous score mixes beautifully with electro-pop tracks from College, Desire and several more, resulting in a neon-tinged sound that electrifies the action occurring on the screen and gets stuck in your head for hours on end, whether you like it or not.

7. Life Fantastic by Man Man

Honus Honus and friends have grown up, and their latest album reflects that. With Life Fantastic, the rambunctious group known as Man Man experiments with a more balanced blend of lyrical density and musical lunacy, a difficult feat that is done surprisingly well. The band may have taken things down a peg or two, but they still manage to show their fans things nobody else can.

6. The King is Dead by The Decemberists

The King is Dead is probably the only Decemberists to not be in the top five albums of the year (and most of them would take home the trophy), but it still holds its own against some heavy hitters. Colin Meloy, along with his ragtag band of bohemian minstrels, reverts back to his early days of toying around with alternative country songs, which is quite different from his last release, the masterfully composed and performed The Hazards of Love. The King is Dead still employs the eclectic array of instruments, but it tries to distance itself from the first-person ballads and obscure cultural references so abundant in the band’s repertoire. With his latest release, Meloy proves that he doesn’t need to add all of the bells and whistles to make a great album.

5. Nine Types of Light by TV on the Radio

Having only listened to TV on the Radio on a few rare occasions in the past with mildly satisfying results, I was prepared to not think much of Nine Types of Light. From the opening moments, I was blown away. Tunde Adebimpe has a real knack for improvisation and songwriting, and the mix of rock, funk and hip-hop rhythms results in complex sounds only rivaled in their originality by bands like Yeasayer. Nine Types of Light shifts before your ears, sending off sparks of countless different emotions that keeps you sucked in until the end.

4. Belong by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Whenever I listen to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, it always surprises me that they are not more popular. Their energy and sound is as consistently satisfying as can be, and they simply write damn good songs. Belong, their second full-length album, is jam-packed full of bitter indie-pop goodness with an 80’s flair that is easy on the ears but still thought-provoking through its honesty. It may not be an album for every occasion, but if you’re looking for a feel-good album of the year, you need look no further.

3. The Rip Tide by Beirut

With their third album, Beirut toned down their European influences and instead focused on the fundamentals of their music. The Rip Tide is a more easily accessible album than Condon’s previous works, drawing its strength not from a cultural identification but rather from the pure creative abilities of Zach Condon and his band members. The tracks are simple yet elegant, repetitive yet powerful, and catchy as anything else released this year.

2. No Color – The Dodos

The Dodos have always been an impressive band with an unequaled sound, considering their status as a two- or three-piece act. With No Color, Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, accompanied by Neko Case of New Pornographers fame, try to match their previous accomplishments, and they succeed with flying colors. Twisting polyrhythms and clever, poignant lyrics combine to please even the most skeptical listener, and one would be hard-pressed to find a band that can make so much noise with so few people.

1. Burst Apart by The Antlers

There is simply not enough I can say about Burst Apart. It is, beginning to end, one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard, unabashed in its passion and brutal in its honesty. Peter Silberman, who rose to fame after 2009’s tour de force Hospice, has somehow topped himself with his fourth album, which delves into matters so private and yet universal that one cannot avoid sharing the experience with him. Burst Apart sucks you in and moves you about, rearranging you and releasing you on the other side someone completely different. The maelstrom of love and hate culminates in “Putting the Dog to Sleep”, honestly one of the best, most emotional songs ever written. With this album, The Antlers have cemented themselves as the premier indie rock group.