Monday, July 4, 2011

Mid-year Top 20 of 2011


After six months, I've listened to about 80 albums full through, and that's enough to put together a decent Top 20 of the first six months of the year. So here it goes:

1. The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
2. Paul Simon -- So Beautiful Or So What
3. Tuneyards -- whokill
4. Raphael Saadiq -- Stone Rollin'
5. Disappears -- Guider
6. Anna Calvi -- Anna Calvi
7. Pete and the Pirates -- One Thousand Pictures
8. Edwyn Collins -- Losing Sleep
9. Nicole Atkins -- Mondo Amore
10. k.d. lang and the siss boom bang -- Say It Loud
11. Washed Out -- Within and Without
12. Hollie Cook -- Hollie Cook
13. Fleet Foxes -- Helplessness Blues
14. Thao & Mirah -- Thao & Mirah
15. Malachai -- Return to the Ugly Side
16. TV On The Radio -- Nine Types Of Light
17. Parts & Labor -- Constant Future
18. Ambrose Akinmusire -- When The Heart Emerges Glistening
19. Lykke Li -- Wounded Rhymes
20. Cheer-Accident -- No Ifs Ands Or Dogs

A lot of good records, and after number 12, it's pretty much picking out of a hat. I'm in the process of evaluating the latest from Shabazz Palaces, The Handcuffs, Poor Luther's Bones and others, and have also really dug Cloud Nothings, Papercuts, Iron & Wine, The Dirtbombs, Mickey, Memphis, Title Tracks and others.

2 comments:

John Mcelhenney said...

It's so awesome to see your top list of 2011 thus far and recognize about 5 of them. I guess I have some catchin up to do. Thanks for the guidance, Michael.

pghhead said...

Neat list, Mike. Is that your order of ranking? Or just a random list? I agree wholeheartedly that Joy Formidable, Malachai, TV On The Radio and Lykke Li should be on the list. Heard some good tracks from both Anna Calvi and Edwyn Collins and now want to explore further based on your opinion. My son is already picking up Washed Out (which I'll borrow). While Fleet Foxes is good, we're a little burned out on 3 & 4 part harmonies right now. Thanks for the heads up on Parts & Labor - love them and didn't know they had new stuff. Also, time for me to explore Cheer Accident some more. All the best !