Friday, December 30, 2011

Best of 2011: Music

Alright, alright alright! That's that for 2011. It can go fuck itself now kthnxbai! But before it does, there are BEST OF lists to create! And worst of lists as well. I mostly do thsoe for movies, but i'll be holding off for a while since there are still some movies I have yet to see that I want to. Some that will probably end up on the best of lise(like Steven Spielberg's War Horse) and some likely to go on the rubbish list(Pirates 4, which I have here and have been dreading to watch). So I'll compile those lists when I am good and ready. Maybe around Oscar season! One list I CAN do now, is my BEST OF MUSIC 2011 list. This year was FAR better than 2010. I got into a whole slew of new artists this year, and a lot of old veterans returned with stunning new albums. I compiled this list by simply looking at all the music I bought this year, and figuring which ones got the most repeated play in my stereo, and which ones made me piss myself upon listening. So here's what stood out in year 2011!

10.  Primus - Green Naugahyde
Primus returned after a decade long retirement with it's original members back in formation, and deliveed an album that wasn't quite it's old style, but something new! This pissed fanboys off who still live in 1990. But for me, it was a breath of fresh air. Had just enough of the old Primus sound with a modern day tinge to make the band relevant again after such a long hiatus. Hopefully this reformation stick and they stick around for good this time.

9. Apparat - The Devil's Walk
Of the many new bands I got into this year. All thanks to a crucial scene from season 4 of Breaking Bad(that song was called Goodbye). I loved it so much I went and checked out the rest of the groups music and was instantly hooked. Very addictived, and unique sounding with a hint of sadness throughout.
8. Devin Townsend - Deconstruction
This was one of two albums the metal mastermind released this year. The other album, Ghosts, was great on it's own, and is the polar opposite of this album. Where that album was a melodic, almost etheral sounding piece, this album was insanity from top to bottom. It never reached the speeds of SYL's City(to this date, Devin's most perfect album), but what it lacked in an all out speed assault, it made up for in sheer insanity. This is what music sounds like if it were made from an insane asylum. Yet the entire thing is focused, and never derails. You can see exactly what Townsend was going for. And he succeeds in getting it. A parody of a metal album that just happens to be a fantastic fucking metal album.
7. Big Black Delta - BBDLP1
This was the most unique sounding album I got this year. A strange hybrid of classic 80's sound with modern day techno surrounded with all sorts of distortions. It's a controlled chaos at it's best and something entirely it's own.  May this be the first of many albums this guy puts out.
6. Diary of Dreams - Ego:X
One of the most reliable bands I listen to, this German darkwave group releases what is actually it's most accessible album to date. The dark, brooding nature of this band remains in tact, but the songs are tighter and leaner. Be interesting to see what the next album sounds like.

5. VNV Nation - Automatic
VNV Nation return with what is thier most bombastic album since Futureperfect. They also prety much abandon all hint of thier original darkwave sound and go full eletronica. Mastermind Ronan Harris adds a lot of depth to the sound on this album, and each song essentially comes off like an anthem of sorts. This is shit that is meant ot be played live. Also, it's an unapologetically positive album, with barely a hint of gloom in the lyrics, siding instead for the positive. It sounds like the album Harris has been wanting to make for a decade but has held back for whatever reason. This is him saying fuck it and going all out. It's one of this bands finest albums to date.
4. IAMX - Volatile Times
One man band IAMX, comprised of former Sneaker Pimps member Chris Corners releases his 5th album under this name, and like all the previous albums, it bears very little resemblance to his pevious albums. Each IAMX album is very much it's own sound, caryring only vague hints of a stand alone style. What you get is a unique blend of electronica, indie rock, and even some cabaret to go along with it. Fueled by Corner's near flawless voice, each IAMX album is freakishly addictive. I havent heard one yet that's failed to deliver, or make my top 10 list the year it's released.
3. Junius - Reports from the Threshold of Death
This is the album that should finally bring this band the attention they deserve. It's thier best one yet by far. A tight, hard rocking album with enough psychedelic in it, you'll feel like your floating in space. The lyrics are brilliant, the songs are addicting as all hell, this is stuff that should get FAR more exposure. This is one of those bands that deserves hype. I sure as shit hope they finally get it.
2. Machine Head - Unto the Locust
The best metal album of the year. Machine Head's last album was 2007's masterpiece, 'The Blackening". It was one of THE best metal album released for the decade. It's mix of raw aggression and emotion combined with melody was something to behold. Finally, the band returns with its's new album. And while it doesnt top The Blackening(nothing really can), it is, never the less, another masterpiece. The band go for a more bare bones sound this time around, and lose none of the punch. The rage and emotions are all still intact, many times even elevated, and most of the songs feature choruses that will have you singing along hwile banging your head. This album solidifies Machine Head as one of the very best metal bands around today. They are really on thier own level at this point.
1. ASP - Fremd
I've been only casually into this band for about 2 years or so, listening to a bunch of random songs here and there, but finally made the effort to pick up thier albums earlier this year. Had to import most of them, amazon took care of the rest. What struck me is just how much I ended up getting into them. They're a German goth metal group with flourishes of electronics and classical instruments, extremely catchy melodies, all lead by the singer who'se deep baritone drives each song. More surprising still, this band has essentially filled the void for me left by the loss of Type O Negative. They are similar in some ways, though not by too much. But  i've become addicted to thsi gorup and devoured all thier albums. This past October they released thier new one, and it's the best of the bunch. Heavier that previous albums with more focus, it's a perfect summary of the group and a perfect example of why I've taken to them so much. Dripping with melody, brooding darkness and the singers unique voice, this was the album that played the most times in my stereo, and will continue to do so well into 2012.

So there's the top 10. Honorable mentions also go out to the following:

Gary Numan - Dead Son Rising
Skinny Puppy - Handover
Leaves' Eyes - Meredead
Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross - The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Soundtrack
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Jesu - Ascension
16 Volt - Beating Dead Horses
Dope Stars Inc. - Ultrawired
TV On the Radio - Nine Types of Light
Nero - Welcome Reality
DarkDriveClinic - Noise In My Head

Some good stuff heading our way in 2012 too. New Queens of the Stone Age album! A newly reformed and rejuvinated Ministry returns! And most unbeleivable of all, CELLDWELLER will finally release his new album in March! Yes I can't believe it either but it's set and ready to go. he even recorded 5 extra songs for the album. And just at the very end January, the brilliant Mind.In.A.Box return with thier 4th album. Thier previous album was a tangent from thier normal style. It was a love letter album to old video game systems of the 80's. This new album is a return to form. It's destined to be right near the top of my best of list for 2012. We'll see what else makes the cut this time next year! Adios.

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