2011: The Year In Music

^I get the distinct feeling you like Vompatti's albums.

Great list Conor!

An absolute rubbish year for music.  Not really.  I also liked 2010, 2009, 2008...

Wow. I certainly no longer wonder I feel so at home reading your reviews.

Looking back at 2011, I share both your album of the year as well as the letdowns of the year.

Finally, I feel understood, with Leprous hanging around somewhere in the low 50s of the 2011 list at this point in time.


Edited by ishina - February 16 2012 at 08:29

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote: 2011 is the greatest year in all music. My top 10. 1. Unexpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire (10/10) 2. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning (10/10 3. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones (10/10) 4. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (10/10) 5. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events (9.5/10) 6. Gotye - Making Mirrors (9.5/10) 7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (9.5/10) 8. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver (9/10) 9. Floex - Zorya (9/10) 10. Devin Townsend - Deconstruction (8.5/10) Yeah, this is really my favourite year in all music. Hands-down.

Hah!  Floex!!!!  I love "Casanova"!!

The new releases and the new inductions into my collection:

Anderson, Laurie    Homeland    2010            1406    3/19/11 - nearly three months had passed int the year and I had to get this one because only an expert can deal with a problem.
Stereolab    Not Music    2010            1482    4/20/11 - these guys and gals just aren't quite as inspired as used to be.
Dead Can Dance    Into the Labyrinth    1993            1425    5/29/11 - I was gifted with two DCD albums about the time my company of 12 years broke apart.  I didn't adopt them into my collection until the May after.
Dead Can Dance    Toward the Within    1994            1426    5/29/11
Black Mountain    Wilderness Heart     2010            1417    6/2/11 - took an interest in this band when they were up for crossover evaluation and bought the first two.  Still meaning to complete a review of this one.  I am generally not a fan of this style of music but I find their retro pleasing.
Mono    Holy Ground: NYC Live     2003            1458    6/2/11 - wouldn't even know who the hell these guys were if it were not for being on a sampler that came with an Explosions In The Sky order.  I like the music but not particularly enthusiastically.
Knifeworld    Dear Lord, No Deal    2011            1450    6/7/11 - got to hear his one in advance thanks to Kavus!  Had to get a copy of the limited edition EP with autographs.  If I only buy one album this year it will probably be Knifeworld assuming they do an album.
Phideaux    Snowtorch    2010            1461    6/8/11 - I still think of this one as a 2010 release for being recorded then.  Weirdly one of those albums that still hasn't quite sunk in with me. 
Pineapple Thief, The    Someone Here Is Missing    2009            1462    6/8/11 - I'd been following TPT for a while and then wasn't keeping up.  Another album that hasn't really sunk in.
Bass Communion    Molotov And Haze    2008            1407    6/9/11 - I ordered this thinking it was the new SW solo album.  It wasn't OK for a Bass Communion album.
Frith, Fred    Eye To Ear III    2010            1432    6/20/11 - Fred hasn't managed to top any of his '80's Skeleton Crew or solo albums for my tastes.  Still a decent instrumental album.
Radiohead    King Of Limbs    2011            1468    6/28/11 - I still find it odd that three or so months had passed before I realized there was a new Radiohead album out.  I enjoy their new releases but they haven't surpassed Hail To The Thief.
Reasoning, The    Acoustically Speaking    2010            1469    6/29/11 - not sure how these guys put out two albums under the radar screen as they were on my must keep an eye on list.  I think the acoustic versions of their material highlight how much they are crafting basically good songs.
Reasoning, The    Adverse Camber    2010            1470    6/29/11 - not much to add.  These guys managed to put out basically good music when that other prog band with reason in their name kind of crapped out.
Davis, Miles    Get Up With It    1974            1424    7/1/11 - this one gets a lot of respect but came around to my collection at a bad time so I don't think it's fully sunk in.
Jakszyk, Fripp and Collins    Scarcity Of Miracles, A    2011            1443    7/1/11 - this gets knocked a lot by people who don't respect that it's a project and not a fully fledged KC album. 
Bjornstad/Darling/Rypdal/Christensen    Sea, The    1994            1414    7/12/11 - I've got a lot of obscure ECM albums.  I think Atomic CR mentioned listening to this and inspired me to get a copy.  Apologies if I got the attribution wrong.
Zorn, John    Dreamers, The    2007            1498    8/6/11 - one of those happy coincidences.  I was browsing at a local brick and mortar store.  Started at rock Z (Zappa of course) passed by some reissues, made it through jazz and came across this one.  The liner notes were intriguing so I bought it.  Popped it into my truck CD player and the timing and music was perfect.  I had known Zorn as the sax strangling guy but never new he had a composer in him.
Djam Karet    Heavy Soul Sessions, The    2009            1428    8/10/11 - eh, this one didn't click.  I guess I wasn't expecting much from it.
Herd Of Instinct    Herd Of Instinct    2011            1441    8/10/11 - this one was a real treat.  Part of the same order and overdue for inclusion as an artist on this site but apparently not a priority amongst those who have the authority. 
Rhodes, Happy    Equipoise    1993            1474    8/10/11 - went on a Rhodes binge in 2010.  Came back a blew a wad on the out of print albums almost to completion.  One to go but at this point I'll keep my fingers crossed for official re-release.  If I hold my breath I'll probably turn blue.  If you are a Kate Bush fan you might want to get your hands on a copy of Find Me at least.  Thanks to Finny for turning me on to her.
Ukab Maerd    Waiting Room, The    2010            1484    8/10/11 - if you like Bass Communion this one might appeal to you.  It's sort of a Djam Karet side project.
Happy Rhodes    Rhodes I    1986            1437    8/15/11 - these two are part of my competionist streak of HR.  Compilations from her cassette days.
Happy Rhodes    Rhodes II    1986            1438    8/15/11
Pure Reason Revolution    Amor Vincent Omnia    2009            1467    9/2/11 - these guys got such high praise from their debut album and were so slammed for their second album that I took a couple of years to try out their number two.  It's not as bad as it has been reviewed.  They did take an unfortunate stylistic change of direction that would be their undoing.
Zorn, John    Ipsissimus    2010            1500    9/2/11 - difficult listening music.
Rhodes, Happy    Rearmament    1986            1472    9/8/11 - not bad for '86.
Zappa, Frank    Wazoo    1972            1497    9/10/11 - Dali derived album cover.  I passed by this one at the local brick and mortar and finally decided to get it.  Considering it's a '72 concert the sound is excellent and the music is cool to boot.
Zorn, John    O'o    2008            1499    9/12/11 - well,the dreamers had opened me up to reconsidering Zorn.  This one is in the same vein.  Good stuff.
Umphrey's McGee    Death By Stereo    2011            1490    9/17/11 - after they did such a fine prog album they decided to funk out a bit.  I think Steely Dan fans will like this one.
Levin, Tony, David Torn, Alan White    Levin Torn White    2011            1452    9/20/11 - the thing that impresses me most about this album is White's drum work.  As a Yes man his work didn't stand out that much to me.  As part of a trio he really shines.
Amos, Tori    Night Of Hunters    2011            1405    9/23/11 - Tori variates on classical compositions.  Still not likely to convince those convinced that she isn't legitimate prog.  Too bad.
Claypool, Les    Of Fungi And Foe    2009            1419    9/28/11 - I duno, Les seems to be in a bit of rut lyrically.  Songs about weird f**ked up people tend to get old after a while.
Primus    Green Naugahyde    2011            1465    9/28/11 - I duno, Les seems to be in a bit of rut lyrically.  Songs about weird f**ked up people tend to get old after a while.  I do like Jilly being on smack because she's not coming back for the holidays.
Wilson, Steven    Grace For Drowning    2011            1495    9/30/11 - a much anticipated album.  Steven has a habit of putting out albums that come around at bad times.  The Incident came out just before our house flooded.  This one arrived just before thieves kicked in our door.  A rather depressing album but if you're into that sort of thing...
Maserati    Pyramid Of The Sun    2010            1453    10/3/11 - a band I was following.  When this was new out it got next to zero attention on this site so it didn't come to my attention.   Explosions may get all the attention as far as post math whatever....
Hackett, Steve     Beyond The Horizon    2011                10/11/11 - the other Steve, the less depressing Steve...
Corea, Clarke & White    Forever    2011                10/29/11 - OK for jazz but I could do with out shocking the con.
Hof, Jasper Van't    Live In Montreaux    1980                11/7/11 - an out of print gift from a friend repaid in kind I think.
Bush, Kate    50 Words For Snow    2011                11/28/11 - Kate's going to be one of those artists who delivers rarely but offers quality to compensate.
Discipline    To Shatter All Accord    2011                11/28/11- Discipline I think I can say the same about as Kate.


Edited by Slartibartfast - February 16 2012 at 17:36

ergaster wrote: DisgruntledPorcupine wrote: 2011 is the greatest year in all music. My top 10. 1. Unexpect - Fables of the Sleepless Empire (10/10) 2. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning (10/10 3. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones (10/10) 4. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (10/10) 5. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events (9.5/10) 6. Gotye - Making Mirrors (9.5/10) 7. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues (9.5/10) 8. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver (9/10) 9. Floex - Zorya (9/10) 10. Devin Townsend - Deconstruction (8.5/10) Yeah, this is really my favourite year in all music. Hands-down. Hah!  Floex!!!!  I love "Casanova"!!

Same here.  His experience in providing music for games really shines as he really succeeds at creating an atmosphere in tracks like that.

I'm pretty surprised The Octopus isn't in any of these lists...  (since it was technically released in January '11).  Definitely would be in my top 10 for '11