Gil Scott-Heron | Culture Greyhound

Dec 25 2011

Honorable Mention Albums of 2011

We’ve discussed the overrated and the disappointing, but there were also a ton of albums in 2011 that were absolutely great. Since I only make a Top 50, there were several I felt deserved recognition, but had strong superior competition. Here, in alphabetical order, are 25 of the best albums of this year that just missed the final cut. Spotify/Download/Buy links provided below.

Battles – Gloss Drop

Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

The Cars – Move Like This

Cheeseburger – Another Big Night Down the Drain

The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

Clams Casino – Rainforest EP

Cults – S/T

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Lenses Alien

Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong

DJ Quik – The Book of David

Dom – Family of Love EP

Fucked Up – David Comes to Life

Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx – We’re New Here

Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

J Mascis – Several Shades of Why

Cass McCombs – Humor Risk

Panda Bear – Tomboy

Pictureplane – Thee Physical

R.E.M. – Collapse Into Now

Paul Simon – So Beautiful Or So What

Martin Solveig – Smash

Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler/The Dream

Shugo Tokumaru – Port Entropy

White Denim – D

Wiz Khalifa – Rolling Papers

no comments | tags: Battles, Beastie Boys, Cass McCombs, Cheeseburger, Clams Casino, Cults, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Dawes, DJ Quik, DOM, Fucked Up, Gil Scott-Heron, J Mascis, Jamie xx, Lykke Li, Martin Solveig, Panda Bear, Paul Simon, Pictureplane, R.E.M., Shugo Tokumaru, The Cars, The Civil Wars, Thee Oh Sees, White Denim, Wiz Khalifa | posted in Best of 2011, List, Music

Dec 20 2011

The Top 200 Songs of 2011 – 150-101

150. Drake feat. The Weeknd – Crew Love

This is the first of many times for both these artists on the list. Here the Weeknd provides his eerie tortured-party R&B before the beat drops and Drake laments.

149. Cass McCombs – County Line

McCombs brings another signature somber note in his trademark melancholy falsetto. One of my favorites from Wit’s End.

148. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

The first verse of this track more or less describes my life right now – realizing we are not unique snowflakes but small cogs in a machine we don’t know about yet. Simple, yet poignant.

147. The Joy Formidable – Magnifying Glass

From the maniacal laughter to the thumping stomp of that chorus to those wailing guitars, Joy Formidable claim the throne as the loudest new band of 2011.

146. YACHT – Dystopia

A play on an old R-rated cheerleader chant becomes a boogie-worthy ode to the end of the world. In typical Yacht fashion, it makes you wanna dance around the flames.

no comments | tags: Araabmuzik, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Born Gold, Cass McCombs, Charli XCX, Clams Casino, Cloud Nothings, Cut Copy, Deerhunter, Diamond Rings, DJ Khaled, Drake, Dum Dum Girls, EMA, Fleet Foxes, Foo Fighters, Ford & Lopatin, Gauntlet Hair, Gil Scott-Heron, Green Day, Gross Magic, Hooray For Earth, J Mascis, Jamie xx, Justice, Lil Wayne, M83, Middle Brother, Mind Spiders, MNDR, Neon Indian, Primus, PS I Love You, Purity Ring, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Ringo Deathstarr, Ryan Adams, Shugo Tokumaru, Small Black, St. Vincent, Star Slinger, Teams, Terius Nash, The Joy Formidable, The Lonely Island, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, The Weeknd, Tom Waits, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Wavves, Wiz Khalifa, YACHT | posted in Best of 2011, List, Music