The Best Of 2011

Since it’s about two weeks into 2012, I felt like it was the perfect time to reflect on some of the great albums that came out in 2011 (better late than never, right?).

Hope you all have a great 2012.

-Matt

Records
Gold: Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
I think I listened to Smoke Ring For My Halo over 4,000 times this year. A year defining album.

Bronze: Wild Flag – Wild Flag
I mean, there was no way in hell that this collab was gonna be bad, in my mind. Hope this is only the beginning for this band.

Silver: The Men – Leave Home
The most exciting punk/hardcore/psych/rock/whatever-the-hell-you-wanna-call-it record to come out this year. This band should be massive.

Runner ups

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Charles Bradley – No Time For Dreaming
Obits – Moody, Standard, and Poor
Nodzzz – Innings
Mikal Cronin - Mikal Cronin
Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
Mind Spiders – Mind Spiders
Atlas Sound – Parallax
Sloan – The Double Cross
Night Birds – Other Side Of Darkness
Fucked Up – David Comes To Life / David’s Town
Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler / The Dream EP
Tom Waits – Bad As Me
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Underground Railroad To Candyland – Know Your Sins
JEFF The Brotherhood – We Are The Champions
The Stepkids – The Stepkids

EPs / 7-Inches
Merry Christmas – Her Exceptional Kindness
Reigning Sound – Abdication…For Your Love
Kicking Spit – Psychrockbullshit
Broadcaster – Joyride
Boomgates – Boomgates 7-inch
The Jay Vons – “Maybe I Loved You” 7-inch
Kurt Vile – So Outta Reach
Young Governor – Where It’s Quiet
Guided By Voices – “Unsinkable Fats Domino/We Won’t Apologize For The Human Race” 7-inch

Favorite Shows
Archers Of Loaf @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Charles Bradley / Lee Fields @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
Hot Snakes @ The Bell House
Seaweed / All Eyes West @ The Bell House