Favorite Records of 2011

Overall I have to say that 2011 was a far better-than-average year for music releases. At least for the bands that I am drawn to.

Following up their splendid 2008 debut Fleet Foxes, the band grew both musically and lyrically. A bit deeper and more introspective, but retaining their signature folk rock sound that blends some of the best vocal harmonies last heard emanating from 1960s AM radios with warm, acoustic-based instrumentation. Their sophomore release, Helplessness Blues goes down as my favorite record of 2011.

Standout track: Grown Ocean, the album's closer:


And now the rest, in alphabetical order. As in years past, I am not limiting my choices to an arbitrary number (top 10, top 20, etc.), but rather the records that I enjoyed best and see myself returning to in the future. YouTube links are included for songs that particularly stood out.

Atlas Sound - Parallax

The side project of Bradford Cox of Deerhunter, whose Halcyon Digest was my favorite record of 2010.

 

Standout track: Te Amo


The Black Keys - El Camino 

The supremely-talented Danger Mouse returns to provide the punch to the garagey guitar-and-drums duo.

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Justin Vernon follows up his stunning recorded-in-a-cabin debut (my 2008 favorite) with a more fleshed-out (and somewhat overproduced) record.

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead 

I shouldn't rehash the tired "this is the best R.E.M. record of 2011" quote, but it's true - musically at least. However, Colin Meloy's intricate and über-literate lyrics are generally far better than anything that Michael Stipe came up with.

Standout track: Down By The Water


Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots

Another solid release to add to their southern rock canon. And with triple the songwriters of most bands. All good.

Standout track: Cartoon Gold
(here's an acoustic version - I'm a sucker for the Mike Cooley songs)


The Feelies - Here Before

Amazing that a band could get back together after a twenty year hiatus and put out a record that's as good as their best work (which was first recorded over thirty years ago)

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

One of the best-recorded rock records of recent memory.

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest

While I still prefer his debut, this one has grown on me after repeated listens (just as the debut did).

Low - C'Mon

Perennial favorites Low can seemingly do no wrong in my book. Another strong slab of brooding Midwestern indie rock.

Standout tracks:
Witches (in-studio at KEXP)


Nightingale (in-studio at KEXP)



J Mascis - Several Shades of Why

The Dinosaur Jr. front man turns down the amps and delivers a warm, inviting and mostly-acoustic set.

Cass McCombs - Wit's End

Quiet and introspective indie singer/songwriter.

Radiohead -  The King Of Limbs

Supremely intricate and sometimes delicate headphone music from the band that can do no wrong.

 

tUnE-yArDs - W H O K I L L

Essentially a lo-fi one-woman band who layers interesting instruments and textures atop African-inspired rhythms.

 

Standout track (one of many): Bizness


Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo 

Yet another lo-fi indie singer/songwriter - this stunner feels of dreamy late nights.

 

The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

Pitchfork summed it up best: "...it's as if the Spiritualized and Springsteen albums filed alphabetically next to one another in your record collection had melted together on a hot August afternoon." Slave Ambient is also supreme driving music.

 

Wilco - The Whole Love

Finally, their first solid release since 2004's A Ghost Is Born. And I was thisclose to giving up on the band, which at one time was one of my favorites. If you only listen to two of the tracks from this record, make sure it's the lead-off The Art Of Almost and the closer One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)

 

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

A superb and exuberant debut from indie rock royalty.

 

William Elliot Whitmore - Field Songs

Rustic and rough-hewn bleak Americana country folk.

 

Yuck - Yuck

Picking up the torch from some of the supreme-90s indie bands (Dinosaur Jr, Superchunk, shoegazers).

Best Return - the unexpected single of Common Burn b/w Lay Myself Down from Mazzy Star

(yet another crummy fan-made video that accompanies a great song):


Looking forward to a full album in the near future.

Favorite Reissues:

The Jayhawks - Hollywood Town Hall & Tomorrow The Green Grass

Ride - Nowhere

R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant

Sebadoh - Bakesale

Disappointing Records with some outstanding tracks:

My Morning Jacket - "Circuital" from Circuital


Ryan Adams -  "Ashes & Fire" from Ashes & Fire

Especially this acoustic version:


And finally, a couple of late additions. Either late-in-the-year releases or those that were just purchased and that I haven't had much of a chance to fully absorb yet.

The Bats - Free All The Monsters

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

Guided By Voices - Lets Go Eat The Factory

 

Cass McCombs - Humor Risk

The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy

 

Whew - now go *buy* music!

Bike Lane Juju - Found Photos

Daily rides on the roads of Carlsbad and Northern San Diego County have presented me with many different and sometimes odd things in the bike lanes. Shoes, hats and work gloves are most commonly found, but it's the unique things that'll make me come to a screeching halt and whip out my iPhone to snap pix.

Back in September I noticed a couple of photos on southbound Coast Highway, adjacent to the Carlsbad State Beach Campground. Looking up I noticed that there were dozens more spread out along about 100 yards of bike lane and in the dirt.

Of course I had to collect them all, so I unclipped from my pedals and hobbled around in the dirt and placed them safely in my backpack.

A "found" ad was placed on Craigslist with a few photos of the photos, but no one responded. The photos then made their way to work, I unearthed the stash earlier this week when I was doing a little cubicle cleanup. Here are some of my favorites.

It's a pile of somebody's memories, casually disposed of or lost on the roads of Carlsbad. I'd love to return them to the owner if they could be found. Until then, the pile will likely sit on the lower shelf of the computer desk until I tire of them and send them on their way.

Smug Parking Only

The local Whole Paycheck Foods has a section marked as "Fuel Efficient Vehicles Only". I am under the impression that they are referring to hybrids, diesels and electric cars. Of course the painted markings don't keep my ≈26MPG Miata out.

After all, it's far-more green to properly maintain and keep a twenty year-old car running than it is to consume the materials needed to build a new car. Plus, relative to the van, the Miata goes 60% farther on each gallon of fuel.

Buried Space Rocket

Interesting urban exploration video:


Space Miami - Aerojet-Dade Rocket Site Documentary from Coffee and Celluloid on Vimeo.


(via the In The Garage blog)

Celeste At Cardiff

A few quick pix taken of the grrrl during a quick stop at Cardiff State Beach during an exceptionally-low tide.

leggy blonde

 long tail

 shaped sand

lobster tail

Down On The Street

As seen on El Camino Real, another vintage 911.

And not any 911, the ducktail engine lid indicates a 2.7 Carrera RS.

But, as posted earlier with the last 911 RS spotted in Carlsbad, it's likely a clone. Fine by me - especially in 1970s brown.

Cycling, Explained

Are you a fucking nut job?

No, I am a cyclist.

Down On The Street

Spotted in my neighborhood last weekend while returning from a ride was this clean early Ford Bronco.

Early Broncos have always appealed to me. And I like most of the details on this one, period correct fog lights up front...

...and, if the badge on the leading edge of the quarter panel is to believed, a V8 under the hood. If it was mine, I'd swap out the wide alloys for some skinny steel wheels.

Looks like it's owned by a visiting "Zonie"

Update: One week later and it's on a trailer: