Best of 2011

This is probably the longest it has taken me to get out a "Best of" playlist, but it has been a busy year. I hope it is worth the wait. I'm making CDs now and will send them out soon.

Songs missing from the Rdio playlist are:
Geotic - Find Your Peace
Sun Glitters - Wind Caresses Her Hair
The New Division - Walk in the Dark

The Amanda Palmer Australia album can be found here.

Top Albums of 2011

These are, in no particular order, my favorite albums of the last year. I could listen to each of these on repeat for days.

The Antlers - Burst Apart

The last Antlers release was a concept album about battling cancer (No thanks!). This one is still pretty depressing, especially the song that uses the concept of putting down an injured dog as a metaphor for a doomed relationship. However, these depressing topics are married to near sublime music.

Apparat - The Devil's Walk

This guy is great! Over the years he has been moving from hardcore glitchy electronica to more mainstream indie electronica, and he hit the perfect balance with this album. It properly stimulates my nerves for repetitive music that progressively builds in intensity, but also includes some songs with more typical verse-chorus-verse song structures. It's a great album for listening while driving or working.

Cults - Cults

This could be filed under generic indie pop, but I find the songs incredibly catchy. Part of it may be their use of song structures and components for Doo-wop and Motown music.

Geotic - Mend

I can't stress enough how amazing this album is. It's an ambient album made from over-processed guitar loops by the guy who normally records as Baths, but it is extremely listenable. I could have a horrible day and I would feel totally at peace after hearing only three songs. Oh, and did I mention it is available for free? Go download it today.

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

The beloved British folk artist and a highly-respected electronica artist team up to produce one of the best albums either of them ever produced. Seriously, folks, this strikes just the right balance between ambient music and twee folk.

Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Normally I'm not that much of a fan of Little Dragon's electropop, but they changed it up for this album. There aren't really any standout tracks, but the beats and melodies employed are very ear-catching. I find that every time I listen to it I hear some new transition or progression that I enjoy.

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

I'm a sucker for anything M83 does, but a double concept album where each track on one disk is mirrored by another track on the second disk? Sign me up! There is more live instrumentation on this release than on previous albums, and I think it works out well. Plus, there's a children's song about psychedelic frogs!


As you can tell, most of these lie on the ambient and chill-out sides of the music spectrum. There's not a lot of upbeat, dance-y music on this list this year. Don't worry, Disc 2 of the Best of 2011 playlist will have plenty of bangers this year!