Music Blog

Music Blog

Top Ten Albums of 2011 (Part One)

Folks usually start at ten on these kind of lists but I'm starting at five. Stay tuned for the rest.

5. Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo

I don’t give Kurt Vile props just because he’s from my hometown of Philadelphia—though his heavy regional accent makes me slightly homesick. His words evoke the naive complexity of a modern-day Leonard Cohen ("think I'll never leave my couch again, because when I'm out, I'm away in my mind) and his dissonant fingerpicking is what gets me. Vile’s fourth full-length LP, Smoke Ring For My Halo, is something very special not only because it’s endearing, honest and well crafted, it’s also lovingly handmade.

Key Tracks: “Jesus Fever” and “Peeping Tomboy.”

4. Fucked Up: David Comes to Life

Fucked Up kind of came out of nowhere and latched onto my balls with a tight grip and never let go. Frontman Damian Abraham, AKA Pink Eyes, is 300-pounds, hairy, sweaty, usually only wearing tighty-whities and has a voice like Cookie Monster. I’ve never liked those bands featuring a lead singer that growls more than sings but this is a different situation and David Comes to Life belongs on every top ten list of 2011. Abraham’s voice is abrasive and the music is aggressive and loud but also very melodic and engaging. For a concept album, the story is also interesting…if you can decode the entire thing: In short, factory worker David Eliade falls in love with Veronica Boisson and want to build a bomb together. There's also a lot of cool guests including Cults' Madeline Follin.

Key Tracks: “Queen of Hearts” and “The Other Shoe.”

3. Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues

In 2008, when Fleet Foxes released its self-titled debut, it was hard to fathom that a bunch of bearded youngsters from Seattle were able to deliver such pristine harmonies and thoughtful instrumentals without any accompanying bells and whistles from overly aggressive producers. I think everyone who enjoys music was just as flabbergasted as myself and the band was justifiably rewarded with several accolades worldwide. I can’t imagine the amount of pressure they experienced when recording began on their sophomore LP, but they churned out more greatness. In my opinion, their first record is much better but Helplessness Blues is stellar. Frontman Robin Pecknold even grabbed inspiration for the album while spending time in Big Sur.

Key Tracks: “Helplessness Blues” and “The Shrine/An Argument.”

2. Tom Waits: Bad as Me

It’s been seven years since Real Gone, the last album Tom Waits released of all new material. It was good but has nothing on Bad as Me. This is the Waits I fell in love with: dark, punchy and acid-tongued prose, solid instrumental accompaniment and a resonant whiskey voice that sounds just as fertile as the days of Small Change. The 61-year-old poet may have had a little help from the Stones’ Keith Richards and Primus bass savant Les Claypool, but Waits’ trademark don’t-fuck-with-me charm gives the album its effervescent light. It's refreshing to see that he's still got that rebel inside of him despite the wife and kids.

Key Tracks: “Chicago” and “Satisfied.”

1. Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Two years ago, I was blown away by Girls’ debut Album. I guess it wasn’t a fluke because the San Francisco outfit’s 2011 follow-up Father, Son, Holy Ghost, carried me even further. The songwriting talent that runs through the blood of frontman Christopher Owens—who grew up in the Children of God cult—rivals some of the best musical minds of the 20th century. The epic single “Vomit,” takes the listener on a soft-to-loud journey through a world of heartache, confusion and anger. Meanwhile, the guitar riffage in my favorite tune, “Die,” sounds like it's the dedicated stepson of Black Sabbath.

Key Tracks: “Die” and “Honey Bunny.”