Ok so as you all know it's impossible for me to just listen to heavy metal or hard rock. I've grown outside of my bubble since I was in high school. Ask me if I listened to this stuff 10 years ago and I'd laugh at you and say no way. I've grown a little, and I've gotten a little wiser over the years. Just a little though so my musical tastes have spread out a little more. I really enjoyed this year. It was a great year for music all around the spectrum. From heavy metal to alternative. No there won't be any Beyonce, or Lady Gaga on my list even though those were huge pop records this year. I think they're awful. I respect Lady Gaga for her outlandish antics, and her take no shit attitude, but her music is really not my style at all. Therefore there is no way I can include her or anything like it on my top 10 list. If that's what you're into than go make your own list. This ones mine. So here it is my top 10 softer records of the year. Haha softer. Just not metal I guess records of the year.
-10-
Incubus - If Not now, When?
A lot of people did not like this record when it came out this year. I respect Incubus a lot. They have been one of the few bands that have made it from my younger years into now. My later more ambitious music years. They are always changing, and I really respect that quality in them. Do I like all the changes? No I didn't really like Light Grenades to much, but I really enjoy their early material. This record though really sounds nothing like anything they've ever done. There's little bits of what makes Incubus great but for the most part It's a pretty out of nowhere record. In the since that the really calming, soothing quality to this record comes out of thin air it seems. It's nice to hear this change in Incubus. Will it continue? I seriously don't think so. Not that this is bad my any means I just think that these guys are musicians that really embrace musical growth, and like change a lot. It shows on every single record they've ever done, because not one sounds like the other one, but seems to take some qualities, and leave some of the fat behind. Great release guys.
-9-
My Morning Jacket - Circuital
I've known about My Morning Jacket for a while now, but yet this is another band that I've neglected to get into until this year. I really enjoyed this release. It's full of texture, and depth that will keep you interested the entire record. I really like the ambient qualities to this record. The opening track is a majestic ride through flowing harmonies, with a great rhythm. This record grows on me each time I listen to it and that's a good quality to have. The more you listen to something it should keep getting better and better, and this one really does do that for me.
-8-
St. Vincent
I love St. Vincent. Annie Erin Clark is so talented. This record really is a wonderful ride through great electronics, fuzzed guitar effects, wonderful lyrics, and just such a wide range of musical influences through out the entire record. She has such a great presence that really grabs you, and pulls you into her music. She is by far one of the great modern female singer song writers that I am really respecting, and there aren't many so she is pretty much on the top, and this record really asserts that reason.
-7-
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
This record really grew on me. At first listen I really didn't care for it. I'd have to say that I wrote it off. But when I revisited it earlier in the year it started to grow on me. The use of electronic sounds, and vocal pitches are great. I really like the overall presence of this record. It's just a fun interesting record that really is now a powerful Radiohead record in my opinion. Radiohead have of course been one of those bands that for me that will travel through time with me. I listened to them back in the nineties, I listened to them in the early 2000's, and now I'm listening to them in the new decade. Radiohead will live on as one of the best bands of all time in my opinion with their overall immense talent, ability to push their musical limitations, and continue to produce quality material.
-6-
Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will.
This record really floored me. I love Mogwai. They are so exploritive. Everything from droned guitars, synth, melotrone, aggressive rock, to ambient progressive music. Pretty much every music style can be heard in perfect little portions. This record really explores the entrancing qualities of Mogwai. The opening track has a great heavy drum hit, with a nice clean guitar tone, with a great synth electronic quality to it as well. This is by far one of my favorite Mogwai records, and will continue to intrigue me every time I listen to it.
-5-
The Black Keys - El Camino
This is another band that you can't really turn on the radio hear in Austin and not hear. They play the crap out of The Black Keys, and usually I don't even listen to the radio, but I guess I like the fact that every once in a while they will play some decent music. The Black Keys really came out with a great record this year. It's fun, it's fast, it's aggressive, it's funky, and it's full of talent. Great release from a band that I think will continue to rise in the near future if they continue as strong as they are right now. Great job guys.
-4-
Rival Sons - Pressure And Time
Let me just say this record really knocked me off my feet, almost literally. This record sounds like it's straight out of the 60's, or the 70's. Something like if Led Zeppilin, Thin Lizzy, and like Cream got together and had some crazy Three headed musical Chimaira baby together in a basement somewhere in the mountains. This is what it would sound like. Pure orgasmic music that makes me want to just dance around like a hippy from the 60's, and bang my head like a rocker from the 70's. It's a great record. I highly recommend this record for anyone who's my grandmothers age. It will make you smile at the fact there are still kids out there today that are kickin out the jams like they used to in the 60's, and not all music has gone to shit like 90% of what's being produced today.
-3-
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
This record is so hard not to like when you listen to it. It just posses everything that makes a great rockin pop record. The Foo Fighters have always been one of my favorite bands. Dave Grohl really is one of the only great musicians that was able to survive the 90's without killing themselves. This record really shows The Foo's ability to just spontaneously conjure some great rock N roll that will get engraved in your brain. Some of the tunes are so infectious, but I have no problem letting something like this getting stuck in my head. The Foo Fighters will continue to amaze me, and I think everyone else, and will go down as one of the greatest bands of all time for sure.
-2-
Fleet Foxes - Helplessnes Blues
This is by far one of the best records I've heard in a long long time. These guys are great talents that really know how to make great folk rock that will leave you feeling better in every way after listening to this wonderful work of art. This record will continue to grow stronger and stronger for me as the years go on. I honestly think I placed it a little low on my top 20 records of the year. It should've definitely been higher than the 20 spot now the more and more I listen to it. It's that good. The production is great, the musicianship is top notch, and the lyrics really tell wonderful stories that keep you interested the entire time.
-1-
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
WOW. This is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard in my life. I've listened to a lot of music over the years but nothing that made me want to go out and show everyone I walked by. This record is so beautiful, and passionate. These guys are great talents that have a great future in the musical world. Nothing has impacted me quite as much as this record this year. Along with Opeth's Heritage, and Graveyard's Hisingen Blues this record will continue to move me in so many ways. Bon Iver is an artist that I discovered this year, and thank your God I did because it's amazing.
So there they are my Top 10 softer releases of the year. There are a lot of good one here, I recommend checking all of these out for sure. There are good things in every single one of these releases that I think will appeal to every music listener. SO go out and get some of these releases if you haven't. Support the artists by buying their vinyl, and cd's. They deserve it. They really do. I can say that yes I download some music from time to time, but usually if I like it I go out and buy it to put along with my ever growing cd collection, and if I didn't like it I delete it off my computer usually. Why have something I'm never going to listen to.
Ok so here are the Runners Up for the year. 5 records that I though had some good things about them, but also had some noticeable things that I didn't like so much. Not things that would make me not want to listen to them, but maybe just not top 10 worthy. Some of these you may say wow this record was amazing, or no way it's even worthy of a runner up spot. That's fine go have fun making your own list as I do making mine. So here they are the 5 runners up for the year. They aren't in any particular order as better or worse.
Mike Patton - The Solitude of Prime Numbers
Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
Death Cab For Cutie - Codes And Keys
R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
So there you have everything that's a little softer than my normal obsessions that I've really enjoyed this year. Like I said before I can't possibly listen to just metal or hard rock, and these releases really have great things in all of them. I highly recommend you check out any of these guys. You won't be sorry. Especially my top 5 if there is one up there that you haven't heard of, or have neglected to listen to yet this year. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
SO I was also debating on weather or not I was going to do this one as well. Really at all, but I"m going to go ahead and do it because there are just to many good ones out this year. There are also some really really bad ones. Like the Morbid Angel which the one everyone is thinking about when they think of upsets of the year. So here we go my favorite metal albums of 2011.
-20-
The Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual
-19-
Tesseract - One
-18-
Revocation - Chaos of Forms
-17-
The Human Abstract - The Digital Veil
-16-
Animals As Leaders - Weightless
-15-
Crowbar - Sever the Wicked Hand
-14-
Demonaz - March of the Norse
-13-
Dir En Grey - Dum Spiro Spero
-12-
Unearth - Darkness In the Light
-11-
Megadeth - Th1rt3en
-10-
Skeletonwitch - Forever Abomination
-9-
Tombs - Path of Totality
-8-
Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction
-7-
Obscura - Omnivium
-6-
In Solitude - The World, The Flesh, The Devil
-5-
Toxic Holocaust - Conjure and Command
-4-
Insomnium - One For Sorrow
-3-
SubRosa - No Help For the Mighty One
-2-
Mastodon - The Hunter
-1-
Machine Head - Unto the Locust
So there they are. The 20 metal records that have been spinning in my ears this year the most. There are a lot of different styles in this list, and some would say this one is higher or lower, and that's fine. Go make your own list cause this ones mine. Ha. I wanted to do 5 runners up so here they are my 5 runners up of the year. These records were really really good as well. I just enjoyed the top 20 just a little bit more that than these guys, but I'll give them a runners up spot for sure so here they are. These won't be a particular number as to better or worse. They are all really good releases so enjoy.
Wolves In the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage
Primordial - Redemption At the Puritans Hand
Ulcerate - Destroyers of All
Trap Them - Darker Handcraft
Maruta - Into Regression
So now there they are. Everything that was note worthy of a top spot this year. Like I said before there were a lot of good releases this year, or albums that had a lot of good moments but seemed to be lacking a certain something, and ones that were just horrible. I'm sorry if you liked Morbid Angel's release this year your ears are obviously jacked up, because that is one of the worst record I've heard in my entire life. Not even joking. I started laughing when track 2 came on, and couldn't make it past track 5, and I usually don't turn something off when I'm trying to analyze it, but I just couldn't make it through the whole thing with the Morbid Angel. Sorry guys but major fail this year. The limp Bizkit also. I think I made it to like 1 minute into track 2 and I had to turn it off, and the first track is an intro as they always do. So yeah that one was a major fail as well. I actually made it through the Metallica & Lou Reed's Lulu. Although it was tough to do, I did make it through that whole piece of junk. It pains me to say that yet another thing that Metallca has done besides St. Anger is just crap. And to do it with one of the biggest folk, rock 70's icons like Lou Reed is just blasphemy. It just seemed unfinished to me, and it got really boring a quarter of the way through, but I was able to make it the whole way through so maybe it wasn't all bad. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
Ok so I was debating on weather or not to do this early or to actually wait until the new year to do it. Obviously I'm not waiting, but I decided to go ahead and do this list now because there just really isn't anything else that I'm super interested in what's left of the year. This year has been a crazy musical experience. I've discovered many many new master pieces which some are in my top 20, and I've also had to force myself, and pain through some other listens. So this year I've gotten a lot of great stuff, and a few major upsets, and then a bunch that just will fill the shelves. The ones that fill the shelves may have many good things about them, but they also had either a few distinctive upsets, or were just full of let downs the whole way through. Because I listen to all kinds of music, and can't see myself listening to just metal, or just rock or whatever I have a mix of music in my top 20. Obviously if this was a top 20 in metal of 2011 some of the releases wouldn't be in there. Even stuff like Opeth because it is not a metal regardless if it's done by the progressive death metal masters themselves. I remember when I started doing this blog almost a year ago. One of my first posts was my top 20 of 2010. I had a lot of fun doing that because if you know me, you know I like making lists. I have spirals full of lists from everything from best thrash artist, best death metal bands, best guitar players and so on, and so on. I mean that's where a lot of my lists on here got started was on paper thinking about who I should immortalize as the best this or that on my blog. Lets just say I've consumed endless hours writing in spirals. Thinking about what I love, music. So for this one I'm pretty siked about it, and want to really put my favorites down because I have listened to some really really great ones that will travel with me forever, and I want everyone to know about them. So without further adieu, her is my top 20 releases of 2011, and the rest. Enjoy.
-20-
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
The first non metal release of my top 20. This album kind of came out of left field for me. I've know about the Fleet Foxes for a while. living in Austin it's kind of hard not to, but I never really gave them a proper chance. After listening to this one I went and got the rest of their material. It's such a classic folk, mellow rock vibe that really has great old school integrity. These guys know their craft and do it very very well. Great release, and their earlier stuff is just as good. I highly recommend these guys if you're into guys like Neil Young, The Beatles, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, just really the classic folk rock artists of the 60's, and 70's
-19-
Tesseract - One
This metal release is unlike any progressive metal I've heard in a long time. You can tell that these guys are influenced by so many different styles of music, but it even goes much deeper than just showing their influences. They really have created their own distinctive style of music. There are really rich vocal harmonies, and a great guitar tone that really hasn't been heard before in progressive metal. The intricate timing, and melodic interludes make this album one of my favorite prog metal records to listen to this year.
-18-
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
The second non metal release on my countdown. This record really is like no other in existence. The rich vocal texture, and lush guitar, and piano set Bon Iver aside from all the other artists that are trying to do what these immensly talented guys are doing without what seems like any effort at all. Thee are an astounding talent that posses so much insight on what makes music beautiful, and brings it without flaw. This one will be spinning in my ears for a long long time.
-17-
Revocation - Chaos of Forms
Revocation are really doing the death-core really really well. There particular breed of the style packs a lot of thrash elements in it as well. With very fast intriguing guitar solos that make wonder how is he doing that, to intensely fast drumming. Everything on this record is very well composed and nothing really seems forced, or hurried at all. These guys really pulled of a great thrashy death-core record that I am enjoying very much.
-16- Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning
If you know me you know that Porcupine Tree, and pretty much anything Steven Wilson touches will be obsessions of mine. This is Steven's second solo effort, and it's much different in many ways than his first effort insurgentes, and alike in many as well. This record is dark, sinister, and evil at moments. Then it's passionate, soothing, and really tantric at moments as well. His usage of electronics are wonderful. They don't sound fake, or to abundant to make the record sound prosthetic by any means.
-15- Animals As Leaders - Weightless
This is the only purely instrumental record on my top 20. Before this one came out Scale the Summit was taking the cake. When this one came out if floored me. I couldn't grasp the musicianship behind some of the sounds that are coming out of this peace of work. It is a majestic journey through electronics, bombastic drumming, and absolutely amazing guitar technique that leaves you without breath after listening to this record. These guys are making a major name for themselves, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for Animals As Leaders. I see big things coming for these guys.
-14-
Crowbar - Sever the Wicked Hand
This was my first buy of 2011 and still is going strong. I revisited it the other day in trying to come up with this list, and there was just no way it couldn't be included somewhere on here. This record shows the return of kirk windstein. Mastermind behind this majorly influential band through out the years, Down, and Kingdom of Sorrow with Jammy Jasta. His guitar technique, and sound can be noticed from a mile away. Probably because he's standing off in the distance yelling, and jamming the heavy monster that is his guitar.
-13-
Demonaz - March of the Norse
In case of you who don't know. Demonaz is really the counterpart to the black metal masters Immortal. He's been a part of the black metal scene for a really long time, and has influenced so many other bands with his distinctive style of guitar playing. This release marks his first solo effort and really gives us a taste of things to come, and gives this record a true place at the top of his style all his own. There is nothing like Demonaz, and it's good to see him return to playing guitar after not for a long time due to his medical issues with his arm problems. So there will great things to come from Demonaz in the near future. So get really metal world.
-12-
Dir En Grey - Dum Spiro Spero
This is another band that really came out of left field for me. I had discovered them a while back when I was doing my daily researching, and found that they were included on some Korn tours. Johnathan Davis had said that he hadn't seen intensity, and real extremism like these guys do in a really long time. Let me just say these guys being all Chinese are some of the biggest under estimated metal heads of all time. They will scare you at how intense they are. The singer is other worldly with his voice, and his absolutely insane antics on stage. This record is controlled chaos at it's best, and it sounds so damn good. Despite the fact I can't understand a word he says being all sung in Chinese.
-11-
Unearth - Darkness In the Light
This is by far the best metal-core record of the year. There were some good ones out this year, but this one really knocked it out of the park for me. The guitar, the drums, the bass were all really really well composed, and the vocals were very crisp, and well done as well. They keep improving on each of their releases. The March was a decent release, and this one shows their ability to really improve each record. I know these guys will continue to give us fist pumping, head banging metal-core in the future, and I'll be right there in the crowd with my head a banding, and my horns up high.
-10-
Megadeth - Th1rt3en
Of course Megadeth right. No this record is on here because it is that good really. I really enjoyed this one. Dave Mustain has given us some of the most memorable guitar licks in the past, and this record shows his ability to keep delivering timeless guitar melodies. I really like United Abominations in 2007, and I wasn't really impressed with Endgame in 2009. So this one really gives me hope that these guys can still really kick thrash metals ass. Oh and not to mention this shows the return of bass master Dave Ellefson. Maybe that's why it's just that good.
-9-
Skeletonwitch - Forever Abomination
Skeletonwitch is a band that I discovered this year. I downloaded their earlier stuff, and was really really digging it. So I went and picked up their new one. I didn't want to listen to any teaser tracks, or demos from youtube or anything because I really wanted to be shocked, or get a fresh reaction with this anticipateted release for me. Let me just say. I was smiling the second I put it in. I love the thrash over tone, and the mesh of great black metal, and death metal vocals. These guys really know how to kick heavy metals ass hard, and will be forever one of my favorite newer metal bands for sure.
-8-
Obscura - Omnivium
This is technical death metal at it's best. The speed, the melodies, the bass work. Oh my god the bass work on this record is amazing. He uses a slide fret less bass at times and it adds such a distinctive quality that only Obscura seem to really be doing in the metal scene. The lyrics are great, pretty much everything about this record is top notch. I can't really explain the cover though. I'm not sure whats going on. Is like a venus fly trap with major teeth eating a tad pole or egg or some kind. I'm not really sure. Oh well.
-7-
In Solitude - The World, The Flesh, The Devil
This has such a great classic element to it that really makes you think these guys are old farts that have been doing it for a long time. While not being fresh or green to the scene these guys haven't been around for a really long time. There are Iron Maiden influences, Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Blue Oyster Cult, Judas Priest, Celtic Frost. I mean everything classic. Makes for a great return to the days of old with new age production so I highly recommend this record for anyone who loves the old school vibes of heavy metal.
-6-
Toxic Holocaust - Conjure and Command
Man can I just say this is some of the best metal I've heard in a long time. I would also have to say that I haven't liked all of what Toxic Holocaust has given us in the past, but the last two record have shown great improvement on each one. This one though they really have set the bar high to top. I'm not sure how much higher you can go with undeniable perfection on Conjure and Command. There's a punk aesthetic, a very venom influence, with early thrash intensity that really make this record such a one of a kind. This record is perfect for someone who loves early thrash, and venom. With a punk flair to it.
-5-
Insomnium - One For Sorrow
Insomnium are a group that I discovered this year, along with others that really have blown me away like Ghost Brigade and a few others. Like Opeth these guys really are climbing to the top of my favorite bands of all time list, and this release really furthers that reason. It is pretty much perfect in so many ways. This breed of death metal is starting to really become the for front of my listening abundance. Along with guys like Daylight Dies, Opeth, and Now Insomnium.
-4-
Mastodon - The Hunter
I can't say enough good things about Mastodon. They are really one of my favorite bands of all time now. I've listened to them for a while now, and still learn something new from them every day. You can hear the evolution of their music from their early drone, sludge, prog metal stuff. Which is great. To a more progressively driven experience. The use of vocal harmonies between the guys really give this record a rich vocal melody experience, and of course Bran Dailor's drumming skills are as good as ever. This record is different from any Mastodon release to date so I get why some people are divided in it reception. I really like experimenting, and change so this record is just as good as any other Mastodon masterpiece done before.
-3-
Machine Head - Unto the Locust
Machine Head have really been at the top of my likings for a long time now, and after The Blackening in 2007 it couldn't of gotten any better. That record was named best metal record of the decade by the way. So with as much as I liked The Blackening as I think everyone else did also there was a lot of expectations, and anticipation for this record. I usually don't listen to demo tracks of the early realese stuff so I can really saok it all up when it comes out. But I'd have to say I did with this one because I just couldn't wait any longer. My first impression was not very high I'd have to say. When I got the record though my opinion was blown away. The opening track sets you up for wild and crazy ride, and it really is. This record is really really good hinse why it's so high on my list. Is it as good as The Blackening. I'd have to say no, but then again not much out there is. So Machine Head do it again with Unto the Locust. I just hope I don't have to wait as long for the next instalment of Machine Head this next time around. Cause I'll tell ya when 2009 rolled around I was really ready for some new Machine Head. It was worth the wait so it's not all bad I guess.
-2-
Graveyard - Hisingen Blues
I can't get enough of this record. I love everything about it. I can't say a single bad thing about this release. Everything from the album art, the music, to the lyrics are done absolutely perfect. These guys posses such a classic integrity that I don't think is being done like this by any one else. They sound like something that's straight out of the 70's. I highly recommend this release to anyone who fancies old school elements, with a new age flair. Graveyard will rise as one of my favorite bands for sure if they keep delivering high quality eargasims like this wonderful piece of work. I hope I can get a copy of the blue splatter vinyl edition. It's a work of tremendous art, and I want it so bad.
-1-
Opeth - Heritage
And of course if you know me you could've expected this one to be up here. Although when I got this record I hadn't gotten Graveyard yet, and I'd have to say those two were fighting for the one spot for sure. This record packs so much talent and exhilaration that I almost start crying when I listen it's that good to me. I know why a lot of people were doggin this record a lot. Saying it's not a metal record, and there are no death growls that we've come to know Opeth for. But honestly I totally respect Opeth more for doing this than giving us the same old thing. Now that's not to say that I like this style of Opeth more than the standard vein. Blackwater Park, or Still Life will never be beat in my opinion, but I still really really love this record. The melodies, the progressive drumming. Man the drumming is immensely well composed. With such a jazz richness, and the usage of melotrone, stand up bass, and flute make this record such a 70's prog homage with distinctive Opeth flair that makes Heritage stand out above all at times. They will have to work hard to top this one next time around. I think the reason they got number one is Leigh and I went to see Opeth this year after Heritage came out, and we didn't go see Graveyard when they came to Austin. So maybe that's why. Seeing them live really put all the musicianship into perspective for me. They are wonderful live let me just say.
This is the whole record, just in case you were wondering.
The Rest
So there are a lot of good ones in here, and some that aren't so good. I'll be quick with these because if I wanted to really praise them I would've done a complete review of them, or they would've been in my top 20. I was thinking about doing runners up, but I'm not going to do that this year. There were some really good ones like I said this year, some I have listened to but werent able to get. So if something isn't on here and you're like what about this one. I probably have listened to it, but honestly if I didn't care enough to go ut and get it. It wasn't that good anyway, or pricking my interest. Because I have made some stupid purchases this year. Um lets see just to name a few Morbid Angel, Limp Bizkit, and Evanescence. So here they are the rest of the stuff I've been consuming my year with in 2011. The ones that I think are still really good will be in red text, and the ones that will just float on by will be in black.
The Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual Protest the Hero - Scurillous
Sylosis - Edge of the EarthVader - Welcome to the Morbid Reich
All Shall Perish - This Is Where It Ends The Devil Wears Prada - Dead Throne
The Gates of Slumber - The Wretch Anthrax - Worship Music
Ics Vortex - Storm Seeker Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two
Tombs - Path of Totality Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows
Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus Chevelle - Hats Off To the Bull
Limp Bizkit - Gold Cobra Children of Bodon - Relenless, Reckless, Forever
Blackfield - Welcome To My DNA DevilDriver - Beast
Amorphis - The Beginning of Times Decapitated - Carnival Is Forever
Evanescence - Evanescence Destruction - Day of Reckoning
So there they are pretty much everything that's been consuming my year in music. I've gotten a lot of stuff this year and I'm still spinning a lot of these releases, so some of them may move up the likings, and some may move down. Only time will tell. SO I hope you liked my top 20. Some of them like I said are in no way a metal release, and some are some of the heaviest stuff I've heard in a long time. I really am enjoying the Insomnium, and a few others. So until next time stay hard, stay heavy.
Music is my life. Aside from raising my son who is 3 1/2 now I live and breathe music. I attended and completed an audio engineering program at MediaTech of Austin and have learned so much about music, and sound ingeneral. I have a new found respect for sound thanks to the wonderful education I got at MediaTech.
