What do you mean it’s too late for a best-of-2011 list?
Well first up, I’ll be the first to say that I’m not even half the music snob I was 6-7 years ago. I keep noticing that most albums I bought nowadays are mostly by bands or artists I’m already familiar with, rather than those I newly discover. Also I looked at those year-end lists of songs and albums of the year and I’d probably only knew 10% of them.
Yeah I tried listening to those *highly recommended* stuff like Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues, or newcomers like Yuck. But at the end of the day I’m just not enjoying them like I’m enjoying these, my favorites of 2011:
- Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes. Like I said, familiarity. FoW has always been on my top 5 favorite bands of all time and it’s just impossible for me to not love their new stuff. Try: “Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart”, “A Road Song”
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Make A Scene. I’m not one for dance music, but I’m sure a sucker for good pop melodies. This album is probably THE most overlooked album of the year, and what a shame. And thank you Sophie for coming to Jakarta last September. Definitely one of my most enjoyable gigs ever. Check out “Bittersweet” and “Not Giving Up On Love”
- Snow Patrol - Fallen Empire. Never saw this one coming myself, I actually enjoy it a lot more than I should. Despite their claim that it’s treading uncharted territories, it’s probably still pretty much the same Snow Patrol you know. Only they’re doing it better than ever. Listen to: “New York” and “Called Out In The Dark”.
- Adele - 21. Yeah everyone’s got this one.
- Foo Fighters - Wasting Light. This one isn’t exactly an album I’m playing over and over, but I clearly remember when I came out I breathed a huge sigh of relief. The last few Foos album didn’t really do anything to me, and I wanted so bad for a return-to-form by Dave and co. And with Wasting Light, I got what I asked for, and then some.
Bonus: favorite songs of 2011 (not including those in the albums above)
- Noel Gallagher - “The Death of You and Me”. ”The Death of You and Me”. The album’s a bit uneven so I can’t really put it up there, but this song is amazing. Yes, it’s more or less “The Importance of Being Idle” with horn section, but amazing nonetheless.
- Ryan Adams - “Lucky Now”. Gloomy, rainy-days, guitar-plucking Ryan Adams is back, everyone.
- fun. - “We Are Young”. They should’ve been the last of my bet-you-don’t-know-‘em bands, instead they released this excellent pop gem and then Glee happens.
Since that tune by fun. is only a single now, I guess their album would be my first anticipated one this year. And Ben Kweller’s supposed to release his new one sometime soon. As for the rest, I’m looking to be surprised.
