Music 2011

Every year of blogging I have written a bit of a music review of what I have loved and listened to over the last 12 months. It’s for my own self indulgence as much as anything else and has been an interesting one to go back to.

I have always had the intention of getting one new album every month of the year (same with books to read) and you would think that would be easy…. it’s only 12. But somehow it doesn’t quite work out like that, more concentrated effort definitely required next year because to me there is nothing better than discovering something that takes you somewhere completely different.

So the list for this year, in no particular order…..

Bon Iver - Bon Iver
I resisted buying this album for a little while but then I saw the film clip for Holocene, and thought it was an incredibly beautiful song and that the album could only be good, and it is. I also love the tracks Wash and Perth.

Seabear - We Built a Fire
I bought this album at the Keflavik airport in Reykjavik after hearing a bit of it on the plane getting there. I really love it, it's a nice quiet album in places and a bit more upbeat in others. I think it's nice to go somewhere and pick up new music, that was kinda exciting.

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
Another album I bought while in Europe, not that I needed to, I was just so keen to get a copy after waiting so long. I saw them live many many years ago and love their sense of humour and well, they are pretty awesome. My favourite track is Don't Play no Game that I can't Win which features Santigold, also the best film clip....if you like yeti's and assassins, which apparently I do.

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Ok not an album that came out this year but still, friends played it at Ozmas and I loved it and have listened to it heavily since. Power is my song for running to, you know at that bit where you really want to stop but know you should keep going, I put this song on the ipod and get an extra boost. Also Lost in the World.

Kanye West and Jay Z Watch the Throne
Since I liked the Kanye album so much I brought this one when it came out and it has a few gems on there: No Church in the Wild, Lift Off and That's My Bitch.

Bjork - Biophilia Manual Edition Live from Manchester
Well I am Bjork mad, so of course I ordered the Manual Edition, which was definitely worth it, the live from Manchester disc is fantastic and I still really really want to see her live at some point, I don't know how I have missed out. My favourite track from this album is Mutual Core which builds up to this awesome eruption of beats and vocals and she sings "You didn't know I had it in me". Very good. Also very good is Moon and Virus.

Soley - We Sink
Another Icelandic singer (I definitely seem to have a genre) she has a lovely voice and the songs are sweet too.

Radiohead - The King of Limbs
TKOL! I waited so long for for this to come out and seeing Thom Yorke dance to Lotus Flower ...seriously cool! I like how they seem to be using the beats these days in tracks like Bloom and Lotus Flower(check out the Glastonbury version too), and while I didn't love it as much as In Rainbows, it's definitely good, maybe just too short?

Wilco - The Whole Love
I love love the track Art of Almost it got a bit of a bashing on my ipod this year and one of those songs I always listened to walking to work.

More recently I've been listening to: the Black Keys, Real Estate, and Jonsi's soundtrack for We Brought a Zoo
hmm definitely need to branch out a little after seeing that list! Any suggestions??