Favorite Album of 2011
Bon Iver - Bon Iver: Bon Iver's 2009 debut album For Emma, Forever Ago hit me like no album has in a long time, so to say I was just a bit nervous once Justin Vernon and Kayne West practically became BFFs would be quite the understatement. And what about the Volcano Choir collaboration with Collection of Colonies of Bees effect? What would For Emma's follow up sound like? My first listen to the breathtaking "Calgary", which took me nearly three weeks to stop playing on repeat, put any and all fears to rest. From the Petty esque jangle of "Towers" to the 80s cheese embracing soft rock of "Beth/Rest" to the stunning layered vocals of "Michicant", Justin Vernon's chamber pop/art folk masterpiece floored me. 8 months or so later, the album still sends me through the gamut of emotions as it did upon first listen. No other album has made me go back for as many listens, the ultimate sign of longevity for me. When Vernon sings "I was not magnificent" in "Holecene", you can't help but feel a slight sense of irony now. Bon Iver proved that Vernon is a force.
Michicant by Bon Iver by coolhunting
Honorable Mentions
The Antlers - Burst Apart: The Brooklyn trio follow up their emotionally devastating Hospice with the breakup album of the year, which also happened to be pretty emotionally devastating as well. The hardest thing about listening to Burst Apart is hearing frontman Peter Silverstein trying to convince himself that he is ok. From the self realizing chorus on "I Don't Want Love" to crushing album closer "Putting the Dog to Sleep", which heartbreakingly compares the end of relationship to putting down the family pet, you realize that maybe, he is not quite there yet.
The Antlers - I Don't Want Love by Transgressive Records
Beirut - The Rip Tide: Zach Condon and company make their most accessible album to date as their whimsical, Eastern European flavored folk allows you to escape to a near fairy tale like time. Like Bon Iver, Condon focuses on a sense of place, from one of NYC's burroughs("East Harlem") to his Southwest hometown("Sante Fe"). The latter's post-chorus horn section(I am a sucker for horns) is still one of my favorite moments of the year.
Beirut - Santa Fe by Revolver USA
Favorite Song of 2011
"One Sunday Morning(Song for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)" by Wilco (The Whole Love): Wilco have done epics before, see the kraut rockin "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" or the eerie and paranoid "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" for confirmation, but on "One Sunday Morning", the band turns in a relaxed, flowing piece of music that manages to convince you that 12 minute running time still isn't long enough. Mediative, reflective, and gorgeous are only the beginning when describing The Whole Love's closing number. Without a chorus in sight, Jeff Tweedy, who sounds completely at piece with whatever demons haunted his past, delivers his most at ease vocals in years, while subtle layers (fluttering keys, breezy horns, and fading cymbals) create one of the most breathtaking songs of not only the year, but of Wilco's incredible career.
Honorable Mentions
"Steve McQueen" by M83 (Hurry Up, We're Dreaming): Nothing, not the building drums, Anthony Gonzalez's yelping vocals, nothing can prepare you for that chorus. The BIGGEST song of the year also packs the biggest punch of nostalgia as the absolutely soaring synths send you straight out of the atmosphere to a time you thought you lost and would never find again.
"Goodbye" by Apparat (The Devil's Walk): Between the spooky spaghetti western guitars that span the track to the ominous piano chords to the M83 esque spoken word female vocals, Apparat's Sascha Ring turns in one of the most haunting songs of the year. Bonus points goes to the song for being featured in the season finale of Breaking Bad, right before drug king pin/fried chicken restaurant manager Gus Fring meets his (SPOILER ALERT) explosive end.
Goodbye by apparat
Favorite Concert of 2011
Iron & Wine at Town Ballroom (4/15/2011): To be honest, by favorite show of the year took place just a few weeks ago at Toronto's Massey Hall by, you guessed it, Bon Iver, but like my fellow blogger James, I am keep this local. Anyways, a few years ago, I saw Iron & Wine perform at Asbury and I nearly fell asleep. Sam Beam's hushed folk was great when you had headphones on, but live, it just failed to capture my attention. I found myself at the bar talking with friends more than focusing on the stage. When Beam and crew came rolling into town this past spring to support his latest release Kiss Each Other Clean though, everything changed. The solo singer/songwriter was nowhere to be found. Instead, the dapper Beam who took the stage had become a full on band leader. Surrounding him were electric guitars and organs, a horn section, backing singers, and multiple percussionists. Whoever I saw back at Babeville was long gone. Beam and crew weaved in and out of his catalog, playing expansive new cuts, and turning old classics into revised, barely recognizable stunners. The new Iron & Wine had arrived.
Roger Bryan & the Orphans CD Release Show at Mohawk Place (6/18/2011): Bryan, seemingly one of the hardest working men in the Buffalo music scene over the years, and his Orphans absolutely killed it as they were joined by members of Two Cow Garage and fellow Harvestsum musicians while playing cuts from their latest and best album, the hard driving Americana sounds of 37. Having been a fan of Bryan since his Old Sweetheart Days, I was thrilled when an impromptu(or was it??) Sweethearts reunion closed the evening.
As much as we try to promote the local music scene here at buffaBLOG, we still find it frustrating to see bands playing to empty bars/clubs, but not on this night. Mohawk Place was busier than I have ever seen it for the Orphans show, confirming, at least to me, that not only is great music being made and played in Buffalo, but that there is an audience waiting to listen.
that iron & wine show was spectaular.
- sean
Bonus points to Breaking Bad this year. Thee Oh Sees play during the scene where Gustavo poisons the cartel.
I have to get into Thee Oh Sees. You are the third person to mention them.
Sean - Yeah I was blown away. After the Asbury Hall show, did not know to expect. Amazing.