Mark’s Albums of The Year 2011
I have decided that this year there will be no top twenty albums in ascending order from me. I pretty much like most of these equally, but for different reasons. I always find it hard to both collate or equate lists as they change with my mood. Of course, I do have an album of the year so it’s only right that we get that out of the way before continuing with the rest of the list.
My album of the year for 2011 is a collection of songs I have pretty much grown to love over the last three years. The fact that the tracks on this album still excite me as much as when I first heard many of them in 2008 – in their fledgling form – would be enough reason to make this my album of the year. The fact is, if you come back and ask me in 2020 for my twenty albums of the decade, I am certain it would still feature on any list I compiled. For all of the reasons above and the ones explained in one of the longest album reviews I have ever written, my album of the year for 2011 is The Joy Formidable’s The Big Roar.
Now that I feel that burden is lifted, here are some of my favourites from the past year (most of them I have reviewed; those that somehow slipped the net I apologise for).
The Big I Am – Collecting Skies
Read Mark’s Original Review
Luke Rathborne – The Dog Years
Read Mark’s original review
Josh T Pearson – Last Of the Country Gentlemen
Read Mark’s original review
The Horn The Hunt – Depressur Jolie
Read Mark’s original review
Pete Lawrie – A little brighter
Read Mark’s original review
Benjamin Francis Leftwich – Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm
Read Mark’s original review
The Flowerpot Sessions – Communion
Read Mark’s original review
She Keeps Bees – Dig On
Danny and The Champions of The World – Hearts and Arrows
Read Mark’s original review
Puro Instinct – Headbangers In Ecstasy
Read Mark’s original review
Beirut – Rip Tide
Read Mark’s original review
Marcus Foster – Nameless Path
Read Mark’s original review
Ben Howard – Every Kingdom
Read Mark’s original review
Tortoise family Connections – Extra Terrestrial Kestrel
Read Mark’s original review
I can’t finish this post off without mentioning several albums that slipped through my reviewing net, mostly due to time constraints. The biggest one being P.J Harvey’s Let England Shake, which is truly stunning. Others worthy include the latest offerings by M83, Bon Iver, Adele, Airship, Other Lives, Young the Giant, and finally Wilco. So all that is left for me to do is wish you seasons greetings from a rainy, windy UK! Take care of yourselves but most of all take care of each other. Peace, Mark.
P.S – thought it only fitting to leave you with my single favourite track of 2011!
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Monument Valley – Dear John Letters
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