A portrait of my great-grandfather from when he served in the Italian army (Taken with instagram)
Tell me that it’s over tell me that you don’t feel the same as you used to, love.
maybe I’ll finally get through….. WAITING (FOR TOO LONG) - STATES ft. Anthony Green
States w/ Anthony Green! So good.
The American Dollar, “Age of Wonder” (Live in Montreal)
I’ve been listening to this song a lot over the past week or so. The section that starts at 2:38 gives me the chills every time.
Buy Atlas here.
Wow, these guys are awesome!
My Favorite Albums of 2011 (Top Ten)
It’s hard to believe that 2011 has almost come to a close - what a crazy year! From the emergence of some awesome new artists (Crosses, States), to the unexpected breakups of some of my longtime favorite bands (Thrice, Alexisonfire), to the glorious returns of some of my other longtime favorite bands (Glassjaw, Cave In), to the release of my own first album, this year will certainly stand as one of the most memorable years in music for me.
2011 was mostly a very dark year in my personal life, so much of my daily soundtrack consisted of heavy and/or darker music - although a few more upbeat albums were able to sneak their way into heavy rotation during the summer months and towards the end of the year. Perhaps these albums would have ranked higher in a happier year.
Now, I give you my top ten favorite albums of the year. I have listened to these albums more than any others, and each has left an indelible mark on me as a listener and/or served as an inspiration for my music.
10. Skrillex - More Monsters and Sprites EP
I discovered Skrillex by way of his jaw-dropping video for the song “First of the Year”, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Even though More Monsters and Sprites is very short, it merits inclusion in this list because it served as a jumping off point for me to discover an entirely new style of music I had never heard before. (Note: Skrillex makes for perfect workout music, since the heavy bass and danceable beats definitely get the blood pumping.)
9. LIGHTS - Siberia
I became a fan of LIGHTS (despite not liking her debut album, The Listening) thanks to her excellent Acoustic EP. Siberia is slightly darker and more mature than her debut, which marks a huge improvement in my book. Songs like “Everybody Breaks a Glass” and “Flux and Flow” firmly lodge themselves in my cranium with every listen thanks to her infectious melodies and cool distorted beats.
8. KEN mode - Venerable
KEN mode is one of those criminally unknown bands that would probably be huge if more people had, you know, heard of them. On Venerable, KEN mode expertly chugs and churns through crushingly heavy riffs but also incorporates melodic passages, with “Mako Shark” and “Flight of the Echo Hawk” serving as the two pillars of these different but complimentary styles. If you are a fan of bands like Refused, Converge, Russian Circles, etc., and you haven’t heard of KEN mode yet, you are seriously missing out.
7. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
I will always consider Radiohead to be one of the best and most interesting bands in the world as long as they continue to release captivating albums like The King of Limbs. I find it difficult to describe in words, but there is always something about their music that strikes a chord with me. Perhaps it’s that Thom Yorke’s vocals remain as hauntingly beautiful as ever. ”Bloom” and “Lotus Flower” are the standout tracks here, but there is no filler on this tightly focused, expertly crafted album.
6. States - Room to Run
The debut album from States, Room to Run, was able to sneak its way into my top ten right at the end of the year thanks to vocalist Mindy White’s beautiful voice, infectious melodies, and strong lyrics. This is upbeat indie pop at its very best. Nearly every song features a strong and memorable chorus that makes it nearly impossible not to sing along, but “Timebomb” and “Captivating Me” are my favorites.
5. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
This album made it into my top ten on the strength of its badass title alone - just kidding! Mogwai are the most expert purveyors of post-rock, and they show no signs of slowing down here, continuing a string of excellent albums. I love how they gradually layer the various instruments, weaving and churning through slow crescendos, as exemplified by songs like “San Pedro” and “Too Raging to Cheers”.
4. Glassjaw - Our Color Green EP
Hearing awesome new music from Glassjaw was one of the best surprises of 2011 (even though some of these songs are rewrites of older songs!). Daryl’s cathartic vocals and Beck’s excellent guitar work put so many of the bands’ contemporaries to shame. ”You Think You’re (John Fucking Lennon)” is the perfect example of what makes Glassjaw such a giant in the world of heavy music, with its brutally heavy verse giving way to a catchy chorus, without sounding like it was haphazardly forced together.
3. Thrice - Major/Minor
It’s sad to think that this may be the very last album from Thrice after 13 years of excellent and diverse releases, but if that is the case, they went out with a bang. Thrice will always be one of my favorite bands thanks to its willingness to experiment with different sounds and styles without regard for fans’ expectations or desires. Major/Minor continues that trend, at once very different from the band’s other albums but also unmistakably Thrice; in fact, it stands as one of the finest alternative rock albums recorded in recent years thanks to stellar musicianship, strong songwriting, impassioned vocals, and meaningful lyrics. ”Words on the Water” is one of the band’s most hauntingly beautiful songs, while “Listen Through Me” offers a textbook lesson in dynamic songwriting (just listen to the soft build to - and quick pause just prior to - the powerful chorus).
2. ††† (Crosses) - EP †
Crosses, the side project of Deftones’ Chino Moreno and Far’s Shaun Lopez, immediately took its place amongst my favorite bands with its debut EP. Strangely enough, considering this was released while our album was out for mastering, the Crosses EP is probably the closest thing to what my band is trying to achieve with our music, mixing electronic beats with guitars, keyboards, and 80s-influenced vocals.
1. Animals As Leaders - Weightless
On Weightless, Animals As Leaders seamlessly meld metal, jazz, progressive rock, and electronic music into something jaw-droppingly original. For my money, Tosin Abasi is the best guitarist in the world. Enough said.
My Favorite Albums of 2011 (Honorable Mentions)
It’s hard to believe that 2011 has almost come to a close - what a crazy year! From the emergence of some awesome new artists (Crosses, States), to the unexpected breakups of some of my longtime favorite bands (Thrice, Alexisonfire), to the glorious returns of some of my other longtime favorite bands (Glassjaw, Cave In), to the release of my own first album, this year will certainly stand as one of the most memorable years in music for me.
2011 was mostly a very dark year in my personal life, so much of my daily soundtrack consisted of heavy and/or darker music - although a few more upbeat albums were able to sneak their way into heavy rotation during the summer months and towards the end of the year. Perhaps these albums would have ranked higher in a happier year.
Let’s begin with the honorable mentions. These albums simply didn’t receive enough plays to justify making the top ten, or I began listening to them too late in the year for them to displace something from earlier in the year.
21. Björk - Biophilia
Biophilia is probably Björk’s most challenging album, most likely due to her experimentation with obscure time signatures. Still, there are enough cool moments here to merit inclusion in the list of honorable mentions. (Note: the music video for the album’s best track, “Crystalline”, is a must-see thanks to the stunning, hand-made art of director Michel Gondry).
20. Young the Giant - Young the Giant
My brother recommended Young the Giant to me very late in the year, so while I thoroughly enjoyed their enticing brand of upbeat indie rock, the album did not have enough time to garner significant plays.
19. Foster the People - Torches
Another late addition to my collection based on recommendations, Foster the People’s debut album is chock full of memorable indie-rock-meets-electropop songs. While I don’t love every track, there are enough strong ones here that it could’ve been a contender for my top ten if I had more time with it. (Note: the video for “Helena Beat” is really crazy and entirely worth multiple viewings).
18. Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys
While Codes and Keys certainly marks a welcomed stylistic shift from (and perhaps surpasses) 2008’s Narrow Stairs, there are still too many ho-hum, forgettable tracks here to make the album a top ten. However, “Doors Unlocked and Open” and “You Are a Tourist” stand amongst my favorite Death Cab tracks, which redeems the album to a certain degree.
17. Russian Circles - Empros
Another late addition to my collection, Empros marks a continuation and refinement of what Russian Circles does best - effortlessly transition from beautiful and melodic to skull-crushingly heavy. A lack of plays and the out-of-place closing track, “Praise Be Man”, removed this album from top-ten contention.
16. Sublime With Rome - Yours Truly
I find it pretty cool that Sublime returned after so many years with such a strong showing - it definitely brings back fond memories of rocking out to their self-titled album circa 1997. New vocalist Rome Ramirez sounds at once right at home yet unique enough to place his own stamp on the proceedings. What undoes this album for me as a potential favorite is the fact that I found it difficult to listen to once the weather turned colder (this was a staple of my summer playlist but has not garnered any listens since September).
15. 311 - Universal Pulse
Universal Pulse is a focused and catchy outing from one of the mainstays in my collection - no matter how much time passes, I always come back to 311 at some point. ”Weightless” includes the most infectious chorus melody of any of their recent material, while “And a Ways to Go” would have fit right in on the timeless Transistor. Ultimately, 311’s latest offering suffered a similar fate as Sublime’s - no plays after September despite including some great songs.
14. Mastodon - The Hunter
The Hunter marks a welcome departure from the sprawling, progressive style of 2009’s Crack the Skye. Unfortunately, the more focused approach causes some of the tracks to blend together. ”Spectrelight” and “Stargasm”, however, are not amongst those songs - I’ll definitely keep them in rotation for awhile.
13. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
There isn’t much to say about this album other than it’s more of the same from one of the preeminent post-rock bands - which is hardly a bad thing. More plays probably would’ve pushed this higher in my rankings.
12. Century - Red Giant
The third full-length album from Lancaster’s own Century, Red Giant features some of the most intense drumming and brutally heavy riffs you will ever hear, along with thought-provoking and, at times, irreverent lyrics. If tracks like “Lobotomy” and “Obelisk” don’t get your blood pumping, you must be comatose.
11. Cave In - White Silence
One of the most versatile bands in heavy music, Cave In made a triumphant return this year with its album White Silence. From the relentless intensity of “Serpents” and “Vicious Circles”, to the captivating drone of “Sing My Loves”, to the unexpectedly Beatles-esque “Heartbreaks, Earthquakes”, Cave In proves that the seven years that have elapsed since its last full-length album have not dulled its considerable skills. The weak ending - consisting of the only missteps on the album, “Iron Decibels” and “Reanimation” - is the only thing keeping White Silence from breaching the top ten.
I just saw this in person, with a “full” band, and I’m seriously having trouble comprehending/digesting the awesomeness. I can’t recall the last time I’ve had my mind blown on this level. It was totally surreal. Usually, clapping or cheering is the normal response between songs at a rock show, but tonight after each song I couldn’t help myself from sitting in the balcony at the Anaheim HOB, shaking my head, laughing and trying to understand how shredding (tastefully) on this level is even possible.
Prepare to have your mind blown. For my money, Tosin Abasi is the best guitarist alive.
