Top Albums Quarter #3 2011

The blog remains simply a place for me to post my top albums each quarter. I still plan to get back into writing reviews and posting music when my life slows down. So, look for the new and expanded blog in the summer of 2020 when both kids are in college. It's going to be awesome. Anyhoo, this was another great quarter for music, and it was tough to rank them.

1. Cymbals Eat Guitars- Lenses Alien: Ever since Cymbals Eat Guitars charged onto the scene last year with their incredible debut record, they have been consistently one of my favorite rock bands. It's hard to say how their sophomore album compared to that first record, but I still love their wonderful slack rock; it takes me back to an earlier time.
2. War on Drugs- Slave Ambient: Again, this is the sophomore effort from a really promising and progressive Philadelphia band. They perfectly blend roots-rock and reverb-ambient.
3. Beirut- High Tide: I actually think that this might be the best release from Beirut to date; at least the most consistently listenable. Zach Condon returns to the firmly Eastern European folk sounds of Gulag Orkestrar after a brief (re)flirtation with electronic music.
4. Girls- Father, Son Holy Ghost: This album is simultaneously fun yet grumpy surfer-stoner rock. Very good for many moods and occasions.
5. Dum Dum Girls- Only in Dreams: This record is perfectly delivered surfer-shoegaze from an all-girl rock n roll group. Not to be missed.
6. St. Vincent- Strange Mercy: I desperately wanted to love this record; I instead heard pieces of progressive musical perfection mixed with boredom-inducing esoterica. I think when averaged out, it's still a great record.
7. Megafaun-Megafaun : I cut my teeth on the Grateful Dead. I know that's a swear word in some indie-rock circles but I still love them. This record marries my music worlds; indie-Dead.
8. Washed Out- Within and Without: The soft beats and beautiful synths make this such a comforting record. I don't know why I have it so low.
9. Beyonce- 4: OK haters, just listen to the record; it's really good.
10. Wilco- The Whole Love: Music appreciation is so strange. I have no idea if I like this album. I love, love Wilco but was so deeply disappointed by the last 2 records. I think that this album returns Wilco to an interesting place but I can't disentangle this record from my feelings about their previous miserable efforts. Because I am having trouble making an assessment, this record is here only because I like Wilco so much. I may rate it higher later...maybe not.