ILM's Top 77 ALBUMS of 2011

haha

I can imagine a look of delight on his face, followed by a sourpuss, and then a return of delight...

i was the #1 vote for The Joy Formidable! crazy that they placed lower here than on P&J though, i guess we shore don't like them as much as morbz thought.

i listened to that whole album after hearing that song on the tracks poll-- super in to it. what else should i hear by them?

A Balloon Called Moaning was their 8-song miniLP from 2009 (4 songs reappeared on last year's album, all with (to my dismay) bigger production).

otm

ok the chorus on "Dizzy" is pretty awesome...

xpost but then it goes back to the verses and its terrible again

― ⚓ (gr8080), Monday, January 30, 2012 5:53 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

if it helps, i would like to downgrade my previous GREAT to good, or really good, or something in that vicinity

also, listened to austra and veronica falls, found them okayish

JF have some good songs that are on neither album, my favorite being "My Beerdrunk Soul Is Sadder Than a Hundred Dead Christmas Trees"

austra just makes me want to listen to that jj album from 2009 and the young galaxy album from 2011

those are both so much better albums than the austra one tho

Is there anything here I'd probably like that I haven't heard? I've only heard Toro y Moi and the three rap albums.

even though i have always loved, and of course voted for, thora vukk it keeps growing on me more and more. "ende" is such a beautiful ending track; i'd be p surprised if this (and the title track) didn't convert those not into robag's production prowess on previous EPs. so much warmth

"My Beerdrunk Soul Is Sadder Than a Hundred Dead Christmas Trees"

Yes! People really need to track down the bonus disc that came with certain versions of the album (not in the States though, I don't think), its called It's Just A World Apart. It has that song shipz is talking about plus "Chwyrlio" a version of "Whirring" in Welsh.

rev you should def check out when saints go machine

i put young galaxy way too low on my ballot-- did anyone else vote for it?

I cooled a lot on that Young Galaxy album.

I love the sounds made by that YG album, but none of the songs actually keep me coming back.

i can feel that

i, too, loved the production on the YG record but couldn't get over the arts & crafts-y vocals

I cooled a lot on that Young Galaxy album.

i did too although i put it on p recently and liked it again. it sounds like winter vacation i think

Maybe I should pull it out again too, haven't heard it in probably 4 or 5 months.

there are still a bunch of not v good songs but stuff like 'peripheral visionaries' marries the indie sing-along vocals w/the icy beach vibe really well

Love that track.

v happy to see the low album here. "'especially me" is my favourite low song since the 'curtain' LP

i haven't fallen for the veronica falls album like some have. it sounds like something i should love, and i don't mind it, but yeah. probably the 5th best album released on slumberland this year.

probably the 5th best album released on slumberland this year.

out of curiosity what are your top 4?

1. art museums - dancing with a hole in my heart 7"
2 - 5. ???

lol lamp

girls names, crystal stilts, big troubles, brilliant colors

had art museums put out a full length this year it would have totes been my #1

last year obv

haha that art museums 7" totally belongs on grady's list of awesome songs not nominated for ilm eoy poll

i think that and the devon williams 7" are the only things on slumberland i bought this year

rev you should def check out when saints go machine

― ⚓ (gr8080), Monday, January 30, 2012 7:41 PM Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Tried listening to a couple songs. I really don't like that dude's voice. The music was nice and all but not compelling enough to make up for the singer.

missed the countdown as usual, today stuff:

as far as post-Silent Shout stuff goes, I couldn't get very excited about Austra/Emika/Barbara Panther/Planningtorock. Did vote for Gazelle Twin, love that one.

I voted for WTT, admittedly because the highs were pretty towering for me this year. only thing i voted for that wasn't really solid all the way through.

Toro Y Moi: That cover is amazing, especially for a dude who looks like the ultimate safe boring hipster. he puts on a great live show too.

Joy Formidable: this is okay, but I still like Ostrich the best, and considering it's the rawest track on their debut e.p. (and didn't get re-released on the Big Roar) I don't think I have much of a future with these guys. Like Crystal Antlers - loved em till they cleaned up

I really like the When Saints Go Machine album, "Church & Law" is the standout track for me. For such an unusual album its resonance feel very precise - Black Celebration X I Am A Bird Now X Silent Shout x Comicopera.

Toro Y Moi: That cover is amazing

OTM, surprises me that so many seem to hate it. one of the strongest, most beautiful, distinctive and memorable pieces of album art i saw last year.

sure

http://i.imgur.com/zi7hd.gif

come on guys, i voted for that album and have no problem admitting the cover is terrible

i bet someone worked really hard to make it http://i.imgur.com/zi7hd.gif

contenderizer otm

ill take that bet (xp)

i've never heard the album but love the image. could maybe do w/out the white box and title text (?), but the photo and band logo are grate.

its a painting iirc?

now that would be impressive, but

the photo-- a self-portrait taken by the one-time graphic design student in a hotel bathroom

^ from the intro to a p4k "take cover" interview w chaz bundick

the toro y moi cover freaks me out a little. is that a flower coming out of his mouth or seafood extender?

anyway, happy to see a bunch of my faves placing. yay for psychic paramount, liturgy, austra, robag wruhme and lykke li. also, well done ilm for preventing drake and kanye/jay-z from placing higher.

so contemptuous of drake and anyone who thinks that album is either emotionally moving or beautiful-sounding

lol it has sure emotionally moved a lot of yall to FURIOUS ANGER

lol pwn

77. When Saints Go Machine — Konkylie

What an awful name for a band. Would never consider listening to them if not for their placement in the poll. Turns out I've listened to a few of this songs throughout the year without knowing who they were. It's ok for hipster party music. Sounds to me like the Delays and I'd much rather listen to them.

76. Robag Wruhme — Thora Vukk

I nommed and voted for this. Ot’s always a treat to hear a producer who is proficient and well known around the techno community turning away from the dancefloor to release music that borders outside of their usual field of expertise. Thora Vukk is Wruhme’s exploration of his music’s more melancholic, contemplative side, while keeping the sense of tension and attention to detail that he has perfected as a techno producer. The result is warm, gorgeous album that is fascinating, at least on an aesthetic level. Nothing new but very pleasant to the ears.

75. Liturgy — Aesthethica

I'm sorry... I tried but Metal music wears me off after a couple of tracks. Didn't care enough to listen through half of it. Either way I'll admit that if I listened to metal the sort of structures I heard in some of the songs would probably be my kind of thing so not completely hating on this one.

74. The Joy Formidable — The Big Roar

So I've heard the songs and watched the videos and they definitely nail the alt.rock look. Somehow though I find it perhaps too carefully constructed and planned and lacking in attitude as if in reality they'd rather be a folk band or something. I also have trouble remembering the songs after a while.

73. Jay-Z & Kanye West — Watch the Throne

Was expecting this to place much higher. It's not a bad album but I'm not particulary excited about it either. I was probably too burnt out on both of them and their personas this year. I don't really have anything to say on this one.

72. Barbara Panther — Barbara Panther

This sounds so much better on paper: Rwandan refugee doing electro produced by Matthew Herbert. Turns out it's a bit boring safe for a couple of songs.

71. Toro y Moi - Underneath the Pine

I could love this but it feels like that sort of seasonal music that only gets to you on a certain mood and weather and then you never listen to it after two years when you once again think it's the best thing ever before shelving it back. I actually think the artwork is the best one in the countdown so far, next to Thora Vukk.

69. Wild Flag — Wild Flag

I kind of like what I heard on first listen but I should probably give it more time. Awful artwork.

69. Low — C'Mon

Had no idea Low had released something this year. Same thing as Toro y Moi. I know I could appreciate this in the right setting but not really feeling it atm.

68. ILX Presents Lulu

I would have actually cashed money if the real album was half as good as this one.

67. Veronica Falls - Veronica Falls

This is cool. Never heard of them before but I'm loving this. Simple and to the point. There's some interesting twists in short spans, apt for ADD people.

Ok I'm off to sleep. I'll keep listening to the rest tomorrow.

continuing on the Toro Y Moi cover, it's initially repulsive duh but it's a pretty bold interpretation of sexual fears, especially for a guy who was linked to a genre that never even gently rocked any boats. 2011 saw thousands of tasteful and "pretty" covers, then bam! glistening tentacle pube mouth right in your face. love love love it.