RR’s Top 10 Albums of 2011
When I put together a top10 list, it’s not necessarily the albums I thought were the “best” of the year. I mean, what does best mean exactly? Most challenging? Most…
By Rachel Reynolds • • 1 min readWhen I put together a top10 list, it’s not necessarily the albums I thought were the “best” of the year. I mean, what does best mean exactly? Most challenging? Most listenable?
So I figured the only honest way I could put together a top 10 list was by picking my top 10 favorite albums of the year. The albums I put on when someone asks me what I’ve been listening to lately.
RR’s Top 10 Albums of the Year
The Kills – Blood Pressures (Domino)
Portugal The Man – In The Mountain, In The Cloud (Atlantic)
White Denim – D (Downtown)
My Morning Jacket – Circuital (ATO)
Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin’ (Columbia)
Cloud Control – Bliss Release (Ivy League)
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi (Domino)
Cut Copy – Zonoscope (Modular)
Real Estate – Days (Domino)
SBTRKT – SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
The Kills album takes the top slot because there are just so many great – and different kinds of great – songs on that album. I’ve been a fan for years and I really love what they did on this record. Portugal. The Man satisfies my pure pop side. Pop done by really talented musicians is a beautiful thing. White Denim came along when I really needed some rock in my life. I remember the first time I listened to it all the way through – stuck in gridlock traffic. It saved me. I love the funky soul My Morning Jacket always injects into their rock. It makes this one an album I’ll be going back to. Speaking of soul, it doesn’t get better than Raphael Saadiq.
Music Librarian Eric J Lawrence introduced me to Cloud Control and I was promptly hooked. Super catchy stuff. Anna Calvi is a stunner. That album grabs you in the first minute and doesn’t let go.
Cut Copy. At heart, I love to dance. Even if it’s alone in my apartment. And this album makes me wanna shake it! Real Estate is the totally opposite. When I’m kicking back and appreciating life and a beautiful day, this is what I want to hear.
Beat-heavy and full of an exciting energy, SBTRKT’s album also features my favorite Little Dragon guest spot of the year so I’m trying to go for a 2 for 1 type of thing!
RR