As the last Playlist of the year rolls in, it's nice to take a step back and think about all the joyous tunes that came to us in 2011. There seemed to be a shift in indie rock, from beards & strings to sunglasses & synths. December was no different, and the tone of the music really held ground. The month started out with the return of LA rockers Silversun Pickups. Their track "Seasick" is a haunting, eerie piece of mellow rock that makes for a great way to kick things off. The rest of the mix plays out smoothly, with familiar big name acts like the Black Keys and Foster The People making return appearances. Colorado husband-wife duo Tennis debuted a new tune "Origins" which will appear on their next album Young & Old, scheduled for February. All in all, we were impressed with this months offerings as they bounced off the Christmas lights and made us bob our heads. It was indeed a fitting end to a banner year in the alternative music world.
This year brought us a lot of quality music from all over the musical landscape. We started out with an influx of indie rock and chillwave that made even the metalheads feel all bubbly inside. As the year matured, radio rockers and mellow synth-pop seemed to come to the forefront. 2011 was a great time for up-and-coming bands, as well as established alternative rock staples. After sifting through the pile of albums we've acquired over the months, it was hard to narrow it down to only 10. Here is a look at some of the best albums of the year.
Brooklyn indie-dance band Rubblebucket made a huge splash in 2011. The band seeked Eric Broucek (LCD Soundsystem) for production on their latest release Omega La La. Their album-supporting tour garnered the attention of the jamband scene, making stops at Gathering of the Vibes, North Coast, and moe.down. With peppy dance numbers such as "Worker," and "Silly Fathers," it looks like these indie-jammers are here to stay.
It is safe to say that Chaz Bundick is still the undisputed king of chillwave after his 2011 Underneath the Pine release. The Toro Y Moi frontman weaves in and out of synth bliss on this sophomore studio effort. Danceable tracks like "New Beat" and "Still Sound" mix perfectly with the mellowness of "How I Know" and "Go With You." The band's EP Freaking Out is also worth a listen.
Other than Foster the People, perhaps nobody made a bigger splash in 2011 than Detroit's Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. The indie-pop duo dropped their first album It's A Corporate World in June and has been catching the ears of the music world. With catchy tracks galore such as "Morning Thought," "An Ugly Person On A Movie Screen," and "We Almost Lost Detroit," this record has one of the freshest sounds of the year.
How do you follow up the 4-time Grammy nominated Brothers if you're The Black Keys? Drop an equally as impressive album one year later, that's how. Their newest effort is jam-packed with radio goodness and rock chops for days. A raunchy dance party from the opening "Lonley Boy" all the way to the closing "Mind Eraser." El Camino finds the 'Keys at the peak of their songwriting and brings back a rock-n-roll swagger to the music world.
Portland Oregon's psychedelic rock outfit Portugal. The Man continues to pump out amazing record after record. This year was no exception as In The Mountain In The Cloud blends a seemingly perfect mix of rock and pop into one masterful piece of ear candy. From the opening chords of "So American," to the psychedelic "Sleep Forever," there isn't a dull moment on the album. Defying genres has never been a problem for these indie rockers, look for them at a festival near you next year.
