Boards
We're just over halfway through 2011 - let's review it thus far
I'm saying, 7/10.
There's been one truly special record in PJ Harvey's 'Let England Shake'. I'd say that's the only solid gold 9/10 record thus far though.
There's been a handful of great 8s too. Aidan Moffat & Bill Wells is brilliant, Wire's effort is their best in a while, the Scottish charity record by The Fruit Tree Foundation is properly great too.
I feel in hindsight that the Gang Gang Dance record is more of a 7 than an 8 now, failing to improve with time. Three trapped tigers & And so I watched you from afar are both pretty good too but I think the second half of 2011 will hopefully bring the rock records of the year.
There's been lots of decent releases by bands struggling to match former glories (Wild Beasts, Cut copy, The Kills, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Mogwai, Gang of four, Gruff Rhys, REM).
I'm not a dubstep or hip hop expert sadly, but Curren$y and big K.R.I.T. were both good, is unspectacular.
Of all the new acts, there's been some interesting ones but nothing seems solid gold. The Weeknd, Jamie Woon, Tune-Yards and Katy B seemed to be the best to me but James Blake, Esben & the witch, Toro Y Moi and OFWGKTA have all blown hot and cold.
I'm hoping the second half of the year picks up a bit and brings the noize.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
7/10 seems about right
Lots of good records, but for me only Iron & Wine and the Antlers have been great.
not very much apart from iceage
everything else has either been disappointing or bored me after a few plays
enjoying wugazi too
Wugazi is props rad
L!
O!
V!
E!
DANCE TO THE BEAT OF MY DRUM!
2011 is great for that reason alone.
But yes, there have been a lot of good albums, but not so many great ones
I really enjoyed the Bright Eyes, Antlers, Destroyer and Wild Beasts albums though. My top 4 so far, probably.
And Okkervil River
I agree with Vamos. PJ Harvey's album is way ahead of anything else released this year.
Cults' and EMA's albums are also very good. My best 'new discoveries' this year are Grouplove and The Jezebels. Pulp reforming is my favourite comeback of the year.
Agreed, plenty of solid releases but nothing amazing.
Of this year's albums which I've listened to, not one is clearly head and shoulders above the rest. There has been plenty to enjoy but nothing to blow me away, here's hoping the next 5 and half months serve up a few more treats.
Hail Vamos!
He's right you know.
Nearly every album I've bought this year has disappointed me (Radiohead - whilst it's still good, it ain't great - , Seefeel, Prefuse 73, Battles, Gang Gang Dance, James Blake, Elbow - just awful - Bright Eyes, Bibio et al). Even the PJ, which I agree is album of the year, hardly gains many plays per week for me now and its only 6 months old; I prefer White Chalk.
The only LPs I haven't been disappointed with have been the Nicolas Jaar and Tim Hecker.
So I'd say a 5/10 for the year itself.
And I can't see it getting any better - where the hell are those long-mooted Aphex and BoC albums, eh?
Harsh on Wild Beasts
to say they are trying to match former glories, no? Smother is pretty beautiful and is generating more acclaim than Two Dancers from what I can tell
I do like it, don't get me wrong
I just feel it retreads some ground Two Dancers did.
Let's not
the weeknd ftw
6/10
Pretty meh so far
Blood Ceremony's Living With The Ancients
is currently my only 9/10. What a sound.
After being initially disappointed with The Singing Adams new record, it's growing on me. Laura Cantrell's Kitty Wells Dresses and Trembling Blue Stars' swansong EP are both strong 8's.
Nothing else has stood out yet, but I haven't really bought that much new music.
GANGS
battles and fucked up
I think the and is a typo :P
Outbreeding...
... by David Thomas Broughton is tipping 2011 over into an 8/10, in my opinion.
jesus I'm so sick of all this year in review stuff I just want to cry
we've already had about 10 of these threads and it's only july
I think I made about 3 of them
I LIKE LISTS ALRIGHT?!
I was just curious what people thought. It's good to see what you've missed out on and what people are into, innit?
Plus I thought generally people were raving about this year in a previous thread and I hoped it might start a debate...
pish