Albums that were relatively under appreciated this year..
Carter Tanton - Freeclouds
http://open.spotify.com/album/0Urc7K3MTcHSq2uANZKIO4
Fionn Regan - 100 acres of sycamore
http://open.spotify.com/album/2TWW1SfpMQjKjIkFe8GrKW
Carter Tanton might not be the best example, but 100 acres of sycamore is an odd one. Not sure if it is Fionn Regans lost album between labels, but it is lovely....has a kind of Nick Drake instrumentation to it.
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One Thousand Pictures
By Pete and the Pirates should be on way more end of year lists than it has been so far
never managed to get into this one
I loved the first record but this left me pretty cold
Pinch and Shackleton
limped out with no fanfare after most of the end of year lists were already at the printers. Should have been recognised as one of the albums of the year.
I've seen it in a fair few end of year lists tbf
but you're right it's brilliant.
Braids - Native Speaker
Thought it would've caused a lot more of a stir.
It was well reviewed when it came out
and it's a good record. I think it's just that there have been lots of good records this year.
perhaps the main problem was that it felt more like an EP or mini-album? and also kinda came out last year and was release properly in January (not sure if there was a formal UK release, I seem to remember the PR only got involved a few weeks before it came out, which woulda made print press coverage hard)
just an AnCo rip off with an annoying singer
and no actal songs of substance
Veronica Falls
No idea who AnCo are....do you mean Animal Collective?
I see no similarity at all to be honest.
to me it sounds heavily indebted to Animal Collective's Feels album
pedant...
yeah it really does sound like Feels. It's good, and they're actually pretty incredible live, but it's not up there at the top for me.
right fair enough i have no prblem with a band sounding like another band or alums
its just not good thats all.
All of Bvdub's albums released this year.
Every album is painfully beautiful.
Also, Biosphere's N-Plants. Brilliant album.
Pure X - Pleasure
The War on Drugs- Slave Ambient
Real Estate- Days
there's been lots of fuss over Days
and rightly so
I would hasten to say that
'Days' has been slightly overrated.
it has It's Real on it
therefore they deserve all the praise they get
i think you mean All The Same
because that is the best song they've ever written
Black Spiders - Sons of the North
Moby's Destroyed
Brilliant album.
.L.W.H. - The Tape Hiss Hooligan
Every publication seemed to go for 808s & Dark Grapes as the one Green Ova release to jump on this year, but I haven't even seen a review of .L.W.H's album despite it being one of the best rap albums (and maybe my favourite) of the year. Add that to the fact it's hipster bait (Talk Talk samples, Slint influences), and I'm bemused that it's fell so far under the radar.
http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/6486/lwh-tapehiss-2011
I think it's a lot more ramshackle and messier than 808s
which probably puts some people off. I think it's really great though - not sure which of the two is better though
Really like this one
Prob not my favourite Main Attrakionz this year though.
Main Attrakionz – Dark Grapes & 808s II [Mishka NYC]
Main Attraktionz - Chandelier [Green Ova]
Main Attrakionz – MondreHott [Green Ova]
L.W.H. – The Tape Hiss Hooligan [Green Ova]
The Shady Bambino Project – The Shady Bambino Project [Green Ova]
Squadda B – I Smoke Because I Don’t Care About Death [Green Ova]
Main Attrakionz – Bluebery Ku$h [Green Ova]
In that order prob... It's kinda hard to seperate the top three mind. They all deserve more love this year really. They've been quality.
Pretty sure Chandelier is mostly the LWH dude as well
Its prob more solid that The Tape Hiss Hooligan.
I feel you
I've heard the top 4 & Ku$h of those, but for me .L.W.H was the one that made me stand back and think 'shit, these guys are the real deal!' Really love the ramshackle sound and the samples that tie it together, oddly it feels much more cohesive in the end than Dark Grapes.
Sarabeth Tucek - Get Well Soon
British Sea Power
Anna Calvi
Trojan Horse
The Raveonettes
Singing Adams
Young Knives
Love that Sarabeth Tucek album...
...bought it for my mum for her birthday and she loves it too. Err, cross-genertaional appeal I guess?
youth lagoon
the year of hybernation
hibernation*
A Pitchfork BNM
and plenty of recommendations on here suggest otherwise
It's number 3 on my list
just behind st vincent and the antlers
I'm seeing Youth Lagoon at a weekender
With The Horrors, Wu Lyf, Spiritualized, Atlas Sound, Anna Calvin, Perfume Genius, and Toro y Moi
I should get the Youth Lagoon record
You really should
Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies
Still not got this...
came to post
Parrot Flies is a really good answer
and, unlike a lot of the albums here, truly underrated. A great record that, while heavily indebted to the twinkling collegiate emo of vintage Kinsella records, manages to feel fresh, frenetic and full of ideas.
Plus, it's full of absolute summer JAMS.
Korallreven - An album by Korallreven
Not so much baleric pop around these days, and this is consistent high quality.
I got referred to them
Through Sapphire Slows's last.fm
I should check them out, Balaeric pop is my shit
It's a lovely listen
but perhaps not as many pop songs as, for example, Air France. So kind of like if the Washed Out record was more balaeric.
Sounds lovely
Lacks some killer songs
Danananananaykroyd - There Is A Way.
Ponytail - Do Whatever You Want All The Time
Smashing as always.
Actually...in addition
that Parts & Labor record. Haven't even heard it, but I thought people loved them and they've got barely any coverage.
Copy Haho
Future Islands
Still Corners
Hooray for Earth
Gus Gus
Steffi
Widowspeak
the new future islands album really didn't do it for me
its like they took out the minimalism that made their first two albums good and became one of those "big sounding synth pop" bands like everyone else
I want to scream how wonderful the Tellison album is to everyone.
Exactly what I came here to say
They should be huge. Or indie-huge at least.
The Drums album
British Sea Power
Babybird
Luke Haines
The Dears
Go Team
Even Low's C'mon seems to have been forgotten already.
^this to The Go! Team
their debut gets so much love, this triumphs it in every way
holy fuck... that came out this yeah..
honestly contains their best material..
*year
Trumps it.
Trumps.
^This The Drums record
The Okkervil River album seems to have dodged most end of year lists
Which is a shame because it's brilliant. Much better than Burst Apart I'd say.
Not sure when I'm gonna stop barking about that Slow Club album
probably some time next year when everyone realises it's greatness
That album is just great!
Bearsuit - The Phantom Forest
Barely a mention of this anywhere all year, I really like it
the new Maritime record, Human Hearts
not seen it mentioned on here at all, but it's a great, lush power-pop record. Davey Von Bohlen's still very much got it.
Epic45 - Weathering
Brilliant
Howling Bells - The Loudest Engine
after the disappointment of Radio Wars I wasn't expecting much but its really really good. Worth checking out.
didn't even know they had another album
SORNE-
House of Stone
Lumieres: Quiet Steps
It's a bloody free download an all, this is great listen listen LISTEN
http://lumieres.bandcamp.com/
Deaf Center - Owl Splinters
Not seen it in any end-of-year lists but its one of my absolute favourites and I've not heard much about it, although I think it received good reviews.
Thought I'd have seen King on Limbs in here by now.
We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
It's just one great brooding synth track after another, never get tired of it
Gillian Welch - The harrow and the harvest
I know it was number 1 on the Rough Trade list, but apart from that I don't recall seeing much about it. Great album.
Wanda Jackson - The party aint over
Ellen Fullman - Through Glass Panes
josh t pearson was number one on the rough trade list
No. 4 in Rough Trade
and No. 2 in Uncut
Not much love anywhere else ... which is surprising coz its the mutts nuts !
Woops my mistake.
And I hadn't seen the uncut list until now. An interesting list - mix between the predictable and the forgotten.
Ry Cooder is another one (from the Uncut list) that seems to have been relatively under-appreciated, although it is a bit variable in quality. Or maybe it's just me, that can't stomach the real c&w sounding stuff.
some interesting suggestions in here
especially considering how much support DiS has given some of these acts (like Fionn) in the past but I don't remember seeing any emails about the releases. Makes you wonder if there are human oversights behind some of these releases failing to really register or if they just happened to come out when there was so much else going on.
lots more suggestions in the lost 11 thread http://drownedinsound.com/community/boards/music/4314895
Sandwell District
Feed Forward - its such a great album.. and not enough love
i'll second the parts & labor
'Constant Future' is absolutely brilliant, and yet it's barely received any praise at all. It got really good reviews but no buzz at all and just kinda disappeared. Shame - it should have been in way more Top 10s. Okay, in any Top 10.
Bry Webb - Provider
First solo record from former Constantines frontman. It's brilliant and hasn't even been reviewed in most places.
Chelsea Wolfe - Apokalypsis
Thought that would have riden the whole witchy, doom, drone vibe of late. Cracking album.
Disappears
"Guider" - I'm always blathering on about this one. This and the Crystal Stilts lp. Gee, y'think I'm a Velvets fan?
Nils Frahm - felt
Death In Vegas - Trans Love Energies
I know that they've had a few years off, but I think this might be the best thing they've done. Shaken off the reliance on special guest stars, with even Richard Fearless himself stepping up to the mic on occasions. The double disc edition of the album is espcially impressive, not a filler track on the thing.
Also, True Widow's 'As High as the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth'. Of the DiS staff, Tom Perry obviously likes it a bit as he listed it as his number one album of the year and gave it a (maybe a bit over the top) 10/10 review on here. It is excellent however.
^^^^ This to Death In Vegas
Cracking lp.
^this to both
the True Widow's LP in particular has really grown on me lately.
13 & God - Own your Ghost
Shocked this didn't seem to cause even a ripple this year with anyone. Wonderful album. Although the debut album was good, this trumps it in just about every way. Although reminiscent of both involved bands (Subtle and Notwist) they seem to have come upon a sound and style all of their own for 13 & GOD.
Why no love for Let's Wrestle?
Nursing Home is a fine follow-up to their debut, and probably my most played album of the year.
i came here to post this!
A bit too similar to 'in the court of...' but still an awesome album.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's new album
was barely caused a ripple.
I thought it was a really nice return to form. Saw them last week and they have definitely improved live as well since their 1st record.
see also:
DiS' lost 11 http://drownedinsound.com/lists/lost11of11
The Nocturnes - Aokigahara
excellent melancholy shoegaze (although a couple of places have been using the term 'folkgaze') featuring members of The Red Sparowes.
Hotel Sessions - The Lemonheads
I know technically this is not a new record considering it was recorded in 92 or something and is made up of previously released tracks (largely) for the princely sum of 53 dollars or something as Evil Dildo proudly states in the linear notes, but was anyone else aware this came out? I stumbled across it the other in an actual record store. Yes, an actual real live record store. It was like the 90s again, being surprised in a record store by something you didn't know was out yet. Maybe that was part of the plan. Anyways, I'm digressing. It's fucking great. Anyone else got it/getting it?
GLOSS DROP.
Akron/Family - Akron/Family II The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT
Ridiculous name aside, this one seems to have fallen down the February-release memory hole. And it's a pretty decent record.
yep, this band just keeps getting better and better..
Mini Mansions, here's the DIS review......
http://drownedinsound.com/releases/16273/reviews/4142843
Wye Oak - Civilian
this album is a massive grower, and contains some of the most beautiful songs all year.
AV Club put it as their No. 1
Not that negates the choice of course, not sure anyone else has mentioned it in their lists at all
Listening to this just now
And it does sound rather nice.
fredrik - flora
son lux - we are rising
Baxter Dury and Terius Nash
Haven't seen these on many end of year lists. The first has some sweet lo-fi pop stuff. The consensus on the latter seems to be that it doesn't hold up to his stuff as The-Dream. Fuck that noise, there's some amazing tracks on there...
The-Dream album really grew on me...
...it's easily better than both Weeknd efforts and Frank Ocean too who cover simular ground. I warmed up to the odd Weeknd/Ocean bit by the end of the year but they're still just a bit off and really hit'n'miss. I listened to Jhené Aiko quite a bit too she hit some of the same notes as those lot too.
TVOTR - Nine types of light,
Thats right, i said it.
i get the impression that people want to knock tvotr but cant really find the justification to do so, im a fan fair enough, but they're evolving, not really putting out the same kind of record as the last, ive been playing it all year long since its release and i like it just fine....troll and flame yerself silly , i like it and i think its getting unduly forgotten.
I wouldn't call it a favourite of the year for me
and they've done much better records I feel, but listened to it again recently and my opinion of it has gone up somewhat.
For me, this album was the point where they turned into just
a normal, 4th from the top on the blah blah stage at wotsitfest band.
Wrong.
Nine Types of Light and Dear Science are uncannily equal in quality, and are two of the best albums of any genre, any year. Those who are still waiting on a repeat of Return to Cookie Mountain will continue to be disappointed.
I like the record
Its just a pity, for me, the edge and also slightly the overall quality of songs has gone, because a smooth, soulful TVOTR would be amazing.
And a smooth, soulful TVOTR is exactly what you got with Nine Types of Light. It's a pity you and the two users above you weren't listening.
Kuedo, Sully, LV & Joshua Idehen
They're all quality and deserve some love outside of the electronic scene for sure. I thought I'd see them on more lists to be honest, ah well.
Patten - GLAQJO XAACSSO
Austin Peralta - Endless Planets
Thundercat - Golden Age of Apocalypse
Alright the Captain - Snib
Micachu & the Shapes - Chopped and Screwed
Seb Rochford & Pamelia Kurstin - Ouch Evil Slow hop
....I could be here all night....
I saw Seb Rochford & Pamelia Kurstin live
in a mega small village hall venue down the road from me, they where awsome. She was preggers and rocking out on the theramin big time. I've never heard such a noise come from just drums and a theramin before. I still need to grab the album though, thanx for the reminder.
I've only heard the record
I'd kill to see them play live. Sounds aweseome
Seb often comes to The Shed
http://www.theshed.co.uk/
With his projects, they've been coming for years to do gigs for them with Acoustic Ladyland, Polar Bear, Fulborn Teversham, etc...
I'm kinda lucky such a mad venue is so close to me.
there you go...
http://thesonicminefeild.blogspot.com/2010/09/pamelia-kurstin-and-seb-rochford-duo.html
Seb even ran about in the back of a van stopping off at villages/towns playing drums in the back on his way to the gig. Pic by my mum in my town haha.
White van man Sebastian Rochford takes to the road
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/music/8413913.White_van_man_Sebastian_Rochford_takes_to_the_road/
That does look like a pretty sweet venue
Summer Camp - Welcome to Condale
that album is totally rubbish though!!
That's nice
sorry!!
it IS bad though, first two tracks are class, then it's just utterly forgettable. Which, in my opinion, is exactly why it's been forgotten.
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
I've yet to see a "Best of 2011" list with it in, yet I think it's a fabulous album. Can't remember the last album I bought that has had such repeated playings.
Totally respect your opinion
Don't get me wrong... but I thought this was utter shit. For me, it feels as if all the influences that made his early work vital - Replacements, Morrissey, Husker Du, 'No Depression' bands, Gram Parsons et al - have totally, completely evaporated and left us with the sugary spector of the 'safest' songs from Gold.
And that's the kindest thing I can realy find to say about this record...
Did the Strokes put out an album this year or did i imagine it
Not that I think it deserves to be on top ten lists or anything but isn't it strange this has all but been forgotten.
they did
and it was good. but it seems these guys will have to reinvent the wheel in order to impress anybody again.
^ HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Ryan Adams
Was Three Trapped Tigers this year?
Pete and the Pirates
Bonnie Prince Billy
I think we just take him for granted now. But Wolfroy is a beautiful record.
Endless House compilation
I haven't seen anyone talk about it since about August. Which is a shame, its a great record. Hopefully, there'll be some new stuff coming out of the label soon.
And a second on Micachu & The Shapes
Grails - Deep Politics
Definitely not had enough love. Best full-length record they've done for my money.
Also think the Earth record did not get enough acclaim, maybe because it's not so radical a step as The Bees... was. But it is still gorgeous and has a beautiful mournful quality to it. Definitely one of the best of the year for me.
Yes to Grails.
the lastest Bill Callahan is one of the best things he's ever done
not QUITE as good as Eagle but very close. Very disappointing that, despite positive reviews, it hasn't been particularly mentioned since it was released.
Siriusmo's 'Mosaik'
I thought was a top electro-house album, really bouncy and bright and fun. Varied and not particularly focussed, which could put some people off.
DELICATE STEVE - WONDERVISIONS
the caretaker - an empty bliss beyond this world
SubtractiveLAD- Kindred
My album of year. Quality, soulful and timeless Electronic music by a consistently great artist.
Blackout Beach - Fuck Death
I've been absolutely obsessed with this album for the past month or so. Released too late in the year to hit many radars? It's an INCREDIBLE album.
I'd also add Thao & Mirah, Active Child, Gazelle Twin and Wire to the pile.
Ok, I was making this list to start a similar thread... I have now included some names from this thread
Lumo - Plus
Austin Peralta - Endless Planets
Low - C'Mon
Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One Gens de Couleur Libres
Roman Flügel - Fatty Folders
The Roots - Undun
Elite Gymnastics - Ruin EP's
Slow Club - Paradise
The Drums - Portamento
Processory - Change Is Gradual
Arrange - Plantation
Hooray for Earth - True Loves
Tom Vek - Leisure Seizure
The Caretaker - An empty bliss beyond this World
Craft Spells - Idle Labor
Bruno Pronsato - Lovers Do
yes to Elite Gymnastics, Flügel and Tom Vek
all riding (relatively) high in my EOY lists
Plenty. Here's four.
Eleanor Friedberger - Last Summer
Better than anything the Fiery Furnaces have released since EP. The songs have all the sharp edges and awkwardness that you'd expect, but the delivery is smooth and delicious. Dig 'Roosevelt Island':
http://youtu.be/ywBi5qZen1I
40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room
You limeys are constantly going on about how no one appreciates your guitar bands, but you guys don't even give a shit about your best one. This should've made a major crossover. It's like if Mark Kozelek made doom metal or something. Dig 'Carry Me Home':
http://youtu.be/HgJcsDbj-qI
Frank Fairfield - Out On The Open West
Absolutely ass-kicking hillbilly music. Watch the man play 'Poor Old Lance' dammit:
http://vimeo.com/23343505
Hammers Of Misfortune - 17th Street
Another shoulda-been metal crossover. 'The Grain' is the best song of the year. Don't take my word for it: http://youtu.be/87ljH3wmbxc
Title Fight - Shed
only got into this band a couple weeks ago, actually much, much better than I was expecting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKqKM-gvK_w
joan as policewoman - the deep field
cracking record, probably listened to this more than anything else this year.
Handsome Furs — Sound Kapital
Didn't know this till now
but the Gomez album Whatever's On Your Mind is great.
Sandro Perri-Impossible Spaces
Excellent album, one of the best of 2011.
Chapel Club - Palace
One of my most listened albums, hardly recognized here.