By Jon Robertson
Staff Writer, Illegitimate son of Irwin M. Fletcher

Here’s list of music I found interesting in 2011. I’m sure I missed a boatload of music this year, but these are the albums I happened to stumble upon.

22. Eisley: The Valley (Equal Vision) — I was a bit worried about Eisley’s sound when their debut album Room Noises was released because of all the extra instrumentation involved. The band regained their whimsical punch from their early EP’s for the follow up and the brother sister quintet have kept the organic dreaminess in tacked for their third full length. I love these girls’ voices.

21. Starkey: Space Traitor Vol.’s 1 & 2 (Civil Music) — A bass music/dubstep two volume concept album about the adventures through space, it’s cool to see an electronic musician put a concept behind their work. Ditch all the remixes on the back end of both albums though and stick to the original jams. Also, check out the video for “Robot Hands.” Church will never be the same.

20. Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi (Domino) — Anna Calvi is the female Doppelgänger of Jeff Buckley. This album is all kinds of soul with sparse compositions that highlight Calvi’s guitar playing and voice. This album is basically a more masculine version of Buckley’s Grace.

19. The Atlas Moth: An Ache for the Distance (Profound Lore) — The Atlas Moth do metal in a way that isn’t cookie cutter. These guys are able to mix in doom with a southern swagger while keeping the creativity and thoughtfulness of Isis. Also, nudity on the cover always gets you extra consideration for the year end list.

18. Cults: Cults (Columbia) — Sugary sweet pop music with a hint of the 60’s and a dark lyrical undertone, it’s addicting like pixie sticks and Mountain Dew. Cults never fail to put me in a good mood every time I listen to them.

17. WU LYF: Go Tell Fire to the Mountain (LYF Recordings) — For awhile everyone seemed to be more obsessed with the mystery around World Unite Lucifer Youth Foundation (WU LYF) then their actual music. Then their album came out and finally a legitimate reason to be obsessed. Picture Kings of Leon’s music but with less production sheen mixed with the voice of Gared O’Donnel from Planes Mistaken for Stars, an awesome combo.

16.  ††† (Crosses): EP † (Crosses) — This synthed-out release is the product of the new side band from Chino Moreno (Deftones) and Shaun Lopez (Far). This five song EP was given away for free on the band’s website. The sound is somewhat similar to Team Sleep but a lot more electronic based. Anything with Moreno’s voice on it will always make my year end list. I love you Chino!

15. Russian Circles: Empros (Sargent House) — Russian Circles are just plain cool. The band has the ability to make instrumentals interesting, unlike most post-rock, post-hardcore, post-metal instrumental bands out now. Russian Circles are all out entertaining and definitely the kings of the instrumental metal band genre.  Brian Cook, you are my hero.

14. Theophilus London: Lovers Holiday EP (Warner Bros.) / Timez Are Weird These Days (Reprise) — It’s been refreshing this past year to have so much good hip-hop come out. It’s great to listen to MC’s that aren’t obsessed with rapping about how awesome and rich they are. Theophilus London is as creative as they come and his beats on the EP and the full length are enough to put into you ’80s beach party euphoria.

13. Young Widows: In and Out of Youth and Lightness (Temporary Residence) — I like to hear a band expand from a genre they mastered and start adding in new elements as they continue making music. Young Widows have done just that on their third full length. These guys have created a potent concoction of reverb and creepiness to their heavy pimp smack sound. The bass player’s tone is so good it makes me cry.

12. Thundercat: Golden Age of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder) — I am sucker for some good bass playing and the fact that this album is a bunch of that plus production from Flying Lotus makes me happy all around. These are some cool smooth jazz-infused techno type beats. Stephen Burners’ vocals are like a falsetto Barry White.

11. Vetiver: The Errant Charm (Sub Pop) — The fifth album form Vetiver shows the band expanding upon their folk rock sound and incorporating some sunnier beat driven elements. This is one record that I feel has been vastly overlooked and underappreciated this year.

10. O’Brother – Garden Window (Triple Crown) — Bands that can make experimental progressive hard rock without going all metal are hard to come by.  O’Brother’s debut full length mixes all kinds of different vibes and elements while still being able to drop the hammer from tune to tune. Imagine a giant orgy of Queens of the Stone Age, Neurosis, Filter, Radiohead and Grizzly Bear.

9. Tyler, the Creator: Goblin (XL Recordings) — Even if the album sucked it would make the list for the “Yonkers” and “Thurnis Haley” clips. The beats are bad, brawny and big. The immaturity throughout out the album is hilarious and Frank Ocean’s hook on “She” is crazy catchy.

8. Clams Casino: Instrumental Mixtape (Self-Released) / Rainforest EP (Tri Angle) — I included both of Clams Casino’s instrumental releases because I feel like he needs to get credit for the smooth hazy beats he makes. His music is best appreciated instrumental without a rap verse over the top. I love the mood he creates and his blipped out vocal samples are pure bliss.

7. Cities Aviv: Digital Lows (Self-Released) — With his original sampling on this record, Gavin Mays brings a different perspective to hip-hop that I dig, and again nudity on the cover is always good. “Meet Me on Montrose (Song for Ex-Lovers Only)” is easily the best song of the year.

6. St. Vincent: Strange Mercy (4AD) — The random cacophony of sounds included in these songs is downright perplexing and inspiring. I hear a new sound every time I listen to it. A giant upgrade from previous releases, plus I’m digging Annie Clark’s lyrics a lot more this time around. I’m still bummed I missed her live show a couple months back.

5. Toro Y Moi: Underneath the Pines (Carpark Records) / Freaking Out EP (Carpark Records) — Both of Toro Y Moi’s releases this year are both equally good and need to be considered together. Chaz Bundik’s music is like cooler, more modern version of the Bee Gees.

4. M83: Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (Mute) — I am kind of cheating by putting this on my year end list. If you edit this double album down to just one disc and include: tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9 of off the first disc and tracks 2, 3, 5, 8 and 11 of the second disc you have one epic energetic listen. The other 11 tracks basically consist of meandering intros and half-baked song ideas that bog the vibe of the music down.

3. My Morning Jacket: Circuital (ATO/RED) — My Morning Jacket’s triumphant return, these guys don’t get enough credit for how creative they are. Circuital is a solid album from start to finish with an interesting element added in on every song. I want to grow a beard and party with these guys.

2. The Cool Kids: When Fish Ride Bicycles (C.A.K.E./Green Label Sound) — Finally!! I’ve been waiting forever for this to come out. Short sweet and to the point, When Fish Ride Bicycles is perfect music for the summertime. Hopefully the next album doesn’t take as long as this one did to release.  Cool Kids for life.

1. Glassjaw: Coloring Book EP (Self-Released) — This EP is what the future of awesomeness sounds like. It’s good to have Glassjaw back. Every rock band should have this as their favorite record of the year. I can’t wait for the new full length. I think their drummer has three arms.

_________________________

Well there you have it. If there’s something that’s not on the list that should be let me know so I can check it out, unless it sucks, which might be the case because, they were some seriously overappreciated/overhyped albums this year, some of which will be making my list of overrated albums coming soon.