Finally, the Top Ten are here. It's been almost two months in the making, but my list of the top 100 albums of 2011 is finally complete, and regular posting will resume soon. In the meantime, enjoy the final part of the list! Things have been slightly shifted around since Part Four, so it doesn't hurt to give it another glance if you're curious. The top three albums are all very nearly tied, and honestly nothing here should be missed. Anyway, without further ado, click on the 'look' link down there (or the title of this post) to see my top ten albums of the year!
10. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - 'Moshi Moshi Harajuku'
Genre: J-Pop
Country of Origin: Japan
Country of Origin: Japan
Off the top of my head, there aren't many things that could make my list seem less legitimate than making a straight-up j-pop EP my number 10 album of the year. However, bear with me here, because I could make an argument that Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is the most important musician of 2011 and 2012. True, the music contained on Kyary's debut EP 'Moshi Moshi Harajuku' is about as far from 'deep' as it gets, but the fact is that it is also just about perfect. The simple synths, fantastic production, and ridiculously sugary melodies are as infectious as the best j-pop out there, but there is something else that makes Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's music truly special. Maybe it's the incredible and psychedelic music videos (look up PONPONPON or Tsukema Tsukeru and try not to fall in love), or the simply exciting music, but 'Moshi Moshi Harajuku' exudes the type of joy which can make you smile in the absolute worst times, and that kind of pure euphoria is something horribly lacking in music today. Kyary turned nineteen only a few days ago, but she is already making simply the best pop music out there. It is fun, catchy as all hell, crazy, ridiculously adorable, and above all, it is completely and utterly joyous. Sure, you could argue that this album isn't serious enough to be a Top Ten contender, but I would have to argue that if you really think that you simply don't like happiness.
Top tracks: PONPONPON; Cherry BonBon
Listen.
Country of Origin: USA
Oneirology is the scientific study of dreams, so it makes perfect sense that it would be the title of CunninLynguists' latest album. Don't let their name fool you, CunninLynguists are easily one of the most dynamic and mature groups in rap today, and the music contained on this record is truly stunning. There isn't a single weak track among the fifteen pieces contained here, but on top of that, this is some of the most enjoyable and moving music the genre has ever produced. The songs move fluidly through their various smooth movements with various voices joining in and some of the most lush, textured backing music to ever back rhymes like this. The lyrics are profound, the music is gorgeous, and the flow is sexy as all hell--there really isn't a single thing missing from this album, and just about every moment is near-perfection.
Top tracks: PONPONPON; Cherry BonBon
Listen.
9. Bubblegum Octopus - 'Bad Happy'
Genre: Experimental Electronic/Chiptune/Spazzpop
Country of Origin: USA
I've been stoked to write about 'Bad Happy' since the day it was announced. Bubblegum Octopus's first album was easily one of my favourites of 2009, and his sophomore effort far surpasses the high bar set by it. Easily one of the most bizarre artists around these days, Bubblegum Octopus masterfully jumps between fun, fury, and tragedy over the course of 'Bad Happy,' playing off of just about every emotion possible and making it more enjoyable than is really conceivable. Blissful 8-bit melodies are intercepted by bursts of metallic growls and glorious electronic drums, before doing a sudden 180 and displaying mournful falsetto vocals over gorgeous synth backgrounds. Despite the overly cute and joyous exterior (the man behind Bubblegum Octopus goes by the moniker of 'm@ the c@'), 'Bad Happy' has something truly powerful hidden under the surface. The catchy melodies and fantastic synth lines combined with the crushing brutality of the album's heavier moments make for an album which can be one of the happiest listens of all time one second, and one of the most heart-wrenching the next. It's a weird album, but it's also a pretty fucking perfect work of absolute artistry.
Top tracks: Feeler than I'm old; Time Zone Proclivity
Listen.
Genre: Experimental Electronic/Chiptune/Spazzpop
Country of Origin: USA
I've been stoked to write about 'Bad Happy' since the day it was announced. Bubblegum Octopus's first album was easily one of my favourites of 2009, and his sophomore effort far surpasses the high bar set by it. Easily one of the most bizarre artists around these days, Bubblegum Octopus masterfully jumps between fun, fury, and tragedy over the course of 'Bad Happy,' playing off of just about every emotion possible and making it more enjoyable than is really conceivable. Blissful 8-bit melodies are intercepted by bursts of metallic growls and glorious electronic drums, before doing a sudden 180 and displaying mournful falsetto vocals over gorgeous synth backgrounds. Despite the overly cute and joyous exterior (the man behind Bubblegum Octopus goes by the moniker of 'm@ the c@'), 'Bad Happy' has something truly powerful hidden under the surface. The catchy melodies and fantastic synth lines combined with the crushing brutality of the album's heavier moments make for an album which can be one of the happiest listens of all time one second, and one of the most heart-wrenching the next. It's a weird album, but it's also a pretty fucking perfect work of absolute artistry.
Top tracks: Feeler than I'm old; Time Zone Proclivity
Listen.
8. CunninLynguists - 'Oneirology'
Genre: Progressive RapCountry of Origin: USA
Oneirology is the scientific study of dreams, so it makes perfect sense that it would be the title of CunninLynguists' latest album. Don't let their name fool you, CunninLynguists are easily one of the most dynamic and mature groups in rap today, and the music contained on this record is truly stunning. There isn't a single weak track among the fifteen pieces contained here, but on top of that, this is some of the most enjoyable and moving music the genre has ever produced. The songs move fluidly through their various smooth movements with various voices joining in and some of the most lush, textured backing music to ever back rhymes like this. The lyrics are profound, the music is gorgeous, and the flow is sexy as all hell--there really isn't a single thing missing from this album, and just about every moment is near-perfection.
Top tracks: Darkness (Dream On); Stars Shine Brightest (In the Darkest of Night)
7. Mamaleek - 'Kurdaitcha'
Genre: Experimental Black Metal
Country of Origin: USA
Mamaleek are a strange group, to put it lightly. Two anonymous brothers making experimental black metal, their abrasive music covers just about every realm of music and human emotion there is. Weaving elements of noise, ambient, and Eastern music into their black metal base, Mamaleek's third album (released on Enemies List, I might add) is a swirling mix of different influences into an obtuse and intense core. Electronic drums blip and bleep as harsh shrieks and overdistorted guitars rage over evil ambiance, and it all melts down to something all but impossible to ignore. The stark imagery and dense music presented here is powerful, difficult, and incredibly gripping, and is something that could easily change your outlook on music if you let it. The raw production and visceral emotion are a force to behold, and everything combined makes 'Kurdaitcha' an absolute must-have for any open-minded music fan.
Top tracks: The Hypocrite & The Concubine; The White Marble Stone
Listen.
Country of Origin: USA
Mamaleek are a strange group, to put it lightly. Two anonymous brothers making experimental black metal, their abrasive music covers just about every realm of music and human emotion there is. Weaving elements of noise, ambient, and Eastern music into their black metal base, Mamaleek's third album (released on Enemies List, I might add) is a swirling mix of different influences into an obtuse and intense core. Electronic drums blip and bleep as harsh shrieks and overdistorted guitars rage over evil ambiance, and it all melts down to something all but impossible to ignore. The stark imagery and dense music presented here is powerful, difficult, and incredibly gripping, and is something that could easily change your outlook on music if you let it. The raw production and visceral emotion are a force to behold, and everything combined makes 'Kurdaitcha' an absolute must-have for any open-minded music fan.
Top tracks: The Hypocrite & The Concubine; The White Marble Stone
Listen.
6. Kate Bush - '50 Words For Snow'
Genre: Art Pop
Country of Origin: England
Kate Bush has been around for a long, long time. This alone makes the quality of her latest album an accomplishment, considering the traditional decline in quality when artists from the 70s and 80s keep releasing albums through the present day. Even more remarkable is the fact that '50 Words For Snow' is very possibly her most interesting and emotive album yet. The seven songs on display here perfectly match the theme of snow, and slowly drift in and out of their themes and melodies with an almost unmatched sense of patience and pacing. The simple, wandering beauty of the long-form first half of the album is delightfully foiled by the slow-building power of the second half, and the whole thing comes together to create something atmospheric, emotive, and in the end, nothing short of majestic.
Top tracks: Snowed In At Wheeler Street; Snowflake
Listen.
Fair
to Midland have always kicked ass, plain and simple. Their first three
albums were a fantastic combination of post-hardcore and their own
version of artsy rock, and the fourth expands that formula brilliantly.
The weird guitar licks, insane bass and drums, and atmospheric synths
mix wonderfully with Darroh Sudderth's honestly mind-boggling voice to
create a record which is just awesome, emotive, interesting, and fun as
all hell. Throughout its runtime, not a single track of
'Arrows & Anchors' disappoints, with the band's fantastic energy
and never-dry well of creativity propelling the whole piece to heights
that are hard to top. The album is simply a joy to listen to, and is
completely unique in every respect.
Top tracks: A Loophole in Limbo, Amarillo Sleeps On My Pillow
Listen.
Country of Origin: England
Kate Bush has been around for a long, long time. This alone makes the quality of her latest album an accomplishment, considering the traditional decline in quality when artists from the 70s and 80s keep releasing albums through the present day. Even more remarkable is the fact that '50 Words For Snow' is very possibly her most interesting and emotive album yet. The seven songs on display here perfectly match the theme of snow, and slowly drift in and out of their themes and melodies with an almost unmatched sense of patience and pacing. The simple, wandering beauty of the long-form first half of the album is delightfully foiled by the slow-building power of the second half, and the whole thing comes together to create something atmospheric, emotive, and in the end, nothing short of majestic.
Top tracks: Snowed In At Wheeler Street; Snowflake
Listen.
5. Fair to Midland - 'Arrows & Anchors'
Genre: Progressive Rock
Country of Origin: USA
Country of Origin: USA
Top tracks: A Loophole in Limbo, Amarillo Sleeps On My Pillow
Listen.
4. Ash Borer - 'Ash Borer'
Genre: Cascadian Black Metal
Country of Origin: USA
Despite being a tiny local band for me these days, I discovered Ash Borer long before I moved to the same town as them. That should say a lot on its own--any non-WITTR cascadian black metal band who can become well known anywhere besides their hometown must have a lot going for them. And boy, Ash Borer do. Their first two demos and their split with Fell Voices were fantastic, but their self-titled full-length debut is nothing short of a masterpiece. The raw production sets the stage for one of the most intense and shocking black metal albums out there. Shrieks over the top of huge, cascading guitar riffs propel the record's three songs forward at just the right speed, as the tracks evolve over their long runtimes, resting on each musical idea just long enough before plowing ahead. The way the songs ebb and flow is truly wonderful, building in intensity before finally coming back down for a more melodic section and then building back up. Ash Borer have a power and an awareness of tension and release that few other bands can match, and on their first full-length, they flat-out crush the black metal genre. This album is a bleak, over-intensive tread through raw emotion, and its absolutely stunning in the process.
Top tracks: My Curse Was Raised in the Darkness Against a Doomsday Silence; In the Midst of Life, We Are in Death
Listen.
Country of Origin: USA
Despite being a tiny local band for me these days, I discovered Ash Borer long before I moved to the same town as them. That should say a lot on its own--any non-WITTR cascadian black metal band who can become well known anywhere besides their hometown must have a lot going for them. And boy, Ash Borer do. Their first two demos and their split with Fell Voices were fantastic, but their self-titled full-length debut is nothing short of a masterpiece. The raw production sets the stage for one of the most intense and shocking black metal albums out there. Shrieks over the top of huge, cascading guitar riffs propel the record's three songs forward at just the right speed, as the tracks evolve over their long runtimes, resting on each musical idea just long enough before plowing ahead. The way the songs ebb and flow is truly wonderful, building in intensity before finally coming back down for a more melodic section and then building back up. Ash Borer have a power and an awareness of tension and release that few other bands can match, and on their first full-length, they flat-out crush the black metal genre. This album is a bleak, over-intensive tread through raw emotion, and its absolutely stunning in the process.
Top tracks: My Curse Was Raised in the Darkness Against a Doomsday Silence; In the Midst of Life, We Are in Death
Listen.
3. Corrupted - 'Garten Der Unbewusstheit'
Genre: Progressive Funeral Doom/Sludge
Country of Origin: Japan
Corrupted are a complete anomaly in the musical landscape. A Japanese band, they sing almost entirely in Spanish (with bits of German and Japanese on their more recent work) and make some of the most slow and deeply emotional music there is. Their latest three-track wonder, 'Garten Der Unbequsstheit,' is a monstrous album, moving so deliberately through its different segments that it almost evolves more than it switches around. As the clean guitars slowly work their way through the bleak, tragic riffs that open up the record, the deeply depressive atmosphere of Corrupted is already present. Add on the eventual inclusion of stomach-dropping vocals and, even later on, punch-in-the-gut heavy guitars, and the album finally takes form--yes, there are very long sequences of softer music, but at its core, this is a heavy, heavy album. This is funeral doom at its finest, so slow it's almost tangible--there aren't even any vocals until eight minutes in--and so beautiful, powerful, and sad that it's essentially inescapable. This is the kind of music to soundtrack the very depths of despair, and is the rare record which is truly for anyone. Yes, it may appear inaccessible on the surface, what with its half-hour songs and incredibly deliberate, heavy pace. However, when you get down to it, 'Garten Der Unbewusstheit' is simply the most pure, climactic, unadulterated vision of unbearable, and in every way human emotion that you can find in music today. And for that, it is honestly perfect, an absolute opus of practically incomprehensible proportions, and truly one of the absolute greatest albums of the millennium so far.
Top tracks: Garten; Gekkou No Daichi
Listen.
Country of Origin: Japan
Corrupted are a complete anomaly in the musical landscape. A Japanese band, they sing almost entirely in Spanish (with bits of German and Japanese on their more recent work) and make some of the most slow and deeply emotional music there is. Their latest three-track wonder, 'Garten Der Unbequsstheit,' is a monstrous album, moving so deliberately through its different segments that it almost evolves more than it switches around. As the clean guitars slowly work their way through the bleak, tragic riffs that open up the record, the deeply depressive atmosphere of Corrupted is already present. Add on the eventual inclusion of stomach-dropping vocals and, even later on, punch-in-the-gut heavy guitars, and the album finally takes form--yes, there are very long sequences of softer music, but at its core, this is a heavy, heavy album. This is funeral doom at its finest, so slow it's almost tangible--there aren't even any vocals until eight minutes in--and so beautiful, powerful, and sad that it's essentially inescapable. This is the kind of music to soundtrack the very depths of despair, and is the rare record which is truly for anyone. Yes, it may appear inaccessible on the surface, what with its half-hour songs and incredibly deliberate, heavy pace. However, when you get down to it, 'Garten Der Unbewusstheit' is simply the most pure, climactic, unadulterated vision of unbearable, and in every way human emotion that you can find in music today. And for that, it is honestly perfect, an absolute opus of practically incomprehensible proportions, and truly one of the absolute greatest albums of the millennium so far.
Top tracks: Garten; Gekkou No Daichi
Listen.
2. DIR EN GREY - 'DUM SPIRO SPERO'
Genre: Experimental Metal
Country of Origin: Japan
It's a bit biased to have DIR EN GREY this high up on my list, as the Japanese group have always been among my absolute favourite bands of all time. That being said, however, the fact remains that their eighth full-length record is not only their best, but one of the most dense and interesting metal albums to come out in many, many years. 'DUM SPIRO SPERO' is not only the heaviest thing that the band have ever done, but also incredibly lush, textured, and intense. Every member of the band pulls their weight ten times over, with the octopus-armed drums and simply ridiculous bass laying down an amazing backing for the overpowering guitars and Kyo's stunning performance. It's been said that he is music's most versatile vocalist still in the present day, and that's a hard point to dispute--as he shrieks, screams, growls, and sings his way through the album, he is truly impressive. His high screams are truly terrifying, his lows are beyond guttural, and his clean singing is amazing, gorgeous, pitch-perfect, and covers a mind-boggling five octave range. This isn't to say the instrumental aspect isn't stunning however, as Kaoru and Die lay down thick, purely evil atmospheres with their guitars, while drummer and bassist Shinya and Toshiya play some of the most impressive work of the whole year. In the end, though, the album is all about the emotion, and it is dripping with that. This is one of the most heavy, intense, and evil albums out there, and it succeeds on literally every level, impressing in every possible way far beyond expectations. A true masterpiece if ever there was one, 'DUM SPIRO SPERO' sets the type of high water mark that is almost impossible to break.
Top tracks: Ruten No Tou; Akatsuki
Listen.
Country of Origin: Japan
It's a bit biased to have DIR EN GREY this high up on my list, as the Japanese group have always been among my absolute favourite bands of all time. That being said, however, the fact remains that their eighth full-length record is not only their best, but one of the most dense and interesting metal albums to come out in many, many years. 'DUM SPIRO SPERO' is not only the heaviest thing that the band have ever done, but also incredibly lush, textured, and intense. Every member of the band pulls their weight ten times over, with the octopus-armed drums and simply ridiculous bass laying down an amazing backing for the overpowering guitars and Kyo's stunning performance. It's been said that he is music's most versatile vocalist still in the present day, and that's a hard point to dispute--as he shrieks, screams, growls, and sings his way through the album, he is truly impressive. His high screams are truly terrifying, his lows are beyond guttural, and his clean singing is amazing, gorgeous, pitch-perfect, and covers a mind-boggling five octave range. This isn't to say the instrumental aspect isn't stunning however, as Kaoru and Die lay down thick, purely evil atmospheres with their guitars, while drummer and bassist Shinya and Toshiya play some of the most impressive work of the whole year. In the end, though, the album is all about the emotion, and it is dripping with that. This is one of the most heavy, intense, and evil albums out there, and it succeeds on literally every level, impressing in every possible way far beyond expectations. A true masterpiece if ever there was one, 'DUM SPIRO SPERO' sets the type of high water mark that is almost impossible to break.
Top tracks: Ruten No Tou; Akatsuki
Listen.
1. Giles Corey - 'Giles Corey'
Genre: Experimental Folk/Lo-Fi Ambient
Country of Origin: USA
Dan Barrett is too humble for his own good. Despite putting out one of the most critically-acclaimed (and, honestly, fantastic) albums of the 2000s in the form of HAVE A NICE LIFE's 'Deathconsciousness,' releasing a surprisingly good and innovative 'open-source black metal' piece in Nahvalr's self-titled album, and starting his own completely unique record label known as Enemies List Home Recordings, he is still surprised every time a fan compliments him and his work. His first solo record under the name of Giles Corey makes his humility even more astonishing, because it is legitimately one of the greatest albums ever made. The piece comes with an accompanying 150 page book (which I can't recommend more), telling a story of attempted suicide and cults, complete with ghostly photographs and beautiful imagery. The album's firm roots in occultism and apparitions make it a harrowing listen, but Dan Barrett's incredible knack for the depressing make it also one of the most humanly moving and tragic pieces of music there is. The entire album stands out and provides the type of emotional response that truly can't be described, only felt. As Dan's gorgeous voice spins tales of despair and beauty, his acoustic guitar is joined by various other instruments and ambient inclusions to turn the album from simple folk into something powerful, terrifying, and wondrous to behold. The backbone provided by the symbolism of Giles Corey's historic death-by-crushing (and famous last words) only enhances the power of the album, and all of the various elements and emotions combine to allow the piece to basically obliterate the term 'masterpiece,' and reading the book alongside the music only heightens the experience. The fact is that 'Giles Corey' is the most intimate, intense, human, memorable, iconic, and, above all, affecting albums not only of the year, but of all time.
More Weight.
Top tracks: The Haunting Presence; No One is Ever Going to Want Me
Listen.
PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR | PART FIVE
Genre: Experimental Folk/Lo-Fi Ambient
Country of Origin: USA
Dan Barrett is too humble for his own good. Despite putting out one of the most critically-acclaimed (and, honestly, fantastic) albums of the 2000s in the form of HAVE A NICE LIFE's 'Deathconsciousness,' releasing a surprisingly good and innovative 'open-source black metal' piece in Nahvalr's self-titled album, and starting his own completely unique record label known as Enemies List Home Recordings, he is still surprised every time a fan compliments him and his work. His first solo record under the name of Giles Corey makes his humility even more astonishing, because it is legitimately one of the greatest albums ever made. The piece comes with an accompanying 150 page book (which I can't recommend more), telling a story of attempted suicide and cults, complete with ghostly photographs and beautiful imagery. The album's firm roots in occultism and apparitions make it a harrowing listen, but Dan Barrett's incredible knack for the depressing make it also one of the most humanly moving and tragic pieces of music there is. The entire album stands out and provides the type of emotional response that truly can't be described, only felt. As Dan's gorgeous voice spins tales of despair and beauty, his acoustic guitar is joined by various other instruments and ambient inclusions to turn the album from simple folk into something powerful, terrifying, and wondrous to behold. The backbone provided by the symbolism of Giles Corey's historic death-by-crushing (and famous last words) only enhances the power of the album, and all of the various elements and emotions combine to allow the piece to basically obliterate the term 'masterpiece,' and reading the book alongside the music only heightens the experience. The fact is that 'Giles Corey' is the most intimate, intense, human, memorable, iconic, and, above all, affecting albums not only of the year, but of all time.
More Weight.
Top tracks: The Haunting Presence; No One is Ever Going to Want Me
Listen.
PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR | PART FIVE
Posts
Giles Corey as #1
ReplyDeleteI just want to give you a huge bro hug.
Also, do you happen to have a legit scan of the book?
ReplyDeleteI've searched Google and Torrents, but I can't seem to find it.
^The Giles Corey book I mean.
ReplyDeleteI don't, I actually purchased the album, so I got it that way...honestly, it's worth it. But if I come across one, I'll be sure to throw it on here :)
ReplyDeletei can't get through that Kate Bush album. When listening it just puts me in this zone where I feel extra horrible about life and dwell too much on some aspects of my life that were happening at the time.
ReplyDeleteTheres something with your version of "Moshi Moshi Harajuku". Cerry Bonbon is missing completely for example, but there are more differences to the other version I have... just to let you know. Other than that great toplist, discovered quite a few albums!
ReplyDelete*wrong
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know, that's just a link I found online. I'll upload my own personal copy now that I know it's inaccurate--although there are a lot of funky ones out there, so I'd make sure that yours is correct too haha
ReplyDelete