Releases that are, Unconditionally and Factually, the Absolute Best Music of 2011

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Will wait for the Gary Clark Jr. EP to be mentioned in this thread, since EP's are to be on the table.

 

[wr50l]

You seem so certain that these are the best albums of 2011, I am suitably convinced Dear Leader.

 

[leaffan]

I'm still convinced 2011 sucked and this set of music posted reinforces this thought.

:lesmug:

 

[BrntO4Life]

Will wait for the Gary Clark Jr. EP to be mentioned in this thread, since EP's are to be on the table.

Gary Clark, Jr. is from my hometown. Almost all Austin-bred music sucks. He will not be mentioned. Stop holding out hope.

You seem so certain that these are the best albums of 2011, I am suitably convinced Dear Leader.

It's the best collection of music you'll hear all year. I'm not concerned with albums anymore.

I'm still convinced 2011 sucked and this set of music posted reinforces this thought.

:lesmug:

You still live in Canadia.

:dealwithit:

 

[wr50l]

I probably won't have heard of many if any of the bands you mention so this is all new to me. My ears have been placed under your guardianship and so far you are 1/4. Step it up bro.

:yao:

 

[BrntO4Life]

I probably won't have heard of many if any of the bands you mention so this is all new to me. My ears have been placed under your guardianship and so far you are 1/4. Step it up bro.

:yao:

I'm only really posting three new artists each day. The music videos are posted on the merit of the visual production quality.

I'm either 1/3 or 0/3 now and I can live with that.

 

[wr50l]

I'm only really posting three new artists each day. The music videos are posted on the merit of the visual production quality.

I'm either 1/3 or 0/3 now and I can live with that.

1/3 then. I guess that's good if you're Tim Tebow.

 

[Houston]

My ears have been placed under your guardianship and so far you are 1/4. Step it up bro.

I'd take that any time...1 new artist I like per update? Sign me up

 

[BrntO4Life]

Well, fuck my life. Writing these inside of the browser is so stupid. Lost all of my day two work.

 

[BrntO4Life]

1/3 then. I guess that's good if you're Tim Tebow.

His life doesn't seem so terrible at the moment. If that's my floor, I can't imagine what my ceiling itself.

I am curious, though: Which one did you like?

 

[wr50l]

The Dodos. I even downloaded from the link.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Day Two

Day Two

Day Two​

Artist You Should Know: AraabMUZIK

If you enjoy zero aspects of hip-hop or dance production, just skip this section entirely. Also, a distaste for 1/16 hi-hats won't serve you well here.

You are now listening to AraabMUZIK.

AraabMUZIK had a pretty incredible 2011. After toiling away as a producer for Dipset since 2006, Abraham Orellana (AraabMUZIK's government name) released his own full-length.

On top of this, Orellana's live performances are incredible. His setup, essentially an MPC and a table, doesn't sound like much, but Orellana's ability to both re-create his album material (as well as other unpublished works) in real-time is very fun to watch.

WATCH AraabMUZIK PERFORM "STREETZ TONIGHT" LIVE FOR PITCHFORK.​

The idea of a production album is quite daunting. Often, there aren't many listening uses for them other than background noise. Certainly, slogging through records full of beats is exactly what I imagined when I was first told about this album. But, Orellana manages to surprise with Electronic Dream.

It slides effortlessly between hip-hop and dance, which instantly conjures arguments about Top 40 radio and "how could this be any different?" Apparently, AraabMUZIK has it figured out.

Since Orellana isn't a singer, he pulls female vocal samples from Trance music. His album is guided as if it were production for a Top 40 female pop artist like Katy Perry or Rihanna, but the production is far more interesting than most of what those artists have worked with (Rihanna's "We Found Love" being an obvious exception).

The album opens strong, with the first three tracks being some of the best on the album. "Streetz Tonight" is stunning. Orellana takes the vocal sample from "4am" by Kaskade and wraps it in production that suddenly jumps from a bumping hip-hop beat to a runaway dance movement and back again.

Fatigue can set in when listening to something of this nature, so Electronic Dream may be best served as tapas instead of an entree, but there's something undeniably awesome about this album. Hopefully Orellana decides to continue down this rabbit hole in 2012.

Choice Cuts: "Electronic Dream", “Streetz Tonight", "Golden Touch", "Make It Happen", "AT2"

 

http://www.mediafire.com/?sltjdg889dpahir

http://soundcloud.com/salacioussound/araabmuzik-golden-touch

2011 Album You Need: Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

Pop albums often open with heat. First shots fired have to be heavy ordinance if you expect listeners to endure cookie-cutter material for the remainder of the album.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are pop through and through and 2011’s Belong is a testament to that. However, where most pop albums begin to fall flat somewhere between tracks two and five, the Pains don’t. This album has serious heat throughout.

Not being able to find anything to enjoy on this record means you:
1.) Had a terrible childhood.
2.) View happiness and smiling as seldom performed obligations.
3.) Think John Hughes should have chosen a different occupation.

This is pure, crystalline pop with scrapes on its knees.

The opening four tracks (from “Belong” to “The Body”) are all fantastic pieces of pop-rock that filter a waterfall of influences (My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, New York Dolls, to name a few) through a Viewmaster full of teen angst.

It opens and closes perfectly. Listen to it ASAP. “Heart in Your Heartbreak” will destroy any hate in your soul almost instantly.

Choice Cuts: "Belong", “Heaven’s Gonna Happen Now”, "Heart in Your Heartbreak", "The Body", "My Terrible Friend", "Too Tough", "Strange"

 

http://www.mediafire.com/?kb5sb210c6w8ubw

http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/the-pains-of-being-pure-at-heart-heart-in-your-heartbreak

2011 Single/EP That Kills: The Big Pink - "Stay Gold"

The Big Pink weren’t quiet in 2011, but they certainly weren’t as loud as they’re used to being. With two singles and two music videos launching last year, an album had to be on the horizon. Sure enough, on January 24, 2012, their second album, Future This, will be released. Get it.

The physical release of “Stay Gold” on 12” vinyl also includes a remix by the abovementioned AraabMUZIK with Danny Brown providing a few verses.

 

“Stay Gold”
http://www.mediafire.com/?yqzn3mu4ix2otq6

“Stay Gold” (AraabMUZIK Remix feat. Danny Brown)
http://www.mediafire.com/?05ae36t9gwfy2qx

http://soundcloud.com/the-big-pink/stay-gold-araabmusik-remix

Sweet Music Video of 2011: M83 – “Midnight City”

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE"]M83 'Midnight City' Official video - YouTube[/ame]

Awesome song? Check.
Awesome director(s)? Check.
Mutant kids? Check.

 

[Irish]

I did not like Belong and I don't know why.

 

[BrntO4Life]

I did not like Belong and I don't know why.

Well, now you know.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

I did not like Belong and I don't know why.

I've never gotten into TPOBPAH (I don't give a fuck if that's an acceptable acronym or not, fuck that name). They are the perfect example of Pitchfork's babies.

 

[BrntO4Life]

I've never gotten into TPOBPAH (I don't give a fuck if that's an acceptable acronym or not, fuck that name). They are the perfect example of Pitchfork's babies.

I thought their debut album was insanely overrated. I saw them live not long after it came out and they were awful.

However, Belong was incredible to me.

 

[BigHouseUSA]

I enjoyed Young adult Friction and This Love is Fucking Right off the first, but nothing else did anything for me. I'll give the second one another chance, I've listened to it about twice now without noticing much.

 

[BrntO4Life]

Been meaning to post the last couple of days, but I've been feeling pretty crummy and sleeping in most of my free time. I hope to have at least one later today or tomorrow.

 

[Houston]

While I do think John Hughes should have chosen a different occupation, I'm listening to Belong right now for the first time and enjoying it so far. At track 3 right now, hope it doesn't fall apart.

 

[BrntO4Life]

While I do think John Hughes should have chosen a different occupation, I'm listening to Belong right now for the first time and enjoying it so far. At track 3 right now, hope it doesn't fall apart.

Looking at how I rated each track, it slows down a little in the second act, but finishes strong.

EDIT: Also, looks like I will FINALLY have another update for you guys today.