2011: Oh Yeah!
2011 had some great highlights, especially a two-week vacation in Point Lookout, NY late in the summer. We caught the best weather of the month, which isn’t too hard when you are competing against a hurricane.
Stella is getting older and more amazing every day. The cover photo captures those moments of simple joys at the beach. I listened to a decent amount of music this year, hope you find a few things of interest.
The Suburbs
Arcade Fire | The Suburbs
One of my favorite songs of the year, it shows how good these guys can be. Too bad, the record couldn’t deliver overall. I listened to the first 5 songs while walking around Chicago for the first time. Caught Millennium Park on the best day of the year.
Arpeggiator
Fugazi | Live: Loeb Center, 5/2/97
Fugazi is one of my all-time favorite bands, and one that I have seen live roughly 5 times. I was especially lucky to meet them personally while working at WRCT in college, and can say they were awesome. Equally awesome is the Fugazi Live Series, which are digital recordings of all their shows. The Pittsburgh shows have not been released yet, so expect a cut on next year’s album.
Diplomat’s Son
Vampire Weekend | Contra
I heard this one morning on Pandora. Really impressed with how the incorporated an island feel into the song. Plus, I like how much people don’t like these guys, and roll their eyes when I mention their name.
Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach
Gorillaz Feat. Snoop Dog | Plastic Beach
Great track from a monster record. This is the same album that one of the best songs on the Christmas album came from. Snoop does a great job, killer sound and beat brings it together.
Running Away/Crazy Baldhead
Bob Marley & The Wailers | Live: Pittsburgh 9/23/80
I found out a week after I received and paid for my bootleg cassette to be converted to digital that a commercial release was imminent. So here is my version of the best song from that concert, their last show ever in Pittsburgh, of course.
I Got Mine
The Black Keys | Attack & Release
Tom Reid championed this band to me, so I went to Paul’s Records and got their opinion on the best album to start with. This song is the result, enjoy.
I Don’t Wanna Go There
Dinosaur Jr. | Farm
I have been a fan of these guys since high school. This album was released in 2009, and I got to it this year. This song and many others are simply awesome.
1901
Phoenix | Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
I went to Phoenix in 2011, and I have enjoyed this tune for quite some time. Yes, I know that it was used in a car commercial.
Basic Space
The XX | XX
This troop made it on last year’s album, and I did some more listening, and latched on to this one.
Smokin’ With Some Barbecue
Kermit Ruffins | The Barbecue Swingers Live
Lauren is getting married to Matt Owen. They are celebrating in New Orleans, which is a town that is near and dear to Sara and I, and we look forward to all of it. Matt is a big deal at Fader magazine, and I expect some musical contribution from him in 2012. Congrats to you both!
Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes | Helplessness Blues
Hat tip to my Aunt Margaret who alerted me to this song, I used one of their songs on a Christmas album a few years back. Fleet Foxes seems to capture the turmoil that dominated 2011 pretty well in this ballad.
The Wild Hunt
The Tallest Man On Earth | The Wild Hunt
Liked this song immediately, perhaps you will too.
10 Mile Radio
Beach House | Teen Dream
Really loved this entire album. Look forward to hearing what Beach House will do next. Felt like a good way to end it.
All the best in 2012,
Conor