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2011, best of 2011, favorites of 2011, music

Favorites Albums of 2011 (So Far)

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2011 is more than half-way through and in a mere seven months, a boat-load of fantastic new music has hit the airwaves (we’ve also survived yet another prophesied apocalypse…not too shabby plant earth).

Anyways, I did this last Summer and it was fun to look back and see what albums held up when “Best of” season was full effect.  So without further ado, I’m pleased to present my favorite albums of 2011 (so far) and be sure to check back in on December 15th to see if any of these picks make my Top 10.

(in alphabetical order)

Acid House Kings – Music Sounds Better With You

♫ Are We Lovers or Are We Friends ♫


Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi

♫ Blackout ♫


The Antlers – Burst Apart

♫ No Widows ♫


Braids – Native Speaker

♫ Lemonade ♫


Childish Gambino – EP

♫ Freaks and Geeks ♫


Clock Opera – Belongings 7”

♫ Belongings ♫


Cults – Cults

♫ You Know What I Mean ♫


Cut Copy – Zonoscope

♫ Need You Now ♫


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s A Corporate World

♫ Morning Thought ♫


Diego Garcia – Laura

♫ You Were Never There ♫


The Go! Team – Proof of Youth

♫ T.O.R.N.A.D.O. ♫


Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

♫ Sadness is a Blessing ♫


NewVillager – NewVillager

♫ Rich Doors ♫


Panda Bear – Tomboy

♫ Last Night At The Jetty ♫


The Postelles – The Postelles

♫ White Night ♫


Radiohead – The King of Limbs

♫ Codex ♫


Starfucker – Reptilians

♫ Bury Us Alive ♫

Telekinesis – 12 Desperate Straight Lines

♫ Car Crash ♫


Tennis – Cape Dory

♫ Marathon ♫


Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchersta

♫ How Can You Luv Me ♫


The Vaccines – What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?

♫ Post Break-Up Sex ♫


The White Panda – Pandamonium

♫ I Want Brooklyn Back ♫

Woods – Sun and Shade

♫ Pushing Onlys ♫


anticipation, music

[anticipation] Big Black Delta

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“If you didn’t have standard pop music as a reference, what would your pop music sound like?” Jonathan Bates asked himself this very question, and the answer, he found through his discovery of his solo project, Big Black Delta.

You may already be familiar with Big Black Delta (BBD), but if you’re not, you should be.  THE CULTURE OF ME puts it best, “BBD makes some of the noisiest and most fun pop music you’re likely to hear for a long time coming”.  I was first introduced to BBD via the TRON: Legacy remix album, TRON: Legacy R3CONFIGUR3D.  On the album, BBD teamed up with M83 to do a remix of Fall (one of the best tracks on the album, btw).  Being a huge fan of M83 already, and knowing nothing what so ever about BBD, I was quite and intrigued and turned to the good ol’ internet for more.

I immediately discovered that BBD’s first release, BBDEP1, is available to fans as a free download and the finishing touches are being put on the full length LP.  Along with the EP, BBD also made available the oh so good track, Huggin & A Kissin, for which Kevin Bronson, from Buzzbands.la, writes “BBD’s banging track Huggin & A Kissin sounds like Every Eighties Band We Loved.”  I couldn’t agree more.

The LP is due out this Fall.  In the meantime, go grab the EP and stay tuned for more Big Black Delta.

♫ Big Black Delta – Higgin & A Kissin ♫

p.s. LA peeps, Big Black Delta is playing The Satellite tonight (6/29) at 8:30pm!

music, on the rise

[on the rise] San Cisco

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San Cisco are the latest indie act to emerge from Fremantle in sunny Western Australia. On the weekends they go skateboarding, play Nintendo 64 and make a bit of indie pop on the side. Scarlett bangs the drums, Nick plays bass and Jordi & Josh are the guys that play the guitars, write the songs and sing them.  I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t a bit jealous.

For the past year or so, these budding indie popsters have been quite busy.  They’ve played a ton of local shows, performed at a smorgasbord of festivals (including Big Day Out and Laneway), and self-produced/released their debut EP, Golden Revolver, which has just hit stores and already found a home on Triple J and community radio around Australia.  On top of all that, they also graduated from high school.

Confident with stage presence and strong with vocals, San Cisco brings to the table an impressive brand of upbeat summer pop.  I for one hope they don’t slow down anytime soon and i’m crossing my fingers for some US tour dates.  In the meantime, enjoy the title track and video below.

♫ San Cisco – Golden Revolver ♫

music, on repeat

[on repeat] The Irrepressibles

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So I was watching So You Think You Can Dance the other night (don’t mock me, the show is legit and it always features good tunes) and I was introduced to The Irrepressibles.

The song in question, In This Shirt, was featured in a stunning piece, choreographed by Stacey Tookey, and danced beautifully by some of the shows contemporary dancers (watch the video below).  Not to take anything away from Stacey and the dancers, but it was the music that truly made this piece what it was.

I’m a sucker for symphonic strings and fantastical lyrics, so it’s needless to say I was instantly intrigued upon hearing the music.  Once the dance had concluded, I immediately turned to world wide web for more and soon learned that The Irrepressibles is a ten-member orchestral ensemble led by composer and musician Jamie McDermott, described by The Sunday Times as “an enchantingly theatrical pop extravaganza.”  I couldn’t agree more with that description.

They have recorded one studio album, Mirror Mirror, and a seven track CD/DVD package entitled From The Circus to the Sea, both of which have garnered critical acclaim. As a group, they have been compared to, and cited influences from, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Antony & The Johnsons, and Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.  I would also compare them to the likes of iamamiwhoami, Yann Tiersen, and Musée Mécanique.

Enjoy the goodies below and be sure to check out more from these chamber popsters.  I guarantee, if you’re a fan of music, you’ll be a fan The Irrepressibles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hP8diaf10c

♫ The Irrepressibles – In This Shirt ♫
 ♫ The Irrepressibles – In This Shirt (Röyksopp remix) ♫