Best of 2011

[Juana]

Yeah I went a head and did it. I didn't see one and I want to see what everyone has been digging on this year. Here is me:






Aggrolites -- Rugged Road













So far this year that is what I have been listening to from this year on a repeated basis. What are some things you guys have? I'm sure there is probably something out there that I missed or that you guys might know and I have never heard.

[Artemis]

The ones I've been listening to a lot are:

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints
Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde
TuNE-yARDS - whokill

I haven't got them yet, but I think I will be adding to the list Bjork's latest and the upcoming Kate Bush release.

[Warped]

the upcoming Kate Bush release.

[guysmiley]

[Kajicat]

I'm sorry, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion and all, but Golden Era was a pile of crap compared to the rest of Del's discography. I mean, it's not as bad as his worst (11th Hour), but Golden Era and the other two that come with it - Funk Man & Automatik Statik, and garbage compared to the rest of his catalog. Dude has fallen off like no other MC I've ever seen. He does all of his own production now, which is mostly to blame...pretty mediocre to downright terrible beats. His rhyme patterns are stale nowadays too. I own all of his material (all of Hieroglyphics Crew's material as well) and I gotta' say Casual's "Hierophant" album blew Del's offerings easily this year, and is one of my top hip hop albums of the year, way ahead of Del's offerings.

Sample/buy Casual's The Hierophant album here at his bandcamp (or on itunes):
http://casual1.bandcamp.com/album/the-hierophant

At least listen to all of Mic Memorial, You Like That, Fiend for Hip Hop, Take the Time, and Man Wit Hustle...great beats and excellent wordplay. All production handled by Hiero's very own DJ Toure except for Shrimp Fried Rice.

[Jasper]

Drives me nuts that this thread, with all the contributions, was lost in the Great Xiola Fire of 2011.



My picks won't have changed much since a few months ago because I've been too busy with other stuff to hunt for music, which is one of my favorite activities.

[Juana]

I'm sorry, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion and all, but Golden Era was a pile of crap compared to the rest of Del's discography. I mean, it's not as bad as his worst (11th Hour), but Golden Era and the other two that come with it - Funk Man & Automatik Statik, and garbage compared to the rest of his catalog. Dude has fallen off like no other MC I've ever seen. He does all of his own production now, which is mostly to blame...pretty mediocre to downright terrible beats. His rhyme patterns are stale nowadays too. I own all of his material (all of Hieroglyphics Crew's material as well) and I gotta' say Casual's "Hierophant" album blew Del's offerings easily this year, and is one of my top hip hop albums of the year, way ahead of Del's offerings.

Sample/buy Casual's The Hierophant album here at his bandcamp (or on itunes):
http://casual1.bandcamp.com/album/the-hierophant

At least listen to all of Mic Memorial, You Like That, Fiend for Hip Hop, Take the Time, and Man Wit Hustle...great beats and excellent wordplay. All production handled by Hiero's very own DJ Toure except for Shrimp Fried Rice.

But I'm not comparing it to the rest of his discography and really only Golden Era was released this year the other two were free albums that he put on the web and included with this release. And I will check out what you recommended but I don't listen to a lot of hip hop anyway just like what I like and Del is one of the MCs that I pretty much like everything he has done. Not sure why but meh it is what it is.

[Kajicat]

I'm sorry, I know everyone is entitled to their opinion and all, but Golden Era was a pile of crap compared to the rest of Del's discography. I mean, it's not as bad as his worst (11th Hour), but Golden Era and the other two that come with it - Funk Man & Automatik Statik, and garbage compared to the rest of his catalog. Dude has fallen off like no other MC I've ever seen. He does all of his own production now, which is mostly to blame...pretty mediocre to downright terrible beats. His rhyme patterns are stale nowadays too. I own all of his material (all of Hieroglyphics Crew's material as well) and I gotta' say Casual's "Hierophant" album blew Del's offerings easily this year, and is one of my top hip hop albums of the year, way ahead of Del's offerings.

Sample/buy Casual's The Hierophant album here at his bandcamp (or on itunes):
http://casual1.bandcamp.com/album/the-hierophant

At least listen to all of Mic Memorial, You Like That, Fiend for Hip Hop, Take the Time, and Man Wit Hustle...great beats and excellent wordplay. All production handled by Hiero's very own DJ Toure except for Shrimp Fried Rice.

But I'm not comparing it to the rest of his discography and really only Golden Era was released this year the other two were free albums that he put on the web and included with this release. And I will check out what you recommended but I don't listen to a lot of hip hop anyway just like what I like and Del is one of the MCs that I pretty much like everything he has done. Not sure why but meh it is what it is.

Yeah I downloaded (bought) Funk Man and Auotomatik Statik when they came out and was severely disappointed. Felt kinda ripped off when he included them with Golden Era since I already paid for them once...I guess he figured they weren't too hot so he included them as bonuses with Golden Era. There are a handful of good tracks though, and I just had to buy it to add to my collection. If you liked Del's No Need For Alarm album you should also check out Casual's Fear Itself...and Souls of Mischief's 93 Til Infinity for that matter (you may have already heard that one though - it's pretty well known).

[cashinnowperry]

in addition to Eddie Vedder and the Foo Fighters...



It's Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem and one of their roadies who's pretty talented in his own right. Brilliant 2 a.m. music. Got a Bob Seger/Tom Waits vibe goin on. Highly recommended if you're into that sort of thing.

[Juana]

I thought about getting that while I was at the record store will probably check it out soon enough though.

[autumnan]

Later... with Jools Holland

showing Feist and Mastodon tonight - amongst others, but it's those two all the way for me so far.

I swear the first song Feist sang I wrote the chords for about 3 weeks ago on me mum's piano. Foiled again by being a nobody.

Lianne La Havvas also v. appealing in simplicity (hoping there isn't an overproduced album waiting to disappoint)

[Juana]

Don't listen to much thrash metal these days but I'm digging this album. Sounds like old school hardcore with guitarists that can rip

[Juana]

Probably the best reggae album I have heard since Jamrock came out back in 2005

[crater]

Evangelista - In Animal Tongue


Wilco - The Whole Love


Wild Flag - Wild Flag

[Kajicat]

^ Wild Flag is excellent.

[Larry B.]

[stray]

I've been listening to Let England Shake PJ Harvey a good bit the last few weeks, it's a fine album. There's quite a few songs on there I could hear Perry singing. 'Written on the Forehead' especially reminds me of something that could be from the Porno era, probably more Good Gods Urge and many more tracks have echoes of Perry/Janes. If only Perry/Janes could have mustered up something as haunting, melodic, progressive etc. as this album. Maybe I'm off the mark here but I hear similarities, it's an album I would've loved Perry/Janes to have released in 2011.

[Lokus]

Later... with Jools Holland

showing Feist and Mastodon tonight - amongst others, but it's those two all the way for me so far.

I swear the first song Feist sang I wrote the chords for about 3 weeks ago on me mum's piano. Foiled again by being a nobody.

Lianne La Havvas also v. appealing in simplicity (hoping there isn't an overproduced album waiting to disappoint)

My band once opened for Feist's old band, By Divine Right. She was not the "Front Person" of that band, but I remember thinking she did some great back up vocals. She was a really chill person, I think she still is.

[Artemis]

the upcoming Kate Bush release.

NPR has a free listen right now. Not sure how long it will be up..

http://www.npr.org/2011/11/13/142133269 ... c=fb&cc=fp

[Juana]

I forgot the new Ry Cooder, I love his guitar playing and while this album was sort of alt-country but when I hear "John Lee Hooker for President" and man...

[crater]

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials


I really liked what I heard during that concert stream a few weeks back and asked for this for Christmas.