My Top 11 Albums of 2011

(Annual) Disclaimer: These selections are not supposed to be “the” top albums of the year. In no way am I suggesting these albums are better than all other albums that were released this year. These are simply the ones that I liked best.

1. The Whole Shebang – Audiostrobelight

I know what you’re thinking. Yeah, yeah, sure. He’s just being nice and putting this as #1 because his friend is in this band. It’s true that Adam Cohen, Audiostrobelight’s electric violin/mandolin player, is my dear friend and former college roommate. But my loyalty as a friend isn’t the reason that The Whole Shebang is the best album of 2011. This album tops my list because it is objectively and without question the most outrageously fun, addictive, raucous, insanely catchy album of the year – a claim vindicated by the fact that I have listened to its songs well over 100 times according to my last.fm profile’s conservative estimate. Their single “A Fifth of Feelgood” is legitimately my #1 most-played song this year, and often gets stuck in my head for days at a time. The members of Audiostrobelight toiled for over a year to track and produce this album, and their dedication and meticulous attention to detail has resulted in what is a near-perfect collection of seven irresistably infectious pop-punk tunes. From the bombastic Four Year Strong-esque opener “You Aren’t Funny You Stupid Clown,” to the softer, nostalgic “Argyle” (featuring one of the best breakdowns I’ve heard on any album in a long time), the raw, bitter, in-your-face angst of “Blisters,” the crowd favorite sing-along “Drop the Act,” or the breathtaking triple-overlapping-vocal-line outro of the magnificent, epic closer “Anchors Aweigh,” this album is, simply put, a masterpiece. Having seen firsthand this band’s progression from their first rough demo in 2005 and witnessed the staggering amount of hard work, time, and energy they’ve invested along the way in order to get to where they are today – playing on Warped Tour, opening for nationally touring bands like Fall Out Boy, Taking Back Sunday, Cartel, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, etc. – I could not be prouder to know these guys. And the best part? I have a feeling they’re just getting started.

Standout tracks: “You’re Not Funny You Stupid Clown,” “A Fifth of Feelgood,” “Argyle,” “Drop the Act,” “Anchors Aweigh”

2. Odd Soul – Mutemath

An apt title for this eccentric, eclectic blues-70s funk-disco-electronic-rock concoction, Odd Soul made me an instant Mutemath fan. I had heard great things about this band before, but never really gave them a serious listen until I stumbled across Odd Soul on Spotify. And I’m very glad I did. As the raw, foot-stomping percussive blues energy of the opening title track segueued into to the catchy, upbeat “Prytania,” I realized I was already hooked, a conviction that was cemented when the falsetto vocals and bass-driven verses of the bluesy single “Blood Pressure” exploded into the big, guitar riff-heavy chorus. Mutemath clearly pushed the boundaries with their sound on this album (something I always appreciate), but the old Mutemath is still in evidence on the slower, stripped-down “All Or Nothing,” which also features an unexpected but awesome electronic dance breakdown about halfway in. The phenomenal musicianship on this album is second to none, and the drumming by Darren King and bass playing by Roy Mitchell-Cardenas is truly – and at times jaw-droppingly – impressive (see “Prytania,” “Blood Pressure,” “Allies,” “Cavalries,” or the epic 7-minute “Quarantine”). Apparently the band lost their original lead guitarist last year, but I certainly neither noticed nor minded. Other highlights are lead vocalist’s Paul Meany’s channeling of Dan Auerbach on The Black Keys-inspired “Tell Your Heart Heads Up,” and the album’s gorgeous closing ballad “In No Time.”

Standout tracks: “Odd Soul,” “Prytania,” “Blood Pressure,” “Allies,” “Walking Paranoia,” “One More,” “Quarantine,” “In No Time”

3. Killing Time – Bayside

Killing Time is the quintessential Bayside album – bitter, dark, aggressive, and epic. Bayside took all the best parts of their breakout release The Walking Wounded (#4 in 2007) and Shudder (#11 in 2008) and fused them into what is without a doubt the band’s best album to date. The group has clearly perfected their self-described “gloom pop” punk sound – the hooks are sharper, the choruses bigger and catchier, and the fantastic musicianship and lyricism evidence of both the band’s maturity and growth over the years. The opening tracks “Already Gone” and “Sick, Sick, Sick” are the album’s big singles, and for good reason. Bayside’s sound is more mainstream than previous efforts – probably a result of their teaming with legendary producer Gil Norton (Foo Fighters, Counting Crows, Jimmy Eat World) for this album – but that’s in no way a bad thing. Much of the album’s themes are familiar, if memorable attacks on evil-hearted vixens: “You’re the black ice on my road to wholesome,” (“Mona Lisa”) and “You’re the type of girl who puts on cyanide perfume / then asks for kisses on the neck from every boy in the room” (“The Wrong Way”). Lead singer Anthony Raneri also explores frustrations with the music industry and the the band’s fan base on “Seeing Sound” (“So what do you want from me? Another song about apathy? ‘Heartbreak is a friend these days, but I couldn’t care less’—that’s what I get paid to say.”). The album’s final two closing tracks offer a dash of optimism, Bayside-style: “I’m halfway to happy now,” croons Raneri on the closing title track, “And I always mistake it for progress.”

Standout tracks: “Already Gone,” “Sick, Sick, Sick,” “Mona Lisa,” “The Wrong Way,” “The New Flesh,” “Killing Time”

4. 21 – Adele

It’s rare for a chart-topping album with multiple hit singles on Top 40 radio to make this list. The sophomore release from British crooner Adele Adkins sold over 5 million copies in the U.S. and 13 million worldwide, more than any album released in the past six years. 21 graced the top of dozens of “Best Albums of 2011” lists (AP, EW, Rolling Stone). But in this case, the fame and accolades were all entirely well-deserved. The album’s instrumentation is minimal (often only a piano), letting Adele’s stunning, powerful vocals shine, and truly immersing the listener in her pain over the end of an 18-month relationship. I can hardly top the praise already heaped on this beautiful album by the reviews mentioned above: “At its heart was that voice: giant, classic-sounding, promising emotional depth way beyond its years…21makes you feel its pain.” (Rolling Stone) “21 features a rare thing: A singer who can actually sing.” (EW) And honestly, the fact that I still love “Rolling In The Deep” despite pop radio’s best efforts to overplay it to death should say something.

Standout tracks: “Rolling In The Deep,” “Rumour Has It,” “Turning Tables,” “Set Fire To The Rain,” “One and Only,” “Someone Like You”

5. Vice Verses – Switchfoot

In my opinion Switchfoot’s best album since 2005’s Nothing Is Sound (#3 on my list that year), Vice Verses is a return to form for the San Diego five-peice. Produced by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, NFG), the album emphasizes Chad Butler’s drumming and Tim Foreman’s bass more prominently than on previous Switchfoot records, but the shift definitely suits them (see “The War Inside,” ). Vice Verses has a darker, edgier sound than the band’s previous efforts (“Afterlife,” “Dark Horses”) but retains the same soul-searching, introspective lyricism from frontman Jon Foreman that fans have come to expect. Switchfoot also experiments with some new sounds, including spoken word on “The War Inside” and “Selling The News”. The reason this album outshines Switchfoot’s previous few efforts is the much-improved quality of its slower ballads (“Restless,” “Thrive,” “Vice Verses,” “Where I Belong”). If you were a fan of these guys back in the day but haven’t listened to them for years, you might want to give them a second look.

6. Quill – Bison

If Mumford & Sons’ Sigh No More paved the way for contemporary folk artists to cross over into mainstream success, then Bison’s Quill is certainly one of the most impressive attempts to take advantage of their trailblazing. The indie folk rockers from Chesapeake, VA has been taking the Hampton Roads area music scene by storm over the past year, including a significant amount of radio airplay for their instantly memorable hit single “Switzerland.” Passionate, earnestly delivered, and distinctive vocals are backed by a panoply of instruments ranging from acoustic guitar and banjo to cello, violin, and even some killer xylophone (see “Setting Our Tables,” also one of the best songs on the album). Not only can you feel extra cool being able to say you listened to these guys before they get huge…Quill is just legitimately good music.

Standout tracks: “Switzerland,” “They Are Filled,” “Quill,” “Setting Our Tables,” “In Your Room,” “Autumn Snow”

7. Simple Math – Manchester Orchestra

I’ve loved everything Manchester Orchestra has done since their 2006 debut I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child, and their third studio album is no exception. A concept album that explores lead vocalist/songwriter Andy Hurley’s very personal questioning of love, relationships, and young married life. Opening with the melancholy “Deer,” the album is a searing, deeply introspective, beautifully executed portrayal Hurley’s heartbreaking frustrations and soul-searching of his early 20s (he and his wife have since resolved the problems explored on the album and are happily married today). With a far more diversified musical palette and liberal use of of strings than previous albums, Hurley’s raw emotion bleeds through these tracks (see, for example “Pale Black Eye”). The album’s highlights are the upbeat, guitar riff-laden “April Fool” and the spine-tingling, jaw-dropping, eerie children’s choir-backed “Virgin,” without a doubt one of the best songs I’ve heard in years.

Standout tracks: “Mighty,” “Pensacola,” “April Fool,” “Pale Black Eye,” “Virgin”

8. El Camino – The Black Keys

After launching themselves to mainstream success with 2009’s Brothers, The Akron, Ohio blues-rock duo of guitarist/vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney take a more upbeat, raucous approach on El Camino. The foot-stomping, head-bobbing tempo is set with the opening single “Lonely Boy,” and rarely lets up for the remainder, perhaps with the exception of the subdued, acoustic-guitar intro of the phenomenal “Little Black Submarines”…before then blasting the listener with a no-holds-barred rock-out for the rest of the song, and ending with Auerbach’s rollicking guitar solo. A lot of longtime Black Keys fans complained about the “mainstream” sound of this album, but it would take a serious concerted effort to not enjoy this.

Standout tracks: “Lonely Boy,” “Little Black Submarines,” “Money Maker,” “Run Right Back,” “Sister,” “Mind Eraser”

9. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon has already established himself as one of the most revered and popular American indie folk artists just three years after the release of his breakout 2008 debut For Emma, Forever Ago – and the strength of the self-titled follow-up album is a testament to why. The Grammy-nominated sophomore release is a gorgeous, lush musical tapestry – far more ambitious, experimental, and interesting than Bon Iver’s sparse, minimalistic debut. Featuring no less than 25 different instruments, ranging from banjo, guitar, assorted saxophones, violin, horns, synthesizers, pedal steel guitars, clarinets, and flutes (just to name a few), this album is definitely one of the gems of 2011.

Standout tracks: “Minnesota, WI,” “Holocene,” “Towers,” “Wash.,” “Beth / Rest”

10. Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay

I didn’t have high expectations for this album after hearing the awful first single “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall,” but fortunately for Coldplay, that mediocre track is actually by far the worst on Mylo Xyloto. Say what you want about Coldplay, but one thing is certain: these guys have found the magic platinum-selling formula, and they’re sticking to it. There may not be anything particularly groundbreaking about the random-word-generator-titled fifth studio album from the UK alt-rock superstars, but their success in executing that formula cannot be dismissed. Like Viva La Vida, this album was still written primarily to be played in large, sold-out 70,000-seat arenas, but Coldplay does return to its acoustic-guitar roots on a few more intimate tracks that make for pleasant surprises (“Us Against The World” being the best example of this). While the band’s experimentation with a Rihanna collaboration (really, guys?) on “Princess of China” falls flat, the excellently-executed “Major Minus” (featuring a sweet bass riff) is one example of how Coldplay’s sound can evolve in a good way. “Charlie Brown” is my favorite track off this album for the simple reason that it manages to combine the best of the band’s old and new sounds and, well, actually sounds like Coldplay. Not the band’s best effort by far, but worth a listen.

Standout tracks: “Charlie Brown,” “Us Against The World,” “Major Minus,” “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart”

11. Symphony Soldier – The Cab

To be perfectly honest, I hated this album the first time I heard it. While I loved The Cab’s soulful, funky 2008 debut Whisper War (#7 in 2008) the sophomore effort seemed like a blatant sell-out, filled with overproduced, radio-friendly, shallow, uber-poppy singles engineered for commercial success. But after a few plays it grew on me enough for me to admit that while it may be all of those things, it’s also an irresistably fun listen–and catchy as hell. With songwriting help from Bruno Mars (“Endlessly”), Maroon 5’s Adam Levine (“Animal”), and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz and Joe Feldman (“Grow Up And Be Kids”) among others, The Cab lets frontman Alex DeLeon’s undeniably impressive vocal ability carry this album. The lyricism is as straight Top 40 radio-generic as you get, but the truth is that “Bad” is without of a doubt one of the most brilliantly-written, infectious singles I’ve heard all year. It may be nowhere near as good as their debut, but judging by the number of plays Symphony Soldier has in my iTunes, I’d be remiss in leaving it off this list.

Standout tracks: “Angel With A Shotgun,” “Bad,” “Animal,” “La La,” “Another Me,” “Grow Up And Be Kids”

Honorable Mention:

Wasting Light – Foo Fighters

We Are All Where We Belong – Quiet Company

Deas Vail – Deas Vail

When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes – Yellowcard

Lucky Street – Go Radio

Top 11 Songs of 2011:

1. “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

2. “Already Gone” – Bayside

3. “Anchors Aweigh” – Audiostrobelight

4. “Virgin” – Manchester Orchestra