Best In Music 2011
10) Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee II
The Beastie Boys have always employed a fun, clever and distinctively catchy take on Rap and Hip-Hop. “Hot Sauce Committee II” sounds more like the groups boisterous early material rather than their more recent, artistically inclined instrumental album, “The Mix-Up.” And it’s in the funky, sarcastic and incendiary approach that the Beastie Boys shine. On their 2011 album, the trio once again create that brilliant blend of party Rock and Rap that’s made them a long standing and interesting group. With punchy production (Say It), a subversive attitude (Lee Majors Come Again) and songs as toungue in cheek as ever (Funky Donkey), the Beastie Boys have provided a record that will accessibly appeal to people of all musical tastes and preferences.
09) Cave In – White Silence
Cave In released the “Planets of Old” EP in 2009, ending their three year hiatus. The EP picked up where the band had left off with “Perfect Pitch Black”, displaying their unique ability to blend Metal, Hardcore and melodic Space Rock. With 2011’s “White Silence” Cave In continues to favor acute songwriting over maintaining a certain image or expected sound. Well known for their dramatic progression and varying approach to music, Cave In’s latest effort showcases their most dramatic experimentation. The album features some of the bands heaviest and most aggressive music to date, as well as melding Folk and Indie Rock with their trademark Space Rock undercurrent. While “White Silence” may not be the bands masterpiece, it is certainly a welcome addition to a renowned discography.
08) Seven Sisters of Sleep / Children of God
There are no cautious attempts to be artsy, there are no delicacies spaired, there is no melody present whatsoever. On 2011’s split with Children of God, Seven Sisters of Sleep futher develop their dark and vicious approach to Metal. Crafting heavy, escalating riffs with blistering vocals and the raw, rhythmic intensity of Hardcore Punk. The band is as erie as they are heavy from the first song until their last. Children of God equally balance a frentic thrash approach with a brooding sludge and doom Metal sound. The bands ability to construct monstrous riffs which accordingly erupt into menacing vocals and captivating rhythms is commendable. Furthermore, these two bands display the perfect combination of raw, uncompromising and unpolished Hardcore that is constantly being buried by infantile hipsters mixing gimmicky trends with trite overproduction.
07) Ghostlimb – Infastucture
“Infastructure” is Ghoslimb’s third full length- an impressive and profoundly intelligent record. The music is well thought out, the song structures are unique and the vocals are as harsh as the lyrics are insightful. Accompying every song is an exceptionally detailed description of the lyrics, explaining the content and subject matter. For instance, the first on the album:
Construction
the truth of the matter is anything is possible had you not seen it all from birth and bled it of its strangeness it would appear for what it is a fetishized novelty a fevered dream having neither analogue nor precedent it’s not constrained by any latitude the order in the air you see is only what you put there like a string in a maze so you don’t lose your way and although I want it to reason can’t always be that eagle clutching a paralytic snake
Construction Explanation
Rational objectivity and reason are important cantilevers in society. Cultural constructs are built over centuries, influenced by things as disparate as religion, ritual, fear, ideas of providence, etc. In an illogical world, these things give people some type of comforted footing. Although I invariably side with reason, the placating web of convention does not provide answers as an end-all, and at many times is contrary to rationality; thus it should be examined with the same critical eye.
Musically, the band combine the aggressive approach of Black Flag with the passion and ingenuity of Fugazi. Ghostlimb’s contribution to 2011 stands out because of its tight composition and because of it’s ability to display such a degree of musical intensity and lyrical comprehension.
06) New Lows – Harvest of The Carcass
From the feeback laden opener (Stagnant Strides), it should be evident that New Lows play a particularly fervent form of crust Punk and metallic Hardcore. Though there are plenty of bands playing similar music, few bands are able to match New Lows’ intensity and cohesive vigor. With only a demo and a 7” EP before their 2011 full length debut, the band has already displayed a mastering of their style. The bands influences may be obvious (Ringworm, Integrity), but they have embedded their signature within their sound. “Harvest of The Carcass” crafts elaborate riffs with charging rhythms which makes for a relentless pace and memorable experience.
05) Alpinist / Masakari
In many cases, split releases are thrown together to feature at least two different artist’s songs that did not make it onto the band’s offical releases. The obvious idea is to attract two different audiences to one release. However this often backfires, mainly due to a mismatching of songs / artists or because the songs were left off the bands official releases for good reason. None of the aforementioned is true on the 2011 split with Alpinist and Masakari. Both bands combine to create a profound and adept full length, which perfectly compliment each other’s form of metallic Hardcore and crust Punk. Alpinist display the more intensive and structured songwriting, while Masakari employ a more raw and unrefined, yet distinctive sound. On either side of the record, it seems obvious that both bands hold d-beat pioneers, Discharge in high regard. And it is because each band is uniquelly dedicated to their sound that the record stands out not only among split releases, but most offical releases as well.
04) Wormrot – Dirge
In 2009 Wormrot were an unsigned Grind band from Singapore. December of that year, Digby Pearson of Earache Records downloaded their full length, “Abuse” and liked what he heard. Impressed, Pearson signed Wormrot to the Earache label in January 2010. The band released the “Decibel Flexi Series” 7” the free 10” “Noise EP” and one full length “Dirge” in 2011. Wormrot are notable not only for their profound work ethic, but also their ideology. The band has made all their material availabe for free digital download as well as shipping their most recent “Noise EP” on 10” vinyl for free to anyone who contacts their record label, Earache and provides a shipping address (they are currently asking for $5.00 to cover shipping expenses). On the bands latest full length “Dirge” Wormrot have further developed their brand of dissolute and intense Grindcore. While this is the type of music sure to garner strange looks from passing cars and complaints from elderly reletives, Wormrot does do a few things differently than most bands in the genre. The clear and audible production is contrary to the distinct lo-fi sound of most Grind records. And the technical profiency is unusual among the more common chaotic musicianship found in the genre. However, it is possible that because Wormrot have choosen to ignore some of the traditional Grind traits as well as adding their own prolific intensity that “Dirge” is as remarkably distinguished as it is.
03) Full of Hell – Roots of Earth Are Consuming My Home
When someone describes music as loud and isn’t reffering to the volume, or when someone describes a band or record as heavy, but isn’t talking about that retarded bass boom effect- this is that music. Full of Hell blend intense metallic Hardcore with crust Punk. “Roots of Earth…” is the bands first full length, which is surprising considering the sort of focused aggression that appears in each song. The band continuesly shifts from slow, rhythmic sludge Metal to maniacal Hardcore Punk and does so with erie precision. Many bands that attempt to play a similar type of music are often content to rehash simple song structures and include as much feedback as possible, just hoping to release a banal noise record. Full of Hell, however, seem to have crafted a dark and intricate record- one that is both astonishingly frentic and especially memorable.
02) Beady Eye – Different Gear, Still Speeding
Oasis broke up in 2009, and unfortunately this time it stuck. The band ultimately decided to continue on however, under a new name and without former key songwriter, guitarist Noel Gallagher. Beady Eye’s debut “Different Gear, Still Speeding” isn’t an attempt to coast on their previous bands hype and sound. Instead, the band focuses on their 60’s influences, mixing psychadelic rock with frontman Liam Gallagher’s trademark vocals and proficient songwriting. The record features impassioned piano riffs and souful backup singers (Bring The Light), exuberant harmonika (Wind Dream) and a timeless rock n’ roll rhythm (Four Letter Word). Beady Eye succeed where most mainstream rock bands fail- in place of trite studio-effects or an overeager hippy-like approach, the band demonstrates brilliant musicianship, exceptional songwriting and a symbolic sound.
01) Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams
It’s rare that a band is both popular and sincere. In most cases, people want music that doesn’t make you think too much. Music that is fun and catchy but is equally simple and doesn’t attempt to really say much or change anything. The Dum Dum Girls are a band that are as captivating as they are gratifying. The group started out with the more raw and exploratory “I Will Be” but has now refined their brilliant mix of 60’s pop, Ramones-esc Punk and Indie Pop on 2011’s “Only In Dreams.” The album displays a focused depth- varying from slow and emotionally gripping passages to catchy and rythmic delights, while Dee Dee, the groups vocalist and founder, demonstrates an impressive passion in both her lyical content and delivery. It is the bands mastered ability to combine crisp songwriting with insightful lyrics and a beautifully vivid approach that makes the record both memorable and noteworthy.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – S/T
Gridlink – Orphan
Ringworm - Scars
The Black Keys – El Camino
Starfucker – Reptillians
