By Liz Belilovskaya
The year is wrapping up and I find myself scattered while trying to decide on the top 5 albums of 2011. There are many choices. To fill a list aggregating the best 50 records of the year is already hard but damn, just 5 is even more difficult. What constitutes a top notch album anyway? The quality of the music, the lyrical content in any song (with words) and the general feel/arrangement of the album all play a vital part in the evaluation process. So, after many hours of exhaustive scrutiny, I present my list, and no, Lady Gaga is NOT on it.
Adele – 21
The fact that Adele is my 5th pick may be a serious point of disagreement for many. She did release a phenomenal album. Anyone dealing with a broken relationship probably memorized every graceful lyric on it, but the emotional impact of it is a blessing and a curse. The inspiration for 21 was derived from the raw emotion following a breakup with the love of her life. Getting through the album without crying is almost impossible; there is way too much emotional pressure for those of us who are already sentimental. While I have come to love her raspy, soulful voice, until she makes a more diverse record I can’t give her top honor.
Spank Rock – Everything is Boring and Everyone is a Fucking Liar
Lyrics that are clever, educated, and pop culture savvy tend to be rare even with the recent shift to more “intellectual” music. Most artists shy away from merging witty and attractive content, Spank Rock does not. The talented duo not only have amazingly catchy beats ranging between electronica and classic R&B, but they also bring the culture wrapped in a kick ass lyrical quilt. This is even more evident in this year’s release, than the one before it. In many ways, NERD and N.A.S.A. deserve credit for previously putting out similar albums but this year Spank Rock did it the best.
Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See
The band’s charisma derives from their ability to blend styles in a relaxed and sophisticated way. Their influences shine through, but the resulting sound is all their own, which is refreshing. Many bands sound alike but occasionally an album feels like something you can’t put your finger on, but still sounds uniquely fresh, which is the entire source of its appeal. The Arctic Monkeys have managed the latter, sounding like a sonic lyrical lounge where the vibe is cozy, the atmosphere is chill and the menu is super. You can’t help but to like them or this record.
Florence and The Machine – Ceremonials
There is no possible way to deny how awesome Mrs. Welsh is. Whether it’s her ethereal odes to fairies and death or her sentimental, surreal imagery, the woman knows what she’s doing. Her major attributes are that she takes chances with her music and it’s direction. Unlike Lungs, Ceremonials is softer but powerful, delicate yet assertive and above all, musically sound. There are many shades to the dreamy picture her album paints, but she is a professional artist and has learned all theories touching upon her art.
The Black Keys – El Camino
The Black Keys are amazing. Whether they are doing old school blues, combining slashing acoustic guitars with pounding drums, or busting out ridiculously seductive solos, they are very talented both musically and production wise. El Camino is the best album of the year for several reasons. First, every song is unique but possesses the duo’s musical and personal signatures. Second, the record is generally upbeat. Even though many individual tracks are calm, some even melancholy in nature, these scattered tracks do not take away from the undeniably attractive tempo through out the album, instead they enhance it via contrast. Lastly, The Keys did a great job utilizing the good sense of Danger Mouse in regards to production. The resulting record is worthy of acknowledgment and so, El Camino gets the honor of first place.
There were many records released this year. Newcomers and old school veterans alike put out new albums and the musical directory of the world increased ever so slightly. There is no possible way to listen to every song from every artist out there, so every list compiled is inherently flawed. These lists are our reflections on music as critics but more importantly as its lovers. As subjective or objective as we try to be, people’s taste in music is not only diverse but fluid, changing as we move through life. No list will most likely never be completely agreeable. This is my list and in a small way, it is a piece of my heart.
click page 3 for shelz’ list.
