Killrobotmusic's First Half Of 2011
Man this year is flying. Pretty soon I'll be moving to upstate New York
to start graduate school. There's been plenty of stress looking for
apartments/scheduling classes and of course getting ready to say
goodbye to a lot of the people I know. Thankfully there's also been a
lot of good music this year that I've been able to jam to. Here's what
2011 has done for me so far. At the bottom I also listed a few albums
I still want to check out... let me know what I missed. |
| 1 |  | Bon Iver
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
(4.5) Justin Vernon at his best... the atmosphere is incredible throughout the
whole album. (TOP TRACK: Perth) |
| 2 |  | Radiohead
The King of Limbs
(4.5) I feel like I'm one of the few people here who actually like this... (TOP
TRACK: Separator) |
| 3 |  | Glassjaw
Coloring Book
(4.5) Totally did not expect this to be this good... I love the experimental
qualities this possesses. (TOP TRACK: Stations of the New Cross) |
| 4 |  | Fleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues
(4.0) An extremely solid album that feels much more mature than their
eponymous debut. (TOP TRACK: The Plains/Bitter Dancer) |
| 5 |  | Destroyer
Kaputt
(4.0) This is one sexy album. (TOP TRACK: Kaputt) |
| 6 |  | WU LYF
Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
(4.0) A wonderful clash of abrasion and beauty... these guys really have a
unique sound. (TOP TRACK: Concrete Gold) |
| 7 |  | Thursday
No Devolucion
(4.0) Thursday's best album in years... the darker atmosphere really suits them.
(TOP TRACK: No Answers) |
| 8 | | Frank Ocean
Nostalgia/Ultra
(4.0) A really fun album. Ocean has a solid combination of pipes, wit, and heart.
(TOP TRACK: Novacane) |
| 9 |  | My Morning Jacket
Circuital
(3.5) Kind of a hit and miss album for me but the songs that do hit, hit fucking
hard (TOP TRACK: Circuital) |
| 10 |  | The Dodos
No Color
(3.5) Nothing beats Visiter but this is a good return to form after the somewhat
disappointing Time to Die (TOP TRACK: Companions) |
| 11 |  | Touche Amore
Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me
(3.5) A solid no-frills screamo album... nothing more, nothing less. (TOP TRACK:
The Great Repetition) |
| 12 | | Earth
Angels of Darkess, Demons of Light I
(3.5) Earth adds yet another impressive record to their lengthy discography.
(TOP TRACK: Old Black) |
| 13 |  | Cults
Cults
(3.5) A really fun summer album... my girlfriend loves this shit (TOP TRACK:
Abducted) |
| 14 |  | The Decemberists
The King is Dead
(3.5) Quite a few good songs here, the album just feels kind of stale considering
how vibrant this group can be (TOP TRACK: Calamity Song) |
| 15 |  | Glassjaw
Our Color Green (The Singles)
(3.5) Glassjaw at their heaviest is always fun, however this doesn't touch
Coloring Book's level of creativity and impact. (TOP TRACK: Jesus Glue) |
| 16 |  | Iron & Wine
Kiss Each Other Clean
(3.0) I wanted to like this album a lot more but there just are too many tracks
that I end up skipping. Hopefully it's just a major label transitional record. (TOP
TRACK: Walking Far From Home) |
| 17 |  | The Strokes
Angles
(3.0) Same as above but with a lot more miss than hit. (TOP TRACK: Under
Cover of Darkness) |
| 18 |  | Blue Sky Black Death
Noir
(3.0) Definitely their best effort since Late Night Cinema, but still lacking the
creative elements that made LNC such a powerful release (TOP TRACK: Sleeping
Children Are Still Flying) |
| 19 |  | Explosions in the Sky
Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
(3.0) Nothing new or exciting here, but still some pretty moments scattered
within (TOP TRACK: Last Known Surroundings) |
| 20 |  | Rival Schools
Pedals
(3.0) I can't believe this is all that they could come up with after 10 years on
hiatus. (TOP TRACK: Wring it Out) |
| 21 | | ALBUMS THAT
I HAVE NOT YET CHECKED OUT
But want to! |
| 22 |  | The Dear Hunter
The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)
Looks fucking rad but pretty intimidating |
| 23 |  | Manchester Orchestra
Simple Math
I can't believe I don't have this yet |
| 24 |  | Defeater
Empty Days and Sleepless Nights
Looks like something I might enjoy |
| 25 |  | Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday
Yeah I've seen the lukewarm reviews but the nostalgia in me might not resist |
| 26 |  | Panda Bear
Tomboy
Not really into AC or its constituents much anymore but this looks interesting |
| 27 | | Thrice
Major/Minor
Fuck I can't believe I have to wait until September for this |
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