I know, top ten lists at the end of the year are so cliche, but what better way to sum up the year in a single post? In addition to my assistant, we have a small little militia of writers growing and below are their contributions; so you can see all their diverse music tastes.
Top 11 Albums of 2011 by transBlender
1. eric copeland– Waco Taco Combo (Escho)
Warped and you can dance to it.
2. Thee Oh Sees– castlemania (In the Red Records)
Even More realized John Dwyer stompers.
3. aids wolf– Ma vie banale avant-garde (Lovepump United Records)
Disturbingly fast and undeniably different.
4. PRE– third album (skin graft records)
Refreser for how powerful PRE can be for a band that is in limbo of being around.
5 .the alps– easy action (Mexican Summer)
so many effects and strange ass packaging with the LP.
6. ty segall– goodbye bread (drag city)
like a stoner whiskey sunset.
7. psychedelic horseshit – laced (fat cat records)
like a stoner acid dawn.
8.video– S/T (play pinball! records)
Punk that cuts out the bullshit and lays out the snarly tude I really enjoy.
9. chain and the gang– music not for everyone (K Records)
Ian Svenonius dishes out more metaphysical nuggets of bliss.
10. Duchess says– In a Fung Day T! (alien8 recordings)
fuck this band is awesomely weird, and sexy.
11. Doomsday Student – A jumper’s handbook (anchor brain)
Eric Paul and his merry men make their instruments scream, and as always its fucking liberating.
TOP 11 Albums & Shows of 2011 by Shifted Sister
Albums
Future Islands – On The Water (Thrill Jockey)
SPORTS – SPORTS (Crash Symbols)
Bank Heist – The Kingdom (Crash Symbols)
Born Gold – Bodysongs (Crash Symbols)
Porcelain Raft – Gone Blind EP (Acephale)
Elite Gymnastics – Ruin (Acephale)
Adventure – Lesser Known (Carpark Records)
Civil Civic – RULES (Civil Civic)
The Black Ghosts – When Animals Stare (Southern Fried Records)
Hooray For Earth – True Loves (Dovecote Records)
Teeel – amulet (Moodgadget)
Crash Symbols did big things in 2011
Shows
No Age – Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, TX.
The Flaming Lips – Palladium Ballroom in Dallas, TX.
Gayngs – Hailey’s in Denton, TX.
Small Black – Bro Fest 2011 at Dada in Dallas, TX.
//TENSE// – Rubber Gloves in Denton, TX.
Crocodiles – Rubber Gloves in Denton, TX.
HEALTH – Free Press Summer Fest in Houston, TX.
Hooray For Earth – Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton, TX.
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat – Empire Automotive in Austin, TX.
Indian Jewelry – Rubber Gloves in Denton, TX.
Future Islands – The Mohawk in Austin, TX.
Favorite Shows of 2011 by Root Chakra
Flaming Lips / Neon Indian / New Fumes
Health @ Free Press Summer Fest
Of Montreal / Painted Palms
Indian Jewelry / Prince Rama / Darktown Strutters / New Fumes
Hooray for Earth
Braids / Pepper Rabbit / Painted Palms
Holy Ghost! / Jessica 6
Bro Fest 2011 (Small Black, Class Actress, Jeff the Brotherhood, DOM)
Future Islands / Ed Schrader’s Music Beat
Zola Jesus / Xanopticon
Top 11 of 2011 By Squidney
ANDREW JACKSON JIHAD: Knife Man (Asian Man Records) – Best Totally Depressing But Awesome Nonetheless Album
BANNER PILOT: Heart Beats Pacific (Fat Wreck Chords) – Best Soundtrack for Driving Eighteen Hours to FEST
BIG EYES: Big Eyes, Hard Life (Don Giovanni Records) – Best Debut Album
BLEACHED: Carter (Art Fag Recordings) – Best 7 in./EP
FUCKED UP: David Comes To Life (Matador Records) – Best Reinvention of the Rock Opera
GATEWAY DISTRICT: Perfect’s Gonna Fail (It’s Alive Records) – Best Album to Sing Embarrassingly Loud Along To With Friends
GOOD LUCK: Without Hesitation (No Idea Records) – Best Album to Cheer You Up and Be Productive and Creative To
PANDA BEAR: Tomboy (Paw Tracks) – Best Show of the Year
THEE OH SEES: Carrion Crawler/The Dream (In The Red Records) – Best Second Album By The Band Released This Year
TRUE WIDOW: As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth (Kemado Records) – Best Local Record
VIVIAN GIRLS: Share The Joy (Polyvinyl Records) – Best Soundtrack for Public Transportation
Top 11 ablums of 2011 by Christine Yu
11. THEE OH SEES – Carrion Crawler/The Dream (In the Red)
10. JAMES BLAKE – James Blake (ATLAS)
9. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l (4AD)
8. TENNIS – Cape Dory (Fat Possum)
7. REAL ESTATE – Days (Domino)
6. PICTUREPLANE – Thee Physical (Lovepump United)
5. PANDA BEAR – Tomboy (Paw Tracks)
4. RADIOHEAD – The King of Limbs (XL)
3. ATLAS SOUND – Parallax (4AD)
2. THE FIELD – Looping State of Mind (Kompakt)
1. CANT – Dreams Come True (Terrible Records)
Top 11 shows of 2011 by Drex
Swans @ Southside Music Hall
Jason Lytle @ Good Records
Saint Vitus @ The Rail
Off / Cerebral Ballzy @ Sons
Man Man @ Sons
Melt Banana / 400 Blows @ Prophet Bat
Kurt Vile @ The Loft
Sebadoh @ Granada
Obits @ City Tavern
The Sword @ Granada
Scratch Acid @ Trees