Artist: Mind Spiders Album: Meltdown Hails From: Texas Release Date: February 28, 2012 Featured Track: “Wait for Us”
A cacophony of lo-fi goodness, Texas-based Mind Spiders is set to release their sophomore effort, Meltdown, next month. Just in time for SXSW at which, of course, they’ll be making an appearance.
Artist: Pamela Album: 7″ EP Hails From: Oakland Release Date: Pre-order now Featured Track: “Desert”
I feel a Southpaw Records homage coming. Here’s another Southpaw nugget from the group Pamela, featuring members of The Splinters/Ex-Wax Idols, who are set to release their 7″ EP. Pre-order it now. Only 300 copies.
Artist: The Younger Lovers Album: The Young Lovers 7″ EP Hails From: Oakland, CA Release Date: December 07, 2011 Featured Track: “The Boy From Leeds”
Home to some of my favorite hometown heros like Ty Segall, Bare Wires, The Sandwitches and Shannon and the Clams, Southpaw Records have recently released a new 7″ from Oakland’s The Young Lovers. Classic Bay Area lo fi garage rock. Yummy.
Artist: Jeremy Jay Album: Dream Diary Hails From: Los Angeles Featured Track: “Out on the Highway”
There’s always the one album that gets away every year. And this year, for me, it was Jeremy Jay. Surprising too since I’ve been such a diligent follower of his work. Own every album he’s released, in fact. But it wasn’t until I stumbled upon (and purchased) a copy of his 2008 release, A Place Where We Could Go, in the vinyl bin at Amoeba that I was reminded of his indie pop charms. I highly recommend you roll up your sleeves and dig in to his work. His David Bowie/Belle and Sebastian-esque sound will hook you for sure. It’s a mood and meant to be consumed in it’s entirety.
Artist: Royal Baths Album: Better Luck Next Life Hails From: Brooklyn by way of SF Release Date: February 7, 2012 Featured Track: “Darling Devine”
I silently stalked the Royal Baths (formerly known as The Baths) during their debut album launch for Litanies last year, simultaneously in awe of their lo fi sound and androgynistic style. While it took a while to track down a consumable format for their music (no, I still don’t own a tape deck), they had no shortage of local live shows to satisfy my hunger; opening for some of my fav local acts like Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall and The Fresh and Onlys. Unfortunately for me those SF beer soaked bar room sets are over. The group recently signed with Brooklyn-based tastemaker label, Kanine Records, and relocated to the indie music mecca to release their sophomore album, Better Luck Next Life. How fortunate for them.
December is always a time of reflection and nostalgia for me; some of it sweet, some not so much. But revisiting my favorite music of the year always falls on the sweeter side of the spectrum and inevitably puts a smile on my face as I trace back all the music that moved me through the course of the year. Whether it’s musing over the hype and hyperbole of a buzz band that’s come and gone (ahem, The Vaccines) or rediscovering a gem that time almost forgot (read: Lia Ices), compiling my annual ‘Best Of’ list has become a ritual I cherish.
So, without further ado, here are my favorite albums of 2011. My 2011 rewind. Kinda sorta listed in order but I find the process of ranking music to be like splitting hairs. All that really matters is that this is the music that moved me this year. The albums I came back to again and again. I enjoyed them. Immensely. Hope you will too.
Artist: Low Roar Album: Self Titled Homeland: Iceland by way of San Francisco Featured Track: “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight”
A simply gorgeous album. If you’re a sucker for pathos and Bon Iver (like me), this album is your anecdote. Ryan Karazija is the man behind Low Roar, who just released his debut, self-titled album this November. Ryan moved from San Francisco to Iceland and began writing this album as he found himself in a state of loneliness struggling to provide for his family in a foreign land. Anyone who as ever picked up and left a stable life in hopes of finding something new/better/different or just to escape from their past knows this feeling of despair, fear of the unknown, and hope of what’s to come. Dive in and wallow in it.
Artist: Vic and Gab
Homeland: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Genre: Indie Pop Featured Track: “I Haven’t Seen You”
That is the track description from song writing sister duo, Vic and Gab, that I stumbled upon trolling Soundcloud recently. And it is just … perfect. The description, the lyrics and the tune. Indie pop perfection. Sounding like the next generation Tegan & Sara, the Wisco pair have made their childhood hobbies in music their passion in life. Check out their entire EP on Facebook.