Best of 2011

Year end lists are contrived. This very year end list is contrived. They attempt at putting an order to things that in some respects could not be compared. How do you evaluate what the best album of the year is? By sales, no. By critical acclaim, I don't. So, by default the meter lies with the author; selections are all but arbitrary. Here are my arbitrary selections.

BEST ALBUM -- PJ Harvey Let England Shake -- With Let England Shake, PJ Harvey became the first two-time winner of the prestigious Mercury Prize with her tenth studio album. Let England Shake finds Harvey utilizing a completely new vocal register, while shedding many of the heavier, more rock inspired elements of her repertoire; her direct and emotionally evocative lyric delivery sat nestled in a folk-by-the-way-of-the-Feelies instrumental suite that was devoid of too many extraneous musical flourishes. The records emotionally challenging take England’s history of war, may be Harvey’s masterwork. It is rare when mass critical-acclaim leads to such a well-established artist’s biggest selling record (Worldwide, not in the US) at this point in her career, but it simply is well deserved with this release.

A beautiful companion piece to the record is the set of short films that award winning Irish documentary photographer Seamus Murphy created to coincide with the release of the album. Released as a DVD, and many of which are on youtube, it really sets the visual tone for the record.



BEST REISSUE -- The Milkshakes! The 101 Tapes -- Reissued on 2LP is the 1986 compilation, originally on Media Burn records (also out on CD on Vinyl Japan 20 years ago), is The Milkshakes "107 Tapes (early demos and live recordings)" which is demos recorded at 107 Rochester Street, Chatham in 1981. The second disc has a live show from Germany 1983. It’s on gatefold double LP with extensive liner notes, a really playful interview with the band, and some great photographs.

The really great thing about a reissue such as this reissue is that Damaged Goods did not simply resort to issuing the same old packaging and gave some of the people out there who already have the original a reason to buy the reissue as well. The packaging is deluxe, on the level of the "Archives from 57" 3LP that came out a while ago.

The Milkshakes, to me, where never my favorite of the Billy Childish bands; but they have a certain charm. This set of songs is raw and blistering, the live set is amazing, and really has me re-evaluate them as a band in regards to his other projects. I suppose that is the mark of a truly great reissue; one that forces the listener to rethink their perceptions of the group.



BEST SHOW/CONCERT -- The Cure, Reflections, Los Angeles 11/23/11 -- It is truly hard for me to adequately describe how truly amazing and special the Reflections show was. Staged at the majestic Pantages Theater in the heart of Hollywood, CA, The Cure performed in their entirety their first three albums divided into three sets (also three encore sets).

Reflections saw an evolving line up of band members past and present playing the punchy, offbeat, starkly unadorned songs of Three Imaginary Boys (1979), through the increasingly shadowy and quixotic pieces of Seventeen Seconds (1980), to the singular melancholic grandeur of Faith (1981). The line up for Three Imaginary Boys: The Cure Trio - ROBERT SMITH: Voice & Guitar / SIMON GALLUP: Bass / JASON COOPER: Drums; Seventeen Seconds: The Cure Quartet - ROBERT SMITH: Voice & Guitar / SIMON GALLUP: Bass / JASON COOPER: Drums / ROGER O'DONNELL: Keys and Faith: The Cure Quintet - ROBERT SMITH: Voice & Guitar / SIMON GALLUP: Bass / JASON COOPER: Drums / ROGER O'DONNELL: Keys & Percussion / LAURENCE TOLHURST: Keys & Percussion.

The songs were play with precision, energy and a truly youthful exuberance. After sitting through three albums in three sets, I was truly amazed at the three encores. The third featuring music from the Walk EP rounding out the night. It displayed a band still in fine form, not afraid to explore their back catalog. What made the event nice was that it was not a long tour trying to wring out money from everyone it could, but an exclusive intimate show for mainly avid fans of the group... Also their merch was cheap! Which only proves that when you are that adored you can give back to your fans in a way that they will always love you.



BEST LOCAL BAND (OLYMPIA) -- Hysterics -- I have to be honest here, I was not an early member of the Hysterics bandwagon. The first few times I saw them I thought that they were mediocre, and even one time thought that they were awful. I didn't feel the hype, both local and beyond, was founded; in fact I quietly was befuddled. Then, a funny thing happened, more and more they grew... becoming quite fierce. The best band experiences to see, to me, are seeing bands grow and mature. And, for Hysterics, their maturation was not really in style or sophistication, but a really amazing ability to completely channel their rage. The band I first saw was trying really hard to be fierce and hard, the band that I have seen throughout 2011 is one of the more blistering and pummeling bands playing right now, and they happen to be from Olympia. Their seven inch is amazing, it scorches earth, and they are infinitely better live.

BEST RECORD STORE --Rainy Day Records, Olympia-- Rainy Day kept me in good supply of quality records with their constant rotation of cheap, great finds in their used bin and a staff willing to hunt down even the stupidest of special orders. Sadly, my all time favorite off the beaten path record store, Crosstown, in Lancaster, CA closed... So it is a net sad time for my record buying mojo...