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Twenty-eleven seems to have been a really, really good year for independent music. In programming these three best of 2011 shows, it became apparent that it would be more difficult than ever before to pick out those few albums that stood head and shoulders above the rest of the pack.
So this week we look back at some of the more notable releases from the past year–stuff that maybe would have grabbed more of your attention if it weren’t such a bumper crop. Mike listened to a lot of Washed Out on train-trips this year, and Austra’s Feel It Break has made its way to the top of NY Mags’ list.
Discs by Radiohead, Mogwai, and Iron & Wine were worthy additions to those bands’ discographies, but maybe didn’t garner all that much attention from fans. Cults came out of nowhere this year to a lot of buzz, and yesterday’s buzz-band The Drums issued a fun and very listenable album in [em]Portamento[/em], an LP that may make Smiths’ fans smile.
We’re going to take a week off next week so I can finish up my two-hour indie Christmas special (commercial and interruption free!), so send in any requests or old standards or new favourites through the website, or tweet us @myboyriotgirl!
- Washed Out – Echoes (Within and Without)
- Junior Boys – Itchy Fingers (It’s All True)
- Austra – Beat and the Pulse (Feel It Break)
- Jill Barber – Dis-Moi (Mischievous Moon)
- Cults – Bumper (Cults)
- The Drums – How It Ended (Portamento)
- The Cave Singers – Black Leaf (No Witch)
- The Kills – Future Starts Slow (Blood Pressures)
- Mogwai – George Square Thatcher Death Party (Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will)
- Papercuts – Do What You Will (Fading Parade)
- Radiohead – Feral (King of Limbs)
- The Antlers – Parentheses (Burst Apart)
- Iron & Wine – Me And Lazarus (Kiss Each Other Clean)
- The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – Strange (Belong)
- The Mountain Goats – For Charles Bronson (All Eternals Deck)
