10 More 2011

About a month ago, picked my 10 favs of 2011 for The Elliot Potter Show with Jason Brown. I told him at the time that I could have picked 10 totally different albums and been happy with my list. Here are those 10.

Tim Hecker Ravedeath, 1972

Why it didn't make the list: I really have no excuse.

Why it should have made the list: This is probably the greatest non-guitar, non-beat-driven instrumental album I've ever heard. If I start a drone project in 2012, this album will be why.

EMA Past Life Martyred Saints

Why it didn't make the list: Again, I really have no excuse. Other than I had to leave off something.

Why it should have made the list: Past Life is full of emotionally piercing, sincere, relateable lyrics and subtle but powerful production.

Big Black Delta BBDLP1

Why it didn't make the list: Some of the tracks came out in 2010 on BBDEP.

Why it should have made the list: It's a great mix of post-modern big beat ballads and huge dance tracks.

WILD FLAG Wild Flag

Why it didn't make the list: Probably because there's not enough diversity on the album to make it stand out among the plurality of my taste.

Why it should have made the list: The album features the best straight-up guitar work and production of the year.

Radiohead Live from the Basement

Why it didn't make the list: The King of Limbs underwhelmed me until I saw this show (soon to be DVD) and their performance on Colbert. Radiohead is one of the few bands that can take brilliance in the studio and somehow make it even better live.

Why it should have made the list: It's creative, moody, blah blah. They're the greatest band of the last 20 years.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart Belong

Why it didn't make the list: It's derivative. Rock albums featuring heavy guitars were popular this year (Ume, Joy Formidable), so it's hard to pick one.

Why it should have made the list: Pains took their SmithsXXBelle&Sebastian and mixed it with heavy early 90s guitar for the shoegazey-ist pop hooks this side of Ride.

The Antlers and friends (together)

Why it didn't make the list: I hadn't heard it yet, but it kinda did. Burst Apart was my number 2.

Why it should have made the list: This re-imagining of their album may be better than the original.

Phantogram Nightlife

Why it didn't make the list: I hadn't heard it yet.

Why it should have made the list: Their debut was great. This EP is bigger/better. Can't wait for what they do next.

Oneohtrix Point Never Replica

Why it didn't make the list: I hadn't heard it yet. And I'm upset about that.

Why it should have made the list: This was album Gang Gang Dance instead, but Oneohtrix gets it for being a bit more concise.