So, now that the year’s almost over, it’s time to rank the albums of the year. In only a few words, sometimes. New releases are albums from 2011, newish releases are albums from 2010 that I only discovered this year.
New releases
6. 21 (Adele)
And it’s a beautiful album. I’m super-predictable and love “Rolling in the Deep” hard, but I love a lot of the rest of it, too. Although it’s annoying when people use the songs incorrectly or overmuch.
5. The Browncoats Mixtape (Adam WarRock and Mikal kHill)
So this doesn’t quite count 100%. But it’s just… it’s beauty. It’s pure, geeky beauty. It’s two dudes rapping about Firefly, over samples from the score and the occasional soundbyte. I don’t actually like rap. Like, ever. But these guys just… oh man. I’m listening to this right now, and I’m incoherent. I am not a crier, I have said this many times, but fandom can get me kind of mentally to the point of being choked up without being actually tearing or anything. And both “River” and “Still Flyin’ (Kaylee’s Theme)” got me to that point. Just… very ellipse-ridden, unexplainable awesome.
4. Codes and Keys (Death Cab for Cutie)
Oh, Death Cab. Yeah, there’s something to be said for the fact that I’ve mentioned all of these albums (well, except the above Browncoat-y nerd paradise) before. But it’s the end of the year. This is what you do, right? And I still can’t get enough.
3. Barton Hollow (The Civil Wars)
Whoops. More previously mentioned. More utter beauty. I am afraid to know how many times I’ve actually played this album through. It’s probably some exorbitant number. Because it’s good for when you’re with some friends, when you’re alone, when you’re studying, when you’re creating, when you’re reading, when you’re passing out, when you’re… just sitting there and breathing.
2. The King is Dead (The Decemberists)
This… has been a year of albums that I am shamelessly ripping apart for fanmix purposes. Albums of twang and gorgeousness.
1. The Valley (Eisley)
Because what else would top the list? If Barton Hollow has exorbitant play count, this has… otherworldly play count.
Newish releases
4. Lights (Ellie Goulding)
This is just a little more techiepoppy than I usually go for, but I’m a sucker for those British accents, and it is cute, and it’s way less stupid than other stuff, and I have moments where I dig on things that are Wikipedia-classed as “electropop” or “synthpop” or “folktronica,” and she does have a song called “Guns and Horses.” Which I groove on, hard.
3. The Narrative (The Narrative)
Yep. Also previously mentioned. These kids are just so delicious and delightful.
2. The Memory Machine (Julia Stone)
ALSO previously mentioned. But, oh geez. This album… this album is too perfect. This album is pure morbid dark-folk beauty.
1. Catching a Tiger (Lissie)
At least… 6 plays a week for the last 6 weeks. That’s like a minimum estimate. I don’t know how I didn’t get this one sooner, but I love it way too much.
–your fangirl heroine.
Thanks for the kind words.