Album #11: Valhalla Dancehall by British Sea Power
The lyrics are erudite, poignant, funny. The music is bombastic, exhilarating, delicate. And yet British Sea Power’s Valhalla Dancehall went pretty unnoticed in 2011. What more do you need, people?

Download
British Sea Power – Who’s In Control?
British Sea Power – Living Is So Easy

Song #11: Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
Oh, don’t mind PJ Harvey. She’s just opening her album with this song. No biggie.

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #12: Conatus by Zola Jesus
Of all the records on this list, Zola Jesus’s mesmeric Conatus is the one I would really implore people to check out as I feel it has gone a little bit unnoticed. Conatus kind of resists any easy description and, to be honest, I’m finding it hard to describe why I love it so much. It’s adventurous, confident, moody, powerful and definitely needs to be heard by more people. It sounds like music from another planet…but a planet not completely unlike our own.

Download
Zola Jesus – Vessel

Song #12: Baby’s Arms by Kurt Vile
It’s kind of jangly and kind of atmospheric but at its heart Baby’s Arms is a simple acoustic strum that just. kind of. keeps. going. Not that it’s long but in the sense that Kurt Vile has crafted a gentle song that, nonetheless, commands you to keep up with it. Also love those female backing vocals out of nowhere in the song’s final movement.

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #13: Ashes & Fire by Ryan Adams
In which Ryan Adams proves you can be happy AND make a great, acoustic-based record. Sure, it wasn’t the Heartbreaker Part 2 album many were hoping for after hearing the single, but Ashes & Fire is a great little record that stands up quite nicely in Ryan’s immense catalogue. Production-wise, Ashes features Ryan Adams sounding warmer and sunnier than he ever has in his career and he wears it well. Thanks, Mandy Moore! Song-wise, there are a couple of meh moments but overall there is more here that brings you back again than any record since…Cold Roses?

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire

Song #13: Crystalline by Björk
Vespertine + Homogenic + Aphex Twin = Crystalline

The best part of this song was hearing it for the first time and having that ending kick my ass.

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #14: Zonoscope by Cut Copy
For a number of years now, Cut Copy have been one of the finest purveyors of sun-drenched electropop anthems and things continue in that vein on Zonoscope. Unlike the packed-with-pure-pop-moments In Ghost Colours, Zonoscope stretches out a bit with longer pieces and an increased focus on rhythm and grooves. Opener Need You Now, however, manages to straddle both worlds – it’s long but its hooks are as infectious as anything I heard this year. And there are a number of other songs here that are nearly as great.

Cut Copy – Take Me Over

Song #14: Eyes Be Closed by Washed Out
HYPE. So yeah, Washed Out’s record didn’t turn out to be super amazing but there are some standout songs on it and this one is my favourite. Just love the whole feel of this song (and it’s a nice match with the Cut Copy record, actually).

Download
Washed Out – Eyes Be Closed

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #15: Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues is just packed with incredible sounding acoustic guitars, amazing vocals, and some truly impressive songs. While it’s not a huge jump from their stellar debut, it shows that that record wasn’t a fluke. I’d say more but it’s late and I’m tired…but these songs are great.

Download
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes – Grown Ocean

Song #15: The Butcher by Radiohead
The b-side of a 12″ released shortly after the release of The King Of Limbs, The Butcher was one of my favourite Radiohead songs of the year. I can see how it might not have fit onto the record (it’s a bit nastier than the rest of TKOL) but it deserves more than b-side status. Here’s hoping the band bust out this one on the road next year because it really is a great song. Especially the last half.

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #16: Metals by Feist
At first I was a bit underwhelmed by Metals but the more time I spend with it the more it’s growing on me. Songs that I barely noticed the first few times through the record have now started to blow me away. The Circle Married The Line, for instance, is filled with gorgeous little musical details while Caught A Long Wind, as its name suggests, floats along effortlessly. Metals on the whole is pretty much an anti-1234 record and Feist should be applauded for bravely resisting the urge to trot out another bunch of hits. Instead she made what might be her best record yet.

Feist – How Come You Never Go There

Song #16: Savage Night At The Opera by Destroyer
I’ve often identified myself as Vancouver’s Worst Indie Music Fan because of my historical lack of enthusiasm for Destroyer, the New Pornographers, and assorted other local musicians. Destroyer’s record Kaputt would have been #26 on my list (honestly, I probably need more time with it) but Savage Night At The Opera jumped out at me right away. I’m a sucker for songs drenched in 80s synths and flourishes and this song delivers both in spades. It’s not what I was expecting from Dan Bejar – which is probably why I love this song. Having a great video featuring a manic ride through the streets of Vancouver doesn’t hurt either.

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #17: Collapse Into Now by REM
It’s still kind of hard to believe this is the last album REM will ever release; they’ve always been there and I’ve loved a LOT of what they’ve done including Collapse Into Now. While Collapse doesn’t reach the peaks of their finest work, it’s not a bad way to go out. Opener Discoverer kicks the record off on a positive note that permeates much of the album – it’s perhaps one of REM’s brightest sounding records. And when the final notes of Blue fade out and the guitar refrain from Discoverer starts again you realize that REM have crafted an infinite loop of a final record. One that never ends. Clever bastards.

REM – Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter

Song #17: Discoverer by REM
Thank you for introducing your final record with that guitar part, Peter Buck. It’s perfect. And Michael Stipe, the lyrics are also brilliant. Mike Mills! (Don’t want to leave you out.)

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #18: The Whole Love by Wilco
There are a lot of people out there (myself included) who really want Wilco to kind of go a little nuts in the studio again to create something along the lines of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot or A Ghost Is Born. We need to let that go. Because while The Whole Love is not a work of complete genius, it is a confident, solid album packed with some pretty great tunes. And you know what? Sometimes that’s enough. Having said that, Wilco do go all out on Art Of Almost and closer One Sunday Morning is the shortest twelve minute song you’ll hear all year.

Stream
Wilco – I Might

Song #18: The Bad In Each Other by Feist
Another opening track…how predictable of me. But it’s another great one as Feist laments the end of an untenable relationship (I’m looking at you, Kevin Drew). The main guitar part reminds me of the Constantines (albeit a little calmer) but the song ultimately settles into its spot featuring one of my favourite Feist melodies.

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #19: Parallax by Atlas Sound
At some point I figure Bradford Cox has to release a dud, right? Parallax is not that dud. This, his third Atlas Sound record, is another shot of dreamy pop soundscapes and carefully crafted moments of beauty and despair. Perfect for headphones and late nights.

Download
Atlas Sound – Te Amo
Atlas Sound – Terra Incognita

Song #19: Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
I like songs with juxtaposition. Lyrically Helplessness Blues is concerned with some uncertainty and questions of one’s place in the world. But musically the song is all forward momentum and optimism answering the questions posed by the lyrics. And, as always, Robin Pecknold’s voice is pristine.

Download
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.

Album #20: Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will by Mogwai
At this point, Mogwai aren’t exactly straying too far from their comfort zone. As with much of their output over the last six or seven years, Hardcore features a few beastly songs, some quieter moments, and some impressive song titles. Rano Pano’s distorted march finds Mogwai perfecting their brooding aggression while the almost poppy George Square Thatcher Death Party provides a rambunctious counterpoint to the slower and more contemplative material. Not groundbreaking, but I will never turn down a Mogwai record.

Download
Mogwai – San Pedro
Mogwai – Rano Pano

Song #20: Who’s In Control? by British Sea Power

Every year when I’m sorting out my favourite songs of the previous twelve months I find that opening songs feature heavily. And here’s another one. Some crunching guitars and a huge chorus but it’s the lyrical genius that really sets British Sea Power apart.

It’s militant, not military
See we welcome everybody, we’re not even scary
I’m a big fan of the local library
I just read a book but that’s another story
Yours and mine they get mixed up all of the time
I wish sometimes protesting was sexy on a Saturday night

Download
British Sea Power – Who’s In Control?

—> See the rest of the 25 For 2011 List here.