Top 20 Albums of 2011
These are the discs that rocked my driveway in 2011. What a great year for rock and roll it was.
1. Terry Anderson & The Olympic Ass Kickin Team “More Smooth Jazz and Sweet, Sweet Jams”
This is rock and roll the way it is meant to be, smart, fun, catchy and infectious. Great songs from top to bottom. The OAKTeam knock it out of the park with songs about girls, cars and the quirks of modern life. If you aren’t tapping your toe to this one, my best guess is that you must not have toes.
2. Dawes “Nothing Is Wrong”
This album is beautiful, moving and majestic. It’s mellow like The Band and yet has a crunch like Neil Young. The lyrics are some of the smartest in modern rock ‘n roll. They are easily my favorite new band.
3. The Band of Heathens “Top Hat Crown & the Clapmaster’s Son”
With three frontmen/songwriters and a rhythm section, these guys know how to bring it. They started out backing each other up at Austin, TX open mics and have evolved into one of the most consistently solid bands today. The new disc is lush and full of life. They play a wide spectrum of instruments that flesh out the songs fantastically. My favorite song on the disc is Colin Brooks’ “Gravity” with its groove and super harmonies, but there are a lot of gems here. Enjoy this one as Colin has announced he’s leaving the band, so there are changes a comin’.
4. The Dirt Drifters “This Is My Blood”
This album is great rockin’ country. Songs about booze and gals and gals and booze. The band is tight. There’s even a cameo by Willie Nelson. Fun songs all around.
5. Hayes Carll “Kmag Yoyo”
Hayes oozes with dry humor which makes me love him right off the bat. The fact that his songs are tasteful and catchy make me love him more. It took me awhile to figure out KMAG YOYO is a military acronym for “Kiss my ass, guys. You’re on your own.” He writes songs about things that go sour and yet keeps enough of a sense of humor to keep oneself afloat.
6. NRBQ “Keep This Love Going”
Terry Adams is the lone original NRBQ member left, but he has surrounded himself with such great musicians that this disc is worthy of going under the mighty NRBQ banner. Eclectic, tight and groovy songs take one on a musical journey that brings smiles all around.
7. Robbie Robertson “How to Become Clairvoyant”
Nobody manages to fill my ears with ethereal beauty like Robbie Robertson. He’s still got it even if he takes way too long between albums. The wait just makes it all the more imperative to pick up this disc.
8. Mark McKinney “Home”
Mark is a go to guy for fun party tunes. Sometimes his melodies border on formulaic, but he’s smart enough to pull it off as good ole rock ‘n roll before it can ever really go off track. Mark is yet another example of how good the music scene is in Austin, TX.
9. Drive-By Truckers “Go-Go Boots”
Sometimes the Drive-By Truckers take themselves too seriously, but it’s not too over the top on this record. My two favorites are “Everybody Needs Love” and “Mercy Buckets”, but there’s a lot of good ones here.
10. Deer Tick “Divine Providence”
These guys do balls out rock and roll. It always sounds like things could go off the track at any minute and yet, it doesn’t. They do not hold back on the energy on this, so turn it up.
11. Wilco “The Whole Love”
A fun mix of melody, smarts and sound experiments that keeps things constantly interesting. Plus bonus points for being from Chicago.
12. Fitz & the Tantrums “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”
These guys have a great sound. Almost retro, with horns and walking bass lines up and down the disc. I could easily see Quentin Tarantino putting a bunch of tunes off of this in a film. It’s alive and mood setting music. All done without a guitarist in the band.
13. Chickenfoot “Chickenfoot III”
This is as close as I get to a guilty pleasure in this list. Chickenfoot is often lyrically stupid, but it’s good time rock and roll. Satriani is at his best when he’s reeled in with a solid band around him and these guys know how to rock. The only time it goes off the track is when Sammy tries to get serious, but the good time fun balances it all out.
14. Butch Walker “The Spade”
This is catchy textured pop rock. My favorites are “Day Drunk” and “Summer of ‘89”. Butch keeps his tongue firmly in his cheek and never takes himself too seriously.
15. Ha Ha Tonka “Death of a Decade”
I’m a sucker for a rockin’ mandolin and these guys rock the mandolin. There are a lot of fun tunes here, my favorite being the first track “Usual Suspects” about how everybody here’s and ready to have a good time.
16. The Decemberists “The King is Dead”
They’ve stripped their sound down to make some accessible, great songs. Enjoy it.
17. The Gourds “Old Mad Joy”
A band that’s been around a long time sounds tighter than ever and has produced some solid Americana.
18. Jonny Corndawg “Down On the Bikini Line”
Jonny has a great sense of humor and the band delivers. His high pitched warbling isn’t my favorite singing in the world, but keeping things light and smart helps to bring me on board.
19. Ron Sexsmith “Long Player Late Bloomer”
Ron is one of those songwriters’ songwriters who never broke through. He’s been covered by Nick Lowe, Emmylou Harris and Rod Stewart. Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney are fans of his, but he’s never made the big time. This is a solid effort of lush arrangements and solid songs. My favorite is “Love Shines”.
20. Blitzen Trapper “American Goldwing”
A variety of styles, lots of different instruments and good songwriting make for a solid effort.
