2011 - My 10 Favourite Albums

Complete with pretentious reviews!

10. Handsome Furs - ''Sound Kapital'' : A sonically thunderous third offering from Montreal-based duo. Alternately coarse and soaring, it's practically over as soon as it begins.
(Song Pick : ''Cheap Music'')

9. Katy B - ''On a Mission'' : That rare debut pop album whose gorgeous voltaic sheen doesn't belie the tremendous human appeal at its very core. Overflowing with promise as well as sub-heavy bangers, ''On a Mission'' is guilty dancefloor pleasure of the highest order.
(Song Pick : ''Katy On a Mission'')

8. Das Racist - ''Relax'' : Marginal Brooklyn hip-hop trio trades little of its trademark sleaze in exchange for a host of blithe, absurd freeform rap jams. At times surprisingly musically adventurous, ''Relax'' offers endless replay value.
(Song Pick : ''Selena'')

7. Timber Timbre - ''Creep On Creepin' On'' : Ghoulish swamp blues equal parts mournfulness & poignancy. As rife with atmosphere as it is with indelible melodies.
(Song Pick : ''Too Old To Die Young'')

6. Young Galaxy - ''Shapeshifting'' : Chock-full of lavish dream pop numbers. In its own quiet way, ''Shapeshifting'' channels some of the most romantic ambiences in recent memory.
(Song Pick : ''For Dear Life'')

5. EMA - ''Past Life Martyred Saints'' : Woozy, grungy acoustic poetry from former member of drone folk duo Gowns Erika M. Anderson. A mix of raucous and sober tones, ''Past Life Martyred Saints'' is solely guilty of being much too short.
(Song Pick : ''The Grey Ship'')

4. Louise Burns ''Mellow Drama'' : Beneath its chiming facade of retro textures, Burns' first solo release following a multitude of musical collaborations offers introspective musings in spades. Strong on both evocative lyricism and artful melodies, ''Mellow Drama'' has all the trappings of a small-scale modern masterpiece.
(Song Pick : ''Island Vacation'')

3. Austra ''Feel it Break'' : Radiant, solemn, bouncy and sinister all at once, ''Feel it Break'' announces the coming of a new wave phenomenon headed for very big things. As a mood piece, it's practically immaculte; as a debut album, it's flat-out jaw-dropping.
(Song Pick : ''The Villain'')

2. PJ Harvey ''Let England Shake'' : Harvey's tenth studio offering represents a very unique type of purgatorial art. ''Let England Shake'' is head to toe marvelous-- certainly one of the very finest historical albums ever recorded.
(Song Pick : ''The Words That Maketh Murder'')

1. Shannon and the Clams ''Sleep Talk'' : On their exhilarating second full-length release, Shannon and the Clams unspool a dozen of individual rockabilly, blues & garage punk gems. Based on sheer personality, craziness and magnitude, ''Sleep Talk'' is easily my favourite album of the year.
(Song Pick : ''Sleep Talk'')

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Music

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