Last Week's Album

At the end of each year, most people like to reflect on the past 365 days and remember the good times. We at Last Week’s Album are no different. So for our Top 10 Albums of 2011 list, we didn’t just pick all the albums we gave 5 out of 5 lighters. Instead, we selected the ones that haven’t just stood the test of time, but have gotten better with each listen. And just to keep things fair, 5 of them are from Kevin and 5 of them are from Derek. So without further ado, here are our Top 10 Albums of 2011.

Derek’s Top 5

5. Fight Less Win More by My Sad Captains

I only reviewed this album in mid-November, but My Sad Captains still find themselves in my regular iPod rotation. Their acute attention to detail and ability to meld guitars and other keys/synthesizers together into extremely pleasing melodies make for some fantastic tunes. Though Fight Less Win More has yet to be out for an entire month, limiting whatever marketing traction can be gained in such a short period of time, their tunes are absolutely solid, and should help the band continue its climb towards indie-rock success.

4. In the Mountain in the Cloud by Portugal. The Man

In my original review, I stated that I was “initially blown away by intricate array of sounds and melodies.” Three and a half months later, little has changed. The band’s first major label release allowed the fellas to spend some quality time on each track, tying up all possible loose ends, and creating a fantastic album. The vocals and vocal melodies are catchy as can be, and the added production value of a major label release really allowed Portugal. The Man to build on the strength of its vocal melodies. Further, expanded instrumentation, including synthesized strings on tracks such as “So American” and “Floating (Time Isn’t Working My Side)” allowed the band to reach new heights. One of my favorite road trips albums, I don’t see this one falling out of my playlist rotation any time soon.

3. Tripper by Fruit Bats

I had minimal expectations for this album before writing my review, yet this album has stuck with me more than most other albums I reviewed this year. Instrumentally solid front to back, Tripper really flexes its muscles in regards to the stories it tells. As noted in my original review, Fruit Bats’ frontman Eric D. Johnson wrote this album based on stories he might have encountered if he had stayed on a train with a vagrant he met. Each track tells a different tale about life on the road, against a rich folk/rock backdrop. Although this album did not reach the masses, I almost fell out of my chair when I heard “Shivering Fawn” during the credits of an episode of Weeds. After months of play on my iPod, I can definitely say that Tripper is a trip worth taking.

2. Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes

In my review, I claimed that this album would find its way into many Top Albums of the Year lists… and here it is! This band of bearded Oregonians released their sophomore full length with Helplessness Blues to much fanfare following the critical acclaim of their debut. I found Helplessness Blues to be a solid effort, far away from the fabled “sophomore slump.” Though Fleet Foxes did not stray far from their folk-heavy bread-and-butter sound, the album’s tracks were much more complex and in-depth than their indie-rock cohorts in the Pacific Northwest.

1. Bon Iver by Bon Iver

There was no doubt that a follow-up to For Emma, Forever Ago was going to be tough task for anyone, let alone Bon Iver genius Justin Vernon. However, Vernon showed that he was up to the task with the self-titled sophomore release under the moniker Bon Iver. Though Bon Iver presented many staggering differences from For Emma, ranging from the inclusion of drums, more distorted guitars and, at times, shockingly deep (read: non-falsetto) vocals from Vernon, it was still able to capture some of the intimacy that made For Emma as great as it was. Like I said in my review, Vernon’s expanded instrumentation also allows his songs to reach new emotional heights, as drums, distorted guitars and other instruments allowed Vernon to add a greater intensity to his already intimate music.

Kevin’s Top 5

5. Torches by Foster the People

On my original review, I called “Pumped Up Kicks” the “song of the summer for 2011.” But I was wrong –- this jam went on to become quite arguably the biggest pop hit of the entire year, and rightly so. “Don’t Stop” also made into the eardrums of almost everyone in the U.S. by way of those ubiquitous Nissan Versa TV ads (watch them here and here). Also including standout jams like “Helena Beat,” “Call It What You Want” and “Houdini,” Torches turned out to be much more than just another superficial pop album. It’s a mix of catchy hooks, dancefloor beats and subtly emotional lyrics. And even if the radio and TV made you sick of their biggest hits, you can’t deny that Foster the People can write and record some seriously contagious jams.

4. Bright Lights EP by Gary Clark, Jr.

Yeah, I know, it’s only an EP and not a full-length album. So what? Carrying on in the spirit of Stevie Ray Vaughan and others, Gary Clark, Jr. is the next big Texas blues man. Bright Lights only included four tracks, but it still encapsulates this young gun’s deft guitar playing, expansive breadth of emotions and original style. One song he’s rocking your ass off, and the next he’s ripping your heart out. The title track was so killer, it made it onto a Jack Daniels commercial. So even though Bright Lights is short and sweet, Clark has the chops to keep me coming back time and again, long after my review. He also puts on a phenomenal show at his concerts, and he’s as humble as they come. I know it’s just an EP, but Gary Clark, Jr. is definitely ready for the bright lights. 

3. Circuital by My Morning Jacket

With five albums under their belt, My Morning Jacket honed their sound as well as they ever have on Circuital. As stated in my review, they dropped the lengthy barnburners but still found ways to follow jams where they led in a tighter fashion. “Victory Dance’s” random voice-and-trumpet hook gives way to a groovy track, “Circuital” displays all five players equal time in the spotlight with its everybody-together-now bounce, and “Holdin On To Black Metal” rocks out in silly style with horns and a girl-choir backing. The album as a whole proves that My Morning Jacket haven’t lost their imaginations with age and their ability to bridge unfamiliar sounds has deepened with time. Rock on, brothers.

2. Screws Get Loose by Those Darlins

These girls (and one guy) really blew me away when I reviewed them this year. Not only can they write smart, catchy quips, but they can tear their instruments to shreds (proof of that here). And although Screws Get Loose is just their second album, they’ve somehow already mastered a signature country/garage sound and a palpable group chemistry. Their sophomore effort contained well-crafted Southern indie-rock gems like “Be Your Bro,” “Let U Down,” “Tina Said” and “Boy.” The album as a whole helped them craft their sound and gained them enough notoriety to get “Red Light Love” on a Kia Sorrento commercial. I can’t wait to hear more outta these talented ladies (and dude).

1. GB City by Bass Drum of Death

I wish I could go back to the day I gave this album just 2 out of 5 lighters and give myself a swift kick in the nuts. GB City has easily become my favorite album of 2011, mainly due to Bass Drum of Death’s uncanny ability to fuse garage rock with old-school doo-wop. It’s left their jams ringing in my ears, pulsing through my veins and blaring through my speakers ever since I got my hands on the album. “Nerve Jamming” rocks with beating drums, fuzzy guitar and effected vocals; “Get Found” has sick guitar hooks and punching percussion; and “Young Pros” boasts snarling lyrics and falsetto backing vocals that harp pack to Motown’s formative years. Even the tracks I found difficult to listen to at first have found their way into my regular listening repertoire (“Velvet Itch,” “High School Roaches,” “Spare Room” and “Leaves”). I sure didn’t call this one in my review, but I now take a trip to GB City anytime I can.

So there you have it, kids. We hope you’ve had as much fun reading out albums as we’ve had reviewing them, and we look forward to another year of even more. If you’ve really dug an album this year, we recommend showing the band some love by buying said album as a gift for someone else. After all, what better way to spread some cheer than spreading the music you dig?

What’s your favorite album of 2011? Let us know in the comments section below, our on our Facebook or Twitter.

My Sad Captains release their second full-length album with Fight Less Win More. The Captains are an England-based quartet and have been kicking up some dust around the indie scene on both sides of the Atlantic in recent years. I was suprised to find that many any of the songs for Fight Less Win More were written by frontman Ed Wallis while he was in San Francisco by himself over Thanksgiving. Wallis found himself alone at that point, as those around him deserted him for turkey, football, and the other staples of Thanksgiving. Not knowing the reason for the holiday, Wallis then turned his attention to songwriting, laying the groundwork for many of the songs that would ultimately make up this album (check out the band’s website for a more descriptive account). The album was then recorded by the full band back in England, where the songs blossomed into Fight Less Win More.

Sounds Like: Early Beatles, mixed with a dash of Nick Drake and shaken with a healthy dose of early Snow Patrol

“Orienteers,” the first track on Fight Less Win More, opens with a steady drum beat, a light, clean electric guitar, and a slowly bouncing bass line, as frontman Ed EWallis’ hushed, nonchalant vocals soon enter the fray. The tune takes a slightly more melancholic tone as it enters the chorus. Additional instruments are subtly added as the song continues, ranging from bells highlighting the chours’ chord changes to synthesized ambient noises following the second verse. The acoustic guitar solo at the end of the song replaces and embellishes the electric guitar hook that serves as the backbone to the song. “The Homefront, Pt. II,” the album’s first single, kicks off with an intricate drum line and numerous synth hooks, which ultimately carry the lion’s share of the melody and beat. A synthesized string hook soon joins the fold, and offers an interesting contrast to the heavy synthesizers. Wallis’ vocals are initially indiscernable against the wall of synthesizers, drums, and other ambient tones, but later emerges with a vocal melody that is incredibly reminiscent of King’s of Leon’s “The Bucket.”

Best Lyric: “I will reserve the right / to decompose / in front of your eyes” - “Orienteers”

A steadily strummed acoustic guitar riff drives “Resolutions.” This tune really picks up steam during the chorus and the breakdown at the end, as My Sad Captains really open up their sound, allowing for bolder guitar strumming against a backdrop of synthesized woodwind chords. Ambient sounds give way to a simple piano hook backed by a hammered-on heavy acoustic guitar riff on “Heavy Lifting.” A chorus of wordless vocals soon enter before the song shifts gears, highlighted by the entrance of drums that pick up the beat considerably. Wallis sings about doing work to achieve his dreams, his vocals cutting clean against the drums, guitars, and ambient synths and vocals, adding considerable depth to the song. “Little Joanne,” the album’s second single, opens with a change of pace from its predecessors—a electric guitar solo. Frontman Ed Wallis is joined by his brother, Jim, also the band’s drummer and keyboard player, throughout the verses, as the two combine for some tight vocal melodies that add to the appeal of this catchy tune.

My Sad Captains - Orienteers from Charlotte Butcher on Vimeo.

A laid-back synth hook, subtle woodwind chords, and steady drum beat set the stage for “Up and Away.” The melodies are still palpable, though carried only by a bass line and subtle synth, when Wallis’ vocals enter for the verses. His melancholy, searching lyrics are further heightened by these subtle touches. The melody line picks up some pace, as an electric guitar solo takes the song into a new direction. ”Round and Back Again” begins with a soft electric guitar riff against another steady drum beat, providing a backdrop for the Wallis bros’ melodies to float against. Like the rest of the album, synthesizers enter and exit, adding texture as well as heightening the emotional tone of the song.

Key Tracks: Orienteers, The Homefront, Pt. II, Heavy Lifting, Little Joanne, Up and Away, Minah Bird

A soft, Nick Drake-esque acoustic guitar riff sets the stage for “Threes” and carries the majority of the verses throughout. The band frees the reins following a chorus, allowing for a frolicking, lightly distorted electric guitar solo to momentarily steal the spotlight. Vocals are further layered towards the end, resulting in a round of sorts, as the song fades to an end. The pace picks up considerably on the next track, “Minah Bird,” led by drums and a bobbing bass line. Intermittent piano chords and a lightly distorted electric guitar riff then pick up the melody before the song enters the first verse. The highlight of this tune has to be the chorus, which finds Wallis repeating the same line over and over again, against a steadily building chorus of synths and a stealthily reverbed guitar riff. The album’s finale, “Duck and Cover,” has Wallis lyrically hoping for the best, yet preparing for the worst against another Nick Drake-esque acoustic guitar riff.

Overall Rating:
       

Fight Less Win More was quite the enjoyable listen. Though My Sad Captains never really step on the pedal and rock out, the album is filled with intricately crafted tracks. The band does an excellent job of putting together the various individual instruments and sounds together, creating solid songs. Lyrically, Wallis focuses heavily on introspective themes, such as finding greater meaning in life, lost love, and the like. This is not all too surprising, given the fact that the majority of the songs were written over a holiday that was completely foreign to him. The abundance and range of sounds achieved on Fight Less Win More highlights the band’s talent and versatility, and results in a solid album.