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.

Tripper is the fifth full length release from Fruit Bats, the Portland-based quartet, lead by frontman Eric D. Johnson. Despite them being on the scene for some time (the band released its Echolocation debut in 2001), this was my first chance to check out Fruit Bats. I was surprised to learn that this was not my first time hearing Johnson, though, as he worked with The Shins on 2007’s Wincing the Night Away. Like their label-mates The Shins, Fruit Bats craft catchy folk sounds on Tripper, while telling vivid stories of an imaginary life on the road. But, is Tripper a trip worth taking?

Sounds Like:
[(Fleet Foxes)(The Shins)(Bon Iver)] + stories from a life on the road, Kerouc-style = Tripper

The story behind Tripper certainly adds to its appeal. Based on the real life experience of meeting and befriending a “grizzled vagabond” on a train trip through the Midwest, Tripper tells the stories Johnson imagines could have transpired if he had decided to travel with the old man, rather than continuing to his intended destination (more on that here). From this prospective, Johnson takes great latitude to explore many faces of the human condition in these and other characters, with soundtrack to match.

Key Tracks:
Tony the Tripper, You’re Too Weird, Dolly, The Banishment Song, Picture of a Bird

“Tony the Tripper,” the album’s opener, tells the story of the man Johnson met on the train over a bed of strummed acoustic guitars, punctuated by electric guitars adding bright exclamation points throughout. The guitars give way to a splash of piano arpeggios in the chorus, as Johnson sums up Tony the Tripper’s approach to life: “the world might end tomorrow anyway.” The catchy, up-beat nature of this tune, along with Johnson’s descriptive lyrics, do a great job at highlighting some of the attractions of life on the road, welcoming the listener to take part on the adventure. “So Long,” the next track, opens with harp-like sounds in stark contrast with “Tony the Tripper.” It’s much more keyboard- and synth-driven and tells the melancholy story of a girl unhappy in her present location and longing for change.

                                        Music Video for “You’re Too Weird”

Like the first two songs, Tripper tells a wide range of stories, each one sounding uniquely different. A quick beat and driving guitars and piano add to the tension in “Tangie and Ray,” which tells a story of their demise. The intricate guitar picking in “Shivering Fawn” (reminiscent of Iron & Wine) sets an introspective vibe as the character searches “for something to hang his hopes on.” The album’s first single, “You’re Too Weird,” finds the main character questioning his love for a woman who is certain to leave at any minute (see the hilariously awful 80’s-inspired video above). “Heart Like an Orange,” the next track, tells a different story of love over a driving piano and heavily layered vocals in the chorus.

Best Lyric:
“I sad Tony take it easy / not knowing if he’d cry or punch me / screaming the world might end anyway” - “Tony the Tripper”

In “The Banishment Song,” the main character has a falling out with his fellow travelers and explores the difficulty of severing the surprisingly strong bond forged along the journey. After a minute of Nick Drake-esque acoustic guitar, the song is driven by piano and syncopated hand claps. Following an instrumental, Fruit Bats include “Wild Honey” written by Diane Izzo, a friend and colleague of Johnson’s who died of brain cancer around the time recording started. “Picture of a Bird,” the album’s closer, finds the main character taking stock in his life and contemplating the next step in his journey. The song opens with a rather bright acoustic guitar riff, which finds some bite as the bass strings are hammered into a bluesy walk-down to kick off the verse.

Overall Rating:

       

Overall, I really enjoyed Tripper. Learning about the story of the album definitely made for a more enjoyable listen. Although I feel a tad late in checking these guys out, I am definitely looking forward to future projects while fighting the urge to check out earlier albums.