Top 5 albums of 2011

Okay, so those who give a shit, I've narrowed it down to my top 5 albums of the year. No better time to write this up than now. The baby just went down for a nap and my other option is raking up the leaves in the backyad. Leaves don't sound very inviting right now so I will suffer through listening to and talking about music.

I've gone back and forth numerous times to figure out the exact order to rank these, with each one being at the top slot for a period of time. So I basically recently re-listened to each of these albums in their entirety to get to a final verdict. It was tough and since I've listened to these albums over and over more than most albums on the year it came down to which ones stood out at this point in time. Here we go;

#5 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest

I've been connected to Jason Isbell since I discovered him as a singer/songwriter with Drive-By Truckers. His solo work since he's left the Truckers has been fantastic. Some of my favorite Drive-By Trucker songs were written and sung by him including, 'Never Gonna Change", "When the Well Runs Dry", and "Decoration Day". This album was sitting higher on the list for a while and the re-listens of it knocked it back a couple notches since there are a couple songs I seem to want to skip each time they come up including 'Never Could Believe' and, well actually that is the only one I didn't really care for. The songs are well written and musically sound and unique. Watch out for Isbell, he is a master mind with music. This is concludes all non-metal releases of the year, making it my #1 non-metal album of the year, I guess. Can play this over and over, doesn't get old. Heartfelt lyrics through and through. He seems to be dealing with some rough times connected to the military and overseas wars?

Standout Track: Stopping By

Lyrics:
Driving to a baseball game on a Friday afternoon
Hotter than hell in Atlanta, Georgia.
I guess it's been fifteen years since I came through here
Probably should have called to warn you.

But I'm stopping by. I'm stopping by, Daddy.

How did your life turn out? Do you ever think about
a teenage girl in Chattanooga?
You ever tell your folks the truth?
That might've been the last of you.
Would've been a shame. We hardly knew ya.

Now I'm stopping by. I'm stopping by, Daddy.

I think the best of me's still standing in the doorway
Counting cars and counting days and counting years
I could say you made me go through life the hard way
But it might've been worse if you were here...

Looking through a picture book. There's one I think my momma took.
You couldn't have been much over twenty.
Shirtless in your cutoff jeans, you hand a lollipop to me.
I probably asked where you got the money.

A picture on another page. I recognize my eyes have aged.
I'd been alone for quite a while then.
Trying to get a match to burn. Waiting on a latch to turn.
I still have difficulty smiling.

But I'm stopping by. I'm stopping by, Daddy.

I think the best of me's still standing in the doorway.
Whatever's left is headed south on 85.
Passing families on vacation headed your way.
They look so happy and alive, and I'm stopping by, Daddy.

#4: Kvelertak - Kvelertak

This band. The only reason this band isn't in the top two is because I actually obtained this release in 2010, but it wasn't officially released in the US until early 2011. So technically it is considered 2011. The other reason to knock it would be that it isn't sung in English. Funny thing about that is, it doesn't matter. This stuff is remarkably catchy, brutal, exciting, fast, melodic, and addictive. Every song brings something new to the table and each song is so efficient at keeping you interested and hooked into what crazy riff, or solo are they going to break into next. It's party rock for the bad guy characters in the movie '300'. Maybe. Sounded fitting at the time I wrote it. The language barrier may bring to mind a that other band that carved its way into the heavy metal hall of fame, the band Rammstein. Rammstein were a lot more industrial sounding, while Kvelrtak are more down to hammering out the melodic grooves. I prefer Kvelertak over Rammstein at this point in my life.
All tracks are standouts on this record. Pay close attention to the guitar choruses and solos. They are awesome. Here are a couple to get you started:
'Blodtørst'


Lyrics:
Blod
Tørst
Blod
Tørst
Blod
Tørst
Blod
Tørst
Ja, så åker vi dit då får vi kiss och lime
En tjurig ladugård i Dyna
Jag älskar blod jag ska badda, då e me kje turkar
Vår fuhrer saltar väg
Ta mina inlägg
Det är en blodväg, ja
Lita inte Ola
Han är kungen av ligg
Han äger med sin dong
Den är ju full med drägg
Sen kør han under dom
de letar inkøpsväg
Suger på allt som: mage, te
Du har blod, og eg er tørst
Mer blodtørst
Jag är inte filten, jag hälsar med alla barn
Gifter till mig på tak, och blodig Gaahl
Är du dålig svarar jag: saga
De är stabila. Getter. Gäddan är jag
Gøy
Kommer in och biter dig
Ja jag ska tro dig, ja
Liksaft och Opeth och tullen, gift
Och älgen bäst i värn
Det är sikkert druaeft
Fortjaenar hålla om
De å ska passa sig
Slutet på allt som barn ger dig
Slutet på allt som barn ger dig, ja
Blod
Tørst

Through those in for shits and giggles


'Ordsmedar Av Rang'


#3 Turbid North - Orogeny

This album has blown me away. It took some patience when I first approached it. The opening track and pretty much the opening to over half of the songs is punishingly brutal and pretty intimidating even for me who listens to this stuff everyday. Its take the technical death metal genre to another level. The songs are long and have a very progressive edge to them and on several tracks the latter half of the song breaks into some of the best guitar riffs and solos I've heard all year. These guys are a force to be reckon with. I'm telling you, this album did it for me. The band is from Alaska and taking a look at the album cover art its apparent that the theme was somewhat Alaskan in nature. Song titles such as 'The Hunter', 'Kodiak 1 & II', and 'Stormblast', only strengthen the argument for the album theme gnarly, extreme, and organic. If you like heavy this is for you.

Standout tracks: Kodiak II


'Orogeny'


#2 VYGR - Hypersleep

VYGR, pronounced Voyager , came on my scene around February or March when I saw fliers for a concert coming through town and youtube videos posted on facebook. I immediately took a liking to this band and attended the show when they came through town. After seeing the live show I was even more into these guys. It's epanding on the ISIS formula of music; very loud, crushing guitars, with added sludge and light electronics fading in the background giving it a very original and atmospheric sound. The crushingly heavy vocals blend well with the doomy sludge soaked prowls of the base and guitar. Trust me on this one, this is a diamond in the rough. Hopefully they continue this run and complete some more hits in the future.

Standouts:
'Flares'


'Event Horizon'


#1 Hands - Give Me Rest

The source of this find was unique in that the first song I ever heard of this band was on an online DJ turntable website where people from wherever login and take a seat in the DJ table and play songs of your choosing. I remember thinking, man that song was awesome and proceeded to find out who and what this was all about. So I got the album and was shocked at how strong the music was. I believe the band members are Christian and when reading the lyrics its apparent that they are religious or spiritual in nature. Nothing preachy which makes it tolerable to me. I re-listened to this one numerous times this past week and was overwhelmed at its shear power to engage and satisfy the listener. The vocals are both harsh and soothing and the music fades in and out of harmonious and elegant beauty into skull crushing, pounding interludes. It can be listened to for trying to tackle the strong emotional meaning of the lyrics, or to simply bang your head against the wall to, or both. Listen to this album.
Taking the number one slot is enough to say that this album is worth listening to for anyone interested in any of the artists I featured in this top 20 list.

Standout Track: 'Water'

Lyrics:
Forgive me for falling out.
It's just not the way I see You.

Take me to the water.

Let there be light
to reveal everything we've become.

Take me to the water.

I'm losing my faith,
at the hands of the dynasty.

Take me to the water.

I just want something real.

From the shore.
With the waves to my back,
I can see.

A wasteland of blasphemy.
Spoiled fruit reaped from crooked trees.

God,
are these your seeds?
Are these your branches?
I'm so disgusted with all of this.
I want to recover.

God,
are these your seeds?
Are these your branches?
I'm so disgusted with all of this.
I want to recover.

Forgive me for falling out.
It's just not the way I see You.

Take me to the water.

Let there be light
to reveal everything we've become.

Take me to the water.

Be still my brother.
Be still so we may hear His voice.

Be still my brother.
Be still so we may hear His voice.

Be still my brother.
Be still so we may hear His voice.

Be still my brother.
Be still so we may hear His voice.


Let there be light.
Let there be light.
Let there be light.
Take me to the water.

'I Will'


I hope the few of you that have been keeping up with this enjoyed what I layed down. Its apparent that I was not trained in descriptive writing but I like getting this shit off my chest and passed on the those interested. Let me know what you think of the list and any suggestions you may have. I always enjoy sharing music with people so by all means hit me up if you feel the urge. After spending the time to compile this list many other great bands from this year have been reminded to me and I think I'll thrown together a second string top 20 from a honorable mention perspective.

Note: Iphone users may not be able to listen to some of the tracks that have been uploaded. Just a heads up.