First half of 2011 album playlist
1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
I’ve given it the once over, but I already know that I will listen to this many times. It’s rich and deliberate. I like texture in pop music and Bon Iver has a great balance of delicacy and sonic risk taking on a subtle scale.
2. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes & Keys
I needed 3 or 4 listens to start getting into this. But I did get into it and it’s rewarded me for my patience. Almost all of my favourite albums of all time I sort of dismissed on first listen, but for some reason returned and found another reason to return again and again and again until I realise I really love the music!
3. Noah & The Whale - Last Night On Earth
I love the musical references to songs from the 80s without being derivative. I also love that it is unashamedly poppy. To my ears it sounds authentic and delivered with integrity and honesty (unlike the nu-folk stuff out there which sounds a bit fake and hipster to me).
4. Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
although not strictly a 2011 album having been released last year, Nic & I went to the show at Festival Hall in London in May and as a result I went back to this album after having abandoned it very quickly when it was released. The live show made the album make sense and I now think it’s genius.
I’m curious about the following and they are on my to check out next list:
Nitin Sawhney - Last Days Of Meaning
Emmy The Great - Virtue
Friendly Fires - Pala
