That Miserable List Of Yours: 2011's Best

2011 was an interesting year for me, musically: I found myself listening to a lot less new music than normal, but by the end of the year I still had a difficult time whittling everything down to a manageable list of top records. Some highlights of my year:

-I loved the Drive soundtrack. Desire, I love you.
-I got to watch a friend's band become kinda famous, with less-than-savory results.
-The new Bastard Noise LP didn't do it for me like I thought it would.
-I heard the Chosen Few - The Joke's On Us EP for the first time this year when it was reissued by Going Underground and it's PERFECT.
-Despite its absence on my list, I listened to more modern grindcore than any year before (kudos to Drugs of Faith, Gridlink, Sete Star Sept, etc.).
-Also, the impossible happened: I was extremely let down by Born This Way by Lady Gaga. I tried my damnedest, but I just could not like it at all. That was a crushing blow to my already-fragile grasp of reality.

Anyway, here are the notables of the year for me:

-Absu - Abzu LP - Absu does everything right on this LP. Totally caught me off guard, as I sometimes love this band's output and sometimes (more recently) dislike it. I can say with confidence that this is one of my favorite Absu records.

-Hank Wood & the Hammerheads & Perdition 7"s - Toxic State puts out two of the best American punk 7"s of the year, particularly the Perdition 7". The Hank Wood 7" is but a taste of their upcoming LP.

-Inservibles - Self Titled LP - Almost garage-y hardcore from Mexico City. The album art makes me uncomfortable. They're coming to the U.S. in 2012, so get stoked.

-Kreayshawn - "Gucci Gucci" - Gotta say, this might be my favorite song I heard in 2011. I don't care what the haters think. I am currently making her a mixtape/preparing myself to be crushed when she doesn't ever listen to it and realize how cool I am and how I'm super nice and stuff :(

-Midnight - Satanic Royalty LP - Can't wait for this band to come to NYC in April, as I've somehow never seen them! LP is more of the same, which is all I could ask for.

-Nemesis - Dou-Koku 7" - Awesome hardcore from Japan. Not completely noise-not-music, which is welcomed.

-Nuclear Spring - Demo CS - Amazingly catchy Brooklyn punk band from members of CREEM, Nomos, Natural Law, and Putrida. Kinda street punk, a little oi, very fruity. I love it.

-Scapegoat - Self Titled LP - The only band that does justice to the corpse of Crossed Out. This is their definitive statement in my eyes. They just keep getting better.

-Siamese Twins - Demo CS - Another amazing demo. "We Fall Apart" is probably my favorite song of 2011 behind "Gucci Gucci." Nothing else is as good, but the rest is still awesome. Their upcoming 7" is pretty sick too.

-Waste Management - Power Abuse 7" - Another gem from the Boston crew. Super straight edge, which I appreciate more now than ever. Love this dude's voice. It makes for an awesome "guest spot" on the Boston Strangler LP.

And now for my top ten records of 2012, this year without pictures because I'm too lazy to do that:



10. Arctic Flowers - Reveries LP

If you paid attention to a lot of the punk press, you'd think this was the best record ever made. Not a chance, but it's still great. I was actually a bit letdown when it wasn't as revelatory as I was hoping/told it would be, but when I got over that, I realized this record is actually really sweet. Definitely the most palatable of the PDX d-goth crowd, especially considering the Deathcharge LP failed, hard. "Rising" is one of my favorite songs of the year.

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9. Bad Noids - Ticket To Mars 7"

I remember seeing this band two years ago with Crazy Spirit and while I can't remember their set at all, I do remember their singer almost getting beaten up by the staff for partially damaging the mic (which was actually wrecked by the Spirit boys). The singer kept playing a harmonica on the stage with some other dude who happened to have one, all while security was trying to remove him. At least, I think that's what happened? Anyway, this 7" is one of the best hardcore punk records I've heard all year. The aforementioned harmonica makes an appearance on "My Country," which is the highlight from this bootleg 7" by Clevocore's newest star.

8. Tenement - Napalm Dream LP

Not a fan of pop-punk, but apparently neither are the band members, as they got (rightfully) upset with me when I kept referring to them as a pop-punk band. This is just straight punk, I guess, with tons of catchiness. Some might call it pop-punk for people who hate pop-punk. This gets compared to classic SST bands and the Replacements a lot, which is only sort of fair. I don't know what to call it, other than incredible.

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7. Brain Killer - Every Actual State Is Corrupt LP

This record came out towards the beginning of the year and, as a result, I almost forgot about it! Fortunately, I did not, as it's Brain Killer's best material to date. The band incorporates a heavier peace punk influence in their sound, especially with the new singer (who also sings in peace punkers No Sir, I Won't).

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6. Brown Sugar - ...Sings Of Birds And Racism LP

This was the year of Brown Sugar. A band that wasn't very active for the past three or four years all of a sudden comes out with an LP, a 7", a split 7", and probably other stuff I haven't heard. What I have heard from this band, however, is INCREDIBLE. The singer has the coolest delivery. This LP is one of the most demented NY records I've heard in awhile and reminded me that Buffalo still exists. There are also saxophone parts on the record, so you know it's good.

5. Belgrado - Self Titled LP

Yes, 2011 was the year of very annoying ex-raw punks turning goth, which is going to lead to a lot of annoying post-punk revival by spikey punks, but, before that happens, let us enjoy the records coming out now! Barcelona's Belgrado absolutely floored me with their debut LP. The way it captures such an authentic sound just seems so effortless and it's a darkly beautiful record. Everyone should hear this.

4. Cülo - Toxic Vision 7"

I know this statement might irk a bunch of people (especially since I don't live in the place), but I feel confident in saying that Cülo is the best band in Chicago, even if they don't actually live in the city. Each release is exponentially better than the last and their 3rd 7", Toxic Vision, is one of the best punk records of the year. Come back to NYC and one of us will put together an incredible show for you.

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3. Total Control - Henge Beat LP

Hell yeah, Australia. This band capitalized on the promise of early singles and puts out one of the most mesmerizing records of 2011. Think dirty Aussie punks playing krautrock and this record will make a little more sense. Considering there is actually a hint of filler on this, it's amazing that I love it so much. "Carpet Rash" is everyone's favorite song of the year, but being the cheesy person that I am, "Love Performance" is my Total Control hit.

2. Omegas - Blasts Of Lunacy LP

Hardcore record of the year for me. Some idiots (Branden, Colman) think that the LP has some filler or something. I don't know, the moment they started criticizing the record is the moment I write them off forever. Joy Boys can't be stopped.

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1. D. Vassalotti - Book Of Ghosts LP

This record just confirms that David Vassalotti is a musical genius. He'll hate that I write that, but I just cannot get enough of almost every project he does and he just churns out quality release after quality release. This particular release is his most realized solo work thus far. It's the most beautiful and devastating record I've heard all year and if there's one record from 2011 you should hear, it's Book of Ghosts.

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