I know its only 43 but I hate filler so I didn’t wanna bore you with a few albums that I thought ‘did a job’ and I kept to only ones that excited my ears.
It hasn’t been a great year for ‘indie’ music but its been a huge year for indie hip hop/ rap and free mixtape/albums.
Check out the list, have a listen and if they’re free to download a link will be below the album.
43. Dirty Beaches – Badlands
A beautiful, dreamy, drifting album that sounds like it is from a different era. The distorted vocals, the hazy guitars and a grainy style.
Dirty Beaches – True Blue by nmemagazine
42. Seapony – Go With Me
As close to Best Coast as anyone has sounded all year with surf rock/dream pop. One to vibe to when sitting by your beach house.
Seapony – “What You See” by audiomilk
41. Badbadnotgood – BBNG
Badbadnotgood rose to fame by doing jazz covers of Odd Future. They then released a free to download album of both jazz covers and their own stuff, its refreshing to hear jazz with a modern twist. This ones well worth a punt and especially as its free why wouldn’t you? Download here or stream below.
40. Little Roy – Battle for Seattle
Nirvana twisted into reggae? Who woulda thought it would work!? Little Roy did and boy does it.
39. Braids – Native Speaker
An almost Avey Tare/Animal Collective sounding album with totally kuet female vocals and tracks that just seem to gleefully wonder on for 7 minutes.
Braids – Plath Heart by snipelondon
38. Craft Spells – Idle Labor
I know they’ve spelt labour wrong, but Craft Spells here have put together just the kind of pop indie album that I wanted. Snappy drums, catchy synths and upbeat hooks. Foster the people aren’t nuffin compared to these guys. #teamCraftySpells
After the Moment by CraftSpells
37. Metronomy – The English Riviera
Not as good as Metronomy’s fantastic second album ‘Nights Out’ but still a great one. Their sound has evolved from something dark and underground into a more laid-back better produced sound. The album title and cover are perfect for the overall feel of ‘The English Riviera’. You’ve gotta love that organ.
Metronomy – Everything Goes My Way by dustblaze
36. Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls
One that may have slipped under many people’s radars. With gentle harmonies, reasonably dark lyrics and catchy hooks in an almost vintage rock & roll sound this is one I couldn’t take off the rotation for a few weeks.
Veronica Falls – Bad Feeling by Slumberland Records
35. Sepalcure – Sepalcure
Is it post dubstep, deep house, footwork or all of them?? Who needs genres these days? Especially in the ever changing, evolving, metamorphosing world of ‘dance music’. Anyway Sepalcure is a project created by Machinedrum and Praveen that they describe as ‘their mix of tribal dub, house and two step beats that work equally well for both late night in the club and rainy, introspective nights at home.’ I wish this one had maybe come out earlier as it may have climbed higher up my list for 2011 after a few more weeks on the blast.
Pencil Pimp – Sepalcure by amadeusblog
34. Death In Vegas – Trans-Love Energies
One album that must only be listened to in order, it builds slowly, breaks into almost indie rock, drifts into some brilliant electro then fades into downtempo. A truly entertaining listen.
Death In Vegas – Coum by FBi Radio
33. The Weeknd – Thursday
The Weeknd’s second album of this calendar year, although it is completely overshadowed by Abel’s first release, it still has some brilliance from the guy. Songs that pack some gorgeous vocals, yearning lyrics and pretty darn good beats. (Listening is greatly enhanced while on codeine). Download for free here.
The Weeknd – Rolling Stone by The_Weeknd
32. WU LYF – Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
One of the coolest British bands of the year. Everything from the embroidered denim jackets to the webpage filled with musings that don’t make sense but sound philosophical and ‘cool’, to the vocals that may as well be a different language. Their image is what is so attractive about this album, after a while it does start to sound samey but at the same time you’re listening and thinking this is fucking cool, I mean man they recorded the whole thing in a church just to piss off Jesus. People don’t just listen to music for sound, they listen to it to enhance their own image, you don’t need me to tell you that. Next time you’re drinking your Red Stripe in some relevant bar/club remember to say to some bird with a nose ring (who will probably be faux indie ie she likes the image more than the music) “Hey look I’m cool/alt/indie I listen to WU LYF”.
Regardless, they were fucking awesome live and a bunch of ‘nice guys’, yes kindjacket did have a little chat with them after the gig (hit me up on kindjacket@gmial.com faux indie girlies…)
31. Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Rome
If you’re a fan of exquisite production then this is your boy. Recorded on vintage equipment to get the best sound and inspired by soundtracks of spaghetti westerns, producer Danger Mouse and composer Daniele Luppi have created something of real beauty. Norah Jones’ and Jack White’s vocals also star to spice the experience up even more. If I rode a horse through the Wild West this would be the first choice on my ipod.
Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Two Against One (Ft. Jack White) by MMMusic
