Best Sellers of 2011
-
Prince of dudes Kurt Vile is growing up fast. His second Matador album is—well, let's not say "mature," but it is a definitively refined version of the affectingly unkempt rock he's been turning ou...read more
-
With its flute and fiddle,
guest spots by Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater, ex-Okkervil River) on piano and organ, and epic
droning grooves, Bill Callahan's new and strongly '70s-flavored album has a b...read more
-
I wonder whether PJ Harvey’s been listening to freak-folk: On Let England Shake she
tries out a variety of vocal tones for characterization, a warped folk-song
feeling dominates, autoharp is freque...read more
-
"My country 'tis of thee / Sweet land of liberty" sings Merrill Garbus, a.k.a. Tune-Yards, leaning into the last word to show just how different her idea is than that of our founders. On her second...read more
-
Quite possibly the album of the year. On their sophomore LP, the Bay Area
duo Girls have delivered a genuine rarity: a bold and ambitious indie-rock album that not only delivers all the goods but ...read more
-
It's album number 17 for one of postmodern music's elder statesmen, as well as his first set of all-new material in seven years. And yet, as kaleidoscopic as Tom Waits's sound is, Bad as Me seems t...read more
-
Annie Clark's first album not to star her delightful chin on the cover compensates wonderfully in other ways -- specifically, the vigorously talented artist's most diverse set of songs yet. Darting...read more
-
The much-anticipated debut from the all-female supergroup Wild Flag
(with members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium and the Minders) is here,
and it delivers. Carrie Brownstein and Mary Timony blend thei...read more
-
One of the most remarkably thought-out and heartful rock records of the year will probably be skipped over by a lot of people for either the band's name or its frontman's perpetually shouted vocals...read more
-
Okkervil River's sixth album is the band's most musically ambitious to
date, produced by singer Will Sheff and bursting with grand, stirring
arrangements. "The Valley" and "Wake and Be Fine" are ...read more
Tags:
70s
,
anthemic
,
art-rock
,
awesome
,
exuberant
,
female vocal
,
folk
,
girl-band
,
hardcore
,
indie
,
noir
,
pop
,
punk
,
retro
,
rock
,
roots
,
singer-songwriter
