So Much Good in Every Word: Part I

Because I am still a *little* bit bitter about last year's Best Albums of 2010 blog post's lack of accolades, new fans and excitement, I was hesitant to do this years... but.. I couldn't resist!
I'd love to know if you like the list, discovered something new, or just listened to any of the tunes! Please communicate with me - that's what the comments are for - or do it over on the old social network whichever.
First of all, I tried to think about the shows we went to this year to name a Best Live act, and I think that we may have topped our record for last year.  My mantra since, oh, about August, has been
"Babe, this could be the last chance we have to see (FILL IN THE BLANK WITH RANDOM BAND)!"
Ween (x2)
Head and the Heart (x2)
Iron and Wine
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Cold War Kids (wait, was that this year?)
Ryan Bingham and Dead Horse (with Silent Comedy who were awesome)
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Bear Hands
Bon Iver
Megafaun
Blitzen Trapper (with Dawes)
Warpaint
Langhorne Slim (I just told you about that one!)
Ryan Adams
Cotton Jones (x2)
Devil Makes Three

Lest this just seems like bragging, I am sharing that my top live act of 2011 was...
A tie between Cotton Jones and Megafaun! Does this have to do with that both were at Doug Fir? Perhaps! But the Cotton Jones show at Sam Bonds was pretty special too.
And Ween wins for biggest BLAST (both). Probably part of that is that I wasn't pregnant yet then.

Now for the major releases
Drumroll please.

Honorable mentions:
If I had twelve spots I would have given the last two to Yacht and Bon Iver.


Love these two.
Bon Iver, Bon Iver, Bon Iver. Now, I know I am going to get some serious pushback here. But I really liked the album LESS after the show we went to at Edgefield. Super venue though by the way. I think maybe my hopes were too high? People were telling me it was going to BLOW MY MIND. And it didn't. It may have had something to do with the fact that right before he walked off stage at the very end of the show, he said, and I quote, "Thanks for the support and shit." AND SHIT. Just. no.
But the album still is a piece of quality work. Since it's been all over everyone's lists like a CHEAP FUNNY SUIT (get the Can't Buy Me Love ref there?), I'm not going to bother posting a video. Just watch the Grammys.

Late comers - meaning that if I had more time with them, they would be creepin up the list, I'm pretty sure.
Destroyer - Kaputt. Even though this came out in January, I didn't listen to it until December. I have no idea how this happened. I love New Pornographers and I love Myriad Harbor the most of all, which means I (unknowingly until the other day) love Dan Bejar, who I have very briefly met, incidentally. If you like SAX SOLOs (and who doesn't) you need to hear this album!

 

And he loves Screamadelica! YEAH.

 Charles Bradley: No Time For Dreaming. The "Screaming Eagle of Soul"? I heard Heartaches and Pain on KWVA the other day and just like a good little listener I went right to Spinitron and discovered a new love.

Sidenote: Charles is having a contest where he will call the winner's sweetheart on Valentine's Day and "serenade" them. My man is VERY emphatic that I should NOT enter. At first he thought Charles was going to make a housecall. I really hope F enters though - how cool would that be? It would be even better than that time 50 Cent called me and told me to drink more Vitamin Water!
Black Keys: El Camino. Haven't listened to the whole album yet. This is due to the fact that it is languishing un-reviewed in the KWVA mgmt office, I'm too cheap to buy the MP3 and the vinyl is "sold out." I am on the list, but seeing as my local store got a measly 12 copies that sold the first day, I may be waiting awhile.
The opening riff on Lonely Boy (not to mention the dancing) is enough to be sure it earned a spot on this list, I am just not sure where....
 


My man just got home from work and I am going to do the REAL list later.

Stay tuned.......... for the main event!