Should have built a wall, not a bridge, you should have built a…
should have built a wall, not a bridge, you should have built it.
My favorite albums of the year, 2011.
Pitchfork’s list of the best albums of 2011 was a pretty impressive list. I have to say, I am impressed by their selection. 2011 has been a great year for music and I can’t wait for what 2012 holds for the music industry. Here is just a list of my favorites this year
10. Dye It Blonde by Smith Westerns
Garage and glam live in harmony with Smith Westerns sophomore album. I detect some heavy T. Rex and David Bowie influences here.
9. EP by King Krule
I can already tell, this kid was influenced by Morrissey…and dubstep. Plus the cover art is siiiiiick!
8. Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!
I’ve already reviewed this album. Really great, has a lot of pop influences, and it’s not as dark as Romance Is Boring.
7. Crystal Castles ll by Crystal Castles
It’s kind of late It is very late to put this album on the list since it’s a 2010 release. But I can make an exception because I adored it. Robert Smith from the cure makes a guest appearance!
6. Life Sux by Wavves
Wavves has really changed his sound. Did I mention Best Coast makes an appearance in this record?
5. Goblin by Tyler, The Creator
There are no words.
4. Father, Son & Holy Ghost by Girls
It has a biblical theme. Girls reminds me of…..Girls.
3. Goodbye Bread by Ty Segall
Also wins: Best cover art of the year (in my opinion)
2. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming by M83
Have you heard of chillwave music? Neither have I until this album. Absolutely incredible.
and……..drumroooool please……………….1. Bon Iver by Bon Iver
Nice acoustic music, recorded in a log cabin. Favorite song on it is “Lisbon, OH” P.S. He has a really creepy voice….
Hello Sadness: The review
It’s been over a year since Los Campesinos! has released an album. This ripe, young band has been together for five years, with constant lineup changes. Yet, this band has spawned “Hello Sadness” which in my opinion, is probably the most complete album in their discography. “By Your Hand” the first song off the album, could easily pass as a top 40s radio hit. Backup vocals are provided by Rob “Sparky Deathcap” Campesinos! He heavily reminded me of Silver Jews with his deep vocals. I’ve never liked songs with a synthesizer as the dominant instrument, but I suppose I can make an exception with this song. “Songs About Your Girlfriend” follows with a clean guitar riff and shimmering synths and pianos. This one was my absolute favorite.
“Hello Sadness” the namesake song on the album, finds Gareth Campesinos! singing about ex-girlfriends and betrayals, losing a finger every time they cross him. He’s left with his thumb, which points downward in disappointment of his most recent ex. “Life is a Long Time” and “Every Defeat a Divorce” are written about England’s tragic losses in soccer this year. Gareth compares the losses to three lions, tearing him to shreds.
“Hate for The Island” is an interlude, indicating the transition from A-side to B-side of the record. In the song, Gareth recalls smoking marijuana in a public restroom in London, and burying a loved one on a faraway island. Then, the album makes an abrupt change to “The Black Bird, The Dark Slope” where he sings about a crow devouring his entrails and nesting in his lower intestine. The synth player, Kim, interjects in the chorus, and drones on about said crow whisking her away.
“To Tundra” is a calm ballad where Gareth experiments with his vocal skills, and hums about meeting a friend behind a church, and traveling to, what else, but the tundra. “Baby, I Got The Death Rattle” follows up, with lyrics about burning hands with a lighter and a can of deodorant. Gareth also confesses drawing a dick for every girl that wouldn’t sleep with him, and much, much later…he gets frostbite. So…that’s a lot of rejection. “Light Leaves, Dark Sees, pt. 2” ends the album on a bittersweet note, and Gareth hymns “When the light leaves, then the dark sees”
In conclusion, “Hello Sadness” has a constant sardonic tone with themes of love, loss, and death. I highly recommend it to anyone new to indie music.
Internet Censorship Bill, and Occupy Wallstreet… your thoughts?
Hey. It’s been a while since I’ve checked up on this Tumblr. I want to bring two serious political topics. First being the Internet Censorship Bill. In my humble opinion, I believe this bill will never pass. It blatantly goes against the 1st Amendment. For those of you who actually read the Bill of Rights…
Secondly, I want your thoughts on Occupy Wallstreet. Sometimes I believe that these protesters hurt their own causes, mostly by using products MADE by CORPORATIONS! Sounds a bit hypocritical, right? I think they need to be a little more careful about what they say, and do.
Best Wishes, Aidan
P.S. The police brutality in these protests is just gruesome. Just look up some videos of it, and see what I mean.
From now on, I will blog photos of triangles, random pictures of clocks or cups in forests, and propaganda posters.
This is my blog.
Well, I had a Tumblr before but I had some difficulties setting it up, so here is the new, new one.
