Every year I understand popular music less and less. I watched Dick Clark’s New Years Rockin’ Eve and don’t know a single musician that performs or their songs. However there are bands and artists that have been around for years. I’m always excite to hear their newest albums. This pretty much means my top 10 this year will be all albums that aren’t appearing on anyone else’s lists… which mostly means I have no music cred.
10. Weird Al Yankovic: Alpocalypse – Whenever someone tells me they don’t like Weird Al Yankovic, they instantly lose respect for me. Much like The Muppets, Mr Rogers and Motown music, everyone has a little place in their heart for Al Yankovic. He’s an inspiration to every musical comedian (myself included). Furthermore he managed to take what everyone called a ‘one-hit wonder’ and ‘novelty act’ and make it last 30+ years.
9. Primus: Green Naugahyde – Les Claypool is a bass playing machine, this is just a known fact. It’s also a known fact that Primus very well may be the second most impressive three-piece band in history (second only to Rush). Their first full length album in a decade came almost unannounced, but picked up where they left off with Anti-Pop and blended it beautifully with the vibes of Frizzle Fry and Suck on This.
8. The Streets: Computers and Blues – The Streets Original Pirate Material is one of my all time favorite albums. I’ve always liked following Mike Skinner’s career with The Streets. It saddens me to hear this knowing it’s the last album the Streets will ever release, but at least Skinner gave us a great final record from them.
7. Alkaline Trio: Damnesia – I’m going to go on the record and say that as much as I love Alkaline Trio… I’d be completely okay if they decided that all their albums from here on out should sound like Damnesia. The mix of punk ethics and acoustic guitar reminds me of one of my favorite groups Violent Femmes (who get a nice cover from A.T. on this record).
6. MC Chris – Race Wars/Marshmallow Playground – Last year I wrote an in depth blog entry explaining why MC Chris Goes to Hell was a better album than Eminem:Recovery and Kanye West: My Beautiful Twisted Fantasy. What can I say, I’m a fan boy. It truly is a shame however that MC Chris always gets catalogued as a ‘comedy rapper’ or a ‘nerdcore rapper’. He certainly is those things, but he’s also one of the tightest, wittiest and fastest mc’s in the game. He managed to release no one but two perfect albums (admittedly one is an EP) this year filled with catchy hooks, funny skits and great rhymes.
5. Social Distortion – Hard Times & Nursery Rhymes – Social Distortion’s newest album is powerful and loud. I barely even have words to say… just buy it.
4. Garfunkel & Oates – All Over Your Face – Past Geekscape guests Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome have been dominating the world of music comedy for a few years now. All over Your Face is like a Garfunkel and Oats greatest hits for long time fans of their youtube channel. The album however offers the best recordings of those songs you love. The Stand out tracks are “You and Me and Steve”, “Gay Boyfriend” and “This Party Just Took a Turn For the Douche”
3. The Aquabats – High-Five Soup – Everyone’s favorite goofy ska/new wave band released the most upbeat sing-along album of the year. Just buy it and learn all the words and drive around singing the songs while you pop wheelies, hug your homies, hang with your big friends forever or fight sharks. Somehow the album is the perfect soundtrack for all those things.
2. Atmosphere – The Family Sign – Can we just accept the fact that Atmosphere has never made a bad album? The Family Sign continues Slug’s on going trend of poetic (and frequently autobiographical) lyrics combined with Ant’s always unique, minimialistic and memorable beats.
1. Kate Micucci: EP Phone Home – I already mentioned Kate Micucci, well she also managed to release two great albums this year. One with Garfunkel and Oates and one on her own. In just 6 songs Kate Micucci’s EP Phone Home still has more strength in it than any other album released this year, either it’s the goofy and upbeat “Happy Song”, the nostalgic sadness of “For My Dog Jack” or “Soup in the Woods”, the uplifting “Taking Chances” or the best single no one heard this year “I have a Crush on My Teacher” this is the must have album of the year, without a doubt.
The best Song of 2011 that no one heard.