It's time again to sum up the year in music...
Best concerts
 |
| Scala |
- Superchunk (London - Scala)
I've been waiting for this for about seventeen years...
It's great to have old time favourites touring again, especially with an excellent new album that was my favourite cd in 2010..And the band showed an energy on stage as if it still were 1994 - a perfect evening.
- Iron Chic / Bangers (Köln - Aetherblissement)
A packed Aetherblissement always promises a sweaty show but this night was total mayhem with everyone going crazy to the songs, but with such a positive vibe that was simply amazing.
- The Twilight Singers (Köln - Luxor)
It's always a pleasure to watch Greg Dulli live but that night he was even more on fire than usual and with the crowd in the small club responding well to it, the show was magic.
- Mogwai / RM Hubbert (Frankfurt - Mousonturm)
Mogwai released one of their best albums ever this year and the accompanying shows proved it. Never seen them so relaxed but yet so powerful on stage.
- Dan Mangan (Münster - Gleis 22)
This man brought a smile on everyone's faces which made him smile as well throughout the set..
- And So I Watch You From Afar / Antlered Man (Dortmund - FZW)
Postrock can be boring live, but And So I Watch You From Afar rocked so hard they should be labelled post-postrock.
- The Unwinding Hours (Zürich - Rote Fabrik)
A lovely summer day at the Zürich lake and anotzher excellent show of Gladgow's finest..
- Listener (Duisburg - Steinbruch)
Poetry turned into music, so intense and yet so heart warming..
- Elbow / Villagers (Glasgow - S.E.C.C.)
You recognize a good arena show when you don'z notice that you're with thousands of people enjoying the gig and that's what Elbow managed to do..
- Envy / Dÿse (Münster - Gleis 22)
An incredible wall of sound by Envy and an excellent powerful display by Dÿse made this a top ten show of 2011.
With 70 shows attended in 2011 it was a tough decision with so many excellent shows not making it into my top ten but being awesome nonetheless, e. g. Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School Of Medicine, Tu Fawning, RVIVR, Leatherface, Snuff or Eels to mention only some.
Best albums
- Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will
Also winning "Title of the year" award.
- We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships
Rising from the ashes of Pela this album takes emo to as new level by leaving it behind..
Synthie pop at its best, not as sinister as EMA, but that's what makes it so beautiful..
- Fucked Up - David Comes To Life
The hardcore opera of 2011, no (La) Dispute about that..
- Parts & Labor - Constant Future
Their best album so far and, unfortunately, their last.
- And So I Watch You From Afar - Gangs
Post-postrock, on record as energetic as on stage.
- Gary Numan - Dead Son Rising
The old school strikes back..
If there's any band's sound deserving to be called massive, it's them.
- Take A Worm For A Walk Week - T. A. W. F. A. W. W.
The raw side of Glasgow..
- Happy Particles - Under Sleeping Waves
Released on christmas day, it's a nice present showing Built To Spill that good songs don't need lengthy guitar solos..
There were far more excellent albums, so some should at least be mentioned (no, Bon Iver is not among them):
The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar
EA 80 - Definitiv: Nein!
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
We Were Promised Jetpacks - In The Pit Of The Stomach
Elbow - Build A Rocket Boys!
EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints
Remember Remember - The Quckening
Low - C'mon
Yuck - Yuck
Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune
Diarrhea Planet - Loose Jewels
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Tao Of The Dead
Best songs
- Olympic Swimmers - Where It Snows
A teaser from their debut album to be released next year
- Look Mexico - You Hungry? Good, 'Cause You're Saying Grace
If Real Americans Spear It would have been an album instead of an EP, it would easily have reached the top album list.
- I Break Horses - Winter Beats
Makes you want to settle down in front of an open fire after being out in the snow with the Olympic Swimmers.
- Fucked Up - Queen Of Hearts
"Hello, my name is David, your name is Veronica. Let's be together, let's fall in love."
- Diarrhea Planet - Raft Nasty
Nearly as catchy as Ghost With A Boner..
- We Were Promised Jetpacks - Pear Tree
Yes, add another layer of guitrs...
- Dan Mangan - Rows Of Houses
Gimme the blues....
Another gem from Canada....
- Happy Particles - Come Home All Dead Ones
Randy Described Eternity with less guitars (at least for me)
Welcome to the dark side...
And 2012?
The Glasgow empire will continue its reign with Olympic Swimmers' debut, the new Twilight Sad album and, hopefully, new stuff by The Unwinding Hours.
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