Top 10 Records of 2011: James Hull (Leagues Apart)

James actually wrote one for his own rockstar tumblr, but seeing as the punx are slow at getting back to me I'll steal James' Top 10. Czech it out...

Top 10 Album’s of 2011: 

1. Richmond Fontaine- The High Country-

What else would be top? The High Country is a sparse yet sprawling masterpiece filled with atmosphere and the occasional bit of rocking. The album’s written as a kind of musical novel with a smattering of spoken word fragments set against creeping acoustic guitars. I’d describe the whole experience as misty. I’m a huge fan of Willy Vlautin’s books and Richmond Fontaine so to have the two merge so successfully was a real treat. 

2. Defeater- Empty Days and Sleepless Nights -

Another concept record! Defeater are my favourite hardcore band, in fact one of the only hardcore bands that I even listen to. This record went back to tell the story of the other brother from their debut album Travels. Some of the songs are complete face melters like Empty Glass but it’s the last track that just bubbles away for over five minutes then suddenly cuts out at a key moment in the story that gets me every time. 

3. The Descemberists- The King Is Dead -

Something of a departure for the Descemberists here to a more Americana type sound and by god does it work. Having Peter Buck popping up on 12-string guitar along the way doesn’t hurt either. Down By The Water is probably my favourite song of the year. 

4. Red City Radio- The Dangers of Standing Still -

Pop punk record of the year hands down. More harmonies than a buddhist retreat. More hits than a fuzzy cat being racist on a tram. More shredding than Conrad Black’s secretary. Basically it’s everything an ideal melodic punk record should be. 

5. PJ Harvey- Let England Shake-

 One of two notable albums this year with overtly anglophilic titles, the other of course being by a young man from Hampshire. I think PJ Harvey’s effort though is better of the two in their (I’ll admit completely converging) approaches to ‘Englishness’ (urgh horrible word.) She manages to make dark haunting songs about war and loss and twisted patriotism sound so fucking cool. She’s scratching into England’s soil and spitting out the dirt. 

6. Great Cynics- Don’t Need Much -

The jokes over, I’m breaking rank, Giles is incredible and this is an incredible record. Boy done good. 

7. The Mountain Goats- All Eternals Deck-

Not the strongest Mountain Goats record in history but still good enough to blow most other things away. John Darnielle is fast cementing his reputation as one of the greatest living songwriters. Damn These Vampires, High Hawk Season and Outer Scorpion Squadron are all testament to that. This though is something of a quirky record, I get the feeling there was a lot of playing around which leads to the whole thing feeling a little unfocused. It’s still been on a regular listening cycle since it came out though.    

8. The Frontbottoms- The Front Bottoms -

I first heard this fairly recently as we were driving to the airport after Fest. My initial thought was ‘what the fuck is this nasally irritating shit’ then I noticed I was tapping both legs and humming the melody. The Front Bottoms got me and have not let go since. They’re insanely catchy and lyrically interesting while at the same time being almost a dance band and that’s just fantastic. 

9. Crazy Arm- Union City Breath -

Hi we’re Crazy Arm, oh I see your entire face has already melted, sorry about that. 

10. Bangers- Small Pleasures -

My favourite thing of the many things to enjoy about this record is the very first bar of the very first song sounds like you’ve stumbled middway through another song. It’s kind of a lethargic breakdown which does not sound like the start of an album then suddenly it kicks in a Roo starts picking everything apart from hermogeneous high streets to the questions we all ask about growing up and our place in the world. Great record.