Best Of 2011 Part 11

Mike Birbiglia - "Sleepwalk With Me"

Mike Birbiglia has a rare gift for story telling. It helps that he has a lot of fucked up things happen to him that makes for really humorous stories, but he paints the pictures of the situations so perfectly it makes it that much better. He is also one of those rare stand up comedians that doesn't need to use the crutches of crassness and profanity in order to be funny, so you can listen to/watch his stuff in front of old people and they might enjoy it too because a lot of his humor is universal.

Mochipet - "Spacezilla"

A nice little EP with 3 songs and then 1 remix each of those songs as well. The title track is a super addictive song for me especially. This is like dubstep that's not too hardcore for regular people, but not all butter soft and poppy like someone like Nero or Rusko's newer stuff.

Mr. Oizo - "Stade 2"

It's no secret that he's become one of my favorite people in both the music and film world within the last 5 years, so I don't know why it's so surprising to me how NOT disappointed I am in this album. I guess I really am a pessimist at heart, just waiting for people to fall off, but for Oizo that's not happening anytime soon. Every single track on here is straight infectious and addictive to me, making this an easy contender for album of the year of 2011 in my mind. Look up the song "Camelfuck" for a good example song. You will either be dancing around like a child or extremely annoyed. Either way it will evoke a reaction. I love how his songs are usually structured around mostly well known short stabs of samples and synth sounds, but the way he arranges and programs it all is just genius and addictive.

The Stepkids - "The Stepkids"

Self-titled debut from this funk/psych-rock group, based out of Connecticut, released on Stones Throw Records. Really superb material for a debut, and unlike a lot of other people in this genre,they have an original sound of their own and they don't sound like a cover band. I first heard them through the song "Shadows On Behalf", which was released as a vinyl single before the LP came out, and I figured the full album was going to sound a certain way, but they are a multi-faceted group that comes equipped with many styles. I'm looking forward to more music from them in the future.

Slo Sly Love - "Summer"

The title says it all. Very breezy and relaxing, sample based but not seeming like it, chill out music. I've heard him compared to Com Truise before, but I don't think that's fair. I'd put him closer to Kavinsky if I had to compare him to someone else. Anyone that enjoys a lot of the cooler sounds of the 80's should check him out. It'll take you back while simultaneously taking you to the future as well.

The Residents - "Talking Light Bimbos"

I don't know how well this live album translates to people who didn't go to one of the shows on the tour, but this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life, and they seemed to have picked an even better show to release as the official live album of the tour than the one they did here in Minneapolis. But yeah, obviously none of the visual stuff or the main guy's stage presence can be translated to an audio recording, so it's still not as awesome of an experience just listening to it.

Jonwayne - "Thanks, Bro"

2011 was definitely Jonwayne's year. Seemingly coming out of nowhere, he hit the world with a barrage of releases, most of which were free downloads such as this one. He has been starting a dual career of making quirky, videogamey, yet J Dilla influenced, electronic music, and then also rapping as well. This is an electronic release, which seems to mostly be B-sides and outtakes from his official album "Bowser". It's amazing how high quality these songs are, and a testament to how good he actually is, if these are his throwaway songs.

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - "Thuggin"

Interesting vinyl single collaboration between Madlib and this up and coming MC from Gary, Indiana. Freddie sounds pretty good over good production. Hopefully there's a full length on the horizon, because i'd be into it.

Kimya Dawson - "Thunder Thighs"

First of all, check out that artwork, haha. My first thought upon listening to this album was "fuck my friends that told me I wouldn't like her music... why the fuck did I listen to them?". I immediately became a fan, obviously WAY late in the game. She has a definite love her or hate her type of quality,and putting on her music will divide a room full of people. I feel like her brand of freewheeling, honest, songwriting is very refreshing. Some people are turned off by the child-like aspects of her style, but I think it's part of her charm for me. I feel like what she's doing stylistically makes both Ani Difranco and Dessa look even more pathetic than they already make themselves look with their bland, mediocre drivel, but I am curious to know how people who are actually fans of those 2 artists feel about Kimya and her style. I wonder if they reject or accept it, generally. Aesop Rock makes about 6 guest appearances on here, giving a preview for their upcoming collaboration album. I don't know how they met or why they decided to start recording so much music together when their styles are so different from one another, but i'm glad they did, because that is how I found out about her talent, and the results are interesting and enjoyable, the best example of which is the epic, 10+ minute "Walk Like Thunder".

SebastiAn - "Total"

I heard some negative opinions expressed about this album before, and I think it spawns from a few of the songs being up to 3 years old, and him not having more new material to present as his full length debut. This album was delayed multiple times and highly anticipated by many, so it had some high standards to live up to. I feel like it delivers, and is one of the strongest full length electronic LP's of the last few years. Check out songs like "Organia" and "Ross Ross Ross" that are typical Ed Banger type jams, reminiscent of more palatable Mr. Oizo stuff, but then also jumping over to more contemporary collaborations like "C.T.F.O." with M.I.A. and "Love In Motion" with Mayer Hawthorne. This is a very well rounded album with lots of replay value.

Hella - "Tripper"

Instrumental rock at it's best. Zach Hill is a drumming genius (who apparently only uses one foot pedal, I don't know how, listening to this, his knee must just vibrate rhythmically). I enjoy this project of his infinitely more than I enjoy his project that's getting all the press currently, Death Grips, which I just can't get into because of the vocalist. He just RIPS through these songs on the drums. He's like a Buckethead/Zappa type figure for drumming, I don't know how else to put it.

Jonti - "Twirligig"

Stones Throw is really carving out a niche within the music world with these awesome one-man-band type acts they keep discovering. Similar to label-mates James Pants and Koushik, this is one man's unique take on music. I find it hard to describe Jonti to people. He has a timeless quality but also a very futuristic sound at the same time. Check out "Nightshift In Blue". You can tell this guy is just getting started and will probably be some cherished act like Air or something in the future.