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the best of 2011
Austra – Feel It Break
Austra’s Feel It Break has been in my head all year. Not only does this debut album stand above many tenured acts’ releases of 2011, but it is also a music fan’s best introduction to the Toronto trio. With its catchy, dark grooves, Feel It Break gives an infectiously good and lasting first impression to new listeners. It certainly won this critic over; it is the first record (since I was in my early, musically charlatanistic teens) that I’ve been able to play more than once in a row while relishing every moment. – RJ Vandrish
Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Coldplay released their fifth album, Mylo Xyloto, on Oct. 24. After the long wait since their 2009 release, Viva La Vida, Coldplay did not disappoint with the lead singles “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall” and “Paradise.” Coldplay still maintained their mellow tone and proved that they still have that spark that makes fans go crazy. – Emily Rivas
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
A collective masterpiece – yes, I called it a masterpiece – Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blue is the strongest album from 2011. Lead singer, lyricist, and guitarist, Robin Pecknold takes listeners through an epic emotional journey with every passing song, all in the beautiful Folk styling with flawless harmonies that only the Fleet Foxes can deliver. – Laura Stanley
Fucked Up – David Comes to Life
No one said evolution was easy; this is especially true for Fucked Up. Longevity wasn’t an option. 30-plus albums later, Fucked Up now flirts with the mainstream playing alongside bands like the Foo Fighters. Tracks like “One More Night,” “The Other Shoe” and “The Recursive Girl” dictate a complicated marriage between Punk and experimental Rock. The record is a strong release for a band with a string of strong releases, including their 2009 Polaris Prize winning The Chemistry of Common Life. – Curtis Sindrey
Raphael Saadiq – Stone Rollin'
"Good Man," the first single off of Saadiq's album made me fall back in love with old R&B and Motown soul hard. His static voice and the perfect blend of twist songs and groovy R&B tracks reminded me that going old school is never a bad thing. – Raquel Dreesen
Sloan – The Double Cross
These guys may be nearly as old as your dad (that is, if you’re 18…), but their albums keep getting edgier, tighter, and smarter. This year’s effort marks Sloan’s 20th anniversary, and despite the fact that they’ve never quite caught a big fish in the Pop Chart seas, they’re happily still making relevant Indie music that shames many of the wispy, wussy efforts of their younger peers in the Canadian music scene. And why shouldn’t Sloan attract a brand new fan base of teens and college kids, just like Green Day and Radiohead? Maybe those Foo Fighter lovin’ kids who have no idea that Dave Grohl used to be in “another band” will vote Double Cross as the best debut album of 2011 and Sloan will have a second chance at their day in the sun. Maybe Chris Murphy’s ex-girlfriend and global superstar Leslie blasé Feist will open for Sloan one day and everything will be right with the world again. Or maybe not – but this album is still one rapidly aging music critic’s pick for 2011. – Erin Klassen
The Mark Inside – Nothing to Admit
This one really caught me off guard. Too often bands will break out the Garage Rock pretensions, (fuzzed vocals, slap back delays etc.), to cover for uninspired performances. This record just captures great performances. The songs are catchy and varied, and the production honest. Though it reminds me most of The Constantines, I can’t help think that this is what The Strokes should sound like if they weren’t so damn lazy and comfortable. – Jeff Vasey
The Roots – Undun
This was a hard one, but The Roots' Undun is truly a masterpiece. The concept album transcends the thought of the word 'Hip-Hop', it's a complete story from beginning to end, like reading a novel, following the main character throughout the pages. Just listen to the very ending, it's not even Hip-Hop anymore but something evolved into a classical composition. – Xolisa Jerome
The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient
Channeling both Bob Dylan and the Arcade Fire, The War on Drugs created a hi-fi, low-fi record of infinite depth of sound. "Baby Missiles" is a standout, but if you listen to this album each day for a week you might have seven favorite songs, one to fit the mood of each day. – Jay Patrick
Timber Timbre – Creep On Creepin’ On
Timber Timbre comes fully into their own with their second release, Creep On Creepin’ On. Not so shockingly the album’s… well… creepy. The macabre undertones are only outdone by Taylor Kirk’s propensity for the dramatic. Highlights include the moody “Bad Ritual,” the dark strangeness of the title track, and “Woman” (which features some killer Surf guitar). With an April release date Timber Timbre may have already been forgotten by many, but if Creep On Creepin’ On is sitting in a pile of vinyl, pull it out for another spin – I guarantee that long winter months will make this moody masterpiece sound even better. – Joe Veroni
Adele
British Pop star Adele has had the best year by far with having the top album with 21 and the top single with “Rolling in the Deep.” Also, by earning six Grammy nominations, she has taken the music industry by storm and will continue to do so for years to come. – Curtis Sindrey
Arcade Fire
The Arcade Fire had a solid year winning the Grammy for Best Album of The Year for The Suburbs. The Quebecois band proved what they’re worth, winning the award against big-name artists such as Eminem, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Lady Antebellum. The band did much touring in 2011, including a trip to Haiti in which they were involved with Partners in Health Haiti. – Emily Rivas
Bon Iver
Releasing his stellar sophomore album to high critical praise, a well-deserved explosion in popularity, and garnering four Grammy nominations, 2011 has been a hell of a year for Justin Vernon and the rest of the Bon Iver crew.
– Laura Stanley
Foster the People
When I think of music and 2011, I think of Foster the People. Their first single "Pumped Up Kicks" got everyone hooked to their Indie-pop tune at the beginning of the year and then, in May, their debut LP Torches came out. Every song on that album was a hit. – Raquel Dreesen
The Black Keys
How do you follow a banner success if you’re a Garage/Blues duo used to flying under the radar? Hit your basement studio with Danger Mouse, and crank out another magnificent album. Yes The Black Keys are everywhere, and I’m sure that will cause a backlash – but for countless teenagers used to quantized, pitch-corrected, test-marketed ear candy, this will be the first “real” music they ever hear. – Jeff Vasey
The Decemberists
A tour, an excellent full length LP to begin the year, and an EP of surprising depth at the close. Having returned from the land of the rock opera unscathed, is there anything that the Colin Meloy collective can't do? – Jay Patrick
The Sheepdogs
This Saskatchewan neo-Psych Rock trio released their debut in 2007, and a great sophomore album, Learn & Burn, in 2010 – and neither earned much response. In March of 2011 I saw them play an awesome show at the Dakota Tavern during Canadian Music Week, and bought their latest LP shortly after. However, as 2011 comes to a close, they’re legitimate rockstars – much thanks to the not-so-insignificant feat of becoming the first unsigned band to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine (August). Since then, they’ve been signed to Atlantic Records, toured as opener for Kings of Leon, released an EP with new material (Five Easy Pieces) and this December, tour their own country as headliners – and this time around… they’re kind of a big deal. – Erin Klassen
Tom Waits
You already know this, but Tom Waits put out a record this year. And any time Waits lays down some new vinyl he gets my nod as the year’s best artist. Bad As Me might not be as good as 2004’s underappreciated Real Gone, but it was still worth the wait. – Joe Veroni
Hey Rosetta! – “Yer Spring”
With the release of Seeds, an ever-growing fan base, and a Polaris Music Prize nomination to boot, Hey Rosetta! certainly has had a year to remember. The first single from Seeds, “Yer Spring,” not only embodies the feel of the album as a whole, and has a great video, but it has never failed to put me in a great mood. – Laura Stanley
Jay-Z and Kanye West – “Otis”
My pick for best single of 2011 goes to “Otis” by Jay-Z and Kanye “Imma let you finish” West. The track effectively samples Otis Redding’s 1966 hit “Try a Little Tenderness,” and is a celebration of the underdog “Driving Benzes, wit’ no benefits. Not bad huh? For some immigrants.” Their verses trade smoothly with Redding’s raw and insistent vocals constructing a bridge between the soul music of yesterday with its hip-hop offspring. – Curtis Sindrey
The Joy Formidable – "Whirring"
Was there a better album to crank up on the headphones this year than The Big Roar from the Joy Formidable? "Whirring" might have been a too-easy choice based on the amount of buzz this received upon release but I challenge you to find a song containing a greater range of Classic Rock elements refashioned into something so damn fresh. – Jay Patrick
The Joy Formidable – "Whirring"
I first heard this song in California and it blew my mind. The blend of Hard Rock, a gentle female voice and catchy drum beats made me want to blast this immediately. – Raquel Dreesen
Sam Coffey and The Iron Lungs – “Violent Girls”
If Wynn Butler had stayed in Texas guzzling malt liquor and driving pickup trucks, he’d sound like this. An instantly gratifying blend of anguish and abandon, filtered through a Springsteen-like everyman sensibility, this song was in heavy rotation on the local college station for most of the year, and never ran out of gas. – Jeff Vasey
The Black Lips – “Modern Art”
So we’ve got references to molly, the ocean, and the Louvre – all in one fantastic Black Lips song. And hey, there’s a video for this one too. Close second for best single is “Spidey’s Revenge”… also off of the Lips’ Arabia Mountain. Basically, Arabia Mountain fucking rules. – Joe Veroni
The Strokes – “Under Cover of Darkness”
“Under Cover of Darkness” was The Strokes’ first single off their fourth album, Angles. Being the first single release after “You Only Live Once” in 2006, “Under Cover of Darkness” marked a milestone in The Strokes’ career as it was probably one of the best songs they have ever released. “Under Cover of Darkness” is catchy, upbeat and nothing like anything The Strokes have ever done before. The single received a lot of positive feedback from the public and was placed on the top of many charts. – Emily Rivas
Foster The People – Torches
With the release of their debut album, Torches, in May and the huge success of their single “Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster The People has made it to number three on The Billboard Top 100 list, number one on the Canadian Alternative Chart and continue to be constantly played everywhere. This California-trio has gained a huge fan base within the past year and they have a prosperous future ahead of them.
– Emily Rivas
Paley & Francis – Paley & Francis
Is it cheating to pick a Black Francis release as Best Debut? Well shit, who cares. This is an awesome new record from one of the all-time greats. What more could anybody want? – Joe Veroni
The Head and The Heart – The Head and The Heart
After reviewing the album earlier in the year, I cannot stop listening to The Head and The Heart’s debut self-titled album. I stand by my previous comment that they are not breaking any barriers in terms of their sound, but I don’t care. Full of Folk-rock catchiness, The Head and The Heart have had a fantastic year in terms of fan growth, with only more good things to come. – Laura Stanley
The Mercy Now – Self Control
Though their album actually came out in late 2010, this was the year that The Mercy Now grabbed me by the ears and wouldn’t let go. Their live show this fall was both intimidating and invigorating. Like watching a young James Brown front The Hives, you’ll be initially shocked by the swagger, and quickly be enveloped by the passion and sheer joy. The next thing you know, you’ll have spent ten songs dancing, grinning like an idiot and wishing for more. – Jeff Vasey
Wild Flag – Wild Flag
Rock without the annoying pretense. These hardened girl rockers might be old pros, but the collective discarded the supergroup stigma and released, perhaps, the most inherently enjoyable Rock album of 2011. – Jay Patrick
Blink182
After the band’s reunion and the much-anticipated release of Neighborhoods, Blink182 rocked the stage of Toronto's Molson Canadian Amphitheatre along with opening bands My Chemical Romance and Manchester Orchestra. With at least 16,000 people gathered to see Blink182, it is safe to say there were fans from every “Blink182 era”. The band played many old favourites, opening with “Feeling This,” and played tracks from their new material as well. – Emily Rivas
Meligrove Band (NXNE)
I saw my share of concerts this year, but for me, The Meligrove Band’s NXNE performance at the Rivoli takes the cake. These off-beat Toronto Pop-rock Indies took over the stage and channelled the spirits of original punkers and four-chord heroes, The Ramones. Clad in leather jackets and white t-shirts, The Meligrove boys seemed possessed, and thanks to their theatrical (but never silly) tribute show surprise, the crowd was buzzing. Highlights included “Judy is a Punk” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker.” – Erin Klassen
OFF! with C’mon and Black Lungs (NXNE)
This was a show that put a boot to the throat of all the “formerly of” tags people have put in front of Keith Morris’s name. OFF! eclipsed those other bands in both songwriting and sheer ferocity. Morris broke up the set with some great anecdotes and tirades, but that only served to focus the energies of both band and audience for the next pummeling. Add to that the fact that Black Lungs had me wishing for an AOF breakup months before it happened, and that it was my second last time seeing C’mon squeeze mayhem into boot cut jeans, and you had a dream bill. Although I’m still left wondering why Ian Blurton gave me $10 mid-set? – Jeff Vasey
Paul Simon
Not to toot my own horn by any means, but I’ve seen a number of amazing concerts this year! As mind-blowing as they were, they all got beat out by the 70 year old, legendary, musician, Mr. Paul Simon. After walking on stage to a standing ovation, Paul Simon owned every single second of his two-plus hour concert at Massey Hall this past May. He hasn’t aged a bit. – Laura Stanley
Rammstein
Last May Rammstein brought their act to Canada for the first time in a decade. And they kicked the shit out of our pasty Canuck asses. There was enough fire to make the US Army jealous (or nervous?), a constant barrage of explosions, and lead-singer Till Lindeman murdered Flake Lorenz on stage. It was one of the most rambunctious crowds I’ve ever seen in Toronto – leave it to ze Germans. – Joe Veroni
Roy Ayers
Being a huge Hip-Hop head, you naturally become attuned to the zillions of samples the genre uses, especially those of Jazz and Funk tunes from the ‘60s and ‘70s. So having the chance to see someone who had such a heavy influence in the genre perform live… that was an amazing experience. I'll never forget the energy and complete appreciation and respect that was felt in The Mod Club that night. – Xolisa Jerome
U2
U2 jolted the Rogers Centre in Toronto for a long overdue performance this past July. Performing a 20+ track set chronicling every inch of their illustrious career including “Moment of Surrender,” from No Line on the Horizon, which closed out the show after the band’s second encore. The stage structure, known as the Claw, is 164 feet tall. Each leg of the structure contains its own sound system and the cost of each structure is between $23-$30MM. By far the most interesting, and the most exhilarating concert I’ve been to in a long time. – Curtis Sindrey
Alex Turner - Submarine
Alex Turner’s songs in the soundtrack for the indie comedy, Submarine, perfectly depict the events of the film and even fills in the emotions of the main character, Oliver Tate, that seem to be in between the lines. With soft ballads and narrative lyrics, Alex Turner strays away from the usual Arctic Monkeys sound and captures the hearts of the film’s audience with the five-and-a-half tracks on Submarine. – Emily Rivas
Drive
Synth-driven and unapologetically ‘80s, the Drive Soundtrack perfectly backed the pulp action of the film. From Cliff Martinez's score to the one-off singles from Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx, Desire and College I haven't been this enamored with an Electronic soundtrack since the Dust Brothers' score to Fight Club. – Jay Patrick
Drive
I've been obsessed with this soundtrack since I saw the movie, and I think Jay described it perfectly. – Raquel Dreesen
Emm Gryner
Ms. Gryner has been a fixture on the Canadian music scene for decades and it was with her newest release “Northern Gospel” that I finally gave her a strong, hard look. I interviewed her back in October and I found that she was very humble and very passionate about the music that she created. She was very honest in our discussion, especially when she spoke about her time on a major label. She embraced the Internet when finding encouragement because it “opens up the entire world to you for inspiration. It makes you feel like anything is possible.” – Curtis Sindrey
Joel Plakett
As a huge fan of this staple in Canadian music, interviewing Joel Plaskett was an honour to say the least. Not only did we cover some great content but he was a really nice guy, putting up with my fan-girl ways. – Laura Stanley
The Left
Also probably my longest interview to ever transcribe! Speaking to Apollo Brown, journalist and DJ Soko turned into more than just an interview – me asking questions, and the Left answering. It was a conversation. One that left me inspired and so anxious to share with others. These guys gave readers an in-depth look at what it really means to make music, and the process behind it all not to mention what it means to be an honest source for one another and do things as an independent unit. – Xolisa Jerome
Best Electronic Album:
Polinski – Labyrinths
I still stand by the claim in this review: in my opinion, no other electronic record came close to this Science-Fiction tweaked landscape from the mind of Paul Wolinski. – Jay Patrick
Best Punk Album:
The Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
The Flower Punks cleaned up their sound without losing their edge. And the result is yet another 4-star album from the Black Lips. “Family Tree” kicks the record into gear from the get-go, and then the second track, “Modern Art,” manages to pick up the pace some more. You might notice that the vocals were pulled out of the garage and put front and center for this release, and that makes this a must-have not only for fans of the Lips, but for all music lovers. – Joe Veroni
Best Video:
Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”
This star-studded throwback (sequel, if you will) to the Beasties’ first (and massive hit) single “Fight for Your Right” (from Licenced to Ill, 1986) is pee-your-pants hilarious, but also has something important to say. After all, the video (which has gone viral on Youtube) discusses in some disturbing detail the timeless oppression of those who must fight for their right to party. This instructional music video shows viewers that they too can fight for their rights, by breaking into liquor stores, throwing pies, break-dance fighting, and trippin’ their balls off. The Beasties’ are living proof that you can be a millionaire and multi-platinum recording artist without taking yourself too seriously. Yes, Bono, I’m talking to you. – Erin Klassen
Best Video:
Kalle Mattson – “Thick As Thieves”
An arts and crafts history of the world, all in stop motion animation, up-and-coming Canadian Folk-rockers Kalle Mattson have set their song, “Thick As Thieves” to one of the cleverest music videos that I’ve seen in a long time. – Laura Stanley
