Just 20 songs that I like from 2011. Click to Stream.
1. Deer Tick – “Main Street”
I first saw John McCauley at the Loveless Cafe in Franklin, TN and
I’ve been hooked ever since. One of my favorite music videos of the
year, who doesn’t like to see a band having fireworks shot at them???
One of my favorite Letterman performances of the year, who doesn’t
enjoy a band when they dress for the occasion and still slay the
people???
2. Harrison Hudson – “Cherish The One You Got”
This is like a newfangled edition of “Love The One You’re With” mixed with a little bit of that Eels song that was in Roadtrip. Quite possibly the best pop album of the year, there’s such an honest sentiment in his lyrics and voice, his sincerity makes you want the good guys to win all the time.
3. The Features – “How It Starts”
This is my favorite band to see at The Earl in Atlanta. That’s where
they usually play if they are on their own. They are one of the best
live bands around the southeast, and this is my favorite track off
their latest release.
4. Kevin Devine – “Off-Screen”
One of my favorite people to see live. Heck, maybe one of my favorite
people to see in general. Kevin’s got such a special voice that
connects with the listener. His records have changed over the past
couple of releases and I think he’s really found himself and I’m
becoming a bigger fan with each record.
5. Tom Waits – “Bad As Me”
I wish I was as bad as him. We all do.
6. Wilco – “Art Of Almost”
What can you really say? They’re arguably the best band on the planet
in my opinion. No, all in all this record didn’t grab me like some of
the others have in years past, but it’s because they are always so
incredibly good. This song clocks in at a whopping 7 minutes, and
every last moment of it is necessary.
7. Lovett – “Heartattack”
Easily my favorite band at SXSW this past year. Also one of my
favorite music videos of the year. This is a party jam anthem.
8. The Head And The Heart – “Lost In My Mind”
This is one of those songs that I just kept hearing and I couldn’t get
it out of my head for days and days after each time I heard it.
9. Dawes – “If I Wanted Someone”
Taylor Goldsmith is one of the finest songwriters of our time. The
intro guitar lick is what sold me on this tune automatically, but his
prowess as a songwriter is to be envied, and he and the band are only
getting better and better. They are one of my favorite bands in the
past 5 years.
10. The Horrible Crowes – “Sugar”
I’m a fan of The Gaslight Anthem. This record takes a little getting
used to, but it’s more personal, deeper and darker, than The Gaslight
Anthem, and I find myself spinning it pretty often.
11. The Joy Formidable – “Whirring”
One of our drummer’s favorite bands is Tegan & Sara. I’ve never been
able to get into them unfortunately. But finally, finally, I connected with them. And they wrote a rock song. And it was awesome. And I told him all about how much I really dug it … it wasn’t Tegan & Sara. It was The Joy Formidable.
12. Social Distortion – “Gimme The Sweet And Lowdown”
It always takes them 5+ years to write a record every time, and I
always wait patiently, and I always end up loving it. This latest
record is a bit more rock than punk, more Stones than Ramones, but
that’s what I love about Social D, they’re always blending so many
elements of blues, country, rock, and punk. I can’t wait for them to
come back to The Tabernacle, always killer to see them there.
13. Foo Fighters – “Bridge Burning”
How in the mess was this not a single from this album??? That opening
riff is epic nasty. Enough said.
14. Mariachi El Bronx – “48 Roses”
4 women folk, a dozen roses per. I love The Bronx. I love Mariachi
El Bronx. Long live punk rock. Long live mariachi.
15. Royal Thunder – “Mouth Of Fire”
This is one of Atlanta’s best bands at the moment. Large following in
the metal realm. Such haunting vocals. I simply love rock n roll and
this is it in its purest form. Bummed we haven’t played a show
together yet.
16. Feist – “The Bad In Each Other”
I think Feist has an incredible voice and she’s also appears to be
kind of a gear and tone snob, I mean the guitar sounds on this record
are perfect, and I can’t deny a Les Paul Junior ever, much less in her
hands. Also lyrically this song speaks to me.
17. Portugal. The Man – “So American”
Another one that just kept finding it’s way into my headphones and
couldn’t get it out of my head. This band typically does that
whenever they have an album come out.
18. Royal Bangs – “Fireball”
My favorite Letterman performance of the year. I just wasn’t
expecting what I got. This is a great indie rock jam, and the band,
especially the drummer, really explodes live.
19. Sam Roberts Band – “I Feel You”
Sam and his fellows don’t get enough love down here in the US. His
records are consistently solid and they are a great live band. This
is my favorite track from their latest record.
20. Cage The Elephant – “Flow / Right Before My Eyes (reprise)”
A double feature if you will! I enjoy Flow, I really do, but the
hidden gem is a reprised version of Right Before My Eyes. It’s my
favorite song on the album, both times, but the reprised version is
more acoustic, and always (should be ALLOWS) the lyrics to carry a lot more weight, and
for that it wins. It’s the final song(s) on their album, and
fittingly, rounds out my playlist as well.
Hope you enjoyed. Way to go 2011, I’ve gotta say, you were a pretty good year for music, on multiple levels, so here’s to more of that in 2012!
Trae Vedder is the frontman of the rock n roll outfit known as Death On Two Wheels. They are currently in the midst of completing their second album. He tells us it’s chock full of mystery, murder, and other southern folklore sure to raise the hair on your neck and the whiskey to your lips. Look for the band back on the road in 2012 … they’ll be looking for you too.
