2011 "Best" Albums and your Musical Highlight/s of the Year

What are your albums of the year?

The obvious choice for best album: nothing stunningly original, just another collection of brilliant observations presented in the forms of songs. And Geoff Davis issued it on vinyl (top man). My liking for this album has nothing to do with the drawing of me in Bisodol on the front-cover. 

Also some a great re-master from Salvo of Gilbert O'Sullivan's Himself - if anybody out there wants to know how to make a first class re-master then this is it. Gilbert never did quite match this again although he wrote a great song or three in later life. 

Ten more great releases were 

1. Songs of Love and Loss - Roy Harper
2. Paper Monkeys - Ozric Tentacles
3. Saturnine - Jackie Oates
4. Let England Shake - Polly Jean Harvey
5. Ceremonials - Florence + the Machine
6. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi
7. I Love You Go Easy - Devon Sproule
8. How to Become Clairvoyant - Robbie Robertson 
9. Where Mortal Sleep - Kate Rusby
10. Songs of Robert Wyatt - The Unthanks

Thank God for Kate Rusby, as the world without her cheery personality would be a sad place indeed. 

What was your musical highlight of the year?

90 Bisodol (Crimond)

What was your concert of the year?

Didn't go to any - not so keen on live music these days [exception being classical music]. 

I've always preferred studio recordings and I'm probably too far gone to change 

What was your musical disappointment of the year?

Not hearing anything really new plus John Du Cann passing away: the world lost one of the greatest unsung guitarists around and he could could write a great song in to the bargain. Sadly nobody noticed because they were off buying the umpteenth reissue of TDSOTM, which sounds no better (or worse) than it did when it originally hit the shops. [Contrariwise, the re-issues overseen by Steven Wilson though were different class and well worth the effort]. 

Sir Bert Jansch died - we lost a true virtuoso and innovator and thoroughly nice man. 

I missed the Kerecki/Taylor album too, but Zig-Zag are sneaking out some good jazz CDs of late. As I say, I could quite easily have listed another dozen or so albums without thinking too hard - e.g. the only reason I didn't include the Colin Vallon CD in my top 10 was that you'd already mentioned it.

Guido's post reminded me that I really enjoyed hearing Anna Calvi too, even though I haven't bought her album (yet?).

Lontano  -  I shall start my 2011 awards with gigs:

Top Five Shows Of The Year

1. Impossible Gentlemen, Dorking. Wonderful. No PA - just acoustic piano and drums, and guitar/bass straight from amps. Beautiful.
2. Nik Bartsch's Ronin, King's Place. Say no more - its your No 2 also. An all time top gig for me.
3. Steven Wilson, Shepherds Bush. Top banana that one.
4. Ralph Towner, Purcell Rooms. This guy is 71 and still in love with the music.
5. My First Tooth, Brixton. As yet unsigned. But their 1st record is available and produced by Paul Wilkinson who lent his banjo to King Creosote for the Diamond Mine LP, and who's brother Phil  plays drums on Diamond Mine (and I know him a bit)

Runners Up Shows for 2011

1. Anathema, Scala. Sell out gig in London, variable but when it was good it was very good.
2. Mike Stern, Union Chapel, with Dave Weckl. Seen him so many times and always a good'un. Bumped into Gavin Harrison at this one - he pinches some of Weckl's chops (no shame there!)
3. David Gray, Festival Hall. Other half took me to this and I actually enjoyed it. The guy has presence. Just don't let anyone know I said so.

Disappointing Shows (verging on pants with no 1 being worst and no 3 having redeeming features):

1. Steve Swallow and Carla Bley, Festival Hall. Sad to see this great guy a shadow. People walked out.
2. Bill Frisell, Ronnies. I've seen this guy do amazing gigs. He didn't try this night.
3. Keith Jarrett Trio Festival Hall. Saw his solo show in 2009 which made Testament and it was mega. On this one he played the cash register (sorry I mean piano) with less conviction.

Other 2001 Gig Award

1. Mr Waters at 02. For all those bricks. Loved it and what a different end of the spectrum (topical with the Dark Side re-issue this year) from my No 1 show at Dorking, above.

Cheers

MrClick

Mr Click - what a good selection of gigs. I was at 4 of those and can't remember why I did not make the Impossible Gentlemen (oh yes, I had to travel). There is one gig I can't agree with you on and you can guess which that is :-)

Yes, well I shall have more to say about him when I get to my 2011 record selection. Tin hat required.....

Love this, took a few listens to get into but then it gets under the skin. The concert in Paris was very special indeed also:

Yann Tiersen - Skyline

Some tour video here: http://vimeo.com/31901326

and well deserved they are too. A super album.

Too busy with work to attend much but did see:

1. Aldo Romano - Tribute to Don Cherry  at Jazz à la Villette this year

2. The Bad Plus playing forthcoming material in Paris in October

Tim

Lontano - I will continue my contribution to your thread with musings on my notable records bought this year. I have bought far too much music in 2011 and these are some highlights:

Favourite 2011 releases:

1. Impossible Gentlemen - by same. (Or was it a 2010 vintage??) No.1 for me either way.
2. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning. 
3. Porcupine Tree - Anesthetize. Ok it was recorded a way back but just out on LP and great.
4. Gwilym Simcock - Good Days at Schloss Elmau. Genuine solo piano improvisations. Don't get me wrong, I love Keith Jarrett, and like him this geezer is from a classical tradition. He is showing signs of kicking Jarrett's ass at his own game! Watch out Keith, it comes to us all eventually. Lontano - I know you will have no problem accepting this assessment from me, but for any other doubters - listen first, then disagree!!)
5. Civil Wars - Barton Hollow. Heard 'My Fathers Father' on Whispering Bob radio show and nearly crunched the motor it was so good. Terrific LP.
6. King Creosote - Diamond Mine. You on commission for this one, Lontano??
7. Rolling Stones - Brussels Affair. Whilst Dave and Sarkozy have been spatting in the same town out comes this gem of a gig from '73. One of the finest years for music, for this lot anyway.

Pants Records from 2011:

1. Jakszyk Fripp Collins - A Scarcity of Miracles. Certainly the case on this release. Does all grown up music have to be so dull?
2. Steve Hackett - Beyond the Shrouded Horizon. I loved his work on Grace for Drowning, and had a pleasant exchange with him in the lavs at Shepherd's Bush Empire (that really doesn't sound right, does it?) But this is mostly pish. Anyone want a signed copy at half price?

Great Remasters Bought in 2011 (but not necessarily pressed this year):

1. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks, Kevin Gray. 
2. Van Morrison - Moondance, Kevin Gray. Both these remasters are revelatory, having owned both albums for donkeys years.
3. Rolling Stones - 1964 to 1969 Box Set. 
4. Classic Records 200g - lots of Zeppelin, and The Who titles to get the freshest, best LPs I can without a fresh mortgage. Wow!
5. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue. Classic 200g. Wow again.
6. Analogue Productions (and others) 45s including Charles Mingus 'Black Paint and the Dinner Ladies', Coltrane Love Supreme, Rumours, and Nat KIng Cole. First foray into audiophile 45 territory. Blxxdy pricey, but everyone needs one or two.......
7. Mahavishnu Orchestra - Inner Mounting Flame, on Speakers Corner. If you need a copy of this LP, get this version.
8. Rickie Lee Jones - the same, Kevin Gray. OMG - How does he do it??

Great Re-Issues Bought in 2011:

1. Embryo - We Keep On, on Wah Wah Records featuring the wonderful Charlie Mariano. (When Return to Forever were doing it in USA, and Gong were doing it in France and England, this lot were doing it in Germany in 1972.) 
2. Focus - Focus III, on Music on Vinyl. Great record, great re-issue.

Top Records New to Me for 2011:

1. Nik Bartsch's Ronin - Llyria.
2. Avishai Cohen Trio - Gently Disturbed.
3. Tim Blake - Crystal Machine from 1977.
4. Richard Barbieri - Stranger Inside.
5. I.E.M. - The Complete Box. Goodbye to Steven Wilson's old solo project before he really got it on with his new one.

Been a bit greedy on space here, but it's been a good year for music as you say, and that's all for now, signor Lontano.

Best

Click

In no particular order:

Have to agree with this recommendation (in fact I already did). For all the hype about "Rio", I didn't feel it was extraordinary (still very good though - as the majority of Jarrett's albums are).

Anyway, I want to add another album to my top ten:

This was on my "to play" pile for months, as the prospect of piano and hardanger fiddle duets didn't inspire me. In fact it's an unusual mixture of folk songs, pieces by the Norwegian composer Ole Bull, and improvisations that work brilliantly together. The recording is excellent even by ECM standards, with a lovely balance between the instruments. If there were any justice this would be one of those surprise crossover hits.

I usually find something new and interesting on the Pitchfork year-end list. It is good that lots of the albums (especially the top 20) have a track to try too.

http://pitchfork.com/features/...50-albums-of-2011/1/

Their reviews do crack me up at times though...

Bruce

Anna Calvi (for keeping me young)

Meadow - Blissful ignorance  (a stunning gig followed)

Metronomy - The English Riviera (with which we fell in love)

Acid House Kings -  Music sounds better with you (the sound of summer)

Rachel Grimes - Book of Leaves (great recommendation from Massimo)

Chris

My other, new to me faves largely come from the Ladbroke Grove groovers  of the early 70s, all 'posthumously' released live CDs..If you like real rock n roll you should love these

The Pink Fairies 'Finland Freakout' has the MK1 version of the band fronted by the mighty guitar of Paul Rudolph blasting a bunch of peace-loving Finns to pieces in the countryside one sunny day, I don't think they knew what hit them. Almost equally powerful and raw is the MK2 version of the band, fronted by stun guitarist Larry Wallis doing their much shorter but oh so catchy numbers in 1987 on Chinese Cowboys Live. Lots of feedback, iffy mixes but pure raw power. Slightly un-PC lyrics and not a love song in sight! Turn them both up very loud and clear your head.

Their brothers in arms Hawkwind have a fantastic live CD from 1976, Atomhenge. Very good sound quality, a great false start on one track plus the unique Bob Calvert doing his theatrical vocal thing over the top. This one also features the mighty Paul Rudolph but this time playing bass (and a couple of stellar guitar solos thrown in along the way). He got sacked shortly afterwards for being too funky (!) but as the wonderful Hawkwind fan website comments, he just propels them along. Speaking of Bob Calvert, his Live at the Stars and Stripes Carlisle is always on my CDP too, what an unrecognised talent, sadly gone now. It also superbly shows how good a drum machine can be if someone who knows what they are doing programmes it.

A complete contrast is last year's Lets Change the World with Music by Prefab Sprout. A complete unreleased LP from 1982 which in fact is compiled of demo tapes made by the musical genius that is Paddy McAloon. It contains songs which match anything the sprouts did, the title track is just a pure musical rush of joy and several other tracks are not far behind. Ill never forgive HiFi Critic for their crap review. I also love his rather strange solo effort, I trawl the Megahertz which is almost modern classical avant garde.

Best gig - Dreadzone in Bristol a week ago, the power of Massive Attack with reggae, trance and folk, unique and uplifting. Second Light and Eye on the Horizon are the CDs to go for. Why are gigs so sterile nowadays, lack of smoke might be the answer!

Cheers John

> Speaking of Bob Calvert, his Live at the Stars and Stripes Carlisle is always on my CDP too, what an unrecognised talent, sadly gone now.

An excellent set indeed from one of Britain's (or is that South Africa's) ace songwriters. Maximum Effect are a pretty good backing band. 

Everybody knows and loves Captain Lookheed, but Hype is a truly stunning album and I really like Test Tube Conceived and Freq.

The Calvert/Brock project which Dave insisted was released as the Brock/Calvert project, well he would, is also worth a listen or two, It is the words and music from Calvert's epic Centigrade 232

For me Hawkwind's finest period had Robert Calvert at the helm with QS&C being the pinnacle. Do you know what PXR5 is? The re-release has the banded cover (don't let Naim see it .... as they don't like discussions on how to wire a plug). 

If you like PF and haven't already got it then Think Pink by Twink is a pretty unusual and rewarding album. It has Paul R on guitar. The well known track on it is Ten Thousand Words in a Cardboard Box, which appears on every psych compilation album. 

Of course, Twink was a Pretty Thing before he was a Fairy and participated in the ultimate psych album SF Sorrow. 

Good to know that other forum members appreciate this great music, much of which many folk have never heard of, let alone scene (sic) and heard

> lack of smoke might be the answer!

Reissued on vinyl this year courtesy of Record Collector

All the best, Guy 

Thanks Guy, I will check out those other Calvert LPs, Hawkwind's Canterbury Fayre 2001 is another superb (and well recorded) live double CD and I can highly highly recommend 2 PF solo efforts, Larry Wallis's Death in the Guitarafternoon and Andy Colquhoun's Pick up the Phone America. Finland Freakout is roaring out of my IBLs right now, awesome. Up the Pinks!

Cheers John 

My musical highlights of the year were almost all live:

Rush, especially the performance of 'Moving Pictures'.

Steven WIlson, a last minute decision, and a fantastic show with an amazing group of musicians.

Van Der Graaf Generator, not their best tour since reforming, but still 'Scorched Earth' had some real power.

I have hardly bought any new releases, and hardly heard any new music that interested me, but that is perhaps more down to having a family than anything.

I do like Steven Wilson's 'Grace for Drowing', and thanks to that have gone back to a lot of Joni Mitchell and King Crimson from the 70's which it reminds me of a lot.

Although from a few years ago, I did buy Terrence Blanchard's 'A Tale of God's Will' this year, and that is the album that I have most enjoyed over the last twelve months.

I found Yes dissapointing both with their album and live, although it sounds as though they made far more of an effort in London.

I'm very behind with new releases this year but the ones I have enjoyed are:-

Circuital - My Morning Jacket

Wounded Rhymes - Lykke Li

Smother - Wild Beasts

Last of the country gentleman - Josh T Pearson

I also confess to enjoying

21 - Adele

Born this way - Lady GaGa

but my album of the year ( so far) was technically released in 2010 but I bought it in 2011

Through Low Light & Trees - Smoke Fairies

Some great jazz releases this year but I haven't spent enough time with them to recommend yet.

On the whole its been a great year for indie rock.

This year's stand out albums so far this year (I have a pile yet to listen to properly!) are

Wilco -The Whole Love

Feist - Metals - couple of not so great tracks but the rest are fab.

Hi there, My favourite LP's of 2011 are

1. The War On Drugs  - Slave Ambient

Dylan style vocals catchy rock tunes mixed with lots of layered textures and a Neu driving beat marvellous.

2. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

3. Kate Bush - 50 words for Snow

Really like this I much prefer this to Aerial although I note several other members have found it a disappointment

4. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

A massive step up from their first album which I also liked a lot.

5. Peaking Lights - 936 

Psychedelic dub style with dreamy female vocals

6. The Lovely Eggs - Cob Dominos

Very low fi indie album with silly songs and titles but highly engaging

7. Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Laurel Canyon style hints of Neil Young superb playing and nice sound quality on vinyl

8. Wooden Wand - BriarWood

Umpteenth album release by James Jackson Toth and one of his very best

9. Ry Cooder - Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down

10. Tom Waits - Bad As Me

Maybe not his best ever but excellent

11. White Denim - D

12. Laura Marling - Latest One

A massive improvement on her previous 2 albums really good.

13. Arbouretum - The Gathering

Been a great year for records.

Some of my favourite gigs for 2011 were

Richard Thompson RFH

Arbouretum - Borderline

Anna Calvi - Bush Hall

Bill Callahan - Barbican

Warpaint - Cambridge Junction

Terry Reid - Ronnie Scotts

Donovan - Royal Albert Hall

Lou Reed - Hammersmith Odeon or whatever its called this year

Duke & The King - Lexington

Pentangle - RFH it may have been Bert Jansch's last performance

The War On Drugs - some dump in Elephant & Castle

Laura Marling - Westminster City Hall

Jonathan Wilson - Hoxton Bar & Square

Hoping 2012 is as good.

Best overall: Bertrand Chamayou plays Liszt. This was a Christmas gift and I have only been able to listen to it twice. However, I'm sure that my opinion that this disc joins the super elite of Liszt recordings won't change... Everything works together: 1) Liszt's magnum opus is rarely performed complete, as on these three discs, 2) a young pianist, unknown to me, turns in a fresh, articulate, well thought out and technically awesome performance, 3) excellent recording quality.

On the music: on average, I have always found Liszt to score pretty badly in terms of the quality of his output - those endless paraphrases of other people's operas seem to be more fun to the player than the audience. However, he more than makes up for this with a few key works, which are the equal of the best of Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann and Chopin (all IMO of course). These works include the b-minor sonata, the three volumes of  the Années de Pèlerinages (of which the most famous parts are Vallée d'Obermann and the Dante sonata), and some smaller compositions mostly from his late period. 

Cheers,

EJ