So Many Great Records, Part 3

Well, I had hoped to have my entire longlist recapped before the New Years' Eve countdown aired, but unfortunately I developed a sinus infection over the holidays and between that and familial obligations, I didn't write a single word. So over the next couple days, I'm going to finish up the recap and get to my Top 20 (of which the word is already out on.

Happy New Year and all the best in 2012.

Les Jupes - Modern Myths [Head In The Sand]

Now that my Top 20 songs have been revealed, the cat’s out of the bag on this one. Released early in 2011, Modern Myths held strong throughout the marathon and “One Solemn Oath” never lost its resonance.
One Solemn Oath by LES JUPES by The Instrument Village


Lia Ices - Grown Unknown [Jagjaguwar]

This is a spooky record that gets under your skin.
Lia Ices - Ice Wine by hoodlem


Little Dragon - Ritual Union [Peacefrog]

The title track is amazing. How disappointed am I that Little Dragon had to cancel their Fargo show last February? That may have been the closest the Swedish act would get to Winnipeg.
Ritual Union by Little Dragon


Liturgy – Aesthetica [Thrill Jockey]

Black Metal. Thrill Jockey. Yes, please.
Liturgy - Generation by muntersinger


Low - C'mon [Sub Pop]

This may be the Minnesota band’s happiest record in a long string of epic sadness.
Low - Nothing but heart by ciaciod


M83 - Hurry Up We're Dreaming [Mute]

While I think Saturdays=Youth is a better record, this double-disc from the prolific Frenchman is still a very strong release.
Midnight City by M83


Mastodon - The Hunter [Reprise]

Here’s a record that Cretin Rob and I can absolutely agree on.
Mastodon - Curl of the Burl by Roadrunner Records



Matthew Maaskant - Believe It Or Not, This Is The Place [Draft Tattoo]

I wrote about being taken with this record, so it shouldn’t come as a shock to be on here.
Fireflies by M.Maaskant


Memory Tapes - Player Piano [Carpark]

Carpark always seems to be releasing interesting records, and Player Piano is a fitting album for their roster.
Memory Tapes - Unknown by jobsmit


Modeselektor – Monkeytown [BPitch Control]

According to Wikipedia, Modeselektor describe their music thusly: “Happy metal, hard rap, country-ambient, Russian crunk.”
Modeselektor - Blue Clouds by Modeselektor


Nat Baldwin - People Changes [Western Vinyl]

Chances are, if your album got a rave review from me earlier in the year, you can expect to see it find a place on the longlist at the very least.
Weights by Nat Baldwin by western.vinyl


Ocote Soul Sounds – Taurus [ESL]

Antibalas + Adrian Quesada + Thievery Corporation’s label (ESL) = one of my wheelhouses.
Ocote Soul Sounds - Primavera by INgroovesmarketing


Ohbijou - Metal Meets [Last Gang Records]

Known for Casey Mecijia’s wispy vocals, this record is surprisingly muscular.
Ohbijou - "Niagara" by indiemusicfilter


Owiny Sigoma Band - Owiny Sigoma Band [Brownswood Recordings]

More credit to Gilles Peterson for “discovering” this act and releasing it on his Brownswood Recordings label.
Owiny Sigoma Band - 'Wires' by Brownswood


Ox – Tuco [Cosmic Dave's Record Factory]

Mark Browning’s first full-length since 2007 (not counting his Christmas album), finds him further mining the dusty roots of American music. Great stuff.

Listen to "Indie Rock Radio Nation" here.


Peter Wolf Crier - Garden Of Arms [Jagjaguwar]

For some reason I used to get this band confused with Peter and the Wolf. After Garden Of Arms, I will not be making that mistake again.
Settling It Off by Peter Wolf Crier by rippleent


Quasimode - Magic Ensemble [AIS]

Classic club-jazz from Japan.
Quasimode - Giant Black Shadow by Starslicer


Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin' [Columbia]

As I mentioned in my Stylus review of this record, Saadiq is like a musical Dorian Gray moving back through rock history.
"Heart Attack" Raphael Saadiq by stantonallyson


Ringo Deathstarr - Colour Trip [Sonic Unyon]

Comparisons to My Bloody Valentine are warranted (although nothing will ever touch Loveless) and earned this Lone Star act a spot on the longlist.
Ringo Deathstarr - Imagine Hearts by Club AC30


Roots – Undun [Def Jam]

Pretty much the same boat as the Black Keys’ El Camino – released too late in the game for me to fully digest.
The Roots - Tip Of The Scale by dorego


Russian Circles - Empros [Sargent House]

Not as mind-blowing as Geneva and Station, a solid record from Russian Circles is always a welcome addition to my library.
Schiphol by RussianCircles