Our favorite albums of 2011 at the halfway point: 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5- 4 - 3 - 2
Ilse: Nr. 1. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l (4AD)
Finally, we have another sophomore album, and another artist moving into a somewhat different musical direction. Merrill Garbus debut ‘BiRd BrAiNs’ presented tUnE-yArDs’ strange, experimental sound and was significantly more DIY and less smoothly produced than the new record, which has a fuller, clearer and more passionate, dynamic and diverse sound to it, allowing us to be even more amazed by Garbus’ immense talent. ‘w h o k i l l’ exposes us to a greater variety of her expressing this talent, and in particular her incredible vocal abilities in this show that she has one of the most wonderful voices in the music industry at the moment. At times her voice is breakable and rather sweet, as she manages to reach birdlike, high notes, while at other times it is lower and extremely fierce and soulful, setting your teeth on edge and leaving you in awe. Besides this she is also capable of yelping, wailing and much more. The music on this album also seems more excessive in terms of arrangements when compared to its predecessor, featuring pounding tribal-like drums, African influences, funky saxophones and groovy bass-lines. Often, the lyrics on this album are not that strong or don’t make sense paper and it’s more the lyrics in combination with the music, or the vocal range Garbus’ chooses to attach to it that makes it meaningful or interesting. She clearly is dissatisfied with American society at the moment, as comes forward in the song ‘My Country’, in which she sings: “My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty / How come I cannot see my future within your arms?”. Also in this song it is the passionate delivery that puts the words in context. It’s definitely an outstanding record, and I’m certain it’s going to stick with me for the rest of the year, even though there is a possibility it won’t be in this spot. Another six months and we’ll find out!
Finally, we have another sophomore album, and another artist moving into a somewhat different musical direction. Merrill Garbus debut ‘BiRd BrAiNs’ presented tUnE-yArDs’ strange, experimental sound and was significantly more DIY and less smoothly produced than the new record, which has a fuller, clearer and more passionate, dynamic and diverse sound to it, allowing us to be even more amazed by Garbus’ immense talent. ‘w h o k i l l’ exposes us to a greater variety of her expressing this talent, and in particular her incredible vocal abilities in this show that she has one of the most wonderful voices in the music industry at the moment. At times her voice is breakable and rather sweet, as she manages to reach birdlike, high notes, while at other times it is lower and extremely fierce and soulful, setting your teeth on edge and leaving you in awe. Besides this she is also capable of yelping, wailing and much more. The music on this album also seems more excessive in terms of arrangements when compared to its predecessor, featuring pounding tribal-like drums, African influences, funky saxophones and groovy bass-lines. Often, the lyrics on this album are not that strong or don’t make sense paper and it’s more the lyrics in combination with the music, or the vocal range Garbus’ chooses to attach to it that makes it meaningful or interesting. She clearly is dissatisfied with American society at the moment, as comes forward in the song ‘My Country’, in which she sings: “My country ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty / How come I cannot see my future within your arms?”. Also in this song it is the passionate delivery that puts the words in context. It’s definitely an outstanding record, and I’m certain it’s going to stick with me for the rest of the year, even though there is a possibility it won’t be in this spot. Another six months and we’ll find out!
Random track to listen to: ‘Bizness’
Linda: Nr.1. Tune-yards – W H O K I L L (4AD)
You have to finish the way you started, so that’s what I’m doing: with a woman with a ukulele. I’ve given up on even trying to spell her stage name the way she likes it, as frankly, it reminds me of that time when each and everyone of my classmates suddenly seemed to have lost the capability of taking their fingers off the shift-key in a sorry attempt to come across cool on MSN messenger. So I’m just going to refer to her as Merrill Garbus, and as that is her real name, you can’t accuse me of anything (ha!). Her debut Bird-Brains (again: MSN trauma) already managed to catch my eye, but with the incredibly lo-fi production of that record - she literally recorded it on a dictaphone in her living room - she didn’t manage to reach her full potential. Fast forward to 2011 and we’ve got a new album – names are certainly not her strongest point – that fills in all the blanks left after that first acquaintance. And where that might be one fine album, it is nothing compared to what her live performance is like. Just to see her set up loops of vocals, percussion and ukulele is an incredible experience, let alone the amazing sounds that come from her throat once she actually starts to sing. ‘Hatari’ has made it as one of my favourite live experiences ever, and even though it’s not on this album, I just couldn’t let it pass for this blurb. The animalistic sounds she manages to produce in that one track would scare away a lion. Seriously, go see for yourself and be amazed. From Whokill, ‘Gangsta’ and ‘Bizness’ are obviously the best tracks, but again, as addictive as they might be on the album, it’s nothing compared to their live counterparts. Just listen to ‘Bizness’ – that intro, she does all of that live. There’s no backing tracks, she actually sings it. And the saxophones! It’s just breathtakingly beautiful.
Random track to listen to: ‘You Yes You’
Stef: Nr.1. Nicolas Jaar – Space is Only Noise (Circus Company)
I’m a sucker for these kind of late night albums. These albums that just enhance emotions when you have them playing on your headset while you are walking the streets after midnight. Everything gets kind of blurry around you, and the only thing you are hearing or feeling is this. Albums that do that, yeah, that’s kind of my weak spot. I think my favourite albums over the last few years have either been The National albums or something in this late night vein. Circlesquare is one that immediately comes to mind with his Songs About Dancing and Drugs. These sounds, so amazing. What does it for me this year is Nicholas Jaar's album Space is Only Noise. Jaar has a knack for mixing all the right sounds and finding a good flow, getting the most out of every single handclap. It is rather minimal at times, but every noise, whether those are clicks or vocals or soundbites; he manages to make it all count. The diversity of sounds that he manages to mesh into one aesthetic is brilliant. From piano to more electronically inclined sounds to outtakes from French cinema, to male and female vocals to what sounds like flippin’ ping-pong balls: he manages to mix and match them into these terribly elegant songs. Songs that make you think that sitting down by the docks at midnight staring over the dark waters is a fabulously good way to spend your time. Also, that transition from ‘Too Many Kids Finding Rain in the Dust’ to ‘Keep Me There’, that is wicked. Amazing album by such a young man, who even at that age shows that he not only has an ear for what sounds good, but also has the vision to craft these sounds into wholes. My number one so far, and I still have to see who will knock this bad boy off the top spot in the next five months or so.
Random track to listen to: ‘Keep me There’
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