Archive
* Favorite EPs / Vinyl / Live Albums & more of 2011 *
This is sort of a precursor to my “official” Favorites of 2011 blogs. Up later this week, I’ll post my favorite vocal and favorite instrumental albums of 2011. Anyway, on with the music pimping…
Favorite EPs of 2011
- Savanna Coen – Strength
- Auragami – everything. Now.
- Works Progress Administration – 4×4
- Amanda Palmer/Ben Folds/etc – 8in8
- Celldweller – Wish Upon A Blackstar 4
Favorite Vinyl-only Release of 2011
- Secret Chiefs 3 (FORMS & Ishraqiyun) – Saptarshi / Radar 7″
- Chamberlain/Krauss/Phelps – Modular: Sonic Explorations 12″
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers – The Christmas Song/Santa’s Workshop 7″
fave non-vinyl-only issue: My Brightest Diamond – All Things Will Unwind 12″ (is luscious)
Favorite DVDs of 2011
- Fantômas – The Director’s Cut Live
- Kevin Smith – Red State
- Morgan Spurlock – POM Presents the Greatest Movie Ever Sold
- Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
- Sigur Rós – Inní
Favorite Internet Only Releases of 2011
- Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 2 (monthly series from March to December)
Favorite Live Albums of 2011
- Sigur Rós – Inní
- Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy – United Front (live at Newport)
- Damien Jurado – Live at Landlocked
- Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood – In Case the World Changes Its Mind
Favorite Podcasts in 2011 (they’re free, yo! Search for them on iTunes)
- George Hrab – Geologic Podcast
- Keith Olbermann – Countdown on CurrentTV
- Rachel Maddow – The RM Show on MSNBC
- Bill Maher‘s New Rules
- Adam Carolla – The Adam Carolla Podcast, Ace on the House and CarCast
- Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier – SModcast
- Kevin Smith & Ralph Garman – Hollywood Babble On
- The Skeptics Guide to the Universe
- CNN’s Political Notebook
- Marc Maron – WTF Podcast
- Dan Savage – Savage Lovecast
Best Cover Art & Packaging in 2011 
- Steven Wilson – Grace For Drowning (special edition)
- Chamberlain/Krauss/Phelps – Modular: Sonic Explorations 12″
- Over the Rhine – The Long Surrender (special edition)
- My Brightest Diamond – All Things Will Unwind (colorful, lovely cover art)
- Mike Patton – The Solitude of Prime Numbers (stunning die-cut leaf design)
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers – A Dreamer Christmas (vinyl, designed by Chippy)
Favorite Indie Releases in 2011 (DIY all the way)
- Jason Ludwig – Lost in Love and Tanglings (Cincinnati/Austin-based, former Noctaluca frontman)
- Savanna Coen – Strength EP (13yo Eugene singer with a voice beyond her years)
Best Re-issues in 2011
- Dream Theater – Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory (on vinyl)
- Ben Folds – Best Imitation of Myself (hits w/ some new BFF songs)
- Toad the Wet Sprocket – All I Want (hits, rerecorded)
- Various Artists/Sufjan Stevens – On Joyful Wings (tribute album to Seven Swans)
Worst Music News in 2011 (for me at least)
- Faith No More‘s reunion tour didn’t hit the U.S. proper, again… and the promised Mondo Cane U.S. Tour didn’t happen.
- Dream Theater not wanting to take a short break/hiatus, and thus kicking out Mike Portnoy, one of the best parts of that band…
Best Late-Getter in 2011 (something that came out before 2011)
- Florence + The Machine – Lungs (from 2009)
Best Musical Novelty / Ingenuity in 2011
- F*ck That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Album
- Weird Al Yankovic – ALpocalypse
Best Soundtrack in 2011
- Kevin Moore – Shine (for Küçük Kıyamet)
- The Book of Mormon
So, yeah, this was the catch-all post… check back later this week for the more traditional year end wrap-up festivities…
My Other Favorites of 2011 Recaps:
- Fave Concerts & Photos of ‘11 are recapped *HERE*
- Fave Vocal Albums ‘11 are coming soon
- Fave Instrumental of ‘11 are coming soon
- Old Years:
- 2010: Instrumental, Vocal, EPs/etc, Concerts,
- Best of the 2000s Decade (1-10, 11-20, 21-25)
- 2009: Instrumental, Vocal, EPs/etc, Concerts
- 2008: Instrumental, Vocal, EPS/etc, Concerts
- 2007: Vocal, Instrumental, Concerts
- 2006 & 2005
~Dan – np: Ani DiFranco – Which Side Are You On?
A to Z / Music Packaging Today
Check out this cool article/interview from last Thursday with A to Z Media‘s Sarah Robertson and Scott Pollack to discuss the state of physical media in 2011. Click here or the pictures below to go to the interview…
John Zorn‘s Interzone
John Zorn‘s The Dreamers with Chippy’s artwork
A to Z Media covers a lot of John Zorn’s Tzadik and other record label releases, which are all quite stunning mini pieces of art.
~Dan – np: Over the Rhine – Good Dog Bad Dog
* Favorite EPs / Vinyl / Live Albums & more of 2010 *
This is sort of a precursor to my “official” Favorites of 2010 blogs. Up later this week, I’ll post my favorite vocal and favorite instrumental albums of 2010. Anyway, on with the music pimping…
Favorite EPs of 2010
- Holy Fuck – +Ghost (bonus disc with Latin)
- Auragami – Resistance (thanks, Michael)
- Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People
- Owen Pallett – Demo (with Shara Worden – FREE)
- Haftor Medbøe Group – Box of Monkeys (technically 2009, but I got it late)
Favorite Vinyl-only Release of 2010
- My Brightest Diamond & Dayna Kurtz – Gone Away / Postcards from Downtown 7″
- Erik Friedlander – Alchemy 10″
- Isis / Melvins split 12″
- Damien & Drake Jurado – Hoquiam 12″
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers – The Gentle Side 12″
fave non-vinyl-only issue: Mike Patton‘s Mondo Cane 12″ (is luscious)
Favorite DVDs of 2010 (I didn’t really get any outside of music-related and an old H.Potter)
- Porcupine Tree – Anesthetize: Live in Tilburg
- Steven Wilson – Insurgentes
- Jónsi – Go Quiet & Go Live
- John Zorn & Richard Foreman – Astronome: A Night at the Opera
Favorite Internet Only Releases of 2010
- Kembwe – Kembwe
- Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 (monthly series)
- My Terrible Friend EP (a folky Pomplamoose spin-off)
- Celldweller – Wish Upon a Blackstar (a few chapters)
- Puya – Areyto EP
- Ty Tabor – Trip Magnet & Jelly Jam‘s Additives
- Asthmatic Kitty‘s Library Catalog Music Series (I think they also put some of these out as vinyl)
- Glen Phillips – Tornillo
- Kevin Moore – Shine (late, late 2010 – CD in early 2011)
- Rafter – Animal Feelings (maybe it came out on CD, too?)
Favorite Live Albums of 2010
- King’s X – Live Love in London
- Jónsi – Go Live
- Redbird (Peter Mulvey / Jeffrey Foucault / Kris Delmhorst / David “Goody” Goodrich) – Live at Café Carpe 2008 & 2009
Favorite Podcasts in 2010 (they’re free, yo! Search for them on iTunes)
- George Hrab – Geologic Podcast
- Keith Olbermann’s Countdown on MSNBC
- The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC
- Bill Maher‘s New Rules
- The Adam Carolla Podcast
- Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier – SModcast
- Kevin Smith & Ralph Garman – Hollywood Babble On
- Starfucking with Kevin Smith (OK, not free – proceeds for charity, though)
- SMoviemakers with Kevin Smith
- The Skeptics Guide to the Universe
Best Cover Art & Packaging in 2010 (all vinyl, but the CDs were cool, too)
- Mike Patton – Mondo Cane
- Jónsi – Go
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers – Gentle Side (vinyl, designed by Chippy)
Favorite Local Releases in 2010 (PacNW represent)
- Kembwe – Kembwe (Ashland-based ambient, vocal alchemy)
- I suck… that’s all the local-ish stuff I got this year…
Best Re-issues in 2010
- Carissa’s Wierd‘s first three albums (Ugly But Honest / You Should Be Home Here / Songs About Leaving)
- Mr. Bungle – California (on vinyl)
- Frank Zappa – Greasy Love Songs (deluxe re-issue of Cruisin’ with Rueben & the Jets)
- Elliott Smith – An Introduction to… (career spanning compilation)
Best Not-for-Profit Release in 2010
- Medeski Martin & Wood – The Stone Issue Four (for The Stone NYC)
Worst Music News in 2010 (for me)
- Cincinnati rock band Noctaluca broke up. Here’s hoping Jason Ludwig goes on to do some more interesting stuff.
- Faith No More‘s reunion tour didn’t hit the U.S. proper. Argh.
Best Late-Getter in 2010 (something that came out before 2010)
- Abagail’s Ghost – d_letion (from 2009)
- Fever Ray – Fever Ray (also from 2009)
Best Musical Novelty / Ingenuity
- Tristan Perich – 1-Bit Symphony
Best Music Videos
- Holy Fuck “Red Lights”
- Turf Fienz “Rain Dance”
- Cee-Lo Green “Fuck You” (original)
- The Gregory Brothers & Antoine Dodson “The Bed Intruder”
So, yeah, this was the catch-all post… check back later this week for the more traditional year end wrap-up festivities…
My Other Favorites of 2010 Recaps:
- Fave Concerts & Photos of ‘10 are recapped *HERE*
- Fave Vocal Albums ‘10 are coming soon
- Fave Instrumental of ‘10 are coming soon
- Old Years: Best of the Decade (1-10, 11-20, 21-25), 2009I, 2009V, 2009ep, 2009C, 2008I, 2008V, 2008ep, 2008C, 2007V, 2007I, 2007C, 2006, 2005
~Dan – np: Anakronic Electro Orkestra – Speak With Ghosts
* Favorite EPs / Vinyl / Live Albums & more of 2009 *
This is sort of a precursor to my “official” Favorites of 2009 blogs. Up later this week, I’ll post my favorite vocal and favorite instrumental albums of 2009, as well as my favorite artists of the decade. Anyway, on with the music pimping…
Favorite EPs of 2009
- Celldweller – Wish Upon a Blackstar Chapters 1 & 2
- Emily Wells – Dirty
- Puscifer – C is For…
- Anakronic Electro-Orkestra – The Yiddish Part
- Eisley – Fire Kite
hm: Ellery – Down, Down, Down
hm: One Eskimo – Tour EP
Favorite Vinyl of 2009
- Symphony of Science featuring Carl Sagan – A Glorious Dawn 7″
(best song of the year, too) - Holy Fuck & Off the International Radar – Hot Lips 12″
(playable at 33 & 45) - Reptet – Agendacide 7″
(great jazz from Seattle) - Sufjan Stevens – The BQE special edition
(luscious packaging) - Melt Banana – initial t. 5″
Favorite DVDs of 2009 (I didn’t really get many)
- Michel Gondry – Videos 2
- Dollhouse: Season One
- Bill Maher’s Religulous
- Criss Angel – Mindfreak: Collector’s Edition
- Secret Chiefs 3 – Live at the Great American Music Hall 2007
Favorite Internet Only Releases of 2009
- Jenny Owen Youngs “Hot in Herre”
- Anakronic Electro-Orkestra – The Yiddish Part
- My Brightest Diamond – Shark Remixes
- Celldweller – Wish Upon a Blackstar Ch’s 1 & 2
- Eisley – Fire Kite EP
- Glen Phillips “Little Bunny Foo Foo”
- Talking Snakes – Nonogram Zen
- Puscifer – C is For…
- Ellery – Down, Down, Down
- Kim Taylor – Little Miracle
Favorite Live Albums of 2009
- Over the Rhine – Live from Nowhere, Volume 4 (’08 Reunion Taft show)
- Noctaluca – Unplugged
- Ani DiFranco – the Saratoga and Chicago shows
Favorite Audiobooks of 2009
- David Cross – I Drink for a Reason
- Richard Dawkins – The Greatest Show on Earth
- Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant, and Karl Pilkington – The Guide to… (series)
Favorite Podcasts in 2009 (they’re free, yo! Search for them on iTunes)
- George Hrab – Geologic Podcast
- Keith Olbermann’s Countdown on MSNBC
- The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC
- Bill Maher‘s New Rules
- Kevin Smith & Scott Mosier – SModcast
- The Adam Carolla Podcast
- The Skeptics Guide to the Universe
Best Cover Art in 2009
- Celldweller – Wish Upon a Blackstar Chapter 1
- Nellie McKay – Normal As Blueberry Pie
- John Zorn – O’o (designed by Chippy)
Worst Cover Art: Tori Amos – Midwinter Graces
Best Packaging in 2009 (de-lux!)
- Sufjan Stevens – The BQE (gorgeous double-gatefold layout, super hero comic book, fun stuff)
- Porcupine Tree – The Incident (deluxe edition: sturdy hardback book with arty photos)
- Steven Wilson – Insurgentes (deluxe edition: sturdy hardback book with arty photos)
- Fanfarlo – Reservoir (deluxe edition: complete with a small board game)
- John Zorn – Femina (standard size, but nice clear slipcase and 52 page booklet. Tzadik has been kicking it up a notch!)
Favorite Local Releases in 2009 (PacNW represent)
- Douglas Detrick – The Turning Point (Eugene jazz)
- Hashem Assadullahi – The Strange Neighbor (Eugene jazz)
- I didn’t get jazz trio from Portland Trio Subtonic‘s CD yet… but soon…
Best Greatest Hits Releases of 2009
- Iron & Wine – Around the Well (tons of b-sides and new songs)
- Incubus – Monuments and Melodies (ditto)
Best Re-issues in 2009
- Radiohead – vinyl re-issues (I got the Drill EP on vinyl)
- Radiohead – Capital Special Collector’s Editions (2 CD + 1 DVD for their first 6 albums)
Best Surprise / Adaptation in 2009
- Despite the horrible cover art, Tori Amos‘ holiday album Midwinter Graces was quite delightful
Best Late-Getter in 2009 (something that came out before 2009)
- Ronin – Holon (from 2008)
Favorite iTunes iPhone Apps
- Lose It
- BeatMaker
- I Am T-Pain
- Veg Out (Around Me for Vegetarians)
- Veggie Passport (international translator specific to vegetarian concerns)
- Vegan Yum Yum (like Epicurious for veg only)
- Vegan Xpress (find veg items on national chains menus)
- Shop Saavy (bar-code scan and price shop)
- Dragon Dictation (speak an email or text message)
So, yeah, this was the catch-all post… check back tomorrow for the more traditional year end wrap-up festivities…
My Other Favorites of 2009 Recaps:
- Fave Concerts of ‘09 are recapped *HERE*
- Fave Vocal Albums ‘09 are coming soon
- Fave Instrumental of ‘09 are coming soon
- Fave Artists of the Decade are coming soon
- Old Years: 2008I, 2008V, 2008ep, 2008C, 2007V, 2007I, 2007C, 2006, 2005
~Dan – np: Mike Patton – Crank High Volume Soundtrack
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
Amazon.com mp3 downloads
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This blog and concert photos therein are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Available with Attribution for Non-Commercial, Non-Derivative Use.
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