Inspired in name by F. Scott Fitzgerald and sounding a bit like Wilco’s A.M., BLF will charm you with ringing guitars and lovely violin strings behind a strong sober vocal.

See one of Atlanta’s hidden gems tonight at the EARL. $5.

2011: A Musical Odyssey

By Erik Stefan

Looking for a way to spend your Christmas cash? Get some music. Here’s what I listened to the most this year:

10. Yuck – Yuck >> It’s about time ‘90s “alt-rock” started influencing some whippersnappers. Yuck isn’t breaking new ground on their self-titled debut, but they expertly mined their forefather’s material for sonic nuggets to call their own.

9. Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong >> Nothing Is Wrong is a lot like Dawes’ previous record (North Hills)…excellent. They’re a bit of a one-trick pony, but they’ve fooled me again.

8. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost >> Indie heartthrob status aside, Girls rock with tossed-off calculation a la Elvis Costello…Oh, and they escaped from a cult to start this band. Something about cults this year….Maybe there is something to that 2012 business.

7. Ryan Adams – Ashes and Fire >> Ashes and Fire may have saved Ryan Adams’s career. He’s been on the brink of irrelevancy for a few years and stuck his big toe in obscurity last year with the overwrought and loooonnnnng III/IV. Ashes and Fire isn’t Adams’s best album, but it capitalizes on his greatest strengths: a quivering voice singing honest, gut-wrenching lyrics. The crystalline-voiced Norah Jones on back-up vocals doesn’t hurt.

6. Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean >> Sam Beam’s fans tend to divide into two camps with the Woman King EP being a Mendoza line of sorts…I’ll take it all. Kiss Each Other Clean is Iron and Wine’s most ornately produced album to date, and it will surely yield Hollywood a song or two for blockbusters coming soon to a theatre near you.

5. Wilco – The Whole Love >> Kicking off with “The Art of Almost” and bookending with “One Sunday Morning,” The Whole Love is Wilco’s return to form after two listless efforts (by their standards).

4. The Black Keys – El Camino >> My dad drove our family’s Aerostar van until the door literally fell off. So, the album’s mini-van artwork motif hit home…Similarly, the immediacy of this record is what really struck me. The Black Keys do their best work yet again with uber-producer Danger Mouse.

3. My Morning Jacket – Circuital >> While some bands are comfortable seeking safe consistency from album to album, others are fraught with the desire to blow up the paradigm with each effort. MMJ falls into the latter category. If you’re still looking for the southern-fried “jam” band, they’re long gone. Fortunately, the grain-silo vocals remain.

2. Bon Iver – Bon Iver >> Is this self-titled follow-up better than his debut For Emma, Forever Ago? I’m not sure….and without Bon Iver’s name on the case, I’m not sure I would know it was the same “band.” One thing is for sure: this album was one of the most talked about records this year for good reason. After seeing James Vernon and his band rip through these tracks, I’m convinced that the previously asked question really doesn’t matter.

1. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues >> The process of recording Helplessness Blues temporarily cost Robin Pecknold his longtime girlfriend due to his obsession with crafting a perfect album. We all benefited from his passionate pursuit of this goal…and his damn near success in hitting his target. Happy ending: Said girlfriend saw the error in her ways and cozied up to the warm tones and lush harmonies circa 1967 Southern California.

By Alex Brenner

Best of 2011 (in no particular order)

Well it’s been a pretty good year for music I guess. Some real strong releases and of course some real turds, thanks Metallica. So here is my list of what I liked about 2011.

1. Wye Oak – Civilian.
This band is phenomenal, live they are amazing. Great songs but also very dynamic and sonically always surprising. I guess a great mix between country and shoegazing if you can put that all together. Check out their live shows on nyctaper.com. They do a version of Danzig’s “Mother” that will blow your mind.

2. Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong
Always been a big fan of power pop bands. Way more Smashing Pumpkins-esque this time around. The Pains get heavy yet remain truly catchy.

3. Yuck – Yuck
One of the best releases this year for me. Everything about 90′s indie rock and Brit pop wrapped into one record, what more can you ask for? Very cool songs and great feedback guitars. A must if you have not heard it.

4. Surfer Blood – Tarot Classics
Technically an EP but still pretty cool. The single “I’m not Ready” is super catchy. The band seems to be growing, very cool arrangements and once again really throwing back to late 90′s indie rock without plagiarizing.

5. David Bazan – Strange Negotiations
A record that really had to grow on me, it did not really sink in until I saw him perform it live. One of the best songwriters of our time without a doubt, he has put out consistently great records for the last 10 years. If you have not really checked him out before very worth it.

6. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire
As much as you want to hate this guy, Ashes & Fire turned out to be pretty good. Even at his most douchiness (is that a word?) the dude can write a hook and a few words that will just slay you. It’s not Heartbreaker but its pretty damn close. Backed by Benmont Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers does not hurt either. If you had given up on Adams maybe you should give him one more shot.

7. Cymbals Eat Guitars – Lenses Alien
This one slipped by a lot of people; a very strong second record for this band. Most bands that come out of the gate with this much hype pretty much fall into the sophomore slump but not these guys. The perfect mix of Built to Spill and Swervedriver but still sounding fresh and exciting.

8. Wilco – The Whole Love
Finally on their own label, Tweedy and Co. release yet another solid effort. These last few Wilco records have been growers but very worth the time to listen. This band seems to have no bounds what so ever, they can go from soft folk and jazz to Sonic Youth inspired mayhem all within the course of 4 minutes. Very exciting to listen to, they could be the Zeppelin of our time.

9. We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach
A very fitting title, this band can play so hard at times it feels like you’ve been popped in the gut. Getting even harder on this sophomore effort these Scottish lads blast sonic anthems without being too hooky. I guess if Snow Patrol were trying to kill people this is what you would get. Killing is their business and business is good.

10. tUnEyArDs – w h o k i l l
I’ll tell you, I’ve seen and heard a lot of music but this band really impressed me. It’s so organic, raw and fully of energy. Who would have thought you could make all that music with just one looper pedal? While this is not my go-to record I was really taken back by it and the single “Bizness” is pretty catchy without being a shtick. I watched a bunch of their live performances to see if the showers of adulation were well deserved and all I can say is yeah, they deserve it. It’s just something totally fresh, something no one is doing. Worth checking out for sure.

I would also like to take this time and say Thank God for the reissues. Some great stuff to check out.

1. Archers of Loaf – Icky Mettle
2. Smashing Pumpkins – Gish and Siamese Dream Deluxe Editions
3. U2 Achtung Baby Deluxe Edition
4. Megadeth – Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?
5. SeBADoh – Bakesale
6. Suede – Suede Deluxe Edition
7. Ride – Nowhere

We Were Promised Jetpacks – Act On Impulse
Wye Oak – Civilian
Megadeth – Wake Up Dead

We have once again invited some folks whose opinions we trust to share their favorite releases of 2011. Check out the artists on these list and the folks recommending them (most of whom are in bands of their own). You should be able to purchase each record through the attached link or visit your local independent record store and buy it there.

Matt Jarrard of Oryx and Crake and Book Club is the first to share his list with us which makes it the first we will share with you. Check back for more. Enjoy.

By Matt Jarrard

Best of 2011 (in order of awesomeness)

1. T.W. Walsh – Songs of Pain and Leisure
TW and former Pedro The Lion bandmate David Bazan have both always worn their mutual admiration and relationship challenges on their sleeves, this album is no different. His love of classic rock arrangement and sound textures are also evident here…fans of Jason Molina, Will Oldham, and Neil Young will quickly fall in love with this record.

2. Androcles and the Lion – As Far As Blindness Could See
This is my “dark horse” pick. These guys are based in Athens now, but met while studying music at Lagrange College. Musically, this EP moves seamlessly from droning guitar noise to an intimately picked acoustic. These songs affected me when I first heard them, and they continue to do so. Producer/Engineer/Athens-stalwart Drew Vandenberg probably had something to do with that as well.

3. My Morning Jacket – Circuital
Normally not a huge MMJ fan, always thought they were a little too “jammy” for my taste. But this record stuck with me. Holding On To Black Metal is my favorite song title of the year.

4. David Bazan – Strange Negotiations
Pretty direct statement to post-financial-collapse America, politicians, money managers, Bernie Madoff, and all the folks he pissed off by making “Curse Your Branches”.

5. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
This one took awhile to grow on me, mostly because I think Girls are a band that are playing to about 60% of their potential. At their best they’re incredible, but some of the tracks on this record strike me as mediocre. I fully expect the next album to rock my world.

6. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l
Merrill is a musical maniac/genius. Everything about this album is fun.

7. Okkervil River – I Am Very Far
Their best since Black Sheep Boy.

8. The Antlers – Burst Apart
Bono loves them…so it must be the right thing to do.

9. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Very cool about the Grammy nod, hopefully he’ll turn out to be the Arcade Fire of the 2012 awards. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have BMX bikers whirling around him during his performance.

10. Sprits and the Melchizedek Children – We Are Here To Save YOU!
This will probably be on everyone’s “local best of” list. It’s one of the most cohesive and well thought out records I’ve heard ANYWHERE in awhile.

Honorable Mention
Reptar – Oblangle Fizz Y’all
Manthester Orchestra – Simple Math
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
Wilco – The Whole Love
Bill Callahan – Apocalypse
Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
Efren – Rise On Up and Melt
Radiohead – King of Limbs

Antlers – Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out
Bon Iver – Calgary

In years past we have posted mid-year and year-end best of lists. As we started thinking about the year end list this year, we realized that there were a handful of albums that came out in the second half of the year that won’t make our final list of the year but certainly would have made the mid-year list if they had come out earlier in the year (or we had bothered to listen to them earlier).

In other words, just like some of the records from the mid-year list don’t make it through to the year end favorites they are still worth noting. We figured that we shouldn’t be short-changing a record just because it came out in the second half of the year, right? There’s an outside chance that some of that made sense, but even if it didn’t here’s my list of the best albums of the second half of 2011 (but not the final list for the year).

Atlas Sound – Parallax. Bradford Cox gets better with each release.

The War on Drugs – Slave Ambient. I was surprised how much I liked this record until I realized how much the single reminded me of a twenty-five year old U2 song.

Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost. Like Mr. Cox, these boys from San Francisco keep upping the ante.

Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing. Another step forward.

Wilco – The Whole Love. Wilco is back with a vengeance.

We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach. Addictive.

St. Vincent – Strange Mercy. Beautiful and compelling.

Gringo Star – Count Yer Lucky Stars. Underappreciated.

Wild Flag – Wild Flag. Not riot grrl, but not bad. Not bad at all.

Alabama Shakes – Alabama Shakes EP. Southern soul!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s A Corporate World. They’re right and they are cashing in on it. C’mon isn’t that a Beatles song…?

Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler/Dream. Irresistible.

Turf War – Years of Living Dangerously. Off to a great start.

Deer Tick – Divine Providence. These guys took a left turn in the right direction with this record.

Gringo Star – Count Yer Lucky Stars
Turf War – For The Last Time
Thee Oh Sees – The Dream

By Alex Brenner

After several months of drought, fall record releases have been looking up. Because there are so many I thought I give you a quick look at what’s out there.

Wilco – The Whole Love

Well what can you say, yet another great record. I like to think of Wilco as Radiohead with a purpose. Even at their weirdest moments Tweedy and Co. seem to make memorable songs while still pushing the limits. Released on their own label you have to respect a band that has really done it their own way from day one. Maybe that’s what makes them one of the most enjoyable live acts as well. [The four song EP that accompanies the deluxe edition and includes the 7" cover of Nick Lowe's "I Love My Label" is worth the couple extra ducats. - Rube]

We Were Promised Jetpacks – In the Pit of the Stomach

Not as gut wrenching as 2009′s These Four Walls this new one is still pretty decent. I have not found many great “rock” bands as of recent but WWPJ are great at making sweeping anthemic jams. You can’t help but be a sucker for singer Adam Thompson’s thick Scottish accent and jagged hooks. It’s worth checking out.

Ryan Adams – Ashes and Fire

Some have already called it Heartbreaker II; well let’s just say it’s a little more consistent than his recent efforts. It’s back to the roots rock for sure; backed by Tom Petty sideman Benmont Tench and Norah Jones sitting in as well Ashes and Fire is a pretty solid effort. While I don’t find it as lyrically hefty as Heartbreaker it’s better than I expected it to be so if Adams lost you on the last few you may want to check this out.

Feist – Metals

If you are looking for another “1234″ forget it. You have to respect that though, still actually a more even record than The Reminder this record graciously floats through your speakers effortlessly. Her voice sounds amazing and sonically it sounds very peaceful and serene. This is not an instantly catchy record however; sometimes it’s the “growers” that are worth the time.

Reissues

If you are around my age or about my age (65) than you probably think all new music sucks too. That’s why reissues are so great; they are made for people like me who just can’t seem to move forward.

Superchunk – Foolish

This is probably one of Superchunk’s best efforts in my opinion. This is where Superchunk transitions from a frantic punk rock act to indie rock tunesmiths. I would liken their transformation to The Replacements going from Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash to Let it Be or Tim. In later releases Superchunk figured out that slowing down the tempo can also work in their favor; and it really started with this record. One of the best breakup records to boot. Songs like “Like a Fool” and “Driveway to Driveway” just pull at every heartstring. A must have.

Archers of Loaf – Icky Mettle

I’ve already written about this one but I must say it has to be one of the best records of all time. Another great breakup record with plenty of punch and hooks. This reissue comes with V.S. the Greatest Hits of All Time which is worth the price of admission alone. One of the best indie acts from the 90′s, super underrated but again a must have record.

Megadeth – Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?

Yes, I said it. If you think politics are messed up now you should have been around in 1986. No one snarled about it better or faster than Dave Mustaine. You have to realize in 1986 you had Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Slayer’s Reign of Blood and Poison’s Look What the Cat Dragged In. Never one to give in to the mainstream (I’m talking about the Poison record now) Megadeth would forever stay in the cult act status and become thrash legends. Even 25 years later this record does not sound dated to me; loaded with pummeling hits like “Peace Sells” and Good Mourning/Black Friday” this is one of the best thrash metal records ever. I give it 5 devil horns.

Ride – Nowhere

This record is what I like to call the shoegazer bible. While some would argue its My Bloody Valentine; Ride actually focused more on song craft to go along with their swirling guitars and floating harmonies. Even 20 years later it’s still a sonic masterpiece full of reverberating hooks and squealing feedback. If you want to hear where today’s bands are getting all their sound from check out this record first. Above all “Vaportail” is one of the most classic songs I’ve ever heard. I remember it was on every high school mix tape I ever made. I actually went full geek on this release and got it on vinyl. A must.