Clarity Records

Its that time of the year where everyone chucks in their two cents on the best albums for the year. We are coming up to our second Christmas since Clarity Records opened and I thought I would do a quick review on my favourite albums for 2011. In last year’s top 10 list “Brothers” by Black Keys took out the number 1 position, will they do it again this year? I must say, it was a hard year to chose a top 10 as there wasn’t a particular release that stood out from all the rest, so it was pretty tight for that top position. Ok, here we go:

#10. MOGWAI – “HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE, BUT YOU WILL” CD/LP

Seventh full length album from Mogwai. Atmospheric post-rock much like bands Explosions In The Sky and This Will Destroy You. I have never really delved to much into the world of Mogwai previously, however I thought I better start and this album grabbed me straight away. Album title of the year!

#9. ROYAL HEADACHE – “S/T” CD/LP

The first Australian releases in my top 10. Sydney’s Royal Headache play a style of garage, rock, indie and punk with this record being recorded by Mike Young of Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Raw, great energy and catchy songs. This release was my first exposure to the band and I look forward to future releases.

#8. FUCKED UP – “DAVID COMES TO LIFE” CD/LP

Third album, but by no means third release, from Fucked Up. Some people might have seen this band on their recent Australian tour supporting the Foo Fighter. Although I didn’t, I was lucky enough to catch them at a certain festival, who’s name we do not mention, and they were fantastic. David Comes To Life is a very long record, about 80 minutes all up and I do sometimes struggle to make it all the way through, but it is a cracking record. Straight up punk rock with a mix of indie in it. For me it is more the vocals that give this album its punk edge with the music and the mix of female vocals giving it a bit more of an indie feel. I have been following this band’s career and they seem to be going from strength to strength. I would love to see these guys to there own tour of Australia.

#7. NIGHT HAG – “GILDED AGE” CD

What’s a top 10 without having local bands in it? Adelaide band Night Hag blew me away with the release of Gilded Age. This was the bands third release within a year with this being the first album after two EPs. Everything from the recording, artwork, songs and all round quality is much superior to the first two releases (not to say the first two weren’t good). Fast, angry, dark blend of hardcore and metal with crunching riffs. I really wish this album got a vinyl release as well, I could imagine the artwork looking amazing at that size and the sound quality coming out even more but, as most bands would know, it isn’t really the easiest thing releasing an album on vinyl.

#6. FRENZAL RHOMB – “SMOKO AT THE PET FOOD FACTORY” CD/LP

I hate being that guy “I like their old stuff better than the new”, but this has been the case with Frenzal Rhomb until the release of this new album. I started out listening to Frenzal when I discovered punk rock and those first few albums will always remain as classics in my eyes. It had been a while since I had listened to Frenzal and I had a feeling this new album was going to be a cracker, and I was right. Definitely the best quality recording out of the eight albums and this is a true return to form for the band. Songs were stuck in my head after the first spin, a sign of a good record.

#5. RINGWORM – “SCARS” CD/LP

Scars is an excellent album by the legendary Ringworm. Heavy, fast blend of hardcore, thrash and metal with great riffs and brutal vocals. I thought I was over this band after their performance in Adelaide the first time they came around, but after the release of this latest album it has totally reignited my love for this band and I wish I caught them on the most recent tour of Australia. Had I done this list when I first heard this album it may have been number 1, however it didn’t quite make it. Special mention goes out to the Ringworm and Mindsnare’s (my favourite Australian band) split 7″ release that came out this year as well.

#4. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – “CODES AND KEYS” CD/LP

Death Cab For Cutie return with an excellent album, doing exactly what they do best. Death Cab never really stray too far from what they do, so if you are a fan of their earlier stuff and you hadn’t heard this album, I would say you would like it. Catchy, poppy, indie rock songs with great hooks in the vocal and guitar lines. When I was younger Death Cab were a band I refused to like. No matter how often I got the songs stuck in my head, I still didn’t want to like them. Then one day I put my stubboness aside and listened to an album in full and fell in love. Since then I have bought and loved every album. At first listen I thought Codes and Keys was a bit too polished for my liking, but I got over that pretty quickly and it is one of my top albums for the year

#3. BLACK KEYS – “El Camino” CD/LP

I don’t think this band can really do anything wrong. They are loved by people of all different music tastes and this is because they are such brilliant musician’s who write excellent songs. It seems to me that each album gets a little different to the last with this one having a bit more of a rockier edge too it, compared to the earlier blues albums. I was amazed when I heard they had a new album coming out so short after the release of Brothers, however they seem to be a very prolific band with their constant touring and releases. The only let down to this album is track 4, Stairway To Heaven rip/tribute? Not a good song, cost you position # 2.

#2. FORMER CELL MATES – “PRESENTED AS A WORK OF FICTION” CD/LP

I really don’t know the best way to describe this record, all I can say is that it is a brilliantly written record. Songs are catchy, production is great and the addition of extra instruments into the music really brings out the songs a lot more. This is the 3rd release from the UK based band featuring an ex-member of Leatherface. However, don’t let the name Leatherface give you an indication of what they sound like because I believe they sound different. I guess melodic punk rock would be the best way to describe this band. I checked them out live before I heard the record and I went away singing the songs in my head after the first listen and I have been listening to the album ever since. Fingers crossed they come back soon.

 

Before I do my number one I will do what I did last year and make a few special mentions. Albums that just missed out was the new ones from Horrible Crowes, Driven Fear, Teargas, Wilco, Explosions In The Sky, This Will Destroy You and I am sure there are more. To great albums that came out this year that I never got a chance to listen too… I am sorry.

I would like to also mention that Clarity Records put out our first record this year, Stolen Youth’s – Dark Century CD/LP. I am really proud of what we have been able to do with that record and I can’t wait to release more records in the new year. Keep an ear out for more news about this in the new year.

Finally, a very special mention goes out to Adelaide band Weightless. If this list was a “top 10 recordings of 2011″ Weightless would be number one. I was lucky enough to get an unmastered preview copy to listen too and it hasn’t left the CD player. I know the album is due to be released in 2012, so keep an eye out for that one because I can already tell you that it will be my number one for 2012 (unless Propagandhi release a new record of course).

 

 

#1. ATLAS LOSING GRIP – “STATE OF UNREST” CD/LP

I am very surprised by my number one for 2011 and had you asked me through the year after this came out I probably would never have said this album, however this is truly an amazing album and has a lot of elements of what it takes to create a classic melodic punk album. At first I thought this was an excellent record, but it grew mo0re and more on me and it has been my most listened to album this year. To give a bit of background on Atlas Losing Grip, the band is from Sweden and it features ex-satanic surfers vocalist/drummer Rodrigo on vocal duties and the band have previously released an EP with him on vocals and an earlier album with a different vocals. State Of Unrest has a perfect mix of fast melodic songs, rockier catchy songs with techy guitars and great vocal melodies. I hold this record close to my heart because when Stolen Youth toured Europe this year I was listening to it a lot and venues we played at would play this record in between bands, so I have two albums that remind me of good times on my trip and this is one of them. I really hope this band gets the opportunity to tour Australia and I can’t wait for future releases.

 

There you have it, I hope you enjoyed my top 10 for 2011