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Tom’s Picks: Best of Winter 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 By Tom Osborne

My favorite albums from the Winter of 2011. Links will lead you to Twangville reviews. Also, be sure and check out the video companion below. Enjoy!

Top 10

  1. THE DECEMBERISTS, The King is Dead [★★★★★/4.700]
    The Decemberists, The King Is Dead
    Album number 6 for the Portland, OR based group. A slight departure from previous concept albums featuring cameos by Peter Buck and Gillian Welch. Post-Appalachian influences reign in this pop-infused, folk-rock barnstormer. This is my favorite so far by The Decemberists. Standouts: Calamity Song, Rox in the Box, January Hymn, Down By The Water, June Hymn, This Is Why We Fight, Dear Avery
  2. SOCIAL DISTORTION, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes [★★★★/4.455]
    Social Distortion, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes
    Seven years since their last album, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes marks the band’s seventh studio album and first for Epitaph Records. The Hank Williams cover “Alone and Forsaken” anchors the rest with a more countrified sound than we’ve heard so far from the punk rooted, SoCal band. This album has it all. Rock, blues, soul – it’s rock and roll the way it’s supposed to be. Standouts: Gimme The Sweet And Lowdown, Machine Gun Blues, Far Side of Nowhere, Alone and Forsaken, Still Alive
  3. TEDDY THOMPSON, Bella [★★★★/4.273]
    Teddy Thompson, Bella
    Thompson recorded his fifth album in New York City. His vocal styling is reminiscent of Roy Orbison or more recently Raul Malo. Lyrically he’s been better but the pristine string arrangements and rich country-pop melodies make for a tremendous album. Standouts: Looking For A Girl, I Feel, The Next One, The One I Can’t Have
  4. LUCINDA WILLIAMS, Blessed [★★★★/4.250]
    Lucinda Williams, Blessed
    Guest appearances by Matthew Sweet (vocals) and Elvis Costello (guitar) with help from Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was. Album includes Grammy nominated Kiss Like Your Kiss (Best Song written for motion picture, television or other visual media) from the True Blood: Music From The HBO Original Series – Volume 2 album. Rockers like Buttercup an Seeing Black are amongst the best we’ve heard from her in ass-kicking mode. Absolutely marvelous. Standouts: Buttercup, Copenhagen, Seeing Black
  5. KASEY ANDERSON, Heart of a Dog [★★★★/4.182]
    Kasey Anderson, Heart of a Dog
    The fifth album for the Seattle-based artist and first with new band, The Honkies. Pounding rock and roll abounds with the new players. An amazing follow up to “Nowhere Nights”. There’s so much to love with the energy and attitude of this record. Standouts: Mercy, Exit Ghost, Sirens and Thunder, My Baby’s A Wrecking Ball, Save It For Later
  6. AMOS LEE, Mission Bell [★★★★/4.167]
    Amos Lee, Mission Bell
    The fourth album on EMI’s Blue Note Records for the Philly-based, Amos Lee. This album reminds me of Ray Lamontagne’s “God Willin’…” release last year in that a little more depth goes a long, long way. The Calexico-backing and guest additions like Lucinda Williams and Willie Nelson send the soulful Lee into orbit. Standouts: Cup of Sorrow, Flower, Windows Are Rolled Down
  7. TELEKINESIS, 12 Desperate Straight Lines [★★★★/4.167]
    Telekinesis, 12 Desperate Straight Lines
    Drummer Michael Benjamin Lerner heads up the Seattle-based band. Big bass, meaty drums, and pop sensibilities reminiscent of the late 80s (think Cure or Janes Addition). Sure to be among the best indie-pop selections of the year. Standouts: You Turn Clear In The Sun, Fever Chill, Gotta Get It Right Now
  8. DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Go-Go Boots [★★★★/4.071]
    Drive-by Truckers, Go-Go Boots
    There’s lots to love about the Drive-by Truckers eleventh album, Go-Go Boots. The murder ballads paint dark but vivid pictures of deceit and wrong-doing that no other band but the DBTs could compose in such a perfectly poetic southern drawl. A return to the Muscle Shoals soulful sound they adopted in recordings with Bettye LaVette and Booker T. Jones adds an layer of brilliance to this recording that I hope sticks around for a while. Standouts: Everybody Needs Love, Used To Be A Cop, Mercy Buckets
  9. R.E.M., Collapse Into Now [★★★★/4.000]
    R.E.M., Collapse Into Now
    Their 15th studio album with a career spanning three decades as a band. “Collapse Into Now” is less like “Accelerate” and more like “Out of Time” in that there are quirky songs like “Alligator_Aviator_Autopilot_Antimatter”, “That Someone Is You”, “Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando And I”. Finer moments include a collaboration with Eddie Vedder on “It Happened Today” and the weightless voyage of “ÜBerlin”. A solid release but not quite the rocker that “Accelerate” was to this reviewers dismay. Standouts: All The Best, ÜBerlin, It Happened Today
  10. THE WAILIN’ JENNYS, Bright Morning Stars [★★★★/3.923]
    The Wailin' Jennys, Bright Morning Stars
    Jazz vocalist Heather Masse joins Ruth Moody and Nicky Meht as the third Jenny in their first studio album in 5 years. Each contributed 4 songs each for a total of 12 original songs plus the album’s namesake “Bright Morning Stars” a traditional folk song. Masse, Moody, and Meht offer a unique authenticity to the record since all three sing, write, and play instruments. Sweeter and sweeter with each listen. Standout: Bright Morning Stars

Best of Winter 2011 Video Companion


About the author:  Washington, D.C. area creative by day. Music is my muse. I host Twangville’s weekly Readers‘ Pick.


Filed Under: Best of Year, Reviews, Videos Tagged With: Amos Lee, Drive-By-Truckers, Kasey Anderson, Lucinda Williams, R.E.M., Social Distortion, Teddy Thompson, Telekinesis, The Decemberists, the wailin' jennys

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