The Fishpork 20: Favorite Albums of 2011
This list may fly in the face of most “best of” lists for 2011. Excluded are the overrated Bon Iver, James Blake, and the array of wince-inducing rap projects that have been embraced by particular hipster circles. Included are some albums that have been relentlessly bashed by the indie blogosphere, but ones we loved, such as The Strokes, Radiohead, and White Lies, as well as some that were completely ignored this year (Feersum Ennjin and Saul Williams).
We don’t call ‘em the best, just our favorites. These are the records that got the most plays on our iPods this year, our favorite albums of 2011:
1. Modeselektor – Monkeytown
2. Tapes ‘n Tapes – Outside
3. The Strokes – Angles
4. Radiohead – The King of Limbs
5. Feersum Ennjin – Feersum Ennjin
6. The Antlers – Burst Apart
7. Panda Bear – Tomboy
8. Wilco – The Whole Love
9. Saul Williams – Volcanic Sunlight
10. Atlas Sound – Parallax
11. TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light
12. Puscifer – Conditions of My Parole
13. SONOIO – RED
14. Battles – Glass Drop
15. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2
16. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
17. REM – Collapse Into Now
18. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
19. White Lies – Ritual
20. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
Most Disappointing Albums of 2011:
Dredg – Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy
Ladytron – Gravity the Seducer
Fishpork’s 25 Favorite Tracks of 2011
Jeff Mangum came out of hiding to officially release some brilliant old tracks from the archives, Keaton Henson put out an achingly powerful single from 2010′s self-released Dear…, and a lot of deaf music reviewers shit on The Strokes latest collection of songs (except for us, of course). 2011 welcomed back our all-time favorite artists and introduced us to new favorites. Narrowing down the year’s best was especially difficult this time around, but here is our very biased list of 25 favorite tracks from 2011 (give the page a minute to load the embedded clips):
1. Neutral Milk Hotel – “Ferris Wheel on Fire”
2. Keaton Henson – “You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are”
3. The Strokes – “Machu Picchu”
4. Feersum Ennjin – “Hate The Sun”
5. Modeselektor – “Pretentious Friends”
6. HEALTH – “Goth Star (Pictureplane cover)”
7. Tapes ‘n Tapes – “Nightfall”
8. M83 – “Midnight City”
9. SONOIO – “Enough”
10. Radiohead – “Codex”
11. Panda Bear – “Alsatian Darn”
12. Keaton Henson – “Strawbear”
13. The Antlers – “Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out”
14. The Strokes – “Taken For A Fool”
15. M+A – “Liko Lene Lisa”
16. Tapes ‘n Tapes – “Badaboom”
17. Modeselektor – “Grillwalker”
18. The Horrors – “Still Life”
19. Saul Williams – “Triumph”
20. Amanda Palmer – “Map Of Tasmania”
21. Atlas Sound – “Mona Lisa”
22. Adebisi Shank – “Century City”
23. Puscifer – “Monsoons”
24. Battles – “Ice Cream”
25. Givers – “Noche Nada”
Fishpork’s 10 Favorite Shows of 2011
While 2010 may have been the year we got to see Jeff Mangum play five songs, who would have thought we’d get to see three full Mangum sets in 2011?! It’s hard to compare that experience even in a year that was loaded with unforgettable performances. We were also lucky to catch James Murphy bid farewell to LCD Soundsystem, Tapes N’ Tapes proved why they are one of the best live bands on the planet, and Portishead blew the roof off of Asbury’s Convention Hall twice in ATP headlining performances. ATP recently announced that it will be returning to Asbury Park next year for another round of I’ll Be Your Mirror Performances, a guarantee that 2012 will have much live music to look forward to. Until then, here is our very biased list of favorite shows of 2011:
1. Jeff Mangum @ Paramount Theater
2. LCD Soundsystem @ Terminal 5
3. Portishead @ Convention Hall
4. Tapes N’ Tapes @ Johnny Brenda’s
6. Avey Tare @ Johnny Brenda’s
8. Black Moth Super Rainbow @ First Unitarian Church
9. Amon Tobin @ Brooklyn’s Masonic Temple
10. Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise @ Knitting Factory
Tapes ‘n Tapes @ Johnny Brendas
We finally made it back to our favorite music venue after a hiatus that lasted a few months. Saturday night’s Tapes ‘n Tapes show confirmed that Johnny Brenda’s is simply the best venue to check out your favorite indie band in Philly. With two bars stocked with local brews on draft, a capacity of less than 200, and sound that rivals Carnegie Hall, all the variables are in place for an epic night every time out. Add the severely underrated Tapes ‘n Tapes high energy live performance, and we’re talking about one of the best shows we know we’ll see this year (and it’s only February).
The brothers tapes (no, they’re not really brothers) landed at #4 last year on our favorite shows of 2009 list, so we arrived in Philly with high expectations. Following my glowing review of Outside, the band’s nearly flawless new record, the set list was a perfect mix of new favorites and old classics. Highlights included new tracks “One in the World” and “On and On,” while hardcore fans appreciated the rarely played “Lines” from Walk It Off.
The only complaint I had on Saturday, unrelated to the band’s performance, was that the crowd was too chatty. With steady talking throughout the entire show, everyone went nuts during the band’s breakout 2005 hit “Insistor.” Once the song ended, much of the crowd went back to their conversations, even after the band went into “Manitoba,” my personal favorite track from the band. Tapes ‘n Tapes left the stage after “Manitoba” and came back out to play an absolutely insane version of new single “Freak Out” for their encore. We got our vinyl signed by members of the band after the show and hung out for the “after party.” Shout out to the dudes from Ohio who drove out just for show. Thanks for the shots!
Here’s the final set list:
1. Beach Girls
2. Conquest
3. Just Drums
4. Demon Apple
5. 10 Gallon Ascot
6. Hang Them All
7. Hi Dee Ho
8. Cowbell
9. Outro
10. One in the World
11. On and On
12. Lines
13. Omaha
14. Badaboom
15. The Dirty Dirty
16. The Saddest of All Keys
17. Insistor
18. Manitoba
19. Freak Out (Encore)
Album Review: Outside
With the release of Outside, Tapes n’ Tapes have already put their hat in the ring for our favorite album of the year. 2005′s The Loon is on my short list for favorite album of all-time, and I loved Walk It Off much more than most. On Outside, however, the band shows an astonishing growth of a unique sound they’ve been honing for years now. With strings, horns, samplers and an arsenal of instruments that raises the musicianship of the band to an all-time high, the sound is almost orchestral but still comprises of the occasional off-time percussion and quirky vocals that drew me in as a mega fan.
Highlights on this record are abound. Opening track “Badaboom” slowly builds with twangy guitar, slightly off-time drums, and even some strings and keys into crescendo. “One In The World” may be the funnest track on Outside, an addictive pop song featuring a horn section and has lead Tape Josh Grier asking, “Am I Insane?” “Nightfall” may be the album’s best track with Grier’s repeating vocal, “And no one will wait for a sun, that no one can see” inducing goosebumps near the 4-minute mark on repeated listens. We saw the band play “Hidee Ho” two years ago and knew it foreshadowed good things to come. The track features a drowsy bassline leading into screeching guitars and ineffable shouting by Grier. “On and On” is yet another standout that begins with an addictive sample, leading into more melodic guitars and absorbing effects, all culminating into a wall of sound. It begins the perfect ending to a nearly perfect record.
Jesus Christ, other reviewers still calling Tapes n’ Tapes a flash in the pan need to recalibrate their good taste. This may just be the best album I have reviewed on this site since we started three years ago. Tapes n’ Tapes’ Outside was released on their own Ibid Records label on Tuesday. You can catch the band live on their upcoming North American tour. The video for lead single “Freak Out” is below.
MP3: “Freak Out” by Tapes N Tapes
November 11, 2010 by Mark
Filed under MP3s, News, Upcoming Releases
Fishpork faves Tapes N Tapes have a new record Outside coming out on January 11. The band will follow up the release with a three-month U.S. tour that will stop in Brooklyn and Johnny Brenda’s in Philly. In the meantime, their first single “Freak Out” is available as a free download. You can download “Freak Out” by Tapes N Tapes here or stream it below:
You can aslo check out a performance of another new song called “SWM” from earlier this year for Radio Happy Hour in their hometown of Minneapolis:
Fishpork’s 10 Favorite Shows of 2009
It was another full year of remarkable live shows in 2009, which was also not immune to a few train wrecks (Enon, Dan Deacon). Whether it was a cold and rainy night in Philly to see White Lies overcome a historically shitty venue to play a show for the ages or a late night train ride to the East Village to see Karin Dreijer Andersson’s Fever Ray outfit put on a visually stunning performance, this past year reinforced our music fandom. Here’s a list of our favorite shows of 2009:
- White Lies @ First Unitarian Church
- Grizzly Bear @ Trocadero
- Fever Ray @ Webster Hall
- Tapes N’ Tapes @ Johnny Brenda’s
- Animal Collective @ Bowery Ballroom
- Morrissey @ Carnegie Hall
- Vic Chestnutt & Elf Power @ Bowery Ballroom
- Autolux @ Johnny Brenda’s
- Built to Spill @ SIREN Festival
- Monsters of Folk @ United Palace
Least Favorite:
Fishpork’s 100 Favorite Tracks of the 2000s
This is an attempt at the impossible. Here are our 100 favorite songs of the past decade (featuring multiple tracks from Animal Collective, The Knife, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith). Our top two choices are more like 1a and 1b. Be patient, as the page needs to load the embedded songs.
1. Panda Bear – “Bros” (2007)
2. The Knife – “We Share Our Mother’s Health” (2006)
3. Animal Collective – “For Reverend Green” (2007)
4. Grizzly Bear – “While You Wait For The Others” (2009)
5. The Knife – “Heartbeats” (2003)
6. Grizzly Bear – “The Knife” (2005)
7. LCD Soundsystem – “Someone Great” (2007)
8. TV on the Radio – “Staring at the Sun” (2003)
9. Crystal Castles – “Crimewave” (2008)
10. Beirut – “Ciloqut” (2007)
11. Thom Yorke – “Harrowdown Hill
12. Animal Collective – “Derek” (2007)
13. Nine Inch Nails – “Me, I’m Not” (2007)
14. Beck – “Lonesome Tears” (2002)
15. At The Drive-in – “One Armed Scissor” (2004)
16. Animal Collective – “Grass” (2005)
17. Deerhunter – “Nothing Ever Happened” (2008)
18. Atlas Sound – “Recent Bedroom” (2008)
19. Panda Bear – “Comfy in Nautica” (2007)
20. System of a Down – “Chop Suey” (2001)
21. Animal Collective – “Peacebone” (2007)
22. Battles – “Atlas” (2007)
23. Error – “Jack the Ripper” (2004)
24. Enon – “Pleasure and the Privilege”
25. Elliott Smith – “Son of Sam” (2000)
26. Animal Collective – “Did You See the Words” (2005)
27. The Knife – “Marble House” (2006)
28. LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends” (2007)
29. Thom Yorke – “Analyse” (2006)
30. The Flaming Lips – “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” (2002)
31. Girl Talk – “Smash Your Head” (2006)
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32. A Perfect Circle – “Judith” (2000)
33. Radiohead – “Idioteque” (2000)
34. Tapes N’ Tapes – “Manitoba” (2006)
35. TV On The Radio – “I Was A Lover” (2006)
36. Radiohead – “Reckoner” (2007)
37. Fever Ray – “Coconut” (2009)
38. Animal Collective – “My Girls” (2009)
39. Built to Spill – “Things Fall Apart” (2009)
40. Wilco – “I’m Trying to Break Your Heart” (2002)
41. Modest Mouse – “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” (2000)
42. Animal Collective – “Leaf House” (2004)
43. Modeselektor – “Happy Birthday” (2007)
44. Arcade Fire – “Wake Up” (2004)
45. Autolux – “Blanket” (2004)
46. MGMT – “Time to Pretend” (2007)
47. Built to Spill – “Conventional Wisdom” (2006)
48. Wilco – “Side With the Seeds” (2007)
49. Elliott Smith – “Happiness/The Gondola Man” (2000)
50. Avey Tare – “I’m Your Eagle Kisser” (2007)
51. Department of Eagles – “Waves of Rye” (2008)
52. Animal Collective – “Summertime Clothes” (2009)
53. Radiohead – “2+2 = 5″ (2003)
54. Dredg – “Sang Real” (2005)
55. While Lies – “Farewell to the Fairground” (2009)
56. Grizzly Bear – “Ready, Able” (2009)
57. Matisyahu – “King Without a Crown” (2005)
58. Modest Mouse – “Paper Thin Walls” (2000)
59. Dillinger Escape Plan – “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things” (2002)
60. Elliott Smith – “Twilight” (2004)
61. Deerhunter – “Flourescent Grey” (2007)
62. Holy Fuck – “Lovely Allen” (2007)
63. LCD Soundsystem – “Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up” (2006)
64. The Notwist – “Boneless (Panda Bear Remix)” (2008)
65. Liars – “Nothing Is Ever Lost or Can Be Lost My Science Friend” (2004)
66. The Mars Volta – “Inertiatic E.S.P.” (2003)
67. The Notwist – “Solitaire” (2002)
68. Of Montreal – “The Past is a Grotesque Animal” (2007)
69. Queens of the Stone Age – “Tangled Up in Plaid” (2005)
70. Radiohead – “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” (2007)
71. Saul Williams – “Raised To Be Lowered” (2007)
72. Autolux – “Great Days for the Passenger Element” (2004)
73. Sigur Ros – “Untitled 8″ (2002)
74. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – “Maps” (2003)
75. Portishead – “Threads” (2008)
76. Sufjan Stevens – “Chicago” (2005)
77. Ugly Casanova – “Things I Don’t Remember” (2002)
78. Animal Collective – “Brothersport” (2009)
79. Radiohead – “Pyramid Song” (2001)
80. Nine Inch Nails – “Only” (2005)
81. El-P – “Flyentology” (2007)
82. Queens of the Stone Age – “No One Knows” (2002)
83. Ghostface Killah – “Shakey Dog” (2006)
84. Modest Mouse – “Missed the Boat” (2007)
85. UNKLE – “Persons and Machinery” (2007)
86. Amon Tobin – “Verbal” (2002)
87. The White Stripes – “Denial Twist” (2005)
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88. Tomahawk – “Captain Midnight” (2003)
89. Modest Mouse – “Bukowski” (2004)
90. Sigur Ros – “Hoppipolia” (2005)
92. Fuck Buttons – “Sweet Love For Planet Earth” (2008)
93. Bon Iver – “Skinny Love” (2008)
94. Built to Spill – “In Your Mind” (2001)
95. The White Stripes – “Icky Thump” (2007)
96. Does It Offend You, Yeah? – “We Are Rockstars” (2008)
97. Dub Trio – “Not Alone” (2006)
98. Modest Mouse – “The World At Large”
99. The Walkmen – “In the New Year” (2008)
100. Nine Inch Nails – “The Great Destroyer (Modwheelmood Remix)” (2007)
Fishpork’s Favorite Albums of the 2000s
Compiling a list of your favorite albums for an entire decade is quite the challenge, especially when that decade was as strong as the 2000s were. Six of our favorites come from two bands (Animal Collective and Radiohead), and two were from this past year (Veckatimest and Merriweather Post Pavilion). This list is by no means a definitive statement of the best music from last decade. Instead, these are our favorite albums that were on heavy rotation in our iPods and scrobbled endlessly on Last.FM.
1. Strawberry Jam (2007) – Animal Collective
2. Silent Shout (2006) – The Knife
3. The Moon and Antarctica (2000) - Modest Mouse
4. Kid A (2000) – Radiohead
5. Figure 8 (2000) – Elliott Smith
6. Veckatimest (2009) – Grizzly Bear
7. De-Loused in the Comatorium (2003) – The Mars Volta
8. Future Perfect (2004) – Autolux
9. The Eraser (2006) – Thom Yorke
10. Person Pitch (2007) – Panda Bear
11. Return to Cookie Mountain (2006) – TV on the Radio
12. Sea Change (2002) – Beck
13. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002) – Wilco
14. High Society (2002) – Enon
15. The Loon (2006) – Tapes N’ Tapes
16. Microcastle (2008) – Deerhunter
17. Feels (2005) – Animal Collective
18. Sound of Silver (2007) – LCD Soundsystem
19. In Rainbows (2007) – Radiohead
20. Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009) – Animal Collective
Tapes N’ Tapes @ Johnny Brendas
Tapes N’ Tapes is a band that we have been waiting to catch for a while, and they blew the doors off Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday night. Johnny Brenda’s is our favorite venue in Philly. The intimate setting and mix of good beer and great sound makes for memorable shows. And this one even topped last year’s stand out performances from Battles and Holy Fuck at the venue.
The set featured a great mix of songs from both of their full length records, The Loon and Walk It Off. They even showcased two new songs that seamlessly fit into the 15-song set. The second new track, tentatively titled “Hideeho!” according to the set list that I snatched up, was probably the highlight of the show. Lead singer and guitarist Josh Grier mentioned he was under the weather and his voice might be off, but I would never have noticed. He sounded flawless as they opened the set with a tight rendition of “George Michael.”
One of the most notable aspects of the show was the sheer energy and power of the songs from the quartet. Drummer Jeremy Hanson, who joined the band in 2005 while still a senior in high school, is the glue that curates the raw power of Grier’s ever-changing riffs. Altering between traditional sticks and drum mallets, Hanson gives the band a sonic tightness that makes start/stop songs like “In Houston” so powerful. His jazz/rock drumming style mixes well with Matt Kretzman’s keyboards and the occasional trumpet.
As always the sound at Brenda’s was mixed perfectly, while still allowing the band to show off some of its rawness in songs like “The Dirty Dirty” and “Headshock.” Tapes N’ Tapes sounded even better live than on their records, and the LPs are fierce. I can imagine this is what Modest Mouse might have sounded like back in 1998 while also touring for their second full record The Lonesome Crowded West.
After hearing the new songs, anticipation for their 3rd record has begun. This is a band that you don’t want to miss while they are still playing such intimate shows at places like Johnny Brenda’s with a capacity of only 300. Don’t miss this band on their next tour. The sheer force and energy of the songs was simply awe-inspiring. Another great night at Johnny Brenda’s, and another amazing show.
The band is wrapping up the tour this week and have video blogged their travels on their YouTube page. Below is the one from Philly:
Tapes N’ Tapes – Hang Em All
http://www.tapesntapes.com
http://www.myspace.com/tapesntapes