So I’m a little compulsive and need to list my favorite albums and movies every year.  I’m posting it online since this is more of a journal than anything else I have and I know 5 years down the road I can just click through the archives and see what stupid music I was listening to at the time.  Anyways, 2011 was pretty great.  Didn’t make it to the Sasquatch Music Festival in Washington but did get to enjoy SxSW and Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.

10. M83 – “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming”
This album was hard for me to devour since it was soooo long.  For the most part I enjoyed it although there are some weird ones where I can’t last through a full listen (like that one with the kid rambling about a frog or something).
Favorite Song: “Midnight City”

9. Los Campesinos! – “Hello Sadness”
I wish more bands popped out a solid album every year like Los Campesinos! do.  They even have time to make a quarterly zine with unreleased material called “Heat Rash”.  As always I am frantically trying to learn all the lyrics so I can sing along in the car.
Favorite Song: “Songs About Your Girlfriend”

8. Cults – “Cults”
Although only about half this album sticks with me, it’s a really good half.  Enough to make it in my top albums of the year.  That last part in “You Know What I Mean” when she goes an octave higher is like my favorite thing ever.
Favorite Song: “You Know What I Mean”

7. Black Lips – “Arabia Mountain”
Normally I hate when gritty bands go with a little more polish, but here it worked for me.  Could have done without “Mad Dog” though.
Favorite Song: “Mr. Driver”

6. Something Fierce- “Don’t Be So Cruel”
After falling in love with Mean Jeans and The White Wires last year I have been following Dirt Nap Records releases like a hawk.  This year they gave me this.  Awesome fun punk rock like very little bands still achieve today.
Favorite Song: “Before You Raised The Gun”

5. Hunx & His Punx- “Too Young To Be In Love”
There’s something about this Hunx’s nasally voice mixed with the wonderful female backup vocals of his Punx and Shannon Shaw from Shannon and the Clams that could turn any song to pure awesomeness.  This album feels instantly nostalgic, which is the best feeling any album can give in my opinion.
Favorite Song: “Lovers Lane”

4. Total Babes – “Swimming Through Sunlight”
Just. Plain. Rad.  By some guys or a guy from Cloud Nothings.  Also could this be the best album cover of the year?
Favorite Song: “How We Wanna Be”

3. Sleeping Bag – “Sleeping Bag”
They sound like some band I know.  Melinda and I have been racking our brains for months trying to figure it out but still haven’t prevailed.  I guess we’ll never know.  This was one of my favorite most random finds.  That slime song is out of control goooooood.
Favorite Song: “Someone”

2. Cloud Nothings – “Cloud Nothings”
They may be a little too repetitive for some since they repeat their short punk pop choruses over and over to death.  But when it’s this catchy how can I complain?  I have still yet to tire of my endless listens.  Music always fuses to my memories and this will always remind me of my first summer in Austin, TX.
Favorite Song: “Should Have”

1. Real Estate – “Days”
With every listen this album keeps getting better and better.  This is the ideal soundtrack for long drives through beautifully vacant landscapes or a great staying up all night drawing comics tunes.

Favorite Song: “Green Aisles”