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”

I just finished the cover of “The City Troll”, a graphic novel I am working on due out in March 2012.  I’m so excited!

HOTEL VEGAS ART & MUSIC SHOW

Sunday, October 16
7:00PM at Hotel Vegas (Austin, TX)

$3 at door
Complimentary booze and food

I won’t be there in person but my art will be on display and for sale.

MONSTER SHOW SIX

Saturday, October 29, 2011
7:00PM – 9:00PM at Domy (Austin, TX)

FREE
Complimentary Beer from Real Ale Brewery

Exhibition runs October 29–December 8, 2011

  ]]> http://www.aaronwhitaker.com/2011/10/october-art-appearances/feed/ 0 http://www.aaronwhitaker.com/2011/07/muuutants-7/ http://www.aaronwhitaker.com/2011/07/muuutants-7/#comments Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:14:38 +0000 Aaron http://www.aaronwhitaker.com/?p=896

I just started working on my first long graphic novel called The City Troll. It’s based on a feature length script I wrote for the Nicholl Fellowship this year. I’m thinking it’s going to be somewhere between 200-300 pages which I’m trying to finish by September 30th. It’s a near impossible goal but I love working under pressure.

Anyways, I’m going to be quite the recluse for a bit, but I will still be sending out my awesome monthly newsletter with exclusive comics by me and guest cartoonists (subscribe to it for free in the right sidebar under email newsletter). Plus I will be posting my “The City Troll” progress on my new twitter @GinghamGhost, which you totally need to follow.