Best (or Favorite) Music of 2011: A Roundup of the Critics' Picks

What was the best music to come out in 2011? Such lists are all over the Internet and print media this time of year, so I thought I'd present a look at some of the opinions from some major music critics and journalists, as well as music fans who I follow. (Note: I've never really done a list of top 10 or so best or favorite songs/albums/artists of the year, because it's always been too hard to narrow them down to such a small number, and to quantify what makes one album or band with a certain sound "better" than another with a different sound or approach.)


PJ Harvey's "The Last Living Rose," from "Let England Shake."

Here are links to some opinions of the best (or favorite) music of 2011, many of which include streaming songs from the artists:

• Paste's 50 best albums of 2011 (#1: "Bon Iver" by Bon Iver) 
• The Sound Opinions top picks of 2011, with separate lists from hosts Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis. (Kot's #1 album: Wild Flag's self-titled debut album; DeRogatis had "Sin Sin Sin" by Le Butcherettes in the top spot)
• NME's 50 best albums of the year (link is to top 10; #1: "Let England Shake: by PJ Harvey)
• Pitchfork's top 50 albums (link is to top 10; #1: "Bon Iver" by Bon Iver)
• NPR Music's top 50 albums (list presented in alphabetical order, for some reason. They also have an equally baffling version, two letters of the alphabet at a time, with audio clips)
• WFUV's best of 2011, staff picks and listener picks (listeners' #1 album: "The King is Dead" by The Decemberists)
• Ken Tucker (of Entertainment Weekly and NPR's "Fresh Air") top 9 albums (#1: "Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two" by the Beastie Boys)
• The No Depression community's 50 favorite albums (Americana/roots music) (#1: "The Harrow and the Harvest" by Gillian Welch) 
• Fellow music blogger Ben at I Have 19 Voices: his best songs, albums, and gigs of 2011 (#1 album: "Go Tell Fire to the Mountain" by WU LYF)
• List by music blogger Will of We All Want Someone to Shout For, with 31 best albums of the year (#1: "The Year of Hibernation" by Youth Lagoon)

Besides hearing songs from many of the artists at some of the links above, the hosts of Sound Opinion have put up their annual mixtape podcast, which features some of their favorite new songs from 2011. The podcast has excerpts of the songs, but you can stream full versions from the shownotes page.

As usual, I love poring over these year-end lists not because I care about the scorekeeping of who made it onto the most lists, but because they're valuable for discovering new albums and artists that I may have overlooked.

OK, those are the opinions of some music critics, fans, and bloggers. What are your favorites?

Concert News: Jeff Mangum, Matthew Sweet, Throwing Muses, & More

Jeff Mangum singing at the Occupy Wall Street protest last week.Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com

There are a lot of great live shows coming up in the NYC area this fall, and you'll want to act soon to get tickets for some of them. (I'll add more shows as I find out about them and ticket info becomes available.)

Matthew Sweet is playing multiple shows at City Winery, and all are sold out except for an 11 p.m. show on Nov. 2nd. Tickets start at $35. Sweet is touring to promote his new release "Modern Art" and to mark the 20th anniversary of his classic album "Girlfriend."

Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel is playing a second show at the Landmark Loew's Theatre in Jersey City on Nov. 5th. His show there on Nov. 6th has been sold out for months, but if you missed out on that gig you've now got a second chance. You can get Nov. 5th Jeff Mangum tickets here; they went on sale Oct. 7th. Tickets are $35. (Read about Mangum playing at the Occupy Wall Street protest last week.)

The Jeff Mangum shows seem to have been booked by or in conjunction with Maxwell's, since the gigs appear on the club's website, and there are plenty of good gigs in the near future at the famed Hoboken nightspot. Wild Flag on Sunday is sold out, but here are some of the Maxwell's gigs for which tickets are still available. All tickets available through the Maxwell's website.

• Thurs., Oct. 13th (tonight):  Jon Spencer Blues Explosion/The Baxx SiSi'
  
• Fri., Oct. 21st:  Freedy Johnston/The Health & Happiness Show
  
• Sat., Oct. 22nd:  Pat McGee/special guest
  
• Mon., Oct. 24th: The Dum Dum Girls/Crocodiles/Royal Baths
  
• Sat., Oct. 29th: Dead Meadow/Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs

Above: Throwing Muses playing "Bea" in Barcelona, 2009. 

Indie rock pioneers Throwing Muses are playing Bowery Ballroom this Sunday, Oct. 16th, and amazingly, tickets are still available here. Kristin Hersh and band are legends who have been making music on their own terms for more than 20 years, and they don't tour often. So go see them now. (See all Throwing Muses tour dates here.)

The hMag Music Festival in Hoboken also takes place on Sunday, from 12 Noon to 10 p.m. in Pier A Park. The Walkmen and School of Seven Bells are the top draws, with Wormburner, the Kickdrums, and other bands on the bill. Get free hMag Festival tickets here.

Acclaimed Irish singer Lisa Hannigan is at Hiro Ballroom on Saturday, Oct. 21st. Gavin Glass is also on the bill. 

The Jayhawks and Rosanne Cash play the Beacon Theatre next Saturday, Oct. 21st, and some tickets are still available here.

Gillian Welch plays the Beacon the next night, Oct. 22nd; you can find tickets here (if there are any still available).

If you're looking for a concert by big-name rock star (but taking place in a non-arena venue), Sting is playing Roseland for two shows in what he's calling his "Back to Bass" tour. The shows take place Tuesday and Wednesday Nov. 8th and 9th; tickets go on sale tomorrow, Oct. 14th.