11 in 11

Just prior to the closing curtain of each calendar year, I use this blog to compile a list. When I started, it was the top five things that Billy Mays yelled at me about. But since he passed away in 2009, I retired that topic and have struggled to come up with another one that worked. Last year I shared with you my favorite music released in 2010. I liked that one. It worked for me, since music is essential to my everyday existence. So that is what I have decided to run with again this year.

The phrase “11 in 11” holds a special meaning for me this year I suppose. 2011 was the year that my St. Louis Cardinals won their 11th world championship. Maybe that’s why I decided to choose 11 songs for the list this year instead of just 10. Unfortunately, even with the additional selection – it’s just not enough. There were just too many really good albums released this year. So keep in mind that there are some omissions simply because there wasn’t enough room, including Fleet Foxes and Yo-Yo Ma.

So, here they are, in no particular order – my top eleven albums released in 2011: (Take your time and click the links to hear some of the songs you aren’t familiar with.)

 

The Decemberists: The King Is Dead

I didn’t even realize that I enjoyed the Decemberists as much as I do until I bought this album. Colin Meloy and company make awesome, story-telling, American roots-driven music with diverse influences including R.E.M. and Gillian Welch, who both make appearances on the album.

Listen to Calamity Song

 

Adele: 21

At this point in her career, everyone is familiar with Adele, which typically in my book is not a good thing. The deal is, regardless of everything else, the girl has talent! Her songwriting is top-notch, and that voice… my goodness that voice! It is nice to see a true talent getting recognized in the public’s eyes. Too often that doesn’t happen.

Listen to Rolling in the Deep

 

Amos Lee: Mission Bell

The line between sweet clean folk music and pure soulful R&B has never been walked so perfectly as it is when it’s done by the incredible Amos Lee. This album is fantastic – definitely one of my most played albums of the year.

Listen to Flower

 

Raphael Saadiq: Stone Rollin’

This former member of Tony! Toni! Toné! Goes above and beyond with some powerful throwback R&B sounds on this album. Especially after seeing him live on Austin City Limits, I maintain that this guy is an old-school band leader from the same stock as James Brown. Great record!

Listen to Stone Rollin’

 

Foo Fighters: Wasting Light

We are living in the digital age, right? Then how is it that the year’s best hard rock album was recorded entirely on analog tape in Dave Grohl’s garage? That is either a testament to analog rock & roll, or evidence of just what a good band the Foo Fighters really are.

Listen to Arlandria

 

Ryan Adams: Ashes & Fire

Thank goodness Ryan’s retirement from music only lasted a few years, because this is one of the strongest albums he has released in a long time. I used to marvel at how prolific he was; writing and recording new music so quickly, but maybe a little time off allowed him to take his time and return to his former “Whiskeytown” greatness.

Listen to Lucky Now

 

Gillian Welch: The Harrow & the Harvest

Only artists as amazing as Gillian Welch and David Rawlings can make an album that sounds familiar and old-fashioned as well as utterly original all at the same time. This is an album filled with gorgeous, sad, empathetic story songs – wonderfully written and beautifully played.

Listen to The Way It Goes

 

Wilco: The Whole Love

Exactly what kind of band is Wilco? What kind of music do they typically make? Sometimes it’s hard to tell – and don’t even try to guess what their next album will be like! They have gone from jangly country pop to progressive experimental rock and back again, gaining and losing fans along the way. The Whole Love is a bit of a throwback to Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in my opinion; experimental, a little crazy, a bit noisy, but strong.

Listen to I Might

 

Iron & Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean

By Sam Beam’s own admission, this is a pop album – a slight departure from the whispered acoustic folk music that made him famous – and one filled with songs that sound like they could’ve been something your parents listened to way back when. And that is a compliment. This is a great album!

Listen to Tree by the River

 

The Black Keys: El Camino

If I had to pick a favorite album of the year right now – It would probably be El Camino. I thought last year’s Brothers album was a massive breakthrough for this extremely talented blues-rock duo. But, in my opinion, this one blows it away. Catchy riffs, driving rhythms, inspired melodies… El Camino has it all.

Listen to Gold on the Ceiling

 

R.E.M.: Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage 1982–2011

Okay, so I might be including this one primarily for sentimental reasons. (I don’t think my list is the only one that did though.) In September, one of my favorite bands in the world announced that they were breaking up. So this double disk retrospective seems like a nice farewell – succinctly capturing their career in a nice little black & white package… even though it breaks my heart a little.

Listen to We All Go Back to Where We Belong

Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas?

We are officially only a few short days away from Christmas weekend. I have said in the past that this time of year is stressful for me. This year, I take that statement back. I think the stress itself is self-induced. It’s all in how we handle things.

Yes, it is busy – hectic even. We spend a lot of our time trying to wrap things up that, frankly, should’ve been taken care of before now. Of course there is plenty of shopping, and as a result, putting our patience and resilience to the test with those other shoppers out there that have also waited until the last few weeks to make their purchases. We also have to deal with scheduling conflicts with family, friends and work. It doesn’t seem like we have enough time to squeeze everything that we want or need to do into the span of a few short days. And on top of it all, in the midst of a time of “peace on earth and good will toward men” we are inundated with rudeness, selfishness, and inconsiderateness.

But it can really only be considered “stress”, in my opinion, if we let those things get to us.

And this year, I am making every effort to not let it get to me.

This is a year of changes though – one of transition – and one of extra emotion.

First of all – this is only the second full holiday season we have had without either of my wife’s parents, which kind of leaves a gaping hole in part of our festivities. In fact, her side of the family is basically just her sister, bother-in-law, and niece – at least as far as holidays are concerned. And that’s okay, really – we love them to death! We don’t get to spend as much time with them as we would like, but the time we do get to spend with them is awesome. Unfortunately it kind of makes me feel guilty (and, yes, I know it shouldn’t – so don’t start) that in contrast, my side of the family just keeps getting bigger.

In addition to my parents, Grandma, and a few random aunts or cousins, my brother got married this year – so on top of his three fantastic kids, he also has a new wife and an awesome step-daughter. Not to mention the fact that his two oldest are getting to the age where they are starting to bring boyfriends and girlfriends occasionally. Again – none of this is a problem. It’s great, and I love each and every one of them no matter how crazy and boisterous our get-togethers end up getting. The more, the merrier – right?

Then there is our daughter. In June our family expanded by one when she married the best son-in-law we could’ve possibly hoped for. He is a strong, talented, smart, mature man of God. And (very important to her daddy) treats her like a young lady ought to be treated. And now, not surprisingly, they are expecting their first child. So next year, our family will be expanded by one more – a new baby – a grandchild.

This is the point where the majority of the extra emotion comes into play I guess. Just thinking about how much my baby girl has grown up – remembering all of those Christmases past – exchanging gifts early in the morning wearing our pajamas, sipping on coffee. Whether it was those few years when it was just the two of us – daddy and daughter against the world – or later on when we were blessed enough to share those moments (and our love) with a new wife and step-mom. We had some great times – made some great memories.

And now, starting next year, we get to be part of those memories for her young family. It is an awesome responsibility – an overwhelming blessing – and a chapter in my life that I look forward to embracing.

So, Okay – we have a lot to do – a lot to accomplish between now and Saturday morning. But instead of feeling stressed about it, I consciously choose to focus on how much more we have to look forward to, both this Christmas – and all of our Christmases to come. And we are going to make sure that no one takes the “Merry” out of our Christmas!