Salı 27 Ara 2011, 5:32
Top 10:
1. Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction/Ghost
Mind-blowing metal and beautiful ambience from the craziest character in metal… and now also the ambient scene
2. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Completely revolutionary and downright fantastic in almost everything it does
3. Efrim Manuel Menuck - plays "High Gospel"
Moody ballads and soundscapes from one of main minds behind A Silver Mt. Zion and Godspeed You! Black Emperor
4. Fair to Midland - Arrows & Anchors
Exceptionally catchy and well-written alt-pop-death metal
5. Mastodon - The Hunter
Comparatively stripped-down but thoroughly enjoyable metal
6. Boris - New Album
Drone/stoner/doom rockers do J-pop
7. This Will Destroy You - Tunnel Blanket
Transcends post-rock to encompass a broader drone/doom/ambient sound
8. Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972
Tim Hecker. Nuff said.
9. Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Still nagged by the large chunks of this album which basically form a love-letter to Robert Fripp, but nonetheless a selection of very strong pieces
10. *shels - Plains of the Purple Buffalo
Grand, epic pieces, and unfortunately proves it is possible to an album's mix to be too dynamic
Honourable mention: Scale the Summit (just pipped to the post by *shels), And So I Watch You From Afar (cheery instrumental rock), Opeth (a bold album and statement but not quite so memorable), Moby (great atmospheres and songs but nothing that new), Unexpect (chaotic, fun avant-garde metal unfortunately lacking in truly great moments)
Revised 2010 top 10:
1. (-) Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
Has since overtaken The Mantle to become one of my all-time favourite metal albums, and all-time favourite albums in general.
2. (-) Alcest - Écailles De Lune
3. (NE) Shining - Blackjazz
Phenonemally bold and exhilarating avant-noise-jazz black metal that passed me by until summer 2011.
4. (+7) The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
Didn't give it enough love a year ago, but it's (along with DEP's other work) has seriously grown on me since.
5. (-1) Hammock - Chasing After Shadows... Living with the Ghosts
6. (-3) A Silver Mt. Zion - Kollaps Tradixionales
7. (NE) Four Tet - There is Love in You
Another great album that passed me by until 2011.
8. (-3) Eluvium - Similes
9. (-2) Crippled Black Phoenix - I, Vigilante
10. (-1) Hans Zimmer - Inception