• Tweet

This week we are going to take a look at all of our reviewers Top album picks of the year. Please pipe up down in the comments with any that we may have missed or if you don’t agree with any of our picks.

Next up, Brian Rutherford

1. Cattle Drums – The Boy Kisser Sessions Plus 3 – been a while since any album has struck me with an adrenaline of newness, much less a recording with such a tribute for Punk.
2. Grieves - Together/Apart – It’s difficult nowadays to find that middle crowd of deep, dark and hype. If there were three words to describe Grieves, it would certainly be the aforementioned.
3. Explosions in the Sky- Take Care, Take Care, Take Care Like on most Explosions In The Sky albums, tracks transition with the smoothest of times. Unlike previous EITS albums, “Take Care, Take Care, Take Care”, has an extra special something, almost an extra carefulness, no pun intended
4. City and Colour – Little Hell – Throughout the CD, Green’s voice rings with clarity and depth as he easily draws a comparison to the late and great Jeff Buckley.
5. The Book of Knots – Garden of Fainting Stars Whether or not this end of a trilogy is the end of the project known as The Book Of Knots remains to be seen. One thing is certain, Joel Hamilton, Carla Kihlstedt, Matthias Bossi, and Tony Maimone each brought a great presence on their own and created an unforgettable mincing of genre-breeding.
6. Foster The People – Torches Guiltless change of genres for me, these guys make synth fun without fail
7. Passafire - Start From Scratch Every so often a high-energy breed of cross genres classification comes along and simplifies the purity of music. Passafire proves their ability to be that band of 2011 with Start From Scratch.
8. Brown Shoe – The Gift Horse These guys have come great lengths since appearing in our 2007 IOTY contest… fantastic album that I almost missed, thank you Kevin Sellers for reminding us where we’ve been.
9. Blue October – Any Man in America – Softening but cleanly emotive like never before.
10. Atmosphere – The Family Sign – Am I fully satisfied with the effort? No, but an average Atmosphere release is better than most average artist top-notch releases.
11. Easy Star All Stars - First Light – While I wouldn’t begin labeling this an indie-classic from the get-go, it’s certainly a breath of fresh music, just in the nick of time for a formation near being pigeon-holed as a cover act.

Honorable Mentions

Bands that …

(a) I just could not squeeze them into the Top 11
(b) I didn’t have time to listen to yet, but have heard rave reviews
(c) Released something in December of last year
(d) Released only a song or two

Radiohead- Gray Young- Cage The Elephant- Face Candy- Dub Trio-Mishap- Indofin- Social Distortion- And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead-Bon Iver- Curren$y- Lykke Li- The New Sea- Afterlife Parade- White Arrows- Fine Spun- G Love – PJ Harvey- The Roots- Black Keys- Sublime With Rome-The Entertainment – Barricades Rise – Florence and The Machine- - Yes Nice- Camacho- Statue Of Liberty -AWOLNation- TV on the Radio- The Mast- Seryn- Stone Antica- HB Surround Sound- Meekos & Me- Zach Ashton

Writer Awards

Can’t forget all of our wonderful contributor’s keeping us in the know

Reviewer of the year: Mike Wood for his relentless attack of everything bold and off-beat
Rookie Reviewer : Charles Martel, as he never takes a day off, always finds something way off the expected mark to share his opinion of…
Live Coverage: Benjy Oliver providing an undying love and passion for providing the most up to date concert and artist insight
Correspondent: Mark Ambrose, has quietly but viciously attacked the indie music scene, without fail or hesitation ALL YEAR!

Honorable Mentions:
Kevin Sellers, who I share a ton of basic overall music interest with, constantly showing me what I’m missing. John Berry, who with minimal practice, has sharpened his skills to become one of our most witting writers. Brandon Thompson, who, when he writes reminds me most of myself. Giancarlo Ghedini, who has brought a nice balance of Pop and Indie. Carina, for she has contributed just as much, if not more than anyone in the limited time since joining us. Jason Henshaw, who recently joined us as well, and has taken on back-end in addition to concert coverage. Peter Kearns and Mark Morton who have shocked me with their signature consistency and ability to find gems.