Ten Albums You Should Listen to in 2011
New albums from The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, Kanye West, and others
By Jessica Gentile
Kanye West & Jay-Z, Watch the Throne
After a monster 2010, 2011 looks like it might be just as epic for Kanye. What was initially supposed to be an EP of collaborations with Jay-Z has been expanded to an full-length album, just months after West’s last release, the much acclaimed My Dark Twisted Fantasy. No official release date has been set, although Kanye hinted it might be as soon as mid-January. So keep an eye out for these two hip-hop titans duking it out.
Listen: "H.A.M"
Kanye West & Jay-Z
The Decemberists, The King is Dead
After overindulging their prog-rock tendencies on the bloated rock opera, The Hazards of Love, The Decemberists will get back to their folksy roots on The King is Dead. Thankfully, the band sounds reinvigorated, and yet more laid-back than ever before, with acoustic tunes and catchy melodies that remind us why we loved them in the first place. January 18, 2011
Listen: "Down by the Water"
The Decemberists
Tennis, Cape Dory
There's been a lot of buzz around the debut album by husband-wife duo Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore. If the first few singles are any indication, we're in for a dreamy set of lo-fi and indie-pop goodness. Just ignore the horrendous 80s-style glamour-shot album art. January 18, 2011
Listen: "Cape Dory"
Tennis
Iron & Wine, Kiss Each Other Clean
Sam Beam, a.k.a. Iron & Wine, recently said his upcoming album “sounds like the music people heard in their parents’ car, growing up." Which, to me at least, is ‘70s-style FM radio. With Beam’s groovy beard and soothing voice — basically the aural equivalent of rocking a baby to sleep — that doesn't sound too far off target. January 25, 2011
Listen: "Tree by the River"
Iron & Wine
Destroyer, Kaputt
Songwriter Dan Bejar is a wordsmith of the highest order. Kaputt will feature more of his verbose ruminations on everything from communism to the pointlessness of writing songs. Plus, he's touring with an eight-piece orchestra, which will make this one of his most lush and intricate endeavors yet. January 25, 2011
Listen: "Kaputt"
Destroyer
Cut Copy, Zonoscope
It's been a few years since these sexy Australians graced our ears — and our feet — with their retro-sounding dance-pop. If this batch of songs is as good as their last (and all signs suggest it will be), it'll sound just as good on your iPod as it would in a John Hughes prom scene. February 8, 2011
Listen: "Take Me Over"
Cut Copy
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Tao of the Dead
The Texan psych-rockers are back with their seventh album. Unsurprisingly, it abounds with blistering riffs and epic songs about, well, death. It should fit in perfectly with their rich and morbid discography. February 8, 2011
Listen: "Summer of All Dead Souls"
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
P.J. Harvey, Let England Shake
For nearly two decades, P.J. Harvey has excelled at writing gorgeous, brooding songs, so we're naturally excited for her latest album. Fortunately, she looks and sounds better then ever. February 25, 2011
Listen: "The Last Living Rose"
P.J. Harvey
The Mountain Goats, All Eternals Deck
This umpteenth album (honestly, who's keeping track anymore) by John Darnielle and co. will features the contributions of producer Erik Rutan, who’s the frontman for death-metal band Hate Eternal. And while Darnielle assures fans that All Eternals Deck is by no means a metal album, I hope Rutan lends the band a heavier edge, especially after the quiet, piano-driven somberness of their last few albums. March 29, 2011
The Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2
Excluding 2007's all instrumental record, The Mix Up, it's been nearly seven years since the Beasties' last proper album. If the title is any indication, Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2 (don't ask where “Part 1” went) should maintain the boys' irreverence and wit. It will be an especially welcome return given Adam Yauch's cancer battle — which rendered the band inactive for the past year. Summer 2011
Commentarium (26 Comments)
Kanye West is talentless, please stop wasting our time covering him.
Kanye West is talentful, please stop covering him.
Kanye West is talented. Please continue covering him.
Kanye West. Please continue.
Oooh can't wait for the new Trail of Dead.
Kanye West USED to be one of my favorites but I think the fame went to his head. His earlier stuff was so much better, like the college drop out and late registration. When rappers and singers had to work for it they put out some of the best music, when they finally make it to the big time they just get lazy.
And My Beautiful Twisted Nightmare or whatever was a piece of shizz.
Daaaamn.. Beastie Boys got oooold.
only thing good on this list of hipster shit is Beastie Boys
Kanye used to be decent, and then I fell asleep with his album on repeat. I never listened to him again. Oh right, and then there was that terrible cover of Young Folks.. ROFL
The pacing of this list is quite eclectic. I feel like I would have to be slightly bi-polar to listen to these tracks within even the same week. Appreciate the hard hitters like Jay, Ye, Harvey and The Beastie Boys though. The rest I do have to agree with Derp...hipster droll.
The Decemberists are AMAZING! I already have the new album due to a leak, and it is fantastic.
Don't forget 'Dynamite Steps' by the Twilight Singers, release date 15 Feb 2011!
what about THE STROKES?!!!!!!!!!!!
Kanye West. Go away please. Preferably forever.
Agreed... this is hipster bullshit. Who exactly is your reading audience for music? Just you, Jessica?
Do half the people writing here even know what hipster means??? Try listening to the music instead of just judging by the douchey looking album covers.
hipster is no longer hipster
You forgot the the T.hunt mixtape
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbmu1YnfPns
If only Kanye West was half as good as he thinks he is... unfortunately he is not.
you're all a bunch of rubes
Forget Kanye, people! PJ Harvey!!!!
So we should listen to new albums by old-ass bands? Great reporting. How about suggesting something everyone isn't going to listen to anyway?
The Avalanches are expected to have all the samples cleared and their new album out this year, will be album-o-the-year
really feel that Cage The Elephant should have been included.
Felt really awkward reading the Beastie Boys part.
Now you say something