Kerrang! Radio DJs' Albums of 2011
Our presenters have their say on the finest records of the year
After much deliberation, chin stroking and umming & ahhing, Kerrang! Radio head honcho James Walshe, producer Fearny and all our lovely DJs and have selected the one album that has rocked their world more than any other in 2011. Who will make the cut?!
!Lower Than Atlantis - ‘World Record’ “It’s the sort of album that GETS people into this style of music, it’s the kind of album that people will talk about in years to come as THE album that introduced them to guitar based music. It’s got a unique and interesting stamp while still being capable of filling a room with its catchy, commercial vibes. Mike Duce’s honest lyrics and passionate delivery both excite and decimate your emotions depending on what he’s saying, especially noticeable in the desperately sad ‘Another Sad Song.’ Lower Than Atlantis are two albums in to their very exciting journey now – 2012 is going to be huge for them. Watch this space.”
Burzum - ‘From The Depths Of Darkness’ “Varg Vikernes rerecords some early Burzum classics with a fuller sound. I love the originals but this was an unexpected treat.”
!Josh T Pearson - ‘Last of the Country Gentlemen’ “Josh T Pearson, formerly of Lift To Experience has led such an intriguing life. He disappeared off the radar for a long while, and emerged after time in Paris and Berlin with what I can only describe as one of the most beautiful, gut wrenching, terrifyingly honest records I have ever heard. Songs clock in at 10-minute ballads, but the mastery behind the guitar and voice conjures up such strong emotive fields, you find yourself just entranced and hanging on every syllable. I’ve seen him play this album a couple of times this year, the most memorable being at The Union Chapel in London. Words just aren’t enough. Thank God for music.“
Glen Campbell – ‘Ghost On The Canvas’ “One of the finest country singers of all time and still influential after 45 years.”
!Rammstein - ‘Made In Germany’ “For me it's got to be Rammstein 'Made in Germany'… OK, I know it's a career spanning retrospective, but it's a clear reminder of just how good music can be when you have musicians that are clearly at the top of their game. If you listen to this from start to finish you'll find a band that have been nothing short of outstanding from day one, innovative, insanely entertaining and for me one of the best things going at the moment.”
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – ‘Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds “Noel Gallagher’s self-titled debut album for the sheer diversity of musical genres, be that by design or by accident (as was alluded to by Noel himself during a recent interview on our show). Great!”
!Foo Fighters – ‘Wasting Light’ “This was a tough one to choose, as albums of the year always are. Special mentions have to go to Jane’s Addiction, Mastodon & Twin Atlantic for all releasing incredible records, but for me top of the class this year are Foo Fighters. All the writings were on the wall from the start really – a rejection of digital recording techniques in favour of analogue tape, the reuniting of Dave Grohl with producer Butch Vig exactly 20 years after Nirvana’s seminal album Nevermind, guest appearances by ex-Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic & Grohl’s hero Bob Mould of Husker Du fame – this album was never going to be anything less than outstanding. And then you have the songs (the very things that make a great album): Rope, Walk, Arlandria, These Days, Bridge Burning, White Limo…the list goes on. From start to end, Wasting Light is exactly the album Foo Fighters fans wanted and expected, and in my opinion it is the their best album to date, which goes to show that studio trickery and complex arrangements are not necessary to create a unique and special album; sometimes taking it back to basics is all that is required. Nice job Foo Fighters!”
Elbow – ‘Build A Rocket Boys’ “I went to watch them at the NIA, and once I’d seen them perform the new stuff live, listening to the album was an even better experience. Elbow rock!”
!Mastodon – ‘The Hunter’ “For starters, Mastodon are one of the greatest metal bands on the planet. Their releases consistently push boundaries of style, sound and genre – and this year's The Hunter is their boldest, most experimental album to date. Massive songs, bombastic riffs; it's a must-hear for all fans of living life loud.”
Manchester Orchestra – ‘Simple Math’ “Mainly because it is FUCKING GORGEOUS”
!The Vaccines – ‘What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?’ “A controversial one, I know - and bound to earn me a kicking in the offices but this album is a gem. I've spent most of this year slaving over a university project so something "not-too-ferocious with enough cheeriness to keep me sane" was exactly what I needed. On the surface this album seems like a rehash of all the vintage garage-indie rock that's gone before - but there is some fantastic songwriting on here and some real tenderness. Ignore the hype and make your own minds up.”
!M83 – ‘Hurry Up We’re Dreaming’ “Throw Faith No More, MGMT and Vangelis into a blender and you get this. One moment it’s a warm summer breeze on your face and the next, you’re standing behind a jumbo jet’s engine having your face burnt off.”
