Top Ten Records Of 2011

Maybe it's a bit early this year, but here they are - My Top Ten Records of 2011:

1. Mike Viola - Electro de Perfecto 
The long awaited follow up to Lurch: 10 songs. No filler. Fab.
More info here.

2. Bleu - Besides
It's still not released, hopefully it will in 2011. Most of the songs are known to the fans - it's great compilation. More info here.

3. David Mead - Dudes
The kickstarter - crowd funded record from Mr. Mead. More info here and here.

4. Brandon Schott - 13 Satellites 
Brandon Schott's new, indiegogo - crowd funded record, filled with beautiful songs! More info here.

5. Teitur - Let The Dog Drive Home
A strong album, breathtaking melodies and lyrics. More info here.

6. Jeremy Messersmith - The Reluctant Graveyard
Though the record was out in 2010, I discovered it not until this year. More info here.

7. Jay Clifford - Silver Tomb For The Kingfisher
More info here.

8. Feist - Metals 
Darker tunes than on The Reminder. More info here.

9. Hotel Lights - Girl Graffiti 
More info here.

10. Ivy - All Hours
Released 6 years after their last record - finally. More info here.

Special award: Ben Folds - Best Imitation Of Myself 
It's a Best Of, so it doesn't really count. But the compilation has three new Ben Folds Five songs - and there's probably a whole new record coming in 2012! More info here.

Short Review: Feist - Metals

Five years after The Reminder Leslie Feist is back with a new album. The Reminder was successful for a a surprisingly long time. Here in Germany it was in the Top 100 LP charts for longer than two years.

Metals, the new record, is darker and at the first listen partially not as catchy as its forerunner.

1. "The Bad In Each Other"

2. "Graveyard"

3. "Caught A Long Wind"

4. "How Come You Never Go There"

5. "A Commotion"

6. "Bittersweet Melodies"

7. "Anti Pioneer"

8. "Undiscovered First"

9. "Cicadas And Gulls"

10. "Woe Be"

11. "Comfort Me"

12. "Get It Wrong, Get It Right" 

Highlights: The Bad In Each Other, Graveyard, How Come You Never Go There, Anti Pioneer

Review: Feist - The Reminder

The Reminder - the third record of Feist - is a kind of magic.
The album is sort of a grower in several ways: The first time I listened, I didn't like it very much. This changed very soon!
It's also a grower in the charts: In the Germany it stayed in the charts for a very very long time (I think it was at least one year).

It has an acoustic and mellow touch, there are less instruments and more vocals by Leslie Feist.
"1-2-3-4" is simply stunning and uplifting, "Brandy Alexander" is beautiful (later it was covered by a friend of Leslie - Ron Sexsmith), "The Park" and "The Water" are quiet but instant classics.

Songs for a lonely island: 1-2-3-4, I Feel It All, Brandy Alexander, The Park