Monday, December 19, 2011

Seven from 2011: Music

At its current rate of regression the music industry will cease to exist by the end of next year.

“Dad, what’s that noise you’re making with your mouth?”

“It’s called humming, son.”

“What are you humming?”

“A song.”

“What’s a song?”

“Well, it’s a long story but there used to be this thing called music. There were all kinds of different styles. It was great. So great in fact that the best music had a way of sticking around in your head years after you first listened to it. That’s where humming comes from.”

“I’ve never heard of music. What happened to it?”

“Lady Gaga, son. Lady Gaga.”

Below are a few records that might just keep the above conversation from happening for another year or so.

7. Youth is In Our Blood, The Dirty Guv’nahs

The Black Crowes and Kings of Leon had a baby and named it The Dirty Guv’nahs.

6. The Water and the Blood, Sojourn

For my money, Sojourn is the best of all the praise and worship groups. They mix old school, biblically sound lyrics with Americana and the finished product is always well worth your dime.

5. Dying to Live, PRo

This is PRo’s first official release with Reach Records and as you might expect, he blends his brand of southern hip-hop nicely with practical theology. The future is bright for PRo.

4. Young Love, Mat Kearney

When Mat Kearney first came on the scene he was compared to Coldplay. With this album, he’s surpassed them. The album’s final song, Rochester, tells the story of Kearney’s father and caps off another excellent album from Kearney.

3. Bon Iver, Bon Iver

I can understand four words on this album but it’s some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. Here’s a guarantee, if you buy Bon Iver, you’ll look cool at parties because everyone will know that you’re into a band that nobody else has ever heard of before. You get extra credit for pronouncing the name right. The only way that this purchase could go wrong for you is if you play linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and it’s your week to pick out the pre-game musical selections for the locker room.


By the way, the video linked above may be the weirdest I've ever seen. I can't prove it but I think it was shot using a broken Etch-A-Sketch.

2. Rehab: The Overdose, Lecrae

Lecrae isn’t the best Christian emcee. He’s probably the best emcee period. This is evident in the fact that this album of bonus material from 2010’s Rehab is one of the best records of 2011.

1. PSA vol. 2, PRo

This is PRo’s first unofficial release with Reach Records (they offered it for free through their website and it’s still available for free through Noise Trade). This one has the feel of a cd you’d buy from an artist out of the trunk of his Chevy about 6 months before he hits it big. Put You On comes with references to King of the Hill and The Sixth Sense and is one of many highlights on this album.

2 comments:

  1. Hold up, this list is missing No More Kings!?!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry, dude. Their check didn't arrive in time. You've got to pay big bucks if you want to make it on my list.

    ReplyDelete