A Tattered Line of String

The Postal Service's brand new song.

Albums of the year, part III

Part I
Part II

#3 Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
M83

The single most atmospheric album of 2011. It delivers exactly what the title promises. This record most of all reminds me of The Suburbs from the last year, in terms of grandiosity, anticipation and achievement. Even if you're not a fan of electronic pop, close your eyes and let the music sink in. It will grow on you, I promise.

Best tracks: Midnight City, My Tears Are Becoming a Sea, Splendor



#2 Neighborhoods
blink-182

Just when I was beginning to fear that the album would never come out... Blink took their time, didn't leave anything to chance and it paid them off big time. Neigboorhoods eventually surpassed any expectations, if it's even possible, and people showed they still cared about Mark, Tom & Travis. The best thing about the whole album, though, is its lasting value. I can still spin Neighborhoods endlessly and never get bored with it. This will be the landmark album of 2011 for me.

Best tracks: Natives, After Midnight, MH 4.18.2011



#1 Welcome Home Armageddon
Funeral For a Friend

For weeks preceding the release, the number of rave reviews giving the album 9 out of 10 stars had been rapidly increasing. No wonder my expectations had been pretty high, if not unrealistically. That fact, of course, lead to me being a little underwhelmed by the final product at first. But it's not uncommon, that the best albums take time to grow on me. In the course of the following weeks, I slowly started to appreciate Welcome Home... more and more, and it eventually turned out to be that killer record I'd hoped for it to be.

It's perhaps their heaviest album to date, most of all reminding of their debut, Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation. Screaming vocals and heavy guitar riffs mark yet another change of direction for the band, who turned away from the more mainstream sound present on their last two full-lengths. The answer to whether this was a good decision or not is a resolute and loud yes.

Their last album also hit the top spot on my list of that year, so I might be a little partial here...

Best tracks: Front Row Seats to the End of the World, Sixteen, Welcome Home Armageddon

The best of 2011 so far, st. tropez's picks

Top 5 so far of 2011
5. This Love "At War"


4. Matt Wertz "Weights & Wings"


3. The Boxer Rebellion "The Cold Still"


2. Augustana "Self Titled"


1. The Dangerous Summer "War Paint"


4 CDs yet to come I'm more excited for
1. MUTEMATH
2. Ed Sheeran
3. There Will Be Fireworks
4. Jack's Mannequin

3 biggest surprises
1. Mads Langer "Behold"
2. Eastern Conference Champions "Speak-Ahh"
3. My Epic "Broken Voice"

2 best EPs to date:
1. Coyote Theory "Theory"
2. The Cape Race "Now, Voyager"

Biggest disappointment so far
1. Death Cab for Cutie "Codes and Keys"

st. tropez

Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab's new album is due out in a few days and there's already a low quality rip lying around on the internet. Below, you can see them perform two new songs You Are a Tourist and Codes and Keys on Jimmy Fallon. Personally, I couldn't be more stoked for the album...

"You Are a Tourist"

Death Cab for Cutie's new album Codes and Keys is due out May 31 a you can finally hear the first song. Head over here to stream it. It sounds very different from their older material and I just can't get enough of it. Your thoughts?