not a "Best of 2011" list (part 1)

i've been making a year end "best of" list for a pretty long time. i used to just write them down in a notebook for when i got sick of the new year's music so i could re-listen/judge myself, and where i was, when i decided that that record was good enough to say it was one of the "best" records of that year.
you kinda learn a lot about yourself, and your life, when you do something like this i've realized.

because of this, i now make a "favorites" list, not a "best of" list because i don't pretend to be a pretentious ass anymore, thinking i know anything about music, i just know what i like about music, and this is what i like. if you don't like it, i don't really care, i'm sure there's shit you listen to that i don't like. i still learn from myself and that's all that really matters to me, if you're looking for me to teach you something, well, i'd say you're looking in the wrong place.

and if you haven't noticed already, i'm a fan of commas and run-on sentences and the word 'and', probably because i read too many Salinger and Kerouac novels at a much too influential age. on top of that, i'm usually a sarcastic jerk, so again, if you don't like it, i don't really care, i'm sure there's shit you do that i wouldn't like but i'm not gonna complain about it. you could just stop reading if it bugs you that much.

so, without further ado, my favorites list of 2011 (and don't expect me to say anything about that fucking Bon Iver record):

if you know me, you know these were the easy ones...
J Mascis - Several Shades of Why (see previous post)
Dum Dum Girls - Only in Dreams (yes, yes, i love my Dee Dee. even when she goes into the studio)
Vivian Girls - Share the Joy // La Sera - s/t (hard to mention one without the other)
Sonic Youth - SYR9: Simon Werner a Disparu (soundtrack to a french thriller-drama? yes, please)
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo (if this dude keeps knockin out records, i'll keep putting them on my list.)
Thee Oh Sees - Castlemania + Carrion Crawler/The Dream (these belong together)
Ty Segall - TY REX + Goodbye Bread (pretty sure this dude isn't human. 21st century King Midas)

speaking of those 2...if you don't have this, and you have a record player, here's a no-brainer.

fucking colored flexi-discs with sweet metallic pictures on them? ca-razy!
not to mention Ty Segall + Michael Kronin killin 2 Bowie songs!
the link is here. buy it

then there's this, which isn't quite as beautiful as actually seeing Jeff Mangum live in person this year, but comes pretty damn close, and is well worth the money: NMH Box Set

First listen winners:
Widowspeak - s/t (was already on the list back in July when I first heard/saw this record on Captured Tracks)
Davila 666 - Tan Bajo (thanks Gardiner!)
Iceage - New Brigade (again, thanks Gardiner! but seriously, aptly fucking titled. these kids are 18 & 19 years old! check them out here)
Disappears - Guider (this came out in January and i've been jammin it since then. new record in March '12 for these guys)
Moon Duo - Mazes (any band that will count Royal Trux as a "touchstone" is fucking awesome in my book)
Peaking Lights - 936 (go ahead, get lost in it. and while you're there check out the Imaginary Falcons record too. and when you wake up, don't be frightened, it's just Wisconsin)

more later...