WXDU closes out 2011 with a look at the individual "Best of" lists from just a few members of our beloved Music Staff. Each week, these DJ's & Genre Directors work hard to review & prepare the dozens of CD's, LP's & 7" that we add to our playlist every Sunday. Click above to see what 2011 sounded like to them!
ANDY B. (MUSIC DIRECTOR)
Andy’s Top 20 albums of 2011
- Barn Owl…Lost In The Glare…Thrill Jockey
- Bird Names…Metabolism: A Salute to the Energy of the Sun…Northern Spy
- Dark Ages…Can America Survive?...Sorry State
- Earth…Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light…Southern Lord
- Amir ElSaffa…Inana…Pi
- Fucked Up…David Comes to Life…Matador
- Hiss Golden Messenger…Poor Moon…Paradise of Bachelors
- Human Eye…They Came From the Sky…Sacred Bones
- Mount Moriah…Mount Moriah…Holidays for Quince
- The Mountain Goats…All Eternal Deck…Merge
- MV + EE…Country Stash…Three-Lobed Recordings
- Perfect Vacuum…A Guide To The Music Of The 21st Century…Acidsoxx Musicks
- Staccato du Mal…Sin Destino…Wierd
- Colin Stetson…New Warfare History Vol. 2: Judges…Constellation
- Thee Oh Sees…Carrion Crawler/The Dream EP…In the Red
- tUnE-yArDs…w ho k I l l…4AD
- Whatever Brains…Whatever Brains…Sorry State
- Wooden Wand & the Briarwood Virgins…Briarwood…Fire
- Various Artists…Not the Spaces You Know, But Between Them…Three Lobed Recordings
- Yardwork…Brotherer…Lunch Box
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Andy’s Top 10 Reissues of Previously Recorded Material
- African Head Charge…Off the Beaten Track…On-U Sound
- Gary Higgins…A Dream a While Back…Drag City
- Michael Hurley…Fatboy Spring…Mississippi
- Ilaiyaraaja…Solla Solla: Maestro Ilaiyaraaja & The Electronic Pop Sounds of Kollywood, 1977-1983…B-Music/Finders Keepers
- Syl Johnson…Complete Mythology…Numero Group
- Les Rallizes Denudes…Great White Wonder…Phoenix
- Janko Nilovic…Funky Tramway…Vadim
- Sohail Rana…Khyber Mail…Finders Keepers
- Sally Smmit and Her Musicians,,,Hangahar...Groovy/Drag City
- Gary Wilson...Forgotten Lovers...Feeding Tube
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Andy’s Top 5 singles:
- John Wesley Coleman/Timmy's Organism...Split 7"...Goner
- Double Negative...Hardcore Confusion, Vols. 1 & 2...Sorry State
- Locrian…Dort Ist Wer Weg 7"…FSS
- Nine Fingerd Thug…Bitter Ballads 7”…Hollow Bunny
- White Lung/Nu Sensae…Clown Life 7”…Nominal
DAVE R. (MUSIC DIRECTOR)
Dave’s Top 20* Favorite Albums of the Year
20. The Polyps...Ants On The Golden Cone...Hello Sunshine
19. Mikal Cronin...Mikal Cronin...Trouble In Mind
18. Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers...Teenage & Torture...Knitting Factory
17. Circuit Des Yeux…Portrait…De Stijl
16. Whatever Brains...Whatever Brains...Sorry State
15. Barn Owl...Lost in the Glare...Thrill Jockey
14. Dirty Beaches...Badlands...Zoo Music
13. Dan Melchior...Assemblage Blues...Siltbreeze / Dan Melchior Und Das Menace...Catbrids & Cardinals...Northern Spy
12. Sic Alps...Napa Asylum...Drag City
11. Thee Oh Sees...Carrion Crawler/The Dream...In the Red
10. Bird Names...Metabolism: A Salute to the Energy of the Sun...Northern-Spy
09. Des Ark...Don't Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker...Lovitt
08. Apache Dropout...Apache Dropout...Family Vineyard
07. Wooden Wand & the Briarwood Virgins...Briarwood...Fire
06. TV Ghost...Mass Dream...In the Red
05. The Ettes...Wicked Will...Krian
04. tUnE-yArDs...w h o k i l l...4AD
03. Brain F≠...Sleep Rough...Sorry State/Grave Mistake
02. Human Eye...They Came From the Sky...Sacred Bones
01. The Men...Leave Home...Sacred Bones
*Yes, I know it’s technically 21 albums. I just couldn’t decide which Dan Melchior album to include.
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Dave’s Top 16 Favorite Compilations & Reissues of 2011:
16. Various Artists...¡CHICAS! Spanish Female Singers 1962-1974...Vampi Soul
15. Jerusalem...Jerusalem...Rockadrome/Lion Productions
14. Dwarr...Starting Over...Drag City
13. Social Climbers...Social Climbers...Drag City/Yoga
12. Ed Askew...Imperfiction...Drag City
11. Syl Johnson...Complete Mythology...Numero Group
10. Les Rallizes Denudes...Great White Wonder...Phoenix
09. Sorry Bamba...Volume One 1970-1979...Thrill Jockey
08. Count Vertigo...I'm A Mutant/X-Patriots 7"...Mississippi
07. Various Artists...Messthetics #108: South Coast DIY '77-81...Hyped2Death
06. Eddy Current Suppression Ring...So Many Things...Goner
05. Various Artists...Dick's Picks 4006...self-released
04. Supreme Dicks...Breathing and Not Breathing...Jagjaguwar
03. Ilaiyaraaja...Solla Solla: Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and the Electronic Pop Sound of Kollywood, 1977-1983...B-Music/Finders Keepers
02. Axemen...Three Virgins, Three Versions, Three Visions...Siltbreeze
01. Various Artists...Not The Spaces You Know, But Between Them...Three-Lobed
SAM G. (MUSIC STAFF)
Sam’s Top 20 Albums of 2011
20. The Luyas…Too Beautiful to Work…Dead Oceans
19. Unknown Mortal Orchestra…Unknown Mortal Orchestra…Fat Possum
18. Fleet Foxes…Helplessness Blues…Sub Pop
17. Washed Out…Within and Without…Sub Pop
16. Junior Boys…It’s All True…Domino
15. CANT…Dreams Come True…Warp/Terrible
14. Banjo or Freakout…Banjo or Freakout…Memphis Industries/Rare Book Room
13. The War on Drugs…Slave Ambient…Secretly Canadian
12. Luke Temple…Don’t Act Like You Don’t Care…Western Vinyl
11. Wye Oak…Civilian…Merge
10. Atlas Sound…Parallax…4AD
09. Colin Stetson…New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges…Constellation
08. Cut Copy…Zonoscope…Modular
07. Wild Beasts…Smother…Domino
06. tUnE-yArDs…w h o k i l l…4AD
05. St. Vincent…Strange Mercy…4AD
04. Megafaun…Megafaun…Hometapes
03. Bill Callahan…Apocalypse…Drag City
02. Twin Sister…In Heaven…Domino
01. Toro y Moi…Underneath the Pine…Carpark
ROSS G. (LOCAL MUSIC DIRECTOR)
Ross’s Personal NC Music Top 20 of 2011
- des_ark…Don't Rock the Boat, Sink the Fucker…Lovitt
- Hiss Golden Messenger…Poor Moon…Paradise of Bachelors
- The Mountain Goats…All Eternals Deck…Merge
- Brain F≠…Sleep Rough…Sorry State
- Whatever Brains…Whatever Brains…Sorry State
- The Reigning Sound…Abdication ….For Your Love…Scion AV Garage
- Megafaun…Megafaun…Hometapes
- Mount Moriah…Mount Moriah…Holidays for Quince
- USX…The Valley Path…Neurot
- Gross Ghost…Lip City/Wicked Game…self-released
- Double Negative…Hardcore Confusion Vols 1 & 2…Sorry State
- Birds of Avalon…Birds of Avalon…Bladen County
- Various Artists…Cassingles Vol 1…DiggUp Tapes
- Nine Fingered Thug…Women Are Magic…Hollow Bunny
- Americans in France…Crawling…Odessa
- Wembley…You Are Invisible…Miserable Dental
- Wigg Report…Bicycle Pop…self-released
- MAKE…Trephine…Black Iron
- Burglar Fucker…The Demonweb EP…self-released
- Yardwork…Brotherer…Lunchbox
MARK J. (GENRE DIRECTOR: CBGF)
Some Roots Music Highlights on WXDU in 2011 (Not Ranked In A Particular Order)
Four great compilations:
- Various Artists…This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African-American Gospel on 45rpm, 1957-1983…Tompkins Square, 2011
- Various Artists…Barbecue Any Old Time: Blues From The Pit 1927-1942…Old Hat, 2011
- Various Artists…I Listen To The Wind That Obliterates My Traces…Dust-to-Digital, 2011
- Various Artists…The World Is A Monster: Columbia Hillbilly 1948-1958…Omni Recording Corporation, 2010
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Girls:
- Meg Baird...Seasons on Earth...Drag City
- Lera Lynn...Have You Met Lera Lynn?...Slow Records
- Eilen Jewell…Queen Of The Minor Key…Signature Sounds
- Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers…Starlight Hotel…Signature Sounds
- Jolie Holland & The Grand Chandeliers…Pint of Blood…Anti-
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Boys:
- John Howie Jr. & The Rosewood Bluff…Leavin’ Yesterday… Hands Up!
- Frank Fairfield… Out On The Open West…Tompkins Square
- Chris Thile & Michael Daves… Sleep With One Eye Open… Nonesuch
- Alexi Murdoch… Towards The Sun…Zero Summer Records
- Malcolm Holcombe… To Drink The Rain… Music Road
- Glenn Jones...The Wanting...Thrill Jockey
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Terrific reissues:
- Mickey Newbury…An American Trilogy… Drag City
- Abner Jay… Last Ole Ministrel Man… Mississippi Records
- Blind Willie Johnson...Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground...Mississippi
- Michael Hurley...Fatboy Spring...Mississippi
JAKE C. (MUSIC STAFF)
Jake’s Top 15 Albums of 2011
15. Wooden Wand & The Briarwood Virgins…Briarwood…Fire
14. Sandro Perri - Impossible Spaces…Constellation
13. Bill Callahan…Apocalypse…Drag City
12. Glenn Jones…The Wanting…Thrill Jockey
11. Kurt Vile…Smoke Ring For My Halo…Matador
10. Pete Swanson…I Don't Rock At All…Three-Lobed Recordings
09. Hiss Golden Messenger…Poor Moon…Paradise of Bachelors
08. The Men…Leave Home…Sacred Bones
07. Mikal Cronin…Mikal Cronin…Trouble In Mind
06. the Mountain Goats…All Eternals Deck…Merge
05. Real Estate…Days…Domino
04. Sonny & The Sunsets…Hit After Hit…Fat Possum
03. Ty Segall…Goodbye Bread…Drag City
02. Destroyer…Kaputt…Merge
01. Girls...Father, Son, Holy Ghost...True Panther Sounds
WENDY B. (GENRE DIRECTOR: RPM)
7+1 2011 albums I liked:
- Anne-James Chaton…Evenements 09…Raster-Noton
- Coh...IIRON...Editions Mego
- Rene Hell...The Terminal Symphony...Type
- Jamka...Pari Pasu...Sub Rosa
- Stephan Mathieu...A Static Place...12K
- Chris Watson...El Tren Fantasma...Touch
- Chris Waton & Marcus Davidson...Cross Pollination...Touch
+1
- Battles...Gloss Drop...Warp
KELLY D. (PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR)
“Top 20 Alphabetized List of Stuff I Listened To a BUNCH this year (which is full of cheating because several of these titles are actually multiple albums but I make up for it with several super short titles)”
- Altar of Plagues…Mammal...Profound Lore
- Apache Dropout...Apache Dropout…Family Vineyard
- Blut Aus Nord...777: Sect(s) & The Desanctification...Debemur Morti Productions
- Des Ark...Don't Rock the Boat, Sink The Fucker... Lovitt
- Des Ark...Live at WXDU Vol. 3...Paramnesia Records
- Hiss Golden Messenger...Poor Moon...Paradise of Bachelors
- Syl Johnson...Complete Mythology...Numero Group
- Glenn Jones...The Wanting...Thrill Jockey
- Shin Joong-Hyun...Beautiful Rivers and Mountains...Light in the Attic
- Les Rallizes Denudes...Great White Wonder...Phoenix Records
- Liturgy...Aesthetica...Thrill Jockey
- Phil Cook and His Feat...Hungry Mother Blues...Trekky Records
- Ty Segall...Goodbye Bread...Drag City
- Thee Oh Sees...Carrion Crawler/The Dream EP...In The Red
- Various Artists...Dick's Picks 4006...self-released
- Various Artists...Not the Spaces You Know, But Between Them...Three Lobed Recordings
- Whatever Brains...Rappers Delight 7" (because I didn't get it until this year)...Sorry State
- Whatever Brains...Whatever Brains...Sorry State
- Wooden Wand & The Briarwood Virgins...Briarwood...Fire
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“Stuff To Make Your Ears Bleed”
- Absu...Abzu...Candlelight
- Altar of Plagues...Mammal...Profound Lore
- Autopsy...Macabre Eternal...Peaceville
- Blasphemophager...The III Command of the Absolute Chaos...Nuclear War Now!
- Blut Aus Nord...777: Sect(s) & The Desanctification...Debemur Morti Productions
- Circle of Ouroborus...Eleven Fingers...Handmade Birds
- Earth...Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light...Southern Lord
- Futur Skullz...Waste Not Want Not...Kemado
- Horseback/Locrian...New Dominions...Utech
- Krallice...Diotima...Profound Lore
- Liturgy...Aesthetica...Thrill Jockey
- Morbosidad/Witchrist & Cruciamentum/Vasaeleth...Split 7”s...Hells Headbangers
- SubRosa...No Help for the Mighty One...Profound Lore
- Ulcerate...The Destroyers of All...WIllowtip
- Wolves in the Throne Room...Celestial Lineage...Southern Lord
