art is why i get up in the morning.And when I lay down tonight, I’ve been up and down the coast… Left, right, north, east, west, back home, south. And I lay down tonight in North Carolina, Chicago, New York, and Hollywood. And I, I found a body other than you.
Automatic Loveletter — Click Your Heels (Three Times And Repeat There’s No Place Like Home) (The Kids Will Take Their Monsters On,2011)
So many good albums came out this year, but these are my final choices for the top of the pack. Stay tuned for my expanded top thirty albums list and mini-reviews.
10. Jack’s Mannequin - People & Things
09. Aficionado - Aficionado
08. City & Colour - Little Hell
07. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
06. Bayside - Killing Time
05. Thursday - No Devolucion
04. La Dispute - Wildlife
03. I Am The Avalanche - Avalanche United
02. Astronautalis - This Is Our Science
01. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones
Gillian Welch — “The Way It Goes” (The Harrow & The Harvest, 2011)
When you lay me down to rest, leave a pistol in my vest.
That’s the way that it goes, that’s the way.
Do you miss my gentle touch, did I hurt you very much?
That’s the way that it goes, that’s the way.
You learn to run, you learn to race,
Through life, this unforgiving pace,
These lines are tracing to the truth.
And stepping over endless cracks,
I navigate these crooked paths,
But all my roads lead back to you.
Jack’s Mannequin — “Casting Lines” (People & Things, 2011)
So as some of you have read the announcement, I’d just like to say a short little something about it all. My time in Valencia is something I will be able to brag to my kids and grand kids about. It was my dream to start a band play songs that matter to me and make it in the industry in some way…
This band did everything right. They played for the right reasons and gave me some great memories. I remember getting the hustle from them on some Warped Tour date years ago, before I even knew who they were, and I don’t usually fall in love with those bands - but these guys were the real deal. Everything about their work ethic inspires me to love music and work hard to have others hear/see what I love. I am proud to have bought their records, their merchandise, and been to their shows. To have talked with them and sang with them. They were selfless. To have experienced so much loss in their lives and careers, and to give back what they did to their fans… was extraordinary. I will never forget the benefit show at School of Rock that they played for Chris Brightman. Carrie and I walked from the nearest bus stop through the mean New Jersey back streets to get there. One of those moments in time that I won’t forget. I am grateful that they were a part of my life! See you in Philly!
Death Cab For Cutie — “Stay Young, Go Dancing” (Codes & Keys, 2011)
But I can never heal myself enough for
Never heal myself enough
No, I can never heal myself enough for you
Cults — “Never Heal Myself” (Cults, 2011)
