Make Some Noise

Best Albums of 2011 / My Top 5

#1 Wasting Light / Foo Fighters
Another great album by the Foo. Starting last December I got a sneak preview of what was to
come from the new CD at the Paladino's show I attended. Then having them play the complete album
at the Roxy was awesome!! Including the 3 times I got to see them in 2011, I call it a great year!
After hearing the songs fully mixed and on a CD, I was blown away!! Kicking you in the face with
"Bridge Burning", then the first single "Walk" and continuing to take you on a magical 43 minute
journey. Recording to tape made the album that much stronger and having Butch Vig producing and
mixing it, gave it very heavy sound. Something that has been lacking in music in a long time.
The FF have done it again. Here's to hoping they win big at the Grammys.

#2 El Camino / Black Keys
Over the years I have liked little pieces of the Black Keys and parts of their 7 previous albums.
BUT their latest album that hit at the beginning of December was phenomenal - from start to finish!!
It almost beat out the Foo for the top spot. I haven't found a weakness with this album.
I highly recommend it to everyone looking for something "New and GREAT".

#3 Hot Sauce Committee Pt 2 / Beastie Boys
Another one of my staples of great bands and great albums - the Beastie Boys. This CD and songs
have been floating around for almost 2 years. It is really an homage to everything they have
done up until this point . It is very funky, loud, happy, bouncy, with great beats and rhymes.
Looking forward to seeing them next year.

#4 Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes / Social Distortion
Listening to the latest from SD reminded me why I love that band so much!! Hard Rock, mixed with Punk,
Country & Blues. Some of the honky tonk and female back up singers were a turn off to some fans, but I
thought they were great! It has a Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Rolling Stones feel to it. This album
is true Americana at it's best.

#5 Bon Iver / Bon Iver
I never would have listened to Bon Iver if not for Tasia and Stephen Colbert. Justin Vernon is a beautiful
songwriter and composer, with a very clean sound and melodic feel. After seeing them live, it blew me
away and changed my opinion of their music (like Arcade Fire the year before).


Upcoming Albums of 2012 -
Queens of the Stone Age, Band of Skulls (February!, Soundgarden, The National, MGMT, Rancid,
Green Day (if it's any good), and the Stone Roses!!!