Best and worst things in music for 2011
BEST THINGS FOR MUSIC IN 2011
Arcade Fire win a Grammy
Arcade Fire took home album of the year in February at the Grammys. It’s nice to see that talented musicians can still be publicly recognized for their efforts amongst the slew of garbage that surrounds them and cleans up at most award shows.
The Black Keys – El Camino
Not only is this album far more energetic than The Black Keys’ 2010 release, Brothers, it also demonstrates an improvement of the power duo’s songwriting abilities. As well, El Camino shows that you don’t have to wait three years for a band to put out a new record.
Kanye West is tweeting again
There was a lull for a while when Kayne West’s Twitter account was pretty inactive, but recently he’s back on form with tweeting things such as, “how ill it is to really fall in love… Pimpin’ is whatev … Love is that shit!” or how in his perfect world, “every girl gets married in Givenchy couture.”
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
This isn’t to say that the past few Foo Fighters albums were bad, but Wasting Light rocks, goddammit. At 42, Dave Grohl and pals show they can rock harder than bands with members half their age.
Death From Above 1979 reform
After a five-year hiatus, the Canadian duo reformed to play at Coachella followed by a North American tour. It was disheartening to see such a great band part ways after only one studio album, but their return could lead to more shows and, with any luck, new music.
Paul Bogdan
A&C Writer
WORST THINGS IN MUSIC FOR 2011
Arcade Fire win a Grammy
Seeing his or her favourite band achieve large-scale success is, in theory, every hipster’s worst nightmare. Now that everyone loves this band, they’re so not cool anymore. They’re probably going to sign to a major record label now so they can suck the label’s dicks for a big fat paycheque.
The White Stripes call it a day
In early 2011, Jack and Meg White announced they would no longer be playing their minimalist rock ‘n roll as The White Stripes.
Alexisonfire also call it a day
With Dallas Green leaving the band to focus on City and Colour, and Wade MacNeil also leaving to be the new frontman of Gallows, Alexisonfire were left without two guitarists, without two founding members, and, they decided, without a band.
Lou Reed and Metallica – Lulu
This hilariously awful collaboration is quite likely the worst album of the year. Even though we at the Carillon tore it apart last semester, words can’t truly describe just how bad it is. If anything, it’s worth listening to with a couple friends over a few drinks and getting in some good laughs.
R. Kelly is still trapped in the closet
In December, R. Kelly announced that he has 32 more chapters of his “hip-hopera” Trapped in the Closet, which already has 22 chapters. If you’re unfamiliar with Trapped in the Closet, it’s basically a narrative story that’s sung over the same beat for close to ninety minutes. Hopefully, R. Kelly will at least change the music up sometime in the next 32 chapters.
Paul Bogdan
A&C Writer
