Best Albums of the Year so far.

[eagles69]

The albums so far that I love are The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh and Lucinda Williams - Blessed. Though so far a great year with some amazing albums.

[Hotcider]

Jonny

Low Anthem

Drive By Truckers

British Sea Power

[geofelgie]

Yuck is probably my favourite but....

British Sea Power

Decemberists

Bright eyes

are all already out and fabulous

I've also heard The Dears and Noah and the Whale that are coming out soon and are both, if anything, even more fabulous!

And with Elbow, Guillemots, Okkervil River, Glasvegas, all coming soon. My Morning Jacket and The Jayhawks on the horizon it's shaping up to be a classic year.

(I'm sure I'm forgetting loads)

[shoebox]

PJ Harvey

Braids

Yuck

Decemberists

Iron & Wine

Destroyer

Ghostface Killah

Honourable mentions:

Tapes N Tapes

Smith Westerns

La Sera

Gruff Rhys

[Infinite Jest]

PJ Harvey.

Bright Eyes is good but could do without the narration.

Low Anthem is promising (only heard it once).

Not new but new to me is the previous Phoenix Foundation album (Happy Ending). Have only just got the new one.

Looking forward to Mountain Goats, Glasvegas, N&TW, and sounds like I need to check out Yuck, heard nothing but good things.

[bennyhana22]

Sorry to be a bit repetitive, but so far favourites are:

Bright Eyes

British Sea Power

PJ Harvey

Explosions in the Sky's 'Take Care, Take Care, Take Care' is probably my most eagerly currently anticipated new record.

Ben

[eagles69]

PJ Harvey.

Bright Eyes is good but could do without the narration.

Low Anthem is promising (only heard it once).

Not new but new to me is the previous Phoenix Foundation album (Happy Ending). Have only just got the new one.

Looking forward to Mountain Goats, Glasvegas, N&TW, and sounds like I need to check out Yuck, heard nothing but good things.

[5co77ie]

The Low Anthem - Smart Flesh

Edited March 2, 2011 by 5co77ie

[SweepingTheNation]

PJ Harvey, Lykke Li, Wire, Gruff Rhys, Joan As Policewoman, Low Anthem, Fujiya & Miyagi, and for its inspired waywardness The Lovely Eggs.

[bennyhana22]

Oh, and looking forward to the new DCFC record, too.

Ben

[wackojackohighcliffe]

Decemberists

Bright eyes

Low Anthem

Drive By Truckers

Iron & Wine

PJ Harvey

Mountain Goats

And Rural Alberta Advantage is looking good if lacking the inventive drumming of their debut.

[Infinite Jest]

Mountain Goats album available to listen on NPR if u wanna cheat

[MrSimonW]

The two albums I've listened to more than any other this year have been Kammerspiel by Conquering Animal Sound, and Grown Unknown by Lia Ices. Honourable mentions to the new ones from Mogwai and Gruff Rhys.

[ljsawyer]

These four:

No Witch by The Cave Singers

Departing by The Rural Alberta Advantage

Jet Set Siempre No.1 by Clive Tanaka Y Su Orquestra

Napa Asylum by Sic Alps

Have been my favourites so far this year. Still need to give that PJ Harvey album a listen though... Bright Eyes was bitterly disappointing.

[Unihammer]

Can I play

The Decemberists

Arbouretum

6 organs of admittance

[RedRockRick]

Can I play

The Decemberists

Arbouretum

6 organs of admittance

[Unihammer]

I just don't get this mass praise for Arbouretum's The Gathering: it just seems indigestible and rather derivative prog-folk with an unhealthy coating of sludge. I've yet to get through the whole disc without reaching for the eject button.

[bennyhana22]

These four:

No Witch by The Cave Singers

Departing by The Rural Alberta Advantage

Jet Set Siempre No.1 by Clive Tanaka Y Su Orquestra

Napa Asylum by Sic Alps

Have been my favourites so far this year. Still need to give that PJ Harvey album a listen though... Bright Eyes was bitterly disappointing.

[wackojackohighcliffe]

Yeah, totally down with the RAA (not as good as their debut though methinks. Would be a great one to headline the Tipi.

[bennyhana22]

Hmmm...let's settle for early evening Big Top with a Tipi secret set. I'd miss the opportunity to see them play into a decent sized space if it was Tipi only.

Ben

[shoebox]

I can see RAA headlining The Local more than anywhere else.

[wackojackohighcliffe]

Yeah, I'd go for that double choice Ben

Didn't really like the local last year. Maybe it was just the choice of bands but I wasn't a great fan. Enjoyed the Wilderness of Manitoba set though.

[geofelgie]

Hmmm...let's settle for early evening Big Top with a Tipi secret set. I'd miss the opportunity to see them play into a decent sized space if it was Tipi only.

Ben

[shoebox]

Didn't see much in The Local, but Singing Adams and Plants & Animals were both excellent. Wilderness Of Manitoba were in the Tipi (and the woods, if were being picky).

Just looked at the Local's website to see who they've been booking. I'm going with David Thomas Broughton, Napoleon IIIrd and Barn Owl being signed up to play. Dan Mangan played for them last year as well, and if he gets the nod, I'd expect to see him on the Local stage.

[geofelgie]

I only saw Leif Vollebekk in The Local - highlight of the weekend for me - but that was despite the almost soulless atmosphere there - I think because of the open front (presumably this was because of the dj sets later).

I wonder if it would be too much hassle to have it closed during The Local sets, then open it come dj time?