Well, 2011. You were quite the year! So much so that I’ve only been able to recover enough to think about you a full week into 2012. Crazy, huh? New jobs, lots of change, oodles of shenanigans, and yes, lots of good music. So much so, that I undoubtedly missed vast quantities of things that I really should have got to. Ho hum.

So what things did Skye like? Blimey. I just looked at the Excel spreadsheet of this year’s releases (see how cool Skye is!), and there’s a lot of stuff on there. However it’s fair to say that I do actually have a favourite record of 2011, despite my general resistance to ranking things. I know, crazy times, huh, maybe the Mayans are right after all.

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These are in no particular order, and the only criteria that these albums satisfy are that I like them. I’m afraid that I’m not going to make any hyperbolic statements of greatness, but what I will do is run down some records that for me were memorable, got played a lot, and that I basically loved. You might disagree. Well, I forgive you.

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25. Stars – The Five Ghosts

Holds up really well upon repeated listens, unlike it’s predecessor. Though, frustratingly, the title track didn’t end up on the album.

24. Action Action – The Ones Who Get It Are The Ones Who Need Not To Know

Despite an annoying lead vocalist (who kind of grows on you over time) there’s something special about this album. Energetic, dark, fun and inventive throughout. I believe this was a digital-only self-release, and that’s a shame, as it’s the best thing this band has put out, by miles.

23. The National – High Violet

Doesn’t quite hit the highs that Boxer did, which is why it’s so low on this list, but it’s still a great album that soundtracked much of my year. Often because someone else was playing it. As much as I want their ‘hipster coolness’ to distract from the music, it doesn’t.
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1. Janelle Monae – The Archandroid
2. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
3. Big Boi – Sir Lucious Leftfoot, the son of Chico Dusty…
4. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
5. Of Montreal – False Priest
6. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
7. Warpaint – The Fool
8. Future Islands – In Evening Air
9. Candy Claws – Hidden Lands
10. How To Dress Well – Love Remains

Directed by Spike Jonze in Austin, Texas for the song ‘The Suburbs’ from Arcade Fire’s album of the same title.
Simple, lovely, nostalgia… Until it’s not. Killer.

Alas, this natty “interactive film” featuring Arcade Fire’s “We Used to Wait” did not seem to work in its entirety for me, probably due to the fact that 1) Google can take Firefox from my cold, dead, keyboard; 2) my ISP has a hole in their internet pipes and I can’t get anything downloaded without causing a VAST DATA SPILL; 3) I grew up in the wildernesses of a tiny Scottish island which Google Maps seems to have problems finding. Which is ironic, really, since the title of this project is “the wilderness downtown”. Still even from what I could get, it seems pretty damn awesome. Thanks Arcade Fire, you’re full of awesome.

http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

Enjoy today’s brief feature below. Be certain to watch ‘Ready To Start’ here.

MP3: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Christian TV Mix)

Watch ‘Ready To Start’ below. Be sure to catch Arcade Fire on their NA tour.

MP3: Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (Christian TV Mix)

Download the sensational reinterpretation at bottom.

Catch Arcade Fire on their NA tour.

Visit Hobbz! on SoundCloud.

M4A: Arcade Fire – Sprawl I (Hobbz! Mix)

Catch ‘em at:

9.22 Roy Wilkins Auditorium (St. Paul)
9.23 MTS Centre (Winnipeg)
9.25 Credit Union Centre (Saskatoon)
9.26 Stampede Corral (Calgary)
9.28 Pacific Coliseum (Vancouver)
9.29 Key Arena (Seattle)
9.30 Memorial Coliseum (Portland)
10.2 Greek Theatre (Berkeley)
10.5 Henry Miller Library (Big Sur)
10.8 Shrine Auditorium (Los Angeles)
10.10 Palacio De Los Deportes (Mexico City)
10.12 Banamex Theatre (Monterrey)

Last night, Arcade Fire dropped by The Daily Show.

MP3: Arcade Fire – Kiss Off