My Favourite Releases of 2011 (Patch)

So, it’s the first day of a new year and, following on from Owen yesterday, here’s a little look back at the (musical) year just gone.

Top 5 Releases:

1. Goodtime Boys, Are We Now Or Have We Ever Been: I make no bones about my love for this band and this, their debut EP, should show you why. Striking the balance between straight up hardcore and a more emo influenced sound (a la Touché Amore who they are often compared too) it is the closest thing to a flawless EP I’ve heard this year. Top Track: Daylight

2. Bastions, Hospital Corners: This is an album I was stoked for well in advance and, unlike a lot of things I got excited about this year, it didn’t disappoint. While possibly a bit challenging if it serves as your introduction to the band, ‘Hospital Corners’ is a raw, face grating record that is far more complex (musically and thematically) than you might expect. Proves hands down why Bastions are one of the leading lights in UK hardcore. Top Track(s): Augury/I Tried To Stitch The Sea To The Shore

3. Heights, Dead Ends: This was, for most of the year, my favourite album of 2011. Cathartic, angry, in your face and filled with riffs. In fact, screw this, just read the review I wrote at the time and you’ll understand my feelings towards this beauty. Top Track: Eye For An Eye

4. Basement, I Wish I Could Stay Here: The biggest no brainer on this list, pretty much every ‘Albums of the Year’ feaure I’ve seen has had this record gracing it and for good reason. Delivering short, sharp, heart on sleeve emocore anthems that will stick in your head like spilt beer on a venue floor. This list isn’t in any particular order but if it was, this record would be at the top. Top Track: Earl Grey

5. Nai Harvest, Ceiling Summer: Has to go down as my surprise of the year. After stumbling over the Sheffield based band by pure chance I was completely caught by this noodle-fest of an EP. Only three songs long but full of hooks and emotion it was practically all I listened too for the first few weeks after I got a copy and since then has never been far from my speakers. It’s a record that sits just inside your ears, demanding to be listened too.

Top Track: Red Letter Day, On Play

Honourable mentions also go to Wu Lyf, La Dispute, Mixtapes, Touché Amore, Title Fight, Hang The Bastard, Pianos Become The Teeth, Taking Back Sunday, Bombay Bicycle Club and Arctic Monkeys.

Worst/Most Disappointing albums of the year? Well the new Gallows material was/is a massive let down and the new Strokes record wasn’t worth the money. TRC dropped a bit of a damp squid in ‘Bright Lights’ and I’m still undecided on Lower Than Atlantis’s ‘World Record’.

But overall 2011 was a killer year. I’ve limited myself to five releases of the year but in reality there are at least two dozen albums and EPs that I fell in love with this year, these were just the top ones.

Peace and Love and have a great 2012.

Patch