NOTES ON MUSIC, 2011


2011 was the year that I finally made good on my promise to switch back to vinyl.I have embraced it so much that I have, in fact, stopped downloading music and buying CDs. I find that I actually listen to a lot more music now and more attentively as well.I was always "new music" guy and realized last night when I was listening to some of the NME's top 50 singles of the year that I miss that. I'm gonna work on getting back in the contemporary music loop in the coming year. There's so much historical vinyl that I want to add to my collection that it's hard to commit to newer titles. Having a semi-regular deejay gig has of course changed my collecting habits too. I'm usually thinking of things that I might actually play during a night in the booth and that leans heavily toward Brit Pop, Glam and British Invasion.  I've collected a smattering of jazz platters but am still nowhere near as knowledgable in this area as I'd like to be. Probably the biggest surprise is my new found interest in "the Laurel Canyon sound" and all things Southern California, early 70's.  I don't love it all but am definitely taking baby steps toward having a deeper understanding of the genre.


This isn't a "best of" list and it isn't in any particular order.  These are just some of the records that made me laugh or cry or smile or dance or think about the ghost of christmas past.


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year. Kick out the Jams.


THE BYRDS      SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO (LP)
GRAHAM PARSONS    GP (LP)
BOBBY GENTRY     ODE TO BILLIE JOE  (LP)
BRIAN FERRY   ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE  (LP)
HARRY NILSSON    NILSSON SINGS NEWMAN  (LP)
GIORGIO MORODER    SON OF MY FATHER  (LP)
THEOLONIUS MONK    SOLO MONK (LP)
THE STROKES    ANGLES (LP)
THE VACCINES    POST BREAK UP SEX (SINGLE)
NOEL GALLAGHER   THE DEATH OF YOU AND ME (SINGLE)
PETE AND THE PIRATES     UNITED (SINGLE)
WIRE     PLEASE TAKE (SINGLE)
ARCTIC MONKEY'S     SHE'S THUNDERSTORMS (SINGLE)
CHARLES MINGUS    AH UM (LP)
THE LAs     THE LAs (LP)