A Thousand Miles Behind

Adele had quite a year. She is easily the biggest-selling act in the world this 2011. How did she do it? Simple. Adele made honest and effin’ good music. For some intangible reason, she united all kinds of music fans everywhere. Probably, only pretentious hipsters would say they hate her for being so successful. Overrated? Probably. Untalented? Tell that to my face and I will punch you. (kidding!) I wondered when she sang “turn my sorrow into treasure gold,” did she know that her songs about her break-up would take her to such great heights? Frankly though, I don’t understand the hype surrounding this album. Her debut, 19, was easily the superior record, but it was 21 that sent her catapulting to stardom. 19 should have sold a lot more, and she should have been a star a long time ago… Who knows? Maybe it’s the pain factor? Whatever it is, I am happy this girl remained true to her mantra of creating honest music. 

Press repeat: Rolling In The Deep, Rumor Has It, I’ll Be Waiting, Someone Like You, I Found a Boy

IMHO, Primate by Tarsius is the OPM record of the year. It’s so slick, smart and edgy, you could wipe that Skyflakes-singing-guy with this album cover and give him some class. I haven’t heard anything like this in the OPM scene. This record switches back and forth through dance, electronica to rock in a single song. Did I mention that it is one of best sounding OPM albums? AND did I mention it was free? I don’t know whether Tarsius will be able to release another album though. Half of Tarsius, Diego Mapa (the brother of the 90’s Jao Mapa), is OPM indie rock royalty, known to jump from one project to another. (He did two Pedicab albums before this one.) We’ll see then. I am just happy to finally have found an alternative to all the uninspired OPM out there. 

Press repeat: E.S.P., Deathless Gods, Anarchy In the Ukay,  Chosen Few

Everyone who knows me well enough know that I am a Coldplay fan. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that one of my favorite records this year is their fifth album, Mylo Xyloto. Coldplay set-up themselves to fail with 2008’s Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. How do you follow-up an album as successful as that? I told myself, ah, they’d be hard-pressed to top that. Nope, the band didn’t even try. Instead, they moved to a different direction. I think Coldplay realized that they don’t need to prove themselves to anyone anymore, so they’re building a catalogue that they would be comfortable to play in live gigs. That’s what Mylo Xyloto is all about. It’s alive. It’s happy. It’s free (no, not literally, just sonically). Coldplay basically let themselves hang loose and have fun with music… Indeed what a beautiful mess it was! Geez, I found myself bobbing to the collaboration with Rihanna of all people. 

Press repeat: Hurts Like Heaven, Paradise, Charlie Brown, Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall, Princess of China (?!)

Kiss Each Other Clean sounds something very familiar. It’s like that 70’s music you drive around in your car on a lazy Sunday afternoon… The kind that’s groovy without being so loud it’s almost boring… Iron & Wine was known (or unknown) to be an act with a stripped down sound, with only a guitar to accompany his music. I never objected to that or found myself looking for more. That’s why this record was like a breath of fresh air. Finally! That tender voice, all fleshed out with a full production! Strangely, all the music didn’t interfere with the emotion. Instead of drowning it (a common thing in music these days) the music enhanced it, the way music should. This record reminded me of everything I loved in indie music in the first place. Best listened to on a drive to the country. 

Press repeat: Walking Far From Home, Tree By The River, Half Moon, Godless Brother In Love

I have already professed my love for this record (http://philiphilario.tumblr.com/post/13497685072/drowning-in-metals). Here’s a gist: 

“ Metals is the Anti-Reminder. It has none of the folksy-radio-friendly sound that pushed Feist into the spotlight. Like a true artist, she moved on. Now, she delivers her most perplexing, challenging and emotional set yet. Oh man, did she make me happy-slash-emo with this record. It’s just like nothing you’ve heard in your entire life. You have to have your heart checked if this record doesn’t move you. Or transport you to a far away place. It’s not Sarah McLachlan sad though. Metals is deep, emotional, spiritual, elemental… God, I’m lost for words describing this record. I won’t be tackling each individual track of the album because that would be an insult to it. Metals is a journey and an experience that I invite everyone who likes good music to take. It’s rewarding. I’m very sure you will be taking that journey over and over again.”

 I already said what I could about it. And I do admit, this is my favorite of all albums I’ve listened to this year. I don’t know what it is about Metals, but it just transports me to a peaceful place. Especially the time I discovered it, the timing was oh-so hectic (I was preparing for the Bar). I thank Feist from saving me from insanity. *bow*

Press repeat: The Bad In Each Other, Graveyard, How Come You Never Go There, Cicada and Gulls. 

- Fin -