Top 3 albums of 2011

• Sleeper Agent – Celabrasion. Yes, that’s the way it’s spelled, which makes it all the more interesting. Tony Smith said in a Livestream chat with fans, that the name means a celebration among all of the abrasions they faced trying to get where they are. As a young band, they certainly are making their way to the mainstream fast. This album is youthful, catchy, grungy, and full of in your face angst that portrays the serious playfulness that the band delivers. Seriously, listen to this album. You won’t regret it. Plus, you’ll gain like 10 hipster cred points, easily.
  

• The Kooks – Junk of the Heart. What can I say about The Kooks, other than I have loved them for a really long time and I am
  ecstatic they finally released their third album. Every song is so catchy and so pop-y and
  the whole album is a feel good album. “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” can put a smile on your face no matter what mood you’re in. “Rosie” makes you want to dance. “Eskimo Kiss” warms your heart. And every other song will touch you in some way
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• Foo Fighters – Wasting Light. After watching the Kanrocksas live stream and Foo Fighters performed Wasting Light pretty much in its entirety and put on one hell of a show, I was sold on the album. Plus, White Limo has one of the sexiest bass lines ever. The Foo Fighters are just a bunch of badass guys who live up to their reputation and make amazing music, nothing else about it.

Best show of 2011

This one has to be a tie, because I can’t choose. And the amount of shows I went to this year, compared to past years is what I’m using for my excuse.

• The first show is Does It Offend You, Yeah? at The Space in Hamden, CT. This place is rightly named, since it is the tiniest venue I have ever been inside, and one of my really tall friends (who was in the opening band) had to duck to avoid hitting the ceiling. I didn’t know what to expect from DiOYY, since I knew they were opening for Linkin Park on the “A Thousand Suns Tour” and I knew they have energy packed albums. All I can say is, wow, I literally could not breathe after the show was over. It was the beginning of February and I went outside and grabbed snow to put on my face. There wasn’t a minute when the whole crowd stopped dancing and jumping. In the tiniest space ever, the energy of the crowd could have busted the roof off of the room. Lead singer, James Rushent even declared that we were more energetic than the crowd at Madison Square Garden, which is saying something.
• The next show is one that was so long awaited; The Kooks at the House of Blues in Boston. First off, the show was sold out. Second off, it was THE KOOKS! I knew that I would be nothing short of the barrier, and yea, it was a tight squeeze but I pushed myself up there. Even though they were smashed, the Brighton boys put on one hell of a show.

The energy, the emotion, the screaming fan girls (ok, maybe I was a little bit of one, but I wasn’t screaming “Oh my god Luke Pritchard you are so sexy.” There were a few “I love yous” but that’s it). They started off with new song “Is It Me” and jumped right into “Always Where I Need to Be.” Usually bands promote their newest album on tours, but The Kooks alternated between all three of their albums, giving something for us older fans.

Luke’s solo acoustic performance of “Seaside” created a massive sing a long unlike any other I’ve ever seen. Continuing the slow feel, “Tick of Time” and an alternate version of “See the Sun” followed. Of course they ended with “Junk of the Heart (Happy)” and “Naïve” to which there wasn’t a person who wasn’t singing and jumping up and down.

It was just intense. And I can understand how the show and many others on the US Tour sold out. I even got to meet them after, and asked about a rumor I heard earlier, which is that they’re playing Providence in February. To my excitement, it was confirmed that they are planning another US Tour. If I haven’t convinced you to see them, go to Youtube now and type in “The Kooks Live.”

Most overrated of 2011

Can I just say, Courtney Love? NO ONE talks about Dave Grohl like that. Go back in the looney bin.

Most anticipated for 2012

From what I heard, Muse is going to have a new album completed for October of 2012. If it’s one thing my readers should know, it’s that I am a HUGE Muse fan. As soon as I find out a real release date, I will have a countdown. You should all probably be worried for me, my less cool, un-music savvy friends have already shown concern in the past.

Favorite musical memory of 2011

That’s a really tough one for me, since 2011 was a huge year for me in the music industry. If a whole season can count as a memory, then I’m going to have to play that card. Over the summer, I interned for a local radio station (to me) WBRU. The whole summer was full of concerts and events, hanging with bands, walking around the city of Providence promoting awesome events, and meeting lots of amazing and wonderful people. For example, I got to staff almost all of the station’s summer concerts (Young the Giant, Sleeper Agent, Viva Brother, VulGarrity), hang with the DJs, and learn what goes on behind the scenes. I also got to do shows with them after the summer, and I got to hang out with Sleeper Agent (mostly the bassist Lee) for a whole night and learn about him and the origins of the band. So I guess what I’m trying to say is, my favorite musical memory of 2011 is a recollection of my entire internship.