Justin Markert

Justin’s Top Ten of 2011

3. Ashes & Fire by Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams has consistently been one of my favorite musicians over the last ten years. There’s a lot of hype around this album regarding Ryan’s “return to form” and that he finally made another good record. I call BS. Yes Ashes & Fire is a good record. (Norah Jones and Ryan Adams together is a no brainer. I swear you could take her last album, remove the vocals and have him sing all those songs and you wouldn’t even flinch while listening) But so are the Love is Hell eps which have taken a beating in the press for this album, being sited as the moment he began to downturn. His over abundance of releases shouldn’t be seen as negative. Ryan Adams is clearly a music fanboy that loves recording. Whether it be his attempt at garage rock on the under appreciated Rock n Roll, his Grateful Dead phase on Cold Roses, or even The Finger, the hardcore punk album he released with Jesse Malin, all of these releases show a versatility rarely seen in music, and if nothing else courage to not worry about the critics. And those critics have definitely been silences these past few months if the reviews of his solo-acoustic tour are any indication. The songs speak for themselves. Very excited to see him at the Ohio Theater in January.

Justin’s Top Ten of 2011

4. Watch the Throne by Kanye West and Jay Z

When H.A.M. was released, I was pretty disappointed. And honestly, when Otis was first released I wasn’t too into it either. But when you’ve just released an album like “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” it’s going to be hard to follow it up with ANYTHING. Watch the Throne at first glance is a fun album where it’s apparent Jay and Ye are enjoying themselves. At first it seems like a very on the surface record. As you get deeper into the album, the album gets deeper. Watch the Throne is about enlightenment, pride, exploitation, celebration of wealth, black power, injustice and apathy for all these things, all at the same time. Oh yea, and it’s awesome. Who gon stop me now?

Justin’s Top Ten of 2011

5. Burst Apart by The Antlers

First track always reminds me of Bonnie Raits’ “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Chord progression is very similar. This is a great headphones album. Put it on and float around.

Justin’s Top Ten Albums of 2011

6. Civilian by Wye Oak

Honestly, I only started really listening to this album last month. I looked them up when The National posted a pic of them live on Instagram. (Oh the power of Social MEdia.) But since then, I’ve probably listened to it more than anything else. It’s awesome. Check it out.

Justin’s Top Ten Albums of 2011

7. Days by Real Estate

This is just a great jangly indie-pop record. The breath of fresh air here is that there isn’t anything too experimental about Days. It’s just a great collection of well written and well arranged songs. Though I had never heard Real Estate before Days, it was actually a very nostalgic album for me. It’s very reminiscent of back in 2000 when I first discovered WRUW and true “indie” rock. I would drive in the car with a pad and paper and when I heard a band I liked, I would actually sit in the car at my destination and wait to here what it was. This method is how I first discoverd We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes by Death Cab, Isolation Drills by Guided by Voices and other bands like The Sea and Cake, The Lucksmiths, J Mascis and more.

Justin’s Top Ten albums of 2011

8. Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars

This was a very pleasant surprise of an album for me. I kind of stumbled upon it. I’m a fan of the recent surge of folk and indie-folk bands, but what I like about The Civil Wars is that they’re both really great singers. A lot of times with bands like this the vocals are cute, or intentionally apathetic (see She & Him), these guys (and maybe it’s because they’re Nashville industry cats) aren’t afraid, or ashamed to SING. Yes the lyrics are primarily about relationships, but the raw honesty keeps it from being too mushy. Listen to the track “Poison and Wine.” Heartbreaking. 

Justin’s Top 10 Albums of 2011

9. Lasers by Lupe Fiasco

In 2006, Lupe released Food & Liquor and I was hooked. It was a great album. Following in the footsteps of MCs like Kanye and Common, Lupe was spitting deep stuff in an industry filled with fluff. I specifically remember him killing it on Letterman with Jill Scott when he performed “Daydreamin,” a send-up of the cookie-cutter fake misogynistic excess BS so alive and well in mainstream rap. Watch that awesomeness here. He released The Cool in 2007 which was some sort of concept album. Truth be told I never dove in enough to give you a fair assessment. It took FOUR years for his next release, and I gotta say, Lasers is a great record. He hasn’t stopped pulling his political and social punches like others have this far into their careers, (Kanye, Common)