THE 10 BEST INDIE RECORDS OF 2011

THE 10 BEST INDIE ALBUMS OF 2011, #s 10-6

AKA: A year without Arcade Fire is a year where someone else gets a chance to be #1…

10.  RANDOM AXE-Random Axe
While googling this one, I was surprised to see that most people didn’t enjoy this record near as much as I did.  For my money, this release produced by Black Milk and featuring Chicago’s Guilty Simpson and Sean Price from Bootcamp Click was one of the best hip hop albums of the year.

9.  LAS KELLIES-Kellies
There’s lots of grrrlpunk out there these days, so for this band to make my list, you know it’s gotta rise above.  Fantastic, tight record.

8. BLITZEN TRAPPER-American Goldwing
Another perfect AM-radio/indie/Americana album from this accomplished band.  Review.

Love the Way You Walk Away (mpfree)

7.  STS-The Illustrious
“Don’t wake my neighbors up/These are some conservative people!”  The Illustrious, self-proclaimed “hippie” Sugar Tongue Slim has the most playful flow and some of the least predictable lyrics I’ve heard since Jay-Z’s early work.  This is technically a mixtape, but it’s fully original music, completed songs–it’s a street album.  Hell, it’s a full fledged album–just because he gave it away, doesn’t mean it ain’t brilliant.  STS is now my favorite rapper working today.

Get it here, for free.

6.  JASON ISBELL-Here We Rest
The Drive-By who?  This album should make you forget everything that came before it.

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