Top 10 albums of 2011

Well, it's that time of year again. Music critics around the world are revealing their Top 10 (or for the really ambitious, Top 25) albums of the past year, while angry, anonymous internet commenters are ripping them to shreds for being too mainstream, too obscure, too hipster, too hip-hop, too trendy, too nerdy, too old-school, too new-school or some other petty grievance. It never ceases to amaze me how so many people take it as a personal affront every time you pick 10 things and rank them, but hey, that's what we're here for. Some people make lists, and some people bitch about them. I'm happy to be in the former camp.

In my case, you could justifiably label my Top 10 as "too metal." It's no secret that I'm a metalhead first and foremost, but it's hardly the only style of music I listen to. Over the years, I've shown plenty of love to non-metal releases in my year-end Top 10 lists, but this year just seemed to be a really good year for metal (or maybe just a down year for hip-hop, indie rock, etc.). Outside of a pair of country albums, this list is all metal. Hell, even the two country acts on my list have metal albums to their credit.

But you know what? So be it. Maybe I'm just getting old and set in my ways, but these are the 10 albums that moved me the most this year. Throwing in a token nod to Fleet Foxes, White Denim or the Black Keys just didn't seem right in a year that featured so many great heavy releases. So feel free to leave a comment below lambasting my picks. I've developed some thivk skin over the past few years, and it just wouldn't feel like a proper Top 10 list without disgruntled commentary.

New Times roundup: Via Vengeance, A Storm of Light, Landmine Marathon, Antique Scream & Eyes Set to Kill

Via Vengeance

My sincerest apologies to all five of my faithful readers.  I had planned to update this blog more frequently, but I've been bogged down lately with writing that I actually get paid for.

Here is a feature I wrote on A Storm of Light and Via Vengeance. For those not in the know, Via Vengeance is the Phoenix-based one-man band by Shane Ocell. This guy plays guitar and drums and sings, all at the same time. A Storm of Light is fronted by former Valley resident and current Brooklynite Josh Graham. Check out my review of their show at The Underground in Mesa, a new concert venue in the basement of the old Nile Theater.