The best CDs of 2011
1. “Stone Rollin’ “ by Raphael Saadiq (Columbia Records). The title of his 2002 solo debut (following hits with the family trio Tony! Toni! Tone!) was “Instant Vintage” and that’s an apt description of Saadiq’s sound: modernized Motown with a bit of Philly soul and Sly Stone thrown in.
2. “The King of In Between” by Garland Jeffreys (Luna Park Records), who has been making fine albums for 40 years (reaching peaks with “Ghost Writer” in 1977 and “Don’t Call Me Buckwheat” in 1992). With lyrics focusing primarily on his love of New York City and rock & roll, Jeffreys serves up a mix of sounds, including John Lee Hooker blues, late-’70s Stones rock, reggae and ska.
3. The bonus disc on the “Some Girls” reissue by the Rolling Stones (Universal Republic Records). Sure, these songs date back to the original recording sessions for “Some Girls,” which was released in 1978, or even earlier, but they’ve never been readily available until now (some are demos that were updated with new vocal and guitar tracks). Anyway, the “b-disc” is as good as anything the Stones have released since “Some Girls,” and it’s better than the bonus disc on last year’s resissue of “Exile on Main Street.”
4. “The Whole Love” by Wilco (DBpm Records). A strong comeback by one of my favorite bands, after the disppapointing “Wilco (The Album)” in 2009.
5. “Eleven Eleven” by Dave Alvin (Yep Roc Records). A roots-rock legend, Dave Alvin made a new CD that stands with the best of his work with the Blasters and as a solo artist, which is saying something.
6. “Weather” by Me’shell Ndegeocello (Naive Records). Back in 1993, it might have been easy to think of her funk-rap hit “If That’s Your Boyfriend (He Wasn’t Last Night)” as a novelty song, just a funny little diss. But over the course of 8 CDs, Ndegeocello has carved out a niche as one of the most creative voices in contemporary R&B.
7. “Go-Go Boots” by the Drive-by Truckers (RED Records). Hyper-productive and excellent storytellers, the DBTs are the Elmore Leonards of Southern rock.
8. “Blessed” by Lucinda Williams (Lost Highway Records). On a first listen, I didn’t think this stood among her better efforts, but it’s grown on me. Not up there with “Sweet Old World,” but still a great combination of folk, country and rock.
9. “Yuck” by Yuck (Fat Possum Records). — My pick for the year’s best debut. A nice mix of shoegaze drone, skronky feedback and jangle pop … a weird recipe, but it works.
10. “Last Summer” by Eleanor Friedberger (Merge Records). — Much more poppy than her work with the Fiery Furnaces.
Honorable mentions: “Nine Types of Light” by TV on the Radio, “The Less You Know, the Better” by DJ Shadow, “David Comes to Life” by Fucked Up, “undun” by the Roots, “21” by Adele, “Watch the Throne” by Jay-Z and Kanye West, “Ritual Union” by Little Dragon, “Wild Flag” By Wild Flag, “Timez Are Weird These Days” by Theophilus London and “Want More” by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound