CHIRP: The Chicago Independent Radio Project

Mike Pakowski writes

CHIRP Radio Best of 2011 (Mike Pakowski)

Throughout December CHIRP Radio presents its members’ top albums of 2011. The next list is from Promotions Director Mike Pakowski.

(Click here to get the complete list of CHIRP Radio members’ picks.)

1. Detroyer – Kaputt (Merge)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   Dan Bejar is one of the coolest people on the planet and this album is just effortlessly smooth and brilliant from beginning to end. Every time I listened to it I found something new that kept me coming back for more throughout the year.
2. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake (Vagrant)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   Thank you Polly Jean for this amazingly sombre and beautiful gem. An incredible heartfelt album filled with powerful songs/stories.
3. Colin Stetson – New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges (Constellation)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   The most unique and exciting album I heard this year hands down. This is music I’ve never experienced before and the fact that it comes from one musician, playing one instrument, recorded in one take is absolutely mind-blowing.
4. Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place (Asthmatic Kitty)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   A beautiful, dreamy, hypnotic album. Julianna Barwick’s voice is enchanting, soothing and magical.
5. Dirty Beaches – Badlands (Zoo)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   I’m a sucker for nostalgia albums and there was no shortage of them this year. However with Badlands, Alex Zhang Hungtai did something really special with this low-fi take on 1950’s rock n’ roll.
6. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up (Sub Pop)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   A hip-hop album that sounds like it came from outer space instead of from Seattle.
7. tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L (4AD)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   Such an enjoyable album from start to finish. There are so many musical genres uniquely blended together on whokill; and Merrill Garbus sings and plays her heart out on every track.
8. Tom Waits – Bad As Me (ANTI-)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   To be honest, I don’t have much of a history with the music of Mr. Waits. But after spending some time with the lovely and honest Bad as Me, I can’t wait to grab some whiskey and find out what I’ve been missing.
9. John Maus – We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves (Ribbon Music/Upset The Rhythm)
   BUY: Insound / iTunes
   Thought-provoking minimalist synth-pop.
10. NewVillager – NewVillager (IamSound)
    BUY: Insound / iTunes
    This was my feel good album of 2011. Just a fun, enjoyable mix of soul and indie-pop.

Honorable Mentions

• Sandro Perri – Impossible Spaces (Constellation)
  Cults – Cults (In The Name Of)
  Eleanor Friedberger – Last Summer (Merge)
  Girls Names – Dead To Me (Slumberland/Tough Love)
  Black Lips – Arabia Mountain (Vice)