10. Kidcrash – Naps

The new 4 song 12″ from kidcrash was another departure from the previous album’s sound. Which seems to be a pattern I haven’t quite caught onto yet. While I was disappointed Snacks didn’t sound like Jokes, I came to really like Snacks for what it was. I had the same reaction to Naps, bummed it didn’t sound more like Snacks. I hear they started working on a new album, I look forward to wishing it sounded more like Naps and then eventually liking it.

09. Big’n – Spare the Horses

Wait its 2011 and theres a new release from big’n? I love how the songs sound like they were written/recorded when big’n was active.

08. Pygmy Lush – Old Friends

I think I was a bit disappointed by this release, but the fact that it still made my top 10 says something about it. I love the beginning and the end of this album, but the middle just sorta tanks for me. They could have dropped a song or two from the middle and still had a great record. The problem is, that when I try to isolate which song I’d get rid of, I can’t. I think I need to listen to the record of this more so I can get a better feel for both sides.

07. 12XU – Les Grandes Marées

I had heard 12XU before 2011 but I wasn’t a fan. I remember checking out a couple songs off their single series release and not really caring for them. But, I had been listening to Baton Rouge so much this year I thought I’d give them another shot. I don’t know if its the songs or the recording quality, but Les Grandes Marées struck a chord with me and I’ve been spinning it regularly ever since.

06. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Yep. Well I fully acknowledge this as being the odd man out on this top 10, but fuck it. My wife loves this band and this is hands down her favorite album of 2011, so by proxy I listened to this record quite a bit, possibly more than any other new release this year. It’s a great album.

05. Night Birds – The other side of darkness

I was a fan of Night Birds before this release but this LP really cemented my love for them. I don’t really listen to these type of bands, but whatever they are doing, they are doing it right. This album brings out so many memories of troma movies, USA Up all Night, and thrasher magazine, I can’t help but play it over and over.

04. Cloud Mouth – Keep Well

I was bummed to hear these guys called it a day in 2011, but Keep Well is a great swan song. While last year’s LP only had 6 songs, in comparison these 4 feel like an EP; it’s short and to the point. I was lucky enough to see them just before they broke up and I remember them playing at least 3 of these songs. They opened with ‘Quiet’ and, at the time, I didn’t really care for it, though at this point its my favorite song on the EP.

03. Regents – ST 7″

I’m not sure that this doesn’t belong at #1 on this list, but I’m putting here (for now). When I first heard ex-frodus, -sleepytime trio, and -exploder guys were getting together to release a 7″ and play some shows I was more than skeptical. How often will a group of ex-members get together and release anything remotely on par with their previous bands? People get older, tastes change, shit happens; We all know this whether or not we’re willing to acknowledge it. But we’d be lying to ourselves if we didn’t really wish they’d take all the good parts of the previous bands and just whip them up into a new version of the old stuff. Somehow Regents did just that. These 4 songs sound like they were written in 1999 straight out of Richmond/DC. I hear their full length is pretty much done and it is definitely one of my most anticipated releases of 2012.

Tie for #1. Baton Rouge – Contrepied, Contretemps 7″

Woah, if this is how this band is progressing, then I can’t wait to hear what is next. The LP is a perfect mix of upbeat and laid back songs. I expected these two songs to be the latter, boy was I wrong. Both of these songs are ragers and I have been listening to them non stop since this was released.

Tie for #1. Baton Rouge – Fragments d’eux mêmes

This album caught me by surprise. I stumbled upon a preview of this album in the first part of the year. I remember them being compared to twelve hour turn and unwound, so my interest was definitely piqued. Initially I was disappointed the momentum of the first half of the LP slows as it settles into the slower 2nd half, but after a couple listens I was fully onboard. Excellent release I can’t wait for new material from them.

Honorable Mention

Kim Phuc – I’ve only listened to it twice. This is really really good.

shores – I love Coup de Grace, but To Volstead is a different bag altogether. I haven’t spent much time with it yet, so it didn’t make it into the top 10. Their new song on the CTO split is really good too. I’ve heard their 3rd album (which is already finished) is more along the lines of Coup de Grace.

Damages/Book of Caverns – If this song is any indication of their new full length, it will be near the top of my 2012 list.

New Brutalism – Personal Record.
These songs were recorded over 2 years ago for a surprise wedding gift for the guy that runs ABC Document records. Because this recording would require a 2xLP, pressing it on vinyl has been held up, but they’ve finally released the songs on bandcamp to download in an effort to drum up some cash for the pressing. I’ve been listening to some of the songs since they were posted on their myspace page over two years ago. When I saw them they played a nice mix of these songs and songs off of ‘Actual Record’. Go buy the mp3s of these songs, I want this thing on vinyl. I didn’t post this in the top 10 because its just the mp3s. Since this hasn’t been pressed yet I didn’t think it should count, but on the other hand there are two releases on my top 10 that I don’t own yet either. Whenever this thing gets released it will definitely be near the top of my list.

Wild Guess – Two EPS
Post-Logs. I died a little inside when I heard logs had called it a day, but the fact that these guys slay certainly helps. They released two 4 song eps digitally. Rumor has it that they are looking for a label to put both eps out as an LP. The new songs are more varied than the older songs. I kinda wish they’d mix them together and make an ‘album’, which I think they could pull off. But I’m guessing that due to the different recording sessions they’ll keep the two eps separate.

Logs – Hogz
So this was recorded in March of 2008. Leaked in late 2010. Hopefully released in 2012.