Gemma Pike’s Top 11 Albums of 2011
On Monday we went through our top dozen records of 2011 (check it out here, if you missed it). For the rest of the week, individual life is noisers have been going over their top records for the year.
Today is former RTRFM Out To Lunch presenter and current summertime fill-in Breakfast presenter on Triple J, Gemma Pike’s turn:
11. Efrim Manuel Menuck – Plays “High Gospel”
Look. I just love the dude, okay? Pretty much every guise under which he has played has made it into my top ten. Indulge me.
10. CAVE — Neverendless
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but it still remains very difficult to equal your influences. But on their third album, Neverendless, the Chicago based CAVE freakin’ nail it, adding just enough surprise to an otherwise expected straight drive into the territories of the Kraut rock heavyweights.
The best thing about this album is that they don’t skimp on melody. I mean, there’s no denying the riffs at the core of each song, their repetitive nature burning themselves deep in the brain. But the fact that the musicians aren’t trying to be completely derivative also helps in making this album so wonderful. You can pick apart the tracks and find plenty of other bits and pieces, from Doors-esque Hammond organs to the coolness of post-rock and sharp jabs of post-punk guitar. And all in all, it’s a shame when this album comes to an end. Read the rest of this entry ”
