AWOLNATION, Megalithic SymphonyYou probably won't read this anywhere else, so I'm going to let you in on a little secret: Megalithic Symphony was the best album released in 2011. For real.
Perfect For: Awesome people
Recommended By: Chris
Brian Jonestown Massacre, Singles Collection (1992-2011)This year Brian Jonestown Massacre released a singles retrospective stretching from 1992-2011 called (duh) Singles Collection (1992-2011). They're a brilliant band whose work I don't think enough people know, so this is a good place to start. All kind of excellence on there, from start to finish.
Recommended By: Jett Superior
The Damnwells, No One Listens To The Band AnymoreI'm assuming that everyone here knows how seriously I take my music, so I'm going to be very plainspoken about this recommendation. Go buy No One Listens To The Band Anymore by the Damnwells. They're the best band you've barely (never?) heard of, with lyrical and musical abilities that are equally amazing. This project was entirely fan-backed over on Pledge Music, and part of the proceeds went to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria, and TB.
Recommended By: Jett Superior
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, And Sammy Davis Jr., Christmas With the Rat PackI worked retail for a long time so I've kind of hated holiday tunes with the searing heat of a million suns for most of my life. Now that I'm out of retail, the occasional holiday tune isn't so bad. I like this album because hey, Rat Pack, they're keeping it jazzy and loose. Grab a vodka martini and chill by the fire man.
Perfect For: Fans of Frank, Sammy, and Dean; discerning alcoholics
Recommended By: Archphoenix
Patrick Stump, Soul PunkFrom my review of the album: "For those of you expecting Fall Out Boy II (Hold The Wentz), Patrick Stump's Soul Punk is a mature and funky affair that is miles above anything produced by Fall Out Boy."
Perfect For: Fans of Michael Jackson, Prince, The Time, Fall Out Boy, and awesome music
Recommended By: Chris
Various Artists, Ahk-toong Bay-bi CoveredTo mark the 20th anniversary of U2's classic Achtung Baby, a bunch of amazing artists got together to record a song by song cover of the album. It's pretty fantastic. My favorite? That's tough, but right now it's Snow Patrol's stripped down cover of "Mysterious Ways." The album's cheap: only $7.99 and even better than that, all proceeds of the album's sales go towards Concern Worldwide's work in east Africa.
Perfect For: U2 fans, people who miss Garbage
Recommended By: Archphoenix
