Audio Pizza: Tastiest of 2011

So I know that 2011 is behind us and at this point I should probably be moving away from the past year of music, but I have just a couple more bands and pieces of music I'd like to recognize from the past year before I fully embrace music in the final year of human existence.

The King is Dead by The Decemberists was the only new piece of vinyl I purchased in 2011, and was well worth it. The combination of Colin Meloy, Gillian Welch, and a barn in Oregon can only be truly appreciated when heard on a turntable (although the digital copy that came with the LP has probably had more plays). However, this album had many critics this year. I heard multiple Decemberists purists complain about the band "changing it up too much, (selling out dare I say)" and going from their more traditional seven minute rock-opera sounds to three minute catchy tunes. The other critique I heard over and over was "this was the best REM album in 20 years!" This argument is hard to refute and here is a conspiracy video that plays Down By The Water and One I Love back to back:

With all that being said, the album has some major REM influences BECAUSE Peter Buck plays on three of the songs. I truly believe The King is Dead doesn't ripoff REM, but pays homage to the band and successfully integrates one of the founding members. Ok, enough of me defending the album. Let's listen to some music.

My favorite song on the album is still the first, Don't Carry It All. Every time I hear it, I flash back to my needle dropping onto the album for the first time and hearing Colin, drums, and a harmonica shake the windows of my house. Sorry I couldn't find a better video for this one. The Decemberists – Don't Carry It All