Friday Flashback 2011

FRIDAY FLASHBACK: Every Friday we set the Hot Tub Time Machine to one year in rock history and give you the best (and worst) music from that year, all day long beginning at 1:00 AM EST and running for 24 hours on Jivewired Radio powered by Live365.

This week: 2011
Next week: 1980

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Album art from 2011 - Click album cover to purchase at Amazon.com



2011 Album I Wish I Owned: Elsie by The Horrible Crowes
2011 Album I'd Give Back If I Could: Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica
2011 Most Underrated Song: Come Visit Me by The Rosebuds
2011 Most Overrated Song: Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People
2011 Most Memorable Song: The Clap Hands Song by T-Bird & The Breaks
2011 Most Significant Song: Let England Shake by P.J. Harvey
2011 Most Forgotten Song: Anything They've Recorded by The Glee Cast
2011 Fan's Choice For Most Popular Song: Rolling In The Deep by Adele
2011 Please Don't Play Anymore Song: Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
2011 Song That I Like More than I Actually Should: Hard To Get by Katy B.
Absolute Worst Song of 2011 That I Will (Not) Always Love: Sail by awolNation
Overplayed In 2011: Foster The People, Bon Iver
Not Played Enough In 2011: Titus Andronicus, tUnE-yArDs, Wild Flag
Greatest Single Chart Re-Entry from 2011: The Golden Age by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour (2008)
Best Cover Song Of 2011: Our Day Will Come by Amy Winehouse
An unheralded great album from 2011: Covering Ground by Chuck Ragan
An unheralded great single from 2011: Awkward by San Cisco
Best Soundtrack of 2011: The Lincoln Lawyer
Soundtrack Most Likely To Win An Oscar in 2011: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (all songs by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross)

Our Top Five Songs Of The Year
01. One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend) by Wilco
02. Whirring by The Joy Formidable
03. Lonely Boy by The Black Keys
04. Midnight City by M83
05. Balance by Future Islands

Our Top Five Albums Of The Year
01. El Camino by The Black Keys
02. The Whole Love by Wilco
03. Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
04. Collapse Into Now by R.E.M.
05. Lioness: Hidden Treasures by Amy Winehouse

2011: Gone Too Soon
--Gary Moore (February 6, 2011)
--Mike Starr (March 8, 2011)
--Nate Dogg (March 15, 2011)
--Gerard Smith (April 20, 2011)
--Gil-Scott Heron (May 27, 2011)
--Clarence Clemons (June 18, 2011)
--Amy Winehouse (July 23, 2011)
--Jani Lane (August 11, 2011)
--Steve Jobs (October 5, 2011)
--Heavy D (November 8, 2011)

Still Alive Despite Persistent Rumors To The Contrary: Brett Michaels, Jon Bon Jovi



2011 represented a major paradigm shift in popular music, a shift that may one day be considered seismic in retrospect as the music industry became less contrived and even less calculated, navigating further from it's directional course set by the major labels. Let's face it, independent music has swung to the forefront, and all the credibility the genre needed was given when the Grammy Association accurately and stunningly presented Arcade Fire it's prestigious Record Of The Year award in February.

It’s an understatement to say that the music industry has changed as a result of advances in digital technology. The digital era has forever altered the way we discover, listen, share and market music, and it was no more evident than in 2011. With Pandora surging in popularity, music centered around geeky technology buzzwords like cloud storage, streaming services and social media API's -- all designed to help listeners discover and love new music. Former behemoths MTV, MySpace Music, AOL Music and Last FM are floundering in irrelevancy. FM radio? It's a dinosaur on the precipice of extinction.

Perhaps the biggest trend of the past year, however, is cloud storage. Before he died, Apple founder Steve Jobs proclaimed 2011 as "the end of the PC-centric era of computing."

The paradise of limitless storage is at hand. Music collections are no longer tethered to computer hard drives and finite storage, but in virtual storage lockers accessed by streaming services such as Apple's iCloud, Amazon's Cloud Drive, Google Music, Sound Cloud and Spotify. Bigger questions still loom however: Will over-compressed fidelity continue to matter less and less as convenience and portability rule? And is there enough money in streaming services to fairly compensate artists? A few, even bigger questions: What does this mean for minor independents and unsigned bands who have no choice but to share the same, said locker room? Will music sales continue to downtrend with so much free music available for listening? What is the incentive to buy music when you are basically allowed to listen rent-free?

Musically speaking, 2011 may be remembered for it's cutting-edged mellow sound. As with everything else, music tends to trend in cyclical fashion as historical fads are gentrified and tweaked, i.e., borrowing from the past to create something new. The 2011 Muzak scene includes Bon Iver, Phantogram, James Blake, Destroyer, Washed Out and Future Islands as but a few examples. All have sold copious amounts of music and all have amassed effusive reviews by capitalizing on a sound that until recently was chastised as a notch above elevator music: plush synths, dreamy sax solos and antiseptic, tepid beats. Bon Iver's self-titled release was proclaimed album of the year before it was even commercially released by influential publications such as Pitchfork and Paste. Bon Iver garnered those accolades despite the fact that the album represents the sort of sentimental mush that would normally be shunned by acerbic indie-music hipsters.

I don't see it as a long-lasting trend, and going forward, I doubt we will look back to 2011 and say "I think 'Holocene' (by Bon Iver) is that one point where, in 2011, we said, 'Hold on, something’s happening here. This is big.'" To me it's overproduced,messy and horribly overrated. Yes, that's my opinion.

Hear me now, believe me later.

Oklahoma City Is A-OK



We saw a number of bands from the Oklahoma City/Norman and Tulsa, Oklahoma areas achieve varying degrees of success on Jivewired Radio as well as in the indie music scene overall. You're bound to hear a lot more about these bands in 2012. Keep a look out for: Red City Radio, Dr. Pants, John Moreland, Alston David, Brianna Gaither, The Nghiems, Broncho, OK Sweetheart, Crown Imperial, Matt Stansberry, Graham Colton, Jared Lekites, K.C. Clifford and of course The Flaming Lips, just to name a few off the top of my head.

Gratuitous Sax, anyone?



An ironic nod to the '80s saxophone wave, artists of every genre employed a form of saxophone that fit their mood and style. If you wanted the shrieking solo in Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night" or a warm, smooth massage in Destroyer's "Kaputt," 2011 was your year.

We have Tiny Tim to thank for this?



Once associated with Tiny Tim and other novelty artists, the pint-size stringed instrument has enjoyed a serious revival in recent years, thanks to the patronage of some high-profile artists. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder devoted an entire album to it this year with the solo release "Ukulele Songs," Paul McCartney broke one out during his stadium concerts to pay tribute to his old pal George Harrison (himself a uke devotee), and much-praised indie rocker Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs rocked one at her concerts and on her acclaimed "W h o k i l l" album.

Too Sexy For My Roland TB-303:



Popular music in 2011 was ripe with the revival of a distorted bassline resembling the Roland TB-303. Rihanna's "Where Have You Been" and LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" carried the signature sound of acid house. Now all that needs to happen is for today's electronic scene to rediscover its acid house roots. That would be cool.

The next wave of bands to ask $300 per concert ticket based on past glory:



This year saw a wave of rock bands catching up to a new generation. Soundgarden is touring again, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blink-182 and even less renowned bands like Urge Overkill and Bush released new albums. There was an Evanescence sighting in 2011 as well. Of course Paul McCartney, The Eagles, U2 and Bruce Springsteen are touring, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the geriatric glamor boys, aka The Rolling Stones, touring again. I just pray Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam bow out gracefully rather than make a mockery of themselves one day. Fingers crossed.

Go forth, for you are the future of rock 'n roll....



Why -- it's you!

2011 was not just a boon for selectors. This year, Apple released their popular recording and sequencing software GarageBand for the iPad and iPhone/iPod Touch. Also, iPad studio suites like Korg iMS-20 and ReBirth for iPad blew your dinky piano app out of the water. You could probably make an effortless Top 40 track for me to trash in all of half-a-day with all this neat software.


Playlist For Friday Flashback 2011:
001. Midnight City by M83
002. Cough Syrup by Young The Giant
003. Raw Meat by Black Lips
004. Black Tiles by Wild Flag
005. One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend) by Wilco
006. Someone Like You by Adele
007. Our Day Will Come by Amy Winehouse
008. Come Visit Me by The Rosebuds
009. Dirty Sex by The Bloody Hollies
010. Lonely Boy by The Black Keys
011. Heart Attack by Raphael Saadiq
012. Awkward by San Cisco
013. Human Condition by Joan As Police Woman
014. Balance by Future Islands
015. He Gets Me High by Dum Dum Girls
016. Whirring by The Joy Formidable
017. Valerie ('68 Version) by Amy Winehouse
018. Peg O' My Heart by Dropkick Murphys
019. Asleep On The Lawn by The Hampdens
020. Hard To Get by Katy B.
021. Cool Kids by Natalie Walker
022. Used To Get High by The John Butler Trio
023. Traitor by OK Sweetheart
024. Sunglasses by Crown Imperial
025. The Clap Hands Song by T-Bird & The Breaks
026. S&M by Rihanna
027. Radio by Raphael Saadiq
028. Hell Of A Season by The Black Keys
029. Jesus Fever by Kurt Vile
030. Until You Remember by The Tedeschi Trucks Band
031. Amor Fati by Washed Out
032. Dum Dum Dah Dah by The Nghiems
033. Generation Handclap by Library Voices
034. Elevator by Crown Imperial
035. Midnight Midnight by The Potbelleez
036. Clutching Stems by Ladybug Transistor
037. The World (Is Going Up In Flames) by Chuck Bradley
038. Ain't It So by PAPA
039. Tree By The River by Iron & Wine
040. Super Duper Rescue Heads! by Deerhoof
041. Devils by Say Hi
042. Barton Hollow by Civil Wars
043. Sundowner by Eddie Spaghetti
044. Grown Ocean by Fleet Foxes
045. Bad News by Whitey Morgan & The 78's
046. Chinatown by Destroyer
047. Capitol City by Wilco
048. Seeing Black by Lucinda Williams
049. Endless Talk by Wild Flag
050. Fascinated by Ivy
051. Saturday Love by Toro y Moi
052. Grenade by Bruno Mars
053. Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO
054. Lights On by Katy B. ft. Ms. Dynamite
055. All Alone by Toro y Moi
056. Flood Waters by Josh Garrels
057. Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
058. D.I.Y. by Keep Shelly In Athens
059. Turning Into Stone by Phantogram
060. Record Store by Broncho
061. The Dream by Thee Oh Sees
062. Every Night My Teeth Are Falling Out by The Antlers
063. Romance by Wild Flag
064. Cannibal Queen by Miniature Tigers
065. Killa by tUnE-yArDs
066. What Water Gave Me by Florence + The Machine
067. My Body by Young The Giant
068. Downside Up by Peter Gabriel
069. Whole Love by Wilco
070. Cease & Persist by El Ten Eleven
071. Stone Rollin' by Raphael Saadiq
072. Firework by Katy Perry
073. Calamity Song by The Decemberists
074. The Great Fire by Future Islands
075. Hipster Kids/Sexy Beards by Dr. Pants
076. The Creature by Kurt Vile
077. Possibility by Lykke Li
078. Where We've Been by All Night Drug Prowling Wolves
079. Ever Falling In Love by Times New Viking
080. I Get's My Boogie On by T-Bird & The Breaks
081. Theme From "Cheers" by Titus Andronicus
082. Before by Washed Out
083. Breakin' The Chains Of Love by Fitz & The Tantrums
084. Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
085. 16 Years by Phantogram
086. Grey Ship by EMA
087. Can't Change Me by Lydia Loveless
088. Wish On The Moon by Chuck Ragan
089. New Direction by Black Lips
090. Lotus Flower by Radiohead
091. Damn These Vampires by The Mountain Goats
092. So American by Portugal. The Man
093. Palomino by Mates Of State
094. Morning Thought by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
095. Nothing Left To Prove by Chuck Ragan
096. Born To Be Loved by Lucinda Williams
097. Hiding Tonight by Alex Turner
098. Free My Mind by Katie Herzig
099. Sail by awolNation
100. Blackbird by Ben Ottewell
101. Julius by Starfucker
102. Es-So by tUnE-yArDs
103. Into Your Alien Arms by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
104. Sighs by Asobi Seksu
105. The Ever Changing Spectrum Of A Lie by The Joy Formidable
106. Slideshow by Ana Popovic
107. Foregone by The Decemberists
108. Pumped Up Kicks by Foster The People
109. Instant Insanity by Dr. Pants
110. Try Me Out Sometime by Broncho
111. Spinning In Circles Is A Gateway Drug by Red City Radio
112. Soft by Washed Out
113. Discoverer by R.E.M.
114. These Days by Foo Fighters
115. Maracas by Mates Of State
116. Helena Beat by Foster The People
117. Dear Avery by The Decemberists
118. Baby's Arms by Kurt Vile
119. Dead & Gone by The Black Keys
120. 'Til My Heart Quakes by Alyssa Graham
121. The Golden Age by The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
122. Last Friday Night (TGIF) by Katy Perry
123. Never Saw The Point by Cuts
124. Black Candles by Crooked Fingers
125. 12 Fingers by Young The Giant
126. I Heard You Say by Vivian Girls
127. My Mistakes by Eleanor Friedberger
128. Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall by Coldplay
129. Don't Let It Break Your Heart by Coldplay
130. Rolling In The Deep by Adele
131. Noc-A-Homa by Black Lips
132. Jesus by Amos Lee
133. Like Smoke by Amy Winehouse ft. Nas
134. Volcanic Vacation by Anton Mink
135. Bones by Male Bonding
136. Stuck On The Puzzle by Alex Turner
137. Don't Gotta Work It Out by Fitz & The Tantrums
138. Everything Will Be Fine by JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
139. A Month Of Saturdays by R.E.M.
140. One Look At You by The Smithereens
141. Pacific Coast Eyes by Graham Colton
142. Wallflower by Peter Gabriel
143. Me, Marlon Brando, Marlon Brando & I by R.E.M.
144. Beach Side by Kings Of Leon
145. Something To Die For by The Sounds
146. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win by The Beastie Boys ft. Santigold
147. Hey Love by Nappy Roots
148. Morning Mr. Magpie by Radiohead
149. How Many Women by Lydia Loveless
150. Minnesota, WI by Bon Iver
151. Usual Suspects by Ha Ha Tonka
152. Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine
153. If I Wanted Someone by Dawes
154. Kaputt by Destroyer
155. Civilian by Wye Oak
156. I Was Everyone by Joan As Policewoman
157. Woods by The Rosebuds
158. E.T. by Katy Perry
159. All Die Young by Smith Westerns
160. Sonnet by The Decemberists


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