My Top 5 Records of 2011 So Far

1. White Denim-D: Their most sophsiticated and polished sounding record is also their greatest to date. The band has emulated the swagger of The Stooges and the quirkiness of Frank Zappa, the group's over the top ambition is enganging as opposed to pretentious. This should be the stature for all future indie jam bands to follow, don't indulge in narcissism without embracing the engergy and goofiness of the Rock'N Roll formula. All of the tracks on this album are filled with hooks, and even in their jazz noodlings or multi-rhythm breakdowns they manage to conjure up memorable melodies. I wouldn't be surprised if this album retains the number one spot through the rest of the year. Standout Tracks: "Anvil Anything", "Street Joy", "Drug", and "Keys".

2 .Fucked Up-David Comes To Life: A punk rock group made a rock opera? Well, it's a quasi rock opera, but yes Fucked Up are the first punk group to make a good, if not great rock opera. The Follow up to "Chemistry To Comon Life", show's the groups further experimentation of noise-rock and hardcore punk, but with stronger songwriting. One thing for sure despite the many layers of guitars recorded, there isn't a hardcore group that can deliver a Springsteen-like epic without giving up on their punk rock ethics. This album might also be one of the finest productions in the last 15 years, they've somehow found a way to make an album that sounds like My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" meets Springsteen (Born to Run) meets Black Flags "Damaged". Epic, emotional yet raw. Standout Tracks: "The Other Shoe", "Queen Of Hearts", "Serve Me Right", and "Little Death"

3. Tv On The Radio- Nine Types Of Light: Maybe their weakest album to date, but by being the deacons of ingenuity, they gravitate interest. The band have acclimated to a more polish sound admirably, with sharper soundscapes and lushes harmonies. The group haven't abandoned their primitive energy, especially on a standout track titled "Repetition". As frontman Tunde Adebimpe sings "To arrive ahead of its time is the fate of the fish washed up on shore", the band conveys an errie arrangement that builds into the sound of a submarine launch. Standout Tracks: "Keep Your Heart", "Killer Crane", "New Cannonball Blues", and "Caffeinated Conciousness".

4. Foo Fighters-Wasting Light: Perhaps their finest collection of music ever recorded. Fresh from his stint from Them Crooked Vultures, Dave Grohl decided to turn up the treble and make an album in his garage. The lo-fi quality gives the album some grit (recorded in analog) but the melodies and hooks are as well executed as previous efforts. Standout Tracks: "Bridge Burning", "White Limo", "Rope", and "Walk".

5. Arctic Monkeys-Suck It and See: Arctic Monkey's fourth album is their most mature offering today, blending the unique word-play of their debut with the muscular desert sound of (previous album) "Humbug". The album kicks off with the track "She's Thunderstorm" which comes across as sounding like a Buddy Holly classic on steroids. The group's vocalist Alex Turner has developed his voice into a nifty charming Lloyd Cole style, the transparency of his cockney brogue gives his English tales more conviction and originality. The group's involvement with Joshua Homme has branched them out of their power-pop sound, and has evolved them into good musicians, while embracing early Rock'N Roll infulences. It's safe to say now Arctic Monkeys are not a one trick pony, and are a band I look forward listening to future material from. Standout Tracks: "She's Thunderstorms", "Don't Sit Down Cause I Moved Your Chair", "Reckless Serenade", and "Suck It and See".