Kind of Bleu’s Top 20 of 2011

Kind of Bleu’s top albums of 2011, with links to each review in the countdown.

Honorable Mentions:
Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan & Chris Thile – The Goat Rodeo Sessions
Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong
I’m From Barcelona – Forever Today
Panda Bear – Tomboy
My Morning Jacket – Circuital

20. Chris Thile & Michael Daves – Sleep With One Eye Open 

19. Fucked Up – David Comes to Life

18. Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What

17. Wild Flag – Wild Flag

16. Tom Waits – Bad as Me

15. The Head and the Heart – The Head and the Heart

14. James Blake – James Blake

13. The Mountain Goats – All Eternals Deck

12. Wilco – The Whole Love

11. Feist – Metals

10. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo

9. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s a Corporate World

8. Middle Brother – Middle Brother

7. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire

6. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

5. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

4. The Antlers – Burst Apart

3. Destroyer – Kaputt

2. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Top 20 of 2011: 18. Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What

18. Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What

Paul Simon’s first album in five years was something of a return to form. So Beautiful or So What became the songwriter’s best-selling album since 1990’s Rhythm of the Saints. It also put Simon back in the favor of most music critics — prompting many to label it his best since Graceland.

So Beautiful or So What features Simon returning to what has become his trademarked rhythmic style, pioneered with the African sounds of Graceland and carried over with South American music on The Rhythm of the Saints. It’s also his most focused album in over a decade.

Simon’s twelfth solo album reaffirms his place as one of the greatest American songwriters. But more importantly, it proves that his best works aren’t all in the past. He’s got quite a bit more to share.

The Tallest Man on Earth – “Graceland”

A lot of artists pay homage to Paul Simon. Some mimic, like Vampire Weekend, and others cover his songs. From his folk days, both with Art Garfunkel and during his early solo career, to his world-inspired classics like Graceland and The Rhythm of the Saints, Simon has a lot of great work.

There have been some good covers, like Ray Charles’ version of “Still Crazy After All These Years,” but perhaps the best comes from Swedish troubadour Kristian Matsson, who performs as The Tallest Man on Earth. Matsson’s stripped-down folk take on “Graceland” rivals the original.  His vocals float over a picked banjo with a stark beauty. It’s an incredible take on one of Simon’s best works.

Take a listen for yourself: