Top 5 albums of 2011

Yah I know this is a cartoon blog, but let me indulge my music nerdery once a year, ok? Here, in no particular order, are my 5 favourite albums of 2011. Check the Grooveshark widget on the right for my fave tracks from each one.

1. St. Vincent: Strange Mercy. Super catchy and full of the most amazing contrasts. Annie Clark's a bit like wood-sprite driving a tank.

2. Cass McCombs: Wit's End. Really REALLY dark album. I'd be worried about the guy if he didn't release the breezy and upbeat Humor Risk a few months later.

3. Tune-Yards: Whokill. A bit of an acquired taste, like your first time biting into an olive.

4. Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi. Some of the biggest and most confident songwriting I've heard in ages. Plus she SHREDS!

5. Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo. This one kinda peters out near the end, but the first half is so good that it makes up for it.

Christmas Card 2011

Dad Card 2011

An admittedly rushed and uninspired card this year. Pretty sure that even my 64 year old dad is sick of zombie jokes. But it's done, and I won't be disowned for another year.

Click the "one-shots" label for other dad cards.