best of 2011

Miguel Zenón's Alma Adentro Receives Top Honors from iTunes!

Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook is the iTunes Rewind 2011 Jazz Instrumental Album of the Year! To see a full list of Apple’s picks for music, television, apps and more, visit here: http://tw.itunes.com/Ib4
  

Submitted by Bobby on December 15th, 2011 — 12:34pm

The best (and worst) music of 2011: Hank Shteamer's picks

Publication: Time Out New York
Author: Hank Shteamer
Date: December 11, 2011

The best albums

1 Frank Ocean, Nostalgia, Ultra (self-released)
To say that this 24-year-old crooner had a banner year would be like labeling the sun a pretty bright star; but even alongside guest spots on Tyler, the Creator’s Goblin and Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch the Throne, Ocean’s own debut—a challenging, charming, beautifully paced set of indie R&B—stood way out.

2 Anthrax, Worship Music (Megaforce)
Opening for their old-school thrash peers on the Big 4 tour, these NYC veterans drew bottom billing, yet they emerged triumphant on this hook-saturated fist-pumper of a comeback LP.

3 Branford Marsalis and Joey Calderazzo, Songs of Mirth and Melancholy (Marsalis Music)
One of our few household-name jazzmen and his first-call pianist stepped away from their signature quartet and produced a duo session so stately, it felt avant-garde. Read more »

Submitted by Bobby on December 13th, 2011 — 05:15pm