Music

Best of 2011: David Frenson and Christopher Larsen of Banquets

by Sam Sutherland

AUX is in the habit of ranking what we thought were the best of the respective genres we cover — Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, Metal, Punk, and Electronic. This year, we also reached out to as many of the artists featured on our lists as we could — our best-of the year’s best-of the year’s.

David Frenson

Top 10 LPs:
1. The Decemberists – The King is Dead
2. Static Radio – We Are All Beasts
3. Red City Radio – The Dangers of Standing Still
4. Timeshares – Bearable
5. The Arteries – Dead Sea
6. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
7. Polar Bear Club – Clash Battle Guilt Pride
8. Restorations – Restorations
9. Bridge and Tunnel – Rebuilding Year
10. The Reveling – Tributaries

Top 5 EPs:
1. Luther – Siblings and Sevens
2. Look Mexico – Real Americans Spear It
3. Daytrader – Last Days of Rome
4. Pentimento – Wrecked
5. PJ Bond – 22 April: Vienna, Austria

Christopher Larsen

1. Metallica – LULU
Thinking they had already recorded the lemons of lemons with load and reload and death magnetic and st.anger, I was confused by how two of my favorite artists could destroy themselves so well.  Like hanging out Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston, I just couldn’t stop smoking crack with these two who were destined to turn my brain to mush.

2. Iron Chic – Not Like This
Came out in 2010 I think, but I haven’t stopped listening to it.

3. Into It. Over It. – Proper
Somewhere between The Anniversary, Death Cab, and Daytrader.  Dude rules.

4. Yelle – Safari Disco Club
Présente les règles Goddamn.

5. Luther – Siblings and Seven
Had it for awhile now and still listening to it almost daily.

6. Fit for an Autopsy – The Process of Human Extermination
Bunch of beard dudes running on rainbows beating each other up with unicorn testicles

7. Static Radio – We Are All Beasts
Catchy but ball starved.

8. Look Mexico – Real Americans Spear It
Just got into these guys and love this album.

9. Decapitated – Carnival is Forever
Not their best album, but still it’s Decapitated.

10. Sharks Keep Moving – Sharks Keep Moving
Old album, but I still listen to it constantly and I don’t think many people listen to them.  Jazzy mellow post hardcore stuff with the singer from Minus the Bear.