Tag Archives: Laura Marling

Favorites of 2011 : Adriana Mundy

Two thousand and eleven has been an odd year for me, and I think for music as well. Between acclimating to a completely different environment and being fully immersed in the music world, I foresaw a serious evolution and transformation of my music tastes prior to compiling my “Best of” lists. After the completion of said lists, it seems that not much has actually changed – not only in the last year, but the last five, when observing which names were included.

To be honest, it was quite difficult to decide on 10 full albums I really enjoyed listening to from start to finish. This could be the fault of BBC6 radio, and it’s persistent nature of turning an “OK” song into a real banger after playing it enough. It could also be the fault of so many let downs and gimmicks. Never in a single year have I looked forward to so many albums that panned out to be so disappointingly average. In a market so over saturated by bands trying to “out-cool” one another and being more conscious of what they wear than how well they play, it’s no wonder that some of names keep recurring year after year or that the best single tracks list was so much more enjoyable to assemble.

But this is it, I’ve done it. I’ve decided what 10 albums and 20 tracks have been the most enjoyable, the least pretentious and will hopefully be a memorable depiction of 2011 – five, ten and fifty years from now.

As for ranking, I must digress to the one brutal truth of end of year lists that my good friend Wes pointed out recently. Ranking is, in fact, arbitrary and simply a tool for building suspense in pinning down one’s judgement on any particular topic. So to avoid that (as you may not know who I am nor care about/for my taste in music), I’ve decided to post my lists chronologically. My hope is for you to have a listen to anything you’re not familiar with and ideally find something to enjoy. That’s why you’re here, right?

PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

MP3: Let England Shake

Secret Cities – Strange Hearts

MP3 – Always Friends

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

MP3 – The Shrine / An Argument

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Wednesday at the Wex: Laura Marling

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MP3: My Manic and I

I don’t know that I can actually pinpoint the moment I first heard of Laura Marling, but I can say that she has had a strong presence on my favorites playlist for a good two years now. She may be perceived in the States as being a new face on the scene because she is just now out on a solo headlining tour, but just two years ago Mumford & Sons were her tour support on a co-headlined tour with Johnny Flynn.

At just 20 years of age, Marling has been charming both American and UK audiences since 2007. Aside from being a notable member of the London folk scene, she has also been a component in acts such as The Rakes, Noah and the Whale and Mystery Jets. (Yes, SHE’S that sweet voice in “Five Years Time” and “Young Love.”)

Marling’s new record I Speak Because I Can was released on April 6th via Virgin Records. She hits the stage on Wednesday at the Wexner Center’s Black Box with friends Smoke Fairies and Pete Roe. Tickets here.