Best Albums of 2011 - Anything Merge Records Put Out this Year

So I started working on my various lists and realized that a lot of my favorite albums in 2011 seemed to come from Merge Records, that powerhouse label down in North Carolina. They remain one of my favorite labels because they consistently put out good music, take care of their artists and after almost 23 years doing it still has a ton of energy and drive.

There's something here for everyone. Bitter love gone wrong lyrics? Try Telekinesis 12 Desperate Straight Lines. Shoegaze-y beautiful rock? Wye Oak's Civilian. Winking 70s style smooth rock? Destroyer's Kaputt. Sonic Youth noise rock (with this year's best profanity laced single)? Times New Viking's Dancer Equired. The list goes on and on and on.

Here's a short list of some of my faves that I couldn't stop listening to.

Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines
Wild Flag - s/t
Apex Manor - The Year of Magical Drinking
Destroyer - Kaputt
Times New Viking - Dancer Equired
Wye Oak - Civilian
Amor de Dias - Street of the Love of Days
The Rosebuds - Loud Planes Fly Low

Stream Telekinesis' 12 Desperate Straight Lines over at NPR

On February 15, Telekinesis will drop its sophomore effort, 12 Desperate Straight Lines.

You can preview these dozen immediately catchy, power popped rock songs at NPR's First Listen, a place quickly becoming the go to site for indies to stream their new releases. While there, check out Bright Eyes new album too.

And when you finish listening to 12 Desperate Straight Lines, go to Merge Records and preorder it (and also pick up the mp3 Car Crash to tide you over for a week). They might still have some Telekinesis pencils left.