Top Tracks of 2011-Better Lie by The Get Up Kids There Are Rules

Among all of the Top Tracks that I've found for myself this year, few are as potent as The Get Up Kids' Better Lie.
Click here for full album review of Better Lie by The Get Up Kids

Album Review:Beady Eye-Different Gear, Still Speeding

The music of 2011 started in such a promising fashion with fantastically fresh albums from The Get Up Kids, Jenn Grant, Toro Y Moi, The Dodos and Braids.    I suppose that I can't be surprised that another rocker headed toward retirement needs an effective retirement plan, but this album will be a failing strategy for Liam Gallagher and his old band-mates who are without, it seems, the real creative force of Oasis: Neil.    You'll immediately recognize Liam's distinctive groan, but the clever hooks?    The occasionally brilliant songcrafting?    You won't find either here.    You can't sing about The Beatles or The Rolling Stones in order to fit yourself onto the same shelf, but on Beady Eye's new LP Different Gear, Still Speeding, you'll hear many songs that the producer or record company should have considered a re-do or get another producer that will help Mr. Gallagher take some chances.    Suppose that you can't blame the ex-Oasisians for trying.    Everyone needs to consider their future, but in order for music to properly evolve and for the love of music, ignore this record.   

Album Review:The Get Up Kids-There Are Rules

The Get Up Kids have got their poop together finally on There Are Rules.    It took them 10 years, but their 2011 album is a majestic piece of art rock manifested through the same amount of years shaking off the crispy coating left from being labelled emo.    I've somehow been able to ignore every TGUK album until now.    Delicious stuff.