All corners of the music world unloaded their top 10 lists right before Christmas it seems. I have a hard time really saying what is the best in any genre because it’s so subjective. But I do know what gets a lot of milage in my house, car or recording studio.

As friends were asking me what my top records were, I realized that this last year has been a year where I have lived in and with sound. I’ve been hard at work on a film soundtrack and a new record involving the sounds and rhythm of human breathing. But it’s not just because I make music. I have also needed the comfort of it. My wife and I saw the arrival of twin daughters at the beginning of the year. It has been amazing and they are lovely ladies if I do say so myself. But when you pair that with their 3 year old sister, it’s definitely been a crazy year.

My listening habits in 2011 seemed to be geared towards drones to sleep to or calm myself with, music to dance to with my 3 year old and music to chill with in the middle of the night while holding babies. The records mentioned below became part of the ebb and flow of our daily life. Often spinning on repeat all day to help keep some serenity, good vibes and/or fun flowing through the house.

Here are the records from 2011 that I lived and breathed. Hope you discover something new.

(Oh… and you will notice that it’s been a banner year for Brock Van Wey aka Bvdub. His music definitely carried me the most. He released an insane amount of stuff this year and much of it helped to keep zen in the house.)

Bvdub - One Last Look At The Sea

Bvdub - Tribes at the Temple of Silence

Bvdub - Songs For A Friend I Left Behind

Bvdub - Resistance Is Beautiful

Bvdub - I Remember (Translations Of Mørketid)

Vinyl Williams - Lemniscate

Sloslylove - Summer

Active Child - You Are All I See

Low - C’mon

Swarms - Old Rave’s End

Washed Out - Within and Without

Holy Other - With U

Burial - Street Halo

North To Glory - Silencer

Sad Souls - Apeiron

Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972

Destroyer - Kaputt

Nils Frahm - Felt

A Winged Victory For The Sullen

Illuha  - Shizuku

Co La - Daydream Repeater

Other releases that got some quality rotation in 2011:
Desolate - The Invisible Insurrection
Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto - Summvs
Lyndsie Alguire - Suspended In Light
Dreams - Feelings 4 U
It Is Rain In My Face - Small Prayer
Tone Color - Today Will Not Be Like Tomorrow
Stephan Mathieu - A Static Place
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Mogwai - Hardcore Will never Die, But You Will
Pale Sketcher - Seventh Heaven
Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise
Peaking Lights - 936
Deaf Center - Owl Splinters
Clams Casino
Craft Spells - Idle Labor
Andy Stott - Pass Me By
Bossa Nova SoulJazz Comp.
Arae - The Longest Night
LeBerger - …On Silence
Tycho - Dive