Urban Village of Pasadena

(If you don't care what I have to say, just listen to the music at YouTube.)

There was lots to like in 2011, but for the first time in several years there was no album that grabbed me and said, "You're listening to me 100 times this year." I saved a lot of songs to my "Potential Best Songs of 2011" playlist, but none of them stand out above the rest. So I'll just write about the ones that are the most fun to write about!

Record of the Year: Stevie Nicks - For What It's Worth

All other things being equal, why not continue my tradition of honoring aging rockers who peaked when I was in high school? It's a darn good album.

The Decemberists - Don't Carry it All

The usually-morose Decemberists suddenly recall that December is a summer month in half the world, and release their cheeriest album, The King is Dead. (Later in the year they release an EP, "Long Live the King," that returns to their former depressing ways.)

My Morning Jacket - Outta My System

Before I joined Rhapsody streaming music service about five years ago, I was out of the loop on pop bands, so I know My Morning Jacket primarily as one of several young bands that collaborated on America's brilliant 2007 comeback album, Here and Now.

Drive-By Truckers - Used to be a Cop

According to one reviewer, the Truckers' album "oozes despair like the South oozes humidity." I find this song darkly humorous, and it reminds me you can't spell sympathetic without pathetic. I like the way the lead guitar is played not for melody or to impress with virtuosity, but just for atmosphere.

The Majestic Silver Springs - Dang Me (featuring Chocolate Genius)

Put this in the class of creepy songs whose original pop arrangement masked its creepiness (see Roger Miller's original here). I don't know how this found its way onto Buddy Miller's new album, which was supposed to highlight virtuoso guitar playing.

Ray Charles - Eleanor Rigby

Not a new recording (Ray has been metabolically challenged for about five years now) but they gathered up all his Beatles covers into a new EP this year. I include this record as a companion to Dang Me, because Brother Ray's vocal makes it clear just how creepy this song always was.

Brandi Carlisle - Hallelujah

Music Directors love to pair pop stars with symphony orchestras, often in the absence of any musical idea making the pairing worthwhile. (One of the worst concerts I ever saw was Willie Nelson with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; the best concert I ever saw was Willie with his band, after intermission the same night.) This concert doesn't find its footing until this, the first encore; but suddenly Brandi's always-impressive voice ranges into the superlative.

Greyson Chance - Cheyenne

This teen wanna-Bieber displays more soul per year-lived than anyone since the 8-year-old Michael Jackson (unless you count the 9-year-old Michael Jackson, or the 10-year-old...).

Steve Martin - Atheists Don't Have No Songs

Yes, that Steve Martin. He's always been a virtuoso banjo picker, and in recent years he's partnered with a legitimate bluegrass band, The Steep Canyon Rangers, to play some legitimate bluegrass. The record is half straight and half mildly-amusing, but the last two cuts go for pure comedy.

Hugh Laurie - Swanee River

Yes, that Hugh Laurie (British comedian turned gruff American sex symbol on House, M.D.). They let him trot out his piano or guitar chops on House occasionally, which is usually out of character but always entertaining. His choice to sing on his debut album was a mistake -- stick to the piano!

MC Lars - Geeked Out

From my favorite unapolagetically-white, suburban, college-boy rapper (author of Straight Outta Stockholm).

The Baseball Project - Buckner's Bolero

This group of die-hard ballheads from other bands have gotten together to write and record two albums full of nothing but baseball songs. I like the way this song doesn't even say what it's about. If you're a ball fan (and you don't know the title), you figure it out by about the third or fourth verse. If you're not a ball fan, google the 1986 World Series.