Welcome to another installment of Up on the Sun's 2011 Review. Over the next couple days we'll be counting down our favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. This entry comes from Chase Kamp, a Phoenix musician and writer. Kamp began writing for Up on the Sun with a tour diary while on the road with French Quarter, and we liked him so much we asked him to stick around. Enjoy!

This year I found myself most impacted by extremes, music that was either dark and cathartic or redemptive and positive. I decided to fold my best local picks in with the rest, since they got just as much play as the big-timers on my car stereo and living room receiver.