I've been thinking lately about what my top 10 albums of the year would be. While I'm not quite ready to commit to my list yet, I was wondering if anyone else did stuff like this to pass the time. Feel free to share and don't worry about putting them in order or making it to 10 if you're struggling. I'm sure there will be quite a lot of different albums mentioned due to the broad taste in music on the board.

I did something like this last new year for the previous decade.

This year I would need to think about it

I'm nominating the new albums by the Roots, TV on the Radio and Kasabian. For those that way inclined the album by Jay-Z and Kanye wasn't bad either.

Biggest disappointment for me was the new Arctic Monkey's album. I like the new sound of the past two albums but the songwriting while a bit more opaque just frankly isn't as good.

I'll second the nomination for TV on the Radio's "Nine Types of Light". I've posted this link on these forums before, but it's so convenient, that they've got an official movie of the whole album available on youtube, so this for those who haven't heard the album for one reason or or another, but want to give it a try:

---

Beirut's "The Rip Tide" is probably my favorite album from 2011. My initial reaction was that it didn't sound like anything special, but it really grew on me and now it's a firm favourite. Here's a Grooveshark link to the album. For some reason there's two "The Rip Tide" tracks and the tracks aren't in the correct order, but here we go anyway:

http://grooveshark.com/album/The+Rip+Tide/6522208

---

Then I'd like to nominate my summer record of 2011. Black Lips haven't invented anything new here, but most of the songs on "Arabia Mountain" were just a fun soundtrack for those hot days of last summer:

http://grooveshark.com/album/Arabia+Mountain/6142039

Here's a video to show you one reason why I associate it so strongly with summer:

http://youtu.be/AqpkT2lGNW4

Well, that video and the memories of listening to the album outside in the sun.

---

I couldn't manage more than a top-3 now, but I'll come back to post more if I can think of an album from 2011 that's worth mentioning.

In no particular order:

Adele - 21

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Neon Indian - Era Extrana

Cults - Cults

The Rapture - In the Grace of Your Love

Drake - Take Care

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Childish Gambino - Camp

The Weeknd - House of Balloons

Actually, scratch Smith Westerns, I can't believe I forgot Tune-Yards - who kill? One of my favorites of the year for sure. Smith Westerns go on my honorable mention list with Portugal the Man, Frank Ocean, Bright Eyes, and Cloud Nothings.

Edited December 20, 201113 yr by ace

I was visiting my brother yesterday and we had Kate Bush's "50 Words for Snow" playing in the background. I think I need to listen to it a bit more, but I liked it.

I've been listening to Niclas Frisk's "Deeper Down in Chinatown" and all I can say is that he still knows how to write stylish rock songs. He's still got that weird English accent, but mostly it just adds to the charm.

In order of merit:

Undun – The Roots

Grace for Drowning – Steven Wilson

Let England Shake - PJ Harvey

Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi

Smart Flesh – Low Anthem

Strange Mercy – St Vincent

Metals – Feist

Conatus – Zola Jesus

A Creature I Don’t Know - Laura Marling

Weather – Meshell Ndegeocello

In no paticular order

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

Gillian Welch - The Harrow and The Harvest

Neil Young & The Inernational Harvesters - A Treasure

Emmy The Great - Virtue

Chapel Club - Palace

Bombay Bicyle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

Half Man Half Biscuit - 90 Bisodol

Woodpigeon - Fra La Nuvole

To each their own obviously, but I wasn't a huge fan of Undun. The Roots are the greatest live show I've seen (twice), and I'd likely put Do You Want More, Things Fall Apart, and Phrenology in my top 10-30 albums of all time, but I just wasn't feeling this. One of the tracks is fantastic though, I think it's called "The Other Side".

I would struggle to have 10 albums that I have like this year. It was a bit shallow for good music IMO

Here's the ones I've liked.

The black keys - El camino

Future of the left - Polymers are forever(ep not album but it was awesome)

Peter Bjorn and John - Gimme some

The vines - Future primitive

The black keys - El camino

I've yet to hear the full album, but I like what I've heard so far. I think I need to ask for my mate to play it when I go to his place for the New Year's celebrations.

It's a decent album, not up with Velociraptor, as far as that interesting rock sound goes but good nonetheless.

Haven't checked out so many new albums this year, but Bon Iver's self-titled album is easily the best album I've heard this year, so beautiful. Undun is excellent, and Black Keys's El Camino, Paul Simon's So Beautiful or So What and Fleet Foxes' new one is great as well.

Haven't checked out so many new albums this year, but Bon Iver's self-titled album is easily the best album I've heard this year, so beautiful.

I guess it's one of those albums which rewards repeated listening(it grows on you, so to speak). I've only heard it a few times and although it sounds "nice", it doesn't sound like anything all that special to me. One of my mates absolutely loves it and our tastes in music are very similar, so I probably should listen to it a few more times.

I guess it's one of those albums which rewards repeated listening(it grows on you, so to speak). I've only heard it a few times and although it sounds "nice", it doesn't sound like anything all that special to me. One of my mates absolutely loves it and our tastes in music are very similar, so I probably should listen to it a few more times.

For sure. Although I tought it was excellent from the first listenings, it has definitely grown on me a lot and into one of my all-time favourite albums.

Edited January 6, 201213 yr by Anders

1 - Chase and Status - No More Idols

2 - J. Cole - Cole World

3 - Lil Wayne - Carter

4 - Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and see

5 - Miles Kane - Colour of Trap

6 - Drake - Take Care

7 - Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights