Andrew's Top Albums of 2011

For 2011, it felt like I listened to a lot of music. But in retrospect, I didn’t listen to that much. As a result, instead of listing my top forty albums as I did last year (on Facebook, here's my list from 2010), I have limited this list to twenty-five artists who I feel span a vast array of genres, representing what I feel is the best of the year.

25. Cold War Kids – Mine Is Yours 



Though I hadn’t previously heard much of Cold War Kids, I really thought Mine Is Yours was super catchy, singable, and really fun to listen to; it’s a good album for a road trip.

24. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead



With their sixth album, The Decemberists explore a new sound in an effort to push themselves as musicians, Colin Meloy, the main songwriter, even stated “this album took a lot out of me as a musician.” I think all their hard work made The King Is Dead album one of their best.

23. David Bazan – Strange Negotiations



Following one of my favorite Bazan albums, Curse Your Branches, Strange Negotiations was another well planned release on Bazan’s part. Intricately filled with his poetic songwriting style, you can hear Bazan’s aggressive feelings toward God in this emotional record.

22. City and Colour – Little Hell



Dallas Green pours his heart out on this album. Filled with heart-felt lyrics, outstanding vocals, and fantastic compositions, Green sings about his wife’s nightmares, his sister’s mental health problems, and his own deficiencies as a person.

21. Radiohead – The King of Limbs



While I liked this album, it wasn’t nearly as good as anything else Radiohead has released as a band. But, Radiohead is still amazing, and King of Limbs made this list.

20. Ben Folds – The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective



I’m a big fan of Ben Folds, and always have been. As one of pop rock’s piano playing showmen, he’s always fun to watch and great to hear. The Best Imitation of Myself gives the benefit of retrospectively looking back over the best of his career thus far.

19. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto



It took an extended period to get into this album, but I must confess Mylo Xyloto is lovely. The band banished Chris Martin during the writing process in order to create a new sound, and they certainly achieved it on this album.

18. MUTEMATH – Odd Soul



Composed during a forced lock-down at lead singer Paul Meany’s home studio, the band produced an intricate, well-thought album with great melodies and catchy lines. Also, the music video for “Blood Pressure” is crazy.

17.  Black Keys – El Camino



Following their breakthrough album, Brothers, El Camino is a straight ahead rock-and–roll album with raw, driving lyrics and melodies. Largely self-produced, this record is some of the best rock-and-roll around.

16. Iron and Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean




This album is Iron and Wine’s newest highly produced electronic album. At first I didn’t like Kiss Each Other Clean, and when Iron & Wine performed it in concert I hated it. But, with further listening, I conclude that there is still good songwriting in the album, even if I miss the old days of simplicity.

15. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues



Simply put, this album is at least worth a listen. Though it’s not my favorite of the year, and I feel that the band hasn’t really improved or grown since their freshman release, the music is still worthwhile, even if the lyrics aren’t especially well crafted.

14. Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care




Take Care, Take Care, Take Care possesses some of the most passionate, and powerful music of Explosions in the Sky’s career. It’s easy to just get lost in the intricacies of the band’s sound. This album is haunting and beautiful.

13. Foster the People – Torches




A previously unknown band, Torches hit the top of the charts quickly. Unbeknownst to most, Foster the People has more songs than “Pumped up Kicks”! However, most of the tracks are similar to one another. But, if you want ten tracks of toe tapping tunes, Torches is for you.

12. Amos Lee – Mission Bell



A very soulful album, Mission Bell is one of my favorites that Amos Lee has released. There are tons of guest artists on here, including Iron and Wine’s Sam Beam and music legend, Willie Nelson. In all honesty, there is no weak track Mission Bell.

11. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy




Fusing the visceral and cerebral, the lyrics on this track are simply outstanding. Filled with more intricate guitar parts than her last album, there is an instrumental complexity to Strange Mercy that I felt her last album lacked. Filled with songs of a very personal nature, this album blends huge emotional hits with well-done musicality.

10. Wilco – The Whole Love



I was growing tired of the same old Wilco sound, and then as if the band heard my despair, they released The Whole Love. Wilco pushed themselves and evolved as a band with this record. It’s lyrically brilliant and musically complex. So, give it a listen.

9. James Blake – James Blake



Featuring a blend of the electronically complex and simple songwriting, James Blake has come up with a fusion of styles that surpasses his Dubstep roots.

8. Death Cab for Cutie – Codes And Keys



From what I can recall, Codes and Keys is the only upbeat Death Cab record I have heard. Either it was born out of his days of wedded bliss, or the new desire to actually fill a stadium with sound. At any rate, this album super good.

7. Antlers – Burst Apart



Antlers expand on their last album in this release by exploring highly emotional themes. Simply put, Burst Apart is a beautiful record.

6. Lady Gaga – Born This Way



Look, don’t judge. Get past your snobbery and just face the facts: Lady Gaga is a brilliant songwriter and artist. She’s only twenty five, and writes her own lyrics. There’s emotional depth, catchy lyrics, and overall pure wonderfulness. Born this Way deserves to make this year-end list.

5. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials




I was blown away by the production in Ceremonials, every snare hit and every guitar string plucked was planned out and made to sound the best it possibly could. This album is pure magic.

4. Beirut – The Rip Tide




I had never heard of Beirut before this album was released, but now I can’t get over this Balkan folk-rock. Wow.

3. Feist – Metals




A beautifully written album which I am convinced is Feist’s best. My favorite track is the opener, “The Bad in Each Other” which begins with the best drum beat ever.

2. Bon Iver – Bon Iver




Nominated for four grammy’s, this album is well worth the listen. Most albums produced recently aren’t albums any more, but this one is; it tells a story. Bon Iver is an emotional and spiritual journey that simply moves the soul.

1. Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!

Build a Rocket Boys! is my favorite record of the year because I cannot put it down. I play it at least once a week, continually finding amazement with tunes like “The Birds”, “Neat Little Rows”, and “Lippy Kids”. Musically and emotionally, this album has incredible heart.

Donovan's Top Albums of 2011

For me, 2011 represented a transition year in my musical taste. Where music previously defined a large portion of my life, now, my relation to music, and by default, my musical consumption, diminished greatly this year. While I used to listen to everything under the sun hoping to find new artists, diamonds in the rough, and great music from bands I had previously written off, I spent most of 2011 listening to artists I have previously enjoyed. Even though my list contains some new artists, I must admit that I am less convinced about this list representing the best of 2011’s music. Nevertheless, I hereby submit my top 25 albums of 2011.

25. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Wasting Light is a guitar player’s album. I imagine fifteen-year-old me would have placed this record much higher on the list.

24. William Fitzsimmons – Gold in the Shadow

Fitzsimmons releases another collection of depressingly beautiful songs. I enjoyed Gold in the Shadow but found the timbre of the record to resonate too closely with his previous recordings.

23. James Blake – James Blake

One of the newcomers to my list this year, this dubstep musician wrote and produced rather enjoyable electronic music on his self-titled release. I particularly enjoyed his piano-based cover of Feist’s “Limit to Your Love”.

22. Foster the People – Torches

The from-nowhere-to-top-40 artist of the year, Foster the People wrote an intriguing record outside of single “Pumped Up Kicks” that was exponentially overplayed.

21. Battles – Gloss Drop

Gloss Drop is a musician’s record from top to bottom. Mainly instrumental and exceedingly technical, I suggest mastering an instrument before trying to enjoy this band.

20. The Go! Team – Rolling Blackouts

So there’s this infectious NFL commercial where the Atlanta Falcons drive a school bus to an elementary school and play football with kids. That compelling beat was produced by The Go! Team. Upon hearing it, I had to have more. Rolling Blackouts is precisely the “more” I wanted.

19. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

Lead singer Robin Pecknold added lyrical depth to the already gorgeous melodic structures of Fleet Foxes. I appreciate the attempt, but I was not a huge fan of the lyrics. On music alone, Helplessness Blues is worth a listen.

18. Adele – 21

This year’s chart topper, 21 is the kind of record that everyone ought to at least tolerate. Adele sings her heart out and the neo-soul sound of London slices through the speakers. Clearly written for the masses, 21 won’t give you much depth, but it’s a fun record to spin in the car.

17. Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean

With every record, principle songwriter Sam Beam increasingly becomes a mainstream adult-alternative artist. Kiss Each Other Clean sounds like Sam Beam singing with Dave Matthew’s backing band. Good thing I’m not hipster enough to disown Iron & Wine for such things.

16. Death Cab for Cutie – Codes And Keys

Written during the happy days of Ben Gibbard and ZooeyDeschanel’s wedded bliss, Codes and Keys is an upbeat Death Cab album. Strange right?

15. Joseph Arthur – Graduation Ceremony

The latest installment in a prolific career, Graduation Ceremony deeply digs into Arthur’s struggles and addictions.

14. Other Lives – Tamer Animals

A newer addition to my playlist, Tamer Animals makes this list on musicianship alone. I honestly haven’t pried deep enough on the lyrics. As such, this rating might look silly in a year or so. I look forward to finding out!

13. The Antlers – Burst Apart

Emo for grown-ups, The Antlers explore the depth of human emotion and suffering. Burst Apart is dramatic, moody, and beautiful.

12. Radiohead – The King of Limbs

The second straight record announced out of nowhere, King of Limbs is nowhere near the quality of In Rainbows. Telling of Radiohead’s brilliance, an off album still makes the list.

11. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

Written in a rural farm on the outskirts of Portland, Colin Meloy focuses much of his songwriting and lyrics on human’s relationship with nature. Perhaps knowing something we didn’t, The King Is Dead borrows liberally from the style of R.E.M. almost as if the album acts as a eulogy for a band we lost this year.

10. Lady Gaga – Born This Way

When you’re done laughing at me, remember that Lady Gaga isn’t your average manufactured major label money maker. She writes her own songs and possesses an artistic vision for the concept of a song, an album, and a performance, just listen to "The Edge of Glory". Yes, she is over the top. Yes, she holds Madonna tendencies, but Born this Way is an exceptional pop record.

9. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

Another recent addition, St. Vincent’s Strange Mercy feels gritty, technical, and powerful. An excellent guitarist and a budding songwriter, I believe that Strange Mercy is St. Vincent’s best work yet.

8. David Bazan – Strange Negotiations

The first releases after Curse Your Branches, Bazan’s breakup album with God, Strange Negotiations feels unhinged as Bazan’s first post-theist work. The record is aggressive, sparsely arranged, and brutally honest.

7. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto

In my opinion, Coldplay currently functions as the top melody (both in lyric and in instrumentation) writers in the business. With Mylo Xyloto, the groups takes more musical chances but maintains clear hooks. Ignore that song featuring Rihanna that you hear on the radio and listen instead to "Charlie Brown". Mylo Xyloto is just another positive step in Coldplay’s progression as the premier rock group of our generation.

6. Cold War Kids – Mine Is Yours

Mine Is Yours rates highly because of its hooks. Each song is catchy, singable, and fun. Sometimes a good record doesn’t need anything else.

5. Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!

With complex arrangements and hummable tunes, Build a Rocket Boys! might be my favorite Elbow record.

4. The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow

Most of Barton Hollow is average-to-good filler. The record receives a high rating for its two singles: “Barton Hollow” and “Poison & Wine”. Without speaking in exaggerations, I submit that these two songs are the best live songs I have ever heard.

3. Beirut – The Rip Tide

Maintaining a foundation in Balkan folk, Beirut’s The Rip Tide melds Eastern European musical styles with western pop. The result of this alchemy is gorgeous songs. My wife and I sing “East Harlem” around the house two or three times a week.

2. Feist – Metals

Beautiful and brilliant, Metals blends Feist’s hauntingly beautiful voice with layered production and poetic lyrics. From first listen, Metals demands your attention and affection. So listen to it!

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

You know those times when you listen to music and get goosebumps as if the music became some sort of ethereal matter that brushed against your skin? Well, Bon Iver’s self-titled release continues to carry this influence on me after each listen. Songs such as “Holocene”, “Calgary”, “Perth”, and “Beth/Rest” just move my soul. In my opinion, soul moving deserves the top spot on any list. So there ya go #1!

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Posted by: Donovan Richards