This is more a quick list of albums I’ve enjoyed over this last year than some kind of definitive I-went-through-my-entire-iTunes-library-and-ranked-everything-in-order list. I might have missed a couple of releases – all I know is I really liked all these ones. You might too.
So without further ado, Album of the Year goes to…
Los Campesinos! – Hello Sadness
Hello Sadness sees Los Campesinos! trying to refine their output into a concise body of work. A structured and focused album. Gareth’s imagery is darker than ever, and hidden within the album are melodic hooks and intricacies that take a while to become apparent (the vocal crescendo in “To Tundra” is nothing short of beautiful). Brilliant, and another great release to add to their discography.
Other albums I enjoyed, in rough order of how much I enjoyed them, kind of. Just look.
Johnny Foreigner – Johnny Foreigner Vs Everything
A very close runner-up for AotY. Messy on the first few listens, it truly opens itself up after a few sit-throughs, and it gets better and better. Loud, fast, interesting, moving. Time will determine its longevity and significance in their discography, but it’s definitely a huge step in the band’s journey – hopefully one of many more to come.
Thrice – Major/Minor
Consistent and strong. Not one song feels under-baked. There are a lot of huge cathartic sing-a-long moments, and I don’t care whether or not you associate that as being a good thing or not with Thrice, but I think lyrically and musically this is an incredibly good album. Stunning. If you only listen to one song from Major/Minor, check out “Words in the Water”.
Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Intricate. Delicate. Evocative. This is a great album full of great songs, and they paint a picture unlike many musicians ever could. It’s easy to understand why it got Pitchfork’s Album of the Year.
Radiohead – The King of Limbs
Arguably a step back towards their more experimental work, this was a tough album to digest. It’s entirely possible that this album takes even longer to appreciate and understand than a year, and maybe with more time I’ll enjoy it even more. It definitely has its high points, and it’s full of interesting textures – but I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it. It still gets a place here though, ’cause it’s quite good.
Grieves – Together/Apart
With the help of producer, multi-instrumentalist, and beat-maker – Budo – Grieves has released a great album here. Criticised by many (unfairly so, I believe) for his consistently emotive lyrics, Grieves tells stories of girls, drinking, anxiety, and those monsters under your bed, amongst everything else, and while it can feel like a long haul at times, there are a pile of gems on this album. If you needed any more proof that the Rhymesayers crew were some of the best out there, this shouldn’t take long to convince you.
The Weeknd – House of Balloons
This particular instalment of The Weeknd’s trilogy of 2011 releases is making my list not because I believe it’s the best of the three, but simply because I haven’t been able to give Thursday or Echoes Of Silence a fair go yet.
That aside, this release is really interesting. I’ve never really been into R&B in a huge way, yet The Weeknd drew me in. And it’s interesting because it paints a picture of a world so foreign that I struggle to find any personal connections. It almost feels voyeuristic to listen to. It’s intriguing at any rate, and was well worth my time. It’s free too.
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
A great album from a rock band still going strong, after all these years. Consistent, full of energy, and another strong release from a band that really are going to stand the test of time.
These last few albums haven’t had as many listens as those above, but from the amount of time I’ve given them, I like them a lot. Very much worth mentioning here.
Example – Playing in the Shadows
Slow Club – Paradise
Phantogram – Nightlife EP
On The Tune 
Hey, Great list. I felt the same way about that Radiohead album. I guess i didn’t get it. (plus, when someone gives you the ole’ YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS, it’s always hard to really take it in.)
You seem to have a good eye for music, and it’s similar to mine. I missed out on the Foo, gotta get that now, and your top 2 AotY’s i’ve never even heard of.
For shame… I know.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your genuine passions. If i remember, i’ll come back and let you know what i thought!
~J
Totally agree with you about ‘The King of Limbs’, as I listen to it more I find it more beautiful.
Like the choice – where I know the bands. This is my take on the same thing, though not as well presented.
http://sillzja.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/music-my-best-of-2011/
Wha? A 2011 album retrospective…that doesn’t mention Adele????
I actually have a bit of disdain for her (I recognize the talent, though have a few bones to pick with her lyrics…), so I’m grateful for the omission.
Great list. Glad to see the Foo Fighters made the cut!
Agreed on Adele — I would like to hear a track from 21 that isn’t spread with ‘verb like a kid putting jam on toast. It hides all manner of sins.
Some good stuff. Always looking for new music so it’s good there’s stuff I haven’t heard here! I loved Bon Iver and Radiohead, both outstanding albums!
Great list! Congrats on being freshly pressed. Check out my top albums of 2011:
http://mattjaderston.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/top-10-albums-of-2011/
Is this where we all write our lists of albums we’re most excited for in 2012?
Mimicking Birds (most overlooked band of last 2 years) is releasing something else in March. I’m also curious about the new Cranberries.
Cranberries are back? That is indeed curious. Thanks for that note
I would go with ‘The King of Limbs’ but then again I’m extremely biased towards Radiohead.
Great list, Especially the Foo Fighters
Cheers,
Ron
Be A DJ
Some really good choices there! love some of the art work on these disks too
Thank you for being the only person to include Thrice among these other great musicians. I feel like they get relegated to nowhere because a) they used to play more heavy/metal music and b) because Dustin’s lyrics are so overtly religious/spiritual. I don’t share his beliefs but that hasn’t stopped Thrice from being one of my five favorite bands. Really great album and a great place to stop their career (currently). Also, ‘Word In The Water’ is my favorite song from that album too. Great list.
I was just thinking about looking for something/somebody new to listen to and your list popped up. A few things there that I definitely want to try for some fresh (to me) sounds.
I agree with your take on King of Limbs. Every time I listen to it I hear more that I really like – all the tunes aren’t as accessible at first like Lotus Flower. In my opinion, Codex is one of the most beautiful pieces of music they’ve ever written.
Thanks for the list
Guila Greer
Very good albums here. Haven’t heard of thrice before but will deffo give this a listen! thanks for this review i now have an album to listen to! :) GIAAM
I will give some of these a listen. Thanks for the review. :)
Thank you so much for sharing. Great music!
love this list! primarily because I’m only familiar with one of the albums. i plan to head home and sample the other asap. love new musical suggestions. thanks for sharing!
I didn’t know Los Campesinos!, Phantogram and Thrice had released new materials last year. I missed them. From your list, I’ve only heard of Bon Iver, Foo Fighters and Radiohead.
Good call on The Weeknd! Thursday is well worth some time…
Adorei a lista!
Conhecia uns e os que nao conhecia vou com certeza ouvir!!
Hey thanks for the post! I’ll have to check some of these out, I see many familiar names and enough unfamiliar names to intrigue me. I’ve always been impressed by music bloodhounds, people how have the knack and patience to find the good new music.
i agree to the king of limbs, it is a great piece of work but not easy to enjoy
Cool, thanks for some new music suggestions!
I love Wasting Light ! I saw Foo Fighters in Milton Keynes in the summer, they were amazing. I actually haven’t heard anything else on your list, but I’m liking the sound of quite a few! I will listen to the ‘Thrice’ song…
I clicked on this fearing it would consist of LMFAO and Justin Beiber…But I was pleasantly surprised. Nicely done(:
Nice post, some really great pics. On the heavier side I might add Mastodon’s The Hunter. If you can see yourself getting into heavier music I would check it out. The song titles are misleading as to the quality of the album itself.
Radiohead’s “Codex” off The King of Limbs is one of my favorite tracks of 2011. Haunting and beautiful!
Happy to see Radiohead and Foo Fighters on your list. Love them both.
Great picks. Lots of them are on my favorite, most-listened-to list also. Stand outs for me in 2011 were Bon Iver, Foo Fighters, and the Black Keys (which you didn’t have).
I am thrilled that you recognized Example too. I have an irrational love for his music.
Nice post!
I like some not all…but good picks none the less..
niceeeeee……………….
I will have to look at some of these albums. New names = new music. And how is that wrong?
I like ambient, dark ambient, lo fi, music concrete, fields record, experimental.
Some good stuff on your list, would love more people to check out my end of year 50 here;
http://iprefertheiroldstuff.com/2011/12/05/the-iptos-50-best-albums-of-2011-part-one-the-first-twenty/
http://iprefertheiroldstuff.com/2011/12/06/the-iptos-50-best-albums-of-2011-part-two-the-next-batch/
http://iprefertheiroldstuff.com/2011/12/08/the-iptos-50-best-albums-of-2011-the-top-ten/
I agree with Radiohead – I bought it with quite high expectations after really falling in love with “In Rainbows”, but KoL just hasn’t lived up to it yet. Some tracks I adore, “Lotus Blossom” is a firm favourite, but it’s the more monotonous tracks that let the overall feeling and verve of this album down. I love it, but not nearly as much as I should.
Also, congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Eve
given me some new Albums to listen to ,thanks. check out my blog i think you will like it
Great list. I feel old when I say I have only heard of a few of the bands. I only heard of Example after the singer appeared on Nevermind the Buzzcocks. At some stage I stopped being cool and started being out of touch LOL
Foo Fighters WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Definately a few albums I don’t know to look up there, good list, and nice blog. Here’s my (and my band’s) choices for top album of the year – http://justlikepictures.co.uk/?p=567
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My blog site is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would definitely benefit from some of the information you present here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks a lot!
Of course! Go for it.
check this up :
http://yazdankm.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/pme-zines-best-of-2011/
best albums of 2011 – part 1
see also :
http://yazdankm.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/the-best-albums-of-2011/
best albums of 2011 by readers
Foo Fighters are amazing artists and are always first on my list.
http://kateschannel.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/thoughts-about-music-and-the-foo-fighters/
Great list! I can’t wait to check some of your recommendations. If you’re not familiar, give SONOIO a listen.
Bon Iver: Sensual, honest, evocative and deeply moving….
Bon Iver’s album is simply beautiful to me.
good list. lots of new ones fro me. 2011 was a ‘festival scene’ for me and I picked up an entirely different list of favorites… Hooray for Spotify, I’m going through these now. nice post
Thanks for leading me to discover Grieves. His music is amazing :D
Definitely with you on the Radiohead front. if I’m feeling a little dark or low, Radiohead are most likely my music of choice – wow I sound like a total depressed weirdo! But quality music there anyway. In terms of Bon Iver, I absolutely loved their first album. But this one seems a little jumbled to me – Calgary is a great track, but I feel a little confused with this one, like how you say you feel about Radiohead’s The King Of Limbs.
Thank you for the post and happy 2012!
Great taste in music! I Love the one’s I’ve heard but you list a few I have not. I know what I’ll be doing today…
A few you might appreciate;
Mumford & Sons “Sigh no more”
The Avett Brothers “I and Love and you”
Great list! I especially agree with: Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver. Great album.
Major/Minor is truly awesome! So glad you included them. Blinded is an awesome song too…Foo has a great documentary I watched on Paladia explaining how they wrote their new album, definitely worth checking out. I liked it even more after watching it. Great list.
Best albums for what? Putting one to sleep? Sheesh…
Oh Nick, don’t be so harsh. I run a music blog as well, and I reside in Michigan as well. Come by and check me out.
http://mittenmouthmusic.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/mitten-mouth-musics-best-of-2011/
You wrote about The Weeknd in your best of review, what do you mean by “… it paints a picture of a world so foreign that I struggle to find any personal connections.” You don’t have a personal connection to the music? Are you human or a cyborg? Isn’t enough of a personal connection to actually, dare I say ‘like’, a song or body of music? Abel Tesfaye, bka The Weeknd, addresses a wide gamut of emotions, no different from any of other genre of music. Surely, if suburban kids can readily identify with Tupac, Wu-Tang, Wiz Khalifa, Tyler the Creator and a host of other “Urban” artist, then surely you need not have to justify getting your groove on to The Weeknd.
P.S. If it’s any consolation The Weeknd uses samples from a myriad of musical sources, among them The Siouxise and the Banshees and the Cocteau Twins on his Thursday mixtape. Perhaps knowledge such as this will make you less conflicted. Peace.
Thanks for the really thoughtful response!
When I mentioned the lack of personal connections, I was talking primarily about The Weeknd’s lyrical content, as opposed to any visceral or basic enjoyment of the songs. The only justification involved was aiming to convince others to try his work – not to imply I felt some kind of guilt about liking it. In fact, I feel the point I was making was fairly complimentary. While I haven’t done any kind of in-depth lyrical analysis of House of Balloons, many of the broader and more dominant themes include drug abuse, spades of questionable sexual conduct, and what is arguably a thoughtless and extremely hedonistic lifestyle. In that sense, it’s a world very foreign to me – simply because I don’t relate to any of those things. Yet despite this, The Weeknd managed to draw me into these stories he tells. He managed to draw me into his world. I know it can be hard enough to get into a new genre when you can relate to the stories and music, so for him to introduce me to his R&B, and for me to grow to enjoy it, is quite a remarkable thing in my books.
I’ve heard he uses a lot of cool samples too. I’m not really conflicted though – I simply chose House of Balloons because I’m certain that I enjoy it. As opposed to the other two, which I haven’t had enough time to absorb yet.
thats right, nice compilation of music. Nice post, enjoyed reading it.
Pretty dope list. I agree with most especially Los Campesinos and Bon Iver but come on, you forgot Girls!
Nice to see Phantogram on your list, it’s one I’m listening to a lot. Great post!
Great shares! I just wish I was hip enough to know half these artists!
On my blog I gave album of the year to the Foo Fighters – Wsted Light. I would include Ryan Adam’s Ashes and Fire. The White Buffalo EP and also Jay Z and K. West Watch the Throne. Your list is really well put together and I can apprecaite your taste in music. Thrice has been awesome for years and have never gitten the credit they deserve…I will def check back to your blog. Well Done!
Very different list there to the NoMoreWorkHorse best of 2011 lists, you may be interested in checking out. I think only Bon Iver overlaps…
http://nomoreworkhorse.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/top-10-albums-2011-jr/
http://nomoreworkhorse.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/top-ten-of-the-year-music-mq/
Cool List of Albums. Youtubing and listening as I comment.
I have never listened to any of those albums, but your post has inspired me to check them out. Congratulations on making freshly pressed!
I can definitely see where you’re coming from with The King Of Limbs, it is difficult to get into. I think what drew me in was the feeling that there was an overall structure, like a musical plot of sorts. It starts off frentic and chaotic with polyrhythms and noise, and gradually mellows, finally reaching a conclusion that sums up both sides. But even if the album isn’t for everyone, or if someone thinks my story arc thing is a load of crap, I don’t think anyone can argue that Codex is one of the best songs they’ve done in years. So hauntingly beautiful, especially when the horn section comes in!
that’s great.. :D
The only one I have is Foo Fighers :)
Nice cover art on all of those…great post!
REALLY???
can i ask you this… do you generally get this amount of commenters??
i urge everyone to check out my Year in Music 2011 blog post here… http://wp.me/p1FrNQ-i9 … i guarantee i put more time and effort into it.
and congratulations on getting freshly pressed!
Thank you for the congratulations, but no – clearly these comments and the spike in activity on my blog are a result of getting freshly pressed.
I don’t mind people posting related links in the comments, even if they’re promoting their own blogs.
But try not be so pretentious about it, yeah?
P.S. Nice pick with James Blake though – and good effort to get into some smaller artists and more independent music outside of your comfort zone! Seriously. It’s always good to push your tastes like that.
Very good thoughts, thank for sharing
Interesting list – introduces me to some new artists, which is always nice. And as lists go, sure to arouse comment…and ire :-)
Some great stuff in your list. And some omissions, but isn’t that what it’s all about? Given some of your choices, I was wondering if you’ve come across Professor Penguin yet? Might be worth doing a google and having a listen.
Cheers,
devilsaardvark
This Radiohead’s new album becomes more understandable after watching “Live from the Basement” version.
However, a very good album.
It’s a good list. I can complain that you’ve excluded some excellent releases like The Roots, James Blake, Paul Simon and Tinariwen…but I won’t ;)
I agree to the king of limbs, it is a great piece of work but not easy to enjoy!