Top Albums of 2011

Yep, it's that time of year again...time for my annual site update, or my favorite albums of the year. Weird year for me musically in that I probably spent 80% of the year listening to music from the 70's (like lots of Bowie). That said, there was tons of good music released this year and I thoroughly enjoy each album on this list.

No. 10

Thurston Moore

Demolished Thoughts

May 24, 2011

Matador

 

Highlights: Benediction, In Silver Rain with a Paper Key, Circulation

No. 9

Mastodon

The Hunter

September 27, 2011

Reprise

 

Highlights: Spectrelight, The Sparrow, Stargasm

No. 8

Radiohead

The King of Limbs

February 18, 2011

Self-released

 

Highlights: Morning Mr Magpie, Lotus Flower, Give Up the Ghost

No. 7

A Winged Victory for the Sullen

S/T

September 12, 2011

Kranky

 

Highlights: Steep Hills of Vicodin Tears, Requiem for the Static King Part 2, All Farewells are Sudden

No. 6

Beirut

The Rip Tide

August 2, 2011

Pompeii Records

 

Highlights: East Harlem, Port of Call, Vagabond

No. 5

Destroyer

Kaputt

January 25, 2011

Merge

 

Highlights: A Savage Night at the Opera, Chinatown, Bay of Pigs (detail)

No. 4

EMA

Past Life Martyred Saints

May 10, 2011

Souterrain Transmissions

 

Highlights: The Grey Ship, Milkman, California

No. 3

Tim Hecker

Ravedeath, 1972

February 14, 2011

Kranky

 

Highlights: Hatred of Music I, Hatred of Music II, In the Air I, In the Air, II, In the Air III

No. 2

St. Vincent

Strange Mercy

September 12, 2011

4AD

 

Highlights: Strange Mercy, Hysterical Strength, Year of the Tiger

No. 1

PJ Harvey

Let England Shake

February 11, 2011

Island/Vagrant

 

Highlights: In the Dark Places, All and Everyone, The Glorious Land