Best Albums of 2011( top 15)

[eagles69]

post your top 15 here Hven't compiled mine just yet but will soon.

[eagles69]

right here we go this was hard somr gr8 albums could not make the list inc. Wilco, Kurt Vile, St Vincent, Feist, Frank Tuner and Iron and Wine.

1 My Morning Jacket - Circuital

2 Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

3 Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the Harvest

4 Nathaniel Rateliff - In Memory of Loss

5 Low Anthem - Smart Flesh

6 Black Lips - Arabia Mountain

7 Yuck - Yuck

8 Wild Beasts - Smother

9 Beirut - Rip Tide

10 Black Keys - El Camino

11 Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials

12 Bon Ivor - Bon Ivor

13 Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

14 TuneYards - WHOKILL

15 Dum Dum Girls - Only in Dreams

[Splainc]

Very tough this year. I will be back..

[shoebox]

Top 20:

1) Destroyer - Kaputt

2) The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

3) Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

4) Singing Adams - Everybody Friends Now

5) The Leisure Society - Into The Murky Water

6) Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Belong

7) Goyte - Making Mirrors

Yuck - Yuck

9) Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

10) Total Victory - The Pyramid Of Privilege

11) Bon Iver - Bon Iver

12) Summer Camp - Welcome To Condale

13) Wild Beasts - Smother

14) Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams

15) Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo

16) Austra - Feel It Break

17) Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

18) Battles - Gloss Drop

19) PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

20) Iron & Wine - Kiss Each Other Clean

[Timberford]

In alphabetical order...

Agnes Obel - Philharmonics

Big Spider's Back - Memory Man

Big Troubles - Romantic Comedy

Cloud Control - Bliss Release

Ganglians - Still Living

Girls Names - Dead To Me

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Mechanical Bride - Living With Ants

Minks - By the Hedge

Nurses - Dracula

Pepper Rabbit - Red Velvet Snow Ball

Real Estate - Days

Tennis - Cape Dory

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts

Widowspeak - Widowspeak

Edited December 8, 2011 by Timberford

[ljsawyer]

Megafaun - Megafaun

Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Richard Buckner - Our Blood

Josh T. Pearson - The Last of the Country Gentlemen

Hayes Carll - KMAG Yoyo

The Felice Brothers - Celebration Florida

Matraca Berg - The Dreaming Fields

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

AA Bondy - Believers

The Cave Singers - No Witch

Gillian Welch - The Harrow and the Harvest

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Owen - Ghost Town

Treefight For Sunlight - Treefight For Sunlight

Woods - Sun and Shade

In no particular order. Really wanted to include Richmond Fontaine but I was so disappointed by that album...

[5co77ie]

In alphabetical order...

Agnes Obel - Philharmonics

Big Spider's Back - Memory Man

Big Troubles - Romantic Comedy

Cloud Control - Bliss Release

Ganglians - Still Living

Girls Names - Dead To Me

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Mechanical Bride - Living With Ants

Minks - By the Hedge

Nurses - Dracula

Pepper Rabbit - Red Velvet Snow Ball

Real Estate - Days

Tennis - Cape Dory

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts

Widowspeak - Widowspeak

[riverlodge]

not sure if these are the best (unfairly subjective, and i'm probably not fit to comment) but these are the ones that i personally have enjoyed most from 2011.

approximately in order, but subject to change, possibly hourly.

let england shake - pj

whokill - tuneyards

valhalla dancehall - bsp

english riviera - metronomy

smother - wild beasts

biophilia - bjork

slave ambient - war on drugs

tamer animals - other lives

buffalo - phoenix foundation

strange mercy - st vincent

last of the country gents - jtp

burst apart - antlers

father, son and holy ghost - girls

smoke ring for my halo - kurt vile

space is only noise - nicolas jaar

[Nigey_boy]

at the moment (i'm with Riverlodge...all subject to change!):

1) lanterns on the lake - gracious tide, take me home

2) yuck - yuck

3) pains of being pure at heart - belong

4) lykke li - wounded rhymes

5) smoke fairies - through low light and trees

6) anna calvi - anna calvi

7) other lives -- tamer animals

sea of bees - songs for the ravens

9) walkmen - lisbon

10) grouplove - never trust a happy song

[Unihammer]

Can I play

Good year for music, but then I think every year is a good year for music.

1. Southeast Engine - Canary

2. Arbouretum - The Gathering

3. Richard Buckner - Our blood

4. The Decemberists - The king is dead

5. Other lives - Tamer animals

6. Lanterns on the lake - Gracious tide, take me home

7. Tara Nevins - Wood and stone

8. Gillian Welch - The harrow and the harvest

9. Josh T. Pearson - Last of the country gentlemen

10. The Antlers - Burst apart

11. J. Mascis - Several shades of why

12. Drive by truckers - Gogo boots

13. Alisdair Roberts and friends - Too long in this condition

14. 30 pounds of bone - Method

15. Herman Dune - Strange moosic

16. Low - C'mon

17 The Gentle Good - Tethered for the storm

18. Wild flag - Wild flag

19. Wooden Shjips - West

20. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness blues

[killyourtv]

Am very conscious how dominated this list is by records I bought in on basis of EOTR, and how many great records from this year I'll only hear 1 or 2 years from now (only just got Agnes Obel which is great).

Anyway, Top 10 as of today;

1) Lanterns on the Lake

2) Unthanks

3) Beirut

4) Jonathan Wilson

5) Other Lives

6) Lykke Li

7) King Creosote & Jon Hopkins

Laura Marling

9) Wooden Shjips

10) Ryan Adams

May change mind once I've heard the Antlers, on the basis of just hearing "Hospice"

[killyourtv]

By the way, I've no idea how the smiley face relaced the number !

[baroquepop]

I try to base my list on what I've played the most during the year.

1) Tori Amos, much to my surprise. Forget the lyrics/theme, the robust chamber music backing, classical tunes and excellent recording clinches it for me. Have played this lots!

2) Other Lives, deservedly breaking through and getting good reviews (EOTR 2011)

3) Jonathan Wilson, after removing a few clunkers I'm left with an excellent 53 minutes. Bring back the early 70's!

4) tUne-YaRdS, driving on a summer's day! (EOTR 2011)

5) Daniel Lefkowitz (Futur Primitiv), minimal but varied backing and Daniel's rusty and affecting vocals, and that rare thing... actual good songwriting. (EOTR 2011)

6) Gillian Welch, not quite Time The Revelator, but still a great collection of songs.

7) Bon Iver, because he makes good records (and because being in a pub where we're trying to do his falsetto lines is funny)

8.)Fleet Foxes, a definite improvement on the debut

9) Victoire - sort of modern classical, really quite engaging

10) Unthanks, a bit hit and miss like their others but some great tracks (EOTR 2011)

11) My Brightest Diamond (Shara Worden), finally make a record in a style that suits her.

12) St Vincent, my kind of pop!

13) The Leisure Society, more of my kind of pop (EOTR 2011)

14)Cass McCombs - mellow and good

15) Josh T. Pearson, recommended to fans of Roy Harper! (EOTR 2011)

Selected other purchases, unloved it pains me to say: Destroyer, PJ Harvey, Tom Waits, James Blake, Decemberists, Laura Marling

Edited December 21, 2011 by baroquepop

[killyourtv]

I'm with you on the PJ, baroquepop - average at best. Guess I need to revisit Tori as I struggled there as well.

[perfectpassion]

LOW - C'mon

Ron Sexsmith - Long Player Late Bloomer (a bit like me really)

Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

Metronomy- The English Riviera (a concept album about South Devon!)

Other Lives - Tamer Animals

Leisure Society - Into The Murky Water

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine

The Miserable Rich - Miss You in The Days (Supernatural thriller and how I feel about you)

Little Dragon - Rituals

Dark Captain - Dead legs and Alibis

The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy

The Wave Pictures - Beer in the Breakers

Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing

The Sea and The Cake ep - Moon Butterfly

The Head and The Heart - Remastered in 2011

[RedRockRick]

Here's mine in no particular order:

Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion: Bright Examples

Matthew Ryan: I Recall Standing As Though Nothing Could Fall

Hiss Golden Messenger: Country Hai East Cotton

Richmond Fontaine: The High Country

Drive By Truckers: Go Go Boots (extra disc essential)

Joe West: Aberdeen, S.D.

The Walnut Crackers: Hey Paulie

Stewboss: Pilgrims & Runaways

Blackie & The Rodeo Kings: Kings & Queens

Eilen Jewell: Queen Of The Minor Key

Richard Buckner: Our Blood

Good Luck Mountain: Good Luck Mountain

The Strange Boys: Live Music

The Middle East: I Want That You Are Always Happy

Jeb Q. Lariat: Almost Had You

Other Lives: Tamer Animals

Glossary: Long Live All Of Us

Edited January 1, 2012 by RedRockRick

[Frankly Mr Shankly]

1.Let England Shake- PJ Harvey

2.50 Words for Snow- Kate Bush

3.Go Tell Fire to the Mountain- WU LYF

4.Again into Eyes- S.C.U.M

5.Conatus- Zola Jesus

6.King of Limbs- Radiohead

7.Biophilia- Bjork

8.The English Riviera- Metronomy

9.Watch the Throne- Kanye & Jay-Z

10.Audio, Video, Disco- Justice

11.Blood Pressures- The Kills

12.SBTRKT- SBTRKT

13.El Camino- Black Keys

14.Great Escape Artist- Jane's Addiction

15.Skying- The Horrors

[GTG]

Great year for records, I thought. Got my list down to 30 and tempted to sign up another username to post the other half but, if pressed, these would be they:

Jocie Adams - Bed Of Notions

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine

Decemberists - The King Is Dead

Feist - Metals

Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell - Kite

Kate Bush - 50 Words For Snow

Lisa Hannigan - Passenger

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Peter Gabriel - New Blood

Unthanks - Diversions Vol. 1: The Songs of Robert Wyatt and Antony & The Johnsons

Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down

Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blue and Melancholy Jam

Jenny and Johnny - I'm Having Fun Now

Roy Harper - Songs Of Love & Loss

Edited January 3, 2012 by GTG

[killyourtv]

Should have waited till year-end and a the time Christmas gives you to catch-up - should defintely have had the Kate Bush and the Destroyer (though unfathomable record) in the list. Will never learn.

[perfectpassion]

Should have waited till year-end and a the time Christmas gives you to catch-up - should defintely have had the Kate Bush and the Destroyer (though unfathomable record) in the list. Will never learn.

Edited January 3, 2012 by perfectpassion

[riverlodge]

Should have waited till year-end and a the time Christmas gives you to catch-up - should defintely have had the Kate Bush and the Destroyer (though unfathomable record) in the list. Will never learn.

[5co77ie]

Most of my top ten are scattered throughout these posts except:

Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Barton hollow - Civil Wars

which are definitely in my top 10.

Edited January 4, 2012 by 5co77ie

[beansontoastwithcheese]

1. We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships

2. Hey Rosetta! - Seeds

3. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

4. Max Raptor - Portraits

5. Admiral Fallow - Boots Met My Face

6. Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones

7. The Horrible Crowes - Elsie

8. Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

9. Butcher The Bar - For Each A Future Tethered

10. Mazes - A Thousand Heys

11. Fionn Regan - 100 Acres Of Sycamore

12. The Antlers - Burst Apart

13. Banner Pilot - Heart Beats Pacific

14. The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient

15. Funeral Party - The Golden Age Of Nowhere

[acstalker]

Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Jackson Browne & David Lindley - Love Is Strange (En Vivo)

Megafaun - Megafaun

Gillian Welch - The Harrow and The Harvest

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Nathaniel Rateliff - In Memory of Loss

John Mayer - Battle Studies

Wooden Shjips - West

James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

The Wilderness of Manitoba - When You Left The Fire

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

Toby Keith - Clancy's Tavern

Uncle Kracker - Postcards From Home

Feufollet - En Couleurs

USA -13

Canada - 1

Ireland - 1

GB - 0

[geofelgie]

Firstly I wish to make it clear that I am aware that a weirdly large number of the following were actually first released in the last few months of 2010.....I don't care......

1) Admiral Fallow - Boots Met My Face

2) Graffiti 6 - Colours

3) OMD - History of Modern

4) Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia

5) Young the Giant - Young the Giant

6) Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now

7) Noah and the Whale - Last Night on Earth

Dan Mangan - Oh Fortune

9) Guillemots - Walk the River

10) The Dears - Degeneration Street

11) The Phoenix Foundation - Buffalo

12) Yuck - Yuck

13) Smith & Burrows - Funny Looking Angels

14) British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall

15) Joan as Policewoman - The Deep Field

honorable mentions to The Jayhawks, The Waterboys, Bell x1, Decemberists, Cashier No 9