This was a little tougher than usual this year, but after much deliberation and some unpleasant culling, here are our favorite releases — full-lengths, mixtapes, EPs, and one cassette — of 2011. To accompany our choices, we asked all of the amazing artists on our list to tell us their own personal favorite albums from the past year, and a lot of them were nice enough to answer, so their picks are here too. Check it all, and leave your own lists, after the jump…
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30 NICOLAS JAAR | Space Is Only Noise
Nicolas Jaar :: Colomb
NICOLAS JAAR‘s pick:
JULIA HOLTER – Tragedy
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29 ANDY STOTT | Passed Me By
Andy Stott :: North to South
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28 THE WEEKND | House of Balloons
mp3:
The Weeknd :: House Of Balloons / Glass Table Girls
The Weeknd :: Wicked Games
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27 CLAMS CASINO | Instrumentals
Clams’ best two beats so far — neither of which even appear on this staggering collection of instrumentals made for the likes of Lil’ B, Soulja Boy, Main Attrakionz, etc., but both of which happen to be among the most epic, evocative compositions of 2011 — apparently utilize the same Imogen Heap vocal sample. Dude is just scratching the surface. Uh, look out for his Lana Del Rey remix in 2012.
mp3:
Clams Casino :: Numb
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26 SCHOOLBOY Q | Setbacks
mp3:
Schoolboy Q :: Figg Get Da Money
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25 ELITE GYMNASTICS | Ruin 1 + 2
In preparing this list, I asked Marcus Joons of Korallreven to name his favorite record of 2011, and he chose Elite Gymnastics‘ blissful Ruin EP. He had some really thoughtful/accurate things to say about it as well, so I’ll defer to his words:
“Melancholic rave and lyrics worth to publish as short stories.
Maybe the most sensible dance record ever and all the references to
death reminds of how much I love life.”
mp3:
Elite Gymnastics :: o m a m o r i
Elite Gymnastics :: h e r e , i n h e a v e n 2
ELITE GYMNASTICS‘ pick:
CUT HANDS – Afro Noise I
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24 RUN DMT | Dreaming
mp3:
RUN DMT :: Dreaming
RUN DMT‘s pick:
WHITE FENCE – Is Growing Faith
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23 BURIAL | Street Halo
Burial :: Stolen Dog
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22 MINA TINDLE | Mina Tindle
Elegant French chanteuse Mina Tindle managed to strike a perfect pop balance on her endlessly charming self-titled EP. One of the most exquisite, promising, and generally unheard debuts of the year.
Mina Tindle :: Bells
MINA TINDLE‘s pick:
BILL CALLAHAN – Apocalypse + UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
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21 YOUNG GALAXY | Shapeshifting
mp3:
Young Galaxy :: Peripheral Visionaries
Young Galaxy :: Cover Your Tracks
YOUNG GALAXY‘s pick:
FACTORY FLOOR – Real Love/Two Different Ways (singles) + WAR ON DRUGS – Slave Ambient
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20 TORO y MOI | Freaking Out
mp3:
Toro y Moi :: All Alone
Toro y Moi :: Saturday Love
TORO y MOI‘s pick:
TORO y MOI – Underneath the Pine
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19 PURE X | Pleasure
mp3:
Pure X :: Dry Ice
NATE GRACE‘s pick:
FORMA – Forma
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18 FORD & LOPATIN | Channel Pressure
mp3:
Ford & Lopatin :: Too Much MIDI (Please Forgive Me)
Ford & Lopatin :: Emergency Room
FORD‘s pick:
THUNDERCAT – The Golden Age of Apocalypse
LOPATIN‘s pick:
pass
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17 WASHED OUT | Within and Without
mp3:
Washed Out :: Eyes Be Closed
Washed Out :: Amor Fati
ERNEST GREENE‘s pick:
FLEET FOXES – Helplessness Blues
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16 DARKSIDE | Darkside
Nico Jaar‘s second stellar release of 2k11, this EP is a flawless intro to his new Darkside project. Only 3 tracks, and this thing sort of just came out, but we’ve had it on repeat ever since. From our original post:
“Jaar calls the record “the closest thing to rock & roll I’ve ever done,” but these cosmic jams sort of recall a more minimalist take on the slower-burning, hypnotic, almost Balearic-tinged ’70s grooves of dudes like Studio and A Mountain of One.
Darkside :: A1
NICOLAS JAAR (DARKSIDE)‘s pick:
JULIA HOLTER – Tragedy
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15 HOLY OTHER | With U
mp3:
Holy Other :: YR LOVE
Holy Other :: Touch
HOLY OTHER‘s pick:
ANDY STOTT – Passed Me By
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14 THE CARETAKER | An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
Like a fleeting, time-traveling, occasionally disorienting cinematic dream sequence. On An Empty Bliss…, The Caretaker uses loops of slightly altered archival recordings to create some of the loveliest, most heartbreaking anonymous music we never knew we needed.
The Caretaker :: Camaraderie at Arms Length
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13 GROUPER | A I A
Grouper :: Alien Observer
LIZ HARRIS‘s pick:
CARLOS PAREDES – Guitarra Portuguesa (reissue) + SLOWDIVE – Hide Yer Eyes (vinyl bootleg)
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12 SLEEP ∞ OVER | Forever
mp3:
Sleep ∞ Over :: Romantic Streams
Sleep ∞ Over :: Casual Diamond
STEFANIE FRANCIOTTI‘s pick:
JULIA HOLTER – Tragedy
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11 THE SANDWITCHES | Mrs. Jones’ Cookies
The San Francisco group gets darker, spookier, and heavier than ever on this timeless collection of lovesick jams, which the girls rightly refer to as “self senterd sad pop.”
mp3:
The Sandwitches :: Joe Says
The Sandwitches :: Lightfoot
HEIDI + GRACE‘s pick:
[both declined to name a favorite]
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10 PURO INSTINCT | Headbangers in Ecstasy
Headbangers is at a slight disadvantage having dropped so early in the year, but the Kaplan sisters endured. We stand by what we said back in February when we hailed Puro’s uncanny knack for “crafting songs with deceptively complex structures, in which ethereal, in-the-clouds dream-pop seamlessly morphs into shimmering, soft focus disco-lite and jangly post-punk in just over 3 minutes.”
mp3:
Puro Instinct :: Stilyagi (feat. Ariel Pink)
Puro Instinct :: Silky Eyes
PIPER KAPLAN‘s pick:
JOHN MAUS – We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves + SFV ACID – New West Coast
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09 JULIANNA BARWICK | The Magic Place
Inspired by the “a capella church hymns she grew up singing,” The Magic Place is soaring, otherworldly, transportive, impossibly beautiful; all ways of saying this sounds like carebears making love. My 4-month-old’s album of the year.
mp3:
Julianna Barwick :: The Magic Place
JULIANNA BARWICK‘s pick:
KURT VILE – Smoke Ring for my Halo
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08 REAL ESTATE | Days
Never has an ode to the suburbs been so natural, earnest, and unpretentious. The breezy, autumnal Days soundtracked just about any drive anywhere, resonating as one of the most thoroughly listenable, effortlessly meaningful releases we heard in 2011.
Real Estate :: Green Aisles
MATT MONDANILE‘s pick:
BIG TROUBLES – Romantic Comedy
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07 ARAABMUZIK | Electronic Dream
Didn’t expect a dizzying, anxiety-inducing trance beat tape to be one of the more beautiful and viscerally affecting releases of the year, but here we go.
araabMUZIK :: Streetz Tonight
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06 KORALLREVEN | An Album By Korallreven
We’ve been enamored with Swedish duo Korallreven‘s Balearic dream-pop since they dropped “Loved Up” back in 2009, and still, the sheer beauty and emotional scope of this record managed to floor us more than we anticipated. Sublime, moving guest vocal turns from Victoria Bergsman and Julianna Barwick (making her second appearance on our list) didn’t hurt either.
mp3:
Korallreven :: As Young As Yesterday (feat. Victoria Bergsman)
Korallreven :: Sa Sa Samoa (feat. Julianna Barwick)
KORALLREVEN‘s pick:
ELITE GYMNASTICS – Ruin 1 / 2
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05 A$AP ROCKY | LIVELOVEA$AP
In his recent spot-on review of LIVELOVEA$AP, our dude Weiss nailed what is so great about the 3-million-dollar kid’s self-assured debut tape, calling it “a triumph of immaculate taste.” Everyone loves the production on this thing obviously, but I really don’t get the knock on Rocky as a rapper. Sometimes good instincts, an effortless flow, off-the-charts charisma, and just sounding a lot cooler than everyone else goes a long way.
mp3:
A$AP Rocky :: Peso
A$AP Rocky :: Bass
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04 WHITE DENIM | D
With D, our favorite band continued to shift shapes — see “Street Joy” and “Keys” — and redefine their ridiculously enduring modern / classic rock sensibilities. Taut as ever, polished, often tender, always seamless, and now Jack White-approved.
mp3:
White Denim :: Street Joy
White Denim :: Drug
JAMES PETRALLI‘s pick:
UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
STEVE TEREBECKI‘s pick:
CASS MCCOMBS – Wit’s End
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03 PANDA BEAR | Tomboy
After generating the kind of pre-release hype that only Animal Collective-related releases can, Noah Lennox somehow managed to release the most underrated album of 2011. And, after feeling how massive and moving this record could be when experienced in its entirety, in sequence, in a live setting (shout to Sonic Boom), and subsequently immersing ourselves in the alternate versions from the beautiful expanded version of Tomboy, we gained a new level of appreciation for the simple, understated brilliance of these hypnotic and deceptively heavy hymn-like jams.
mp3:
Panda Bear :: Last Night at the Jetty
Panda Bear :: You Can Count on Me (a capella)
PANDA BEAR‘s pick:
araabMUZIK – Electronic Dream
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02 PEAKING LIGHTS | 936
We said this about 936 back in March for the late Altered Zones:
Achingly beautiful melodies float over immersive and occasionally seedy dubbed-out grooves; beats rise out of a hazed jungle underworld, at times sounding like primitive machines. And the effect is nothing short of transcendent. 936 is a refreshingly original and somewhat unexpected blend of classic dub and acid-soaked, female-fronted psychedelia that emerged seemingly out of nowhere to become one of the year’s most compelling and replayable jams.
Still the truth. This blissed-out collection of pop songs disguised as a dub-psych masterpiece was probably our most listened to album of 2011. Endless feel good vibes.
mp3:
Peaking Lights :: Tiger Eyes (Laid Back)
Peaking Lights :: Hey Sparrow
PEAKING LIGHTS‘ pick:
LEN BOATMAN – The Land of Milk and Honey / The Lighthouse 45 (Deep Sea Records, 1971) + anything on DIGIKILLER (“digikiller pulled a lot of super deep stuff!“)
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01 SHABAZZ PALACES | Black Up
Shabazz Palaces sparkled up somewhat unexpectedly in late 2009 from the deep mind of our favorite rapper of all-time as a fully-formed, undeniably futuristic vision/uncharted approach to hip-hop. This often mind-blowing debut full-length is the culmination, and the beginning. An instant classic and our unequivocal favorite record of 2011, Black Up hit us harder than anything since Person Pitch dropped back in ’07.
mp3:
Shabazz Palaces :: an echo from the hosts that profess infinitum
Shabazz Palaces :: swerve…the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)
ISHMAEL BUTLER aka THE PALACEER‘s pick:
TROUBLE – Bussin (video) + JOHNNY NELSON – Put Em In a Body Bag
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GORILLA VS. BEAR | Albums of 2011
30 Nicolas Jaar | Space Is Only Noise
29 Andy Stott | Passed Me By
28 The Weeknd | House of Balloons
27 Clams Casino | Instrumentals
26 Schoolboy Q | Setbacks
25 Elite Gymnastics | Ruin 1 + 2
24 Run DMT | Dreaming
23 Burial | Street Halo
22 Mina Tindle | Mina Tindle
21 Young Galaxy | Shapeshifting
20 Toro y Moi | Freaking Out
19 Pure X | Pleasure
18 Ford & Lopatin | Channel Pressure
17 Washed Out | Within and Without
16 Darkside | Darkside
15 Holy Other | With U
14 The Caretaker | An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
13 Grouper | A I A
12 Sleep ∞ Over | Forever
11 The Sandwitches | Mrs. Jones’ Cookies
10 Puro Instinct | Headbangers in Ecstasy
09 Julianna Barwick | The Magic Place
08 Real Estate | Days
07 araabMUZIK | Electronic Dream
06 Korallreven | An Album By Korallreven
05 A$AP Rocky | LIVELOVEA$AP
04 White Denim | D
03 Panda Bear | Tomboy
02 Peaking Lights | 936
01 Shabazz Palaces | Black Up
“Sometimes good instincts, an effortless flow, off-the-charts charisma, and just sounding a lot cooler than everyone else goes a long way.”
Spot on.
What more could you ask for than good instincts, effortless flow, and plethora of charisma and coolness? This really applies to anything.
Fly niggas do fly things.
Coming from someone who has slowly grown to love hip-hop — mainly due to music blogs — Black Up is really inspiring. It made me reassess a lot of other hip-hop albums from the past. http://bit.ly/tHCTw5
solid list. the last half of the year gave us some amazing, forward-thinking hip hop.
I love it. I flat out agree with every choice on this list.
rad list.
01 Pure X | Pleasure
02 Unknown Mortal Orchestra
03 Rabbit Island | O God, Come Quick
04 Real Estate | Days
05 Girls | Father, Son, Holy Ghost
06 Destroyer | Kaputt
07 Peaking Lights | 936
08 Toro Y Moi | Underneath the Pine
09 Radiohead | The King of Limbs
10 Panda Bear | Tomboy
my fave album of this year is still Take Care but w/e, still a great list.
Wait, did Toro y Moi pick his own album as the best of the year? Dude’s not listening to enough music…
I liked the list, however I am surprised and dissappointed the following were omitted:
Deathgrips
Danny Brown
BALAM ACAB
for shame. I thought Deathgrips and BA should have taken spots 1 and 2 on a blog that knows what they’re talking about (I assumed you guys knew everything since you were the only blog to realize Teen Dream was the obvious aoty 2010)
we do, and they’re not
LIL B – I’M GAY best album of 2011. THANKYOUBASEDGOD
while i’m down with most of this list, and am looking forward to digging up the stuff i’m unfamiliar with, it really feels like a lack of love for the new m83 album is borderline criminal
much love to GVB though, you’ve introduced me to many of these artists and i thank you for that.
Looking forward to 2012!
Shabazz really blew my mind this year. Never heard anything like it in my life.
LOLing that Toro y Moi chose his own album as his favourite.
There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your work. It was a solid album.
chaz bundick is the kanye west of chillwave
Must come from the benjamin disraeli school of.
“When I want to read a good book, I write one.”
damn, no balam acab, album moves me to tears almost every time
Thanks for the great list and coverage!
My favorite full-lengths by artist:
1a) St. Vincent
1b) Shabazz
3) Panda Bear
4) Radiohead
5) Little Dragon
6) Tune yards
7) Destroyer
8) PJ Harvey
9) Das Racist
BUT, the album of the year for me is Brian Wilson’s release/re-release of SMiLE. Since it’s not /really/ new I didn’t include it.
Clams Casino and Araabmuzik getting love makes me very happy. Nice to see The Caretaker on there as well. Shame the 2011.5 list sort of spoiled the top 4.
My top 10 would have to be
10. The Antlers-Burst Apart
9. Lykke Li-Wounded Rhymes
8. Curren$y and Alchemist-Covert Coup
7. White Denim-D
6. Andrew Jackson Jihad-Knife Man
5. WU Lyf-Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
4. Black Lips-Arabia Mountain
3. Shabazz Palaces-Black Up
2. Giles Corey-Giles Corey
1. EMA-Past Life Martyred Saints
Whether I have tastes that arent discerning enough or music is just generally awesome all the time, I don’t know. But I know I left a hell of a lot of great albums of my list.
Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire’s Lost in Translation.
Not sure where it goes, but I’d throw it in there somewhere. Damn fuckin fun LP.
my badass list. ok its alright really
1) Destroyer – kaputt
3) shabazz palaces – black up
3) twin sister – in heaven
4) MIA – vicki leakx
5) Ann Steel/roberto cacciapaglia – the ann steel album
6) gang gang – eye contact
7) pure x – pleasure
8) neon indian – era extrana
9) toro y moi – freaking out
10) julian lynch – terra
i know im forgetting some. destroyers kaputt made my year so delish. dat sax. shabazz and twin sis tied cause shabazz had a more consistenet album but there were songs on In Heaven that were just…heavenly. the ann steel album is a reissue but oh lord is it good. neon indian would be higher on the list if it was released last year, and m83 would be on here if it wasnt full of fillers and also released last year. MIA started my year of on fiya with VL. so Good. Hip Hop albums suffered this year imo, but their songs separately kicked ass.
where is shlohmo?
great list – as expected but no balam acab?
balam acab + shlohmo both just missed, if i’d gone to top 40 they’d both be on here
Apparently you haven’t listened to M83′s new album…
Nice list, man. I like most of your choices. I’m not a GvB-level White Denim fan and I don’t buy into the A$AP Rocky hype [at least not to a Top 5-level], but the bulk of the list is definitely solid in my opinion and no question Shabazz Palaces deserves #1. I found 2K11 had a lot of ‘good’ albums but few that truly floored me. Shabazz was definitely one, and in a totally different way, Julianna Barwick, and also one not on your list, Lia Ices’s Grown Unknown.
Also, who would have predicted at the onset of 2K11 that albums by Radiohead (#1 on GvB’s Albums of the Decade), James Blake (blog fave in 2010), Neon Indian (blog fave in 2009/10) and St Vincent (blog fave since 2007) wouldn’t even make GvB’s top 30? There really were a lot of unexpected ‘let downs’ in 2011 (and I’d put Tomboy on that list too).
Panda Bear was GvB’s #1 of the decade I believe, though Kid A did have a respectable top 10 showing.
Good point. And you can throw Girls and Gang Gang Dance onto that list of gvb ex-lovers
still love girls and gang gang, just didn’t love their records this year. both would still probably be top 50 for me, but fair or not, i tend to measure bands like that against their previous output, and i didn’t feel like their latest efforts held up in relation to their previous work
Missing Julia Holter.
Julie Holter’s Tragedy is incredible. I really dont get the M83 love….lost on me. Fuck yes on Shabazz Places though. Where is Girls?!
Love the list. I would have thrown in the m83 record, Dirty Beaches, Frank Ocean, WU LYF and a couple others, but can’t really argue too much w/ it. Totally agree on the SP record. One of the most interesting albums I’ve heard in forever. Keep up the awesome work dudes.
Oh also the GIRLS record. Surprised that didn’t make the cut. You guys are still the shit tho.
No Atlas Sound? Definitely in my top 5.
Where is Visions?
it comes out in 2012
…one of the odd things I found myself appreciating about this was the album artwork. I used to be such a fiend for album art and liner notes and being busy as fuck all the time I get most of my listening from Sirius, KCRW, or FB friends. Were I just shopping impulse buys in a rekkid sto Young Galaxy would win for best cover.
Thanks! Merry Christmas!
I got to add Oddisee “Rock Creek Park” to the list but otherwise some very dope music.
not too happy with the list… (albums and eps should be separated!)
too much hipster bullshit, less substance (how could you ignore “let england shake”!?).
nevertheless, nice you mentioned underrated sleep over, young galaxy. these two and sweet mina tindle you normally won’t find in other lists.
my list:
1. pj harvey
2. panda bear
3. feist
4. james blake
5. st. vincent
6. ema
7. sleeo over
8. the rapture
9. austra
10. shabazz palaces
13 Kisses – Heart of the Nightlife
12 Spanish Prisoners – Gold Fools
11 Metronomy – The English Riviera
10 Little Dragon – Ritual Union
9 Gardens & Villa – Gardens & Villa
8 Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine
7 ASAP Rocky – LIVELOVEA$AP
6 Shlohmo – Bad Vibes
5 Giraffage – Comfort
4 Peaking Lights – 936
3 Nicolas Jaar – Space is Only Noise
2 Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner
1 Real Estate – Days
yes, not atlas or m83 but list rulez, yeah! 936 and badlands my favsy albums
minus Lucky Shiner (2010 release).
…oops and the Kisses release. enjoyed those two records the entire year though!
Holy Other and Sleep Over did not release albums; they should not be on there.
Please get a better server sorted out. The images don’t load properly, the mixes/podcasts only partially download (this is the same on different browsers/computers).
uh sleep ∞ over released an album. make your own list and don’t put them on there. and the images and mixes work fine for me!
Chris, I too have problems, mostly with load times and image/embed loading. It got super slow when you moved to buzzmedia and has never come back fully in my experience.
what about “Eye Contact” of Gang Gang Dance??? It’s incredible! Great list though!
05 A$AP Rocky | LIVELOVEA$AP
–you bought into the hype. sorry to hear that
that was douchey of me. i couldn’t make a connection with the tape and don’t get it
BTW, it took me several tries to get into that Peaking Lights album, but I’m in, I’m f**king in. Thanks for the insistence.
no Girls?? SBTRKT album also kinda grew on me…
10. Real Estate – Days
9. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
8. Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
7. Fucked Up – David Comes to Life
6. Andrew Jackson Jihad – Knife Man
5. Battles – Gloss Drop
4. Panda Bear – Tomboy
3. Youth Lagoon – The Year of Hibernation
2. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
1. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
New Girls record is one of the most tastefully written and honest albums I’ve ever heard….
Oh shit. No Gang Gang???
True, GGD’s Eye Contact was definitely top 5 this year.
I agree with some people here: why not Balam Acab? I think it is an outstanding album this year! Anyway, the list seems to be kind of pretentious because there’s no M83, one of the best efforts in this year.
ha pretentious because we didn’t have m83? if he pared it down to a single LP he’d probably be on here. as is, he’s somewhere in our top 40 or so. had to cut it off somewhere.
for me: besides “the king of limbs”, “hurry up, we’re dreaming” is maybe the record that disappointed most.
Some of my fave albums of 2011…
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
Jolie Holland – Pint of Blood
Amy Lavere – Stranger Me
Nikki Lane – Walk of Shame
Snake Rattle Rattle Snake – Sineater
Austra – Feel It Break
Dum Dum Girls – Only In Dreams
Blouse – Blouse
Class Actress – Rapprocher
The Drums – Portamento
Friendly Fires – Pala
Future Islands – On The Water
The Horrors – Skying
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
The Rosebuds – Loud Planes Fly Low
I Break Horses – Hearts
Neon Indian – Era Extrana
Where is M83?????????
so much, GvsB! here is mine
grimes – visions
tune-yards – who kill
atlas sound – parallax
steve malkmus + Jicks – mirror traffic
shabazz palaces – black up
i enjoyed this list, and then i got down to the comments and i enjoyed those even more. really looking forward to your 2nd ‘peoples choice’ list with m83 at the top
Where the hell are the Fleet Foxes? That was easily top 10 of the year, probably top 5 in my book…
that list is not a good sign for live music. i like some of the records but most of these acts are soooo bad live (Puro Instinct, Barwick, Holy Other, Peaking Lights, Washed Out etc.). Let’s hope guitar pop makes its “comeback” (iow: gets cool again) next year.
My top 5: Destroyer, Bill Callahan, M83, Tennis, Cut Copy
about the main topic here: i like M83 music, but that album is soo long and so irregular that i don’t know when listen to it. i put it sometimes while i’m working but 70% of the time i just forget its existence. he should know as artist you can’t force people to sit for two hours to just listen to a music record. it’s not a hollywood movie, it’s music, and it works different.
i agree that the m83 album is too irregular and all in all forgettable, but saying its weakness was derived from its lengthiness is a bit extreme. one of the best albums from last year was three discs and spanned an hour and a half (joanna newsom).
yeah, but joanna’s is a softer and smoother listen. my point is that HUWAD doesn’t allow a “light” listen, is like demanding all your attention for two hours, with colossals ups and downs. in my case or i’m are listening to it completely or just ends getting me nervous. it seems to want to be a movie, even with the emotional plot-narrative structure of one, but in the end is a music record, and i don’t think that works good as a record. too much pretentious and serious. ODDSAC is to me a smarter aproach between music and film. But Anthony seems to be more interested in character and narrative developing than visual imaginery anyway.
m83′s is a double album, but its only 1 hour 12 minutes
GAH CHRIS HOW COULD YOU NOT PICK MY FAVORITE ALBUM? AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A MUSIC BLOG?
nice list… here’s mine:
1. Wye Oak – “Civilian”
2. White Denim – “D”
3. Tycho – “Dive”
4. AA Bondy – “Believers”
5. Washed Out – “Within And Without”
6. Other Lives – “Tamer Animals”
7. Teebs – “Collections 01″
8. St. Vincent – “Strange Mercy”
9. Real Estate – “Days”
10. The Moth & The Flame – “How We Woke Up”
I Am Dive’s Constellations is an Ep worth checking out.
http://vimeo.com/31323318
http://iamdive.bandcamp.com/
i’m wondering as to why there is no gang gang dance as well…
No Girls??!?!
Balam Acab, Gang Gang, Real Estate, Widowspeak and a few others are up there as well. top 5 though???
5. Atlas Sound – Parallax (this is great eating music, very refined. a true artist and legend)
4. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up (shit is entirely NEXT LEVEL)
3. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming (i don’t think there is a bad track on here at all)
2. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost (i listened to this more than any other album this year, even if i didn’t like it the first couple of times around. the last track really hits me hard)
1. Pure X – Pleasure (this is my favorite band right now. sounds like the end of the world. incredibly touching, the perfect music for being on drugs PERIOD. i know it’s not that accessible or complex but it’s SIMPLE and EMOTIONAL. smoke a blunt while listening to Surface and you’ll understand where i’m coming from immediately)
Amei o top 3!!! Uma pena não ter esse álbum do Peaking Lights no Brasil… Preciso ouvir muita coisa daqui ainda. Bela lista.
Great list! Lots of good music this year.
I was also into:
Unknown Mortal Orchestra (probably my favorite)
Ty Segall | Goodbye Bread
Porcelain Raft | Gone Blind EP
Chad VanGaalen | Diaper Island
Woods | Sun and Shade
Austra | Feel It Break
Handsome Furs | Sound Kapital
M83 | Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
James Blake | James Blake
Girls | Father, Son, Holy Ghost
shabazz deserves that #1 spot… i just think ish should share it with one annie clark. “strange mercy” is a triumph.
lot of releases on here i’ll need to explore in the coming months. most notably, the caretaker which you’ve made a very compelling case for.
Why isn’t anyone talking about Blood Orange? Devonte killed it this year. Also, Destroyer. but ASAP Rocky? Really? Hiphop’s a graveyard.
If you think hip hop is a graveyard, you’re not paying attention.
you’re right. i find myself dozing off to often to listen properly.
you’re right. i find myself dozing off too often to listen properly.
Nice to see Young Galaxy on there!
Thanks you for not putting Bon Iver on here. I vomit every time I see it on a best list.
Kurt Vile | Smoke Ring For My Halo
Destroyer | Kaput
Shabazz Palaces | Black Op
Drake | Take Care
Dirty Beaches | Badlands
King Krule | King Krule
Peaking Lights | 936
Iceage | New Brigade
Crystal Stilts | In Love With Oblivion
Kendrick Lamar | Section 80
I was reading this list thinking ‘oh i’ve never heard these bands I’ll have to check them out’ but then I saw there was no atlas sound, kurt vile, tyler the creator, or st. vincent then I thought ‘never mind’
I agree with Tomboy. Missed a whole lot of other good stuff though. A whole lot. Not really into anything on this list at all. Bummer. Guess I’m more (or less) alt than I thought.
Good lookin’ …
The Weeknd
Shabazz Palaces
Schoolboy Q
Elite Gymnastics
ASAP Rocky
+\+
cheers
No Grouper?
The War On Drugs??
Trouble books & Mark McGuire???
Destroyer???!!!!! Probably the best album in the whole damn year?!!!
W T F
There are some way over hyped albums on that list, I’ll tell you that… C’mon, was Puro Instinct really better than any of the above?!
How did you not see Grouper at 13?
Destroyer will always suck hairy balls.
15 Radiohead | The King of limbs
14 Nicolas Jaar | Space is Only Noise
13 Kedrick Lamar | Section.80
12 The Mountain Goats | All Eternals Deck
11 Cut Copy | Zonoscope
10 James Blake | James Blake
09 Real Estate | Days
08 Austra | Feel it Break
07 Girls | Father, Son, Holy Ghost
06 Bon Iver | Bon Iver
05 Peaking Lights | 936
04 Destroyer | Kaputt
03 Ford & Lopatin | Channel Pressure
02 Oneohtrix Point Never | Replica
01 Fleet Foxes | Helplessness Blues
I really want thank you for introducing me to Ford & Lopatin and Peaking Lights.
you forgot John Maus
Maus is missing!
I enjoyed reading this list… better than most. Washed Out though? s’alright record I suppose. Include M83? You are joking right… a flatulent over egged album if I ever heard one, containing some ace ingredients… Midnight City is a cracker of a track.
i’m dying to know what burial’s favorite record of the year is
seems a bit premature to put ASAP that high on the list when his tape dropped ~ a month ago. not to mention it being littered with crew features.
i’d argue that it would stand much more sturdily on its feet as a more selective, condensed 6-7 song EP. the tape certainly has its merits, just think its stretched thin over 16 tracks.
…no Balam Acab…
puro is tops for me. cant believe it didnt catch on more this year.
Where is Fucked Up loved that record and also new Neon Indian is better than what people are saying, also no Atlas Sound?
It’s funny to me because I think we’re generally listening to the same kind of music & I’ve listened to something like 160 albums (not that much, but still) and I’ve heard less than 10 of these. Plus, of those, Panda Bear, Real Estate, & Sleep ∞ Over were among my least favorites. Still, I think this a great, provocative, & interesting list and I plan to check out several of these. Also, I agree that The Sandwitches album is great.
really solid list. great job excluding all of the overhyped crap like bon iver, tyler the creator, fleet foxes, etc…
Destroyer
Gang Gang Dance
Girls
Braids
Holiday Shores
Panda Bear
Lia Ices
Julian Lynch
Iron and Wine
Balam Acab
Thundercat
Twin Sister
jj
Gem Club
200 Years
Toro y Moi (UTP)
Cat’s Eyes
Tuneyards
Metal Mountains
A pretty solid year all told. Took a whole lot of sifting through a bunch of not so good stuff though.
Don’t really understand the Sleep Over nod. They had some great releases before their album (Outer Limits being my favorite), but their album was bad news.
Otherwise, nothing bothers/surprises me. Yay for good music.
hey, nice list, your blog never disappoints me, some things that I dont know in it but I guess that thats the point of these lists.
for me right now this is more or less the best of the year.
*ducktails/arcade dynamics(not sure if this is from 2011 or 2010)
10-tennis/cape dory
9-kode9&the spaceape/black sun
8-grouper/AIA
7-veronica falls/ST
6-omar-s/it can be done but…
5-dirty beaches/badlands
4-comet gain/howl of the lonely crowd
3-roly porter/aftertime
2-james blake/ST
1-the sandwitches/mrs.jones cookies(best album, best cover,best song, best everything)
Super, mario.
I’ll never understand why GvB has such a wetness for Sleep Over, but god bless for sticking to their guns. (and washed out feels like a sympathy pick)
Still a fantastic list.
Surprised no Maus or Lynch found their way in.
Their cover art may have had some influence?
so, basically you enjoy really boring music.
cosign this comment.
Great list and nice to see Andy Stott and Caretaker making the cut! I enjoyed and looked forward to your monthly mixes this year as well. Cheers!
1. Zomby – Dedication
2. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
3. Panda Bear – Tomboy
4. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
5. AraabMUZIC – Electronic Dream
6. Ford & Lopatin – Channel Pressure
7. John Maus – We Mus Become…
8. Atlas Sound – Parallax
9. 2562 – Fever
10. The Caretaker – An Empty Bliss…
Where is John Maus?
Very interesting list, apparently there’s a lot of stuff I missed out on this year. Really want to check out araabMUZIK, Julianna Barwick, and especially that Run DMT album, although I’m having a hard time finding it.
Only big omissions for me were M83′s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” and Girls’ “Father, Son, Holy Ghost”. Probably my two most listened to albums of the year. But overall a very good list. Hard for me to find many things I disagree with
+james pants
+93 million miles
+dedication
i’m sorry, where is Youth Lagoon?
No Oneohtrix Point Never? Also feel Ford & Lopatin’s Channel Pressure should be at 2, They have untouchable production and sensibilities toward layering and new soundscapes. Era Extrana is better than within and without for me i liked the shoegaze approach. M83 is going into big territory and overall improving with each release. Nero’s Welcome Reality i feel should be covered and i understand how GvB doesnt really touch on dubstep but that record has so much emotion in the approach the layering, sounds, concept… better than the the sample based Skrillex. I wished GvB explored metal as well, like real artists (Post-metal, Sludge, Doom) not deathcore or anything like for example Wolves in the Throne Room’s Celestial Lineage, has more artistic merit than most on here.
I’ll have to agree with LOPATIN’s pick: pass. Genius.
hahahah this list is so hipster.
“bon iver is mainstream now, so leaving him off our list makes us seem cooler.”
if any of you people have heard more than 5 or 6 albums on this list, you’re lying to yourself.
nah. bon iver album is average at best
Agreed.
Bon iver was probs left out because it was just boring, and cheesy. had no style.
maybe bon iver was left off because his lyrics were so fucking meaningless and pretentious. his record was hell overrated.
oooorrr maybe Bon Iver was left off because it wasn’t one of their 30 favorite albums. Imagine…
this ^
This was pretty solid – I don’t know how Vile and Cut Copy get left off, but to each his own. These lists are great because they’re different, and introduce to things you may have missed. Cheers GvsB – here’s to 2012 and beyond.
ps – war on drugs, and hard mix high up for me as well.
great list but toro y moi – underneath the pine should be on here
underneath the pine just missed, but honestly was feeling his EP a little more
antlers? beirut? after reading this list i’ve got lots to check out.
Been searching all of these lists for a mention of TENNIS… apparently the album isn’t that good. shame on my taste
we love tennis, but left off a few bands (tennis, keep shelly in athens, earth girl) because we have current releases from them on our record label. kind of a weird/awkward conflict of interest
white denim is more of a conflict of interest for you than tennis.. “D” failed to live up to the likes of “last day of summer” and “fits”. “cape dory” was by far one of the best albums of the year. it’s more weird/awkward when you promote a band with multiple posts of their material and then leave them off of a list they should definitely be on. i was so looking forward to where you would put that tennis album..
how is white denim a conflict of interest in any way? i disagree, i think “D” is on par with those records. i’ll just say that ‘cape dory’ would be on the list if they weren’t on my label, which sort of defeats the purpose of leaving it off i guess
super list gvb! great to see araabmuzik and the caretaker on it. i might’ve added:
the field – looping state of mind
balam acab – wander/wonder
com truise – cyanide sisters
jürgen müller – science of the sea
blondes – lover/hater, business/pleasure, wine/water
tom waits – bad as me
destroyer – kaputt
sun glitters – everything could be fine
roman flügel – fatty folders
drake – take care
africa hi-tech – 93 million miles
freddie gibbs – cold day in hell
bonnie “prince” billy – wolfroy goes to town
hauschka – salon des amateurs
john maus – we must become the pitiless censors of ourselves
lil b – i’m gay (i’m happy)
james blake – s/t
la dispute – wildlife
big k.r.i.t. – return of 4eva
the mountain goats – all eternals deck
tim hecker – ravedeath, 1972
bill callahan – apocalpyse
liturgy – aesthetica
My list
01. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
02. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
03. Araabmuzik – Electronic Dream
04. Toro Y Moi – Underneath The Pine
05. Active Child – You Are All I See
06. Kendrick Lamar – Section 80
07. Holy Other – With U EP
08. ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveASAP
09. Thundercat – The Golden Age of the Apocalypse
10. Shabazz_Palaces – Black Up
11. Phantogram – Nightlife
12. Ford & Lopatin – Channel Pressure
13. Bibio – Mind Bokeh
14. Childish Gambino – EP
15. Kuedo – Severant
16. Balam Acab – Wander – Wonder
17. Apparat – The Devils Walk
18. Sleep Over – Forever
19. Future Islands – On The Water
20. Holy Ghost! – Holy Ghost!
Youth Lagoon?
however my personal list would differ greatly, i am pleased to see neither Bon Iver nor Girls at the top. Can anyone tell me why those two albums are supposedly great?
For me “Space is only noise” is the best album of 2011. I think “Strange mercy”, “wounded rhymes” and “Hurry up we´re dreaming” are better albums than Tomboy.
Great list. Panda Bear’s lp was underrated…. it’s a shame, I feel like expectations can kill an album no matter how good it is. You guys not feeling Youth Lagoon? I figured he’d be high up here, then again, I don’t recall ever reading about him on GvB… either way
I don’t know about the order but:
Panda Bear- Tomboy
Oneohtrix Point Never- Replica
The Caretaker- An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
Youth Lagoon- The Year of Hibernation
Bon Iver- Bon Iver
glad to see take care not on this list. this is my fav list so far. white denim shud be higher. that kid asap’s joint is pure fire molecules too
10. Anna Calvi – self titled
9. The Horrors – Skying
8. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
7. Radiohead – King of Limbs
6. Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler/The Dream EP
5. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
4. Wye Oak – Civilian
3. The Antlers – Burst Apart
2. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – self titled
1. Metronomy – The English Riviera
The fact that I can add 20 more bands doesnt mean this list is bad or wrong…just means that this has been a great year for music. Screw people who say music sucks now a days!
I have to say, I really enjoyed W H O K I L L and I felt like it deserved to be on the list, maybe not number one, but at least up there…
Chris hates tuneyards
me too…good exclusion
what the fudge, why did my comment get deleted
wheres parallax?
not ready to put together my own list for 2011 yet, but definitely think you;re missing:
wild beast
destroyer (!!!)
wu lyf
and
iceage
tho i’m very pleased to see Real Estate up near the top where they should be. And that Shabazz Palaces record is pretty undeniable
Neon Indian?
* Wild Beasts
My list is always similar to Chris’s list. Probably b/c we have a lot of the same tastes. Here’s my top 25:
01 Bon Iver – Bon Iver
02 Kuedo – Severant
03 Panda Bear – Tomboy
04 Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
05 Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
06 Teeel – Amulet
07 James Blake – James Blake
08 Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
09 Destroyer – Kaputt
10 Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
11 Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
12 M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
13 Julia Holter – Tragedy
14 White Denim – D
15 Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact
16 Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo
17 Puro Instinct – Headbangers In Ecstasy
18 Peaking Lights – 936
19 Com Truise – Galactic Melt
20 Ford & Lopatin – Channel Pressure
21 Drake – Take Care
22 Cut Copy – Zonoscope
23 Nicholas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise
24 Pictureplane – Thee Physical
25 Holy Other – With U (EP)
This is SO much better.
girls?
thanks for the list though!
well the album was actually a huge letdown in comparison to their previous work so thats probably why it wasnt on there.
I was thinking of girls as well.
I respect the list and it’ s a good set of albums, but I don’t think it is necessarily the best albums of 2011. I certainly wouldn’t put panda bear as #3 or Peaking Lights as #2, but that’s just me…
Anyway check out the blog!
http://www.lowerfrequencies.com/
great fucking list. i dig it.
Why can I only read 6 comments out of 145? I’ve tried all of my browsers and even iOS to no avail.
Nice to see a different list. I’m fucking sick of seeing Drake, Radiohead, & Bon Iver.
My only issue with this list is that you guys, specifically, left off Smith Westerns. You were such big supporters of theirs in the beginning, and I think most would argue that Dye it Blonde was better than the debut.
yeah i don’t know, we just didn’t really connect with the new one. love “all die young” but that’s about it. for the record i still listen to the debut all the time
Same applies to John Maus. Appeared on multiple monthly mixes early in the year. Early releases get hurt.
thats’s invariably what happens. except for with beach house last year.
Parallax?
Great list. Check out my list at http://heyyourealright.wordpress.com
01 Veronica Falls |Veronica Falls
02 Pure X | Pleasure
03 Metronomy | English Riviera
04 John Maus| We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
04 Ducktails | Ducktails III: Arcade Dynamics
05 Girls | Father, Son, Holy Ghost
06 Papercuts | Fading Parade
07 Panda Bear | Tomboy
08 Real Estate | Days
09 Vivian Girls | Share the Joy
10 Future Islands | On The Water
papercuts!
yes. listened to that yesterday.
andre has the best list here so far.
No gang gang dance? I think it was the best album this year, and I usually dont think much.
this is kind of the best list that i’ve seen so far, you’re taste is almost perfect
Immaculate. We’re working to get on your level.
whatabout balam acab?
Of course when you make these lists you’re going to hear from everyone…”where’s THIS album and where’s THAT album”…all publications differ and that’s the beauty of these things….but I have to say, were you guys choosing the best albums based on how “hipster” that album covers were or were you actually listening to the music? like, seriously…not a single FOLK album. NOT ONE! I do like the list…it’s refreshing. It’s nice to see Peaking Lights get the love it deserves AND I couldn’t agree more on Shabazz being the Hip Hop album of the year and kudos for White Denim…LOVE that record.
FOLKSUX
yall forgot girls
I’d say that PJ Harvey’s Let London Shake deserves mention. And the record that grew on me to the point of obsession this year was 13 & God’s Own Your Ghost
love, love, love shabazz palaces, but yr missing the best rap record of 2011 altogether: kendrick lamar’s section.80
returnof4eva is best rap record of the year. also Girls should be on that list, they put out my fave album this year.
I dig the list. It is most definitely unique and fits the aesthetic here. Shabaaz is a ballsy and good pick for #1.
A very urban list. Mine looks more like NPR’s. That’s what happens when you get old. One of my top three is Zachary Cale’s Noise of Welcome – check it out – more than underrated, it’s completely ignored.
Class Actress- Rapprocher(Neo New Wave)
Metronomy-English Riviera (Soft Rock, POP,Disco)
Neon Indian-Era Extrana(Electro Pop)
Digitalism-Ilove you dude.( Electro POP)
Le Butcherettes- SIN SIN SIN (Punk-Garage)
Shes A Tease- Millionaria (Pop Rock,Hip Hop)
Tom Cruise-Galactic Melt (Cyber punk-Neo Wave)
Tune Yards-WHOKILL( ????Awesome.In its own category)
********STRFKR- REPTILIANS*******(pop folk)
all good albums of the year. no specific order.
Tom Cruise?! ;)
really great list. you forgot John Maus
You guys should put Kendrick Lamar at #0 …
Really strange he’s not on this list…
Actually not strange, a bit of a huge fuck up.
these are our favorite albums, so it’s not a fuckup. good record, don’t love it. you should start a blog and put it on there though
haha, yes! Great list, dudes. I suppose I should finally give in and listen to this Panda Bear record. Also, the Elite Gymnastics releases are so much fun, glad you included them.
Twin Sister???? interesting..i loved that album and i thought you showed tons of support and love…must be some office controversy lol. thanks for the list though its awesome.
caught this on the second look…infinite props Chris for ranking Caretaker so highly because it was lovely
1. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
2. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
3. Lil B – I’m Gay (I’m Happy)
4. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
5. Drake – Take Care
6. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne
7. Peaking Lights – 936
8. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
9. Washed Out – Within Without
10. Destroyer – Kaputt
11. John Maus – We Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves
12. Real Estate – Days
13. DJ Quik – Book Of David
14. A$AP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP
15. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972
16. Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact
17. Panda Bear – Tomboy
18. Toro Y Moi – Underneath The Pine
19. The Weeknd – House Of Balloons
20. Puro Instinct – Headbangers In Ecstacy
Honorable Mention
Grouper – AIA
Kendrick Lamar – Section.80
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
White Denim – D
M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
what do you think of this list chris?
honestly man good list but what the eff is up with that kanye and jay z album..what a piece of plastic hollow tasteless ego stroke shit
haha i like it for what it is, poppy and car bumping worthy hip hop. i appreciate chris’s list and everyone’s opinions. it’s all subjective, all in love and respect.
Great list as always. Only notable absences I see are John Maus, Girls, and Youth Lagoon, but I know it’s your list and you can’t appease everyone!
thanks for the reasonable comment. maus and girls were both top 40, had to cut it somewhere though
Folk music? Hello? Where areeeee you? Where’s the love for folk? This was an AMAZING year for folk music…seriously AMAZING, and there is NO mention of it all. I understand that this ‘your’ blog…but having a little diversity helps expand minds, ears and souls.
you tell me, what were the great folk albums of 2011? heard some, none were all that great
bon iver, fleet foxes and beirut are the only decent ones that come directly to mind. and out of those bon iver was the only truly worthwhile one. and you tend to shy away from those up for grammys. just sayin.
didn’t really like any of those, has nothing to do with it being up for a grammy
Laura Marling, “A creature I Don’t Know. Pretty impeccable?
Laura Marling, “A creature I Don’t Know. Pretty impeccable?
I can see why a lot of people didn’t like bon iver. to each his own. And I hate to plug, but our band released our album in september and we classify ourselves as folk. We’ve been getting really good reception in Virginia. so if you’re interested http://bisonfolk.bandcamp.com/
1. James Blake – James Blake
2. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
3. Washed Out – Within and Without
4. A Winged Victory for the Sullen – A Winged Victory for the Sullen
5. Kyle Bobby Dunn – Ways of Meaning
6. Destroyer – Kaputt
7. The Sea and Cake – The Moonlight Butterfly
8. Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
9. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
10. The Field – Looping State of Mind
The Future Islands and John Maus 2011 releases beat the shit out of everything else.
I’m actually a bit surprised not to see Beirut Rip Tide. But pleased to see the Sandwitches!
was anyone else like -____________________________________- with ishmael butler’s recommendations? anyway, i thought this list was pretty good.
There is one and only one album that should have been on your list:
THE GIVERS – IN LIGHT.
Enough said. Play the album and tell me you don’t feel in a great mood and I’ll show you a liar.
Thank you.
Love you! No Twin Sister, though? Odd, but excellent list nonetheless. Come throw a party in Columbia, MO in 2012
Great list, love Ford & Lopatin and White Denim. Young Galaxy really put out a solid album this year too, love to see that there. It kind of got overlooked. Surprised there is no Balam Acab on here. No Texas love ex Stars of the Lid’s Adam Wiltzie and A Winged Victory for the Sullen? I guess that’s a different cup of tea than is usually found on here. Great blog and list nonetheless! thanks for another good year.
Thanks for the list, Chris. I need to check out some of those albums that I haven’t heard yet, particularly White Denim.
For what it’s worth, here’s my top ten list, in no particular order:
Girls / Father Son Holy Ghost
Fleet Foxes / Helplessness Blues
Real Estate / Days
Beirut / Rip Tide
Explosions in the Sky / Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
Cults / Cults
Panda Bear / Tomboy
Washed Out / Within and Without
Smith Westerns / Dye It Blonde
Tom Waits / Bad As Me
great list of albums. WASHED OUT was particularly timely for late summer
can you please sell these on your website so i can give you money instead of itunes?
I can’t believe there’s a list that Bon Iver isn’t on.
Really diggin’ AraabMuzik.
Clams Casino & The Weeknd should be in the top 5.
I love the bear photo, but how come there are never any pictures of gorillas??
Why has there been so little love for the James Pants album? I thought that was a pretty amazing and flawless record. Groovy and dark and inventive.
Great list this year! I look forward to another great year of gvb and another festival in Dallas! Your the best, good look to you and your family, I know you work hard at all this and we appreciate it.
1. Rustie – Glass Swords
2. Cliff Martinez – Drive Soundtrack
3. Fred Falke – IV
4. Com Truise – Galactic Melt
5. M83 – Hurry Up Were Dreaming
6. Metronomy – The English Rivera
7. Surkin – USA
8. Summer Camp – Welcome to Condale
9. Zola Jesus – Conatus
10. Bassnectar – Divergent Spectrum
Also there was a plethora of great ibiza (underground?) house tracks that came out this year from Maceo Plex, Laura Jones, Solomoun, Benoit and Sergio, and Danny Daze to name a few.
Is there a good reason why the new Neon Indian is not on this list?!?!
Great list!Shabazz Palaces are my #1 for sure!they are great!
i would add Girls and SBTRKT but u r still the closest to my taste in music!:)
Seriously?
TV on the Radio’s Nine Types of Light album video gets no love anywhere on this website?
Go back, watch it, pick any 3 songs to put up on this list.
nice List. But James Blake missing
Just my $.02
1. Gold Leaves – “The Ornament” * folk album of the year IMHO
rest in no order
Sic Alps – “Napa Asylum”
Ty Segall – “Goodbye Bread”
How To Dress Well – “Just Once EP”
Generationals – “Actor/Caster”
High Llamas – “Talahomi Way”
Fruit Bats – “Tripper”
A Hawk And A Hacksaw – “Cervantine”
1. Forever Dolphin Love – Connan Mockasin
2. Die Ewigkeit Lieder – Duck Feeling
3. Rhythms of Concrete – The Snobs
4. E Volo Love – François & The Atlas Mountains
5. Dissolve Me – The Feeling of Love
6. Belgotronics – Hoquets
7. Black Up – Shabazz Palaces
8. Goblin – Tyler The Creator
Seconded on that Connan Mockasin! He is a true gem. I’m so in love with his videos.
love it all but where is the naked nad famous?
Cannot believe there is no mention of youth lagoon’s the year of hibernation.
#beleedat
no mention of Youth Lagoon or Treasure Hunt? for shame.
Great list Chris. Just curious, did you not like Skying by The Horrors? Amazing album…
No Drums or youth lagoon, pretty off…
nope
YOU ARE NOW LISTENING TO ARAABMUZIK
no Arrested Development? for shame!
Top Ten 2011 CDs
1. Kaputt –Destroyer (Merge)
2. Tamer Animals -Other Lives (TBD)
3. Rain on a River -B-Movie Lightning (Micropolis)
4. Belong -The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Slumberland)
5. Go With Me –Seapony( Hardly Art)
6. Hearts -I Break Horses(Cooperative Music)
7. The Family Tree: The Roots -Radical Face (Bear Machine )
8. Celestial Electric -AM & Shawn Lee (ESL Music)
9. The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years –The Wild Swans (Kitten Charmer)
10. In the Morning We’ll Meet -Giorgio Tuma (Elefant)
surprised to not see James Blake or Big Krit on this list. Also, Washed Out’s album, albeit somewhat good, was also somewhat disappointing.
my list (2011)
John Maus – We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves (2011)
Washed Out – Within and Without (2011)
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues 2011
tUnE-YarDs – w h o k i l l
James Blake-James Blake-2011-ECHOES
Real Estate – Days
Echo Lake – Young Silence (2011)
Panda Bear – Tomboy (v0)
Atlas Sound / Parallax [2011]
Destroyer – Kaputt (2011)
Casa del Mirto – 1979 [320kbps]
Neon Indian – Era Extraña 320
Radiohead – 2011 – The King of Limbs (v0)
Apparat – The Devil’s Walk (2011)
Sun Glitters – everything could be fine – 2011
Bill Callahan – Apocalypse (Drag City, 2011)
Julian Lynch – Terra (v0)
Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise (2011)
Tropics – Parodia Flare (2011)
11th Dec 2011 | 15 notes
Sorry which year is this list for mate?
Shabazz Palaces = truly brilliant. Thank you for repping.
My best of 2011 list:
http://ludditestereo.net/2011/12/13/best-music-of-2011-20-16/
Your list is right on my man…Couldn’t have compiled a better one if I tried (plus I thank you for not trying to be so obscure as to alienate the rest of us less ambitious music seeking souls)
Happy Holidays!
I’m just glad White Denim made it so high on your list. I am still not seeing Clams Casino for the genius everyone thinks he is, apparently. Girls and St.Vincent deserve a place on anyone’s list, but hey, here’s to subjectivity. Definitely way off from mine, though.
real surprised by the lack of Girls, thought you guys loved ‘em. did FSHG flop in most circles or what’s the deal?
we definitely do love Girls, the new record just didn’t really hit us like the debut and the EP. still one of our favorite bands though
Where’s the year of hibernation from Youth Lagoon?
I keep trying to get into Shabazz Palaces, I know it was on everyones list, but I -JUST- DON’T-GET-IT…now I just feel stupid.
Nice lists everyone, a lot of stuff I had not heard.
To add- SBTRKT, MUTE MATH, THE ROOTS, BIBIO, Family Cactus, Grouplove, Fruit Bats.
Oh and that thing Jay Z And KAnye did wasn’t half bad either, now if only Kanye would just go away for a while longer….
did you enjoy/appreciate the Destroyer album??
Where’s Iceage’s New Brigade? My top’s this:
1.Iceage – New Brigade
2.Bombay Bicycle Club – A Different Kind of Fix
3.Flashguns – Passions of a Different Kind
4.Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will
5.Youth Lagoon – Year Of Hibernation
6.Wu Lyf – Go Telle Fire To The Mountain
7.The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – Belong
8.The Drums – Portamento
9.Cloud Nothings – Cloud Nothings
10.Summer Camp – Welcome To Condale
Here’s my list. If I had to pick a single top album, it would be Atlas Sound Parallax. http://meltedcassettetapes.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/eleven-for-2011-best-albums-of-2011/
I split up Mixtapes and Albums, but my top pick was Section.80
http://cassetted.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-10-albums-of-2011.html
what about kurt vile- smoke ring for my halo?
or atlas sound- parallax?
No Rustie, No Tom Waits, No TKOL, No James Blake and Nico Jaar at Number 30?
you need to get onto this. We make the Bear shit itself.
http://www.theweirdplace.net/
this list is damn predictable and boring, what the hell is happening to indie blogs, you guys used to be the shizzle. blogs lik eurs used to be shining lights fo people that didnt know music, now they are homogenized bland crapola cookie cutting lists. Cmon gorilla vs bear …shabazz places, really!? yeah ok cool indie hop hop, but dig a little deeper, they are so many more obscure records that you need to source. c’mon pick up your game!
That sandwitches, the worse thing i have ever heard in my life, she doesn’t even sing in key!
you’re insane. would love to see your list
http://tinyurl.com/8249mbw
1. Craft Spells – Idle Labor
2. Youth Lagoon – The Year Of Hibernation
3. Crystal Stilts – In Love With Oblivion
4. Minks – By the Hedge
5. Dum Dum Girls – Only in Dreams
6. Dirty Beaches – Badlands
7. Pure X – Pleasure
8. Widowspeak – Widowspeak
9. Still Corners – Creatures of an Hour
10. Twin Sister – In Heaven
11. Beach Fossils – What a Pleasure
12. Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest
13. Tennis – Cape Dory
14. Girl in a Coma – Exits & All The Rest
15. Ben + Vesper – HONORS
16. Girls Names – Dead To Me
17. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
18. Memory Tapes – Player Piano
19. Veronica Falls – Veronica Falls
20. Seapony – Go With Me
21. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming.
22. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong
23. Thievery Corporation – Culture of Fear
24. David Lynch – Crazy Clown Time
25. The Fall – Ersatz G.B.
26. Limes – Tarantula! / Blue Blood
27. HOTEL MEXICO – HIS JEWELLED LETTER BOX
28. Forest Fire – Staring At The X
29. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
30. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings – Soul Time!
31. White Fence – Is Growing Faith
32. Soft Moon – Total Decay
33. Blouse – Blouse
34. Sin Fang – Summer Echoes
35. Washed Out – Within and Without
36. The Feelies – Here Before
37. Twilight Hotel – When The Wolves Go Blind
38. Little Wings – Black Grass
39. Bear – The Bear
40. The Weather Station – All Of It Was Mine
41. Woods – Sun and Shade
42. The Loom – Teeth
43. The Sandwitches – Mrs. Jones’ Cookies
44. Megafaun – Megafaun
45. Cotton Jones – Sit Beside Your Vegetables
46. Memoryhouse – The Years
47. Grouper – A I A : Alien Observer
48. Grouper – A I A : Dream Loss
49. Peaking Lights – 936
50. A Winged Victory for the Sullen – A Winged Victory for the Sullen
AND WHAT ABOUT TRIPPER ? WHAT ABOUT HELLA’S FRINGIIIN’ TRIPPER GAT DAMMIT
no replica!?!? it was better than channel pressure, c’mon…
Youth Lagoon
The Drums
Burning Hotels
Smith Westerns
Bombay Bicycle Club
Real Estate
The Sandwitches
Washed Out
RIP Esme!!!!!
So what’s the deal with Fleet Foxes? Are they too “mainstream” for your list now? I only saw one of the staff pick Helplessness Blues. Seriously, guys; that album will be what people remember from 2011.
Like the Panda Bear. Like the White Denim. Now there’s a band that doesn’t seem to pop up that much on other blogs. They’re really terrific, too.
I’m more of a Broadcast guy myself. I dig the Tennis cover of Tears in the Typing Pool. Looking forward to the new posthumous album, you can read about it in Under the Radar issue 38.
But no St. Vincent? No Girls? Well, I guess I’d rather find out about new music, but some affirmation is always nice.
It is so funny reading people’s responses to best of lists. Why such indignation folks!? Isn’t subjectivity and difference of opinion what makes art so exciting? It is OK that G vs B has a different best of list than you. They aren’t trying to offend you by telling you what their favourite albums are, and I don’t think they are lying either…
I completely agree
….Mommy!… The bad man upset my feelings…