2011 saw the rise and rise of Simon Cowell who gave us shocking artists like Cher Lloyd, Labrinth and any other parasite from his soul sucking TV shows that produce the same generic pop, dance and bass that is clogging the arteries of music. However, look hard enough and you will see that 2011 produced some real gems. This list will contain (what I consider) the top 50 albums released in 2011.
1. Björk – Biophilia. One of the all time greatest albums, a truly stunning piece of work where each song is carefully crafted but 
occasionally there is a burst of energy.
2. Kate Bush – Director’s Cut. Bush revisits two previous albums to create a beautiful album full of calm and ambience.
3. Foster the People – Torches. Fusing indie, pop and dance to create one hell of a catchy album that showcases a band so full of potential.
4. Bright Eyes – The People’s Key. The amps are turned up to show that Conor Oberst’s main project can have fun too. While the delicate moments highlight why he and the band are so highly regarded.
5. Kasabian – Velociraptor! It’s raw, it’s powerful, it’s effortlessly cool; it’s just bloody awesome.
6. Feist – Metals. Sweet melodies with an incredible voice.
7. Bon Iver – Bon Iver. Beautiful and sparse, a truly stunning second album.
8. James Vincent McMorrow – Early In The Morning. A quiet, haunting debut.
9. P.J Harvey – Let England Shake. Brutal lyrics softened by gentle melodies which creates an uneasy listen.
10. The Crookes – Chasing After Ghosts. Great lyrics, great music, great style.
11. Wild Beats – Smother
12. Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow
13. Miles Kane – Colour of the Trap
14. Ryan Adams – Ashes and Fire
15. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
16. The Felice Brothers – Celebration, Florida
17. The Decemberists – The King is Dead
18. Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See
19. Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde
20. Alex Turner – Submarine EP
21. Yuck – Yuck
22. Real Estate – Days
23. The Rural Alberta Advantage – Departing
24. Dananananaykroyd – There Is A Way
25. Metronomy – The English Riviera
26. Peggy Sue – Acrobats
27. Death Cab For Cutie – Codes and Keys
28. The Horrible Crowes – Elsie
29. Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
30. Drive OST
31. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
32. Dead Sons – Boom Boom EP
33. Patrick Wolf – Lupercalia
34. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
35. The Joy Formidable – The Big Roar
36. White Denim – D
37. Cage The Elephant – Thank You Happy Birthday
38. Wolf Gang – Suego Faults
39. Kurt Vile – Smoking Ring For My Halo
40. TV on the Radio – Nine Types of Light
41. Slow Club – Paradise
42. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient
43. Ben Carrigan – The Greatest Narrators
44. Beady Eye – Different Gear, Still Speeding
45. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
46. Cults – Cults
47. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
48. Tune-Yards – W H O K I L L
49. The Strokes -Angles
50. The Subways – Money and Celebrity
rt2011
/ 14/12/2011You can also download the playlist at http://open.spotify.com/user/racht09/playlist/2DH3abT1TP4iGBjgfvVscn
Enjoy, NorthernRoom
Ethan Greenwood
/ 20/12/2011Glad you included the “Submarine EP” – that was a beautiful little disc that I feel is going to get overlooked in many of these lists. “I heard an unhappy ending, it sort of sounds like you leaving.” Not too many people are writing lyrics like that these days…
My only advice: make some room in there for Lykke Li’s “Wounded Rhymes”! 🙂
rt2011
/ 03/01/2012I have to agree Lykke Li’s album was fantastic, but there was a lot of other great albums that I cut such as Cloud Nothing, The Sea and Cake and Wilco. It is a shame but there had to be a cut off point.
I have to agree again with you about Alex Turner. He can do no wrong in my eyes, except maybe his quiff.
Ethan Greenwood
/ 03/01/2012Man, I had no idea there was a word for that hairstyle. But yes, that certainly needs to stop…
Feel free to check out/blast my year-end list! Shameless plug! http://lettersfromthewasteland.com/2011/12/30/best-albums-of-2011/
l0z3rk1d182
/ 11/01/2012Nice list!