The big news for 2011 was Spotify. Now the only excuse for not hearing something this year was a lack of time. Every year, I question the validity of a list like the one below. Take it on face value…these are just the records (yes records) that floated my boat this past year. The ranking really doesn’t make any difference…if it’s on the list, it’s because I like it. Use it any way you choose…as a guide…as reference…as a point for arguments with me…as garbage…
Have a great holiday season and an even better new year!
TOP ALBUMS 2011
- Wilco: The Whole Love
- Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: Mirror Traffic
- Tom Waits: Bad As Me
- tUnE-yArDs: whokill
- Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues
- Paul Simon: So Beautiful Or So What
- Danger Mouse & Daniel Luppi: Rome
- Starfucker: Reptilians
- Lykke Li: Wounded Rhymes
- Deerhoof: Deerhoof vs. Evil
- Battles: Gloss Drop
- Black Keys: El Camino
- Nick Lowe: The Old Magic
- Glen Campbell: Ghost On The Canvas
- Ryan Adams: Ashes And Fire
- Casiokids: Aabenbaringen over aaskammen
- Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo
- Dodos: No Color
- St. Vincent: Strange Mercy
- TV On The Radio: Nine Types Of Light
- Laura Marling: A Creature I Don’t Know
- Cut Copy: Zonoscope
- Vince Gill: Guitar Slinger
- The Roots: undun
- Of Montreal: thecontrollersphere
- Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke & Lenny White: Forever
- Wild Flag
- Rihanna: Talk That Talk
- Bill Callahan: Apocalypse
- Radiohead: King Of Limbs
- P.J. Harvey: Let England Shake
- Thurston Moore: Demolished Thoughts
- Drake: Take Care
- M83: Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
- Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
- My Morning Jacket: Circuital
- Das Racist: Relax
- Beastie Boys: Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
- Steve Earle: I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
- The Strokes: Angles
REISSUES
- Grateful Dead: Complete Europe ‘72
- The Beach Boys: Smile Sessions
- Miles Davis Quintet: Live In Europe 1967
- The Who: Quadrophenia Deluxe
- U2: Achtung Baby Deluxe
- The Sir Douglas Quintet: Complete Mono Singles 1968-1972
- Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings: Soul Time
- The JB’s & Fred Wesley: The Lost Album
- Smashing Pumpkins: Siamese Dreams Deluxe
- Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs: The Complete MGM Singles
