My Albums of the Year: 2011
Yes, it’s that time of year – the “album list” blog post. But this one is slightly different. This is purely based on the albums I’ve listened to this year from 2011, ordered by my favourite right down to my “least” favourite. In that respect, these are MY albums of the year. I won’t like the same albums you will and vice versa so saying “why is X not ahead of Y” is futile. This is a common disclaimer in these kinds of posts and it’s a shame but it needs to be said. So, enough of all that.
Here’s the list!
53. Tha Carter IV – Lil Wayne
Album in six words: Hash tag crap, but Busta killed
52. Revolver – T-Pain
Album in six words: Can’t teach old dog better tricks
51. Take Care – Drake
Album in six words: Struggle bars and lots of moisture
50. Radioactive – Yelawolf
Album in six words: Toxic waste, maybe. New Eminem? HAHA!
49. Section.80 – Kendrick Lamar
Album in six words: Sorry, I just couldn’t feel it
48. Scars & Stripes – The Away Team
Album in six words: Okay hip hop, nothing more really
47. XXX – Danny Brown
Album in six words: Album of two halves, second better
46. Thursday – The Weeknd
Album in six words: Not my kinda vibe, but good
45. Echoes of Silence – The Weeknd
Album in six words: Same as above, a little better
44. Audio, Video, Disco – Justice
Album in six words: Was expecting better, same ol’ electropop
43. The Presentation – LA
Album in six words: Great effort from a female MC
42. Mondo Amore – Nicole Atkins
Album in six words: Just how I like my rock
41. Watch The Throne – Kanye West/Jay-Z
Album in six words: Overhyped, but otherwise return to form
40. The Martyr – Immortal Technique
Album in six words: Goes in hard, comes out well
39. Dirty Pretty Things – Rapper Big Pooh
Album in six words: Great effort, half of Big Brother
38. Cole World: The Sideline Story – J Cole
Album in six words: Jack of all trades, mastery imminent?
37. THE PRESTIGE: Jam Boy Magic – Money Making Jam Boys
Album in six words: Top quality, obviously it’s Black Thought
36. COPYCAT (a Dilla Tribute) – vlooper
Album in six words: Dilla tribute? This was done well
35. The Wonder Years – 9th Wonder
Album in six words: Wanted a little more, solid nevertheless
34. Population Control – Statik Selektah
Album in six words: Great work featuring some brilliant MCs
33. My Life II The Journey Continues (Act I) – Mary J Blige
Album in six words: Mary did her thing, nice soul
32. Immortal – Michael Jackson
Album in six words: Less of an album, more extravaganza
31. Darkest Before The Dawn – Daikatamy
Album in six words: Great sample selection, not quite dead
30. Winston’s Appeal LP – Curly Castro
Album in six words: Catchy hip hop groove, underground shit!
29. The Most Awkward – Knowsum
Album in six words: Same as above, top German shit!
28. High Life – Vanilla
Album in six words: Great sampling flipping, a UK treat
27. El Camino – The Black Keys
Album in six words: Fuzzy goodness courtesy of Danger Mouse
26. Camp – Childish Gambino
Album in six words: “Don’t take it seriously” hip hop
25. The Renaissance - Verandah-Maureen Shepard
Album in six words: Sweet voice caressing sweeter prose
24. Mylo Xyloto – Coldplay
Album in six words: Usual Coldplay, playable pop (controversial opinion)
23. Random Axe – Random Axe
Album in six words: Rough around the edges, just right
22. Deerhoof vs. Evil – Deerhoof
Album in six words: German rock laced with Japanese charm
21. Beat Beast – Audiodope
Album in six words: Clues in the name, Swiss dopeness
20. Soundcheck – Suhnraw
Album in six words: Generous offering, Raw Soul indeed
19. Ceremonials – Florence + The Machine
Album in six words: Red head, pale skin, pop album
18. Perfectionist – Natalia Kills
Album in six words: Bradford plus Uruguay equals hell yes
17. Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam – Ghostpoet
Album in six words: Great production, nice experimental flow here
16. Ambition – Wale
Album in six words: Better than his debut, top quality
15. Master of Ceremonies – Styles P
Album in six words: Don’t sleep on this one, okay?
14. Wasting Light – Foo Fighters
Album in six words: First foray into hard rock. Brilliant.
13. New Blood – Peter Gabriel
Album in six words: Lovely orchestral covers of Gabriel’s best
13. Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars
Album in six words: Phenomenal chemistry from two good friends
12. Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang – Raekwon
Album in six words: That’s some tight production. Wu-tang!
11. Monumental - Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun
Album in six words: Pete Rock at his very best
10. The Light of the Sun – Jill Scott
Album in six words: She’s still got it, hot soul
9. Pala – Friendly Fires
Album in six words: Had this on repeat late Summer
8. Habits of the Heart – Idle Warship
Album in six words: Almost my favourite hip hop collab
7. The Greatest Story Never Told – Saigon
Album in six words: This shit goes IN. Cop it!
6. 21 – Adele
Album in six words: British soul for a new age
5. Metals – Feist
Album in six words: My favourite folk album currently. Tremendous!
4. Charity Starts At Home – Phonte
Album in six words: So close to #1, fantastic album
3. Elmatic – Elzhi
Album in six words: Superb reinterpretation of a classic album
2. The Dreamer/The Believer – Common
Album in six words: Hip hop doesn’t get much better
And at #1…
1. Undun – The Roots
Album in six words: This album: starting a new era?