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?