2011car
My top 25 of the year, this was so hard to decide. Beyond this, there's just too many albums for me to rank, that are all equally fantastic. This was the year I really discovered music, with my taste expanding in ways I never thought it would - especially Electronic music, in all it's fantastic forms. |
| 25 |  | Empty Space Orchestra
Empty Space Orchestra
Honourable mentions: Basically everything I've given a four to this year. There's been that many good albums, that my 3.5's (which are all great records in their own right) haven't even gotten a look in. |
| 24 | | M83
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
Bombastic, funky, cheesy and fun. But with a dark undercurrent. Check out: Midnight City |
| 23 |  | Tim Hecker
Ravedeath, 1972
Ambient, but not as you know it. Check out: In the Air I, II and III |
| 22 |  | Laura Stevenson and the Cans
Sit Resist
The cutest album of 2011. And that is a very good thing. Check out: Master of Art |
| 21 |  | fLako
The Mesektet
Glitchy Hip-Hop beats, hazy bass and hash smoke. Check out: Yeahyeahyeah |
| 20 |  | CunninLynguists
Oneirology
Amazing production and beats...the instrumental version might be even better tbh. Check out: Darkness (Dream On) |
| 19 |  | James Blake
James Blake
James Blake proves he deserves to be the poster boy of forward thinking electronic music. Check out: Limit to Your Love |
| 18 |  | Chuck Ragan
Covering Ground
Makes you want to sit round a fire and sing till your Whiskey ravaged throat gives in. Check out: You Get What You Give |
| 17 | | Johann Johannsson
The Miners' Hymns
Soaring, majestic Modern Classical. Check out: The whole thing. |
| 16 | | Laura Marling
A Creature I Don't Know
Laura Marling reclaims her crown as Queen of Folk. Check out: Sophia |
| 15 |  | Mastodon
The Hunter
Worst album cover of the year, also possibly the best riffs of the year. Check out: Curl of the Burl, Black Tongue |
| 14 |  | Departures
When Losing Everything Is Everything You Wanted
Representing UKHC, this is emotional, angry and will rip your head off. Check out: A Life in Pieces |
| 13 |  | Trophy Scars
Never Born, Never Dead
Post-Hardcore is alive and kicking in 2011 - technically an EP, but too good to leave out. Check out: Snake Oil |
| 12 |  | Blazo
Colors of Jazz
The chillest album of the year, Jazz-Hop. Check out: Sky Blue |
| 11 | | O'Brother
Garden Window
O'Brother get dark, nasty and loud. And it's awesome. Check out: Poison!, both Machines songs. |
| 10 |  | Cloudkicker
Let Yourself Be Huge
This guy's talent is incredible. Check out: You and Yours |
| 9 |  | The Roots
Undun
Given how recently this came out, should tell you how damn good it is. Check out: Lighthouse, I Remember |
| 8 |  | Cave In
White Silence
Cave In return and show everyone else how it's supposed to be done. Check out: Sing My Loves |
| 7 |  | Raekwon
Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
Rae relives Wu's past glories, whilst pushing the clan into the future, with the rap record of the year. Check out: Every Soldier in the Hood, Butter Knives, Masters of our Fate |
| 6 |  | Thursday
No Devolucion
A fitting swan-song for Thursday, their best since Full Collapse. Check out: Stay True |
| 5 |  | Stendeck
Scintilla
The most underrated AotY candidate. Check out: Learning How To Walk Through Walls, Hold My Hand High In The Sky Ready For The Deep Dive |
| 4 |  | Zomby
Dedication
Dark, sensual, intelligent, everythin electronic music should be about. Check out: Things Fall Apart, Natalia's Song, Lucifer |
| 3 |  | Submotion Orchestra
Finest Hour
Finest Hour indeed...stunning jazz influenced dubstep. Check out: Always, All Yours |
| 2 |  | Thrice
Major/Minor
Thrice delivers the perfect summary of all their different styles, in one place Check out: Anthology, Promises, Words in the Water |
| 1 |  | Swarms
Old Raves End
Beautiful, epic and innovative. Check out: Flikr of Ur Eyes, T-1000, Sky Below Sea |
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