Your Top 10 albums of 2011

[AppleQueso]

Very eclectic group here as far as music goes.

Yeah, I think there's only been maybe 2 or 3 albums in this thread mentioned in more than one person's list.

[fvgazi]

**Edit .. now top 10. I had to search through my new records and find out when they were actually released.. lol **
I only have a top 9 so far. No particular order, but i've been spinning these records a lot.

Liturgy - Aesthetica[Metal] -I saw these guys live expecting regular black metal. This album is a wall of guitar chords and math rock. They get a bad rap for being "hipster black metal" but I'm not even sure they are black metal. Long, repetitive, meditative riffs and some of the most ridiculous blast beats and drum patterns i've ever heard. - Good pick Aaron!!

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming[Shoegaze/pop] This has showed up on a few lists. Therefore I'm not going to add a description.

Krallice - Diotoma[Black Metal] This is like... post apocalyptic black metal I guess. The riffs remind me of video games. Mick Barr and Colin Marston really have an interesting guitar interplay. Some of the riffs are these odd time almost atonal patterns that just make you go .. wtf?

Fucked Up - David's Life[Rock/Hardcore] Didn't like this album at first, but it grew on me. It's very long too. Catchy songs with hardcore vocals and excellent production that maintains the rawness of the band. These guys are beyond the midtempo 80's hardcore they used to be... so I will call them a rock band now.

Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will[Post-Rock] Might take my spot for favorite release from Mogwai. A much more uplifting record steeped in layered guitars and synth that makes a repetitive song interesting and fresh. If you're already a fan of Mogwai, this record is like taking all the best parts of every song and only playing those parts.

Tonetta - 777 Voume III[Lo-Fi Dance Punk/Rock] Found this guy very late in 2011, but he's pretty interesting. Lo-Fi Hyper-Sexualied post-punk made by one guy who cross-dresses. I love the production and his vocal delivery. It's dirty, wet, and raspy. Fun record to dance to.

Deerhoof - Deerhoof Vs Evil[Art Rock] I just can't get enough of this band. Deerhoof takes a step towards maybe a little poppier music. Still throwing wrenches in bland parts by making them out of tune or using really dissonant chords in the middle of a beatles-esque parts. Their minimalism really helps the heavy parts explode. This record is catchy and has some of the most interesting guitar sound and arrangement i've ever heard. Oh yeah... female japanese vocalist (might turn some people off). They are from The northeast USA, though.

Hella - Tripper[Math Rock] Yay! Back to a 2 piece. Hella goes back to their old formula with a slight maturity. I don't hear the insane math tapping riffs as much, but they do a lot of really cool key changes and can stop on a dime when you might feel confused by the music.

Zomes - Earth Grid [Lo-Fi/Meditative/???] One of my favorite guitarists from one of my favorite bands EVER(Lungfish)! Plays a repetative keyboard pattern with this fuzz over it. I know barely anyone likes this style of music, but one of my favorite things about lungfish was how they used to hang on one sick riff for a few minutes and make this incredibly dynamic energetic song. Asa Osbourne in Zomes does this with a keyboard for me.

Tycho - Dive [Slow Wave/Electro] What a great album to chill too. So pleasant and soft. I don't know how to describe this record other than it sounds like a pillow. If you liked the M83 album you might be interested by this one. It's all instrumental.

I'm a bit dissapointed I didn't listen to new hip-hop as much this year. I also missed a ton records like the new Amebix!

[Luke]

Very eclectic group here as far as music goes.

Yeah, I think there's only been maybe 2 or 3 albums in this thread mentioned in more than one person's list.

Fugavi and I both listed M83, and I think some guys like the Kanye/Jay-z colab, but other than that we're all over the place. I point this out, because I think it's awesome.

[AppleQueso]

Very eclectic group here as far as music goes.

Yeah, I think there's only been maybe 2 or 3 albums in this thread mentioned in more than one person's list.

Fugavi and I both listed M83, and I think some guys like the Kanye/Jay-z colab, but other than that we're all over the place. I point this out, because I think it's awesome.

Yeah I agree. I'd suggest we do a cd-length Racketboy playlist, but I imagine that'd be a confused, jumbled mess!

[corn619]

My music taste is a bit different than most of you guys, but here's what I bought in 2011.

#1 Brown Bird - Salt For Salt
They are from RI and his voice will give you goosebumps. They are awesome if you like bluesy, rootsy music with a bluegrass twang. My favorite album this year hands down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_LMMQqBwjk

#2 Mastodon - The Hunter
What can I say, if you like heavy metal and you don't know who they are shame on you.

#3 Machine Head - Unto The Locust
Read #2s comments.

#4 The Parlor Mob - Dogs
If you like Led Zeppelin, you'll like the Parlor Mob.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQUK5mal8kY

#5 Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster IV
Southern heavy metal, hard rock. These guys are great though I thought the album before this one was better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQUK5mal8kY

#6 Chevelle - Hats Off To The Bull.
Another great album by Chevelle.

That's really it though. I've been building up my Melvin's music as well. Oddly enough I've been buying a ton of 90s west coast rap. I've been finding 90s rap to be very festive music and fun to listen to when out partying with my friends.

[Metal Jesus]

Really have to do a shoutout to Dream Theater's A Dramatic Turn of Events. I was skeptical they could survive original band member Mike Portnoy leaving, but the new dude is fantastic too. Great album!

Also really digging Steel Panther's Balls Out. Too funny!

[aaron]

added some descriptions to my post. y'all should listen to what i listen to, cause what i listen to is awesome.

i've been meaning to check out a ton of these records you guys have been posting. been a slow music year for me :\

[Lone Wanderer]

Oh, they had to have come out in 2011... None.

The Drug in Me is You did.

[OldSchool_Boy]

1. Cyrus Malachi - Ancient Future
2. Apathy - Honkey Kong
3. MOP - Sparta
4. Grieves - Together Apart
5. Canibus - Lyrical Law
6. Reks - Rhymatic Eternal King Supreme (REKS)
7. Evidence - Cats & Dogs
8. Savage Bros & Lord Lhus - The Iron Fist
9. Asylum Lifetime & Sherm Larock - Political Asylum
10. Pharaohe Monch - We Are Renegades (WAR)

Nice list. I haven't heard of Ancient Future, The Iron Fist, or Political Asylum. I will be looking out for those. I agree with Honkey Kong being a strong release. Great production on it along with features (The Recipe with Xzibit is GREAT). Sparta seems to be something to get sooner than later. That Grieves album was something where I would see comparisons to Atmosphere and I don't really care much for them except for a song or two. Canibus is someone that I haven't been paying much attention to. REKS is someone else that is completely new to me and I have been meaning to get into his catalog. My favorite track off Cats & Dogs is the Alchemist produced The Red Carpet feat. Ras Kass and Raekwon. We Are Renegades had a couple days on constant rotation and I might have to give another listen soon.

[Stark]

Sorry I'm not too good at reviews so just a short list:

1.) The Head and the Heart - Self-titled
2.) Death Cab for Cutie - Codes and Keys
3.) The Black Keys - El Camino
4.) Feist - Metals
5.) Florence and the Machine - Ceremonials