Top Albums Of 2011

These are my top 10 albums of 2011:

1. The Kills – Blood Pressures

This fourth album from The Kills is simply spectacular. With pounding drumbeats and excellent guitar playing, as well as interesting lyrics and powerful vocals from both Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince, every song is grand. It is nearly impossible not to listen to the whole thing all the way through. It isn’t all loud though – there is the soft, lilting “The Last Goodbye”, a sad song about a failed romance that sounds like it is being played on an old record player, and the quiet, simple, almost John Lennon-esque sound of  “Wild Charms”, which is much too short at only 1:15.  It is a perfect collection of songs, with plenty of variety, yet not a single track feels out of place. Blood Pressures is without a doubt my favorite album of the year.

Favorite Tracks: Future Starts Slow, DNA, Baby Says, The Last Goodbye, Satellite

2. Florence & The Machine - Ceremonials

One word to describe Florence’s second album: magical. This is truly a beautiful record. Florence Welch’s voice is as lovely as ever, and the songs resonate with a power that is hard to describe. The lyrics are amazing, and filled with poetry and meaning. Her backing band – the machine – provides excellent instrumentation for each track. Like Blood Pressures, the collection is unified, and difficult to listen to individually, but rather a full listening experience. I found this album even better than her debut, Lungs, which although is a great album, can never top the pure magnificence of Ceremonials.

Favorite Tracks: No Light, No Light, Only If For A Night, What The Water Gave Me, Leave My Body, Shake It Out

3.  Arctic Monkeys - Suck It And See

Though the album cover may be plain and boring, the songs are not at all. This fourth album from British band Arctic Monkeys is magnificent. As always, Alex Turner’s voice is as handsome as he is. The guitars and drums are excellent and powerful. The whole album has a balance between soft and loud that is difficult to describe. I had the opportunity to see them live in October, and they were just as amazing on stage as they are on their records (I’ll be seeing them again in March, opening for The Black Keys, which should be a great show!).  (Side Note: Alex Turner’s solo EP, Submarine, which also came out this year, and I just discovered and listened to a minute ago, is also really good.)

Favorite Tracks: Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair, Reckless Serenade, Black Treacle, Suck It And See, Love Is A Laserquest

 4. Sleeper Agent - Celabrasion

This debut album by new band Sleeper Agent, from Kentucky, is awesome. The harmony between Alex Kandel and Tony Smith’s voices is amazing, and makes the songs all the more powerful. It is mostly loud and will have you rocking out the whole time. This is yet another album that is very whole and should be listened to straight through. I also recommend you go to their website and watch their acoustic performances at the Tennessee State Prison, which shows that they can play just as well quiet as loud. I didn’t start listening to this record until almost the last month of the year, but after I heard it once I couldn’t stop listening.

Favorite Tracks: Get It Daddy, Love Blood, Be My Monster, Get Burned, That’s My Baby, Far And Wide

5. The Submarines - Love Notes/Letter Bombs

This third album from couple Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti is a real treat. The simple, sweet songs about love are absolutely delightful, and it’s hard not to smile while listening to it. Both member’s vocals are beautiful, and the instrumentation is lovely, but the singing is what really stands out. Every track is excellent, from beginning to end.

Favorite Tracks: A Satellite, Stars, And An Ocean Behind You, Tigers, Birds, Shoelaces, The Sun Shines At Night

 

 

6. The Black Keys - El Camino

 

Although I’ve been rocking out to first single “Lonely Boy” since it came out, and heard a couple other tracks on the radio, I didn’t get a chance to listen to El Camino in full until today. But it is still making my list, because it is truly amazing. The duo’s blues-rock style is evident, and the uptempo beats and catchy tunes will make you want to dance. Dan Auerbach’s voice is rich and vibrant, and the lyrics are brilliant.

Favorite Tracks: Lonely Boy, Little Black Submarines, Gold On The Ceiling, Run Right Back, Sister, Nova Baby

7. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

The first time my sister tried to introduce me to Dawes, with their song “When My Time Comes” from their first release, North Hills, I rejected it, saying it was “too country”. Later she convinced me to listen to Nothing Is Wrong, and I enjoyed it very much. Since then, I’ve re-listened to “When My Time Comes” and I don’t know what I was thinking that first time, as it is a great song. But back to Nothing Is Wrong, a lovely album, full of poetry and emotion. Taylor Goldsmith’s voice is beautiful and every track is wonderful. (Side Note: Though this version of “Million Dollar Bill” is great, I recommend the Middle Brother version even more, Taylor’s side project which also includes John McCauley of Deer Tick and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit.)

Favorite Tracks: A Little Bit of Everything, Fire Away, If I Wanted Someone, So Well

8. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes And Keys

This is yet another impressive album from Seattle-based band Death Cab For Cutie. Every song is gorgeous and the lyrics, which talk of life and love, are very profound and poetic. The instrumentation is fabulous and backs Ben Gibbard’s splendid and soulful voice perfectly. This album is simply grand.

Favorite Tracks: Stay Young, Go Dancing, Codes And Keys, Underneath The Sycamore, Some Boys, Home Is A Fire

 

9. Feist - Metals

Leslie Feist’s latest release is as impressive as her last two albums. Her voice is lovely as always and the lyrics are pure poetry. The songs are full of emotion. Most of the tracks are quiet and simple, though it gets slightly louder on some songs, like “A Commotion” and “The Undiscovered First”. All the songs have a light, clear feeling to them, like a peaceful spring day. This is truly a beautiful record.

Favorite Tracks: How Come You Never Go There, The Bad In Each Other, A Commotion, Undiscovered First, Comfort Me

10. Only Son - Searchlight

I discovered this album from Regina Spektor’s post about it on Facebook, as she sings with Jack Dishel on the track “Call Them Brothers”. I listened to that song and loved it, so I listened to the whole thing and bought it later. It is very good and Jack Dishel has a lovely voice. Most of the songs are quiet and soft, except for the loud, energetic “Stamp Your Name On It”.  The quieter songs are almost like stories, and are beautiful and poetic.

Favorite Tracks: Call Them Brothers (Feat. Regina Spektor), Stamp Your Name On It, It’s a Boy, Solo Mission

Thanks for reading! Tell me your favorite albums in the comments below. Top five concerts coming tomorrow. :)