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Prefix's Top Albums of 2011

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 81

Based on 500 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Hip Hop (7), Experimental (5), Indie Rock (4), Folk (4), Electronic (4), Indie Folk (3), Lo-Fi (3), Alternative Rock (2), Dubstep (2), Experimental Rock (2), Post-Rock (2), Drone (2), Indie Pop (2), Hardcore Punk (1), Pop (1), R&B (1), Dream Pop (1), Singer-Songwriter (1), Noise Rock (1), Rock (1), Chillwave (1), Jazz (1)

1. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

88

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
13 ratings

2. Destroyer - Kaputt

Destroyer - Kaputt

MUST HEAR

Released: Jan 25th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
29 ratings

3. Danny Brown - XXX

Danny Brown - XXX

Released: Aug 15th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
12 ratings

4. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

Released: Jun 7th, 2011
Genre: Hardcore Punk

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
8 ratings

5. Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne

Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne

Released: Aug 8th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
22 ratings

6. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

Released: Apr 19th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
24 ratings

7. Real Estate - Days

Real Estate - Days

MUST HEAR

Released: Oct 18th, 2011
Genre: Lo-Fi

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
23 ratings

8. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

MUST HEAR

Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

89

Based on
52 ratings

9. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo

Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo

MUST HEAR

Released: Mar 8th, 2011
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
17 ratings

10. Drake - Take Care

Drake - Take Care

Released: Nov 15th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
17 ratings

11. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Released: Oct 18th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
34 ratings

12. EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints

EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints

MUST HEAR

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
13 ratings

13. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient

The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient

Released: Aug 16th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
10 ratings

14. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

MUST HEAR

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

89

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

88

Based on
37 ratings

15. Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges

Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges

Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

88

Based on
7 ratings

16. James Blake - James Blake

James Blake - James Blake

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
42 ratings

17. Panda Bear - Tomboy

Panda Bear - Tomboy

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
13 ratings

18. Das Racist - Relax

Das Racist - Relax

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
5 ratings

19. The Weeknd - House of Balloons

The Weeknd - House of Balloons

MUST HEAR

Released: Mar 21st, 2011
Genre: R&B

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

90

Based on
20 ratings

20. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Released: May 3rd, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

86

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
35 ratings

21. Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972

Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Drone

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
9 ratings

22. Yuck - Yuck

Yuck - Yuck

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
15 ratings

23. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Released: Feb 19th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
37 ratings

24. Big K.R.I.T. - Return Of 4eva

Big K.R.I.T. - Return Of 4eva

Released: Mar 22nd, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
4 ratings

25. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Lo-Fi

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
6 ratings

26. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
2 ratings

27. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
15 ratings

28. Josh T. Pearson - Last of the Country Gentlemen

Josh T. Pearson - Last of the Country Gentlemen

Released: Mar 29th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
1 rating

29. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

MUST HEAR

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
22 ratings

30. Beirut - The Rip Tide

Beirut - The Rip Tide

Released: Aug 30th, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
14 ratings

31. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam

Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam

Released: Mar 8th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

71

Based on
1 rating

32. Austra - Feel It Break

Austra - Feel It Break

Released: May 17th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
13 ratings

33. Cass McCombs - WIT'S END

Cass McCombs - WIT'S END

Released: Apr 26th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

88

Based on
2 ratings

34. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
9 ratings

35. Atlas Sound - Parallax

Atlas Sound - Parallax

MUST HEAR

Released: Nov 8th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
13 ratings

36. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

MUST HEAR

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Dream Pop

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
30 ratings

37. Dirty Beaches - Badlands

Dirty Beaches - Badlands

Released: Mar 29th, 2011
Genre: Lo-Fi

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

66

Based on
4 ratings

38. Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings - Cloud Nothings

Released: Jan 25th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
6 ratings

39. Washed Out - Within and Without

Washed Out - Within and Without

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 12th, 2011
Genre: Chillwave

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
12 ratings

40. Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
8 ratings

41. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

90

Based on
18 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
35 ratings

42. Grails - Deep Politics

Grails - Deep Politics

Released: Mar 8th, 2011
Genre: Post-Rock

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
1 rating

43. Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens De Couleur Libre

Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens De Couleur Libre

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Jazz

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

44. Peaking Lights - 936

Peaking Lights - 936

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
4 ratings

45. Clams Casino - Instrumental

Clams Casino - Instrumental

Released: Mar 2nd, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

77

Based on
4 ratings

46. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

Released: Nov 8th, 2011
Genre: Drone

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

89

Based on
11 ratings

47. Young Widows - In and Out of Youth and Lightness

Young Widows - In and Out of Youth and Lightness

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Noise Rock

CRITIC SCORE

66

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

48. Beyoncé - 4

Beyoncé - 4

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Pop

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
5 ratings

49. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Post-Rock

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
7 ratings

50. Vetiver - The Errant Charm

Vetiver - The Errant Charm

Released: Jun 14th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
1 rating

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.prefixmag.com/features/beyonce-clams-casino-grails-mogwai-oneohtrix-point-never-peaking-lights-pj-harvey-vetiver-young-widows/prefixs-top-50-albums-2011-50-41/59573/

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Consequence of Sound

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Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM PREFIX:

Check out our 2011 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS

2011 YEAR END SUMMARY

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PopMatters (Worst Albums)

PopMatters (Electronic)

PopMatters (Indie Pop)

PopMatters (Indie Rock)

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