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Spinner's 40 Best Albums of 2011

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 78

Based on 417 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Indie Rock (6), Indie Pop (5), Electronic (3), Chillwave (3), Rock (3), Experimental (2), Alternative Rock (2), R&B (2), Lo-Fi (2), Soul (2), Hip Hop (2), Shoegaze (1), Hardcore Punk (1), Psychedelic (1), Folk (1), Trip Hop (1), Indie Folk (1), Blues (1), Singer-Songwriter (1)

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams

Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Lo-Fi

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
5 ratings

5. Tennis - Cape Dory

Tennis - Cape Dory

Released: Jan 18th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
3 ratings

6. Adele - 21

Adele - 21

Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
12 ratings

7. Tom Waits - Bad as Me

Tom Waits - Bad as Me

Released: Oct 25th, 2011
Genre: Blues

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
9 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. The Beach Boys - The SMiLE Sessions

The Beach Boys - The SMiLE Sessions

Released: Nov 1st, 2011
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

99

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

99

Based on
6 ratings

10. Cults - Cults

Cults - Cults

Released: Jun 7th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
14 ratings

11. 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

12. 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
34 ratings

13. 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

14. Neon Indian - Era Extrana

Neon Indian - Era Extrana

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Chillwave

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
12 ratings

15. A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Released: Oct 31st, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
12 ratings

16. We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships

We Are Augustines - Rise Ye Sunken Ships

Released: Aug 23rd, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

17. 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

18. 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

19. Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Little Dragon - Ritual Union

Released: Jul 26th, 2011
Genre: Trip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
6 ratings

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys

Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys

Released: May 31st, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

64

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

70

Based on
6 ratings

24. 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
22 ratings

25. Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital

Handsome Furs - Sound Kapital

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
3 ratings

26. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra.

Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra.

Released: Feb 18th, 2011
Genre: R&B

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
11 ratings

27. Zola Jesus - Conatus

Zola Jesus - Conatus

Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Psychedelic

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

67

Based on
8 ratings

28. Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On

Timber Timbre - Creep On Creepin' On

Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
5 ratings

29. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Chillwave

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
14 ratings

30. Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming

Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming

Released: Jan 25th, 2011
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

72

Based on
3 ratings

31. Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!

Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!

Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
5 ratings

32. Feist - Metals

Feist - Metals

Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
19 ratings

33. 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

84

Based on
33 ratings

34. 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

35. The Black Keys - El Camino

The Black Keys - El Camino

Released: Dec 6th, 2011
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
27 ratings

36. Carter Tanton - Freeclouds

Carter Tanton - Freeclouds

Released: Nov 15th, 2011
Genre: Shoegaze

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

37. The Kills - Blood Pressures

The Kills - Blood Pressures

Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
6 ratings

38. Destroyer - Kaputt

Destroyer - Kaputt

MUST HEAR

Released: Jan 25th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
28 ratings

39. Pujol - Nasty, Brutish, and Short

Pujol - Nasty, Brutish, and Short

Released: Oct 18th, 2011

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

78

Based on
1 rating

40. The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave

The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave

Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
2 ratings

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.spinner.com/2011/12/14/best-albums-of-2011-list/

MORE 2011 YEAR END LISTS:

American Songwriter

Bigger Than The Sound

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM SPINNER:

Check out our 2011 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS

2011 YEAR END SUMMARY

2011 YEAR END LISTS

American Songwriter

Bigger Than The Sound

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

MORE 2011 LISTS

AoTY Readers 2011

Drowned in Sound (First Half)

Exclaim! (Dance & Electronic)

Exclaim! (Pop & Rock)

New York Magazine

One Thirty BPM (EPs)

Pitchfork Readers

PopMatters (Worst Albums)

PopMatters (Electronic)

PopMatters (Indie Pop)

PopMatters (Indie Rock)

Spinner (First Half)

Stereogum (First Half)

Urban Outfitters

TOP RATED FOR 2011

Album of The Year

Beats Per Minute

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Under The Radar

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BEST ALBUMS OF 2011 BY GENRE

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