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Under the Radar's Top 50 Albums of 2011

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 79

Based on 561 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Indie Rock (9), Indie Pop (7), Alternative Rock (6), Experimental (4), Indie Folk (3), Lo-Fi (3), Chillwave (3), Experimental Rock (3), Dubstep (2), Electronic (2), Singer-Songwriter (1), Electropop (1), Shoegaze (1), Post-Punk (1), Hardcore Punk (1), Dream Pop (1), Rock (1), Psychedelic (1)

1. 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
38 ratings

2. 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
35 ratings

3. 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
54 ratings

4. 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
37 ratings

5. The Horrors - Skying

The Horrors - Skying

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 26th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
19 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
12 ratings

6. 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

7. 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
36 ratings

8. Yuck - Yuck

Yuck - Yuck

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
16 ratings

9. 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
13 ratings

10. Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi

Anna Calvi - Anna Calvi

Released: Mar 1st, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
6 ratings

11. 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

12. I Break Horses - Hearts

I Break Horses - Hearts

Released: Aug 23rd, 2011
Genre: Shoegaze

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
3 ratings

13. Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

Florence + The Machine - Ceremonials

Released: Nov 1st, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
17 ratings

14. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
16 ratings

15. 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

16. Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!

Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys!

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
6 ratings

17. 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
31 ratings

18. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes

Released: May 17th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
1 rating

19. 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

20. 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

21. John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

88

Based on
8 ratings

22. 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
25 ratings

23. 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

24. 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
30 ratings

25. Slow Club - Paradise

Slow Club - Paradise

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
3 ratings

26. 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

27. Wild Beasts - Smother

Wild Beasts - Smother

MUST HEAR

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
15 ratings

28. Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Cut Copy - Zonoscope

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
12 ratings

29. 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
24 ratings

30. TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
13 ratings

31. Hooray for Earth - True Loves

Hooray for Earth - True Loves

Released: Jun 7th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
3 ratings

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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
43 ratings

35. Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines

Telekinesis - 12 Desperate Straight Lines

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
1 rating

36. Metronomy - The English Riviera

Metronomy - The English Riviera

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
21 ratings

37. Summer Camp - Welcome to Condale

Summer Camp - Welcome to Condale

Released: Nov 8th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
1 rating

38. Friendly Fires - Pala

Friendly Fires - Pala

Released: May 24th, 2011

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
9 ratings

39. 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

40. 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

41. Wilco - The Whole Love

Wilco - The Whole Love

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
11 ratings

42. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Released: Jan 18th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
8 ratings

43. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

Released: Mar 29th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
9 ratings

44. S.C.U.M. - Again Into Eyes

S.C.U.M. - Again Into Eyes

Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Post-Punk

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
1 rating

45. 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

46. The Stepkids - The Stepkids

The Stepkids - The Stepkids

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Psychedelic

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

47. WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

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

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
13 ratings

48. British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall

British Sea Power - Valhalla Dancehall

Released: Jan 11th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
2 ratings

49. R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

R.E.M. - Collapse Into Now

Released: Mar 8th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
7 ratings

50. 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

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.undertheradarmag.com/lists/under_the_radars_top_80_albums_of_2011/

MORE 2011 YEAR END LISTS:

American Songwriter

Bigger Than The Sound

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

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MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM UNDER THE RADAR:

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

MORE 2011 LISTS

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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

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