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American Songwriter's Top 50 Albums of 2011

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 76

Based on 372 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Folk (11), Alt-Country (9), Country (6), Singer-Songwriter (5), Indie Folk (4), Rock (4), Indie Pop (3), Indie Rock (2), Soul (1), Alternative Rock (1), Southern Rock (1), Experimental Rock (1), Lo-Fi (1), Folk Rock (1), Blues (1), Garage Rock (1)

1. 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

2. Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest

Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
6 ratings

3. Adele - 21

Adele - 21

Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
12 ratings

4. Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots

Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Southern Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
3 ratings

5. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong

Released: Jun 7th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
1 rating

6. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)

Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO (& other American stories)

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

70

Based on
1 rating

7. Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What

Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
3 ratings

8. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels

Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels

Released: Sep 6th, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
1 rating

9. 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
28 ratings

10. Feist - Metals

Feist - Metals

Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
20 ratings

11. 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

12. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest

Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

13. Lucinda Williams - Blessed

Lucinda Williams - Blessed

Released: Mar 1st, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
2 ratings

14. My Morning Jacket - Circuital

My Morning Jacket - Circuital

Released: May 31st, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
5 ratings

15. 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

16. Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

Miranda Lambert - Four the Record

Released: Nov 1st, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
1 rating

17. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me

Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me

Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

18. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
5 ratings

19. 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

20. Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

88

Based on
4 ratings

21. 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

22. Bright Eyes - The People's Key

Bright Eyes - The People's Key

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
7 ratings

23. The Civil Wars - Barton Hallow

The Civil Wars - Barton Hallow

Released: Feb 1st, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
2 ratings

24. 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

25. Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down

Sarah Jarosz - Follow Me Down

Released: May 17th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

84

Based on
1 rating

26. Pieta Brown - Mercury

Pieta Brown - Mercury

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

27. Deer Tick - Divine Providence

Deer Tick - Divine Providence

Released: Oct 25th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

62

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

40

Based on
1 rating

28. 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

29. A.A. Bondy - Believers

A.A. Bondy - Believers

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
1 rating

30. The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

68

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
2 ratings

31. Robert Ellis - Photographs

Robert Ellis - Photographs

Released: Jul 5th, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
1 rating

32. The Decemberists - The King is Dead

The Decemberists - The King is Dead

Released: Jan 18th, 2011
Genre: Folk Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
7 ratings

33. Honeyhoney - Billy Jack

Honeyhoney - Billy Jack

Released: Oct 24th, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

34. Joe Henry - Reverie

Joe Henry - Reverie

Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

35. KORT - Invariable Heartache

KORT - Invariable Heartache

Released: Apr 26th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

36. Old 97's - The Grand Theatre Vol. 2

Old 97's - The Grand Theatre Vol. 2

Released: Jul 5th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

62

Based on
1 rating

37. Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive

Released: Apr 26th, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
1 rating

38. 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

39. Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose

Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose

Released: Mar 29th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

67

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

40. The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy

The Middle East - I Want That You Are Always Happy

Released: Jul 12th, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

62

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

41. 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

42. Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Noel Gallagher - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Released: Nov 8th, 2011
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

66

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
7 ratings

43. Jonny Corndawg - Down on the Bikini Line

Jonny Corndawg - Down on the Bikini Line

Released: Aug 29th, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

44. Tristen - Charlatans at the Garden Gate

Tristen - Charlatans at the Garden Gate

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

45. JEFF the Brotherhood - We Are the Champions

JEFF the Brotherhood - We Are the Champions

Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

59

Based on
1 rating

46. Loney, Dear - Hall Music

Loney, Dear - Hall Music

Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

65

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

76

Based on
1 rating

47. Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now

Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now

Released: Aug 9th, 2010
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

48. Abigail Washburn - City of Refuge

Abigail Washburn - City of Refuge

Released: Jan 11th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
2 ratings

49. 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

50. Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

Centro-matic - Candidate Waltz

Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
1 rating

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.americansongwriter.com/2011/11/american-songwriters-top-50-albums-of-2011/6/

MORE 2011 YEAR END LISTS:

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 AMERICAN SONGWRITER:

Check out our 2011 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS

2011 YEAR END SUMMARY

2011 YEAR END LISTS

Bigger Than The Sound

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

MORE 2011 LISTS

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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

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Beats Per Minute

Consequence of Sound

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Under The Radar

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