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The Guardian's Best Albums of 2011

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LIST SUMMARY
List Rating: 80
Based on 463 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:
Indie Pop (5), Dubstep (5), Indie Folk (4), Hip Hop (4), Indie Rock (3), R&B (3), Experimental (3), Pop (3), Folk (3), Experimental Rock (2), Alt-Country (2), Alternative Rock (2), Post-Punk (1), Ambient (1), Rock (1), Garage Rock (1), Thrash Metal (1), Shoegaze (1), Electronic (1), Jazz (1), Country (1), Singer-Songwriter (1), Blues (1)

1. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
MUST HEAR
Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock
Overall Rating: 90


2. Katy B - On a Mission

Katy B - On a Mission
Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
Overall Rating: 85


3. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra.

Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra.
Released: Feb 18th, 2011
Genre: R&B
Overall Rating: 76


4. Beyonce - 4

Beyonce - 4
Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Pop
Overall Rating: 72


5. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver
MUST HEAR
Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk
Overall Rating: 84


6. James Blake - James Blake

James Blake - James Blake
MUST HEAR
Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
Overall Rating: 85


7. Metronomy - The English Riviera

Metronomy - The English Riviera
Released: Apr 12th, 2011
Genre: Electronic
Overall Rating: 68


8. The Weeknd - House of Balloons

The Weeknd - House of Balloons
MUST HEAR
Released: Mar 21st, 2011
Genre: R&B
Overall Rating: 84


9. Rustie - Glass Swords

Rustie - Glass Swords
Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
Overall Rating: 80


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

tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
Released: Apr 19th, 2011
Genre: Experimental
Overall Rating: 87


11. White Denim - D

White Denim - D
Released: May 23rd, 2011
Genre: Garage Rock
Overall Rating: 75


12. Wild Beasts - Smother

Wild Beasts - Smother
MUST HEAR
Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock
Overall Rating: 82


13. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine
Released: May 23rd, 2011
Genre: Folk
Overall Rating: 80


14. Tom Waits - Bad as Me

Tom Waits - Bad as Me
Released: Oct 25th, 2011
Genre: Blues
Overall Rating: 85


15. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

SBTRKT - SBTRKT
Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
Overall Rating: 77


16. The Horrors - Skying

The Horrors - Skying
MUST HEAR
Released: Jul 26th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock
Overall Rating: 81


17. Bjork - Biophilia

Bjork - Biophilia
Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Experimental
Overall Rating: 76


18. St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
MUST HEAR
Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop
Overall Rating: 88


19. Drake - Take Care

Drake - Take Care
Released: Nov 15th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop
Overall Rating: 81


20. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Released: May 3rd, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk
Overall Rating: 85


21. Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest

Gillian Welch - The Harrow & The Harvest
Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country
Overall Rating: 83


22. Noah And The Whale - Last Night on Earth

Noah And The Whale - Last Night on Earth
Released: Mar 15th, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk
Overall Rating: 64


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

Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know
Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk
Overall Rating: 78


24. Feist - Metals

Feist - Metals
Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop
Overall Rating: 81


25. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo

Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo
MUST HEAR
Released: Mar 8th, 2011
Genre: Rock
Overall Rating: 80


26. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock
Overall Rating: 83


27. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Released: Feb 19th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock
Overall Rating: 80


28. Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit
Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk
Overall Rating: NR


29. Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow

Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow
Released: Nov 21st, 2011
Genre: Singer-Songwriter
Overall Rating: 84


30. Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx - We're New Here

Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx - We're New Here
Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
Overall Rating: 81


31. Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Released: May 23rd, 2011
Genre: Pop
Overall Rating: 66


32. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes
Released: Mar 1st, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop
Overall Rating: 82


33. Destroyer - Kaputt

Destroyer - Kaputt
MUST HEAR
Released: Jan 25th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock
Overall Rating: 87


34. Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting

Jamie Woon - Mirrorwriting
Released: Apr 19th, 2011
Genre: R&B
Overall Rating: 79


35. Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes
Released: May 17th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop
Overall Rating: 75


36. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels

Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels
Released: Sep 6th, 2011
Genre: Country
Overall Rating: NR


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

Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne
Released: Aug 8th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop
Overall Rating: 78


38. Nicola Roberts - Cinderella's Eyes

Nicola Roberts - Cinderella's Eyes
Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Pop
Overall Rating: 80


39. The Streets - Computers and Blues

The Streets - Computers and Blues
Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop
Overall Rating: 66


40. Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo

Gruff Rhys - Hotel Shampoo
Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop
Overall Rating: 67


41. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop
Overall Rating: 89


42. Nils Frahm - Felt

Nils Frahm - Felt
Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Ambient
Overall Rating: 90


43. Machine Head - Unto the Locust

Machine Head - Unto the Locust
Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Thrash Metal
Overall Rating: 75


44. Marius Neset - Golden Xplosion

Marius Neset - Golden Xplosion
Released: May 17th, 2011
Genre: Jazz
Overall Rating: 80


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

Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Experimental
Overall Rating: 83


46. Beirut - The Rip Tide

Beirut - The Rip Tide
Released: Aug 30th, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk
Overall Rating: 79


47. True Widow - As High As the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth

True Widow - As High As the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth
Released: Mar 29th, 2011
Genre: Shoegaze
Overall Rating: 81


48. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Alt-Country
Overall Rating: 72


49. The Antlers - Burst Apart

The Antlers - Burst Apart
MUST HEAR
Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock
Overall Rating: 82


50. Iceage - New Brigade

Iceage - New Brigade
MUST HEAR
Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Post-Punk
Overall Rating: 84


Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/dec/01/best-albums-2011

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BEST ALBUMS OF 2011 BY GENRE
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Ambient
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