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MOJO's Top 50 Albums of 2011

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 80

Based on 437 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Folk (8), Alternative Rock (5), Indie Rock (4), Singer-Songwriter (4), Indie Pop (4), Indie Folk (3), Experimental (3), Soul (2), Jazz (2), Rock (2), Punk Rock (1), R&B (1), World (1), Southern Rock (1), Blues (1), Country (1), Garage Rock (1), Rockabilly (1), Dubstep (1), Experimental Rock (1), Psychedelic (1), Hip Hop (1), Alt-Country (1)

1. 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
41 ratings

2. The Horrors - Skying

The Horrors - Skying

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 26th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
19 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
15 ratings

3. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Released: May 3rd, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
44 ratings

4. Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

83

Based on
2 ratings

5. Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow

Kate Bush - 50 Words for Snow

Released: Nov 21st, 2011
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
7 ratings

6. White Denim - D

White Denim - D

Released: May 23rd, 2011
Genre: Garage Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
5 ratings

7. 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

8. 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
7 ratings

9. 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

10. Wild Beasts - Smother

Wild Beasts - Smother

MUST HEAR

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
18 ratings

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

Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
8 ratings

12. 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
14 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
20 ratings

13. 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

14. King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine

King Creosote & Jon Hopkins - Diamond Mine

Released: May 23rd, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
2 ratings

15. 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

78

Based on
3 ratings

16. Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver

MUST HEAR

Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
17 reviews

USER SCORE

89

Based on
64 ratings

17. Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat - Everything's Getting Older

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat - Everything's Getting Older

Released: May 23rd, 2011
Genre: Jazz

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

18. Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts

Released: May 24th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
4 ratings

19. 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

86

Based on
52 ratings

20. 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

21. 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

22. Beirut - The Rip Tide

Beirut - The Rip Tide

Released: Aug 30th, 2011
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
16 ratings

23. Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse

Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
4 ratings

24. 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

83

Based on
16 ratings

25. The Stepkids - The Stepkids

The Stepkids - The Stepkids

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Psychedelic

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

26. 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

27. Arbouretum - The Gathering

Arbouretum - The Gathering

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

57

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
1 rating

28. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

Released: Mar 1st, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
16 ratings

29. Wilco - The Whole Love

Wilco - The Whole Love

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
14 ratings

30. 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

86

Based on
29 ratings

31. Nick Lowe - The Old Magic

Nick Lowe - The Old Magic

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Singer-Songwriter

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
1 rating

32. Björk - Biophilia

Björk - Biophilia

Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
13 ratings

33. Glenn Jones - The Wanting

Glenn Jones - The Wanting

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Folk

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

34. 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
7 ratings

35. Tinariwen - Tassili

Tinariwen - Tassili

Released: Aug 30th, 2011
Genre: World

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
2 ratings

36. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

88

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
18 ratings

37. Duane Eddy - Road Trip

Duane Eddy - Road Trip

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Rockabilly

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

NR

38. The Sand Band - All Through the Night

The Sand Band - All Through the Night

Released: Jan 18th, 2011

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

39. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See

Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See

Released: Jun 7th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
22 ratings

40. Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming

Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming

Released: Jan 25th, 2011
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
3 ratings

41. 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
34 ratings

42. Booker T. Jones - The Road From Memphis

Booker T. Jones - The Road From Memphis

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

43. Gwilym Simcock - Good Days at Schloss Elmau

Gwilym Simcock - Good Days at Schloss Elmau

Released: Jan 11th, 2011
Genre: Jazz

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

NR

44. Glen Campbell - Ghost on the Canvas

Glen Campbell - Ghost on the Canvas

Released: Aug 29th, 2011
Genre: Country

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

45. 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
30 ratings

46. 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

47. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Released: Feb 19th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
43 ratings

48. Wire - Red Barked Tree

Wire - Red Barked Tree

Released: Jan 11th, 2011
Genre: Punk Rock

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

68

Based on
2 ratings

49. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra.

Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra.

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

CRITIC SCORE

76

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
13 ratings

50. Joe Henry - Reverie

Joe Henry - Reverie

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

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/

MORE 2011 YEAR END LISTS:

American Songwriter

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Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

The Line of Best Fit

Under the Radar

MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM MOJO:

Check out our 2011 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS

2011 YEAR END SUMMARY

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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BEST ALBUMS OF 2011 BY GENRE

Alternative Rock

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