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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
40 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
43 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
19 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
63 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

87

Based on
28 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
16 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
33 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
41 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

Bigger Than The Sound

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)

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PopMatters (Worst Albums)

PopMatters (Electronic)

PopMatters (Indie Pop)

PopMatters (Indie Rock)

Spinner (First Half)

Stereogum (First Half)

Urban Outfitters

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