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Home > Lists > BBC Music Writers' Top 25 Albums of 2011

BBC Music Writers' Top 25 Albums of 2011


LIST SUMMARY
VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 80
Based on 264 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:
Folk (3), Experimental (3), Dubstep (3), Indie Rock (2), Alternative Rock (2), Indie Folk (2), Singer-Songwriter (2), Southern Rock (1), Post-Punk (1), Folk Rock (1), Indie Pop (1), Pop (1), Blues (1), New Wave (1), Electronic (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
36 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

2. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

3. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

4. The Antlers - Burst Apart

The Antlers - Burst Apart
MUST HEAR
Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock
CRITIC SCORE
82
Based on
14 reviews
USER SCORE
85
Based on
23 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

5. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

6. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

7. Beyoncé - 4

Beyoncé - 4
Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Pop
CRITIC SCORE
72
Based on
14 reviews
USER SCORE
77
Based on
5 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

8. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

9. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

10. Iceage - New Brigade

Iceage - New Brigade
MUST HEAR
Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Post-Punk
CRITIC SCORE
84
Based on
11 reviews
USER SCORE
83
Based on
12 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

11. Björk - Biophilia

Björk - Biophilia
Released: Oct 11th, 2011
Genre: Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
77
Based on
14 reviews
USER SCORE
85
Based on
12 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

12. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

SBTRKT - SBTRKT
Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
CRITIC SCORE
78
Based on
11 reviews
USER SCORE
83
Based on
16 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

13. Katy B - On a Mission

Katy B - On a Mission
Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep
CRITIC SCORE
85
Based on
8 reviews
USER SCORE
82
Based on
8 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

14. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

15. 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
CRITIC SCORE
81
Based on
9 reviews
USER SCORE
84
Based on
10 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

16. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

17. 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
79
Based on
6 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

18. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

19. Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place
Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Experimental
CRITIC SCORE
83
Based on
8 reviews
USER SCORE
86
Based on
5 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

20. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

21. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

22. Trap Them - Darker Handcraft

Trap Them - Darker Handcraft
Released: Mar 15th, 2011
CRITIC SCORE
80
Based on
1 review
USER SCORE
NR
Rate now



iTunes
Amazon

23. Cold Cave - Cherish the Light Years

Cold Cave - Cherish the Light Years
Released: Apr 5th, 2011
Genre: New Wave
CRITIC SCORE
73
Based on
10 reviews
USER SCORE
82
Based on
3 ratings



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

24. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

25. 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



iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

Recommend:

Original Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcmusic/2011/12/bbc_music_writers_top_25_album.html

MORE 2011 YEAR END LISTS:
A.V. Club
Amazon
American Songwriter
Bigger Than The Sound
Clash
Cokemachineglow
Consequence of Sound
Drowned in Sound
FACT Magazine
FILTER
Gorilla vs. Bear
MAGNET
MOJO
musicOMH
NME
No Ripcord
Obscure Sound
One Thirty BPM
Paste
Pazz and Jop
Pitchfork
PopMatters
Prefix
Pretty Much Amazing
Q
Rolling Stone
Slant
SPIN
Spinner
Stereogum
The Fly
The Guardian
The Quietus
Tiny Mix Tapes
Uncut
Under the Radar


MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM BBC:
2012


Check out our 2011 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS
2011 YEAR END SUMMARY

2011 YEAR END LISTS
A.V. Club
Amazon
American Songwriter
Bigger Than The Sound
Clash
Cokemachineglow
Consequence of Sound
Drowned in Sound
FACT Magazine
FILTER
Gorilla vs. Bear
MAGNET
MOJO
musicOMH
NME
No Ripcord
Obscure Sound
One Thirty BPM
Paste
Pazz and Jop
Pitchfork
PopMatters
Prefix
Pretty Much Amazing
Q
Rolling Stone
Slant
SPIN
Spinner
Stereogum
The Fly
The Guardian
The Quietus
Tiny Mix Tapes
Uncut
Under the Radar
MORE 2011 LISTS
AoTY Readers 2011
AoTY 2011
Billboard
Drowned in Sound (First Half)
Exclaim! (Dance & Electronic)
Exclaim! (Pop & Rock)
New York Magazine
NPR Listeners
Old Waver
One Thirty BPM (EPs)
Pitchfork Readers
PopMatters (Worst Albums)
PopMatters (Electronic)
PopMatters (Indie Pop)
PopMatters (Indie Rock)
Spinner (First Half)
Stereogum (First Half)
TIME
Urban Outfitters
TOP RATED FOR 2011
A.V. Club
Album of The Year
AllMusic
Beats Per Minute
Consequence of Sound
Drowned in Sound
musicOMH
NME
No Ripcord
Paste
Pitchfork
PopMatters
Spin
The 405
Tiny Mix Tapes
Under The Radar
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New Track: Boards of Canada - "Reach for the Dead"
May 23
New Track: Boards of Canada - "Reach for the Dead"
Listen: Disclosure - "When a Fire Starts to Burn"
May 23
Listen: Disclosure - "When a Fire Starts to Burn"
Listen: Earl Sweatshirt - "Guild" (ft. Mac Miller)
May 23
Listen: Earl Sweatshirt - "Guild" (ft. Mac Miller)
NEW MUSIC RELEASES
84 Trouble Will Find Me by The National
83 Random Access Memories by Daft Punk
80 Impersonator by Majical Cloudz
80 Betty Rubble: The Unitiation by Mykki Blanco
77 Drifters/Love Is The Devil by Dirty Beaches
75 Jackleg Devotional To The Heart by The Baptist Generals
74 It's Up To Emma by Scout Niblett
73 Above the City by Club 8
73 Behind the Green Door by Laurel Halo
71 Dreams in the Rat House by Shannon and The Clams
67 I'm Leaving by Is Tropical
64 EP #1 by SQÜRL
53 Love Lust Faith + Dreams by 30 Seconds To Mars
50 Wish To Scream by Tribes
40 Excuse My French by French Montana
NR Still Awake by Ryan Hemsworth
RECENT BEST MUSIC
Patty Griffin - American Kid The Knife - Shaking the Habitual Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City The Haxan Cloak - Excavation James Blake - Overgrown Laura Marling - Once I Was an Eagle The National - Trouble Will Find Me Hiss Golden Messenger - Haw

BEST ALBUMS OF 2011 BY GENRE
Alt-Country
Alternative Rock
Ambient
Chillwave
Country
Dream Pop
Drone
Dubstep
Electronic
Electropop
Experimental
Experimental Rock
Folk
Folk Rock
Garage Rock
Hip Hop
Indie Folk
Indie Pop
Indie Rock
Lo-Fi
New Wave
Noise Pop
Noise Rock
Pop
Post-Punk
Post-Rock
Psychedelic Rock
Punk
R&B
Rock
Shoegaze
Singer-Songwriter
Soul
Synthpop
Witch House


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