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Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2011

LIST SUMMARY

VIEW ORIGINAL LIST

List Rating: 80

Based on 550 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Hip Hop (6), Electronic (5), Indie Rock (4), Indie Pop (4), Alternative Rock (3), Experimental (3), Chillwave (3), Lo-Fi (2), Indie Folk (2), R&B (2), Singer-Songwriter (2), Dubstep (2), Experimental Rock (2), Drone (1), Soul (1), Hardcore Punk (1), Electropop (1), New Wave (1), Psychedelic (1), Alt-Country (1), Post-Punk (1), Dream Pop (1), Rock (1), Pop (1)

1. 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
24 ratings

2. Drake - Take Care

Drake - Take Care

Released: Nov 15th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
17 ratings

3. 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

4. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

Fucked Up - David Comes to Life

Released: Jun 7th, 2011
Genre: Hardcore Punk

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
8 ratings

5. The Weeknd - House of Balloons

The Weeknd - House of Balloons

MUST HEAR

Released: Mar 21st, 2011
Genre: R&B

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

90

Based on
20 ratings

6. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

Released: May 10th, 2011
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
9 ratings

7. 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

8. 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

9. A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

A$AP Rocky - LiveLoveA$AP

Released: Oct 31st, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
14 ratings

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

Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne

Released: Aug 8th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
22 ratings

11. 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

12. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Released: Oct 18th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
35 ratings

13. Yuck - Yuck

Yuck - Yuck

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 15th, 2011
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
16 ratings

14. Austra - Feel It Break

Austra - Feel It Break

Released: May 17th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
13 ratings

15. Zola Jesus - Conatus

Zola Jesus - Conatus

Released: Oct 4th, 2011
Genre: Psychedelic

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

67

Based on
8 ratings

16. Neon Indian - Era Extrana

Neon Indian - Era Extrana

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Chillwave

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
12 ratings

17. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

Released: Nov 8th, 2011
Genre: Drone

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

89

Based on
11 ratings

18. Beyoncé - 4

Beyoncé - 4

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Pop

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
5 ratings

19. 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

20. 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

21. Clams Casino - Instrumental

Clams Casino - Instrumental

Released: Mar 2nd, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
1 review

USER SCORE

77

Based on
4 ratings

22. 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

23. Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
8 ratings

24. 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
12 ratings

25. 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

26. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong

Released: Mar 29th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

73

Based on
9 ratings

27. 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
30 ratings

28. Pictureplane - Thee Physical

Pictureplane - Thee Physical

Released: Jul 19th, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
3 ratings

29. Washed Out - Within and Without

Washed Out - Within and Without

MUST HEAR

Released: Jul 12th, 2011
Genre: Chillwave

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
13 ratings

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Released: Jun 28th, 2011
Genre: Dubstep

CRITIC SCORE

78

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
16 ratings

34. 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

35. Atlas Sound - Parallax

Atlas Sound - Parallax

MUST HEAR

Released: Nov 8th, 2011
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
15 reviews

USER SCORE

81

Based on
13 ratings

36. Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Cut Copy - Zonoscope

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 8th, 2011
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
12 ratings

37. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

Released: Jan 18th, 2011
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

79

Based on
8 ratings

38. 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

39. Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise

Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise

Released: Jan 31st, 2011
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
12 ratings

40. Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

Released: Jul 2nd, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
18 ratings

41. Das Racist - Relax

Das Racist - Relax

Released: Sep 13th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
5 ratings

42. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Released: Jun 21st, 2011
Genre: Lo-Fi

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
6 ratings

43. Twin Sister - In Heaven

Twin Sister - In Heaven

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
4 ratings

44. 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

87

Based on
43 ratings

45. Adele - 21

Adele - 21

Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
12 ratings

46. 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
25 ratings

47. 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

48. Oddisee - Rock Creek Park

Oddisee - Rock Creek Park

Released: Aug 9th, 2011
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

49. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

Released: Feb 22nd, 2011
Genre: Chillwave

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
16 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
14 ratings

50. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

MUST HEAR

Released: Sep 27th, 2011
Genre: Dream Pop

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
31 ratings

Recommend:

Original Source: http://stereogum.com/891411/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2011/franchises/listomania/

MORE 2011 YEAR END LISTS:

American Songwriter

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 STEREOGUM:

Check out our 2011 Year End Summary.

COMMENTS

2011 YEAR END SUMMARY

2011 YEAR END LISTS

American Songwriter

Bigger Than The Sound

Cokemachineglow

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Gorilla vs. Bear

Pretty Much Amazing

Under the Radar

MORE 2011 LISTS

AoTY Readers 2011

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

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Beats Per Minute

Consequence of Sound

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Under The Radar

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