Your Album of 2011

[Alex_UK]

Well as the year draws to a close, I thought we should have the traditional "Album of the Year" thread. Feel free to include a top 10 if you like or just a few - but the rule is you have to name you favourite album released in 2011.

Here are my 9 "honourable mentions" in no particular order:

Jon Hopkins & King Creosote - Diamond Mine
Agnes Obel - Philarmonics
Tori Amos - Night of Hunters
Metronomy - The English Riviera
John Martyn - Heaven & Earth
Tony Bennett - Duets II
Keren Ann - 101
Angus & Julia Stone - Memories of an Old Friend
P J Harvey - Let England Shake

But as there can be only one - Laki Mera - The Proximity Effect is my choice. I just love this album. http://open.spotify.com/album/4wC0n35C8xsamI261djA24

So, what's yours?

[The Grand Wazoo]

Firstly, in no particular order:

Wilco - 'The Whole Love'
Foo Fighters - 'Medium Rare' (released for record store day)
Screaming Trees - 'Last Words: The Final Recordings' (long awaited tracks recorded 12 & 13 years ago finally seeing the light of day)
Joe Bonamassa - 'Dust Bowl'
Wire - 'Red Barked Tree'
Jayhawks - ' Mockingbird Time' (Gary Louris & Mark Olson back together & back on form)

But currently being spun more than anything else from this year:

Joe Bonamassa and Beth Hart - 'Don't Explain'

[WOStantonCS100]

I don't have much to choose from. Anticipating still harder economic times ahead, I bought a massive amount a vinyl this year. Out of all that, only 2 were released in 2011:

Bjork Biophilia
Mr. Big What If...

Those both lose out to the other stuff I was able to obtain, by a long shot. But, since I have to choose between these two, Bjork would win because she is so much more "involving" for me.

[John]

I think it has to be Beth Hart Don't Explain
Next would be Haken Visions

[slate]

According to my trusted server there are only two?!

Armonico Consort - Naked Byrd Two
Agnes Obel - Philarmonics

Stunning pieces aside, Armonico Consort is not for easy listening; so Miss Obel would be my candidate.

New Tori and PJ recordings... how did I miss that

[Tim]

:doh: you beat me to it Alex, I was going to do this on 1st January....

Anyway, get back to you re my top 10 later as I have not sorted through yet, but an easy choice for the winner for me too - Don't Explain

[Alex_UK]

Sorry Tim. :o

Looks like I'm going to have to spin Don't Explain a few more times, then! I did enjoy it, but it hasn't hooked me in like it has some of you. (Heck, I'm even starting to like 50 Words For Snow though that didn't make my top 10 either! ;))

PS - really easy to "sort through" if you are a Foobar user! ;)

[Tim]

PS - really easy to "sort through" if you are a Foobar user!
I'm embarrassed to say I have an Excel spreadsheet of all my albums, so I will sort all the 2011 purchases later..... I think I'm going to get a shock :o

[Havana]

- James Blake : "James Blake"
- Nick Lowe : "The Old Magic"
- Jonathan Wilson :"Gentle Spirit"
- The Feelies : "Here Before"
- Epic45 - "Weathering"

[Reid Malenfant]

You just know mine are going to be different :rfl:

Most of mine are actually from the same record label as when a new one is released I get an email & snaffle it up quickly...

2. Namlook * Montana - Labyrinth 3 (Fax +49-69/450464)
3. Mick Chillage - FAXology (Fax +49-69/450464)
4. Namlook * Montana - Labyrinth 4 (Fax +49-69/450464)
5. Biosphere - N-Plants
6. Pete Namllok & Material Object - Elektronik (Fax +49-69/450464)
7. Anthony Rother - 62 Minutes On Mars (Fax +49-69/450464)
8. Ian Boddy & Parallel Worlds - Exit Strategy
9. Gate Zero - Tides (Fax +49-69/450464)
10. Lorenzo Montana - Serpe (Fax +49-69/450464)

But the best stuff I heard from 2011 is...

1. Namlook * Montana - Labyrinth 2 (Fax +49-69/450464)


Just about everything else I bought this year is older stuff ;)

[Mothman]

Not bought much new stuff this year, but from what I have this would be top pick

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/okmothman/Album%20Art/DustBowl.jpg

[Tim]

This was quite very hard to pick 10, as I seem to have acquired over 100 2011 release albums this year according to Foobar! :eek: (I blame this on AoS and my grand total for the year is frightening.... must buy less next year and get a life :o )

Don't Explain is my top pick as mentioned and in no particular order the other 9 are;

The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
Richmond Fontaine - The High Country
Jonathan Wilson - Gentle Spirit
Shelby Lynne - Revelation Road
Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for my Halo
Joan as Police Woman - The Deep Field
Alison Krauss & Union Station - Paper Airplane
Steven Wilson - Grace for Drowning
Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire

I seem to have missed a few releases looking at this list too, so thanks Chris (TGW) as I need to check out a couple of yours ;)

[John]

Yes AOS is bad for wallet
Welcome to AA Album Anon

[John]

The Lp version of don't explain is well worth getting

[Tim]

Welcome to AA Album Anon
:lol: yes indeed, you guys are killing me, but it's fun :)

[Spectral Morn]

I really like the 2011 release from Yes - Fly From Here. I was just playing it again.

I will see if I can come up with a few more 2011 albums, truthfully much of what I bought this year was not released in 2011.


Regards D S D L

[DanJennings]

there has been loads of great albums released in 2011, a shortlist:

Tom Waits - Bad As Me
Machine Head - Unto The Locust
Radiohead - The King Of Limbs
Megadeth - Th1rt3en
REM - Collapse Into Now
Foo Fighters - Medium Rare
Fleet Foxes - Helpnessness Blues
Primus - Green Naugahyde
NOFX - untitled

to name a few!

But for me, the best album of 2011 was Korn - The Path Of Totality.

[DanJennings]

forgot to mention, their proper album 'Wasting Light' was the best new material they'd done for a decade.

Ooh and both Kate Bush albums were rather good too.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Just a dew but

Dream Theater - A Dramatic turn of events
Black county communion - Black Country Communion II
Yes - Fly From Here
Overkill - Iron Bound - THIS KILLS YOUR BASS DRIVERS!

Probably hundreds more but these are some that I played to death on my system

[Chunky70]

Overkill's Ironbound was in 2010 Andrew!
Having said that great headbanging album with as you said wonderful bass!:hairmetal:

[Grez]

Has to be

http://www.cdeuroxpress.com/images2/5020393308526.jpg

Recorded "off the desk" during the 1986 tour, the tapes were cleaned up and put out on CD last year. The passion and feeling in the playing is amazing and the performance of the song "Scarecrow" is just superb.

For a band to re-form so that they could promote an album of 25 year old recordings says an awful lot!

:)

[Chunky70]

Some of my favorites from 2011 include:
Opeth-Heritage.
Mastodon-The Hunter.
Jethro Tull-Aqualung (40th anniversary edition).
Miles Davis-Europe 1967.
PJ Harvey-Let England Shake.
Tom Waits-Bad as Me.
Motorhead-The World is Yours.
Radiohead-King of Limbs.
Anna Calvi-Anna Calvi.
Kate Bush-50 Words for Snow.

And my wost release of the year goes to:
Coldplay-Mylo Xyloto ( truly awful songs and production):(

[aquapiranha]

I rather like Kate Bush's new one, but Agnes Obel too!

[Alex_UK]

Can't believe I missed Birdy out of my top 10! :doh: The more I play this album, the more I love it (and still can't believe she's only 15!)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51fGhlt05wL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

http://open.spotify.com/album/2dpWqqBl9Faf0Bfo8q4F5u

[Tim]

Opps, me too.... 10 is just not enough for an album alcoholic :o

[DanJennings]

I forgot Fairport Convention - Festival Bell, released way back in January. A brilliant album.

[RichB]

A few already been mentioned here such as REM, Foo Fighters, Friendly Fires so my other suggestions would be

Robbie Robertson - How to become clairvoyant Great album mixing up a lot of rock and blues styles, fantastic rhythm section work by Pino Palladino, and Ian Thomas, guest appearances from Clapton, Tom Morello, Steve Winwood. Love to put the first track 'straight down the line' on and let my Regas do their thing to that bass line!

Younger Brother - Vaccine - An album i came across by accident as it would probably fall into the 'dance/electronic' genre but i loved nonetheless. Its a sound i could best describe as Underworld meets Nick Drake in Pink Floyd's back garden! That probably doesn't do it justice, people who don't do dance music will find toes tapping to this.

[Audioman]

Album of the year - Kate Bush. 50 Words For Snow. (LP unless stated)

Worth mentioning in no particular order. (2-10)
Tori Amos, Night of Hunters.
Paul Simon. So Beautiful or So What.
Alison Krauss. Paper Aeroplane.
Laura Marling. I Speak Because I Can.
PJ Harvey. Let England Shake.
Snow Patrol. Fallen Empires.
Lucinda Williams. Blessed.
Stevie Nicks. In Your Dreams. CD
Elbow. Build a Rocket Boys.

Reissues. (Top 5)

Kate Bush. Directors Cut (redo of old material)
Lindisfarne. The Charisma Years. CD set.
Fleetwood Mac Rumours. Warner USA 45rpm version.
Cat Stevens. Tea for The Tiller Man. Acoustic Sounds/Quality Records.
Dusty Springfield. Dusty in Memphis. Acoustic Sounds/Quality Records. 45rpm

[BlueEyes]

The worst year I can remember for new music.

Surprised no-one has mentioned the stunning Sit down and Pull up Some Dust by Ry Cooder or El Camino by the Black Keys. Ashes & Fire by Ryan Adams was good but far from his best.

[Zoidburg]

A few things I've really like this (last) year............

The Weeknd - House of balloons mixtape.
The Horrors - Skying.
Radiohead - King of Limbs.
M83 - Hurry up we're dreaming.
The Black Keys - El Camino

[Welder]

Sade, The Ultimate Collection 2011.

What can I say about this?
Super slick production I would associate with some of Prince's albums.
Fabulous voice of course.
Essential late night listening.

[Alex_UK]

Sade, The Ultimate Collection 2011.

Have the early tracks been remastered John? I've got all her albums on CD and the levels are very low on the early ones (also got a couple of LPs and I think the mastering was exactly the same!)

[Welder]

Tbh Alex, I don't know.

It sounds like it to me. I also have 3 original Sade albums and they don't sound like the Ultimate Collection. :eyebrows:

I have a few compilations and while they don't actually say they've been remastered they certainly don't sound the same as the original.

[Alex_UK]

Cheers John. :)

[Clothears]

Just thought I'd put in my tuppence worth even though its nearly February 2012!

Most of the stuff I bought in 2011 was old recordings, re-issues etc. However of the new releases it has to be tie between these two..
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QNJAUuGnL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41lb%2BOcIHLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

It's music like this that makes the expense of hi-fi worthwhile.

.

[bobbasrah]

Surprised at one that I actually did get in common, Adele's 21 which didn't get rated, and some which were a bit different- -
Adele – 21
Bombay Bicycle Club – A different kind of Fix
Robbie Robertson – How to become a clairvoyant
Robert Miles – Th1rt3en Remixes
Peter Gabriel – New Blood
Steve Hackett – Beyond the shrouded horizon
Stevie Nicks – In your dreams

Best buy - Crosby Still Nash 1969 Reissue : Peace
Worst buy - Flogging Molly - Speed of Darkness : Manic

[littlest hobo]

Thanks to Reid Malefant for the intro to Namlook and Alex for Birdie. 2011 was pretty bleak for music, but here's my sorry list submitted late:

Kasabian - Velociraptor (pretty mediocre)
Chris Rea - Santo Spirito Blues
Steve Knightly - Live in Somerset
Hugh Laurie - Let them talk
Adele - 21

Adele and Steve Knightly stand out for me. I've never like live albums much but Live in Somerset is beautiful.

[Audioman]

Missed Adele 21 from my list. In spite of getting 6 grammy awards from the yanks and being mega popular it actualy is very good. A new trend of real talent selling records in this age.

Also RIP Whitney Houston. Sadly murdered a Dolly Parton song and inspired a string of annoying Divas of lesser vocal ability.

[The Black Adder]

Anna Calvi - Great talent.