Year-End Lists

Les Inrockuptibles: 100 Best Albums of 2011

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. El Camino
   The Black Keys
2. The English Riviera
   Metronomy
3. Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
   WU LYF
4. E Volo Love
   François & the Atlas Mountains
5. Gentle Spirit
   Jonathan Wilson
6. La Taille de mon âme
   Daniel Darc
7. Forever Dolphin Love
   Connan Mockasin
8. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
9. Crack My Bones
   The Shoes
10. Goblin
    Tyler, The Creator
11. Hotel Shampoo
    Gruff Rhys
12. Cults
    Cults
13. Happy Soup
    Baxter Dury
14. Tamer Animals
    Other Lives
15. James Blake
    James Blake
16. Cat’s Eyes
    Cat’s Eyes
17. Tassili
    Tinariwen
18. Badlands
    Dirty Beaches
19. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
    M83
20. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
21. Bad as Me
    Tom Waits
22. Rubber Orchestra
    Anthony Joseph & the Spasm Band
23. Safari Disco Club
    Yelle
24. Audio,Video,Disco
    Justice
25. Portamento
    The Drums
26. Space is Only Noise
    Nicolas Jaar
27. Metals
    Feist
28. Creep On Creepin’ On
    Timber Timbre
29. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
30. In the Grace of Your Love
    The Rapture
31. The Rip Tide
    Beirut
32. Take Care
    Drake
33. Colour of the Trap
    Miles Kane
34. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
35. King Night
    Salem
36. Only in Dreams
    Dum Dum Girls
37. Rolling Blackouts
    The Go! Team
38. Skying
    The Horrors
39. Both Ways Open Jaws
    The Do
40. Conatus
    Zola Jesus
41. Anna Calvi
    Anna Calvi
42. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
43. Le Chant des Sirènes
    Orelsan
44. Will the Guns Come Out
    Hanni El Khatib
45. Helplessness Blues
    Fleet Foxes
46. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
47. Timez Are Weird These Days
    Theophilus London
48. Nyx
    Mansfield.TYA
49. Chanson Ordinaires
    Miossec
50. Suck It and See
    Arctic Monkeys
51. Yuck
    Yuck
52. Crazy Clown Time
    David Lynch
53. Spellbound
    Jay-Jay Johanson
54. Feel It Break
    Austra
55. Discodeine
    Discodeine
56. Hollie Cook
    Hollie Cook
57. My Wilderness
    Piers Faccini
58. Dye It Blonde
    Smith Westerns
59. Total
    Sebastian
60. Whokill
    Tune-Yards
61. Alesia
    Housse de Racket
62. Coastal Grooves
    Blood Orange
63. Fill the Blank with Your Own Emptiness
    Le Prince Miiaou
64. Jetlag Poetry
    Brazzaville
65. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
66. Living on the Edge of Time
    Yuksek
67. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
    The Vaccines
68. 101
    Keren Ann
69. We’re New Here
    Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx
70. Arabia Mountain
    Black Lips
71. Dedication
    Zomby
72. Notre Silence
    Michel Cloup
73. Pala
    Friendly Fires
74. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
    John Maus
75. Fugue
    Mehdi Zannad
76. Maison Cube
    Emmanuelle Parrenin
77. Burst Apart
    The Antlers
78. W
    PLANNINGTOROCK
79. Sports
    Weekend
80. Funny Looking Angels
    Smith & Burrows
81. A Turn in the Dream-Songs
    Jeffrey Lewis
82. Skyscrapers & Deities
    Kouyaté-Neerman
83. The Devil’s Walk
    Apparat
84. I Want That You Are Always Happy
    The Middle East
85. Gloss Drop
    Battles
86. Tha Carter IV
    Lil Wayne
87. There Is
    Jono McCleery
88. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
89. Pourquoi battait mon coeur
    Alex Beaupain
90. Headbangers in Ecstasy
    Puro Instinct
91. Drive Original Soundtrack
    Cliff Martinez & various artists
92. Blood Pressures
    Kills
93. Junk of the Heart
    The Kooks
94. Nine Types of Light
    TV on the Radio
95. Rapprocher
    Class Actress
96. Volcanic Sunlight
    Saul Williams
97. The Human Octopus
    Cascadeur
98. Defiant Order
    Birdy Nam Nam
99. Torches
    Foster the People
100. Cannibal Courtship
     Dengue Fever

The Owl Mag: Best Albums of 2011

1. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
2. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
   M83
3. Helplessness Blues
   Fleet Foxes
4. Wounded Rhymes
   Lykke Li
5. The King of Limbs
   Radiohead
6. The King is Dead
   The Decemberists
7. Zonoscope
   Cut Copy
8. Nine Types of Light
   TV on the Radio
9. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
10. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls

Honorable Mentions

11. Civilian
    Wye Oak
12. Burst Apart
    The Antlers
13. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
    Explosions in the Sky
14. Whokill
    Tune-Yards
15. Gimme Some
    Peter Bjorn and John

Randall Roberts: 10 Favorite Albums of 2011, as published by The Los Angeles Times

1. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
2. Re: ECM
   Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer
3. Nostalgia, Ultra
   Frank Ocean
4. Bad as Me
   Tom Waits
5. 21
   Adele
6. James Pants
   James Pants
7. Black Up
   Shabazz Palaces
8. Diamond Mine
   King Creosote & Jon Hopkins
9. Last Summer
   Eleanor Friedberger
10. David Comes to Life
    Fucked Up

Web in Front: Best Albums of 2011

1. Burst Apart
   The Antlers
2. Civilian
   Wye Oak
3. As Bright As Your Night Light
   Nerves Junior
4. Parallax
   Atlas Sound
5. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
6. David Comes to Life
   Fucked Up
7. Smoke Ring for My Halo
   Kurt Vile
8. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
9. WIT’S END
   Cass McCombs
10. This is a Desert EP
    The Henry Clay People
10. Manhattan Murder Mystery
    Manhattan Murder Mystery

MagicRPM: Top 15 Albums of 2011

1. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
   Girls
2. Kaputt
   Destroyer
3. Happy Soup
   Baxter Dury
4. The English Riviera
   Metronomy
5. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
   John Maus
6. E Volo Love
   François & the Atlas Mountains
7. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
8. Parallax
   Atlas Sound
9. Forever Dolphin Love
   Connan Mockasin
10. Metals
    Feist
11. Joan
    Maison Neuve
12. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
13. Days
    Real Estate
14. Grand Lièvre
    Jean-Louis Murat
15. People
    Skeletons

Pretty Much Amazing: 40 Best Albums of 2011

[see also 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. As Bright As Your Night Light
   Nerves Junior
2. Whokill
   Tune-Yards
3. Helplessness Blues
   Fleet Foxes
4. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
5. Black Up
   Shabazz Palaces
6. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
7. Tomboy
   Panda Bear
8. James Blake
   James Blake
9. Burst Apart
   The Antlers
10. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
11. Ceremonials
    Florence + The Machine
12. Cults
    Cults
13. The King of Limbs
    Radiohead
14. Born This Way
    Lady Gaga
15. Nine Types of Light
    TV on the Radio
16. Let England Shake
    PJ Harvey
17. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
18. The Year of Hibernation
    Youth Lagoon
19. Take Care
    Drake
20. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
21. Kaputt
    Destroyer
22. An Album By Korallreven
    Korallreven
23. Conatus
    Zola Jesus
24. Parallax
    Atlas Sound
25. Arabia Mountain
    Black Lips
26. The Whole Love
    Wilco
27. We’re New Here
    Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx
28. You Are All I See
    Active Child
29. In Heaven
    Mr Twin Sister
30. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
31. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
32. Undun
    The Roots
33. Metals
    Feist
34. 4
    Beyoncé
35. New Brigade
    Iceage
36. Space is Only Noise
    Nicolas Jaar
37. Skying
    The Horrors
38. Feel It Break
    Austra
39. Dye It Blonde
    Smith Westerns
40. Smother
    Wild Beasts

Tiny Mix Tapes: Favorite 50 Albums of 2011

[see also 2010s • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. Replica
   Oneohtrix Point Never
2. James Blake
   James Blake
3. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
   Colin Stetson
4. An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
   The Caretaker
5. Flight Muzik
   DJ Diamond
6. A I A
   Grouper
7. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
   John Maus
8. Eye Contact
   Gang Gang Dance
9. Kaputt
   Destroyer
10. Tryptych
    Demdike Stare
11. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
12. Whokill
    Tune-Yards
13. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
14. 936
    Peaking Lights
15. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
16. KWJAZ
    KWJAZ
17. Badlands
    Dirty Beaches
18. The Strobo Trip: Light and Audio Phase Illusions Toy
    The Flaming Lips
19. The Capital
    Sean McCann
20. Just A Taste Vol. 1
    DJ Rashad
21. Far Side Virtual
    James Ferraro
22. Exmilitary
    Death Grips
23. Let England Shake
    PJ Harvey
24. How the Thing Sings
    Bill Orcutt
25. One Nation
    Hype Williams
26. Through Donkey Jaw
    Amen Dunes
27. House of Balloons
    The Weeknd
28. Carrion Crawler/The Dream
    Thee Oh Sees
29. Castlemania
    Thee Oh Sees
30. I’m Gay (I’m Happy)
    Lil B
31. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
32. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
    M83
33. Space Elements Vol. III
    Rafael Toral
34. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
35. Leave Home
    The Men
36. On the Water
    Future Islands
37. Telebossa
    Telebossa
38. Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1
    Earth
39. Suara Naga
    Arrington de Dionyso’s Malaikat dan Singa
40. Grimoire
    Kreng
41. Stand Before Me, Oh My Soul
    Fabio Orsi
42. Dedication
    Zomby
43. Strange Mercy
    St. Vincent
44. II
    The Psychic Paramount
45. Horsky Park
    Tiziana Bertoncini & Thomas Lehn
46. A Winged Victory for the Sullen
    A Winged Victory For The Sullen
47. Smoke Ring for My Halo
    Kurt Vile
48. COIN COIN Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres
    Matana Roberts
49. Aesthethica
    Liturgy
50. Bad as Me
    Tom Waits

Consequence: Top 50 Albums of 2011

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013]

1. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
2. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
3. Black Up
   Shabazz Palaces
4. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
5. Wasting Light
   Foo Fighters
6. James Blake
   James Blake
7. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
   M83
8. Whokill
   Tune-Yards
9. Kaputt
   Destroyer
10. Take Care
    Drake
11. Burst Apart
    The Antlers
12. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
    Colin Stetson
13. 4
    Beyoncé
14. Helplessness Blues
    Fleet Foxes
15. The King of Limbs
    Radiohead
16. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
17. Skying
    The Horrors
18. Parallax
    Atlas Sound
19. David Comes to Life
    Fucked Up
20. Bad as Me
    Tom Waits
21. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
22. The Golden Age of Apocalypse
    Thundercat
23. House of Balloons
    The Weeknd
24. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
25. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
26. Wild Flag
    Wild Flag
27. Camp
    Childish Gambino
28. Smoke Ring for My Halo
    Kurt Vile
29. Leave Home
    The Men
30. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
31. 50 Words for Snow
    Kate Bush
32. Making Mirrors
    Gotye
33. Zonoscope
    Cut Copy
34. 21
    Adele
35. Unknown Mortal Orchestra
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
36. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
37. Days
    Real Estate
38. Replica
    Oneohtrix Point Never
39. XXX
    Danny Brown
40. All Eternals Deck
    The Mountain Goats
41. Within and Without
    Washed Out
42. Section.80
    Kendrick Lamar
43. Mikal Cronin
    Mikal Cronin
44. Yuck
    Yuck
45. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
46. Welcome to Condale
    Summer Camp
47. Goodbye Bread
    Ty Segall
48. This is Our Science
    Astronautalis
49. The Big Roar
    Joy Formidable
50. Ashes & Fire
    Ryan Adams

Pitchfork: Top 50 Albums of 2011

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

1. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
2. Kaputt
   Destroyer
3. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
   M83
4. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
5. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
   Girls
6. Replica
   Oneohtrix Point Never
7. Whokill
   Tune-Yards
8. Take Care
   Drake
9. Days
   Real Estate
10. House of Balloons
    The Weeknd
11. Strange Mercy
    St. Vincent
12. James Blake
    James Blake
13. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
14. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
15. Helplessness Blues
    Fleet Foxes
16. Smoke Ring for My Halo
    Kurt Vile
17. Instrumentals
    Clams Casino
18. Parallax
    Atlas Sound
19. XXX
    Danny Brown
20. Space is Only Noise
    Nicolas Jaar
21. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
22. An Empty Bliss Beyond This World
    The Caretaker
23. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
24. The Magic Place
    Julianna Barwick
25. Eye Contact
    Gang Gang Dance
26. Looping State of Mind
    The Field
27. 4
    Beyoncé
28. Zonoscope
    Cut Copy
29. The Book of David
    DJ Quik
30. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
31. Goodbye Bread
    Ty Segall
32. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
33. David Comes to Life
    Fucked Up
34. On A Mission
    Katy B
35. Nostalgia, Ultra
    Frank Ocean
36. 50 Words for Snow
    Kate Bush
37. New Brigade
    Iceage
38. Impossible Spaces
    Sandro Perri
39. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
40. Electronic Dream
    AraabMuzik
41. Aesthethica
    Liturgy
42. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
43. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
44. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
    Colin Stetson
45. Section.80
    Kendrick Lamar
46. Cults
    Cults
47. Sepalcure
    Sepalcure
48. Underneath the Pine
    Toro y Moi
49. Wild Flag
    Wild Flag
50. The Year of Hibernation
    Youth Lagoon

Ben Ratliff: Top 10 Albums of 2011, as published by The New York Times

1. Hell on Heels
   Pistol Annies
2. Live 1/15/11 WBGO
   Jason Moran / Robert Glasper Double Trip
3. Ravedeath, 1972
   Tim Hecker
4. So Beautiful or So What
   Paul Simon
5. Atma
   YOB
6. Aeriol Piano
   Kris Davis
7. Owl Splinters
   Deaf Center
8. Avenging Angel
   Craig Taborn
9. Section.80
   Kendrick Lamar
10. Cosmic Ocean Ship
    Mia Doi Todd