Year-End Lists

Billboard: 10 Best Albums of 2011

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

1. 21
   Adele
2. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
3. Watch the Throne
   Jay-Z and Kanye West
4. Nostalgia, Ultra
   Frank Ocean
5. Take Care
   Drake
6. David Comes to Life
   Fucked Up
7. House of Balloons
   The Weeknd
8. Ceremonials
   Florence + The Machine
9. James Blake
   James Blake
10. The Big Roar
    Joy Formidable

Treble: Top 50 Albums of 2011

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2012]

1. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
2. Black Up
   Shabazz Palaces
3. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
   M83
4. Parallax
   Atlas Sound
5. The King of Limbs
   Radiohead
6. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
7. Helplessness Blues
   Fleet Foxes
8. Zonoscope
   Cut Copy
9. Burst Apart
   The Antlers
10. Replica
    Oneohtrix Point Never
11. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
12. Kaputt
    Destroyer
13. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
14. James Blake
    James Blake
15. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
    John Maus
16. Whokill
    Tune-Yards
17. Civilian
    Wye Oak
18. Days
    Real Estate
19. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
20. We’re New Here
    Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx
21. Underneath the Pine
    Toro y Moi
22. House of Balloons
    The Weeknd
23. The Hunter
    Mastodon
24. David Comes to Life
    Fucked Up
25. Smoke Ring for My Halo
    Kurt Vile
26. New Brigade
    Iceage
27. Bad as Me
    Tom Waits
28. Badlands
    Dirty Beaches
29. 50 Words for Snow
    Kate Bush
30. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
31. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
32. Ceremonials
    Florence + The Machine
33. Take Care
    Drake
34. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
35. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
36. Aesthethica
    Liturgy
37. Ritual Union
    Little Dragon
38. The Whole Love
    Wilco
39. Skying
    The Horrors
40. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
41. Within and Without
    Washed Out
42. Belong
    Pains of Being Pure at Heart
43. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
    Mogwai
44. Apokalypsis
    Chelsea Wolfe
45. Conatus
    Zola Jesus
46. Cherish the Light Years
    Cold Cave
47. West
    Wooden Shjips
48. Eye Contact
    Gang Gang Dance
49. Feel It Break
    Austra
50. Cults
    Cults

Antiquiet: 20 Best Albums of 2011

[see also 2014 • 2013]

1. Wasting Light
   Foo Fighters
2. Blood Pressures
   Kills
3. El Camino
   The Black Keys
4. Watch the Throne
   Jay-Z and Kanye West
5. I’m With You
   Red Hot Chili Peppers
6. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
   Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
7. The King of Limbs
   Radiohead
8. In the Mountain in the Cloud
   Portugal. The Man
9. Nine Types of Light
   TV on the Radio
10. The Great Escape Artist
    Jane’s Addiction
11. The Hunter
    Mastodon
12. The King is Dead
    The Decemberists
13. El Bronx II
    Mariachi El Bronx
14. Conditions Of My Parole
    Puscifer
15. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
16. Angles
    The Strokes
17. Hell: The Sequel
    Bad Meets Evil [Eminem & Royce da 5’9″]
18. Ukulele Songs
    Eddie Vedder
19. Let England Shake
    PJ Harvey
20. Suck It and See
    Arctic Monkeys

Obscure Sound: Best Albums of 2011

1. Kaputt
   Destroyer
2. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
   Girls
3. Bad as Me
   Tom Waits
4. Parallax
   Atlas Sound
5. Harum Scarum
   The Wind
6. Days
   Real Estate
7. Black Up
   Shabazz Palaces
8. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
9. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
10. Dye It Blonde
    Smith Westerns
11. Underneath the Pine
    Toro y Moi
12. Looping State of Mind
    The Field
13. It’s All True
    Junior Boys
14. The Magic Place
    Julianna Barwick
15. Celestial Lineage
    Wolves in the Throne Room
16. Smother
    Wild Beasts
17. House of Balloons
    The Weeknd
18. 50 Words for Snow
    Kate Bush
19. Burst Apart
    The Antlers
20. James Blake
    James Blake
21. Within and Without
    Washed Out
22. WIT’S END
    Cass McCombs
23. New Villager
    NewVillager
24. El Camino
    The Black Keys
25. Wolfroy Goes to Town
    Bonnie “Prince” Billy
26. Darkbloom
    Grimes & d’Eon
27. Creep On Creepin’ On
    Timber Timbre
28. Helplessness Blues
    Fleet Foxes
29. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
30. Empros
    Russian Circles
31. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
    M83
32. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
    Colin Stetson
33. Humor Risk
    Cass McCombs
34. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
35. Madness in Miniature
    Mr. Gnome
36. Marissa Nadler
    Marissa Nadler
37. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
38. Zonoscope
    Cut Copy
39. Take Care
    Drake
40. All Eternals Deck
    The Mountain Goats
41. The Rip Tide
    Beirut
42. Era Extraña
    Neon Indian
43. Life Fantastic
    Man Man
44. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
45. We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
    John Maus
46. Eye Contact
    Gang Gang Dance
47. One Pig
    Matthew Herbert
48. Quichenight I
    Quichenight
49. Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped
    Moonface
50. Badlands
    Dirty Beaches

Kitty Empire: Best Pop Music of 2011, as published by The Observer

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

1. The Harrow & The Harvest
   Gillian Welch
2. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
3. Wounded Rhymes
   Lykke Li
4. Leave No Trace
   Fool’s Gold
5. Helplessness Blues
   Fleet Foxes
6. James Blake
   James Blake
7. Eye Contact
   Gang Gang Dance
8. Biophilia
   Björk
9. Bad as Me
   Tom Waits
10. Camp
    Childish Gambino

Prefix Magazine: Top Albums of 2011

1. Black Up
   Shabazz Palaces
2. Kaputt
   Destroyer
3. XXX
   Danny Brown
4. David Comes to Life
   Fucked Up
5. Watch the Throne
   Jay-Z and Kanye West
6. Whokill
   Tune-Yards
7. Days
   Real Estate
8. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
9. Smoke Ring for My Halo
   Kurt Vile
10. Take Care
    Drake
11. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
    M83
12. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
13. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
14. Strange Mercy
    St. Vincent
15. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
    Colin Stetson
16. James Blake
    James Blake
17. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
18. Relax
    Das Racist
19. House of Balloons & Thursday
    The Weeknd
20. Helplessness Blues
    Fleet Foxes
21. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
22. Yuck
    Yuck
23. The King of Limbs
    Radiohead
24. Return of 4Eva
    Big K.R.I.T.
25. Unknown Mortal Orchestra
    Unknown Mortal Orchestra
26. Apocalypse
    Bill Callahan
27. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
28. Last of the Country Gentlemen
    Josh T Pearson
29. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
30. The Rip Tide
    Beirut
31. Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
    Ghostpoet
32. Feel It Break
    Austra
33. WIT’S END
    Cass McCombs
34. Eye Contact
    Gang Gang Dance
35. Parallax
    Atlas Sound
36. The Year of Hibernation
    Youth Lagoon
37. Badlands
    Dirty Beaches
38. Cloud Nothings
    Cloud Nothings
39. Within and Without
    Washed Out
40. Wild Flag
    Wild Flag
41. Let England Shake
    PJ Harvey
42. Deep Politics
    Grails
43. COIN COIN Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres
    Matana Roberts
44. 936
    Peaking Lights
45. Instrumental Mixtape
    Clams Casino
46. Replica
    Oneohtrix Point Never
47. In and Out of Youth and Lightness
    Young Widows
48. 4
    Beyoncé
49. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
    Mogwai
50. The Errant Charm
    Vetiver

Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker: Favorite Albums of 2011, ordered by release date

[see also 2022 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013 • 2012]

• Ravedeath, 1972
  Tim Hecker
• We’re New Here
  Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx
• II
  The Psychic Paramount
• Apocalypse
  Bill Callahan
• Whokill
  Tune-Yards
• Exmilitary
  Death Grips
• Vladislav Delay Quartet
  Vladislav Delay Quartet
• Afro Noise I
  Cut Hands
• Virtue
  Emmy the Great
• 4
  Beyoncé
• Black Up
  Shabazz Palaces
• Watch the Throne
  Jay-Z and Kanye West
• Making Mirrors
  Gotye
• Re: ECM
  Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer
• Celestial Lineage
  Wolves in the Throne Room
• Smokin Champagne
  Fiend
• Bad as Me
  Tom Waits
• El Tren Fantasma
  Chris Watson
• LIVE.LOVE.A$AP
  A$AP Rocky
• Brokstukken
  Machinefabriek
• Replica
  Oneohtrix Point Never
• Bangs & Works Vol. 2: The Best of Chicago Footwork
  various artists
• Stade 2
  Mr. Oizo
• Take Care
  Drake
• Daydream Repeater
  Co La

Spin: 50 Best Albums of 2011

[see also 2021 • 2020 • 2010s • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2012]

1. David Comes to Life
   Fucked Up
2. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
3. Past Life Martyred Saints
   EMA
4. Smoke Ring for My Halo
   Kurt Vile
5. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
   Girls
6. XXX
   Danny Brown
7. In the Grace of Your Love
   The Rapture
8. The One…Cohesive
   G-Side
9. Wild Flag
   Wild Flag
10. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
11. Mirror Traffic
    Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
12. 12 Desperate Straight Lines
    Telekinesis
13. House of Balloons & Thursday
    The Weeknd
14. Bon Iver
    Bon Iver
15. Leave Home
    The Men
16. Relax
    Das Racist
17. Only in Dreams
    Dum Dum Girls
18. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
19. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
    M83
20. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
21. The Year of Hibernation
    Youth Lagoon
22. Take Care
    Drake
23. New Brigade
    Iceage
24. Divine Providence
    Deer Tick
25. Wit’s End/Humor Risk
    Cass McCombs
26. Aesthethica
    Liturgy
27. Return of 4Eva
    Big K.R.I.T.
28. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
29. Born This Way
    Lady Gaga
30. Whokill
    Tune-Yards
31. Yuck (specifically the Deluxe Edition)
    Yuck
32. KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)
    Hayes Carll
33. Helplessness Blues
    Fleet Foxes
34. Strange Mercy
    St. Vincent
35. Within and Without
    Washed Out
36. El Camino
    The Black Keys
37. Looping State of Mind
    The Field
38. Conatus
    Zola Jesus
39. 4
    Beyoncé
40. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
41. Nostalgia, Ultra
    Frank Ocean
42. Chief
    Eric Church
43. Section.80
    Kendrick Lamar
44. Undun
    The Roots
45. Azari & III
    Azari & III
46. Wasting Light
    Foo Fighters
47. The Harrow & The Harvest
    Gillian Welch
48. Drive (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
    various artists
49. Atma
    YOB
50. Femme Fatale
    Britney Spears

musicOMH: Top 50 Albums of 2011

[see also 2012]

1. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
2. The English Riviera
   Metronomy
3. Smother
   Wild Beasts
4. Whokill
   Tune-Yards
5. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
6. Burst Apart
   The Antlers
7. Skying
   The Horrors
8. Biophilia
   Björk
9. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
10. Diamond Mine
    King Creosote & Jon Hopkins
11. Welcome to Condale
    Summer Camp
12. The King of Limbs
    Radiohead
13. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
14. SBTRKT
    SBTRKT
15. Ritual Union
    Little Dragon
16. Build a Rocket Boys!
    Elbow
17. Paradise
    Slow Club
18. 50 Words for Snow
    Kate Bush
19. We’re New Here
    Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx
20. Anna Calvi
    Anna Calvi
21. A Winged Victory for the Sullen
    A Winged Victory For The Sullen
22. Arctic Monkeys
    Arctic Monkeys
23. Kiss Each Other Clean
    Iron & Wine
24. Nine Types of Light
    TV on the Radio
25. Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
    Ghostpoet
26. Everything’s Getting Older
    Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat
27. Hearts
    I Break Horses
28. The Rip Tide
    Beirut
29. James Blake
    James Blake
30. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
    Explosions in the Sky
31. Pala
    Friendly Fires
32. Azari & III
    Azari & III
33. David Comes to Life
    Fucked Up
34. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
35. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
36. Within and Without
    Washed Out
37. Arabian Horse
    Gus Gus
38. Space is Only Noise
    Nicolas Jaar
39. Cat’s Eyes
    Cat’s Eyes
40. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
41. Felt
    Nils Frahm
42. Feel It Break
    Austra
43. Belong
    Pains of Being Pure at Heart
44. Dedication
    Zomby
45. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
    Mogwai
46. Smoke Ring for My Halo
    Kurt Vile
47. The Harrow & The Harvest
    Gillian Welch
48. Lupercalia
    Patrick Wolf
49. The King is Dead
    The Decemberists
50. Zonoscope
    Cut Copy

PopMatters: 75 Best Albums of 2011

[see also 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2012]

1. Helplessness Blues
   Fleet Foxes
2. Bon Iver
   Bon Iver
3. David Comes to Life
   Fucked Up
4. Whokill
   Tune-Yards
5. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
   M83
6. House of Balloons
   The Weeknd
7. Strange Mercy
   St. Vincent
8. Let England Shake
   PJ Harvey
9. The Harrow & The Harvest
   Gillian Welch
10. The King of Limbs
    Radiohead
11. Smoke Ring for My Halo
    Kurt Vile
12. 21
    Adele
13. The King is Dead
    The Decemberists
14. James Blake
    James Blake
15. Yuck
    Yuck
16. Father, Son, Holy Ghost
    Girls
17. Stone Rollin’
    Raphael Saadiq
18. American Legacies
    Preservation Hall Jazz Band & The Del McCoury Band
19. Bad as Me
    Tom Waits
20. Build a Rocket Boys!
    Elbow
21. Burst Apart
    The Antlers
22. Wild Flag
    Wild Flag
23. Wounded Rhymes
    Lykke Li
24. Kaputt
    Destroyer
25. Ceremonials
    Florence + The Machine
26. Gimme Some
    Peter Bjorn and John
27. The Whole Love
    Wilco
28. Nine Types of Light
    TV on the Radio
29. Ashes & Fire
    Ryan Adams
30. Black Up
    Shabazz Palaces
31. All Eternals Deck
    The Mountain Goats
32. Within and Without
    Washed Out
33. So Beautiful or So What
    Paul Simon
34. Return of 4Eva
    Big K.R.I.T.
35. Past Life Martyred Saints
    EMA
36. Tomboy
    Panda Bear
37. Cults
    Cults
38. The Book of David
    DJ Quik
39. I Am Very Far
    Okkervil River
40. Slave Ambient
    The War on Drugs
41. Wasting Light
    Foo Fighters
42. Skying
    The Horrors
43. When the Heart Emerges Glistening
    Ambrose Akinmusire
44. Last Summer
    Eleanor Friedberger
45. No Time for Dreaming
    Charles Bradley
46. 17th Street
    Hammers of Misfortune
47. Go-Go Boots
    Drive-By Truckers
48. Ravedeath, 1972
    Tim Hecker
49. The Inside Room
    Watt Sun
50. Civilian
    Wye Oak
51. Dye It Blonde
    Smith Westerns
52. Arabia Mountain
    Black Lips
53. New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges
    Colin Stetson
54. Circuital
    My Morning Jacket
55. Join Us
    They Might Be Giants
56. Watch the Throne
    Jay-Z and Kanye West
57. Gloss Drop
    Battles
58. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
    Mogwai
59. The People’s Key
    Bright Eyes
60. Metals
    Feist
61. The Hunter
    Mastodon
62. Feel It Break
    Austra
63. The Big Roar
    Joy Formidable
64. Nothing is Wrong
    Dawes
65. How Do You Do?
    Mayer Hawthorne
66. Parallax
    Atlas Sound
67. All at Once
    The Airborne Toxic Event
68. Paradise
    Slow Club
69. Blessed
    Lucinda Williams
70. Looping State of Mind
    The Field
71. Eye Contact
    Gang Gang Dance
72. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
    The Vaccines
73. Conatus
    Zola Jesus
74. ISAM
    Amon Tobin
75. All Things Will Unwind
    My Brightest Diamond