This past year featured a slew of impressive releases, some from seasoned veterans and many more from the newcomers. While 2011 held LPs released by Radiohead, Tom Waits, and many other staple artists, multiple debut releases repeatedly appear on year end lists. If this year is any indication, the future of music appears to be in good hands. Compiled below is SimpleDiggs' ranking of releases this year. Being slightly more difficult to put together than previous years, the degree of difficulty in creating this list only serves as a testament to the quality of music heard in 2011. Check out the full list after the jump.
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30. Thrice Major/Minor
Thrice :: Anthology
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*shels :: Journey to the Plains
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28. Girls Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Girls :: Honey Bunny
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27. Wilco The Whole Love
Wilco :: One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley's Boyfriend)
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26. Real Estate Days
Real Estate :: Green Aisles
____________________________________________________________________________________25. City and Colour Little Hell
City and Colour :: We Found Each Other In The Dark
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24. The Horrible Crowes Elsie
The Horrible Crowes :: Behold The Hurricane/Black Betty & the Moon
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23. Big K.R.I.T. ReturnOf4eva
Big K.R.I.T. :: Dreamin'
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22. The Antlers Burst Apart
The Antlers :: I Don't Want Love
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21. Sleepmakeswaves ...and so we destroyed everything
Sleepmakeswaves :: in limbs and joints
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20. Nicolas Jaar Space Is Only Noise
Nicolas Jaar :: Space Is Only Noise If You Can See
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19. Yuck Yuck
Yuck :: Get Away
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18. Radiohead The King Of Limbs
Radiohead :: The King Of Limbs
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17. The Weeknd House Of Balloons
The Weeknd :: The Morning
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16. Frank Ocean Nostalgia, Ultra
Frank Ocean :: Swim Good
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15. Shabazz Palaces Black Up
The MC/producer duo of Ishmael Butler and Tendai Maraire has given us one of the most ambitious hip-hop efforts heard in a long time. Black Up's distinct approach at hip-hop provides for a unique 36 minute journey. The definition of experimental hip-hop, this debut album is pushing hip-hop to lengths never seen or heard before.
Shabazz Palaces :: Swerve... The Reaping Of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding)
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14. A$AP Rocky LIVELOVEA$AP
The debut mixtape of A$AP Rocky's 3-million-dollar career is on point. Effortless flow, charismatic, and backed by some of the best production heard all year. This is trill.
A$AP Rocky :: Palace
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13. Wild Beasts Smother
Wild Beasts :: Albatross
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12. Kendrick Lamar Section .80
Kendrick Lamar could possibly be the next big thing. Certainly nothing on this album suggests otherwise. Section .80 features a pure spitfire MC that can go pound for pound with the best. The 2011 hip-hop game has been filled with many young guns, and Lamar is without a doubt a premier rookie.
Kendrick Lamar :: HiiiPoWeR
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11. James Blake James Blake
James Blake's debut full-length LP stands out amongst an array of releases not only within his discography, but within this collective year. Blake's trademark scattered and chopped vocals layered over minimal production creates an elegant experience riddled with emotion.
James Blake :: I Never Learnt To Share
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10. The War On Drugs Slave Ambient
The Philly outfit's second full-length LP not only features excellent lyricism from frontman Adam Granduciel, but masterfully wounded instrumentation around Granduciel's drained, fuzzy vocals. There's an obvious sense of Americana found here, think Petty or Springsteen. Those comparisons can only mean good things.
The War On Drugs :: Come To The City
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9. The Jezabels Prisoner
Already having two great indie-pop EPs under their belt, the quartet from Sydney, New South Wales finally released a full-length LP. Unsurprisingly, Prisoner is a collection of catchy, grandiose instrumentals and soaring vocals trademark to The Jezabels. Note that all previous releases including Prisoner are independent. It would be shocking if they did not receive a record deal in the near future.
The Jezabels :: The Endless Summer
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8. Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues
Fleet Foxes follow up their 2008 acclaimed debut with Helplessness Blues. Almost as a reflection of the difficulty of the recording process, the 2011 release features a much less upbeat, much more gloomy feel compared to their self-titled LP or Sun Giant EP. Years in the making, Fleet Foxes' newest release showcases a more intricate and complex release. Without a doubt a worthy successor to a monumental debut.
Fleet Foxes :: Helplessness Blues
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7. Laura Stevenson & The Cans Sit Resist
Adorable should never be used as an adjective to describe music, but there is no other way to put it. Laura Stevenson's soft, clean vocals are irresistibly likable. On Sit Resist, Stevenson and company abandon their Bomb The Music Industry! roots to create their first full-length LP. Here, Stevenson's vocals talents steal the show. Her delicate delivery song after song hits home from start to finish. This not only creates a charming and captivating record, but a memorable listen.
Laura Stevenson and the Cans :: 8-08
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6. Cunninlynguists Oneirology
The southern trio Cunninlynguists hit 2011 with the first memorable hip-hop record in Oneirology. Despite an early March release, the trio's fourth full-length LP has not worn off at all. This can be attributed to outstanding production by Kno. The producer has had a reputation of excellent sampling, and he's shown this not only through Cunninlynguists but also through his solo debut put out last year. Here, Kno furthers his case as one of the greatest producers of our time. Slick beat after slick beat, layered with on point lyricism by all three members throughout. This is the premier hip-hop album of the year.
Cunninlynguists :: Darkness
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5. The Dear Hunter The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)
The Dear Hunter have done something extremely remarkable in The Color Spectrum; a collection of nine EPs clocking in at just under two and a half hours documenting the "sounds" of each color. The length of this release is one thing to gawk at, but throw in the fact that quartet range over a multitude of genres and you have yourself a landmark release.
The Dear Hunter :: Filth And Squalor (Black)
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4. Manchester Orchestra Simple Math
For the longest time, Manchester Orchestra has been given the copy-cat label, oft being written off as Pavement clones. While the influence is very much present, Andy Hull's brutally honest lyricism and songwriting create a completely original and enjoyable experience. On Simple Math, Hull and company sound grander then ever. This record is littered with bombastic instrumentation, but also finds room for the downtempo songs Manchester Orchestra fans have come to love. Manchester Orchestra have consistently released three excellent records, and look poised to improve in the future. Perhaps an indie-alternative classic is not to far ahead of them. Until then, we have an excellent release in Simple Math.
Simple Math :: Simple Math
____________________________________________________________________________________3. Youth Lagoon The Year Of Hibernation
Warm, fuzzy, nostalgic, many adjectives can be used to describe Youth Lagoon's debut LP. Surprising? To Trevor Powers, perhaps. The former Boise State student self-recorded The Year Of Hibarnation at home. The resulting record was a triumph. Drowned in reverb, it is often difficult to make out exactly what Power's is saying. This only adds to the cozy state of the album. Coupled with warm melodies and soothing rhythms, The Year Of Hibernation feels almost dreamlike.
The Year Of Hibernation :: Cannons
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2. Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Justin Vernon, better known as Bon Iver, built a sizable fan base off his debut LP For Emma, Forever Ago. Deservingly so, his debut was full of heartbreak and sorrow. Vernon recorded his aching heart and released it as a record. That same release snuck it's way to classic status for many. How do you follow up a release such as that? Vernon changed the complete dynamic of Bon Iver. On his debut, Vernon's staple instrument was solely an acoustic guitar, with a range of instruments sprinkled here and there. Bon Iver, Bon Iver saw the addition of supporting group members. This resulted in an array of new instruments being paired with Vernon's falsetto vocals. Many questioned this decision, but it collectively works. Despite the new sounds, Bon Iver is essentially unchanged. Vernon's crooning falsetto still carries the listener through 40 minutes of beautiful melodies and rhythms.
Bon Iver :: Holocene
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1. WU LYF Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
2011 held many great releases, but none stand out more than WU LYF's Go Tell Fire To The Mountain. I could go on and about about the band's decision to remain basically anonymous throughout the release process, but that would defeat the purpose entirely. Instead, let's allow the music to take focus, as it should. There is no reason why it should work; Ellery Roberts' inaudible growls layered over heavily reverb guitar riffs and palatial drum work (think Explosions In The Sky). Perhaps the success lies within the uniqueness of WU LYF's whole ideal, their self-proclaimed heavy-pop genre. There certainly aren't any bands out there that sound like this, and they would be hard-pressed to emulate. As cliche as it sounds, it is quite difficult to find a purely unique sound. Go Tell Fire To The Mountain is that hidden gem.
Go Tell Fire To The Mountain :: We Bros
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30 Thrice - Major/Minor
29 *shels - Plains Of The Purple Buffalo
28 Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost
27 Wilco - The Whole Love
26 Real Estate Days
25 City and Colour - Little Hell
24 The Horrible Crowes - Elsie
23 Big K.R.I.T. - ReturnOf4eva
22 The Antlers - Burst Apart
21 Sleepmakeswaves - ...and so we destroyed everything
20 Nicolas Jaar - Space Is Only Noise
19 Yuck - Yuck
18 Radiohead - The King Of Limbs
17 The Weeknd - House Of Balloons
16 Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra
15 Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
14 A$AP Rocky - LIVELOVEA$AP
13 Wild Beasts - Smother
12 Kendrick Lamar - Section .80
11 James Blake - James Blake
10 The War On Drugs - Slave Ambient
9 The Jezabels - Prisoner
8 Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
7 Laura Stevenson & The Cans - Sit Resist
6 Cunninlynguists - Oneirology
5 The Dear Hunter - The Color Spectrum (Complete Collection)
4 Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
3 Youth Lagoon - The Year Of Hibernation
2 Bon Iver - Bon Iver
1 WU LYF - Go Tell Fire To The Mountain
