This list may fly in the face of most “best of” lists for 2011. Excluded are the overrated Bon Iver, James Blake, and the array of wince-inducing rap projects that have been embraced by particular hipster circles. Included are some albums that have been relentlessly bashed by the indie blogosphere, but ones we loved, such as The Strokes, Radiohead, and White Lies, as well as some that were completely ignored this year (Feersum Ennjin and Saul Williams).
We don’t call ‘em the best, just our favorites. These are the records that got the most plays on our iPods this year, our favorite albums of 2011:
1. Modeselektor – Monkeytown

2. Tapes ‘n Tapes – Outside

3. The Strokes – Angles

4. Radiohead – The King of Limbs

5. Feersum Ennjin – Feersum Ennjin

6. The Antlers – Burst Apart

7. Panda Bear – Tomboy

9. Saul Williams – Volcanic Sunlight

11. TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light

12. Puscifer – Conditions of My Parole

15. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2

16. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

17. REM – Collapse Into Now

18. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

19. White Lies – Ritual

20. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead

Most Disappointing Albums of 2011:
Dredg – Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy
Ladytron – Gravity the Seducer




Panda Bear follows up the all-time great Person Pitch, an effort that won him unanimous critical acclaim, with a moody, guitar-driven collection of hit-or-miss anthems. The album serves as a near-perfect soundtrack to the summer but doesn’t warrant the repeat listens of his former masterstroke. To be fair, practically nothing would. The pressure to follow up one of our generation’s most unique, creative, and addicting records was a task that even Noah Lennox was not going to be able to pull off.

Using his new Terrible Records label and CANT solo moniker, Grizzly Bear mastermind Chris Taylor puts his spin on The Notwist’s “Boneless” from their 2008 LP. Although not as brilliant as Panda Bear’s take on the song last year, both of the remixes are better than the original. Download “Boneless (Terrible Records Remix”