T-Dawg's Best of 2011

I found 2011 to be a great music year. First, there were some really great moments in Pop/Radio music. The best for me: the phenomenon that has been Adele, the new Britney Spears album, the Jay-Z/Kanye West collaboration, great new tracks from Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson, Drake, Beyonce, etc. Second, there were a number of album releases this year that I found myself looking forward to in a way that I haven't done in a long time. Here is a list of my favorite albums from 2011:

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
I love Bon Iver. I was so looking forward to this album that I would have been heartbroken if I didn't like it. Thankfully, I ended up loving it (almost?) as much as For Emma. It's absolutely beautiful like everything Justin Vernon does. Best songs: "Calgary" (second to "Skinny Love" as my favorite Bon Iver track), "Towers," "Holocene"

2. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
I think Radiohead fans had mixed reactions but I loved it. Best songs: "Little By Little," "Lotus Flower," "Separator"

3. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Another release I was eagerly anticipating. Didn't quite match their debut album across the board for me, but beautiful nonetheless. Best songs: "Bedouin Dress, "Montezuma," "Grown Ocean"

4. Real Estate - Days
Their music makes me feel happy and sad at the same time. Their sound is so nostalgic. Best songs: "Municipality," "It's Real," "All the Same"

5. Uh Huh Her - Nocturnes
I liked their first album but I loved this one. Thanks to their Southwest Airlines incident it got some mainstream attention too. Best songs: "Another Case," "Debris," "Same High"

6. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
I love Sleater-Kinney and Carrie Brownstein so I had to give this a chance. It's not S-K but it's great. Best songs: "Romance," "Oh Yeah," "Endless Talk"

7. Tegan and Sara - Get Along (Live Album)
Everyone knows T and S are one of my favorite artists ever. I wasn't sure if I should include it since it's a live album but I had to. I'm only rating it low because the songs aren't new. But the live versions are beautiful. Best songs: "The Ocean (Live)," "I Know I Know I Know (Live)," "Sentimental Tune (Live)"

8. The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
I love this band. They've put out some class albums. This one isn't among their very best but I enjoyed it a great deal this year. Best songs: "Damn These Vampires," "For Charles Bronson," "Beautiful Gas Mask"

9. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
I have a complicated relationship with Coldplay but they have recorded some of the most beautiful songs of of the post-2000 era. What I really liked about this album is that they're trying out some new sounds. Best songs: "Every Teardrop is a Waterfall," "Hurts Like Heaven," "Charlie Brown"

10. Adele - 21
Totally deserves the extreme amount of attention it has received. I wanted to resist the Adele hype this year but to no avail. Best songs: "Someone Like You," "Rumour Has It," "Rolling In The Deep"