2011 year end review....Must have albums for 2011

[g4string]

2011 is 2 days away from officially becoming history. Lets hear what really stood out this year....so post your must have albums for 2011.

FWIW, since some of these bands may not be as well known as others; posting the "genre/style' might help somebody who is looking to expand their library.

I'll start, my stand-outs are;

Gillian Welch - "The Harrow and the Harvest" (americana, traditional, folk)

Tedeschi Trucks Band "Revelator" (rock, blues)

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit "Here We Rest" (southern rock, americana)

The Wood Brothers "Some Ring Halo" (traditional, americana, blues)

The Black Keys "El Camino" (rock,blues)

My biggest let down was Wilco "The Whole Love". Let down is an understatement (POS). After listening to "The Whole Love", I think I am kinda done with Wilco.

[Phe]

Sharon Jones & Dap-Kings - Soul Time! (soul) Not as good as "I Learned the Hard Way" but still damn good.

Booker T - Road to Memphis (soul)

Charles Bradley - No Time for Dreaming (soul, again)

The Ex - Catch My Shoe (Anarcho punk with african rhythms) Not much bass in here, two baritone guitars and horns. Really recommended.

Joe4 - Enola Gay EP (noise rock) Short, angry burst. Shellac and The Jesus Lizard comes to mind.

The Gary - El Camino (rock or noise rock) They probably weren't happy that The Black Keys took their title

Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light (drone-y americana doom-y instrumental stuff) I guess the description says it all. If you want fusion jazz bass licks and/or poppy punk stay away. If you have a minimalist bone in you (that's what she said) this might be for you.

Probably forgetting stuff. Good year for soul, if you ask me.
Still need to buy The Root's Undun and Low's C'mon. And possibly the Black Keys' El Camino. Sounded really nice.

[Dave Siff]

Arch/Matheos, Sympathetic Resonance (progressive metal)

[Timmah]

Man in motion- Warren Haynes (blues)

[mcglyph]

Maynard's new Puscifer project, "Conditions of my Parole", is my new favorite. Like NIN mixed with Perfect circle. Really recommended.

[tangentmusic]

My favorite album from '11 was "Fly From Here" by Yes.
Very good LP. Worthy of any collection, especially the Prog fans.

[Valerus]

Moving Mountains - Waves
blueneck - Repetitions
Grails - Deep Politics
Josh Garrels - Love & War & The Sea In Between
This Will Destroy You - Tunnel Blanket
Thrice - Major/Minor
Russian Circles - Empros

[Barkless Dog]

Fleet Foxes -Helplessness Blues
Yes - Fly From Here
The Gazette- Toxic
Wilco- The Whole Love -= I really liked it, oh well.
Polysics - Oh! No! It's Heavy Polysick!!!

[ronaldpdbrandt]

tUnE-yArDs' w h o k i l l was my favorite this year.

Oh, and Hurry Up, We're Dreaming by M83.

And then Last of the Country Gentlemen by Josh T. Pearson.

Also Bon Iver's Bon Iver.

Richard Buckner's Our Blood was awesome, as usual.

Kaputt by Destroyer was pretty fantastic, too.

[onlyclave]

Opeth "Heritage" is really good.

[bassbully]

The Harrow and the Harvest -Gillian Welch
Blitzen Trapper- American Goldwing
I'll never get out of this world alive- Steve Earle
Blessed- Lucinda Williams