it was a good year for music for me. As usual, I feel like I've missed listening to a ton of stuff, or not given enough time to records that deserve it. So, with the constant influx of new music competing with itself, I really dug these records.



1. Destroyer - Kaputt


2. White Denim - D


3. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient


4. Dum Dum Girls - Only in Dreams


5. JEFF the Brotherhood - We Are the Champions


6. Wilco - The Whole Love


7. A.A. Bondy - Believers


8. The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave


9. TV On The Radio - Nine Types Of Light


10. My Morning Jacket - Circuital


11. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Mirror Traffic


12. Wanda Jackson - The Party Ain't Over


13. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring for My Halo


14. Toro Y Moi - Underneath the Pine


15. Daniel Romano - Sleep Beneath the Willow


16. Adam Faucett - More Like a Temple


17. Vetiver - Errant Charm


18. True Widow - As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth


19. Drive-By Truckers - Go-Go Boots


20. Ford & Lopatin - Channel Pressure


21. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - s/t

For an album that was as slagged on as that new DBT album was, it's showing up on a lot of lists.

I think you have a low threshold for "a lot." Not sure if I've caught all the inclusions but I only noticed it on FR's and Stu's, two diehard fans who would probably include it if Patterson had shit in a box and called it a box set.

It's a really weak album and a lot of people here who really like them didn't include it. I count myself as a fan and don't think it's hyperbole to say that it's the worst album I heard in 2011.

Edit: I guess it's at least a little bit of hyperbole as I don't dislike it nearly as much as that Wanda Jackson that also made Stu's list. But it's probably #2 worst behind it.

Glad to see Romano made the cut Stu. No Isbell?

You're not alone billy. The whole thing just feels tired with retreads of old ideas already done much better. First time a DBT album won't be making my year end list.

Stu's list reminds me that narrowing down to 20 is going to be tough. That TV On The Radio album is so good. I feel they were almost overlooked simply because they didn't necessarily top themselves, they just continued their high quality of output.

im a big DBT fan but they have been trending in the wrong direction for the last few albums.

I mentioned this on the podcast this week, but a couple of recent spins of "Used To Be A Cop" elevated the Truckers to my "Honorable Mentions" list that I think I forgot to put in my thread. (actually, a few of Stu's picks ended up there as well).

Though I freely admit DBT makes my list by default, The Strokes, Ryan Adams and Wilco all wore out their welcome. I'm not sure I can even pull twenty albums for this year.

Wilco: is and will always be ass in my book (sorry)

Another album that I certainly didn't give enough time.

I don't think that DBT album flat-out sucks - it simply lacks enough good songs to consider it anything better than a mediocre effort.

I'm confidence they'll bounce back, though.

Vetiver and Destroyer are so strong. Will continue to enjoy them both for a long time.

I keep forgetting to go back to that Vetiver. It is pretty damn good,

Me too; their last one never even got filed and still gets a lot of play. This one just never got the same attention.

Most interesting list so far.. def personallity apparent, but there seems to be an organic diversity of taste. But again... I know why I like Destroyer, but those reasons don't explain why the rest of obner likes it.

Listening to that Destroyer now. I'm pretty sure I hate it though. Too much Pet Shop Boys/smooth jazz for me.

I'm sure a few others would've made my list or honorable mentions at least if I'd listened to them more (White Denim, Jeff The Brotherhood).

edit: i just listened today and remembered why i didn't like that White Denim as much as their previous albums.

I'll readily admit that Go-Go Boots was more about me being a fan and just throwing it in there because "Everybody Needs a Love" was the last dance at my wedding. It could have easily swapped places with anything in the last 3 albums listed.

Good to see White Denim getting some love. Good album.

File it under "should've listened to it more". Nothing of his has stood out to me since Sirens of the Ditch. I'll probably revisit both of his past two albums and realize I've missed out.

I just started listening to that White Denim album last week, and I like it. Same with the Stephen Malkmus album.

Seems like we have less overlap now than in past years.

and I know exactly why... you still seek out challenging music that fulfills you while I feel I'm fed catchier music that fulfills me. It's 100% due to my life being busy and not being able to dedicate the time I used to seeking out challenging music. I don't have a home stereo and I listen to music solely at work, in my car and occasionally on my iPod, so it tends to be surface listening on repeat until something breaks through. I do sincerely miss less-conventional tunes, but am also glad that I found 21 albums that are good to great in 2011.

I did like the Colin Stetson - New History of Warfare Vol. 2 and Tim Hecker - Ravedeath 1972, but again, was unable to spend the time necessary to truly appreciate them. I re-listened to the Nicholas Jaar album, but it was simply too quiet to do anything for me.

Had I been able to spend more time with the Sandro Perri album that Ish was championing, I think it had a chance at the top 20 as well.

Eh, I did acquire a whole lot of music in last year, but I don't know if I'd consider a lot of it challenging. I guess a lot of it is pretty much my comfort zone, if we're talking noisy rock stuff or the occasional electronic thing. For me a challenge would have been to force myself to listen to that whole Drake album.

But I do most of my listening at work, too, and I'm sure it affects how I hear things and what I like. I'm not sure how, exactly, but I know it does. If anything I think it makes me less likely to appreciate stuff with dense, narrative lyrics. I can concentrate on sounds while I'm working, and I like things that are interesting and not too familiar, but it generally takes more dedicated listening for me to absorb lyrics. I'm getting off on a tangent here, but I often don't care about what a song "really means" or is "really about" if the lyrics in the chorus or any other little fragment I randomly pick up on sound dumb or overly cliched.

And I wouldn't worry too much about not spending time with that Colin Stetson album. I found that the novelty kind of started to wear off after repeat listens. I still think it's a good and unique record, though.

see, lyrics are a keystone for me.

Was intrigued by the Unknown Mortal Orchestra song that was on the Sirius XMU ("How Could You Love Me" or something) but never got around to listening to the album. Might have to check Spotify and give it a listen.

"Ffunny Ffriends" is even better than that song. It's a good album.

I put them so far down on my extended list and being a huge fan of their last few thought they did not match up. I'll revisit and see if I have missed something since I have not heard it since early fall at least.