My top 15 albums of 2011. Click on the album art for a video sample!
15. Mansions - Dig Up the Dead
Slightly reminiscent of an achy Jonah Matranga project, his album reminds me of something I might have listened to 6-8 years ago. I’ll never cavil about any album that I can say that about. Whut up high school?
14. Theophilus London - Timez are Weird These Days
I defy you to find a hip-hop album that makes you want to move as much as Timez are Weird These Days. While his flow and lyrics leave a little to be desired for my ears, the production is top-notch, and the songs are catchy as hell. Timez are Weird These Days is a refreshing addition to the hip-hop scene
13. Astronautalis - This is Our ScienceFlorida transplant Charles Bothwell sounds very at home in the Twin Cities hip-hop scene. He’s got the same dark, eerie style and substantive lyrics that I associate with a lot of other artists to come out of the Twin Cities. The dark tones with Bothwell’s uniquely gruff voice do something really special for Astronautalis’ sound. Featuring collaborations with Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara and members of Doomtree, this album is my favorite Astronautalis album yet, and very deserving of a spot on my list.
12. The Black Keys - El CaminoIf you like The Black Keys, you’ll like this album. It’s a lot of fun, but the songs kind of bleed together to me, which diminishes its impact. It was also a late release, so I think I’ll give it some more time. It’s on my radar as a potentially awesome album. I’ve liked it more and more every time I’ve listened, so it’s on the up and up.

11. Doomtree - No Kings
Doomtree puts on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen, and I have long believed that their recorded albums don’t do the group justice. That being said, No Kings is their best effort yet. P.O.S. is my favorite emcee of all time, but I feel like Mike Mictlan steals the spotlight on this album. Dude’s nuts—he comes into this video at 2:10.
10. NewVillager - NewVillager
This album just kind of fell on my radar when their agent sent it to me as part of his pitch to get them booked in the Maintenance Shop. Unfortunately, the show didn’t happen, but I still love the album. Experimentation with effects, unorthodox rhythms and intriguing vocals flow from song to song, uniting in a satisfying overarching concept. Ross Simonini’s falsetto and Ben Bromley’s baritone are combined with fascinating effects to create some of the most captivating and unique harmonies you’ll hear. Art rock at its finest.

9. My Morning Jacket - CircuitalThank God for this album. I was so put off by Evil Urges’ evil urge to use electronic clutter that Circuital truly comes as a breath of fresh air simply by reverting to My Morning Jacket’s traditional sounds. My Morning Jacket pulls off this throwback to it’s Kentucky roots nicely, mixing classic rock, roots, funk, and psychedelic jams, all while allowing Jim James to show off his impressive vocal talent. Each song works individually and strung together into this fantastic album.

8. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Lenses Alien
Something about this album has captivated me, and I don’t really know what it is. The band displays remarkable musical talent, particularly frontman/guitarist Joe D’Agnostino. I also appreciate the balls it takes to start an album off with a 9-minute epic. Whatever it is about it, this album just works, and works really well. So much that it was one of my most-listened to albums of the year. Check it out.
7. Into it. Over it. - Proper
Evan Weiss slept on my couch once, and his new album rules. To give you an idea of how fluid this list has been in its creation, there’s this: this album jumped 7 spots from its preliminary ranking as I’m listening to it and writing this now. While it’s not my top album of the year, I can see this one having that lasting impact—one of those albums that I can see myself coming back to for years into the future. There really isn’t anything wrong with this album—anything. Lyrically, musically, it is a masterpiece. In fact, I suspect that if I give it many more listens before I publish this list, it will move further up the list, and the only thing keeping me from doing that is my pride and satisfaction in my top 6 albums that I can’t stomach to see thrown into perhaps deserved disarray. So there’s a commonality from here on out—on any given day, all of these can be my favorite.

6. The Wonder Years - Suburbia, I’ve Given My All, and Now I’m NothingI wasn’t sure how The Wonder Years would follow one of the greatest albums of all time (The Upsides), and I wasn’t disappointed with this one. The sound is more complex and more mature, but I have to admit I’m kind of a sucker for the naivety of The Upsides. Still, while this album is more grown up, it’s just as brutally honest as its predecessor. Two thumbs up.
5. Youth Lagoon - Year of Hibernation
I had the pleasure of hosting Youth Lagoon at the Maintenance Shop this year, and his live show blew me away by its quality and simplicity—two guys, keys, a drum machine, and a guitar. The 8-track album is one of the most rewarding 35 minutes you’ll spend. The faraway vocals are simultaneously haunting and reassuring. Fantastic.

4. Bon Iver - Bon IverHow does Justin Vernon follow an act like For Emma, Forever Ago? Make it 12 times bigger. Bon Iver’s second album takes everything Vernon does best, and adds depth and complexity with the help of a cadre of talented musicians—three of which I had the pleasure of hosting at the Maintenance Shop with S. Carey. It’s up for 4 Grammys and I couldn’t agree more. Genius.

3. The Dear Hunter - The Color SpectrumThe Dear Hunter took a short break from their incredibly ambitious 6-album concept story of the life of a boy called “The Dear Hunter” to tackle another ambitious project: nine EPs, each representing a different color (black, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, white, in that order). Whether listening to the EPs in succession or listening to the abbreviated compilation CD of selected songs, it is a work of art. I am personally partial to the Green, Blue and White colors, but each one is masterful in its own right.

2. Portugal. The Man - In the Mountain, In the CloudA very close runner up, this album is packed with gems and left me wanting more. Creative songwriting, catchy choruses, and John Gourley’s one-of-a-kind voice make this album one of my all-time favorites. Check out the 13-minute short film they released on IFC that doubles as a music video for “Got it All” and “Sleep Forever.” Probably my favorite music video ever.

1. Manchester Orchestra - Simple MathMy album of the year in an exceptional year for music. This was the album I was most excited for this year, and it exceeded my expectations. I appreciate an album that works well as a concept, and that is ultimately what gave Simple Math the nod over In the Mountain in the Cloud. It journeys through a range of emotions, each leading to the next so that no song feels out of place. I feel like many of my top picks could easily be the best of the last few years, but this one takes the cake.