To some, a double album packed with 22 songs would be considered excessive. However, after one listen, I found myself enchanted by the dream world intricately created with varying electronic soundscapes by Anthony Gonzalez of M83. Each song blends magnificently into the next, and substantial climaxes and lulls bring the listener into a gleeful subconsciousness. If you enjoy M83's popular hit Midnight City, then I strongly recommend further exploration into the double album where it resides.
#2 Watch the Throne by Jay-Z and Kanye West
Dynamic duos: Batman and Robin. Calvin and Hobbes. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. And now, in 2011, hip-hop superstars Kanye West and Jay-Z. 'Ye and Jay created an opus that stunningly portrays America's urban environment through their clever rhyming schemes and diverse sound (brass overtures, dubstep, R&B outpouring etc). At times, 'Ye and Jay seem to unnecessarily boast about their fame and fortune. Nevertheless, when these two preach about racism and poverty, suburban and urban America alike need to heed their words and examine our world through their hardened eyes.
#3 Bon Iver by Bon Iver
Bon Iver, the famous "Lone Wolf" creator of For Emma, Forever Ago, created a stunning sophomore album where he finds himself surrounded by other gifted musicians. Like M83's album before it, frontman Justin Vernon creates a symphonic masterpiece, bringing the listener on a journey through emotional aural environments. Although Bon Iver (in my mind) has been excessively abused due to the over-plays by coffee shops, climbing walls, and other hipster locales around the US, Bon Iver's album still brings awe when listened in the right environment.
#4 The King of Limbs by Radiohead
A new Radiohead direction should have been no surprise to me: when grunge sounding Pablo Honey was popular, brit-pop The Bends followed; when rock-revival OK Computer dominated the music scene, chaotic and electronic successor Kid A revolutionized their sound for years to come. However, when King of Limbs followed the nearly immaculate In Rainbows, I was not prepared for the new direction of Radiohead's sound.
Although Radiohead's sound completely changed, the meticulousness of Radiohead’s compositions remained in the King of Limbs. Their album meticulousness is why this band is so sensational: each listen provides a new sound that was never heard before. The King of Limbs seems to be perfectly fit for a record player: side A (first four tracks) is chaotically layered with various electronic sounds and rhythms while side B (final four tracks) is filled with beautiful, slower-paced masterpieces. Although this album is no In Rainbows, the King of Limbs is certainly one of the most memorable albums of 2011, and it proudly continues the tradition of Radiohead revolutionizing their sound by being The King[s] of [Album] Whims.
#5 El Camino by The Black Keys
Lead singer / guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney are known by some as the “saviors of rock”, and their bluesy, grunge, garage-band sound is an aural delicacy to anyone who loves music. El Camino truly is a joy to listen too; in fact, the album seems to be just like a ride through the inner city in the woody van on the cover--although its muffler is a little loud and it bounces around each turn, it is a trip that you will certainly never forget.
#6 Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
After the successes of the debut EP Sun Giant and their self-titled first album, Seattle’s Fleet Foxes return with their sophomore album Helplessness Blues. Unlike the joyous escapade through mountain heights and vibrant green valleys that the Fleet Foxes took their listeners through on their debut album, Helplessness Blues takes the listener on a new, darker adventure through what feels like dense, gloomy forests and vast, dry deserts. The Fleet Foxes album is certainly one of the year’s finest: these talented artists can send your mind to landscapes that no other artists today can conjure. Yet, the lack of joy that was stunningly prevalent on their debut album leaves the listener with little memory of what they just listened to--like an enjoyable dream that becomes easily forgotten after being up for an hour.
#7 Angles by The Strokes
Nearly ten years after their successful debut album Is This It was released, the Strokes released their fourth album Angles during turbulent times in their band. The first four songs trick the listener into thinking that the Strokes have triumphantly returned; however, the latter tracks paralyze the album from being the impressive comeback desired by fans.
#8 Circuital by My Morning Foxes
8.4/10
My Morning Jacket created a dark, sing-along album that is enjoyable for all listeners. Yet, upon multiple listens, the lack of sound diversity and theme cohesiveness plague this album from being outstanding.
#9 Undun by The Roots
The Roots create a concept album that goes through the life of a troubled, gangster youth in reverse chronological order. The theme of the album is brilliant; the execution of the theme was less impressive. Further listens are needed to determine whether this album is a success or a flop.
#10 The King is Dead by The Decemberists
The Americana sound beautifully brings the listener through the serene valleys, crystal mountains, and dense forests of Oregon. Nevertheless, the slight weakness in this album has to do with the lack of sound diversity in the album, resulting in the album to lack an emotional, symphony-style sensation when listened to.
#11 Lasers by Lupe Fiasco
Lupe Fiasco toys too much towards infamous pop-rap that has made Flo-Rida and Pitbull so popular: instead of the rap lyrics being memorable, the only enjoyable segment of the music is the catchy chorus.
#12 Nine Types of Light by TV on the Radio
7.8/10
While Dear Science produced the emotion a driver felt when maneuvering with a lead foot around four lanes of traffic in the middle of the day in Atlanta, Dear Science’s successor Nine Types of Light sounds like this driver has turned on the blinker, shifted back into the right lane, and proceeded in the right lane going the speed limit.
#13 Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay
7.5/10
In my opinion, Mylo Xyloto was 2011's major flop. Mylo Xyloto feels as if Coldplay traded the emotional depth of their sound prevalent in prior albums (Viva la Vida, A Rush of Blood to the Head) for the alternative of being more radio friendly to please the masses. After many listens, I came to the reality that this album is "Piti-Piti-Pitiful", not the "Para-Para-Paradise" I was hoping for.
#14 Take Care by Drake
I cannot understand why many music reviewers rave about Drake's sophomore debut. Although I enjoyed many songs on this album, Take Care lacks a cohesive structure and is plagued by its excessive length.
#15 Collapse into Now by R.E.M.
R.E.M.'s final album is everything but a collapse into retirement. Collapse into Now certainly is not R.E.M.’s best (how do you overcome Murmur and Automatic for the People’s success?), but it happens to be the perfect culmination album for a rock-n’-roll hall of fame band because the contingent of Michael Stipe, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills end their respective careers on what they historically have done best for the past four decades: rocking out.
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