2011 was a great year for music. Fleet Foxes took the crown with their splendid record Helplessness Blues, which was both an inspirational and transcendental journey. PJ Harvey and Paul Simon proved that they’re still in fine form as king and queen of the art with So Beautiful or So What and Let England Shake. Newcomers Yuck and Veronica Falls dazzled the indie scene with their debuts, and Class Actress released their best album yet with Rapprocher, an effort which effectively harmonized sexuality with the mystical experience, ultimately creating a blissful sound which easily surpassed their influences. Daft Punk crossed new territory and amazed with their soundtrack to the wonderful film Tron: Legacy. There were so many great sounds this year that it was difficult to maintain this top fifty list, but the albums which are listed represent the best of these lovely sounds. Many of you reading this may have already encountered the lust arrangements of Helplessness Blues, so here’s a sexy song by Class Actress. Cheers to a prosperous 2012!
Look under the cut for the list!
1.Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
2.A Winged Victory for the Sullen by A Winged Victory for the Sullen
3.Prisoner by The Jezabels
4.Tron Legacy Soundtrack by Daft Punk
5.Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
6.The King of Limbs by Radiohead
7.Veronica Falls by Veronica Falls
8.Rapprocher by Class Actress
9.Let England Shake by PJ Harvey
10.Tree of Life Soundtrack by Alexandre Desplat
11.Idle Labor by Craft Spells
12.Yuck by Yuck
13.Several Shades of Why by J Mascis
14.La Sera by La Sera
15.Smoke Ring For My Halo by Kurt Vile
16.Paper Airplane by Alison Krauss and the Union Station
17.Tiurida by Falkenbach
18.So Beautiful or So What by Paul Simon
19.Here Before by The Feelies
20.Celestial Lineage by Wolves in the Throne Room
21.Violet Cries by Esben and the Witch
22.Howls from the Lonely Crowd by Comet Gain
23.Anna Calvi by Anna Calvi
24.Red Barked Tree by Wire
25.Slave Ambient by The War on Drugs
26.Fallen by Burzum
27.The Magic Place by Julianna Barwick
28.Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light by Earth
29.Kaputt by Destroyer
30.Wounded Rhymes by Lykke Li
31.The Cimmerian Years by Thurisaz
32.Relentless Reckless Forever by Children of Bodom
33.Nick 13 by Nick 13
34.Suck It and See by Arctic Monkeys
35.Different Gear, Still Speeding by Beady Eye
36.Feel It Break by Austra
37.Belong by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
38.Wildlife by La Dispute
39.Schwarzpfad by Kroda
40.Angles by The Strokes
41.Mirror Traffic by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
42.Bon Iver by Bon Iver
43.Shaolin vs Wu Tang by Raekwon
44.Move Like This by The Cars
45.El Camino by The Black Keys
46.Marissa Nadler by Marissa Nadler
47.Dye it Blonde by Smith Westerns
48.In Your Dreams by Stevie Nicks
49.I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive by Steve Earle
50.To Hell with God by Deicide