Tim Casteel asked me a great question in a comment on a recent post: "I'd be interested to know: what else is on your potential 'best albums of 2011' list?"
There are a bunch that will get my consideration and I can't list them all, nor recall all of them. I expect some to pop up high on the list that just haven't come to mind as I post this. I give each album a good, fresh listen as I work on my list. So don't quote me when my list comes out in December and there are some new names high on the list and listed albums not on the list. :) Here are some I expect to compete for the top albums, in alphabetical order.
What isn't on my list that should be?
- Antlers: Burst Apart
- Beirut: The Rip Tide
- Bon Iver: Bon Iver, Bon Iver
- Cults: Cults
- Dawes: Nothing Is Wrong
- Decemberists: The King Is Dead
- Explosions in the Sky: Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
- The Field: Looping State of Mind
- Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues
- Frank Turner: England Keep My Bones
- Gillian Welch: The Harrow & The Harvest
- Girls: Father, Son, & Holy Ghost
- Ha Ha Tonka: Death of a Decade
- The Head & The Heart: The Head & The Heart
- Iron & Wine: Kiss Each Other Clean
- Josh Garrels: Love & War & The Sea In Between
- Joy Formidable: The Big Roar
- King Creosote & Jon Hopkins: Diamond Mine
- Low: C'mon
- The Low Anthem: Smart Flesh
- Megafaun: Megafaun
- Middle Brother: Middle Brother
- My Morning Jacket: Circuital
- Okkervil River: I Am Very Far
- Other Lives: Tamer Animals
- PJ Harvey: Let England Shake
- Radiohead: The King Of Limbs
- Ryan Adams: Ashes & Fire
- Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde
- Sojourn: The Water & The Blood
- tUnE-yArDs: W H O K I L L
- Washed Out: Within or Without
- Wilco: The Whole Love
- Wye Oak: Civilian
- Yuck: Yuck
What about The Head and the Heart's album? I just checked, and it barely made it with a release date of January 11.
Posted by: Burr | 10/14/2011 at 04:04 PM
That's a good one, Burr. Forgot about that one, as often happens with early albums. Thanks! I'll add it to the list.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/14/2011 at 04:06 PM
I don't know what your feelings are about Paul Simon, but his "So Beautiful or So What" has been getting a ton of airplay round these parts.
Posted by: Amanda | 10/14/2011 at 04:31 PM
I wasn't thrilled with what I heard from it and never picked it up. But thanks for the recommendation, Amanda!
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/14/2011 at 04:33 PM
Here's a few contenders on my list that aren't on yours.
Adele - 21
The Wood Brothers - Smoke Ring Halo
Feist - Metals
David Wax Museum - Everything Is Saved
Posted by: Chase | 10/14/2011 at 05:51 PM
I don't have any of them. Like what I've heard from Feist, but haven't pulled the trigger. David Wax is most intriguing to me, but same story.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/14/2011 at 06:00 PM
Great list...
Some I'd add...I'm probably forgetting some.
The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
Bjork - Biophilia
Neon Indian - Era Extrana
Chelsea Wolfe - Apokalypsis
City and Colour - Little Hell
Viva Voce - The Future Will Destroy You
Rosebuds - Loud Planes Fly Low
Julia Stone - The Memory Machine
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Wolfroy Goes to Town
Marketa Irglova - Anar
Posted by: Robert | 10/14/2011 at 09:23 PM
Thanks for taking the time to share.
You definitely hit my favorites:
1) Bon Inver
2) Wye Oak
3) The Antlers
The only one I'd add that wasn't on there: St. Vincent. Great album.
I really like the King Creosote album that I started listening to per your recommendation a few weeks ago. Great stuff. Wish it was longer.
Are you not on Spotify? Just noticed you mentioned buying albums. Spotify has been great for me to try out albums before buying (like King Creosote). AND great for sharing/checking out playlists.
Posted by: Tim Casteel | 10/14/2011 at 09:51 PM
My Brightest Diamond
Rural Alberta Advantage - departing
Woods - sun and shade
Sam Phillips - solid state
Givers - in light
Posted by: Danashco | 10/14/2011 at 10:11 PM
Your list definitely touches upon some of my favorites so far:
Beirut: The Rip Tide
Bon Iver: Bon Iver
Gillian Welch: The Harrow & The Harvest
Radiohead: The King Of Limbs
Ryan Adams: Ashes & Fire
Wye Oak: Civilian
If you haven't heard them, you'd probably also dig:
Radical Face: Family Tree - The Roots
White Denim: D
Posted by: Zack | 10/15/2011 at 06:11 AM
all of those albums are great. Here are a few more worthy of consideration
1. Biophilia - Bjork (mentioned above)
2. Where are the Arms - Gabriel Kahane
3. Goat Rodeo Sessions - Yo Yo Ma (doesn't come out for a few weeks but i expect it to be top 5 for me. :) http://tinyurl.com/3hs3lfx
4. new m83 comes out next week- getting lots of hype
5. In Light - Givers is super great
6. Diamond Mine - Jon Hopikins and King Creosote
Posted by: Brian Moats | 10/15/2011 at 01:59 PM
I'm actually shocked you haven't been hyping youth lagoon. It's an amazing album, and the video to their first single is very well done.
Also, look up a worship album from a church in NYC called we sing as one by a trinity Grace Church.
Posted by: Daniel J | 10/15/2011 at 07:59 PM
What about Matthew and the Atlas?
Posted by: Rnkhan | 10/16/2011 at 02:10 AM
Robert, I don't think any of those will make my list, but thanks for sharing them. Lots of good stuff this year.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/17/2011 at 12:25 PM
Danashco, I still haven't heard My Brightest Diamond. Interested. Givers may make my list, but I haven't heard it enough yet. I'll check out Rural and Woods. Unfamiliar. Thanks.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/17/2011 at 12:34 PM
Zach, Haven't heard of Radical Face, but it sounds great as I've been trying it out today. I remember hearing White Denim, but don't remember much about it. Thanks for the suggestions.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/17/2011 at 01:09 PM
Brian, I'm most excited about the new M83. I'm listening to it now.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/17/2011 at 01:17 PM
Daniel, I can't hype something I haven't really heard. :) But all the pressure I'm getting means I'll have to pick it up. Thanks. I'll check out the Trinity Grace album.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/17/2011 at 01:19 PM
Rnkhan, I don't know anything about it.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/17/2011 at 01:19 PM
I made a spotify playlist of everything I could find from your list. I'm enjoying it. Not sure if you can search to find it, but I labeled the playlist reformissionary 2011.
Posted by: Jackmaatman | 10/19/2011 at 10:50 AM
Thanks Jack!
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/19/2011 at 01:06 PM
One you missed... The Beastie Boys 'Hot Sauce Committee Vol.2' is my favorite of the year after The Decemberists.
Posted by: John Barber | 10/20/2011 at 08:39 AM
John, I've had others encourage me to pick up HSC Pt2, but I haven't. Thx for the suggestion.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/24/2011 at 12:46 PM
I have to add one more that I can't believe I forgot!
Chris Thile & Michael Daves - Sleep With One Eye Open
Very traditional bluegrass, but those guys are MONSTER players.
Posted by: Chase | 10/25/2011 at 03:24 PM
And...
The Belle Brigade - self titled
Posted by: Chase | 10/27/2011 at 04:18 PM
Chase, haven't heard enough of Thile/Daves to put it on the list. But there's time. I don't have The Belle Brigade (I don't think?), but will be checking it out. Thanks man.
Posted by: Steve McCoy | 10/27/2011 at 04:45 PM