It’s been almost nine years since I rated my favorite albums of 2011.
So how I would I rank these albums today? Let’s find out!
Still tops
These albums still make the list of my favorite albums of 2011. It stands out there isn’t a clear #1 album. But I’m happy to see that I still rate 6 out of the top 7 albums.
1. (was 7) Jay-Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne
Man, what a simple time. Just two dudes trading slick verses across Will Ferrell quotes. I saw this tour in ATL and it was a celebration. Let’s not think about where they’ve gone since.
2. (2) The Weeknd – House of Balloons / Thursday
All aboard the hype train. Seems crazy now, but when these two albums came out, he was a mystery indie R&B darling. I love the production on the early albums, it’s gritty, yet polished. It felt like the future in 2011. I don’t usually listen to the full albums anymore, but the tracks still rip.
3. (6) Mikal Cronin – s/t
My favorite album of his. Take Ty Segall’s scuzz and add some beautiful pop hooks.
4. (4) Killer Mike – PL3DGE
My favorite Killer Mike album, an early glimpse of the passion and the politickin that made him a beast with RTJ. Falls off a bit at the end, but the first 5 tracks are worldy.
5. (14) The Rapture – In the Grace of Your Love
Disco The Rapture has aged much more nicely than dancepunk The Rapture.
6. (3) mr. Gnome – Madness in Miniature
This band came out of nowhere to totally melt my face. And it holds up.
7. (1) Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
I still dig this, and it has some great tracks, but don’t like it as much as I used to.
8. (11) Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4Eva
I had such high hopes for K.R.I.T. after K.R.I.T. Wuz Here (just released on Spotify!) and this album, but he never really took the next step. This still holds up, and has the best song ever about regular car maintenance.
9. (25) St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
I kind of forgot about this album since MASSEDUCTION is so awesome, I usually just listen to that. But I fired it up again, and wow this is great.
I totally missed these
I didn’t rank these at the time, but now they’d make the cut.
Kendrick Lamar – Section.80
The first real glimpse of what was to come.
Destroyer – Kaputt
I remember trying to like Destroyer back then, especially since I liked the New Pornographers. But I never got it. Maybe it’s getting older, but I love his dense, grumpy, practically pretentious compositions.
That one great song
These albums I probably rated higher because of one great song. The albums aren’t great, but I still love that one song.
19. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
This album feels like one song over and over, but Midnight City is the best version of that song and that song is great.
17. Neon Indian – Era Extraña
I love Polish Girl. Dancy, fuzzy, keyboard reverb. My kryptonite.
5. tUnE-YarDs – W H O K I L L
This album is a bit silly, but I still love Gangsta.
18. Childish Gambino – EP
I’m kind of embarrassed about liking this. I bet Donald is too. But Freaks and Geeks is still a guilty pleasure.
9. Wilco – The Whole Love
Damn Art of Almost almost signaled a comeback of the avant-noise Wilco. But then they settled back into old-age Wilco.
Overrated follow-up
I probably ranked these too high because I loved their last album and really wanted to like this one too. Man, what a year 2008 was with Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes breaking out and making all-time albums, and then following up with kinda duds in 2011.
12. Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver
I don’t like this album. I probably tried really hard at time time because For Emma, Forever Ago is one of my favorite albums. But this ain’t it.
16. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
I don’t like this album either. It’s not bad, but it’s way too difficult following the CSNY-ish masterpiece of Sun Giant and their self-titled.
Decent, but don’t really listen to it anymore
20. Tapes ‘n Tapes – Outside
It’s got a few good songs, but it’s no The Loon.
13. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO
I like a country-ish album once every five years. This is that album.
I forgot this existed
10. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
15. The Antlers – Burst Apart
21. Cults – s/t
22. Yuck – s/t
Not into it anymore
8. Drake – Take Care
I can handle a Drake track here and there, but the 20 track emo rap albums are now a hard pass.
24. Cloud Nothings – s/t
They’ve become one of my favorite bands, but I much prefer the harder edge of Attack on Memory and Here and Nowhere Else.