Top 10 Albums of 2011
The Courier music writers pick out the top 10 albums of 2011, featuring a load of ‘Christmas’ crackers.
Every year there are albums released that will live long in the memory, and this year was no exception. Totting up each writer’s personal top 10 in a complex mathematical procedure the number 1 was no real surprise, but there was the odd surprise addition and omission.
10. Nicola Roberts – Cinderella’s Eyes
Most surprising after the release of Cinderella’s Eyes was the wave of reviews citing the album as a surprising source of original and gripping pop. Logically, this breakthrough was not a surprise coming from Miss Roberts who combines two great elements: receiving the Oxbridge-equivalent education in making a perfect pop song while being quirky (by quirky, I mean ginger). On top of this, Roberts has lived – unlike the various pixies who fly out of the woods into Simon Cowell’s office and sing about their new curly-toed pair of shoes. Roberts is a pop star with a story to sing about. The chilling ‘Sticks and Stones’ is the track that makes this album. It’s the tale we know: Nicola Roberts, 17, victimized by the press for being quirky (by quirky, I mean, you know, ginger). This song liberates oppressed redheads everywhere, but don’t blame Roberts for the rise of Ed Sheeran, or if Simply Red returns; she is the revolutionary and, like so many great leaders before her, she cannot help the chaos which follows revolution. This is the album Diana Vickers is kicking herself for not producing, and the album Cheryl probably doesn’t ‘get’.
Mallory McDonald
9. Radiohead – The King of Limbs
The King of Limbs marked another change in direction for a band well known for them. Shifting away from conventional instrumentation, The King of Limbs saw a return to more experimental sounds, influenced by electronica (as seen in the subsequent remix album), as well as maintaining that distinctive Radiohead sound. Phil Selway’s drumming powers the first half of the album, but it is Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals that are the album’s most defining feature. The mix of percussion with rich melodies gives the album its signature sound, driven by a sense of urgency, yet at the same time instilling a sense of calm. The second half of the album, featuring more piano and acoustic guitar, has a slower, more mournful sound, but is still infused with the tension and worry that is the band’s trademark theme. There have been few albums this year which have sounded as original, and The King of Limbs manages to do this whilst staying true to its roots. So, whilst maybe not as accessible as the wildly popular In Rainbows, The King of Limbs is still a great album, well worthy of inclusion on any end of year list.
Ben Partridge
8. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Widely described by critics as their best since 1997’s The Colour and the Shape, Foo Fighters returned with a bang in 2011 with their seventh studio album, Wasting Light. Working with esteemed producer Butch Vig for the first time since Nirvana’s iconic Nevermind, there was never any doubt that Grohl and co. would produce anything short of a masterpiece. Indeed it is arguably their heaviest record to date with album tracks such as ‘Bridge Burning’ and ‘White Limo’ signalling a different approach in comparison to 2007’s slightly more experimental Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace. Guest appearances from Bob Mould and Krist Novoselic result in solid collaborations on album tracks ‘Dear Rosemary’ and ‘I Should Have Known’. However, anthemic singles ‘Rope’ and ‘Walk’ are likely to be the most memorable compositions, with their big melodic choruses suggesting they will be live set staples for years to come. Simply put, Wasting Light represents another successful phase in the career of the Foos, helping them to firmly establish themselves as one of the biggest and best rock bands in the world today.
Matty Aston
7. Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
Although only being released just over a month ago, Coldplay’s fifth album Mylo Xyloto has secured its place amongst the best albums of the year. The heady, happy feeling created by listening to this album on repeat cements it as yet another achievement for this epic band. Featuring songs such as ‘Major Minus’ with its electronic feeling and a catchy duet with Rihanna on ‘Princess of China’, Coldplay have really developed their style and brought something new to the table, whilst of course not forgetting what made them famous in the first place with tracks like ‘Up In Flames’, which is more reminiscent of their ‘Parachute’ days. The first single released from this album ‘Every Teardrop is a Waterfall’ and the more recent ‘Paradise’ conjure up that holiday feeling (and the surrealist video of elephants probably adds to the magic of it all). For me Mylo Xyloto shows Coldplay going from strength to strength and it seems they have yet to put a foot wrong. And as one of the lucky thousands that have tickets to next year’s tour I can tell you I cannot wait to hear ‘Charlie Brown’ along with the best of them.
Cassie Lawrence
6. Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials
Normally I’m sceptical of things that have been hyped past the point of rationality, but I can say that Florence + the Machine’s second album, Ceremonials, is genuinely fantastic. Florence’s versatility and power stretches across all the sounds covered in Ceremonials, from the theatrically spooky ‘Seven Devils’ to the more lighthearted and soul-coated ‘Lover to Lover’, then to the tremendously uplifting sing-along anthem ‘Shake It Out’. And of course, since it wouldn’t be a proper Florence + the Machine album without a song for the playlist designated for heartbreak and self-pity (no? That’s just me?), the band delivers with the chilling ‘No Light, No Light’. Ceremonials is heavy-handed on the drama, but it’s fitting. With lyrics that seem more literary and abound with vivid imagery, it’s only right to provide an accompanying soundtrack. Rich with explosive orchestral breakdowns, drumbeats you can feel in your rib cage, and the ever-understated use of the harp, it’s evident that the Machine isn’t that at all but rather a fluid entity, perfectly accommodating the verdant world Florence Welch created for this album.
Maggie McBride
5. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne
With Kanye putting his ego (mostly) to one side for a change and Jay-Z delivering high quality, if slightly commercialised, beats and production values, Watch The Throne easily made its way onto many people’s top ten lists this year. The title may be a slap in the face to many other rap artists, both established and emerging, which might explain the mixed response given by other rappers in the industry. Here, the duo are simply saying:‘‘This is how you do it’’. If any two rappers could pull that off, it could only be these two. On the surface, the album seems to talk down to you, remaining cocky in both its delivery and lyrical content, but look deeper and the intention isn’t to aggravate, but more to rally and motivate the listener. The whole album is solid, cohesive and concise. It doesn’t try to be glitzy and in your face because these guys don’t need to do that anymore. It doesn’t sound like a mix tape either – it sounds like a properly put-together album should, and that’s why this effortlessly-sounding masterpiece can nestle so comfortably amongst this top ten list.
Chris Scott
4. Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See
In a return to form after the more experimental nature of 2009’s Humbug, the Sheffield boys released their fourth album in June. Following the huge success of their first two LPs, Alex Turner and co. have obviously been looking for a new direction. While Humbug was intermittently inspirational, it also often failed to impress, a flaw only highlighted by the consistency of Suck It And See. Still featuring the darker, more moody elements of the Arctic Monkeys’ newer sound, Suck It And See also weaves in sing-along, radio-friendly hooks. Lead single ‘Don’t Sit Down ’Cause I Moved Your Chair’ is a fine example, which takes a catchy chorus, some semi-comprehensible lyrics (“go into business with a grizzly bear”?!) and attaches one of the filthiest riffs of the year. Grizzly bears aside, Turner’s lyrical contribution is fantastic, as always. It’s a quality that sets the band apart from most other British rock acts. Never generic, always thought-provoking, the lead singer has an enviable ability to conjure up something insightful. It appears they’ve settled on a new winning formula – bring on album numero cinco!
Tom Belcher
3. Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Second time around there was no girl, no sentimentalised recording in a log cabin in the woods in the middle of nowhere; this album was created in the less romantic setting of a refurbished veterinary clinic in Wisconsin. Whilst For Emma, Forever Ago was full of moody, post-breakup angst, Bon Iver’s second self-titled album retains the intense depth, just with less of an emo backstory. Justin Vernon employs a collection of horns, synths, strings, percussion, organs and emaciated electric guitars to accompany his haunting vocals. The lyrics are still poetically raw and heart breaking, yet their real allure is the difficulty in comprehending them. Vernon’s virtuosity has rightly earned Bon Iver four Grammy nominations including, bizarrely, ‘Best New Artist’, despite the fact they have been around since 2007. These are however, the same idiots that gave Bruno ‘willing to kill myself for a fit girl’ Mars six! Grammy politics aside, it is undeniable that Bon Iver showcases a sound that is most definitely deserving of its place in one of the top ten albums of the year, and Justin Vernon doesn’t need any shiny gramophones on his mantelpiece to prove it.
Sophie Coletta
2. Metronomy – The English Riviera
After 2008’s hedonistic electro-pop winner Nights Out, not many people might have expected Metronomy’s third LP to be a concept-album based around frontman Joe Mount’s hometown of Devon. But with The English Riviera they did exactly that, evolving into a sleek, funky alternative-pop group. With a change of line-up, including drumming super-babe Anna Prior, the band emerged more focused, and more mature than ever before. The English Riviera is the musical equivalent of a breezy summer’s day – a warm, hazy blur, full of sunny moments but with a slightly subdued chill. ‘The Look’ and ‘The Bay’ (two of the best songs this year) are catchy and immediate, but there’s enough depth here that renders this album completely addictive – before you know it, the charms of the Devonshire coast work their way under your skin in a way that’s difficult to shake. The English Riviera is, for me, at the forefront of 2011’s releases, and will stand the test of time as a simply brilliant pop album which makes its ‘70s and ‘80s rock influences (from Fleetwood Mac to Prince) sound utterly modern and fresh.
Ben Travis
1. Adele – 21
Where to begin? 18 weeks at the top of the UK charts, #1 in 19 countries, over 12 million sales worldwide and 6 Grammy nominations. 21 has been a triumph in so many ways, but fundamentally it’s an album that can connect with any audience. The lyrical depth Adele brings surpasses her age, baring her broken heart for all to see. Her distinctive voice is instantly recognisable, and her no-frills performances show that some artists just don’t need a theatrical stage show to wow an audience. 21 has been the sound of 2011 and will remain one of those rare special albums that all others will be compared to. Over the past decade or so there are probably a handful of records that have made the kind of impact 21 has, and it is these few that will be remembered long into the future. The ‘difficult second album’ has proven to be anything but for Adele. An album of musical and lyrical perfection, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Alex Brophy
