Albums of 2011
The records from 2011 that made our lists.
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121Adele
21
The record that made Adele a global phenomenon, turning a break-up into soaring, soulful pop with 'Rolling in the Deep' and 'Someone Like You'. Big voice, bigger songs, broad appeal. A modern blockbuster that earned its sales.
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24Beyoncé
4
A soulful, mature pop-R&B record of craft over singles. Warm and acclaimed. A creative turning point.
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3ApocalypseBill Callahan
Apocalypse
A spare, wry folk peak of deadpan depth. Beautiful and acclaimed. A high point.
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4Bon Iver, Bon IverBon Iver
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
A lush, layered second album that expanded the hushed debut into widescreen beauty. Gorgeous and Grammy-winning. A peak.
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5XXXDanny Brown
XXX
A wild, abrasive breakthrough of hedonism and dread. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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6Take CareDrake
Take Care
A moody, introspective record that defined the blend of rap and R&B in the 2010s. Atmospheric and influential. Widely held to be his best.
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7+Ed Sheeran
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A warm, acoustic-pop debut, home to 'The A Team'. Tuneful and beloved. His breakthrough.
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8Helplessness BluesFleet Foxes
Helplessness Blues
More ambitious and searching than the debut, rich with harmony and questioning lyrics. Expansive and lovely. A folk high point.
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9James BlakeJames Blake
James Blake
A spare, soulful debut of sub-bass, silence and fractured vocals that helped define post-dubstep. Intimate and influential. A striking arrival.
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10Watch the ThroneJay-Z & Kanye West
Watch the Throne
A lavish, maximalist team-up of two titans, home to 'Niggas in Paris'. Opulent and huge. A blockbuster collaboration.
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11Section.80Kendrick Lamar
Section.80
A conceptual early peak of social commentary and craft. Sharp and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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12Born This WayLady Gaga
Born This Way
A maximalist, anthemic pop peak of self-empowerment. Bold and huge. A commercial high.
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13Hurry Up, We're DreamingM83
Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
A vast, nostalgic synth-pop double album of widescreen euphoria, anchored by 'Midnight City'. Lush and grand. Their masterpiece.
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14ReplicaOneohtrix Point Never
Replica
A haunting, sample-based electronic landmark of uncanny loops. Inventive and acclaimed. A modern cornerstone.
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15Let England ShakePJ Harvey
Let England Shake
A haunting, war-themed art-rock peak. Bold and Mercury-winning. A late masterpiece.
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16SBTRKTSBTRKT
SBTRKT
A sleek, post-dubstep debut of soulful electronics. Smooth and acclaimed. A breakthrough.
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17RevelatorTedeschi Trucks Band
Revelator
A soulful, Grammy-winning blues-rock debut of big-band warmth. Polished and acclaimed. A modern highlight.
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18House of BalloonsThe Weeknd
House of Balloons
A dark, atmospheric mixtape debut that reshaped R&B. Bold and influential. A landmark.
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19Ravedeath, 1972Tim Hecker
Ravedeath, 1972
A vast, decaying ambient-noise peak. Immersive and acclaimed. A genre high point.