[Shaun]

I did this last year and have begun writing the countdown over on my blog, so thought I might as well share it with you I've expanded on last year's lists though: instead of 30 there'll be 50 albums, and instead of 50 there'll be 100 tracks.

Just my opinion, so if you've come here to troll then bugger off :]

Albums:
#50 "Into the Murky Water", The Leisure Society

It failed to set the world alight as much as their 2009 debut did, but there was still something beautiful about this band and their penchant for fully orchestrated folk songs.

#49 "Suck it and See", The Arctic Monkeys

Despite an initial burst of enthusiasm from me, this album has largely dropped off the radar for me. Whether this is out of a fondness for their earlier material, a higher placing for Alex Turner's soundtrack on Submarine or just a whopping lack of tunes is irrelevant - this album wasn't without its charm.

#48 "Mirrors", U.S. Royalty

Bold, brash and rather bloody lovely.

#47 "Go Tell Fire to the Mountain", WU LYF

The indie press might have raved about them like excitable lunatics, and it's certainly a decent album, but I can't really place it too highly here - again it's something I've loved for a brief period of time and feel little inclination to return to.

#46 "Bread and Circuses", The View

I started the year loathing them and have ended it with a big deal of respect for this, their third album, which packed more tunes than most indie bands can cram into a debut.

#45 "Born This Way", Lady GaGa

I was slightly generous with my score of 8.5 for this back in May, but whilst it was easily a worse record than 'The Fame Monster', it had a solid selection of nonsense pop tunes that were just let down by some unoriginal ideas.

#44 "The Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2", Beastie Boys

One of only two reviews this year that's earned me death threats, but hey ho. The Boys had a triumphant return and, celebrity cameo videos aside, were on top form again.

#43 "Burst Apart", The Antlers

A genuinely atmospheric, dark and brooding album that tried its best to dampen my summer.

#42 "El Camino", The Black Keys

I've yet to review this, but it boasts just as many solid tracks as last year's 'Brothers', which is slightly remarkable given the time that's passed.

#41 "Wasting Light", Foo Fighters

'Walk' was my first choice of song for my iPod after stepping out of the house for a good fortnight or so, and this was their strongest album since One By One.

[GypsyGoth]

The only one I've listened to is BTW

[Smithy]

Claudia [2] :

[Ramsay]

Wasting Light and Suck it and See
I really should check out Beastie's new album

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Originally Posted by Jesus Christo

Claudia [2] :

[3]

[Shaun]

before you get disheartened by a low Gaga placing Smithy, you should note I've reviewed 144 albums this year so far

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

cocknbullkid will be #1

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Shaun

before you get disheartened by a low Gaga placing Smithy, you should note I've reviewed 144 albums this year so far

I'm surprised it's in your top 50 tbh

[Shaun]

Albums
#40 - "Holy Ghost!", Holy Ghost!

If you're going to buy just the one synthpop album from 2011 - this is very much one of the frontrunners. Listen to 'Do It Again' now.

#39 - "Twist Again", Bodies of Water

I still much prefer the band's outings as 'Music Go Music' but if you're a little afraid of ABBA revivalism and fond of folky nostalgia, this won't disappoint.

#38 - "House of Balloons", The Weeknd

I didn't review this when it came out because it totally escaped me, but having downloaded it a couple of weeks ago I found it surprising, exciting and basically what Bon Iver might have been had they worked more with Kanye West.

#37 - "Veliciraptor!", Kasabian

It was totally daft but it's nice to see that at least one British mainstay has retained the ability to put out an album of original tunes *glares at Beady Eye*

#36 - "Angles", The Strokes

I really wanted to place this higher on accounts of its highlights, but a wobbly middle section was picked up upon by more reviewers than me - some brilliant songs though.

#35 - "Rolling Blackouts", The Go! Team

Energetic, vibrant, silly, catchy and wonderful. In that order.

#34 - "4", Beyoncé

It was no 'Sasha Fierce', but nothing has made me so joyfully flamboyant this year than 'Run the World (Girls)'. WHO RUN THIS MOTHA?

#33 - "Nine Types of Light", TV on the Radio

Sadly accompanied by the death of bassist Gerard Smith, the alternative 00s gods put out a wonderfully eclectic album this year that was maybe a little too out-there for the critics.

#32 - "Adulthood", CockNBullKid

British popstars, and I mean pure popstars not Adele-powerhouses or Florence-weirdos, have been sadly lacking this year but one stands head and shoulders above the rest.

#31 - "Build a Rocket, Boys!", Elbow

I don't care if they're boring, you try writing a song as blissfully beautiful as 'Lippy Kids'.

[Jords]

Need the next 10 I only listened to BTW out of these too (and only know of Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters out the rest )

Edit: I spoke too soon

[GypsyGoth]

I never got around to Rolling Blackouts, I might download that later.

[Samuel.]

Have you listened to Section.80, Shaun? If there's one hip hop release this year that everybody needs to listen to, it'd be that.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Originally Posted by Shaun

#32 - "Adulthood", CockNBullKid

British popstars, and I mean pure popstars not Adele-powerhouses or Florence-weirdos, have been sadly lacking this year but one stands head and shoulders above the rest.

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Samuel.

Have you listened to Section.80, Shaun? If there's one hip hop release this year that everybody needs to listen to, it'd be that.

Nope, never heard of it Shall have a look into it

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

are you posting the full list tonight?

[Smithy]

I hope Rebecca Fergodson is in the top 10

[Shaun]

good god no (@ both of you)

[Benjamin]

[Shaun]

Albums:
#30 - "Mirrorwriting", Jamie Woon

**** James Blake. This was the interesting post-dubstep solo album of early 2011.

#29 - "The Big Roar", The Joy Formidable

It was just a refreshing surprise to see that Wales actually has good acts. Name me another one. Go on.

#28 - "21", Adele

The statistics speak for themselves. A few dud tracks but at its best it was painfully and resonantly emotional.

#27 - "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds", Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

I know I worshipped the pants off of it in my review but an enduring love for the top 25 has put this in a surprisingly low position.

#26 - "Submarine OST", Alex Turner

The only soundtrack placing on my list, Submarine was a small but sweet collection of lovely songs culminating in the excellent Piledriver Waltz (which the full band sadly destroyed)

#25 - "Anna Calvi", Anna Calvi

It must have been quite frustrating for a breakthrough artist so noticeably similar to PJ Harvey to release an album this year, but Calvi brought a tonne of 50s Western influences for one of the coolest records of the year.

#24 - "On A Mission", Katy B

I slightly underrated this upon its release because of a little scepticism for the UK garage genre - and I still maintain that it's 90% ****e - but Katy B has pretty much dominated my party playlists this year.

#23 - "EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\", Glasvegas

Another band that, prior to 2011, I loathed (mostly on account of lead James Allan's conduct in interviews and press appearances) but their second release was a deliciously dark and rich wall of emotion that was impossible to avoid.

#22 - "Wounded Rhymes", Lykke Li

The only non-Brit in this segment, Lykke's debut back in 2008 failed to impress - but the classic rock-n-roll songwriting here helped reign in her passionate energy into something much more intriguing and attention-grabbing.

#21 - "A Creature I Don't Know", Laura Marling

I'm beginning to think that Marling could record an album whilst sat on the toilet so long as her beautiful Joni Mitchellesque chords and vocals are present, and I'd love it.

[Kate!]

You have very eclectic taste Shaun. Oooh, big word for a Monday afternoon

My fave is Gaga out of all these so far.

[Roy Mars III]

Number 38

Originally Posted by Samuel.

Have you listened to Section.80, Shaun? If there's one hip hop release this year that everybody needs to listen to, it'd be that.

[2]

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Ice Skater

My fave is Gaga out of all these so far.

[Tom4784]

Anna & Lykke <3.

I agree with your thoughts on Angles.

[Black Dagger]

Elbow are not boring and will never be boring, simply inspiring and uplifting. Pleased you have it so high <3.

[Doogle]

David Guetta, LMFAO & Cher Lloyd are so gonna be top 3 I can feel it.

-doesn't read your reviews a lot or anything-