YEAR IN REVIEW: Albums of 2011: 30-21

	30. Toro Y Moi - Underneath the Pine The king of "chillwave" returned early this year with Underneath the Pine. It displays his skill at creating instantly danceable beats, with defined melodies, but also shines in other areas, such as the decidedly more downbeat Before I'm Done. Underneath the Pine has the atmosphere of the best synth albums of yore, while somehow maintaining the ability to feel current. Dance away. DOWNLOAD: Divina
	29. Patrick Wolf - Lupercalia Patrick Wolf has long since been my favourite musician, since I first heard Wind in the Wires. With Lupercalia, Wolf showed a side of his music that we'd only seen glimpses of previously. Whereas most of his other records are shrouded in apathy and gloom, it's clear on Lupercalia that Patrick Wolf is at a very happy time in his life right now. The City officially made the saxaphone cool again, with the help of M83 and the album is just full of consistently great hooks and lyricism.  DOWNLOAD: Bermondsey Street
	28. Cass McCombs - WIT'S END Cass McCombs' first album of the year was a perfect showcase of the skills in song crafting that he possesses. The album opens with serene ballad County Line, which is one of the most smooth pieces of music to be released this year. What follows is a dark, twisted journey finished up with 9-minute Knock Upon Upon the Door, which has an almost medieval vibe to it. McCombs' unique brand of folk music is really at its pinnacle here. It's a shame that his second album, Humor Risk, couldn't follow suit and appear even higher up this list. DOWNLOAD: County Line
	27. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra were a complete surprise to me. I had no knowledge of the band prior to the release, but straight away the funk vibes, distinctive vocals and hazy summertime feeling caught my attention instantly, and kept me listening regularly to this day. DOWNLOAD: Jello and Juggernauts
	26. Cut Copy - Zonoscope Cut Copy seem to have a perfect balance between dance and alternative music, and Zonoscope is a shining example of what they do so well. The album is laden in hooks and pulsing beats; it has one of the biggest feel-good atmospheres of any we've seen this year. Frontman Dan Whitford has the attitude of so many great frontmen of indie music gone by, and the synths and electronic drums give the music a unique, captivating twist. Zonoscope closes in a deservingly grandiose fashion, with the sprawling 15-minute Sun God, which really sends the whole album off in style. DOWNLOAD: Take Me Over
	25. Panda Bear - Tomboy Before Tomboy was released, the hyperbole surrounding it was overwhelming. The singles leading up to it promised that it was going to be something special and it certainly is. Noah Lennox displays his expertise in creating rhythmically complex and deeply compelling music with a mix of sampled drum beats and synths. Even though it's been two years since Animal Collective's last full-length, Panda Bear more than makes up for this fact. DOWNLOAD: Slow Motion
	24. John Maus - We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves Maus's Ariel Pink-like nu wave sensibilities are in full flow on his offering this year. It's quite a surreal experience, with many of the tracks being synth heavy, while Maus's low vocals meander throughout in a dream-like fashion. Big bass lines emphasise the 80's feel of the music, and the constant change in tempos give the album a great sense of pace.  DOWNLOAD: Hey Moon
	23. The Black Keys - El Camino This album was the latest new entry on to the list for me. The Black Keys can always be relied upon to bring around records that are consistently great and El Camino might just be their best one to date. They show their blues roots underneath roaring riffs reminiscent of The White Stripes and keep the hooks coming, song in, song out.  DOWNLOAD: Sister
	22. Fucked Up - David Comes to Life Some people will look at the run-time of this record and be instantly put off. Sprawling over 72 minutes, David Comes to Life is an epic concept album that combines sound instrumentation and Damian Abraham's distinct roaring tones to create example after example of how hardcore music should be sounding. If the rumours of Fucked Up ending their career (at least the way we know them as at the moment) they'll have this a a stellar testament to what a great band they are. DOWNLOAD: The Other Shoe
	21. Dananananaykroyd - There Is a Way When I heard the news that Dananananaykroyd were splitting up, my heart sunk. It's such a shame that so shortly after releasing the brilliant There Is a Way, they had to part ways. There Is a Way takes Hey Everyone! and shows how much the band has evolved musically, and translates the frantic live show experience perfectly onto record. DOWNLOAD: Think and Feel

YEAR IN REVIEW: Albums of 2011: 40-31

	40. WU LYF - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain WU LYF remained an enigma among the public and music press alike for a while. They wouldn't participate in interviews, and stayed obscured during their live shows. As a result, not many people knew what to expect from debut LP Go Tell Fire To the Mountain. The result is an album that is soaked in post-rock sensibilities and Foals-esque rhythms. The lead vocals are definitely an acquired taste, but grow on you with roaring, mostly unintelligible lyrics throughout. The atmosphere of the album is really unique. DOWNLOAD: Summas Bliss
	39. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx - We're New Here Jamie xx's reworking of the late-great Gil Scott Heron's 2010 album I'm Still Here sounded like a strange prospect at first. The two styles felt like they would clash together and sound horrendous a la Lou Reed and Metallica, but instead it created a strange, dark piece that built on the foundations that Scott-Heron built, and put xx's signature sound over the top of it. Jamie xx is quickly becoming the go-to guy for dub-influenced remixes, and We're New Here is an excellent display of his skill. DOWNLOAD: Ur Soul and Mine
	38. Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves Dev Hynes has had quite a prolific career thus far. After the demise of Test Icicles, he kept himself busy under the moniker of Lightspeed Champion, 2 albums later he recorded an album under the pseudonym of Blood Orange. Coastal Grooves is a sun-soaked, stripped down affair which sparkles with electronic drum samples and sensual rhythms which reflect Dev's delivery. Clever wordplay and sincere vocals make this one of the best albums of 2011. DOWNLOAD: The Complete Knock
	37. Laura Marling - A Creature I Don't Know Laura Marling has always been known for being wise beyond her years, with her song-writing reflecting that of someone much older than in their early twenties, and A Creature I Don't Know reflects that statement. Her third album feels like, as is the case with most of 2011's best albums, a record that is so well-realised and her most accomplished work to date. It's one of the best displays of sincere, ear-pleasing UK folk music that 2011 has seen. DOWNLOAD: My Friends
	36. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam Ghostpoet's debut felt like a refreshing change in the UK music scene when it released. Although it was primarily a hip-hop album, it showed many different musical shades, from James Blake-esque Post-Dubstep to rock-influenced finishing track Liiines. Ghostpoet's honest lyricism depicted life living in dreary old England to a tee and his slurred vocal delivery fits the mood of the album perfectly. DOWNLOAD: Liiines
	35. Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne When two entities such as Kanye West and Jay-Z decide to do a whole album together, with the help of Frank Ocean and Beyonce, to name a few, it should never be taken lightly. Although it wasn't the best hip-hop album of 2011, it still had a lot of solid songs on it. Opening track No Church in the Wild still has one of the most alluring beats of the year, thanks in part to Frank Ocean. DOWNLOAD: No Church in the Wild
	34. Real Estate - Days Days is a sunny, up-beat gem of an album. It's remarkably easy-going and floats by like all those fond summer afternoons. The album is full of joyful melodies and jangling layers of guitars. Lyrically, the album follows the breeziness of the music, with frontman Martin Courtney singing "our careless lifestyle / it was not so unwise" really summing it up.  DOWNLOAD: Green Aisles
	33. Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde Dye It Blonde is some of the best fun I've had listening to music this year. It's almost dream-like in nature. The bouncy guitar riffs accentuate the up-beat hooks. Dye It Blonde is a massive step-up from their eponymous debut and the tunes on display will furl themselves in your mind before you even realise. DOWNLOAD: All Die Young
	32. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo Kurt Vile's newest LP is the ultimate record for a hungover sunday morning. The rolling, complex guitar patterns compliment his low, ponderous voice. Lyrically, the album is brilliant, Vile is able to conjure the most vivid imagery in your head seamlessly.  DOWNLOAD: Jesus Fever
	31. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Belong The infamous NME review of this album might have dissuaded some people from listening to this album, but if you put time into it you'll find that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's sophomore effort contains well-constructed lo-fi anthems. Belong has some of the best sing-a-longs of the year. DOWNLOAD: Heart in Your Heartbreak