To begin this list, let me just say that this year, all of my favorite bands (except for KOL, get better soon Caleb bb) we’re like, hey, we’re going to put out albums and make Rachel very happy. One after another they kept releasing albums and to finish off the year, the Black Keys topped it off with a great album. (As if it could have been bad…HA) I feel very strongly about the top two - as it was hard for me to figure out which I should put as number one. Those two albums are my absolute favorite of 2011. I did not, unlike many other lists, put The Weeknd on my top ten, nor would that album have made my top 100 because I can not jump on board with that band. I do not get the appeal at all and I find them to be overrated. If someone wants to enlighten me, be my guest.

Well, without further adue, my top ten of 2011:

1. El Camino - The Black Keys

I have loved this band ever since I heard “Set You Free” on the School of Rock soundtrack of in ‘03. Yes, I have that soundtrack and it is awesome. This album is great. My hands down favorite track is “Little Black Submarines.” The way Dan Auerbach rips apart his guitar in the middle of the song just makes my heart explode. I just love it so much. And of course the video for Lonely Boy was awesome. Well done gents. 

2. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

He stole my heart when we promoted his show when I was in college in 2007. $8 tickets for a 300 capacity room that we worked our asses off to sell out. Our talent buyer burned a bunch of CDs of For Emma, Forever Ago that we had to each give to a friend to spread the word & promote the show. No one knew what Bon Iver was. We did the show and he came to our afterparty - J. Vern is freaking stellar at flippy cup, by the way. The show sold out in the tiny room adorned with white Christmas lights, making for a magical evening where everyone sang “what might have been lost” together during “The Wolves (Act I and II)”. It was chilling and magical. My favorite song on this album is “Wash.” (I THINK). It’s hard to pick. “Holocene” is wonderful too. The only word I can use to describe any of his songs is beautiful. It’s the best music to fall asleep to, to relax to, to study to, etc. I couldn’t be happier about his success because it is SO well-deserved. 

3. Ashes and Fire - Ryan Adams

My heart broke when I thought Ryan Adams was finished making music. And then I heard this album was in the making. And it is lovely. I want to see him play again so bad but at the same time, I don’t know if anything will top when I worked his show. It was one of the first ones I worked and I just remember standing there as my mind was being blown by him. I love “I Love You But I Don’t Know What To Say” and “Chains of Love.” He is one hell of an artist.

4. People and Things - Jack’s Mannequin

Andrew McMahon, in my opinion, is one of the most incredible musicians out there. You can tell that every note he sings is sung with passion. I like this album a lot and love the album art for it. My favorite song changes pretty much each day I listen to it. I think three that have stood the test of time are “Hostage,” “Amelia Jean,” and “Release Me.” Overall, awesome album and I look forward to seeing it live in January.

5. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z and Kanye West 

When this album first came out I was really bummed. I had high expectations for this royalty. However, after more and more listens it grew on me hard. Ball so hard lets get faded. My favorite jam is hard to pick. I love “Gotta Have It,” “Who Gon Stop Me,” “That’s My Bitch,” “Otis,” and obviously “H.A.M” because it is so bad that it’s G.O.O.D. My all-time favorite jam is “Why I Love You” - I just love how much the Throne goes back and forth rapping - especially at the end. Plus Mr. Hudson is a badass. Least favorite song is “Made In America” mainly because it is stupid. 

6. Suck It and See - Arctic Monkeys

This band has become a serious obsession for me at the end of this year. I can’t stop listening to them. I am besides myself excited that they’re playing with the Black Keys this spring. I am going to melt into a puddle of joy at the show. I am a little late to listening to this album but I think my favorite is the title track, “Suck It and See” - I like the old feel it has to it. I am not sure that there is much they can do that I won’t enjoy.

7. 4 - Beyonce 

Damn this woman has had one hell of a year. She is an artist with true talent and she has not achieved success by having to auto-tune and use massive amounts of sex appeal (except in the music video, Dance For You… what was that ‘yonce? I know you can do better.). If I could dance even half as well as she does I would be amazed with myself. I love “Countdown” and “Run The World.” “Best I Never Had” is a beautiful ballad too. She is one of those artists that we will tell kids about in the future because she is so amazing. And now she’s pregnant with Jay-Z’s baby, a.k.a. this baby is going to be talented as hell. 

8. The King Is Dead - The Decemberists

I had always heard of The Decemberists but hadn’t really given them a chance until we promoted their show this past April. This album is awesome and has grown on me a lot throughout this year. I thiiiink my favorite song on the album is “Don’t Carry It All” but I am not quite sure because it is rather hard to choose. I really like Colin Meloy’s voice and the harmonica that is present throughout this album. Plus, I have been listening to this album a lot as I walk to work and so I think it will always remind me of commuting through my beautiful city and also this band in general (because of the show we did with them) will always remind me of sitting in the balcony at our venue with all of the seniors because it was our last big ticketed show of my college career. 

9. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade

The energy of this band blows my mind. They opened for the Dawes/Blitzen Trapper co-headlining tour and I could not believe how easy it seemed for them to demand and attain the attention of the audience. I don’t think everyone knew who they were coming into the show but I do think everyone was impressed with their set. It was a hard act for the headliners to follow, and that is saying a lot since I found all three acts to be great. Also, I am not normally a fan of girl singers (aside from ‘yonce and a few other exceptions) because I find them to be annoying but this girl/guy duo, who happen to be brother and sister, was awesome.

10. Nothing Is Wrong - Dawes

I like this album because it’s easy listening and I think Dawes is a really talented band. I saw them co-headline with Blitzen Trapper with Belle Brigade as an opener and they were awesome. It was rough for them because Belle Brigade had such high energy but I enjoyed their performance nonetheless. The song that got me hooked on Dawes was “Time Spent in Los Angeles” and it is still my favorite. I still need to give the rest of the album more of a chance so maybe I’ll find a new favorite in the future… 

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Unhonorable Mention:

Angles - The Strokes

This would be in my top ten in place of Dawes probably but some of the songs on this album are truly awful and I just can’t even understand what they were thinking; hence the unhonorable mention because I know you’re better than that, Julian. I think those few kind of point out the mess that the band is in and how badly they are getting along/working together as musicians. However, I still love this band more than life itself and a few of the songs on this albums are great. When I saw them in March, they didn’t really interact with each other but they blew my mind nonetheless with their amazing setlist and just general rock star vibes. I love “Taken For A Fool” and “Under The Cover of Darkness.” Hopefully their next (hopefully there is a next) album is better…

Honorable Mention: 

Wilco / The Whole Love

The Roots / Undun — Haven’t given it a full listen yet but I know I would regret not putting them somewhere on my 2011 list because they’re so boss. Black Thought is smooth as hell.

My Morning Jacket / Circuital