Print ArticleIt's that time of the year folks. We stand at the dawn of a new year, which means we have to look back on the little discoveries we made, the continued joys found in the cannons of well-loved artists, and the rediscoveries of relevancy of artist seemingly thought to have lost it. I will, no doubt draw much ire with my list. But I hope to challenge you this year with diversity-honest diversity-by leading you through the obvious, ridiculous, and polarizing choices I have made.
I will also not rate my choices other than to express what my pick for favorite album of the year is—it’s kind of like NCAA football, one champion and the but many worthy bowl teams! And my champion in 2011 is: John Mark McMillan —Economy: this was my most anticipated and most satisfying listen (full review coming). I didn’t struggle with this one too hard as it truly does stand out to me but there were some killer records released this year…soŔLet’s get Rokken!” (yes, a reference to School of Rock and yes, rokken [is spelled] like Dokken) BOOM!
In no particular order:
Opiate Eyes
Self Titled (Jax Band) – See their album review
The Head and the Heart
Self Titled
Pure X
Pleasure
Adele
21 
Coldplay
Myloto Xyloto
My Morning Jacket
Circuital 
The Appleseed Cast
Middle States
Quiet Science
Dark Words on Dark Wings (Jax band) 
Foo Fighters
Wasting Light
Death Cab for Cutie
Codes and Keys 
Tom Waits
Bad as Me
Eddie Vedder
Ukelele Songs
Handsome Furs
Sound Kapital
The Darlins
Screws Get Loose 
Dum Dum Girls
Only in Dreams
Sunbears!
You Will Live Forever (Jax band—review coming soon…) 
Needtobreathe
The Reckoning
Washed Out
Within and Without 
Youth Lagoon
Year of Hibernation
Radiohead
King of Limbs 
Ben Harper
Give Till it’s Gone
Tedeschi Trucks Band
Revelator (Jax band—review coming soon…) 
Hayes Carll
KMAG YOYO
Grieves
Together/Apart 
Mason Jennings
Minnesota
Mogwai
Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will 
Twilight Singers
Dynamite Steps
Hospital Ships
Lonely Twin 
Tim Hecker
Ravedeath, 1972
Low
C’mon 
Sleeeping Giant
Kingdom Days in an Evil Age
Bon Iver
Self Titled (overrated yet still quite good…)
There’s easily another 30 worthy of being here but for various reasons I simply haven’t gotten to them just yet. In fact I will, most likely, do an amended list in the coming months to hit on some glaring holes [Black Keys, Wilco, Gospel Music, Phantogram…] so stay tuned, but for now, lets hear what you have to say on the matter…
Editorial by Paul Thomas Chapman
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