1) The Black Keys – El Camino
More excellent bluesy rock from The Black Keys, a little dirtier and more up-tempo than their most recent stuff. El Camino is shorter, sharper, and a little more country at times. The album opens up with a huge kickstart in ‘Lonely Boy’ and is full of hits throughout, there are no fillers here. There is real variation in the sound throughout El Camino, ranging from high tempo rock to dirty blues. I would challenge anyone to listen to ‘Gold On The Ceiling’ and not appreciate. This is good old-fashioned rock at its finest, and it is easy to argue that right now the Black Keys are the best rock band in the USA. They have a huge sound, and this is simply one of the most complete albums of 2011.
Sounds like: A more bluesy early Kings of Leon, pre selling out.
Top tracks: Lonely Boy, Gold On The Ceiling, Money Maker, Sister, Stop Stop
2) Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!
This is quite simply a superbly produced electro disco party. The beats are very simple but very effective, and after a steady opening track the album really kicks off. Filled with catchy, entertaining keyboard beats, the album plays like a greatest hits collection, which it kind of is considering some songs on here were released as singles as far back as 2007. The music is upbeat, funky, and very listenable, and there are some huge summery songs on here - Hold On, Hold My Breath and Say My Name being the best of them. Containing some of the most listenable music of the year, this really is a superb summer album.
Sounds like: Basement Jaxx / Crystal Castles / LCD Soundsystem / New Order
Top tracks: Wait And See, Hold My Breath, Say My Name, Hold On, Its Not Over
3) The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines
The Vaccines are one of the most hyped bands of 2011, and this album shows that the hype was totally justified. They produce a great guitar rock sound, reminiscent of Interpol and The Ramones. What Did You Expect From The Vaccines is a superbly complete album, it is basically great song after great song with no real fillers. ‘Post break up sex‘ is clearly the most publicly acclaimed song on here, and will be one of the most popular songs of the year, but there are plenty of other epic tunes on this album. Without question one of the best of 2011.
Sounds like: A more upbeat version of Interpol or The Editors, The Ramones
Top tracks: If You Wanna, A Lack Of Understanding, Norgaard, Post Break-up Sex, All In White
4) The Kills – Blood Pressures
Blood Pressures is an excellent dirty rock album. The Kills make a huge sound for 2 people, and this album is full of reverberating guitars and catchy hooks. You can probably summarise the Kills sound by saying they are to dirty rock what the Black Keys are to bluesy rock. The songs just work well and the vocals of Alison Mossheart complements the guitar perfectly. There are some huge anthemic tunes on Blood Pressures, which is sure to be one of the very best rock albums of the year.
Sounds like: maybe the White Stripes crossed with Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Top tracks: Future Starts Slow, Heart Is A Beating Drum, Nail In My Coffin, DNA, Baby Says
5) The Naked And Famous – Passive Me, Aggressive You
With a distinctive electro guitar sound, The Naked And Famous have created an outstanding album in Passive Me, Aggressive You. They have a huge sound at times, which I would liken to Arcade Fire using keyboards and synths. There are some real epic tunes on this album, which is generally full of building crescendos and some 80s sounding beats and riffs. The album follows suit of many top albums through the years by starting and finishing with superb tracks in ‘All of This’ and ‘Girls like you’, and if you like Passion Pit I am sure you will appreciate this. Quite simply excellent, I will be surprised if there are many better albums than this in 2011.
Sounds like: Passion Pit, Of Montreal (their best stuff), an electro Arcade Fire
Top Tracks: Punching in a Dream, Eyes, Girls Like You, All Of This
6) The Chain Gang Of 1974 – Wayward Fire
Wayward Fire is a superb electro album. The Chain Gang Of 1974 produce an excellent catchy electro guitar sound, despite the terrible name, and in general the songs here are made up of slowly building beats before kicking off. The Album gets of to a steady start with ‘Stop’, which sounds like it could have been released in 1984. Most of the songs here are long and follow suit with building starts before the lyrics kick in. The music is very listenable, and there are some superb catchy hooks and sequences of bleeps along the way. ‘Hold On’ is probably the best examples of this, and must be up there with the top songs of the year despite being over 8 minutes long. Overall this is a great effort, and a very enjoyable album.
Sounds like: LCD Soundsystem / Clubfeet / New Order
Top tracks: Devil Is A Lady, Hold On, Heartbreakin’ Scream, Matter Of Time
7) Foster The People - Torches
One of 2011 most hyped bands have delivered an excellent debut in Torches. Foster The People make poppy, entertaining, dancy electro music, thoroughly uplifting and very catchy. In ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ they had without question one of the biggest hits of the year. For me there are better songs on the album, but Torches is a very consistent release and is sure to be one of the most popular albums of the year.
Sounds like: Very unique, sort of like a poppier Friendly Fires, mixed with Empire Of The Sun
Top tracks: Helena Beat, Pumped Up Kicks, Don't Stop, Waste, Warrant
8) Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See
In ‘Suck It And See’ the Arctic Monkeys seem to have discovered the higher chords on their guitars. This is a different direction than their previous stuff, it is definitely not the return to their early energetic rock that many had hoped for. In truth this is much in keeping with their live performances, much more chilled out and less energetic. Make no mistake this is a very very good album, lyrically superb, and the sound they produce is excellent with a distinct 70s rock feel. In keeping with what seems to be a band tradition they round off the album with a superb track ‘That’s where you’re wrong’, which is pretty much to this album what ‘A certain romance’ was to their debut. Another excellent album in another direction for the monkeys, who seem like elder statesmen these days despite still being in their mid 20s.
Sounds like: Early Arctic Monkeys crossed with the Velvet Underground
Top tracks: Black Treacle, The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala, Reckless Serenade, Suck It And See, That’s Where You’re Wrong
9) Cut Copy – Zonoscope
More electro / dance / keyboard mastery from this very talented group. Zonoscope doesn’t really have the huge kicking off dancy tunes that ‘In Ghost Colours’ had, but there is enough on here to make it a very good album. You get the sense that they are experimenting with a different direction somewhat, and there is a distinct tribal feel to this album. This is a great piece of work, though not necessarily in line with their previous stuff. And regardless of what they say, the riff for ‘take me over’ really does sound like men at work..
Sounds like: Cut Copy. There is not much like them. Think New Order crossed with Daft Punk or Empire Of The Sun, and then more synths.
Top tracks: Alisa, Take Me Over, Need You Now, Pharaohs & Pyramids
10) Elbow – Build A Rocket Boys!
‘Build A Rocket Boys’ definitely feels a little slower than Elbow’s previous two albums, but it still sees them close to their best with their orchestral building rock style. You probably wouldn’t find many of these songs in the singles chart, but the album flows very well and it really is a beautiful piece of work overall. Elbow are not widely known in the US considering their popularity in the UK, but if you are a fan of bands like The National you should really listen to them.
Sounds like: The National with less guitar, and more pianos and violins. A slower version of the Black Keys slower stuff..
Top tracks: The Birds, Lippy Kids, Neat Little Rows, Open Arms
11) Katy B – On A Mission
The music of Katy B has a distinctive 90s dance feel, combining funky soul stuff with an almost dubstep style beat at times. On A Mission flows brilliantly, with huge variation in the style of the tracks. Dark at times, R&B, soulful and dancy at others, there is a solid storytelling theme throughout. Very difficult to describe, this kind of music really came out of left field and it is a credit to the artist that it is impossible to categorise. Combining all sorts of musical styles that I don’t usually like, this is very much worth exploring.
Sounds like: ?
Top tracks: Power On Me, Katy On A Mission, Witches Brew, Movement, Lights On
12) Friendly Fires - Pala
More funky, indie, keyboard disco stuff from the Friendly Fires. Pala is a very solid album, consistent songs throughout, a few of which could have been stolen right from the 80s. The bonus edition also contains a superb Depeche Mode cover. Very entertaining, upbeat stuff, Pala is pretty much the only slower track on the album.
Sounds like: Kind of like crossing Depeche Mode with Erasure
Top Tracks: Live those days tonight, Hawaiian air, True love, Chimes, Strangelove
13) Dirty Vegas – Electric Love
Dirty Vegas have a very catchy electro dance sound, and Electric Love is a very consistent album full of good tunes throughout. The album kicks of with the excellent ‘Little White Doves’, and doesn’t really slow down at all until the final track. There are some superb tracks on Electric Love, and it is genuinely one of the most listenable albums of the year.
Sounds like: kind of like Groove Armada’s danciest stuff
Top tracks: Little White Doves, Changes, Electric Love, Never Enough
14) The Sounds – Something To Die For
True to their name, The Sounds really produce a very interesting sound.. At times it feels like it is going to break into heavy warehouse style electro rave, and at others it is punky electro guitar, but the mix works well and ultimately Something To Die For is a very good album. It kicks off with a bang with ‘Its So Easy’ building up to ‘Dance With The Devil’, and the first 6 tracks really are the strongest and most upbeat on the album. Very impressive stuff, Im certain these guys will put on an excellent live show.
Sounds like: sort of like early Muse meets the Yeah Yeah Yeahs..
Top Tracks: Dance With The Devil, The No No Song, Better Off Dead, Something To Die For
15) Theophilus London – Timez Are Weird These Days
This electro rap album seems to have flown under the radar a little, but it is an excellent solid effort. Theophilus London produces a mixed bag of funky rap with a distinct electro influence. Wine And Chocolates is a highlight of the album, and would be up there as one of the best songs of the year. A very strong, entertaining record.
Sounds like: kind of like a dancier, electro version of B.o.B
Top tracks: Wine And Chocolates, Love Is Real, I Stand Alone, Lighthouse
16) Cage The Elephant – Thank You, Happy Birthday
This can be summarised best as energetic, dirty guitar rock. Cage The Elephant perform with huge energy, and this album contains some excellent tracks which are sure to have a big appeal. This album has its softer moments, but they are generally surrounded by heavier yet tuneful guitar riffs. Some very memorable songs on this record, overall it is a very solid rocking album. Listen if you feel like moshing.
Sounds like: A little like Ash, particularly their heavier stuff. With more screaming. And a little Pixies mixed in.
Top tracks: Right Before My Eyes, Shake Me Down, Aberdeen, Flow
17) We Are Augustines – Rise Ye Sunken Ships
We Are Augustines have a very solid, classic indie guitar band sound. Rise Ye Sunken ships contains catchy repetitive songs throughout, with a few real epic tunes thrown in (Headlong into the abyss, new drink for the old drunk). At times the music is reminiscent of The National though We Are Augustines are generally more upbeat, and lyrically the two are very different. A very strong album.
Sounds Like: Somewhere between The National and Snow Patrol, but more rocking.
Top tracks: Headlong Into The Abyss, Book Of James, New Drink For The Old Drunk
18) AWOLNATION – Megalithic Symphony
Energetic, electronic rock music seems to be the staple of AWOLNATION. This album contains a mixture of poppy and angry songs, with a couple of slower ones thrown in, and at times it has a kind of gospel, soulful feel. ‘People’ is probably the song most people will recognise, but the rest of the album has quite a different sound. This is very entertaining stuff, and they definitely have a unique sound.
Sounds like: A little like Beck, but more angry and electro
Top tracks: Soul Wars, People, Kill Your Heroes, Not Your Fault
19) Obits – Moody, Standard and Poor
Obits really could be the offspring of The Hives and The Stooges. This is proper punk rock – short, sharp, direct guitar music. The whole album is only 36 minutes long, and is full of entertaining rocking tunes. Obits have delivered a very good energetic album here.
Sounds like: The Hives, The Stooges
Top tracks: I Want Results, Shift Operator, No Fly List, Naked To The World
20) Teddybears – Devil’s Music
Teddybears produce a very upbeat, cheesey, dancy sound, which makes Devils Music a highly entertaining and listenable album. They have very high profile collaborators throughout the album, and I imagine their live shows are pretty impressive.
Sounds like: Basement Jaxx versus Mark Ronson
Top tracks: Rocket Scientist, Get Mama A House, Cho Cha, Cardiac Arrest