Favorite Albums - 10-1 - 2011

And we come to our lovely conclusion. These are my top 10 albums of 2011. I decided to add a sentence or two per entry so y’all can know what these were (if you don’t already).

10. Bon Iver - 'Bon Iver'

Bon Iver took this album to new Bon Iver-y heights, with exceptionally sparse production and beauty that you can’t understand but you can feel.

9. Sebastian – 'Total'

Take the best of Daft Punk’s album track moments. Let Justice remix them. Then put it in a blender for 3 minutes. This is what Sebastian, a French DJ/electrorock artist sounds like, and just about every song on here fucked me up.

8. Panic at The Disco - 'Vices & Virtues'

Panic! at the Disco seems to do something different every album, and I wasn’t quite sure what this third LP would sound like. Thankfully it is a mixture of everything they have done before, creating something new and very friendly.

7. David Guetta – 'Nothing But The Beat'

It was understood that this was going to be very good, so this isn’t a surprise. Guetta doesn’t waste a track on here; each song is completely radio ready and shows that D.Guetta is not leaving the spotlight any time soon.

6. Swimming With Dolphins - 'Water Colours'

Adam Young (AKA Owl City’s) side project had to continue on without him when he left to devote all of his efforts to OC. Thankfully, his vision was not lost, and ‘Water Colors’ is a sparkling synth pop debut.

5. Ellie Goulding – 'Lights (US Edition)'

The US was finally blessed with British songstress Ellie Goulding’s debut this year, which (in case you don’t know) is chock full of terribly cute and lovely pop tunes.

4. Owl City - 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'

Again with Mr. Young! While this LP was missing a “Fireflies”-sized hit (or any hit, for that matter), this has no reflection on the music on here. ‘ATBaB’ is the perfect Owl City album that we were always waiting for; Young found a way to grow up without losing any of the wonder and the magic he exhibited in his younger tracks.

3. Florence + The Machine – 'Ceremonials'

‘Ceremonials’ is Florence + the Machine’s much more focused second album. More of a religious experience than a baroque pop collection, ‘Ceremonials’ is awesome.

2. Adele – '21'

In case you forgot how to feel heartbreak, Adele’s got ya. She goes back and forth on this second album between hating her former flame and lamenting his loss, but no matter what sentiment she is expressing, she makes you feel it stronger than just about anything you’ve ever felt before.

1. Lady Gaga - 'Born This Way'

In making this list, I did not want to put this as my number one album – it is too cliché, and you all would expect it of me. But, in making a list like this, you can’t think like that, just worry about what you really loved. ‘Born This Way’ was just barely below her debut, but harder. Each song (or set of songs) found its time in the sun with me this year, and I realized that the overall collection of tracks here is wonderful. All politics and promotions and whatever aside, this is really how you make a great pop album.

Oh, and don't think we're done here. Not by a long shot. We've got a whole 'nother list to go through. Starting tomorrow you can begin to learn my fifty favorite songs of the year ;-)