Twentyelevatavan
Of course this was bound to happen. I know you're in a rush, so descriptions are 140 characters or less. |
| 50 | | Gay Paris
The Skeleton's Problematic Granddaughter
Beer-swilling rock & roll of the most arse-fuckingly evil kind. One of Sydney's best exports. Killing it left right and centre. |
| 49 |  | Tonight Alive
What Are You So Scared Of?
What a year for these guys. So proud to see how far they've come - an accomplished and exciting pop-punk debut. Chix rule, boys drool. |
| 48 |  | The Weeknd
Thursday
Darker and more ambient than House of Balloons, created a very unique atmosphere. Best new discovery of the year, this kid. |
| 47 |  | The Strokes
Angles
Took them forever to get their shit together, but they finally did it. A solid technicolor pop offering, featuring some of their best songs. |
| 46 | | Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Was expecting this to suck. Didn't. Major return to form, kicked the shit out of Beady Eye. |
| 45 |  | Childish Gambino
Camp
Six seasons and a movie for Community. Six albums and a live DVD for Childish Gambino. Donald Glover > you. |
| 44 |  | tUnE-yArDs
W H O K I L L
WHAT'S THE BIZNESS YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH |
| 43 |  | Polar Bear Club
Clash Battle Guilt Pride
Punk rock with an honest heart, a raspy throat and a shit-tonne of melodies. All killer. Bands like this matter. |
| 42 |  | Ponytail
Do Whatever You Want All the Time
Their final album, sadly. Still, what an amazing way to go out. No other band did it quite like these motherfuckers. |
| 41 | | Fatty Gets a Stylist
Fatty Gets a Stylist
I've been waiting for so long for Kate Miller-Heidke to just let loose and do something completely mental. It was worth the wait. |
| 40 |  | Adele
21
This woman WAS pop music in 2011. You don't have to like her, but respect is more than due for her no-frills approach. Important record. |
| 39 |  | I Exist
II: The Broken Passage
Really, when it comes down to it, it's ALL about the riffs. I Exist delivered - no bullshit, just rock & roll/stoner-metal. Horns up. |
| 38 |  | Tyler, the Creator
Goblin
Not the best hip-hop album of 2011, but probably the one that has generated the most much-needed discussion. Golf wang, nigga. |
| 37 |  | The Streets
Computers and Blues
The final chapter in The Streets' catalogue is their best in over half a decade. Great mix of humour and simple yet powerful observations. |
| 36 | | Bright Eyes
The People's Key
If this is the last we ever hear from Conor, I'm OK with that. A grandiose record that reminds you why you loved Bright Eyes to begin with. |
| 35 |  | They Might Be Giants
Join Us
Who knew? TMBG can still kick it with the best of the bands THEY influenced. A triumphant return to "adult" music, their best in years. |
| 34 |  | Fucked Up
David Comes to Life
Everything that a punk album isn't supposed to be made for probably the best punk album of the year. Didn't see that one coming. |
| 33 |  | Foo Fighters
Wasting Light
It's still daggy to be a Foo Fighters fan, but at least this record meant you could use present tense to say they "ARE a great band." |
| 32 | | Wanda Jackson
The Party Ain't Over
Hell no it ain't. Not while Jack White is in town. The Queen of Rockabilly reclaims the throne. |
| 31 |  | Sparkadia
The Great Impression
Man loses entire band and girlfriend. Creates epic pop opus on own in London. As you do. What a triumph this record is. |
| 30 |  | Coerce
Ethereal Surrogate Saviour
The best heavy rock record Australia has produced since 2005, at the very least. A whole new bar has been set. |
| 29 | | Royal Headache
Royal Headache
The best band in Australia you've never heard. Motown goes punk, washes together in fuzzed-out euphoria. Essential listening. |
| 28 |  | To the North
Lustre
Unique and melodic post-hardcore/skramz from Australia. Powerful and engaging. Great stuff happening in Oz music this year. |
| 27 |  | Frenzal Rhomb
Smoko at the Pet Food Factory
Frenzal back to doing what they do best - being smartarses in 2 minutes or less. Quality in quantity. |
| 26 |  | TV on the Radio
Nine Types of Light
Further proof that this band has not ever and will not ever set a foot wrong. R.I.P. Gerard Smith. |
| 25 |  | Dan Mangan
Oh Fortune
Surely one of the greatest singer-songwriters in the world today. No-one quite paints a picture like Dan. Another beautiful album. |
| 24 |  | Death Cab for Cutie
Codes and Keys
Less guitars, more ambience, still more solid Death Cab. Always got love for this band. |
| 23 |  | Manchester Orchestra
Simple Math
Nope, it's not Mean Everything to Nothing. The quicker you accept that, the quicker you can grow to love this in its own respect. |
| 22 |  | Defeater
Empty Days and Sleepless Nights
Passionate and agressive in a headfirst collision of emotion and subtleties. Remarkable. |
| 21 |  | Incubus
If Not Now, When?
Easily the most underrated album of the year. Their best in a decade got swept under the rug by most fans. Unfair. |
| 20 |  | Touche Amore
Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me
It takes twenty minutes to listen to and days to wrap your head around. Hits like a fucking truck. This is the real deal. |
| 19 |  | R.E.M.
Collapse Into Now
So, this is how we say goodbye. The band's best record of the 21st century - and, sadly, their last ever. What a way to bow out. |
| 18 |  | Battles
Gloss Drop
They may be a 3-legged dog without Tyondai, but they've still got a nasty fucking bite. A whirlwind of sound and ideas. Exciting everytime. |
| 17 |  | Fireworks
Gospel
Music for twentysomethings to make sense of the world to. A complete improvement over their first record - and that was great. |
| 16 | | Iron and Wine
Kiss Each Other Clean
Sam Beam finds love in freak-outs, walls of sound and inventive arrangements. A mainstream pop smash in another universe. |
| 15 |  | Title Fight
Shed
Another band unleashing a hugely ambitious debut, demanding repeat listens for their huge choruses and tight musicianship. Shred, more like. |
| 14 | | Little Scout
Take Your Light
Twirling indie-pop beauty. I couldn't gush more about this band if I tried. Honeyed vocals and lush arrangements. ANOTHER killer debut. |
| 13 |  | Seeker Lover Keeper
Seeker Lover Keeper
So, three of Australia's best singer-songwriters walk into a bar... SLK was somewhat of a happy accident. Beauty in strange places. |
| 12 |  | An Horse
Walls
An album of distances, confusion and heart-on-sleeve honesty. I needed an album exactly like this. I still do. |
| 11 | | The Wonder Years
Suburbia: I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing
Unquestionably the greatest working pop-punk band in the world right now. An immense, bold venture into both new and familiar territory. A+. |
| 10 |  | Bon Iver
Bon Iver, Bon Iver
Whether it's the first thing you hear in the morning or the last thing you hear at night, this was an amazing soundtrack to the year. |
| 9 |  | Micachu
Chopped and Screwed
A delightful experiment from one of the most intelligent and engaging musicians the world has to offer in Mica Levi. Nobody quite like her. |
| 8 |  | Drake
Take Care
An exhausting hour-plus journey that is worth every damn second. As of right now, Drizzy is untouchable. Best and brightest. |
| 7 |  | Jay-Z and Kanye West
Watch the Throne
No-one knows what this album means, but it's PROVOCATIVE! Gets the people GOING! |
| 6 |  | City and Colour
Little Hell
From the ashes of Alexisonfire came this sweet dollop of Americana-flavoured folk rock. Oh Dallas, the things you do to my heart. |
| 5 |  | Frank Turner
England Keep My Bones
Whenever you are at your absolute worst, someone like Frank reminds you you're not alone. Ever. FTHC for life. |
| 4 |  | The Weeknd
House of Balloons
I don't know where the fuck this record came from. But I want to go there and make many, many babies. |
| 3 |  | Gotye
Making Mirrors
The transition from the underground is complete, and Wally de Backer is now the biggest star in the country. Totally deserved, mind you. |
| 2 | | Jen Buxton
Don't Change Your Plans
This album inspired me in every way possible. I wanted to be a better person, musician and songwriter because of it. Must-hear. |
| 1 |  | La Dispute
Wildlife
Opinions were definitely split over the qualities of this record, but for me it was never a question. An experience like no other in 2011. |
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