Staff Picks: Best Albums of 2011 January 5, 2012 3 comments	By Derek

Our staff, as well as our growing forum community (the “Brasky Society” over on Facebook), have been committed to following music this past year. Inevitably this means having to endure countless tracks that land well outside our preferred genres, but it’s a necessary toll before you can make sweeping assertions about what music is the “best”.

This year we recruited the opinions of a few of Tampa Bay’s music scene insiders – Jack Spatafora from Aestheticized (a long-time fixture in the Bay Area), Anna Serena from Don’t Stop Collective and No Clubs (booking powerhouse), and Yvonne Bell, music editor at DiveInTampaBay.com

Earning top album honors on multiple lists this year are Washed Out, M83, Little Dragon, Neon Indian, Metronomy, Toro y Moi, and Bon Iver. For those of you scoring at home, that’s three bands that are firmly associated with the birth of “chillwave” (one of the predominant music trends in 2011).

Usual disclaimers:

1. The omission of major pop acts doesn’t mean they weren’t given fair consideration
2. Bands that released music too close to the beginning or end of the year are probably underrepresented. Some albums in this post were first released in late 2010.
3. We each took our own stance on whether we wanted to order our lists and whether we wanted to include write-ups

Fine print disclosed, here are the Brasky collective’s choices for best albums of 2011.

Top Albums of 2011

Derek Clark’s Top 10

The Rural Alberta Advantage Departing	I am very puzzled why this album didn’t make it on more people’s lists this year. This album i… I am very puzzled why this album didn’t make it on more people’s lists this year. This album is loaded with incredibly moving tracks, ranging from wistful/quiet tunes to stampeding rock songs that are softened with keyboard accompaniment, keeping the message sincere while remaining urgent. Read More | Listen on Spotify
Washed Out Within and Without	Pleasantly surprised at how excellent this album was, afraid that it would not match the appeal… Pleasantly surprised at how excellent this album was, afraid that it would not match the appeal of Life of Leisure (the EP from 2009 that really launched Washed Out) Read More | Listen on Spotify
M83 Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming	When I learned this album was two discs I was a bit concerned. Not since SP’s Melancholy and t… When I learned this album was two discs I was a bit concerned. Not since SP’s Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness have I run across a 20+ track album that didn’t feel bloated with filler. But M83 delivers with a widely acclaimed album that features more instrumentation and more singing from Anthony Gonzalez than album’s past. The tracks range from introspective, dreamy synth instrumentals to radio-caliber electro pop. The album’s greatest achievement may be reaching out to new audiences without compromising the signature sound that captured early listeners. Read More | Listen on Spotify
Alex Winston Sister Wife	If this was one of those Miller Lite commercials where my friends sass me for doing the “second… If this was one of those Miller Lite commercials where my friends sass me for doing the “second unmanly thing” by grabbing a generic light beer, then the first unmanly thing would be including this album on my list. Or maybe listening to it at all. But that’s as far as I’ll backpedal–these songs are jubilant, whimsical, catchy, and honest. Alex has already repelled some listeners with her curious singing voice, but she wins big points for me for her songwriting. (Note: favorite track is ‘Locomotive‘, which isn’t available to listen to on Spotify – for me at least). Read More | Listen on Spotify
Morning Benders Japan Echo	Somewhat under the radar, the Morning Benders released a remix album to help raise money for Ja… Somewhat under the radar, the Morning Benders released a remix album to help raise money for Japan after the tsunami. The album featured 2 original tracks and 6 remixes (of last year’s Big Echo), assembled by a reputable lineup of up-and-comers: Star Slinger, Twin Sister, Wild Nothing, RAC, and Aislyn. Intrigue aside, I was impressed by every single track. Read More | Listen on SoundCloud
Ricky Eat Acid 2 albums (Haunt U Forever, Seeing Little Ghosts Everywhere)	I include two albums here because hearing the second will completely change how you feel about … I include two albums here because hearing the second will completely change how you feel about the first, regardless of which you try first. We’ll go chronologically – “Haunt u forever” first. Here you’ll find 9 tracks with short, seemingly ironically-named (to play up the short/empty pop song titles). The style? Ambient beats with some nice guitar samplage to create that mellow west coast vibe I first sensed when listening to Nobody 5 years ago (before the arrival of the more glitch/LA-influenced stuff). Now try “seeing little ghosts everywhere” and at first the contrast is so stark you wonder if the music is serious. Track after track short, minimal cassette recordings, mixing light piano, light acoustic guitar, and a lot of negative space polluted with static. But then the picture comes together and the nuance starts to take form. Song titles like “sitting by the church with dan”, “birthdays”, and “it rained for so long that my house floated away and i drowned” start to paint this landscape of dreary days and detachment. The download comes with about 20 pictures depicting gray tableaus of rural Maryland and dark indoor spaces. The album marks a shift toward sadness, which by all accounts, appears to be sincere. The songs are mostly vacant, but ooze warmth, occasionally offering piano melodies that support the fact that real songwriting is present and not just dreary doodles. Ultimately, it’s the context of the music’s origin (perhaps made more intriguing by the uncertainties) that made Ricky Eat Acid memorable for me in 2011. “Ricky” doesn’t offer much in his bio. Right now you’ll find only the following: “im sad”. Maybe in the end he won’t regret where it took him creatively. Read More | Listen on Bandcamp
Cults Cults	After a few remarkably successful debut singles in 2010, Manhattan duo Cults was poised to drop… After a few remarkably successful debut singles in 2010, Manhattan duo Cults was poised to drop a big album this year – they delivered. Almost every song achieves moments of pop bliss while still remaining non-formulaic and thoughtful. Read More | Listen on Spotify
Galapagos (multiple EPs)	For me, the sound of Austin producer Galapagos’ work is a perfect blend of a lot of things I’ve… For me, the sound of Austin producer Galapagos’ work is a perfect blend of a lot of things I’ve come to love from electronic music. The tempos range from quick juke-like beats (think: Star Slinger) to casual tropical bumpers (think: Delorean). Lots of vocal cut-ups, instrumental samples, and manual edits give the music an organic feel, but some tracks do seem a bit light on layers and don’t evolve much. But in the Bandcamp/Soundcloud era of increased output and shorter track lengths, the preceding charges should be softened when evaluating Galapagos’ potential. Read More | Listen on Bandcamp
Various Artists Mad Hop: Volume 2	Believe me, I don’t like including a compilation on here; doesn’t feel right. BUT. During a “… Believe me, I don’t like including a compilation on here; doesn’t feel right. BUT. During a “slow” year, this collection of tracks positively dazzled me. What sets this compilation (and the emerging “Mad Hop” series) apart its truly international scope. All indications are that the Mad Hop creators are from Russia or Eastern Europe, though their compilations each include the tag “Hong Kong”. At least 12 countries and 5 continents are represented. The production quality, flare and pure expressive energy on most tracks far exceeds what you’ll usually encounter in the great abyss of netlabel-variety beat music. The Mad Hop series has made me realize that our visibility of the music scene is still very limited–kudos to the scene scouts that are pulling all this talent together. Read More | Listen on Bandcamp
Germany Germany Adventures	From Canada Canada comes Germany Germany, an independent music project by Drew Harris. The m… From Canada (Canada) comes Germany Germany, an independent music project by Drew Harris. The music varies in style, but is consistently bumps along on danceable kicks. The mood is softened with ambient guitar and synth accents, occasionally venturing into synthpop territory but usually keeping things echoey and mellow. Sadly, Germany Germany is on break for “personal reasons”. One and done? Read More | Listen on Bandcamp

Nikki Elizabeth’s Top 10

1	Phantogram Nightlife	Listen on Spotify
2	Spies on Bikes Man Overboard	Listen on SoundCloud
3	Freddy Todd Neon Spectacle Operator	Listen on Addictech
4	Blaerg Everything Was Altered	Listen on Spotify
5	The Human Abstract Digital Veil	Listen on Spotify
6	Tom Waits Bad As Me	Listen on Spotify
7	Curren$y Covert Coup	Listen on Spotify
8	Kate Bush 50 Words for Snow	Listen on Spotify
9	Auto!Automatic!! Auto!Automatic!!	Listen on Spotify
10	Seefeel Seefeel	Listen on Spotify

Aaron Rogge’s Top 10

1	War on Drugs Slave Ambient	War on Drugs’ newest album, Slave Ambient, scratches a particular itch that I’ve had ever since… War on Drugs’ newest album, Slave Ambient, scratches a particular itch that I’ve had ever since Grandaddy broke up. WoD explores a newfound fidelity (and newfound band members) while giving nods to rock mainstays as diverse as Tom Petty and My Bloody Valentine, or perhaps Bob Dylan and the Jesus and Mary Chain. Slave Ambient takes American rock standards and presents them in a distorted, sonically ragged way that stands as a dichotomy to the in-time pop melodia below the relentless churning of ‘wave’. The music is as distant as a spacecast and as familiar as a drive to work; the War on Drugs seem intent on bringing back the one-chord song so familiar in stereotypes of early-70s krautrock without losing this dying-ember romanticism pioneered by the likes of Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. The songs are supplicating but not apologetic in a way that Conor Oberst never pinned down. This album may find a lot of gray area between musical tastes, ages and ranges, but it has an enchanting motive firm enough to make it work. Read More | Listen on Spotify
2	Real Estate Days	Real Estate is a relative latecomer to the indie lo-fi long-play ouevre but they seem to have f… Real Estate is a relative latecomer to the indie lo-fi long-play ouevre but they seem to have found a nice sonic parking spot in the genre somewhere between Beach House and Local Natives. The album provides the requisite wistful breakdowns of modern indie and has plenty of flourishes that bump up against country underpinnings; the members never exploit rock and roll tendancies more than would, say, the Beach Boys. One rushes to dismiss them as Shins knockoffs, but with the dismay of knowing that there will never be another Chutes too Narrow, there’s Real Estate and they’re willing to give it a shot. It’s Real is the soundtrack to your next beach trip. Read More | Listen on Spotify
3	Neon Indian Era Extrana	Era Extrana is the second LP from Denton, Texas producer/bandleader/electronics guru Neon India… Era Extrana is the second LP from Denton, Texas producer/bandleader/electronics guru Neon Indian. Psychic Chasms came on in winter 2009/2010 as the relaxing clarion call (?) for a new generation of freakers, dreamers, 20-somethings, and in general people who like to use Instagram. Era Extrana brings more to the table when it comes to landscapes; where his collaboration with the Flaming Lips sounded like a scientist tinkering with fun instruments in something resembling the joy of Christmas morning, the new album has flare, finesse and a songcraft that seems in step with pop zeitgeist yet beyond any constraints of genre-settling or a pandering reverence to source material. What brings it down to earth is the nagging sensation that the echoing quality of the tones and sometimes saccharine pop choruses begin to mimic the background music to some strange 1991 shopping mall. Like the video game arcade ten minutes before closing. Read More | Listen on Spotify
4	Smith Westerns Dye it Blond	On Dye it Blonde, Smith Westerns successfully blend arena rock grandeur with the major-chord sc… On Dye it Blonde, Smith Westerns successfully blend arena rock grandeur with the major-chord scoot of pop punk in a way that comes off as fun, sincere and confident… they would seriously like to be the soundtrack to your next summer weekend. The songs have all the trappings of a raucous night out with friends: fist pumping rushes of adrenaline, sing-along oohs and ahs, and introspective rock ballad resignations. The recipe is as follows: finely chop an ounce of Thin Lizzy, mix thoroughly with a half ounce of 1978-era Elton John, then add a tablespoon of Brian May’s clean lead-guitar squeal. Top with a quarter cup of refined Saves the Day and a zest of Scissor Sisters. Serve with Sunglasses and PBR in the can. Read More | Listen on Spotify
5	The Bees Every Step’s a Yes	The Bees, or A Band of Bees interchangeably, are a collective of folk, jam and rock musicians f… The Bees, or A Band of Bees interchangeably, are a collective of folk, jam and rock musicians from the Isle of Wight. Their newest release, Every Step’s a Yes, is a dramatically varied album that comes off like a mixtape from a band who chose to revamp songs from other artists that they thought could use a new coat of paint. Organs, horns, mandolins, and other style-specific instruments are applied appropriately. Even while touching on styles as disparate as reggae and minstrel balladry, the Bees never lose their distinctly relaxed, summer-of-love Brit-folk feel. I readily admit that this album came out in October 2010, but was only released stateside in November 2011, so mark it an Eight, Dude. Read More | Listen on
6	Russian Circles Empros	The latest album from Russian Circles sees the Chicago based Post-Rock/apocalyptic instrumental… The latest album from Russian Circles sees the Chicago based Post-Rock/apocalyptic instrumentalists sticking closely to the formula they employed on 2009’s staggering work of genius, Geneva. That is, punishing, trudging build-ups punctuated by well syncopated drums and quiet fugue states of atmospheric glow. In a year in which dozens of artists took their craft in new (sometimes regrettable) directions, the brutal yet mournful, overpowering yet thoughtful prowess of Empros fits nicely as another keystone in the genre. Russian Circles is making important music. Read More | Listen on Spotify
7	Iron and Wine Kiss Each Other Clean	Sam Beam is no one-trick pony. Iron and Wine’s newest album ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’ explores bi… Sam Beam is no one-trick pony. Iron and Wine’s newest album ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’ explores big orchestrations of funk, soul, and rock without sounding out of element. The deep-south funk-rock march of Big Burned Hand seems stolen straight from Keller Williams’ b-sides while Glad Man Singing sounds like a visit to Mick Fleetwood’s house. Beam and the rest of Iron and Wine show a wisdom that surpasses Bon Iver and a tenderness that escaped the Black Keys. This album may surprise fans of the band’s earlier work, but I found it to be a welcome transformation. Read More | Listen on Spotify
8	Buckethead Buckethead Pikes (1-5)	Buckethead Pikes is a set of five (and counting) albums released by avant-garde guitarist Bucke… Buckethead Pikes is a set of five (and counting) albums released by avant-garde guitarist Buckethead in 2011. The notorious virtuoso/workaholic set out to produce distinctly different albums that act as companion music for a trip through the furthest reaches of Bucketheadland, the amusement park so frequently chronicled in his incredibly wide sonic catalogue of over 30 albums. The tracks slink through thrilling battle-march shredfests and linger in mind-bending caverns of mysterious sounds and messages. The album covers are illustrated as if each were an issue in a comic book series, and Buckethead’s unending NBA muses continues to inspire prog ballads that would make Coheed and Cambria blush. This effort may not make many year-end lists, but it’s personally exciting to see veterans of the music industry continue to innovate and create with such proliferation. Read More | Listen on
9	Beach Fossils What a Pleasure	Beach Fossils’ ‘What a Pleasure’ is your godawful-hipster themed party soundtrack. Guitars so c… Beach Fossils’ ‘What a Pleasure’ is your godawful-hipster themed party soundtrack. Guitars so clean that you can hear the tweedy echoes of a vintage tube amp aptly pilot a series of songs that feel content to run touch-and-goes all day on the lo-fi tarmac; the songs break a sweat but never work too hard. Joy Division drums that sound as if they’re set behind a drum shield do their best to stay out of the way of soaring summer-day synths on an album that I almost consider boring. If they went any bigger, they’d be Temper Trap, and if they held any more back they’d be the XX. All things considered this is a well-measured album that knows its references and always keeps it a little less than serious. Read More | Listen on Spotify
10	The Globes Future Self	The Globes debut album ‘Future Self’ is a rich, personal affair. It feels as if the band member… The Globes debut album ‘Future Self’ is a rich, personal affair. It feels as if the band members don’t want to put down their instruments, but would prefer to keep jamming on each of these eight unfolding missives. The result here is an honest, brutal record with an amazing single, Pigeons. The well-recorded drums and novel codas recall the Smashing Pumpkins in their prime, yet I’d most adequately describe their sound as Burst and Bloom-era Cursive meets the current state of Sonic Youth. I personally discovered this band blind as they opened for El Ten Eleven. Been there, rode the ride, bought the t-shirt, wrote the review. Read More | Listen on Spotify

Emanuel Moshouris’ Top 10

1	Apparat The Devil’s Walk	While everyone else was busy worrying about genres and other bullshit, Apparat reminded us that … While everyone else was busy worrying about genres and other bullshit, Apparat reminded us that it’s all music anyways. Read More | Listen on Spotify
2	Wallpaper. #STUPiDFACEDD	Lonely Island’s latest foray into fake rap may have been disappointing, but Ricky Reed done’ ch… Lonely Island’s latest foray into fake rap may have been disappointing, but Ricky Reed done’ changed the game. Almost album of the year, hadn’t Breaking Bad featured Apparat in a superbadass way in the last season. Read More | Listen on Spotify
3	SBTRKT SBTRKT	Goddamnit Nikki, you have to stop suggesting things that make my list harder to organize. I did… Goddamnit Nikki, you have to stop suggesting things that make my list harder to organize. I didn’t even want to like this band, then she had to go and suggest it. What a see word. Read More | Listen on Spotify
4	Holy Ghost! Holy Ghost!	Yeah, it took them forever, but, whatever. It’s catchy. It reeks of DFA. It’s delicious…. Yeah, it took them forever, but, whatever. It’s catchy. It reeks of DFA. It’s delicious. Read More | Listen on Spotify
5	Metronomy The English Riviera	I think this album was on repeat in my car for a few weeks…. I think this album was on repeat in my car for a few weeks. Read More | Listen on Spotify
6	Mexicans With Guns Ceremony	Lord, give me the strength not to punch this artist in the face if I ever see him live for havi… Lord, give me the strength not to punch this artist in the face if I ever see him live for having such a stupid name. Read More | Listen on Spotify
7	Dye Taki 183	And here we were, thinking the early 00′s electronic thing was played out. These guys come and … And here we were, thinking the early 00′s electronic thing was played out. These guys come and remind us what M83 was like before he turned thirty and got all shitty. Read More | Listen on Spotify
8	Com Truise Galactic Melt	This sort of catchy should be illegal. Also, bonus points for showing up to shows dressed up li… This sort of catchy should be illegal. Also, bonus points for showing up to shows dressed up like a thirty four year old overweight father. Read More | Listen on Spotify
9	Nicolas Jaar Space is Only Noise	On one hand, I loved parts of this album. On the other hand, he’s only, like, 21, and doesn’t k… On one hand, I loved parts of this album. On the other hand, he’s only, like, 21, and doesn’t know shit about how to balance an album out. So in a few years I expect perfection out of him. For now, he only gets #9. Also, he’s Chilean, which makes him obligatorily boring in person, probably. Read More | Listen on Spotify
10	M83 Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming	I didn’t feel like making an entire “Worst Of 2011 Album”, so instead, I’m simply placing this … I didn’t feel like making an entire “Worst Of 2011 Album”, so instead, I’m simply placing this steaming turd of failed ideas at my #10 spot, and letting you all know not only was this the worst album I’ve heard in 2011, it was the probably the worst hour of my life. The entire album feels like the packaging for the one good song. You can tell he obviously ran out of ideas, and sort of just kept… going. Someone at the label, however, forgot to tell him it was shit. Even funnier, is that they insisted they release ALL of the garbage he produced, and he made it a double album. If you want a quick reminder of how music shouldn’t be, just play this and remind yourself what happens when all reason, talent, and sense is neglected. Read More | Listen on Spotify

Victoria Casal’s Top 10

1	Washed Out Within and Without	Listen on Spotify
2	Adele 21	Listen on Spotify
3	Blind Pilot We are the Tide	Listen on Spotify
4	High Highs High Highs	Listen on Spotify
5	SBTRKT SBTRKT	Listen on Spotify
6	Fionn Regan 100 Acres of Sycamore	Listen on Spotify
7	Memoryhouse The Years EP	Listen on Spotify
8	Bon Iver Bon Iver	Listen on Spotify
9	Little Dragon Ritual Union	Listen on Spotify
10	Dustin O’Hallaran Lumiere	Listen on Spotify

Anna Serena’s Top 10

James Blake James Blake	Listen on Spotify
Washed Out Within and Without	Listen on Spotify
Radiohead The King of Limbs	Listen on Spotify
Little Dragon Ritual Union	Listen on Spotify
Braids Native Speaker	Listen on Spotify
Wolves in the Throne Room Celestial Linage	Listen on Spotify
Toro Y Moi Underneath the Pine	Listen on Spotify
M83 Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming	Listen on Spotify
Shabazz Palaces Black Up	Listen on Spotify
Tycho Dive	Listen on Spotify
John Maus We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves	Listen on Spotify
Prince Rama Trust Now	Listen on Spotify

Jack Spatafora’s Top 10

1	Metronomy The English Riviera	Listen on Spotify
2	Jamie Woon Mirrorwriting	Listen on Spotify
3	Akron/Family S/T II: The Cosmic Birth & Journey of Shinju TNT	Listen on Spotify
4	Machinedrum Room(s)	Listen on Planet Mu
5	SBTRKT SBTRKT	Listen on Spotify
6	Junior Boys It’s All True	Listen on Spotify
7	Benoit & Sergio Principles + Boy Trouble 12″s	Listen on Spotify
8	Little Dragon Ritual Union	Listen on Spotify
9	Chrissy Murderbot Women’s Studies	Listen on SoundCloud
10	Here We Go Magic The January EP	Listen on Spotify

Yvonne Bell’s Top 10

1	Cut Copy Zonoscope	Listen on Spotify
2	Sleepy Vikings They Will Find You Here	Listen on Spotify
3	Washed Out Within and Without	Listen on Spotify
4	Toro Y Moi Underneath the Pine	Listen on Spotify
5	Neon Indian Era Extrana	Listen on Spotify
6	Jay Z & Kanye Watch the Throne	Listen on Spotify
7	The Horrors Skying	Listen on Spotify
8	The Black Keys El Camino	Listen on Amazon
9	Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes	Listen on Spotify
10	Cults Cults	Listen on Spotify

Top Albums of 2011: Honorable Mentions

And because some great releases don’t quite fit in the top 10 discussion, we have included the collective’s honorable mentions (100% real bits of honor)

	TV on the Radio Nine Types of Light	I added this after seeing none of our reviews even mentioned it. It’s another excellent album … I added this after seeing none of our reviews even mentioned it. It’s another excellent album from these Philly vets. If you’ve liked anything they’ve done before, you should enjoy this, too. Read More | Listen on Spotify
	The Weeknd House of Balloons	I really do not like R&B, but the insane amounts of hype pushed The Weeknd into queue. I was (… I really do not like R&B, but the insane amounts of hype pushed The Weeknd into queue. I was (and remain) very surprised at how much I enjoyed most of the tracks. For me the music underlying Abel Tesfaye’s words is the essential piece the sets it apart from other R&B, but I find the vocal tracks continue to grow on me. He’s good. Read More | Listen on SoundCloud
	Air Drops EP	Random EPs like Air Drops EP, EP, are what make the music hunt fun. Five tracks, sequen… Random EPs like Air Drops EP, EP, are what make the music hunt fun. Five tracks, sequenced to create a continuous listening experience that is very hard to corral with genre labels–and I’m good at it. Read More | Listen on Bandcamp
	Memoryhouse Caregiver b/w Heirloom	A two-track EP gets a mention? Must be that both tracks are A+ songs. Two songs is about as m… A two-track EP gets a mention? Must be that both tracks are A+ songs. Two songs is about as many that I truly savored on any other album this year. (Note: technically a late 2010 release; forgive me) Read More | Listen on Bandcamp
	HVZEL MIXTVPE	“Witch house”? Yeah, that stuff’s still popping up. Here’s my favorite of the bunch from 2011… “Witch house”? Yeah, that stuff’s still popping up. Here’s my favorite of the bunch from 2011 – 5 tracks from the mysterious HVZEL. Read More | Listen on Bandcamp
	Braids Native Speaker	Great EP from Montreal quartet Braids. Kinda dreamy, lovely fuzzy guitar loops, and occasional… Great EP from Montreal quartet Braids. Kinda dreamy, lovely fuzzy guitar loops, and occasionally peppy (female) vocals and drums. I’m tired of writing reviews, so that’s all I’m going to say. Read More | Listen on Spotify
	InfinitiRock Music for Primordial Recollection	InfinitRock is a throwback to beat-driven IDM pioneers like Machinedrum. Supremely lush beats,… InfinitRock is a throwback to beat-driven IDM pioneers like Machinedrum. Supremely lush beats, garnished with a colorful mixture of samples and effects. Music for Primordial Recollection demonstrates an impressive range, stylistically, testing high energy beats as well as crackly down-tempo minimalism/house in the style of Burial (and the like – “TianchiSightings” passes as Gold Panda, according to my giant brain). Read More | Listen on Spotify
	Tech N9ne All 6s and 7s	Listen on Amazon
	Shlohmo Places	Listen on Pitchfork
	Metronomy The English Riviera	Listen on Spotify
	Austin Peralta Endless Planets	Listen on Boomkat
	Animals as Leaders Weightless	Listen on Amazon
	Venetian Snares Cubist Reggae	Listen on Spotify
	AYWKUBTTOD Tao of the Dead	Listen on MySpace
	Giraffes? Giraffes! Pink Magick	Listen on Spotify
	Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr It’s a Corporate World	Listen on Spotify
	Explosions in the Sky Take Care, Take Care, Take Care	Listen on Spotify
	Battles Gloss Drop	Listen on Spotify
	Blitzen Trapper American Goldwing	Listen on Amazon
	Yuck Yuck	Listen on Spotify
	Bon Iver Bon Iver	Listen on Spotify
	tUnE-yArDs W H O K I L L	Listen on Spotify
	Phantogram Nightlife	Listen on Spotify
	Widowspeak Widowspeak	Listen on Spotify
	Metronomy The English Riviera	Listen on Spotify
	Real Estate Days	Listen on Spotify
	Woods Sun and Shade	Listen on Spotify
	Opeth Heritage	Listen on Spotify
	Common The Dreamer, The Believer	Listen on Spotify

Check out our year-end picks from previous years:
Brasky’s Top 10 Albums of 2010
100 Notable Songs from 2010 (curated by Derek)
Brasky’s Top 10 Albums of 2009
Notable Songs from 2009 (curated by Derek and Nikki – didn’t really finish this one…)

Up Next

In 2012 we’ll be looking to share more forward-looking posts about the music industry, aside from our growth locally. We have some big plans this year! Stick around – soon Brasky will function much more like a service for savvy music followers in Tampa Bay.

Tags: List review yearly