Honourable mentions (i.e Amazing albums that didn't make our year end list)

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Girls' third record is quite simply, a masterpiece. 


Das Racist - Relax

Rap's senior parodists returned with a more produced record,  and luckily the joke is still funny.

M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

This is an easy choice as even on the basis of Midnight City alone, Anthony Gonzales created one of the most hauntingly catchy records this year.

The Death Set - Michel Poiccard

Michel Poiccard is a boiling pot of coffee to the face kind of record.

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy

Annie Clark fully unleashed her talents on third studio album Strange Mercy, also the most airtight concept album of 2011. 

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde

 2011 was when Smith westerns cleared away the lo-fi haze on their glam rock ditties, and produced a sublime album as equally indebted to Suede as it was to Bolan.

Austra - Feel It Break

Canada's more radio friendly answer to Zola Jesus produced the dark pop album of the year.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra

The only record that came out of the blue for me this year and it turned out to be the best discovery this year, with this lo-fi 60s funk influenced record from Ruban Nielson.

Washed Out - Within and Without

The sexy artwork for Within and Without has become one of the most iconic pieces of artwork this year and Ernest Greene accompanies it with the most honest and emotional record chillwave will probably ever get.

Tom Vek - Leisure Seizure

Tom Vek took a bloody long time making this record but Leisure Seizure is worth the wait full of Vek's alluring monotone voice and plenty of futuristic hooks. 

Active Child - You Are All I See

You Are All I See drips in atmospheric beauty but it would never be the same record without Pat Grossi's ethereal falsetto. 

Cold Cave - Cherish The Light Years

The cover for Cherish The Light Years is Wesley Eisold in drag and that pretty much encompasses the weird and wonderful music that is inside.

Katy B - On A Mission

2011's underground superstar Katy B brought her 'mash-and-merge of the underground sound' to the mainstream masses and still managed to keep it credible enough to cater to every audience. 

Let's Wrestle - Nursing Home

One of the most charming and humour filled records this year from a great new talent.

Neon Indian - Era Extrana

A polarised record from Alan Palomo with equally measures of joyous bopworthy music and dark electronic sludge. 

Teeth - Whatever

Brilliant trash electro that's as bratty as a trust fund kid. Not for the faint-hearted. 

Lady Gaga - Born This Way

As much as anyone may deny it, this is a dark, European techno influenced, anthemic record from Lady Gaga that is nowhere near as bad as its album artwork.

Toro Y Moi- Underneath The Pine

Chaz Bundick's second record is a funk odyssey, and a long way from playing up to the 'chillwave' tag any further. 

Shabazz Palaces - Black Up

Regarded by many of one of the hip-hop records of the year, shabazz palaces rip rap's rule book in the most disturbing yet enthralling manner.

The Throne - Watch The Throne

'Watch The Throne' seems like a paranoid statement from Kanye West & Jay Z because they're still the kings of rap.