Best Albums of 2011 So Far

1 Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Shabazz-Palaces-an-echo-from-the-hosts-that-profess-infinitum.mp3|titles=Shabazz Palaces – “an echo from the hosts that profess infinitum”]

2 Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Beastie-Boys-Make-Some-Noise.mp3|titles=Beastie Boys – “Make Some Noise”]

3 James Blake – James Blake

[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/06-James-Blake-Limit-To-Your-Love.mp3|titles=James Blake – “Limit To Your Love”]

4 The Weeknd – House of Balloons

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/potholespodcast/04%20The%20Morning.mp3|titles=The Weekend – “The Morning”]

5 DJ Quik – The Book of David

[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/06-dj_quik-killer_dope.mp3|titles=DJ Quik – “Killer Dope”]

6 Frank Ocean – Nostalgia, Ultra

7 Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise

8 SBTRKT – SBTRKT

9 tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L

10 Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam

11 PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

12 Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

13 Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place

14 Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

15 Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4Eva

29 thoughts on “Best Albums of 2011 So Far

Leave A Reply
  1. 1. Stephen Marley – Revelation Part 1: The Root of Life
    2. Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R (We Are Renegades)
    3. Theophilus London – Timez Are Weird These Days
    4. Little Dragon – Ritual Union
    5. TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light
    6. Raekwon – Shaolin Vs Wu Tang
    7. Dj Quik – The Book Of David
    8. Kool G Rap – Riches, Royalty & Respect
    9. Alborosie – 2 Times Revolution
    10. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two
    11. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
    12. Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam
    13. Smif-N-Wessun – Monumental

  2. No Kendrick Lamar? That should be in the top 3.

  3. Shockolate|

    I assume you mean July 19th. And yeah you’re right Daily Bread did drop digitally yesterday, still, waiting for the physical copy Aug. 9th.

  4. here’s a little present to you potholes fans. De La performing “Potholes in My Lawn”
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5raHjVvcY4&feature=player_embedded#at=119

  5. William Morris|

    “Daily Bread” is a full album, it came out JUNE 19TH!

  6. Kendrick Lamar????

  7. So glad to see Ghostpoet on here. Has that album had an official US release?

  8. PAINalexander|

    Definitely surprised oneirology isn’t on the list. It’s some of CL’s best stuff to date, and it doesn’t make the cut? Doesn’t seem right to me

  9. Missing in my opinion:

    Willie Evans Jr. – Introducin
    CoSS – Before I Awoke
    Hail Mary Mallon – Are you gunna eat that?

  10. nice list. any honorable mentions?

  11. Not a bad list, but I absolutely hated that Bright Eyes album. HAHA. Rock on, though!

  12. blackcalx|

    “Bon Iver” and “Let England Shake” were both massive disappointments to me, and honestly, I still don’t really get all the hype around James Blake. He borrows techniques from a wide range of artists (Justin Vernon, Antony Hegarty, Burial), but doesn’t really add anything to their styles. Plus, his songwriting is insanely choppy. But hey, different strokes. I’m definitely not going to disagree with Shabazz Palaces and Ghostpoet, and it reminds me that I still have to check out the Beasties album. Nice list all.

    My top twenty-five picks of the year so far are:

    25.) Random Axe – Random Axe
    24.) Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Rome
    23.) Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care
    22.) Red Fang – Murder the Mountains
    21.) Boris – Heavy Rocks (2011: Rock Heavily With a Vengeance)
    20.) Graveyard – Hisingen Blues
    19.) Radiohead – The King of Limbs
    18.) ohGr – Undeveloped
    17.) Ghostpoet – Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam
    16.) Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones
    15.) Hail Mary Mallon – Are You Gonna Eat That?
    14.) Blueprint – Adventures in Counter-Culture
    13.) 13 & God – Own Your Ghost
    12.) William Elliott Whitmore – Field Songs
    11.) The Dear Hunter – The Color Spectrum: The Complete Collection
    10.) Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See
    9.) Glassjaw – Coloring Book
    8.) Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes
    7.) King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – Diamond Mine
    6.) The Twilight Singers – Dynamite Steps
    5.) The Kills – Blood Pressures
    4.) Elzhi & Will Sessions – Elmatic
    3.) Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
    2.) Nostalgia 77 – The Sleepwalking Society
    1.) Bright Eyes – The People’s Key

  13. This is full albums, not single leaks.

  14. William Morris|

    I agree with everything except #9 (garbage) & #12-#14 (which I am not familiar with yet). Just saying…

  15. William Morris|

    Personally, I think “Daily Bread” by Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown (which came out today!!!) should be added to this list. Alright, maybe in due time, but I promise you won’t be disappointed!!!

  16. Hasn’t been released yet.

  17. who?bert|

    And where is Thundercat – The Golden Age Of Apocalypse?Check it absolutely if you haven’t heard bout that dude.

  18. oops….my bad Potholes, checking too many blogs.

  19. no Oneirology? Give me a break… but agree with shabazz palaces so epic LP
    but dont contain Cunninlynguists LP to TOP15 is SIN

  20. My top 20 (in no order)
    1. Shabazz Palaces – Black up
    2. Kendrick lamar – section.80
    3. James Blake – James Blake
    4. Bon Iver -Bon iver
    5. The Weeknd – HOuse of Balloons
    6. Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4eva
    7. Co$$ – Before I Awake
    8. SBTRKT
    9. Tyler the Creator – Goblin
    10. Frank Ocean – Nostalgia/ultra
    11. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
    12 Tune yards – w h o k i l l
    13. Underneath the Pine – Toro Y Moi (was that this year? I forget, either way i put it here because i enjoyed it mostly this year)
    14. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
    16. II from westside with love – Dom Kennedy

  21. SBTRKT certainly has one of the best releases of the year so far. The Weeknd’s HOB is incredibly fresh, and Nicolas Jaar’s album is also a really great listen. Big Krit was a breath of fresh air for southern hip-hop. Haven’t heard anything that sounds quite like Shabazz Palaces (or The Weeknd for that matter).

    I would have to add Blue Sky Black Death’s Noir to the list, and although not an album, Clams Casino’s Rainforest EP is certainly a very interesting release thus far in 2011.

    Nice list LFTF.

  22. Man, I’d flip flop The Weeknd and Frank Ocean for sure

  23. Man, I’d flip flop The Weeknd and Frank Ocean for sure

  24. Man, I’d flip flop The Weeknd and Frank Ocean for sure

  25. Frank_be|

    Krit, Blake and Ocean will more than likely end in my years top10. That Beasties album is fresh too. PJ lookin luscious in that pic but I prob wont check for her work. I’m def interested in that Sbtrk LP. Everything else I either don’t care for or know who they be

    Random Axe, Lincoln Way Nights, Tales of The Blackhearted, Covert Coup and Section.80 would all make my list so far

  26. Frank_be|

    Krit, Blake and Ocean will more than likely end in my years top10. That Beasties album is fresh too. PJ lookin luscious in that pic but I prob wont check for her work. I’m def interested in that Sbtrk LP. Everything else I either don’t care for or know who they be

    Random Axe, Lincoln Way Nights, Tales of The Blackhearted, Covert Coup and Section.80 would all make my list so far

  27. damn, gotta check out a lot of these albums! thanks guys.

Leave your reply