10
The Wombats –The Wombats Proudly Present: This Modern Glitch
Pop album of the year. Witty, hook-laden and layered in synths; this is good time indie disco at its danceable finest.
9
The Vaccines –What Did You Expect from The Vaccines?
What Did You Expect…. is an exciting, coherent, rock n’ roll debut and a shining example that guitar music still works.
8
Wild Beasts - Smother
Smother is smoldering. A steady, intimate collection that is magnificently executed inviting a closer listen to lyrics on sexual tension and rediscovery.
7
The Antlers - Burst Apart
Burst Apart is uplifting album that displays a great deal of musical ability, wisdom, intelligence and emotional depth.
6
Adele - 21
21 is simply stunning and genuinely brilliant, even after some major over-exposure to the hit singles. It feels like you've always known it. Adele has left her contemporaries for dust.
5
The Civil Wars – Barton Hollow
A striking record, packed full of intertwined vocals and sparse, organic instrumentation. Haunting, sultry and mysterious; their voices were made for each other and the songwriting is original and pure.
4
The Horrors – Skying
An album of sumptuous pop masterpieces; looped beats, beautiful synth layers and effect-drenched guitars. Their best work by far.
3
Foster The People – Torches
Torches is an authentic ‘feel-good’ electro-indie album. Despite covering darker themes lyrically, the bouncing tunes made it the soundtrack to the summer of 2011.
2
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
A rare, timeless sounding collection that works perfectly as an entire album.
The songs are punchy, wise, passionate and often angry; The Mercury Music Prize judges got it right!
1
Metronomy – The English Riviera
The English Riviera feels like a homecoming, one that's relaxed and at ease, beguiling and sheer delight from start to finish. Gorgeous production. It's got both a Summery sheen and depth.
Metronomy - The Bay on YouTube
Bubbling just under the top ten:
Yuck – Yuck, Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix, Battles - Gloss Drop, The Sounds - Something to Die For, The Drums – Portamento, St Vincent - Strange Mercy
