top ten albums of 2011.

i was just looking at my "top ten albums" posts of the last 3 years. each year i say this is one of my favorite posts to share, so i suppose i'll say it again: "this is one of my favorite posts to share." truth. i love critiquing music. i love analyzing music. the chord structure, the lyrics, the movement of the bass, the harmonies, and so on. i do not claim to be an expert. however, i do claim to know a few things about music...i would sure hope so (insert $$$$ for music degree here).

typically, it is difficult for me to narrow a plethora of adored albums into a "top ten." this year was no different. so, without further rambling of sorts, here are my top ten albums of 2011, in no particular order:

1. Wilco - The Whole Love
2. My Morning Jacket - Ciruital
3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
4. Feist - Metals
5. Radiohead - King of Limbs
6. Ivan and Aloysha - Fathers Be Kind
7. The Civil Wars
8. Wye Oak - Civilian
9. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
10. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

honorable mentions to:

--The Waiting Kind (ok, it's my husband's band so i can't put them in my top ten, right? they really are in my top ten...i just didn't want to be that wife)
--Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
--David Bazan - Strange Negotiations (his albums are usually on my top ten - and i love this one)
--St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (that Annie is ridiculously talented)
--James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning (this record was released in 2010, but i didn't start listening until this year - otherwise it would have been in my top ten)
--Adele - 21 (i realize this album should be in my top ten. the truth is, i have only listened to it a few times. it's good. real good. i just didn't have time to fall in love with it, yet)