Top Albums of 2011

The end of the year is a time for lists. Glorious lists. Organized lists. Concise lists (or not, if you really must explain the reasoning or a tie). So here is my first (maybe only, depending on how much time I can get) 2011 List: Music.

For the first time in a while, I bought a lot of albums. At this point, I haven't actually checked what I've bought, but I guess I'll do Top 5 Albums and Top 5 Songs. Remember, these are songs I bought this year, not necessarily releases from this year.

Top Five Albums Purchased in 2011  The Seven Albums I Bought in 2011
(In reverse order of how much I liked them) 

7. Rabbits on the Run--Vanessa Carlton
    This was a disappointing followup to Heroes and Thieves, which is probably one of my very favorite albums. The single, Carousel, is nice, but everything else is far too ethereal and new age-y for my taste.
Notable Tracks: Carousel

6. Sunshine State of Mind--We the Kings
     This album was fun, lovely, summery, and loud--at a time when I probably couldn't appreciate it as much. This will need another listen or two before I can make a final judgement. I kind of ignored it after the first week I had it.
Notable Tracks: Friday is Forever, Every Single Dollar

5. All Things Bright and Beautiful--Owl City
    A definite improvement in musical sound without the loss of the whimsy and good clean fun that made Ocean Eyes such a success. This was the first time I noticed Christian themes, and I really appreciated them.
Notable Tracks: Galaxies, Honey and the Bee, Deer in the Headlights

4. 21--Adele

    These are beautiful, amazing, soul-wrenching songs. I listened to this album ALL THE TIME--until I actually went through a breakup and all the songs started to really make sense. But I still love Adele to bits--I still stand behind all the praise I lavished on her here. It's just hard now.

Notable Tracks: Someone Like You, I'll Be Waiting, Set Fire to the Rain, One and Only

3. Lungs--Florence + the Machine
    HOW did I not know about Florence Welch before? The reason she beat out Adele is that as a breakup album, Lungs is much more...comforting. These were angrier, more feral songs that I could RUN to, get endorphins pumping.
Notable Songs: Hurricane Drunk, Drumming Song, Howl, You've Got the Love, Kiss with a Fist

2. (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack

    This became my favorite movie this year, and part of its charm was this soundtrack. 

Notable Tracks: There Goes the Fear by Doves, Us by Regina Spektor, You Make My Dreams by Hall and Oates

1. Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons

    Oh my. What do I say about Sigh No More? I want to marry Marcus Mumford's voice. The songs are well-written and uplifting and are sung in British accents. I'm not going to include a notable tracks list because I genuinely love every single song on the album. I've never--repeat, NEVER had that happen before.

You know, I'll save Top Tracks of 2011 for another post. Bye!