Album Of The Year Discussion

Not sure if we will go ahead with an actual vote yet, but regardless thought it would be good to have a thread to pimp and discuss your favourite records of 2011.


Without going into too much detail, I would recommend the following off the top of my head:

Times Of Grace - Hymn Of a Broken Man (if you have ever enjoyed KIllswitch Engage I would recommend this)
The Architects - The Here And Now
Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows
Tyler, the Creator - Goblin (unlike any other rap album in years and is so raw)
The Lonely Island - Turtleneck & Chain (Comedy album of the year)
Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones
Tech N9ne - All 6's And 7's
The Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (probably the craziest album he's ever done)
The Devin Townsend Project - Ghost (fans of any genre should be able to appreciate this, just beautiful music)
Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne
Trivium - In Waves
Thrice - Major/Minor
J. Cole - Cole World


Havent checked out the new Machine Head album, and have only heard half of The Hunter so far, but I imagine they are both up there too.

The Field - Looping State of Mind - Brilliant, droning techno that paints a great soundscape to listen to while doing pretty much anything.
Parallax - Atlas Sound - A near effortless and incredibly fresh album.
Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong - The most well composed album of the year, and something that sounds a little like a lost Jackson Browne record...amazing stuff.
Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage - Crazy good melodic metal album from the masters.
The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From.... - A great debut, full of power pop melodies that are instantly catchy.
Tom Waits - Bad As Me - Tom Waits rules, and this long-awaited album doesn't disappoint in the slightest. Excellent stuff all around.
Barn Owl - Lost in the Glare - Awesome instrumental rock album, full of lush melodies and a definite "headphone" record.

That's for now, though I doubt very much people have been listening to any of this stuff.

Agreed with "In Waves" by Trivium and "American Tragedy" by Hollywood Undead.

"Neighborhoods" by Blink 182, and my personal pick, "Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing" by The Wonder Years.

Lulu.

Early favourties for me, although there's a few more I need to hear (first & again) before I can make a solid judgment:

Chase & Status - No More Idols
Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones
Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch The Throne
The King Blues - Punk & Poetry
The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?
Rise Against - Endgame

Would anyone recommend Ed Sheeran's debut album?

Originally Posted by Tommy Rage

While Turtleneck & Chain was hilarious, I don't think I'd mention a comedy album in an album of the year poll. That's just me though. For me it's not really comparable because it's intention is just to be funny.

Anyway, not that much great stuff has come out this year for me. Opeth's "Heritage" was disappointing. I've not heard TH1RT3EN by Megadeth yet, but from the singles it sounds a bit dull like most of their recent stuff. Machine Head's CD is arriving tomorrow so I'll decide soon whether that should be considered. I've heard good things about it though.

Good albums:

Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events - Almost certainly the runaway winner for me.
The Devin Townsend Project - Ghost - Good stuff, but a long way behind DT.
Times Of Grace - Hymn Of a Broken Man - Listened yesterday, loved it. Didn't realize it was Adam D and Jesse Leach. That'd explain the Kllswitch similarities.
Trivium - In Waves - I enjoyed this. Wouldn't call it a return to form because I like Shogun, but it's a good CD.
Symphony X - Iconoclast - Nothing amazing, but catchy, technical and over the top power metal.
Children Of Bodom - Relentless, Reckless Forever - As catchy as their other recent albums, so very
Hollywood Undead - American Tragedy - Don't judge me.

Also lol, I forgot Limp Bizkit's album came out. Was it as bad as I imagine it being?

Eh, if it was like Wierd Al, where it's "only" funny I'd agree, but Turtleneck & Chain also SOUNDS really good and is at times very catchy and well produced. This also made me remember Steel Panther's Balls Out. It's a hilarious parody of the glam metal genre, but also sounds ****ing awesome to the extent that it's actually better than 90% of the genre it imitates. "17 Girls In A Row", "Just Liek Tiger Woods" and "It Won't Suck Itself" are well worth checking out at the least.

I'll have to check out the new Dream Theater album. And yes Limp Bizkit had an album. I have to admit I kinda liked "Walkign Away" despite some cringe-worthy lyrics, but overall it is still a Limp Bizkit album.

Originally Posted by Fuji Vice

The Field - Looping State of Mind - Brilliant, droning techno that paints a great soundscape to listen to while doing pretty much anything.
Parallax - Atlas Sound - A near effortless and incredibly fresh album.
Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong - The most well composed album of the year, and something that sounds a little like a lost Jackson Browne record...amazing stuff.
Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage - Crazy good melodic metal album from the masters.
The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From.... - A great debut, full of power pop melodies that are instantly catchy.
Tom Waits - Bad As Me - Tom Waits rules, and this long-awaited album doesn't disappoint in the slightest. Excellent stuff all around.
Barn Owl - Lost in the Glare - Awesome instrumental rock album, full of lush melodies and a definite "headphone" record.

That's for now, though I doubt very much people have been listening to any of this stuff.

Ashamed to say you're, atleast I havent heard any of that.

Originally Posted by KTK

Agreed with "In Waves" by Trivium and "American Tragedy" by Hollywood Undead.

"Neighborhoods" by Blink 182, and my personal pick, "Suburbia I've Given You All and Now I'm Nothing" by The Wonder Years.

As a guy who loved every previous Blink album and thought their self-titled was pretty much the very pinnacle of the pop-pink genre, Neighbourhoods was one of my all-time dissapointments. Felt like they regressed and it was too Angels & Airwaves-y. May give The Wonder Years album a try as I liked what I've heard so far, but havent love it.

It's ****ing fantastic.

And eh, I love AvA, so I liked a more mature route. But I can totally see why others may not love it. I just think it was really good.