Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been pulling our hair out in frustration each trying to pick our top 3 albums of the year. I thought top 5 would be far too easy and since I wanted everyone to suffer I also ruled out mixtapes knowing that several of the team prefer them to albums.
In no particular order, see what we’ve chose below. Also do click on each of the artist-album links which will take you through to iTunes for a listen. Enjoy!
Black and White America is my #1 album this year without a doubt. Things that make this album great: it’s eclectic mixture of genres: jazz, 60′s funk, rock, the list goes on! It holds a positive message and makes for really easy listening at the same time and finally its composed by an admirable artist who writes, produces and sings his own material…a rare commodity in the current music state of the music industry you’ll agree! Top tracks for me: ‘I Can’t Be Without You’, ‘Life Ain’t Ever Been Better Than It Is Now’, ‘Everything’ and ‘Black and White America’.
Beyonce’s 4 album is a popular one amongst the YY family, all I will say is that this is her most grown up album yet. Top tracks from this album include: ‘I Was here’, ’1+1′ and ‘Party’. ‘Schoolin Life’ is also another great track! As for Ed Sheeran, I will say he’s one of the few artists that I happily go out and buy his CD. This album is pure quality, the record shows all angles of his talents as a vocalist. Top tracks include ‘A Team’ obviously, U.N.I and You Need Me- although I prefer when he performs it live.
Selected by Yang
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Do I need to describe it? No. This album is Beyonce‘s most complete – she switches it up with the production for her most ‘grown’ effort to date. Just listen to ‘I Was Here’ and you’ll see what I mean. Enough said.
SBTRKT… Incredible production, the perfect mixture of electro vibes, bass and dare I say catchy vocals. One of a few albums that were played from start to finish in the office, no complaints. I just love the range of sounds and variety throughout the album. The melodies are infectious! They’ll have you skanking out at your desk.
Although I’ve only had this album for a few days now, the production, lyrics and Common‘s flow is really something else. Teaming up with No I.D. to produce this whole album was a great idea, it’s a perfectly balanced record all the way through. Only the young’uns/Drake stans won’t appreciate this album – this is one of the finest hip-hop I’ve heard in a long time
Selected by Yin
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Can we all just note that Jasmine van den Bogaerde, also known by her stage name ‘Birdy‘, is fifteen years old. Wow. Her debut album is a compilation of indie covers with just one self-written song, “Without a Word”. Covers aren’t everyones cup of tea, and it could have so easily gone terribly wrong, but Birdy puts her own stamp on them with the simple guitar/piano arrangements making some of the songs unrecognisable. Definitely looking forward to hearing more of her own material.
Singer/songwriter Ben Howard with his debut album Every Kingdom, which is mainly folk, grows on you more and more every time you listen to it. Unpretentious lyrics, great vocals and beautiful guitar playing. I’d love to see him perform live. Last but by no means least, is The Black Keys with El Camino. The album draws a lot of influence from seventies glam-rock and is entirely upbeat except for half of one song! Love it! Also check out the video for ‘Lonely Boy.’
Selected by Annabel
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Beyonce ’4‘ because quite simply I love every single song and that is something I can consistently about Beyonce’s albums and not many other artists. She always manages to do the memorable athemic songs like “Run the world”, “Best thing I never had” and “End of time” whilst mixing it up with powerful love songs like “I miss you”, “Love on top” and “1+1″- Just a great album.
Adele ’21‘- well i actually thought the whole feel of the album was depressing and way too focused on her ex boyfriend BUT how can you not take your hat off to a UK album that is the highest selling album in 21st century! Adele’s amazing songwriting abilities are displayed on this album too-which I respect alot.
Wretch 32 “Black and white“- 2011 was a great year for UK music particularly UK Hip Hop but I actually only enjoyed Wretch’s album. I think he had the most credible album both lyrically and production wise. He has managed to keep the “gritty” urban feel in a what was a successful mainstream album. I think “Black and white” showed that Wretch has the ability and lyrical credibility to compete with hip hop artists in US when the time comes for him to cross over
Selected by Eniola
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Beyonce ’4′. I’ve been a fan of Beyonce since the beggining of Destiny’s Child and I’ve follwed her career very closely as she is my favourite artist and has always been to be honest. On 4 the singer shows a more mature side and also shows she isn’t afraid to take risks in a music world dominated by pop. ‘I Miss You’, ‘I Care’, and ‘Love on Top’ are my favourite from the album, but I like all 11 tracks on the album.
SBTRKT ‘SBTRKT’ This album was a favourite after one listen. To me it’s a flawless album as the production and vocals are so captivating. I wouldn’t dare skip a track here. The album is quite simply breathtaking. Little Dragon ‘Ritual Union’ Vocalist Yukimi Nagano who lent her vocals to ‘Wildfire’ on SBTRKT’s album delivers a brilliant album alongside her 3 other Swedish bandmates. Like the ‘SBTRKT’ album this is electronic, dance, post-dubstep, whatever you want to call it, at it’s very best and taken to the next level.
Selected by Brady
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- Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne
- Tiron & Ayomari – A Sucker For Pumps
- Kendrick Lamar – Section 80
Jay-z and Kanye- Watch The Throne: A month long media fanfare surrounded the release of a joint album between two of the biggest rappers in history and we were all left questioning whether it’d be worth the hype! Watch The Throne could have been an absolute disaster à la ‘Best of Both Worlds’. However, with production from some of the best producers worldwide, an equal mix of Hip Hop braggadocio and topical references such as race, crime and politics and an appearance from the deliciousness that is Frank Ocean I’d say that this album ticked all the boxes and remains a firm favourite amongst both the Hip Hop and mainstream community!
Tiron & Ayomari – A Sucker For Pumps: The production and arrangement on this album is innovative and original, but at the same time it reminds me of the Hip Hop meets R&B style of the late 90s/early noughties. “A Sucker for Pumps” had me addicted for a solid month, where I listened to not much else! Every track is relatable, witty and distinctive in it’s approach, and that beautiful laidback Cali-steeze remains consistent throughout. I can’t remember the last time I heard an album where I loved every track, and so this definitely makes it into my top 3!
If I were to invent my own astrology based on pop culture trends, 2011 would most certainly be the year of the Internet Hype Beast! But amongst the beige obsessions with Jordan’s, overpriced skater clothing and Tumblr-girls emerged an intelligent, loner-type, non-conforming rapper from Compton, California who goes by the name of Kendrick Lamar. Listening to Section.80 is like listening to a sociological lecture on “80s babies, Ronald Regan and crack….how does it affect us now?” Lyrically, Kendrick is second to none; the production and influence from his Black Hippy crew is welcomed and his obvious “I don’t need to make radio/label friendly music” is refreshing! This album continues to get repeated on my iTunes and hey, even Dr Dre liked it!
Selected by Tara
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Chipmunk made a strong return this year with his second studio album, Transition. Boasting some impressive album tracks such as ‘Picture Me’ and ‘Foul’, he also had one of the tracks of the year in the form of ‘Champion’ with Chris Brown. Throughout, it is clear that this is a more mature Chipmunk we’re listening to, and the album is better for it.
Beyonce proved once again why she is light years ahead of her female counterparts with ‘4’, her fourth studio album. It simply showcases her entire package; the vocals and song-writing are on point, and the production is great too. ‘I Care’ was the track that immediately got the most play time, but ‘Rather Die Young’, ‘Countdown’, and ‘Love On Top’ are also standouts for me.
As a huge fan of motivational songs, listening to Adele can be irritating at times, such is the depressing nature of her lyrics. Even so, I still loved listening to ‘21’; her voice is spectacular at times, particularly on standouts ‘Turning Tables’ and ‘Someone Like You’. When you combine it with the awesome production, it really is fantastic to listen to. ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ is easily my favourite track on the album and one of my favourite tracks of this year for that reason.
Selected by Amon
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Beyonce: number one for me, of course goes to my girlfriend Beyonce with ’4′ – and would you expect anything less. She continually keeps us in anticipation for her songs and videos and albums and never fails to disappoint. You found yourself getting used to the sneak preview she gave us of her album with ‘Girls, run the world’ but then she treated us to songs that ranged from shake your arse tunes to sultry tunes. It’s no wonder I hold her at such a high caliber, because she is one bad mama Jama and this album is smoking
Next would be Adele’s ’21′ – can you imagine that someone at this young age not only has been through what she’s been through in love, but has been able to put it to song the way she has. EVERY song was relatable in some way and EVERY song is a banger. She doesn’t overdo it, and it’s not your slit your wrists type of album; it’s more lay naked on your bedroom floor screaming the lyrics to your 27 cats – but in a good way. You find yourself being sad at the beginning of each track but then the power in this young woman’s voice somehow ends uplifts you by the end. Needless to say, she deserves all success she got and continues to get with this album and I definitely cannot wait to get more music from her.
I honestly think that, as much as people say they like Florence and the Machine‘s, they still don’t get the complete hype they deserve. Their new album Ceremonials was pretty banging and like my other choices, was an album I could listen to from top to beginning. Her voice never fails to send chills up and down my spine and I never tire of this stranger style of music. It brings something new to my iPod but at the same time, brings in the Operatic characteristics that our younger generation tends to overlook. I love it. I love it a lot
Selected by Yemi
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- Beyonce – 4
- Marsha Ambrosius – Late Nights and Early Mornings
- Ed Sheeran- + (Deluxe Version)
Starting off shaky with the release of Run The World, I thought Beyonce’s 4 was going to be a regular pop record with tracks that has guaranteed number 1 hit material. However I was completely wrong, this album was an album full of songs that Beyonce wanted to make and by this I mean she wasn’t making songs for the radio or songs that were generic enough to see her claim her umpteenth number 1 instead they were songs that were from the heart and sung with passion. I love every song on the album however I Care, I Miss You, Party, Love On Top & End Of Time are standout tracks.
Marsha F*cking Ambrosius done her damn thing on Late Nights and Early Mornings. Simply put the album is DOPE! If you are true lover of R&B music then this album needs to be in your music library. Not only is the music great but Marsha is a very conscious artist and tries to spread certain messages through her music, something she was able to do very successfully in her music video for Far Away. I love that she is able to tell this message without it feeling like it’s being forced down my throat. The standout tracks on this album are the title track Late Nights and Early Mornings, Hope She Cheats On You, Far Away, I Want You To Stay and Butterflies. If you don’t have this album then I suggest you go out and get it now!
I chose to go with Ed Sheeran because I wanted to include a British artist and I think he deserves it. + was released back in August and hasn’t left the top 5 since. Also quite a few songs on the album I had heard long before he released the album I don’t get bored. The A Team was such a massive tune for Ed that I was hard to even conceive the idea that the album wouldn’t see the same success. Although that song isn’t actually my favourite it still is a standout track along with Lego House, U.N.I, You Need Me I Don’t Need You and The City.
Selected by DJB
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- Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne
- Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX – We’re New Here
- Various Artists – Drive Soundtrack
My First choice for Album of the Year has to be the joint album from Hov and Mr. West. This album could have disastrous considering the hype around it but it was far from that. Watch The Throne in my eyes is far from a regular Jay-Z album as with previous albums he made no effort to be current but instead appeared to be timeless, with WTT however there’s a large sprinkling of current affairs not to mention the production which is remarkably current. There’s not much more to say but these Hip Hop heavyweights brought an album that is uparralled, let’s just hope if they do make a follow up it’s as good if not better than this effort. My Stand out tracks: ‘New Day’ & ‘Murder to Excellence’.
Another Joint album this time from the slightly odd coupling of a Soul/Jazz veteran and an Indie/Remix producer. It is mostly the XX member’s reimaging of Gil Scott- Heron’s last album before he passed ‘I’m New Here’ and doesn’t fail to disappoint. Jamie infuses his signature underground sound with the raspy voice of Gil to create a masterpiece. My Stand out tracks: ‘Running’ & ‘I’ll Take of U’.
Last but not least the Soundtrack to without a doubt the most stylish movie of the year, Drive. My original third had been James Blake’s self entitled offering but I had to put this album in the running simply because it has been the soundtrack of my life since watching the movie and whilst reading the book. I’ve always been a fan of soundtracks from the masterpiece of ‘Gladiator’ to the gritty ‘Dark Knight’ soundtrack but this has to be the icing on cake, not my usual sound of music but maybe that’s why it feels so refreshing with there being no major grandiose overtures… Much like my life.
My Stand out tracks: ‘A Real Hero’ & ‘Under Your Spell’.
Selected by Jazz
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