2011 was a huge year in music across all genres. As the internet age has continued to permeate every facet of our lives, the music industry has been forced to change. New models of music delivery (such as Spotify) became mainstream, and for the first time, artists have begun to truly attain international success with nothing more than talent and a reliable internet connection. But even more important than the music industry is the art behind it that drives the whole thing - so, without further ado, here are my top 10 albums of the year. They’re well worth a listen.
The Foreign Exchange - Authenticity
Legendary R&B musician Phonte’s pairing with Dutch producer Nicolay continues to be a successful transatlantic collaborative effort. Their latest project features soulful production, outstanding instrumentation, and philosophical musings on life, time, love, travel, and more. Also worth checking out is their live rendition of this same album. Highly recommended.
The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence
Perhaps the biggest story of 2011 was the overnight ascendence of Abel Tesfaye, a prolific musician with a work ethic and talent second to none. Combined with the creative genius of Toronto producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney, The Weeknd has begun a genre-bending discography, the likes of which have never been seen before. The final chapter of his album trilogy, Echoes of Silence takes the best elements of House of Balloons and Thursday, and melds them together to create an ethereal, haunting masterpiece. With three solid bodies of work already under his belt, Tesfaye is already being likened by critics to a young Prince or Michael Jackson. The really scary thing? His career started only a year ago.
Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra
Along with The Weeknd, another young prodigy burst onto the music scene by self-releasing his first album against the wishes of Def Jam, his record label. What followed was hundreds of thousands of downloads, remixes, and collaborations with Kanye West and Jay-Z. Not bad for a 24-year old from New Orleans. Nostalgia, Ultra features excellent original songs (“Swim Good” is one standout), and reimaginings of current songs by artists such as Mr Hudson and MGMT. Ocean is currently preparing his now heavily anticipated debut retail album, putting in studio time with artists such as Nas, Tyler the Creator, and Pharrell.
Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights
Already well-established in her native United Kingdom, Goulding also experienced a breakout year with the US release of her hit album, Bright Lights. Using electronic synths on one song and an acoustic guitar on the next, Goulding demonstrated her versatility while using an incredible vocal range. This one is underrated, definitely one of the best albums of the year.
Big Sean - Finally Famous
After years of delays and pushbacks, rapper Big Sean emerged as something more than simply the protege of Kanye West with the release of his first album. With outstanding production by No ID and a diverse range of guest spots and song topics, Sean delivered on one of the best rap albums of the year. Whether the sophomore slump can be avoided has yet to be seen, but as of right now, the Detroit native has a bright future ahead of him. Finally Famous, indeed.
Honorable Mentions
- Common - The Dreamer, The Believer
- Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
- Bon Iver - Bon Iver
- BT - These Re-Imagined Machines
- Drake - Take Care
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