Favorite 10 Albums from 2011

I discovered a lot of good music this year and a lot of new albums came out but it was really hard to come up with this list.  I guess because even though there were a lot of songs I was listening to - there weren't many albums that I enjoyed in their entirety.

So here are my favorite albums that came out in 2011 (in no particular order):

1. Adele, 21
   Favorites: Turning Tables, Someone Like You, Rumour Has It, Set Fire to the Rain.  But really, the whole album is amazing! 
2. The Black Keys, El Camino
   Favorites: Lonely Boy, Dead and Gone, Sister.  The album just came out this month but it easily made this list.  Although let's face it - I love everything by The Black Keys.
3. The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow
   Favorites: Barton Hollow, I've Got This Friend, Poison & Wine, I Want You Back.  Even though I heard the single Barton Hollow for months, it took me a while to check out the cd.  I don't remember what made me to decide to download it, but I've been playing it regularly ever since. 
4. Zee Avi, Ghostbird
   Favorites: Swell Window, 31 Days, Concrete Wall.  I love her voice, it's so understated and soothing. 
5. Florence + the Machine, Ceremonials
   Favorites: Shake It Out, What the Water Gave Me, Remain Nameless.  I was hooked on this album as soon as I heard "Shake It Out".  
6. Young the Giant, Young the Giant
   Favorites: My Body, I Got, Strings.  I first heard My Body when a co-worker sent me a YouTube video of them singing an acoustic version of the song.  But it's when I heard "I Got" that I fell in love with this band.  
7. Rihanna, Talk That Talk
   Favorites: We Found Love, You Da One, We All Want Love.  I'm not a big of Rihanna and honestly, most of the time I think she's overrated.  So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself listening to this album all the time at work.  It's just super catchy and the perfect album to keep me awake when I wanted nothing more than to take a nap at my desk.
8. Schuyler Fisk, Blue Ribbon Winner
   Favorites: Blue Ribbon Winner, Irregular Heart, If You Were Gone, Givin' Up.  I loved her first album so I was really excited about this one coming out and it didn't disappoint at all.  I wish more people knew about her because she makes great music and sounds so good live.  
9. Foster the People, Torches
   Favorites: Pumped Up Kicks, I Would Do Anything For You, Houdini.  I think everyone has heard Pumped Up Kicks but the whole album is pretty good.  Definitely check it out.
10. Bon Iver, Bon Iver
    Favorites: Perth, Holocene.  This album just made the list! Literally - like a couple days ago.  I had heard a couple songs and liked them but wasn't sure if I was into his music (aside from Skinny Love which came out a while ago).  But then I finally listened to the whole album from start to finish and I found myself really liking it.  It's the kind of album where you can't just listen to a song at random if you've never listened to him before.  You have to hear the whole thing to appreciate it.