Expert Witness Pazz & Jop: Top 25 Albums

Robert Christgau’s MSN blog, Expert Witness, has a comment section filled with some of the best music discussion I’ve come across.  I hosted a poll of commenters’ favorite albums and songs of 2011.  Users voted for ten albums, spreading 100 points across them, giving as many as thirty and as few as five points to each.  The top albums here are chosen from fifty-one ballots.  ”Big supporters” means voters who gave an album >10 points.  ”First place mentions” means voters who had an album in their top slot.

25. Blues and the Empirical Truth - Allen Lowe

Points: 46

Mentions: 3

Points per mention: 15.3

Big supporters (2): Jason Gubbels (11), Jerry Withrow (25)

First place mentions (1): Jerry Withrow (25)

24. Femme Fatale - Britney Spears

Points: 49

Mentions: 6

Points per mention: 8.2

Deluxe Edition mentions: 2

Big supporters (2): Anderson Parramore (11), Rodney Taylor (15)

23. Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Points: 51

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 7.3

Big supporters (1): Liam Smith (11)

22. Mountaintops - Mates of State

Points: 52

Mentions: 6

Points per mention: 8.7

Big supporters (1): Scott Coleman (15)

21. Family & Friends - Serengeti

Points: 54

Mentions: 6

Points per mention: 9.0

Big supporters (2): Scott Coleman (15), Mark Rosen (12)

20. Tell My Sister - Kate & Anna McGarrigle

Points: 55

Mentions: 5

Points per mention: 11

Big supporters (2): Glen Hadwen (20), Richard Ross (20)

First place mentions (2): Glen Hadwen (20), Richard Ross (20)

19. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider

Points: 55

Mentions: 6

Points per mention: 9.2

Big supporters (2): Walter Cherrette (15), Chris Hurst (13)

18. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio

Points: 67

Mentions: 6

Points per mention: 11.2

Big supporters (2): Richard Cobeen (16), Raul Roque (20)

First place mentions (1): Raul Roque (20)

17. Western Teleport - Emperor X

Points: 68

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 9.7

Big supporters (2): Richard Cobeen (18), Mike Imes (15)

First place mentions (1): Richard Cobeen (18)

16. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman

Points: 74

Mentions: 9

Points per mention: 8.2

Big supporters (1): Mitch Fujita (11)

15. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons

Points: 76

Mentions: 8

Points per mention: 9.5

Big supporters (1): Liam Smith (20)

First place mentions (1): Liam Smith (20)

14. Good News - Withered Hand

Points: 77

Mentions: 8

Points per mention: 9.6

Big supporters (2): Nick Farruggia (20), Ryan Maffei (14)

First place mentions (1): Nick Farruggia (20)

13. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq

Points: 78

Mentions: 7

Points per mention: 11.1

Big supporters (4): Peter Gorman (13), Joe Lunday (14), Josh Palmes (12), Mark Rosen (12)

First place mentions (2): Josh Palmes (12), Mark Rosen (12)

12. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces

Points: 83

Mentions: 9

Points per mention: 9.2

Big supporters (2): Jason Gubbels (14), Michael Tatum (12)

11. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie

Points: 84

Mentions: 12

Points per mention: 7.0

10. Relax - Das Racist

Points: 108

Mentions: 12

Points per mention: 9.0

Big supporters (4): Rob Cooper (15), Carola Dibbell (11), Dave Schweitz (13), Rodney Taylor (15)

First place mentions (1): Kevin John Bozelka (10)

9. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne

Points: 120

Mentions: 11

Points per mention: 10.9

Big supporters (4): Philip Brasor (20), Walter Cherrette (15), Tom Lane (15), Greg Morton (12)

8. Funeral Dress II - Wussy

Points: 131

Mentions: 10

Points per mention: 13.1

Big supporters (6): Chuck Bromley (15), Rob Cooper (15), Carola Dibbell (30), Glen Hadwen (15), Mike Imes (15), Richard Ross (13)

First place mentions (1): Carola Dibbell (30)

7. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Points: 140

Mentions: 18

Points per mention: 7.8

Big supporters (3): Nick Farruggia (14), Josh Palmes (11), Michael Tatum (14)

6. Devil’s Music - Teddybears

Points: 177

Mentions: 17

Points per mention: 10.4

Big supporters (9): Jacob Bailis (15), Walter Cherrette (15), Richard Cobeen (13), Scott Coleman (17), Jimmy Cook (12), Mitch Fujita (13), Chris Hurst (13), Joe Lunday (11), Anderson Parramore (14)

First place mentions (3): Scott Coleman (17), Chris Hurst (13), Anderson Parramore (14)

5. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies

Points: 186

Mentions: 16

Points per mention: 11.6

Big supporters (8): Jacob Bailis (20), Chuck Bromley (15), Jeff Callahan (12), Rob Cooper (13), Paul Hayden (12), Brad Luen (15), Michael Swallop (12), Dan Weiss (16)

4. So Beautiful or So What? - Paul Simon

Points: 326

Mentions: 29

Points per mention: 11.2

Big supporters: 14

First place mentions (2): Jacob Bailis (30), Nate Smith (15)

3. Strawberry - Wussy

Points: 390

Mentions: 28

Points per mention: 13.9

Big supporters: 20

First place mentions (10): Jeff Callahan (12), Jimmy Cook (13), Peter Gorman (19), Mike Imes (30), Marcus2010 (20), Christopher Monsen (20), Cam Patterson (20), John Smallwood (15), Dan Weber (18), Joe Yanosik (10)

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs

Points: 442

Mentions: 33

Points per mention: 13.4

Big supporters: 21

First place mentions (11): Philip Brasor (20), Chuck Bromley (15), Walter Cherrette (20), Mitch Fujita (20), Brad Luen (25), Greg Morton (20), David Schweitz (14), Michael Swallop (15), Rodney Taylor (18), Alex Wilson (30), Alex Wolf (16)

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean

Points: 443

Mentions: 32

Points per mention: 13.8

Big supporters: 22

First place mentions (9): Rob Cooper (16), Joey Daniewicz (25), Jason Gubbels (16), Jon LaFollette (25), Joe Lunday (15), Ryan Maffei (20), Mark926 (15), Michael Tatum (20), Tom Walker (20)

Expert Witness Pazz & Jop tally

Albums (64)

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 443 (32)

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 442 (33)

3. Strawberry - Wussy: 390 (28)

4. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 326 (29)

5. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 186 (16)

6. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 177 (17)

7. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 140 (18)

8. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 131 (10)

9. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 120 (11)

10. Relax - Das Racist: 108 (12)

11. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 84 (12)

12. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 83 (9)

13. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 78 (7)

14. Good News - Withered Hand: 77 (8)

15. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons: 76 (8)

16. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 74 (9)

17. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 68 (7)

18. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 67 (6)

19. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 55 (6)

20. Tell My Sister - Kate & Anna McGarrigle: 55 (5)

21. Family & Friends - Serengeti: 54 (6)

22. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 52 (6)

23. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 51 (7)

24. Femme Fatale - Britney Spears: 49 (6)

25. Blues and the Empirical Truth - Allen Lowe: 46 (3)

26. Eleven Eleven - Dave Alvin: 44 (5)

27. Middle Brother - Middle Brother: 41 (4)

28. Divine - Blaqstarr: 39 (6)

29. Bwati Kono - Lobi Traore: 39 (4)

30. 21 - Adele: 39 (3)

31. Bad as Me - Tom Waits: 38 (4)

32. Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati: 34 (5)

32. House of Balloons - The Weeknd: 34 (5)

34. David Comes to Life - Fucked Up: 33 (5)

35. Goblin - Tyler, the Creator: 31 (2)

36. Let England Shake - PJ Harvey: 30 (3)

37. Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres - Matana Roberts: 30 (2)

38. KMAG YOYO - Hayes Carll: 29 (3)

39. Screws Get Loose - Those Darlins: 28 (5)

40. How Do You Do? - Mayer Hawthorne: 27 (3)

41. Born This Way - Lady GaGa: 26 (4)

42. Yuck - Yuck: 25 (3)

43. Road Shows Vol. 2 - Sonny Rollins: 24 (3)

44. Divine Providence - Deer Tick: 22 (3)

45. Go-Go Boots - Drive-By Truckers: 22 (2)

46. Zayna Jumma - Group Doueh: 21 (2)

47. Wounded Rhymes - Lykke Li: 20 (3)

48. Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) - Darius Jones Trio: 20 (2)

49. Content - Gang of Four: 19 (2)

49. Lasers - Lupe Fiasco: 19 (2)

51. Tassili - Tinariwen: 18 (2)

52. A Note of Hope - Various Artists: 17 (2)

53. Gloss Drop - Battles: 16 (3)

54. Aratan N Azawad - Terakraft: 16 (2)

54. Collapse into Now - R.E.M.: 16 (2)

54. D - White Denim: 16 (2)

54. Father, Son, Holy Ghost - Girls: 16 (2)

58. Agadez - Bombino: 15 (2)

58. Low Country Blues - Gregg Allman: 15 (2)

60. Talk That Talk - Rihanna: 14 (2)

60. Vol. 2, High and Inside - The Baseball Project: 14 (2)

62. Obscurities - Stephin Merritt: 13 (2)

63. The King of In Between - Garland Jeffreys: 10 (2)

63. This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley: 10 (2)

Songs (73)

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean: 14

2. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj: 9

3. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears: 8

4. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa: 7

4. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon: 7

4. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne: 7

7. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West: 6

7. “Religious Songs” – Withered Hand: 6

7. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman: 6

10. “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs: 5

10. “Fine Tune” – Miranda Lambert: 5

10. “Gagner l’Argent Français” – Mamani Keita: 5

10. “One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” – Wilco: 5

14. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks: 4

14. “A Man Don’t Have to Die” – Brad Paisley: 4

14. “Countdown” – Beyoncé: 4

14. “Hair” – Lady GaGa: 4

14. “How I Roll” – Britney Spears: 4

14. “I Luv Ur Sneakers” – Poly Styrene: 4

14. “Michael Jackson” – Das Racist: 4

14. “No Banker Left Behind” – Ry Cooder: 4

14. “Novacane” – Frank Ocean: 4

14. “Powa” – tUnE-yArDs: 4

14. “Remind Me” (featuring Carrie Underwood) – Brad Paisley: 4

14. “Rocket Scientist” (featuring Eve) – Teddybears: 4

14. “Short Dress Gal” - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati: 4

14. “We Found Love” – Rihanna: 4

14. “Yoü and I” – Lady GaGa: 4

29. “Allahu Akbar” – Emperor X: 3

29. “Cemetery Guns” – Fountains of Wayne: 3

29. “Get Mama a House” (featuring B.o.B) – Teddybears: 3

29. “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” – Paul Simon: 3

29. “I Just Had Sex” (featuring Akon) – The Lonely Island: 3

29. “Lemon Drop” – Pistol Annies: 3

29. “Otis” – Jay-Z & Kanye West: 3

29. “Palomino” – Mates of State: 3

29. “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele: 3

29. “Used to be a Cop” – Drive-By Truckers: 3

29. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey: 3

40. “6 Foot 7 Foot” – Lil Wayne: 2

40. “An Argument With Myself” – Jens Lekman: 2

40. “Another Like You” – Hayes Karll: 2

40. “A Promise” – Jens Lekman: 2

40. “Be Your Bro” – Those Darlins: 2

40. “Cult Boyfriend” – Jeffrey Lewis: 2

40. “Erica Western Teleport” – Emperor X: 2

40. “Gangsta” – tUnE-yArDs: 2

40. “Getting Me Down” – Blawan: 2

40. “Gucci Gucci” – Kreayshawn: 2

40. “Hold It Against Me” – Britney Spears: 2

40. “Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton: 2

40. “Ice Cream” – Battles: 2

40. “John Lee Hooker for President” – Ry Cooder: 2

40. “KMAG YOYO” – Hayes Karll: 2

40. “Niggas in Paris” – Jay-Z & Kanye West: 2

40. “Pumped up Kicks” – Foster the People: 2

40. “Richie and Ruben” – Fountains of Wayne: 2

40. “Rider Girl” – Blaqstarr: 2

40. “Sadness Is A Blessing” – Lykke Li: 2

40. “Shit, Shower & Shave” – Low Cut Connie: 2

40. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye: 2

40. “Sorry 4 the Wait” – Lil Wayne: 2

40. “Space in Your Face” – Mekons: 2

40. “Strawberry Swing” – Frank Ocean: 2

40. “Take Care” (featuring Rihanna) – Drake: 2

40. “The Creep” (featuring Nicki Minaj) – The Lonely Island: 2

40. “The Walk” – Mayer Hawthorne: 2

40. “The Whip” – Serengeti: 2

40. “Trailer for Rent” – Pistol Annies: 2

40. “We All Try” – Frank Ocean: 2

40. “We R Who We R” – Ke$ha: 2

40. “Will Do” – TV on the Radio: 2

40. “Yonkers” – Tyler, The Creator: 2

Expert Witness Pazz & Jop ballots

Jacob Bailis

Albums

1. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 30

2. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 20

3. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 15

4. Strawberry - Wussy: 5

5. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 5

6. Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati: 5

7. This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley: 5

8. Femme Fatale - Britney Spears: 5

9. Four the Record: Miranda Lambert: 5

10. Speak Now World Tour Live - Taylor Swift: 5

Songs

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

2. “Short Dress Gal” - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati

3. “Questions for the Angels” – Paul Simon

4. “Helplessness Blues” – Fleet Foxes

5. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

6. “Working on a Tan” – Brad Paisley

7. “Remind Me” (featuring Carrie Underwood) – Brad Paisley

8. “Fine Tune” – Miranda Lambert

9. “Selfish” – Britney Spears

10. “Rocket Scientist” (featuring Eve) – Teddybears

Kevin John Bozelka

Albums

1. Relax - Das Racist: 10

2. Exmilitary - Death Grips: 10

3. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 10

4. D - White Denim: 10

5. Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Unknown Mortal Orchestra: 10

6. Blow Your Head Vol. 2 - Dave Nada Pres. Moombahton: 10

7. Section.80 - Kendrick Lamar: 10

8. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 10

9. Glass Swords - Rustie: 10

10. Pan Am Stories - Rangers: 10

Songs

1. “Countdown” – Beyoncé

2. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

3. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

4. “1+1″ – Beyoncé

5. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

6. “Look at Me Now” (featuring Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne) – Chris Brown

7. “Marry the Night” – Lady GaGa

8. “Friday” – Rebecca Black

9. “Getting Me Down” – Blawan

10. “Party Rock Anthem” (featuring Lauren Bennet & GoonRock) – LMFAO

Philip Brasor

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 20

2. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 20

3. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 15

4. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 10

5. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 10

6. Ritual Union - Little Dragon: 5

7. The Secret - Vieux Farka Toure: 5

8. Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down - Ry Cooder: 5

9. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 5

10. Legendary Weapons - Wu-Tang Clan: 5

Songs

1. “Baggage Claim” – Miranda Lambert

2. “Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart” – Fountains of Wayne

3. “Powa” – tUnE-yArDs

4. “Racehorse” – Wild Flag

5. “Brothers” – The War on Drugs

6. “Otis” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

7. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

8. “Never Let Go” – Anthony Hamilton

9. “Shame” – Jill Scott

10. “Sensations in the Dark” – Gruff Rhys

Chuck Bromley

Album

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 15

2. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 15

3. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 15

4. Strawberry - Wussy: 13

5. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 10

6. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 9

7. Content - Gang of Four: 8

8. Eleven Eleven - Dave Alvin: 5

9. Let England Shake - PJ Harvey: 5

10. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons: 5

Songs

1. “Trailer for Rent” – Pistol Annies

2. “Hair” – Lady GaGa

3. “Richie and Ruben” – Fountains of Wayne

4. “PMDD” – Serengeti

5. “Get Mama a House” (featuring B.o.B) – Teddybears

6. “A Road Song” – Fountains of Wayne

7. “I Luv Ur Sneakers” – Poly Styrene

8. “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” – Paul Simon

9. “Hit ‘Em Up Style” - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati

10. “Yoü and I” – Lady GaGa

Jeff Callahan

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 12

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 12

3. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 12

4. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 12

5. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 12

6. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 8

7. Relax - Das Racist: 8

8. Vol. 2, High and Inside - The Baseball Project: 8

9. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 8

10. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 8

Songs

1. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

2. “One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” – Wilco

3. “Rewrite” – Paul Simon

4. “A Man Don’t Have to Die” – Brad Paisley

5. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West

6. “No Banker Left Behind” – Ry Cooder

7. “Strawberry Swing” – Frank Ocean

8. “Palomino” – Mates of State

9. “Heart Attack” – Raphael Saadiq

10. “Digging for Something” – Superchunk

Walter Cherrette

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 20

2. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 15

3. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 15

4. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 15

5. Go-Go Boots - Drive-By Truckers: 10

6. Divine Providence - Deer Tick: 5

7. Screws Get Loose - Those Darlins: 5

8. Middle Brother - Middle Brother: 5

9. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 5

10. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 5

Richard Cobeen

Albums

1. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 18

2. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 16

3. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 13

4. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 12

5. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 8

6. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 8

7. Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminiscent Orchestrii - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminiscent Orchestrii: 7

8. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 7

9. Talk That Talk (Deluxe Edition) - Rihanna: 6

10. Yuck - Yuck: 5

Songs

1. “Erica Western Teleport” – Emperor X

2. “An Argument With Myself” – Jens Lekman

3. “The Walk” – Mayer Hawthorne

4. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

5. “Palomino” – Mates of State

6. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

7. “KMAGO YOYO” – Hayes Karll

8. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman

9. “Richie and Ruben” – Fountains of Wayne

10. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

Scott Coleman

Albums

1. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 17

2. Family & Friends - Serengeti: 15

3. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 15

4. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 10

5. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank OCean: 10

6. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 8

7. 21 - Adele: 8

8. Eleven Eleven - Dave Alvin: 7

9. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 5

10. Femme Fatale - Britney Spears: 5

Songs

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

2. “Get Mama a House” (featuring B.o.B) – Teddybears

3. “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

4. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

5. “Niggas in Paris” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

6. “Hold It Against Me” – Britney Spears

Jimmy Cook

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 13

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 12

3. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 12

4. Middle Brother - Middle Brother: 11

5. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 10

6. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 9

7. Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrii - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrii: 9

8. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 9

9. Divine - Blaqstarr: 8

10. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 7

Songs

1. “Africastle” – Battles

2. “Forever and a Day” - Stephin Merritt

3. “Sweet Shop” (featuring Doctor P) – Diplo

4. “Michael Jackson” – Das Racist

5. “I Luv Ur Sneakers” – Poly Styrene

6. “Hair” – Lady GaGa

7. “Oh My Darlin’” – Blaqstarr

8. “The New Fuck You” – Street Sweeper Social Club

9. “Daydreaming” – Middle Brother

10. “Rocket Scientist” (featuring Eve) – Teddybears

Rob Cooper

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 16

2. Relax - Das Racist: 15

3. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 15

4. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 13

5. Strawberry - Wussy: 12

6. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 7

7. Family & Friends - Serengeti: 6

8. Divine - Blaqstarr: 6

9. Aratan N Azawad - Terakraft: 5

10. Good News - Withered Hand: 5

Songs

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

2. “Palomino” – Mates of State

3. “Used to be a Cop” – Drive-By Truckers

4. “Swim Good” – Frank Ocean

5. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

6. “Krongu Green Slime” – Jeffrey Lewis

7. “Erica Western Teleport” – Emperor X

8. “Rainbow in the Dark” – Das Racist

9. “Religious Songs” – Withered Hand

10. “No Banker Left Behind” – Ry Cooder

Joey Daniewicz

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 25

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 15

3. Strawberry - Wussy: 13

4. Father, Son, Holy Ghost - Girls: 11

5. 21 - Adele: 9

6. Take Care - Drake: 7

7. House of Balloons - The Weeknd: 5

8. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 5

9. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 5

10. David Comes to Life - Fucked Up: 5

Songs

1. “Countdown” – Beyoncé

2. “Take Care” (featuring Rihanna) – Drake

3. “How Deep Is Your Love?” – The Rapture

4. “Vomit” – Girls

5. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears

6. “California” – EMA

7. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey

8. “Yonkers” – Tyler, The Creator

9. “Otis” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

10. “Michael Jackson” – Das Racist

Carola Dibbell

Albums

1. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 30

2. Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play the Blues: Live From Jazz at Lincoln Center – Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton: 12

3. Strawberry - Wussy: 11

4. Relax - Das Racist: 11

5. Napoli Mediterranea - Pietra Montecorvino: 11

6. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 5

7. We’re New Here - Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx: 5

8. Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream  - Gurf Morlix: 5

9. The King of In Between – Garland Jeffreys: 5

10. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons: 5

Nick Farruggia

Albums

1. Good News - Withered Hand: 20

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 17

3. Strawberry - Wussy: 17

4. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 14

5. House of Balloons - The Weeknd: 7

6. Sorry 4 the Wait - Lil Wayne: 5

7. Dancing Backward in High Heels - New York Dolls: 5

8. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 5

9. Gloss Drop - Battles: 5

10. Screws Get Loose - Those Darlins: 5

Songs

1. “Sorry 4 the Wait” – Lil Wayne

2. “Six Foot Seven Foot” – Lil Wayne

3. ”Religious Songs” – Withered Hand

4. “Little Miami” – Wussy

5. “Gucci Gucci” – Kreayshawn

6. ”Hold On” (Sub Focus remix featuring Amber Coffman) – Rusko

7. ”White Rune” – Iceage

8. “Funky but Chic” – New York Dolls

9. ”New Day” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

10. “Cold Steel Drum” – Buck 65

Mitch Fujita

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 20

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 13

3. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 13

4. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 11

5. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 11

6. Divine Providence - Deer Tick: 9

7. House of Balloons - The Weeknd: 7

8. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 6

9. David Comes to Life - Fucked Up: 5

10. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 5

Songs

1. “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs

2. “Allahu Akbar” – Emperor X

3. “Strawberry Swing” – Frank Ocean

4. “Generation” – Liturgy

5. “The Dream” – Thee Oh Sees

6. “Whirring” – The Joy Formidable

7. “Amor Fati” – Washed Out

8. “We Found Love” – Rihanna

9. ”Till the World Ends” (Femme Fatale remix featuring Nicki Minaj & Ke$ha) – Britney Spears

10. “My Mistakes” – Eleanor Friedberger

Peter Gorman

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 19

2. Middle Brother - Middle Brother: 14

3. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 13

4. Bad as Me - Tom Waits: 12

5. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 9

6. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 9

7. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 8

8. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 6

9. Father, Son, Holy Ghost - Girls: 5

10. Screws Get Loose - Those Darlins: 5

Jason Gubbels

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 16

2. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 15

3. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 14

4. Blues and the Empirical Truth - Allen Lowe: 11

5. Strawberry - Wussy: 10

6. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons: 10

7. Live at Birdland - Lee Konitz: 9

8. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 5

9. Rise Again - Lee Perry: 5

10. Agadez - Bombino: 5

Songs

1. “I Fall Asleep” – Mekons

2. “I Die Trying” – Scroobius Pip

3. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

4. “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” – Paul Simon

5. “Sig Alert” – Emperor X

6. “Blue Moon” – Moby

7. “Take Care” (featuring Rihanna) – Drake

8. “Waiting Room” – Wussy

9. “Powa” – tUnE-yArDs

10. “One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” – Wilco

Glen Hadwen

Albums

1. Tell My Sister - Kate & Anna McGarrigle: 20

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

3. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 15

4. Road Shows Vol. 2 - Sonny Rollins: 10

5. Good News - Withered Hand: 8

6. Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminiscent Orchestrii - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminiscent Orchestrii: 8

7. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 8

8. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 6

9. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 5

10. Relax - Das Racist: 5

Songs

1. “Walk Like Thunder” – Kimya Dawson

2. “Religious Songs” – Withered Hand

3. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

4. “Short Dress Gal” - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminiscent Orchestrii

5. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman

6. “Motorcycle” – Wussy

7. “Another Like You” – Hayes Karll

8. “Devil’s Music” (featuring ADL) – Teddybears

9. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West

10. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

Paul Hayden

Albums

1. What Did You Expect from The Vaccines? - The Vaccines: 15

2. Strawberry - Wussy: 13

3. Hell on Heels – Pistol Annies: 12

4. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 11

5. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 10

6. Bad as Me - Tom Waits: 9

7. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 8

8. Screws Get Loose - Those Darlins: 8

9. Seeds We Sow - Lindsey Buckingham: 7

10. KMAG YOYO - Hayes Carll: 7

Songs

1. “Norgaard” – The Vaccines

2. “Ice Cream” – Battles

3. “Gangsta” – tUnE-yArDs

4. “Lemon Drop” – Pistol Annies

5. “Zaya Koum” – Group Doueh

6. “Sadness Is A Blessing” – Lykke Li

7. “Heartbeat” – Dum Dum Girls

8. “Grand Champion Steer” – Wussy

9. “Born Alone” – Wilco

10. “Get It Daddy” – Sleeper Agent

Tom Hull

Albums

1. Children of the Blue Supermarket - Dan Raphael/Rich Halley/Carson Halley: 12

2. Bwati Kono - Lobi Traore: 12

3. Ancient & Modern (1911-2011) - Mekons: 10

4. Blues and the Empirical Truth - Allen Lowe: 10

5. Heirloom Music - Jimmie Dale Gilmore/The Wronglers: 10

6. Eilyahu - Avram Fefer: 10

7. Lasers - Lupe Fiasco: 9

8. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 9

9. Road Shows, Vol. 2 - Sonny Rollins: 9

10. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 9

Songs

1. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

2. “Up All Night” – Mac Miller

3. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

Chris Hurst

Album

1. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 13

2. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 13

3. 20 Odd Years - Buck 65: 12

4. Aratan N Azawad – Terakraft: 10

5. Bwati Kono - Lobi Traore: 10

6. Not So Loud - The Bottle Rockets: 10

7. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 8

8. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 8

9. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 8

10. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 8

Songs

1. “Written on the Forehead” – PJ Harvey

2. “Cult Boyfriend” – Jeffrey Lewis

3. “Space in Your Face” – Mekons

4. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

5. “One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” – Wilco

6. “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

7. “Gagner l’Argent Français” – Mamani Keita

8. “Johnny Ace Is Dead” – Dave Alvin

9. “Drink in My Hand” – Eric Church

10. “Ready to Go Steady” – The Go! Team

Mike Imes

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 30

2. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 15

3. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 15

4. Relax - Das Racist: 6

5. Eleven Eleven - Dave Alvin: 6

6. Family & Friends - Serengeti: 6

7. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 6

8. Mirror Traffic - Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks: 6

9. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 5

10. Low Country Blues - Greg Allman: 5

Songs

1. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

2. “Homeboy” – Eric Church

3. “The Creep” (featuring Nicki Minaj) – The Lonely Island

4. “Rocket Scientist” (featuring Eve) – Teddybears

5. “KMAG YOYO” – Hayes Karll

6. “Shit, Shower & Shave” – Low Cut Connie

7. “How I Roll” – Britney Spears

8. “Countdown” – Beyoncé

9. “The Walk” – Mayer Hawthorne

10. “Marvins Room” – Drake

Justin (Marcus2010)

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 20

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 20

3. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 15

4. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 10

5. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 10

6. Wounded Rhymes - Lykke Li: 5

7. The King of In Between - Garland Jeffreys: 5

8. Chief - Eric Church: 5

9. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 5

10. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 5

Songs

1. “Rider Girl” – Blaqstarr

2. “Harlan County Line” – Dave Alvin

3. “Blessed” – Jill Scott

4. “Fine Tune” – Miranda Lambert

5. “Go to Hell” – Raphael Saadiq

6. “Kool On” – The Roots

7. “Recollections of the Wraith” – Shabazz Palaces

8. “Bad as Me” – Tom Waits

9. “New Cannonball Run” – TV on the Radio

10. “Ray’s Automatic Weapon” – Drive-By Truckers

Jon LaFollette

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 25

2. Vacation - Bomb the Music Industry!: 10

3. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 10

4. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 10

5. Wounded Rhymes - Lykke Li: 10

6. Yuck - Yuck: 10

7. Rolling Blackouts - The Go! Team: 10

8. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 10

9. This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley: 5

10. Strawberry - Wussy: 5

Songs

1. “Buy Nothing Day” – The Go! Team

2. “The Words That Maketh Murder” – PJ Harvey

3. “Cardiac Arrest” (Featuring Robyn) – Teddybears

4. “Why Oh Why Oh Why (Oh Oh Oh)” – Bomb the Music Industry!

5. “Killer Crane” – TV on the Radio

6. “Georgia” – Yuck

7. “I Follow Rivers” – Lykke Li

8. “You Called Me” – Mayer Hawthorne

9. “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs

10. “Yoü and I” – Lady GaGa

Tom Lane

Albums

1. 21 - Adele: 22

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 15

3. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 15

4. KMAG YOYO - Hayes Carll: 14

5. How Do You Do? - Mayer Hawthorne: 9

6. James Blake - James Blake: 5

7. El Camino - The Black Keys: 5

8. Dedicated - Steve Kropper: 5

9. Wounded Rhymes - Lykke Li: 5

10. Light of the Sun - Jill Scott: 5

Songs

1. “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

2. “Moneygrabber” – Fitz & the Tantrums

3. “Pumped up Kicks” – Foster the People

4. “Someone Like You” – Adele

5. “Get Some” – Lykke Li

6. “Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton

7. “Grenade” – Bruno Mars

8. “I Wanna Go” – Britney Spears

9. “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” – Katy Perry

10. “Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5

Brad Luen

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 25

2. Live in Europe - Miles Davis: 15

3. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 15

4. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 15

5. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 5

6. Relax - Das Racist: 5

7. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 5

8. Road Shows Vol. 2 - Sonny Rollins: 5

9. The Greatest Story Never Told - Saigon: 5

10. Tell My Sister - Kate & Anna McGarrigle: 5

Songs

1. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman

2. “Religious Songs” – Withered Hand

3. “Roman’s Revenge” (featuring Lil Wayne) – Nicki Minaj

4. “Gangsta” – tUnE-yArDs

5. “Dazzling Blue” – Paul Simon

6. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

7. “Ass on the Floor” (featuring Swizz Beatz) – Diddy-Dirty Money

8. “Michael Jackson” – Das Racist

9. “Short Dress Gal” - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrii

10. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

Joe Lunday

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

2. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 14

3. How Do You Do? - Mayer Hawthrone: 13

4. Eleven Eleven - Dave Alvin: 12

5. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 11

6. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 9

7. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 8

8. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 7

9. D - White Denim: 6

10. Battles - Gloss Drop: 5

Songs

1. “A Promise” – Jens Lekman

2. “There Will Be Tears” – Frank Ocean

3. “We All Try” – Frank Ocean

4. “The Perfect Storm” – Raphael Saadiq

5. “Caffeinated Consciousness” – TV on the Radio

6. “Level with Yourself” – David Bazan

7. “A Long Time” – Mayer Hawthorne

8. “Ice Cream” – Battles

9. “I Heard a Man Talking” - Studs Terkel

10. “John Lee Hooker for President” – Ry Cooder

Ryan Maffei

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 20

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 20

3. Good News - Withered Hand: 14

4. Strawberry - Wussy: 9

5. Strange Mercy - St. Vincent: 8

6. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 7

7. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 6

8. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 6

9. Obscurities - Stephin Merritt: 5

10. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 5

Songs

1. “Cemetery Guns” – Fountains of Wayne

2. “For Charles Bronson” – The Mountain Goats

3. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

4. “Fine Tune” – Miranda Lambert

5. “Powa” – tUnE-yArDs

6. “So Beautiful or So What” – Paul Simon

7. “Stranger Me” – Amy LaVere

8. “Mountain of Tires” – Wussy

9. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman

10. “No Future Shock” – TV on the Radio

Mark926

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

2. Strawberry - Wussy: 15

3. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 12

4. The King of Limbs - Radiohead: 10

5. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 10

6. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 10

7. Estudando a Bossa: Nordeste Plaza - Tom Zé: 10

8. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 8

9. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 5

10. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 5

Songs

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

2. “Yoü and I” – Lady GaGa

3. “How I Roll” – Britney Spears

4. “Hell Broke Luce” – Tom Waits

5. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

6. “A Man Don’t Have to Die” – Brad Paisley

7. “Otis” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

8. “C.T.F.O.” (featuring M.I.A.) – SebastiAn

9. “Ma Bhoom Bhoom Bhoom” – BLNRB

10. “An Argument with Myself” – Jens Lekman

Christopher Monsen

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 20

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

3. Eliyahu - Avram Fefer, Eric Revis & Chad Taylor: 10

4. Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) - Darius Jones Trio: 10

5. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons: 10

6. David Comes to Life - Fucked Up: 8

7. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 8

8. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 7

9. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 7

10. Revenue Retrievin’: The Graveyard Shift - E-40: 5

Songs

1. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

2. “Novacane” – Frank Ocean

3. “Some Day We’ll All Be Free” – Ben Allison

4. “Shit, Shower & Shave” – Low Cut Connie

5. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

6. “Gucci Gucci” – Kreayshawn

7. “Your Everything” (featuring Luisahhh) – Danny Daze

8. “Vondt i hjertet” – Razika

9. “Future Crimes” – Wild Flag

10. “Allahu Akbar” – Emperor X

Greg Morton

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 20

2. Cartagena! – Curro Fuentes & The Big Band Cumbia and Descarga Sound of Colombia

1962-72 – Various Artists: 16

3. Eleven Eleven - Dave Alvin: 14

4. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 12

5. Skala - Mathais Eick: 9

6. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 7

7. Bwati Kono - Lobi Traore: 7

8. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 5

9. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 5

10. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 5

Josh Palmes

Albums

1. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 12

2. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 12

3. Scuba - DJ Kicks: 11

4. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 11

5. Back and 4th: A Hotflush Compilation - Various Artists: 11

6. Born This Way - Lady GaGa: 11

7. Blood Pressures - The Kills: 8

8. Looping State of Mind - The Field: 8

9. 4 - Beyoncé: 8

10. Zonoscope - Cut Copy: 8

Songs

1. “S&M” – Rihanna

2. “Another Girl” – Jacques Greene

3. “Getting Me Down” – Blawan

4. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears

5. “The Black House” – Sigha

6. “We Found Love” – Rihanna

7. “Hurting” – Friendly Fires

8. “Street Halo” – Burial

9. “The Creep” (featuring Nicki Minaj) – The Lonely Island

10. “Trailer for Rent” – Pistol Annies

Anderson Parramore

Albums

1. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 14

2. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 13

3. Boys and Diamonds - Rainbow Arabia: 11

4. Femme Fatale (Deluxe Edition) - Britney Spears: 11

5. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 10

6. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 9

7. Middle Brother - Middle Brother: 9

8. Divine Providence - Deer Tick: 8

9. Walls - An Horse: 8

10. Nursing Home - Let’s Wrestle: 7

Cam Patterson

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 20

2. Paris 1919 Live London 5/03/2010 - John Cale: 15

3. Sacred Fire - Jimmy Cliff: 10

4. Alabama Shakes - Alabama Shakes: 10

5. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 10

6. Low Country Blues - Gregg Allman: 10

7. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 10

8. The Singing Mailman Delivers - John Prine: 5

9. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 5

10. So Many Things - Eddie Current Suppression Ring: 5

Songs

1. “Damn Love Song” – Amy LaVere

2. “Blues by the Jews” – Leonard Cohen

3. “You and Tequila” (featuring Grace Potter) – Kenny Chessney

4. “Tell the Bitch to Go Home” – Faust

5. “If I Die Young” – The Band Perry

6. “Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton

7. “Typhoon” – Crooked Fingers

8. “Damn These Vampires” – The Mountain Goats

9. “Pumped up Kicks” – Foster the People

10. “Welding Burns” – Rod Picott

Raul Roque

Albums

1. Nine Types of Light - TV on the Radio: 20

2. Voyage - The Sound of Arrows: 16

3. Undun - The Roots: 16

4. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 10

5. Collapse into Now - R.E.M.: 10

6. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 10

7. How Do You Do? - Mayer Hawthorne: 5

8. Femme Fatale - Britney Spears: 5

9. Equatorial Ultravox - Chad Valley: 5

10. Born This Way - Lady GaGa: 5

Songs

1. “Que Veux-Tu” (Madeon Remix) – Yelle

2. “Will Do” – TV on the Radio

3. “Magic” – The Sound of Arrows

4. “Midnight City” – M83

5. “Today Is Our Life” – Memory Tapes

6. “Breakdown” – J. Cole

7. “Total Serendipity” – Mates of State

8. “How I Roll” – Britney Spears

9. “Fast Challenges” – Chad Valley

10. “Titanium” (featuring Sia) – David Guetta

Mark Rosen

Albums

1. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 12

2. Go-Go Boots - Drive-By Truckers: 12

3. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 12

4. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 12

5. Family & Friends - Serengeti: 12

6. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 8

7. Tassili - Tinariwen: 8

8. KMAG YOYO - Hayes Carll: 8

9. Good News - Withered Hand: 8

10. Obscurities - Stephin Merritt: 8

Richard Ross

Albums

1. Tell My Sister - Kate & Anna McGarrigle: 20

2. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 15

3. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 13

4. Bas as Me - Tom Waits: 12

5. Zayna Jumma - Group Doueh: 11

6. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 8

7. Family & Friends - Serengeti: 6

8. Sofrito: Tropical Discoteque – Various Artists: 5

9. Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream – Gurf Morlix: 5

10. Follies - New Broadway Cast: 5

David Schweitzer

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 14

2. Camp - Childish Gambino: 13

3. Relax - Das Racist: 13

4. Strawberry - Wussy: 12

5. A Turn in the Dream-Songs - Jeffrey Lewis: 11

6. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 10

7. Live: The Storyteller - Todd Snider: 8

8. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 8

9. Vol. 2, High & Inside - The Baseball Project: 6

10. A Note of Hope - Various Artists: 5

Songs

1. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman

2. “Lemon Drop” – Pistol Annies

3. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

4. “Cockiness” – Rihanna

5. “Clay Pigeons” – Gurf Morlix

6. “Get Mama a House” (featuring B.o.B) – Teddybears

7. “Be Your Bro” – Those Darlins

8. “Tina Said” – Those Darlins

9. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West

10. “When I’m Not Looking, You’re Not There” - Stephin Merritt

John Smallwood

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 15

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 14

3. So Beautiful or So What – Paul Simon: 13

4. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 12

5. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 10

6. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 9

7. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 8

8. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 7

9. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 6

10. Relax - Das Racist: 6

Songs

1. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

2. “Pulverized” – Wussy

3. “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs

4. “A Man Don’t Have to Die” – Brad Paisley

5. “No Banker Left Behind” – Ry Cooder

6. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

7. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

8. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West

9. “Fine Tune” – Miranda Lambert

10. “Waiting for Kirsten” – Jens Lekman

Liam Smith

Albums

1. Ancient & Modern (1911-2011) - Mekons: 20

2. To the Death of Fun - Cashier No. 9: 15

3. Dedicated – A Tribute to the Five Royales – Steve Cropper: 13

4. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 11

5. Content - Gang of Four: 11

6. Collapse Into Now - R.E.M.: 6

7. Generation Indigo - Poly Styrene: 6

8. Gloss Drop - Battles: 6

9. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 6

10. Live at Les Bouffes du Nord - Tinariwen: 6

Songs

1. “Space in Your Face” – Mekons

2. “It Happened Today” – R.E.M.

3. “Noisemaker” – Jinx Lennon

4. “Goldstar” – Cashier No. 9

5. “Gagner l’Argent Francais” - Mamani Keita

6. “Dedicated to the One I Love” (featuring Lucinda Williams) – Steve Cropper

7. “The Devil at Rest” – Mekons

8. “She Said, ‘You Made a Thing of Me’” – Gang of Four

9. “I Luv Ur Sneakers” – Poly Styrene

10. “Romance” – Wild Flag

Nate Smith

Albums

1. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 15

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

3. Greenleaf Portable Series Vol. 1 Rare Metals – Dave Douglas: 10

4. The Dreamer - Etta James: 10

5. Lasers - Lupe Fiasco: 10

6. Stone Rollin’ - Raphael Saadiq: 10

7. Yemen Blues - Ravid Kahalani: 10

8. Big Gurl (Smell My Dream) - Darius Jones Trio: 10

9. Born This Way - Lady GaGa: 5

10. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 5

Songs

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

2. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears

3. “What the Hell” – Avril Lavigne

4. “We Found Love” – Rihanna

5. “Bottoms Up” (featuring Nicki Minaj) – Trey Songz

6. “We R Who We R” – Ke$ha

7. “6 Foot 7 Foot” – Lil Wayne

8. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

9. “Yoü and I” – Lady GaGa

10. “Black and Yellow” – Wiz Khalifa

Ioannis Sotirchos

Albums

1. Goblin - Tyler, The Creator: 15

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

3. Let England Shake - PJ Harvey: 15

4. The Hunter - Mastodon: 10

5. Fallen - Burzum: 10

6. Femme Fatale - Britney Spears: 8

7. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 8

8. Divine - Blaqstarr: 7

9. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 7

10. Dead Roots Stirring - Elder: 5

Songs

1. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears

2. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

3. “Countdown” – Beyoncé

4. “Yonkers” – Tyler, The Creator

5. “Niggas in Paris” – Jay-Z & Kanye West

6. “Big Fat Bass” (featuring will.i.am) – Britney Spears

7. “Novacane” – Frank Ocean

8. “No Banker Left Behind” – Ry Cooder

9. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

10. “Hold It Against Me” – Britney Spears

Michael Swallop

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 15

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 14

3. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 13

4. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 12

5. Strawberry - Wussy: 10

6. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 9

7. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 8

8. Talk That Talk - Rihanna: 8

9. Divine - Blaqstarr: 6

10. Mountaintops - Mates of State: 5

Songs

1. “A Man Don’t Have to Die” – Brad Paisley

2. “Zombie Delight” – Buck 65

3. “Short Dress Gal” - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrati

4. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

5. “Lemon Drop” – Pistol Annies

6. “Fine Tune” – Miranda Lambert

7. “Cemetery Guns” – Fountains of Wayne

8. “How I Roll” – Britney Spears

9. “Another Like You” - Hayes Carll

10. “I Just Had Sex” (featuring Akon) – The Lonely Island

Michael Tatum

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 20

2. Strawberry - Wussy: 16

3. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 14

4. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 12

5. Nine Eleven Thesaurus - Ground Zero Generals: 10

6. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 8

7. Relax - Das Racist: 5

8. Good News - Withered Hand: 5

9. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 5

10. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 5

Songs

1. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

2. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey

3. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears

4. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

5. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West

6. “Remind Me” (featuring Carrie Underwood) – Brad Paisley

7. “Girls (Run the World)” – Beyoncé

8. “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs

9. “Michael Jackson” – Das Racist

10. “One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” – Wilco

Rodney Taylor

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 18

2. Relax - Das Racist: 15

3. Femme Fatale (Deluxe Edition) - Britney Spears: 15

4. A Note of Hope - Various Artists: 12

5. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011  - Mekons: 9

6. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 7

7. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 7

8. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 6

9. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 6

10. The English Riviera - Metronomy: 5

Songs

1. “Iyat Idounia Ayasahen” – Bombino

2. “Relax” – Das Racist”

3. “Up N’ Down” – Britney Spears

4. “Tenere Taqhim Tossam” – Tinariwen

5. “We All Try” – Frank Ocean

6. “Sun of a Gun” – Oh Land

7. “Repetition” – TV on the Radio

8. “So Gone (What My Mind Says)” – Jill Scott

9. “Gagner l’Argent Francais” - Mamani Keita

10. “Don’t Keep Me Waiting” – Britney Spears

Tom Walker

Albums

1. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 20

2. Strawberry - Wussy: 10

3. Good News - Withered Hand: 10

4. Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres - Matana Roberts: 10

5. Western Teleport - Emperor X: 10

6. Family and Friends - Serengeti: 10

7. Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie: 10

8. Tassili - Tinariwen: 10

9. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 5

10. Tell My Sister - Kate & Anna McGarrigle: 5

Songs

1. “John Lee Hooker for President” – Ry Cooder

2. “The Whip” – Serengeti

3. “Till the World Ends” (Femme Fatale remix featuring Nicki Minaj & Ke$ha) – Britney Spears

4. “Rio” – Low Cut Connie

5. “I Am” – Matana Roberts

6. “Used to be a Cop” – Drive-By Truckers

7. “Axel Rose” – Art Brut

8. “Estate Sale Sign” – The Mountain Goats

9. “Allahu Akbar” – Emperor X

10. “Cult Boyfriend” – Jeffrey Lewis

Dan Weber

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 18

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 15

3. Bwati Kono - Lobo Traore: 10

4. David Comes to Life - Fucked Up: 10

5. Let England Shake - PJ Harvey: 10

6. House of Balloons - The Weeknd: 10

7. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 10

8. Ancient & Modern: 1911-2011 - Mekons: 7

9. Devil’s Music - Teddybears: 5

10. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 5

Songs

1. “Religious Songs” – Withered Hand

2. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

3. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

4. “We Found Love” – Rihanna

5. “Cemetery Guns” – Fountains of Wayne

6. “Words I Never Said” – Lupe Fiasco

7. “Sorry 4 the Wait” – Lil Wayne

8. “Hair” – Lady GaGa

9. “How to Love” (live) – Demi Lovato

10. “Everybody Needs Love” – Drive-By Truckers

Dan Weiss

Albums

1. Goblin - Tyler, the Creator: 16

2. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 16

3. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 16

4. Pink Friday (Deluxe Edition) - Nicki Minaj: 16

5. Strawberry - Wussy: 11

6. Tell My Sister – Kate & Anna McGarrigle: 5

7. House of Balloons - The Weeknd: 5

8. Born This Way - Lady GaGa: 5

9. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 5

10. David Comes to Life - Fucked Up: 5

Songs

1. “Somebody That I Used to Know” (featuring Kimbra) – Gotye

2. “212″ (featuring Lazy Jay) – Azealia Banks

3. “Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

4. “We R Who We R” – Ke$ha

5. “Wazan Doueh” – Group Doueh

6. “It Girl” – Jason DeRulo

7. “Video Games” – Lana Del Rey

8. “Ignite” – The Raveonettes

9. “Heavy Metal Lover” – Lady GaGa

10. “Sadness Is a Blessing” – Lykke Li

Alex Wilson

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 30

2. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 20

3. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 10

4. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 10

5. Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrii - Carolina Chocolate Drops/Luminescent Orchestrii: 5

6. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 5

7. Strawberry - Wussy: 5

8. Watch the Throne - Jay-Z & Kanye West: 5

9. Wild Flag - Wild Flag: 5

10. Divine - Blaqstarr: 5

Songs

1. “Used to be a Cop” – Drive-By Truckers

2. “Be Your Bro” – Those Darlins

3. “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs

4. “The Afterlife” – Paul Simon

5. “I Just Had Sex” (featuring Akon) – The Lonely Island

6. “Will Do” – TV on the Radio

7. “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” – Paul Simon

8. “Remind Me” (featuring Carrie Underwood) – Brad Paisley

9. “Born This Way” – Lady GaGa

10. “Rider Girl” – Blaqstarr

Jerry Withrow

Albums

1. Blues and the Empirical Truth - Allen Lowe: 25

2. Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens de Couleur Libres - Matana Roberts: 20

3. Ashore - June Tabor: 15

4. Strawberry - Wussy: 10

5. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 5

6. My Black Lace Freudian Slip - Rene Marie: 5

7. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 5

8. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 5

9. Screws Get Loose - Those Darlins: 5

10. Bad as Me - Tom Waits: 5

Songs

1. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

2. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

3. “One Sunday Morning (Song For Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” – Wilco

4. “Novacane” – Frank Ocean

Alex Wolf

Albums

1. w h o k i l l - tUnE-yArDs: 16

2. Strawberry - Wussy: 16

3. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 10

4. So Beautiful or So What - Paul Simon: 10

5. Relax - Das Racist: 10

6. Hell on Heels - Pistol Annies: 10

7. Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne: 7

8. Divine - Blaqstarr: 7

9. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 7

10. Good News - Withered Hand: 7

Songs

1. “Bad Girls” – M.I.A.

2. “Gen N-E-Y” – M.I.A.

3. “Powa” – tUnE-yArDs

4. “Hair” – Lady GaGa

5. “The Whip” – Serengeti

6. “I Luv Ur Sneakers” – Poly Styrene

7. “Religious Songs” – Withered Hand

8. “A Promise” – Jens Lekman

9. “Gagner l’argent francais” – Mamani Keita

10. “Rocket Scientist” (featuring Eve) – Teddybears

Joe Yanosik

Albums

1. Strawberry - Wussy: 10

2. Funeral Dress II - Wussy: 10

3. nostalgia,ULTRA. - Frank Ocean: 10

4. Odwo - Ofori Amponsah: 10

5. An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman: 10

6. Agadez - Bombino: 10

7. Black Up - Shabazz Palaces: 10

8. Zayna Jumma - Group Doueh: 10

9. Road Shows Vol. 1 - Sonny Rollins: 10

10. Yuck - Yuck: 10

Songs

1. “Call Your Girlfriend” – Robyn

2. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean

3. “You Know the Night” – Jackson Browne

4. “Gagner L’argent Francais” – Mamani Keita

5. “No Church in the Wild” (featuring Frank Ocean) – Jay-Z & Kanye West

6. “Paper Planes” – Street Sweeper Social Club

7. “Till the World Ends” – Britney Spears

8. “Novacane” – Frank Ocean

9. “Remind Me” (featuring Carrie Underwood) – Brad Paisley

10. “I Just Had Sex” (featuring Akon) – The Lonely Island

Best of 2011 (Non-2011 Edition)

The following songs and albums were released prior to 2011, but despite this keeping them from my upcoming best songs and albums of 2011 lists, they deserve special recognition.  Songs aren’t featured if their album is, although I’ll usually feel inclined to mention it, like, say, Teddybears’ “Rocket Scientist.”  I could list many more songs (Yuck’s “Rubber” comes to mind), but I’m keeping it to my very favorites.  With albums, I either link to where you can listen on Spotify (get Spotify) or a place where you can download and listen.  With songs, I use Youtube.

Good News - Withered Hand

Released in the UK in 2009 and making its way stateside this year, Dan Willson’s heavily literate singer-songwriting is at its densest on “Religious Songs,” included here and also released in 2008.

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Get out the Lotion - Low Cut Connie

Self-released at the tail end of 2010 and thusly fully recognized this year, this is an innocently vulgar collection of old-timey rock and roll.  Check out “Shit Shower n Shave.”

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The Lonny Breaux Collection - Frank Ocean

Showing up on the internet in 2010, Frank Ocean’s 63-song (!!!) mixtape shows much of his pre-nostalgia,ULTRA. work.

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Devil’s Music - Teddybears

“I’m not a rocket scientist/I rock the house and sign the tits/And that’s it.”  Released internationally in 2010 before hitting the states this year (with the tracklisting shuffled but no new songs, despite added features from B.o.B on “Get Mama a House” and Robyn on “Cardiac Arrest”), Teddybears’ sophomore effort Devil’s Music uses Black Eyed Peas pop tactics to rock harder than anything else out there, particularly on “Rocket Scientist.”

The Smile Sessions - The Beach Boys

The makings for what would finally materialize in 2004 as Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE, The SMiLE Sessions was released in November, 2011 and perhaps serves as an alternative for those who want to hear Brian Wilson’s magnum opus sung by younger, fresher voices.

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Funeral Dress II - Wussy

Released this year on Record Store Day, treat this as an alternative to Wussy’s utterly perfect 2005 debut, Funeral Dress.  The stripped down acoustic arrangements take out the power and emphasize the frailty Chuck and Lisa’s relationship and the playful, classic melodies that deserve to exist in eternity as standards.  This best serves “Crooked” and “Don’t Leave Just Now.”

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“Rolling in the Deep” – Adele

Though 21 was released in early 2011, this single, which made its mark stateside this year, was released in November 2010.  Perhaps the most celebrated and ubiquitous song of the year, Rick Rubin turns “Rolling in the Deep” into the howl immediately following a breakup that shatters a strong woman.

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“Super Bass” – Nicki Minaj

Released on the deluxe edition of Pink Friday in November 2010 but released as a single this year, this is bubblegum hip hop, the kind so sweet that you need another stick right afterward.  Arguably the best radio hit to rock 2011.

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“Weekend” – Smith Westerns

Released as 2011′s Dye It Blonde‘s first single in late 2010, “Weekend”‘s strong central sentiment (“weekends are never fun unless you’re around here, too”) is built on Beach Boys ‘ooooo’s, Marc Bolan vocals, and juicy guitar licks.

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“Get Some” – Lykke Li

Wounded Rhymes dropped this year, but “Get Some” came last November as the peak of Lykke Li’s sense of pop, with a jungle beat supporting a vocal that, while usually tender elsewhere, sounds convincingly sexual here.

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“Katy on a Mission” – Katy B

Released on 2011′s On a Mission, Katy B’s slightly avant dance music never quite got its formula as perfect as on this 2010 single.

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“6 Foot 7 Foot” – Lil Wayne (Featuring Cory Gunz)

Sampling Harry Belafonte’s “Day-O (The Banana Boat)” song the way this does, “6 Foot 7 Foot” already justifies itself as a novelty, but Lil Wayne, who released this Tha Carter IV track last December, delivers his batshit punchline rap better than he would elsewhere in 2011: “Real G’s move in silence like lasagna.”

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“Call Your Girlfriend” – Robyn

I recognized this last year with a mention, but 2011 found people noticing Robyn’s wonderful Body Talk a bit more, and she got to perform this wonderful song on Saturday Night Live.  Listen to that bridge where it sounds like her voice escapes her, floats up, and blows up, blindingly illuminating anything close.

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“I Just Had Sex” – The Lonely Island

Released and appearing on Saturday Night Live last December, “I Just Had Sex,” with its spin on bragging of sexual conquest in hip hop and its all-together-now key change, had viral potential, The Lonely Island’s biggest (and that’s saying a lot!), the could only be comprehended in 2011.