NPR Listener's Pick their Top Albums 2011 (All Songs Considered Podcast)

Listeners Pick Their Favorite Albums Of 2011

by NPR STAFF

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All Songs Considered

[1 hr 59 min 53 sec]

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Language Advisory: This program contains song lyrics that some listeners may find offensive.

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Best Music Of 2011: Complete Lists

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December 14, 2011

This summer, when All Songs Considered asked listeners to vote for their favorite albums of the year so far, there were a handful of shoo-ins. Instantly beloved releases by Bon Iver, Adele, Fleet Foxes, The Decemberists and others all made a predictably strong showing.
Six months later, many of those albums have held their ground — but our poll of listeners' 100 favorite records from all of 2011 still had its surprises. The Black Keys swooped into the No. 6 slot with El Camino, an album just a few days older than the poll itself. Ceremonials, the follow-up to Florence + The Machine's sleeper hit Lungs, followed close behind. And it wasn't just the dark horses that stunned us — two of our personal favorites, the strong spring releases from Wye Oak and The Antlers, each dropped a dozen spots.
This week's episode includes songs from the Top 25 listener picks. Once you've listened to the show, head to the All Songs blog for the full list of your 100 favorite albums of 2011.

LISTENERS PICK THEIR FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2011

1. Bon Iver

• Album: Bon Iver
• Song: Calgary

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2. Fleet Foxes

• Album: Helplessness Blues
• Song: Grown Ocean

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3. Adele

• Album: 21
• Song: Rolling In The Deep

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4. The Decemberists

• Album: The King Is Dead
• Song: June Hymn

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5. Radiohead

• Album: The King Of Limbs
• Song: Lotus Flower

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6. The Black Keys

• Album: El Camino
• Song: Lonely Boy

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7. Wilco

• Album: Whole Love
• Song: Born Alone

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8. Florence + The Machine

• Album: Ceremonials
• Song: Shake It Out

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9. Beirut

• Album: The Rip Tide
• Song: Santa Fe

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10. Foster The People

• Album: Torches
• Song: Don't Stop (Color on the Walls)

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11. M83

• Album: Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
• Song: Midnight City

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12. Feist

• Album: Metals
• Song: How Come You Never Go There

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13. Iron & Wine

• Album: Kiss Each Other Clean
• Song: Tree by the River

Credit: Michael Katzif (cameras); edited by Bob Boilen; photo by Abby Verbosky/NPR

 

14. tUnE-yArDs

• Album: w h o k i l l
• Song: Bizness

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15. St. Vincent

• Album: Strange Mercy
• Song: Cruel

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16. The Civil Wars

• Album: Barton Hollow
• Song: Barton Hollow

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17. Death Cab For Cutie

• Album: Codes And Keys
• Song: You Are A Tourist

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18. Tom Waits

• Album: Bad As Me
• Song: Bad As Me

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19. My Morning Jacket

• Album: Circuital
• Song: Circuital

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20. Bright Eyes

• Album: The People's Key
• Song: Shell Games

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21. Jay-Z/Kanye West

• Album: Watch the Throne
• Song: Otis

Warning: This song contains language some listeners may find offensive.

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22. Coldplay

• Album: Mylo Xyloto
• Song: Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall

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23. PJ Harvey

• Album: Let England Shake
• Song: Let England Shake

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24. Cults

• Album: Cults
• Song: Go Outside

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25. James Blake

• Album: James Blake
• Song: The Wilhelm Scream

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