So we’re half way through 2011, it’s Glastonbury weekend, so what better time to reflect on a year’s worth of brilliant music and ground breaking albums?

From Lady Gaga’s world conquering Born This Way and Wild Beast’s wonderfully understated Smother to Limp Bizkit’s long awaited comeback Golden Cobra and Protest The Hero’s visceral Scurrilous there are so many great records to chose between, but who take our writer’s top spot?

George Bullock

(Strictly R&L and Strictly Sonisphere)

5. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

When The King of Limbs was first released, there was a lot of speculation around that it was only the first half of a two part album, and when listening with that in mind the album felt unfinished, and it was difficult to gauge just how good it was. The rumours turned out to be false, and a re-listen knowing it was a full album changed the way I appreciated it. It’s an excellent album, full of well-crafted, interesting songs.

4. Protest the Hero - Scurrilous

Scurrilous is Protest the Hero’s third album, and marks a departure from previous efforts with the old conceptual lyrical style dropped in favour of a commentary of modern life. This takes a little getting used to, and left some older fans feeling a little cold. The instrumentation, however, didn’t. Every track is great and offers something different.

3. Tyler, the Creator - Goblin

It’s not very often I really look forward to the release of a rap album, but after hearing lead single “Yonkers” I got the Odd Future buzz. While the album falls flat in places and doesn’t quite live up to the hype surrounding it; when Tyler does get it right, he’s excellent. And he gets it right a lot. The lyrics are fantastic – if a little too dark at times – and while hip-hop is currently being dominated by Auto-tuned, over produced, radio friendly hits; it’s great to see someone making waves doing something different.

2. Wild Beasts - Smother

On the follow up to the Mercury nominated Two Dancers, Wild Beasts have swapped the guitars for a more electronic approach. The album has an incredible dream-like quality thanks to lead singer Hayden Thorpe’s soaring falsetto and guitarist Tom Fleming’s brilliant vocal harmonies. This album seems to get better with every listen.

1. Floating Me - Floating Me

There’s always doubts surrounding new ‘super groups‘, but with their self-titled début album, Floating Me have proved they’re a welcome addition to the excellent Australian progressive rock scene. The rhythm section of ex-Cog drummer Lucius Borich and Karnivool bassist Jon Stockman is one of the many highlights of an album, with 9 minute closing track “Across the Gulf” really showing what the band is all about.

Callum Thomson

(Stricly Sonisphere and Download)

 

5. Protest the Hero – Scurrilous

Protest the Hero have always provoked a very mixed reaction to their music, it has either been loved, or those listening have been unsure of its purpose. The problem being that their music has always been rather sporadic, and progressive, experimental if you will. Now Scurrilous is not really much different, from their past outings, but it what does differently this time, is to create some memorable hooks and choruses, as well as the classic Protest the Hero guitars. Starting off with the opening track “C’est Le Vie”, you can immediately see a difference in what they were trying to convey with the new album, without alienating their devoted fans.

4. Rise Against – Endgame

Endgame, may just be, one of the best Rise Against albums so far.  They have always been a political band, no one has doubted that, but they’re really trying to convey a message with the new album. If we don’t change soon then we’re going to start breaking our world apart. Even though, you can be overly political, and forget about the music. Rise Against, as always, have managed to find a medium. A number of the songs on the new album will creep their ways into fans’ favourites lists, including the title track, “Endgame”, and the powerful song, “Help is on the Way”. Now soon to depart on to an October/November UK tour, with Tom Morello and Polar Bear Club, they are sure to break into a larger group of fans.

3. Hollywood Undead – American Tragedy

The masked Americans broke into the music scene in 2007 with their debut album, Swan Songs. They immediately came into the spot light, mainly in their rock community, for their mix of rap lyrics, clear choruses and heavy music. Their new album follows on from this nicely, more of the same, yet slightly different, more of the same from a band like Hollywood Undead is never a bad thing, their first album was such a resounding success that it would probably be bad for them to do any different. There are a number of instant hit tracks from the new album, notably “Hear Me Now”, which is classic Hollywood Undead, but more notably are the songs, “Levitate”, which sounds like a guilty pleasure pop song. Also, and a personal favourite, is their song “Bullet”, as I like to explain it, the happy suicide song. A wonderful track, it mixes lyrics about suicide, with an incredibly upbeat acoustic backing.

2. Skindred – Union Black

After their, seemingly, quite disappointing last album, Skindred came back hard, and on the money. Union Black brings with it the classic Skindred, raga-metal, sound, mixes in a bit of dub-step, and creates one hell of a new album. The album starts off with a dub-step rendition of “God Save the Queen”, and then moves straight into the first single off the new album, “Warning”, and from there, it sets the tone straight into one of the best albums the Welsh rockers have released to date. With such clear lyrics, all of which have meaning, such as the song “Cut Dem”, which attempts to help tackle knife crime. The band and Benji Webbe (vocals) in particular, have drawn upon their past experiences, in order to try and help young people understand shared problems, and they’re continuing it well in this new album.

1. D.R.U.G.S – D.R.U.G.S

The first album from vocalist Craig Owens’ new project, and boy does it work well. After listening to how well the songs work, and how incredibly catchy each track is you’d be forgiven for thinking the band have only been together for just over a year. I first found out about the album through the debut single, “If you Think this Song is About you… It Probably is”, and since then I was hooked. You can see how they’ve created such a strong following already, and I just hope their next album is just as brilliant. With Craig Owens’ impressive voice, and the guitar and drum work from some already experienced instrumentalists, the album, and the band work incredibly well. The band have created larger instant success than Owens’ old band Chiodos, who kicked Owens out, due to tensions between certain members, but if that wouldn’t have happened we wouldn’t have my top favourite album so far this year.

Danielle Gough

(Strictly R&L and Download)

5. Radiohead – The King Of Limbs

Thom Yorke is a weird guy, which is the sort of feeling that echoes every time you listen to one of Radiohead’s albums. The King Of Limbs is no different. Although every album they create is carefully pieced together, beat by beat, word by word, they seem to come up with new ways of amazing their listeners, with hidden messages, puzzles and creating perceptions you never thought existed. In Rainbows and The King Of Limbs sound musically similar, but in no way do they sound the same. Their best work? God no, but what Radiohead prove is that they haven’t lost their ability to build an extensively large sound margin between their debut album and their latest accomplishment.

4. Arctic Monkeys – Suck It And See

Arctic Monkeys have come a long way since being MySpace stars – releasing 4 albums. Their latest album shows how they’ve changed since 06′s Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. They’re not kids anymore. Humbug and Suck It And See have a similar feel to them but by no means do they hold any obvious resemblance. It feels like this record is so much clearer. More rehearsed – unlike Humbug which had a rough, heavily produced sound. This is the Monkey’s return to form.

3. Lady Gaga – Born This Way

After the best selling album The Fame and later The Fame Monster were released, many thought Lady Gaga was a one hit wonder. She’d never make a better album. She had a lot to prove – and she’s done that in the best possible way. Many of the songs on this album are a lot more personal when compared to her debut. Plenty disliked “Born This Way” as a single and thought she’d gone completely downhill – until Born This Way was released. Overall, it’s somehow a lot catchier than her debut, and it even seems to offer a lot more creativity, and devotion has gone into its creation.

2. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Being one of the most anticipated alternative albums of the year, Foo Fighters come back with a bang with this fantastically melodic, clever piece of music. After 07′s Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace in which they took a completely new direction, it seemed like they were trying to appeal to everyone’s music taste – but it didn’t. With elements of The Colour And The Shape, they’ve turned back the years combining aspects of hard-rock along with their own unique sound to formulated this innovative work of art.

1. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones

Frank is known for reeling out the albums, having released 4 albums in 4 years. 2 years since his last release (and also the longest between any of his other releases), he’s had time to grow up. Reflect. Show and prove his capabilities – and that’s what he’s done with this

latest achievement. One thing this guy has is talent. The thing with Frank is that he’s never had a bad album. In fact, each has its own unique sound. Other than the awful (sorry Frank) “English Curse”, this is the best he’s ever sounded, and he can only get better.

James Rushforth

(Strictly Download and Sonisphere)

I feel bad having to deal out so much negative feedback for what’s supposed to be “Top 5 Albums Of The Year So Far”. However, to me it seems like there just hasn’t been that many awesome releases, none the less, here’s a few of my favourite.

5. Rise Against – Endgame

Its hard to follow up with an album that’s better than Appeal To Reason and the Endgame is most definitely not in the same league, despite this, if we take the album at face value it is, none the less, a fairly strong album.

Rise Against are prominent for their catchy hooks and fast, skaterpunk-esque songs, Endgame doesn’t break from this trend that RA have been following for over 12 years. Songs that illustrate this point nicely are “Help Is On The Way” and “Satellite”

RA stay true to their political roots, their latest video for “Make It Stop (Septembers Children)” covers the controversial topic of teen suicide due to abuse based around sexual preference. “Help Is On The Way” was also based on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

If another band released this record, they’d probably go far, but when you’ve got the likes of The Sufferer and The Witness and Siren Song of the Counter Culture to contrast Endgame to, it’s really quite disappointing.

Listen to: Satellite

4. Lower Than Atlantis – World Record

After their second album Far Q, LTA went into the studio with high expectations from the fans.

On this occasion, Lower Than Atlantis have opted for a more radio friendly sound, with less of the dirty, earthy vocals introduced to us on Far Q and avoiding pacey songs (reminiscent to B.O.R.E.D).

Although the clean vocals have improved in World Record, as ever with Mike Duce, he sounds like he’s trying so hard to sound English , granted, it’s not the exactly a crime , but I can’t help but notice how every word seems to be enunciated with precision (the best example of this is “Another Sad Song”).

Fortunately, LTA have not only avoided the (apparent sin) of breakdowns, but also the trap of solid power chords. However, it’s still punk, don’t worry, but they’ve also included some great riffs (listen to “Beech Like The Tree”) that are sure to be crowd pleasers at the summer festivals.

Listen to: Motorway (Of Life)

3. Title Fight – Shed

The highly anticipated sophomore album from the hardcore quartet definitely wasn’t a disappointment, Shed blends elements of pop-punk and hardcore into their sound, producing short and sweet anthemic songs consistently through the album, with songs like “Your Screen Door” that make you want to climb right on stage and dive back into the crowd in true Hardcore fashion.

Fortunately, this year, Title Fight have managed to find their way onto most of the summer festivals including, Hevy fest, Reading & Leeds and Sonisphere.

The tempo ranges much more from your average hardcore album; this makes space for contrasting slow, moody songs, creating a colourful album.

The sharing of vocals between Ned Russin & Jamie Rhoden works nicely, although they’re very similar, it gives that bit more variation that’s needed in this genre of music.

The lead guitar lines make a huge difference in the overall “vibe” in Shed; they enhance the vocals greatly and give structure to the album rather than just mindless “chordage”.

Overall, it’s great to see something with a bit more attitude, although the genre is nothing ground breaking, it’s nonetheless great music.  Despite the album being rather unmemorable on the first few listens, it really grows on you and Title Fight are definitely one to watch for the future.

Listen to: 27

2. Luna Kiss – Echoes of Sound

I stumbled across this band in a car park in Stratford-Upon-Avon, granted, not the most glamorous places in the world, but after their set in the lower area of the parking bay. I was truly astounded at this innovative, peaceful, but yet somehow energetic music that resounded off the concrete around me. The Prog-rock quartet introduced me to a whole new way of approaching music.

Echoes of Sound is not officially released until July, but upon purchase after the “concert” I was informed I was the third person ever to buy the album, which really puts into perspective how small this band are. They have just over 500 Facebook bands but deserve so much more. However, they have recently been getting radio airtime on Kerrang, a sign of something promising to come.

Echoes of Sound is easily accessible for almost anyone. With horrendously infectious vocals and a wonderful golden, clean guitar tone, it’s very hard not to like Luna Kiss. As it’s prog, you’d expect it to be technical, LK don’t disappoint here, if you really pay attention to the drumming, you can appreciate the complex time signatures and strange fills that happen regularly throughout.

The length of the songs isn’t an issue for Luna Kiss, much like Machine Head’s masterpiece “Halo”, it feels like their tracks are necessarily long and you don’t become bored or feel like the album drags on.

The only reason this is at the number two slot is that the album has a little too much empty space, with tracks “I” and “IV” both accumulating to 9 minutes of experimental-instrumental music, perhaps if an extra track had been added, it could have found its way to the number one slot.

This full length album is very impressive from such a small band and I’d be very surprised this band doesn’t get signed in the near future and bring the small Progressive Rock market and bring it into the limelight.

Listen to: Jealous Fingers

1.  Sharks – The Joys Of Living 2007 – 2010

The Leamington-Spa quartet are moving up in the world, recently touring with Social Distortion and previously touring with the likes of Gallows and Lostprophets. With high profile support slots such as these, they’re obviously doing something right.

In case you’re confused, TJOL is a compilation of the band’s EP’s and singles that they’ve released, with two new tracks “Sweet Harness” and “The Joys Of Living” placed at the beginning of the album.

Some of the tracks on the album have so much potential to be fantastic live too, with massive choruses scattered across the album. One of the best features of the band has to be the musical musings of the lead guitarist Andrew Bayliss, who somehow manages to find structure in his very freeform style of playing, almost constantly working down below the 12^th fret, it seems like he’s constantly soloing, but his truly fantastic phrasing of the notes adds a dynamic texture that isn’t found in any other punk band.

To be perfectly honest, the album is flawless. There isn’t a single track where you feel disappointed, ranging from the high energy of “Fallen Upon Deaf Ears” to the mellower “Sweet Harness” and even some reggae influences in the songs like “Bury Your Youth”. I’m not sure if it’s because the album has been created due to its large spread over time or if Sharks are just plain awesome, but it’s easily been the best £8 I’ve spent this year.

Listen to: It Threatens

Kyle Prangnell

(Strictly Reading And Leeds)

5. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones

After receiving many mixed reviews, this album is a controversial choice. However, this album has produced some of Frank Turner’s best songs to date. ‘I Am Disappeared’ shows Frank on top form lyrically, and sung with brilliant passion, which is also shown in ‘Redemption’. A highlight of the album for me is ‘One Foot Before The Other’, a song in which Turner has really gone back to his Million Dead days, as the punk roots really show in his voice. The rest of the album is a reflection of his love/hate relationship with England and home, which produces a very different sound to his previous efforts, but still one that he can be proud of.

4. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Foo Fighters are back, with their best album since The Colour And The Shape; an album that can claim to have more than just filler songs that separate the big singles, which has been a criticism of some of their other albums. However, Wasting Light shows the Foos back to their best, with an album full of roaring hits from the rawness of “White Limo” to the brilliance of “Arlandria”. This certainly shows what they are all about, and has not disappointed in the slightest.

3. Mogwai – Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will

Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will is exactly the kind of title one would expect from Mogwai, and brings a sound just as good as one would expect. The Scottish five piece create an impressive sound that sounds almost chilled out, yet is so intense that it really just blows me away whenever I listen to it. Mogwai are never ones to disappoint, and this album is no different. Built up from the beginning with “White Noise”, the album continues at an impressively high standard that has come to be expected from them.

2. Cage the Elephant – Thank You, Happy Birthday

When their first album came out, Cage the Elephant didn’t really grab my interest. I liked “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked”, but thought “In One Ear” was a little samey, and so didn’t really give the rest of the album a chance. However, I feel like I should definitely give it another go if Thank You, Happy Birthday is anything to go by. Songs like “Indy Kidz” show a huge grunge influence,  that demonstrates massive signs of Nirvana’s work. With hints of The Pixies work at show as well, this album is one of the best records I’ve heard in a long time, and I urge you to listen to it.

1. Yuck – Yuck

Yuck have been one of my favourite bands so far this year. Their debut album is a brilliant piece of work, bringing a real nostalgic feel to current day indie music. From start to finish, Yuck show many old influences and use them to the best of their ability. Yuck have been mentioned by a lot in recent articles by myself, and were also my Band of the Week; listen to this album, and you’ll know why.

Tom Forster

(Strictly Download Editor)

5. Skindred – Union Black

To me, this album is the definition of “a grower”; the first time I listened to it, I didn’t like it all that much, or at least not as much as Skindred’s two previous efforts, Babylon and Roots, Rock, Riot. The lead single off the record “Warning” did very little for me on first listen, yet a week later it was stuck on repeat in my head. It’s a trend repeated by the majority of the songs on Union Black, they are infectiously catchy, none more so than “Doom Riff”, the strongest track on the album. That song alone deserves a place in my top 5.

4. Noah And The Whale – Last Night On Earth

I may get a bit of abuse for this (because on the whole it got pretty good reviews), but my first experience of Noah And The Whale was 2009′s The First Days of Spring and my god did I loathe it. 42 minutes and 53 seconds of lead singer Charlie Fink whinging about his break up with ex girlfriend/band member Laura Marling was more than I could take.

Which is why it was such a pleasant surprise that their latest effort is such a lovely uplifting record, complete with synths and a gospel choir! They’re like a completely new band on this record and it’s such an improvement. So if you’re in a band and have suffered a break up recently, get the hell over it before writing a record.

3. Protest The Hero – Scurrilous

Canadian prog metal outfit Protest The Hero’s latest record came just at the right time for me, I’d bought their previous effort Fortress about a month previous and had probably worn the disc a little thin from over listening. Naturally, I went to look for more material by them, and was pleasantly surprised to find they’d dropped their new album Scurrilous that very week.

I was a little worried that it may not live up to its predecessor (of which I can’t speak highly enough), and while it’s true that Scurrilous is not without it’s faults (some of the lyrics are borderline ridiculous at times), once again the musicianship really is top quality from Protest The Hero. It may not be quite the album that Fortress is; it had more than enough to appease me and more than enough to make my list.

2. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Foo Fighters are back! Okay it’s taken nine years, but they’ve finally made an album that didn’t make me want to put “Everlong” on repeat and weep. Not just that, Wasting Light is probably one of their strongest efforts to date. Amazing what buggering off for a year with Josh Homme and John Paul Jones for a year can do, eh Dave?

I don’t know for sure whether it’s Grohl’s little excursion with Them Crooked Vultures that has whet his appetite for a heavier style of rock, or whether collectively they agreed that “Wheels” was an abomination, never to see the light of day again, and that change must come about quickly. Either way Wasting Light is definitely worthy of a place in the top 5 albums of the year.

1. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones

I keep expecting Frank Turner to slip up and make a bad album. It’s got to happen soon right? Once again the Winchester singer/songwriter has excelled himself and produced without doubt his finest album to date. England Keep My Bones is jam packed with brilliantly written songs, (almost) all of which provide excellent sing-a-longs, which is more or less what Frank Turner is all about. Other than “English Curse”, which is poor, I don’t have a bad thing to say about any song on the record. Definite highlights are the surprisingly heavy “One Foot Before The Other” and the previously released “I Am Disappeared”, which is a contender for my favourite Frank Turner song. It’s beautifully done.

As usual with Frank, the lyrics on this album have a genuine air about them. Unlike lots of musicians, you feel as though he is just a normal bloke that happens to be good with a guitar, and this does wonders for his likeability, there isn’t a hint of pretentiousness about him. I really do hope it stays that way, because he’s making some seriously good music while keeping his feet firmly on the ground. He’s a class act and England Keep My Bones is my album of the year so far.

Rik Sharma

(Strictly Reading And Leeds)

5. Frank Turner – England Keep My Bones

A distinct improvement on disappointing last outing Poetry of the Deed, Frank Turner reminds everyone of his song-writing ability, ability to find a rousing chorus, and that he’s from a place called England. I prefer when he highlights the first two, to be honest. But it’s still a very good album, the highlight of which is the sorrowful, painful ‘Redemption’.

4. Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Following up ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’ was always going to be difficult, but Justin Vernon’s second full-length does a good job. And although I personally favour the former, it’s difficult not to be taken by the guitar grooves he cuts in a wintry soundscape, or the oppositional warmth he evokes with songs like ‘Towers’.

3. Manchester Orchestra – Simple Math

Beautifully constructed, ornately assembled. Simple Math is at times a delight. Sure, it’s far from perfect. But Manchester Orchestra have years stretching out ahead of them to nail the art. When it clicks together, on the haunting ‘Virgin’ or the title track, the music possesses a hypnotic, organic quality.

2. Defeater – Empty Days and Sleepless Nights

Hardcore? Yes. Dumb? No. Defeater are one of the most intelligent, thought-provoking hardcore bands around. Empty Days and Sleepless Nights finds them at their storytelling best. Flashing through heart-wrenching scenes where hope is shredded, and vivid, bloody encounters, this is stunning, stirring stuff. Musically and lyrically intricate and considered, but imbued with passion and the fine line in desperation which Defeater do so well.

1. The Wonder Years – Suburbia, I’ve Given You All and Now I’m Nothing

From opener “Come Out Swinging” which brings us up to speed with where the band left us after The Upsides, through to marvelous, epic closer, “And Now I’m Nothing”, Suburbia is an exquisite pop-punk album. Eschewing the day-glo nonsense of bands like Bowling for Soup, but not the catchiness or the melodies, The Wonder Years deliver an incredible, punchy, touching album.

From the taste of nostalgia (“Coffee Eyes”) to break-ups (“Woke Up Older”), a friend’s suicide (“You Made Me Want to be a Saint”) and trying to find a place to call home (“Hoodie Weather”), the band touches on human issues, as the record is a spotlight on vocalist Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell trying to make his way through life as best as he can. ‘I’m gonna pull my weight in this world / ‘cause it’s all I have,’ snaps Soupy. ‘Suburbia, stop pushing / I know what I’m doing’.

You sure do. And if it sounds this good, keep doing it.

Sophie Maughan

(Strictly Sonisphere)

5. Burzum – Fallen

The eighth studio album from the controversial Varg Vikernes and his infamous black metal project Burzum. Vikernes has copped a lot of flak over the years for his music as well as getting himself incarcerated for getting a bit knife happy and burning down churches across his native Norway. While I don’t agree with a lot of his sentiments, I can appreciate the music. It’s brutal yet ambient. Big distorted guitar riffs but they manage to remain melodic as well as bringing some atmosphere to proceedings. Burn “Jeg Faller”- one of the stand out tracks for me. Black metal at it’s finest.

4. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

“White Limo” has got to be up there as one of the best balls-out tracks of 2011. And they’ve got Lemmy driving them round in the (very funny) 80′s style video. It’s good old fashioned back to basics rock and roll.

3. Within Temptation – The Unforgiving

A change in sound for the Dutch symphonic metallers this time around with their first concept album. Based on the comic book BloodRayne and Dark 48 by Steven O’Connell, it is a far cry from the bombastic Mother Earth. The “goth” tag may be missing from this offering but Sharon’s vocals remain stunning nonetheless. Diverse and a lot more ‘rock’ than metal- WT’s fifth studio album will probably split opinion among the hardcore fans. I love it. Others will hate it.

2. Sylosis – Edge of the Earth

The second full-length album from the Berkshire lads and it’s bloody good. Producer Scott Atkins has managed to bring a real rawness to the band’s new material and with Josh Middleton now on vocal duties, there is a definite new depth to the overall sound. If you love your Bay Area thrash then this is for you.

1. Arch Enemy – Khaos Legions

Everything a metal fan could want from an album. Melodic yet aggressive and emotive guitar solos which manage to avoid the cheese factor. And it has to be said, it’s technically stellar. An absolute monster of a record.

Lee Jeffrey

(Strictly Download)

5. Chase and Status – No More Idols

I am quite a big Chase and Status fan, and their new album No More Idols did not disappoint. Now electronica is not normally a genre I listen to, but with Chase and Status it is hard for me not to. “Hypest Hype” always gets me singing along like an idiot, and some of it even gets me busting some shapes. In all seriousness though, I can listen to the whole of this album without getting bored and it always gets me in the mood for Summer. It is just a great album and it makes me want to catch them live even more. I suggested in a recent feature for Strictly Download that they should be booked for 2012, as I think they would be an astute booking. Anyways, if you want to get into this album I suggest you listen to “Hypest Hype” first, and go from there.

4. Lady Gaga – Born This Way

Not only is Lady Gaga insane, but she is also an astounding musician. Add that musicianship to her over the top live shows and you have a winner. Notorious for doing stuff her own way, and not following trends, she has made a name for herself very quickly. By no means is this better, for me, than The Fame but is still a great album. I find myself listening to “Judas” more often then not, and it is probably one of my favourite songs of 2011. It has a mix of your pop and rock throughout, and with the motive to get the songs into your head. It even features a guest slot from Brian May (On You & I) and Clarence Clemons (On The Edge of Glory). The album is also all killer and no filler. With it being an hour long, you really do get your moneys worth with this one. Gaga is a hype machine, but I believe she is one who lives up to the hype with her albums.

3. Black Spiders – Sons of the North

This album is a long time coming for one of the most talked about rising stars in the rock industry. It is just what you want from a hard rock band, and bit more for good measure. The first song, “Stay Down”, offers no introduction and throws you right into the album. Then we have “Kiss tried to kill me” which is exactly what the song’s title would suggest: a song about KISS trying to kill the lead singer Pete Spiby. KISS have even endorsed this song on their Facebook, and this is the KISS we are talking about!

From there on in, it is just great music. The type of music you head bang to, the type you listen to whilst having a pint at one of their gigs, the type of music that is… well… good! If you haven’t picked up this album yet, do so. They are becoming bigger and bigger and Sons of the North is a prime example why they will just get bigger and bigger. You will not regret purchasing this album!

2. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Probably my most played album this year, Foo fighters really deliver the goods with this one. This album was made in a garage, and when listening you really wouldn’t have thought so. This album has the potential to appeal to a lot of people; from the young to the old, from the NME reads to the Metal Hammer readers, and from the casual listeners to the hardcore fans. I first heard a lot of the material when I saw these guys at Wembley Arena in February and from the instant I heard it there I knew it was going to be a great album.

My personal favourite track on the album has to be the opener, “Bridge Burning”, which is a real ball buster. It’s probably one of my favourite songs to come out this year and one of my favourites to open an album. When they came out with it at Wembley Arena, no-one knew the words but they were instantly head banging and moving. Outstanding song, and a close second has to be “White Limo”. Not only does it have one of my favourite music videos of recent times, it is also a great song. Something very different to what we normally get from Foo Fighters, especially the vocals from Dave Grohl. This their best album since The Colour and The Shape without a doubt in my mind, and I think they should carry on recording with Butch Vig as he is one of the best producers around.

If you do not already have this album, you are missing out on Foo Fighters at their best, and I suggest you get it as soon as you can. In fact, stop reading this and go buy it now. Go!

1. Limp Bizkit – Gold Cobra

(Shields from oncoming criticism) I am a massive Limp Bizkit fan, and have been waiting for this album for so long. Since the constant delays of this album, it could have been earlier, but if they needed time to make it as great as it is, I don’t particularly care. Gold Cobra was always going to be my most anticipated album of 2011, and when they finally leaked it, I was all over it like some kind of vulture. Don’t worry; I have it pre-ordered, so it shall be coming through the post on the 28th!

It just seems to me that the whole album was written to be played live, with the same amount of cheesiness that comes from their earlier albums. It is full of songs that I think could be great hits, such as “Gold Cobra”, “Shotgun” and “Douchebag”. The first album to have a fully reformed Limp Bizkit, and although it isn’t as good as Chocolate Starfish, I still think this has the making to catapult them back to headline status. I can see it getting a lot of plays on Kerrang! and Scuzz. Could even possibly see it getting some air time on Radio 1, but I am not getting my hopes up. Metal Hammer have even given this a great review after slating them for many years, so they must be doing something right on this album.

I just can’t wait to see them tear Knebworth a new one at this year’s Sonisphere, and I am confident with their new album that they shall be the band of the weekend for sure! Fred Durst will no doubt bring his a-game and they better bring Gold Cobra along in their setlist! 

Simone F.

(Strictly Reading And Leeds)

5. The Vaccines – What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

After becoming one of the bands to watch in 2011, did The Vaccines deliver? Well yes. The Vaccines deliver short, catchy, hit the mark now it is time to end songs, without creating the need to do more. They brought back the fun quirky boy story telling indie guitar music that the industry has been lacking since our charts where attacked by both American R’n’B and UK Urban Pop. Don’t me wrong, The Vaccines haven’t changed anything, but it was a nice little glimpse to see one of this year hyped bands actually hitting the top 5 album chart.

4.The Smith Westerns – Dye It Blonde

American rock and roll with a twist of indie dreaminess meets Western culture, or is it called just Britpop nowadays?  Dye It Blonde is filled with close your eyes, lay back and relax songs. Sometimes you can feel a cowboy influence; Can I be your cow girl? The guitars on Dye It Blonde are awesome, I almost want to play along, and post it on Youtube. Dye It Blonde is just a beautiful record from start to finish.

3.Cat’s Eyes – Cat’s Eyes

Faris Badwan and Rachel Zeffira, took their love for 60’s girl groups and turned them into a full on experimental 60’s pop band, producing one of 2011’s best albums of this year so far. One half of Cat’s Eyes is the front man of The Horrors, the other half a opera trained darling sweetheart Rachel Zeffira.

2. The Kills – Blood Pressures

My favourite duo decided to end all other ties and finally give us the follow up to Midnight Boom, was it worth the wait? Sure, Alison came back from The Dead Weather with a stronger more raw voice, they knuckled down with their drumming machine and gave us their most ‘real’ album to date. The Kills have always enjoyed their mixture of blues rock and roll; Blood Pressures offered us a different side to Midnight Boom, very minimal. I did doubt Blood Pressures, with no big hit lead singles and after much whoring out The Kills find themselves back on my daily listening agenda.

1. Friendly Fires – Pala

When I original first heard Pala, I was heartbroken, gone were the big catchy hooks, replaced with almost carnival like tracks. It took me a good few weeks to actually completely and utterly convince myself that Friendly Fires had actually done it again, and given me a record filled with little guilty quirks. I feel sick to my stomach for not actually falling in love with Pala the moment I first listened, I doubted Friendly Fires. Just a little. Now I love it.

David Hayter

(Strictly Festivals Editor In Chief)

It turns out I’ve had the exact opposite experience to James in 2011. For me, and pop/folk/electronica/indie/r’n’b fans, it has been a year brimming with creativity and divergent ideas, the only problem? With a few notable exceptions (three in fact) this year’s finest releases have all been of vaguely great but not quite transcendent in quality.

So, you’ve guessed it, I’ve got a long list on honourable mentions to roll through, so bear with me.

Honourable Mentions: Lady Gaga – Born This Way, Katy B – Katy B On A Mission, Josh T. Pearson – The Last Of The Country Gentlemen, James Blake – James Blake, Wild Beasts – Smother, EMA – Past Life Martyred Saints, Destroyer – Kaputt, Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Emmy The Great – Virtue and Frank Ocean – Nostalgia U.L.T.R.

Okay now down to business…

5. Nicholas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise

Space is Only Noise took me completely by surprise, over the years I’ve become so accustomed to hearing about great guest Deejays at Fabric that I’ve all but phased out that kind of hype as background noise. Nicholas Jaar was different however; Space Is Only Noise is not a record of obnoxious gnawing bass lines and studio wizardry, but is in fact suitably spacious, patient and humorous LP that blends buzzing electronics with earthy natural sounds. Beats migrate, they plink, they plonk, and the bass drops are knowingly understated, this is a record that you ooze into, and it return it seeps into your subconscious. In short, Space Is Only Noise is a master class in intelligent and highly considered stupidity.

4. The Weeknd – House Of Balloons

While mainstream American R’n’B remains ponderous, the genre’s avante garde fringe has been making some of the most exciting and forward thinking music on the planet. The class of 2011 have embraced dubstep and chillwave, just as the stars of post-dubstep have embraced R’n’B and pop, and the process has resulted in a string of fantastic releases capped off by The Weeknd’s House Of Balloons. Possibly the most hauntingly seductive album of the last decade; the record buzzes, clicks and snaps into life behind Abel Tasfaye’s gorgeous croon. The album is a superb mood piece that flitters and evolves across a series of long form, lucid arrangements highlighted by the sublime “High For This”, “Coming Down”, “House Of Ballons” and “Loft Music”.

What makes The Weeknd so essential and so distinctive is that his seven-minute odysseys are utterly dependent on one another. It refuses to function in isolation. You cannot fast forward, you must not skip ahead, you have to sink into the hazy beats, and allow them to gestate and evolve. This is a record that requires patience and investment, and those who chose to indulge Mr. Tasfaye will be handsomely rewarded by this sordid sexual excursion.

3.Bon Iver – Bon Iver

Not one to repeat myself, here’s the conclusion to this week’s Bon Iver review: “For Emma, Forever Ago was a specific, intimate affair that struck its listeners on wholly personal level, making deep internalized and direct connections. Bon Iver is broader but no less resonant, carefully constructed, diverse and expansive layers of sound combine to create a record that is wholly modern, thrilling electric, and yet wonderfully rustic. As an album Bon Iver is mammoth in scope, universally poignant and full of arresting crescendos while still remaining fragile, isolated and lonesome in its catharsis. A 21^st Century masterpiece, a unique, but magnificent companion for My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Illinois.”

2.tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L

So what’s the biggest mistake you’ve made this year? Mine, well that’s easy, I foolishly decided to give seeing tUnE-yArDs a miss because my friend bailed on me. So what’s happened in the aftermath? That gig has received five star reviews from every critic worth their salt, and her tour has already gone down in history as one of the greatest, most distinct and un-recreatable in UK music history.

Similarly all those ludicrously over the top adjectives can easily be applied to W H O K I L L; an explosion of sound, culture and soul that is so vibrant and varied that it’s impossible to pin down. It could have made anywhere in the world, or nowhere. The madcap energy and the fusion sound that permeates W H O K I L L is just so out there, it’s genuinely refreshing.

While not an appropriate comparison at all sonically, Merrill Garbus’ second studio LP is reminiscent of Diplo and M.I.A’s Privacy Funds Terrorism, Volume 1. mixtape; it’s a sudden and unexpected glimpse into the future of music, a record that could only be made in the 21^st Century that speaks to an amalgamated world culture, with a beautifully crowded sound, that should repulse but only serves to entice. C’est Magnifique, the album of the year if you don’t live in United Kingdom.

1. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

Many artists seek to capture the essence of their home nation, but few have succeeded as thoroughly, and produced a statement so thoroughly essential, as PJ Harvey. Harvey’s ode to her homeland is a distressing one; it’s a land of rotting flesh, machine gun blasts and lonesome villages full of widows and deformed children. By marrying an exploration of the folk tradition to her well established alt-rock atmospherics Harvey created a macabre portrait of the English at war, from Gallopolli to Helmand Province this is an album of dark humour, bleak emotion and truly beautiful arrangements.

Harvey doesn’t lampoon, she isn’t heavy handed, instead she lets the imagery and her sound do all the talking. Let England Shake, therefore, is not an overt condemnation instead it’s a record that, through its masterful construction, leaves the listener feeling deeply uncomfortable, full of regret and ready to take action. Let England Shake is one of the finest and most essential works a British Artist has ever penned, let alone in the last year. A studied cultural dissection of a nation consumed by the ravages and inherent guilt of war.

Tags: Bon Iver, Callum Thompson, Danielle Gough, David Hayter, Foo Fighters, Frank Turner, George Bullock, James Rutherford, Kyle Prangnell, Lady Gaga, PJ Harvey, Rik Sharma, Simone F, Tom Forster