Best of 2011: Steve Nover’s Top 10 CDs

I feel that this year was a really good year for memorable songs but a weak one for albums. Many of the bands I listed had earlier CDs that I loved, but I didn’t feel as strongly about their follow-ups – especially Chalotte, Florence, St. V. and F.F. – although I do believe they’ll grow on me.

My No. 1 was actually released at the end of 2010, but after leaving Elektra Records and later beaking up, Stereolab have released stuff on smaller labels, and their last was extremely hard to find so I feel justified including it on this year’s list.

Though I try to hear a lot, it’s a losing proposition keeping up with so many releases, and I realize that in a few months my favorites might be quite different, but for now it’s an accurate snapshot:

10. Florence and the Machine’s “Ceremonials”
9. Lykke Li’s “Wounded Rhymes”
8. Fleet Foxes’ “Helplessness Blues”
7. Feist’s “Metals”
6. St. Vincent’s “Strange Mercy”
5. Thurston Moore’s “Demolished Thoughts”
4. Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “Stage Whisper”
3. The Joy Formidable’s “The Big Roar”
2. PJ Harvey’s “Let England Shake”
1. Stereolab’s “Not Music”

MORE BEST OF 2011 LISTS
Fred Rudofsky’s Top 10 Theater Concerts
Paste Magazine’s Top 20 New Bands
J. Eric Smith’s Top Album
Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Albums
Brian Patneaude’s Top 5 CDs
American Film Institute’s Top 10 Movies
Stanley Johnson’s Top 10 Concerts
Richard Brody’s Top Books
Sebastien Barre’s Best of the Year
New York Magazine’s Top 10 TV Shows
Fred Rudofsky’s Top 10 Bar/Club Gigs