Best of 2011: Fred Rudofsky’s Top 20 Albums

20. Jimmy Vaughan (with Lou Ann Barton): “Plays More Blues, Ballads and Favorites”
19. Nick Lowe’s “The Old Magic”
18. Emmylou Harris’ “Hard Bargain”
17. The Jim Jones Revue’s “Burning Your House Down”
16. Amy LaVere’s “Stranger Me”
15. Imelda May’s Mayhem”
14. The Doornails’ “Back Porch Daze”
13. Shelby Lynne’s “Revelation Road”
12. Eilen Jewell’s “Queen of the Minor Key”
11. Dave Alvin’s “Eleven Eleven”
10. Candye Kane’s “Sister Vagabond”
9. Joe Ely’s “Satisfied at Last”
8. Shannon McNally’s “Western Ballad”
7. Duke Robillard’s “Lowdown and Tore Up”
6. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears’ “Scandalous”
5. Ry Cooder’s “Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down”
4. Willie Nile’s “The Innocent Ones”
3. Tom Waits’ “Bad as Me”
2. Barrence Whitfield and the Savages’ “Savage Kings”
1. The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Live at Winterland”

by Fred Rudofsky, Nippertown contributor

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
Steve Nover’s Top 10 CDs
Greg Haymes’ Top Music Video
Paste Magazine’s Top 10 Albums
The New York Times’ Top 10 Books
Mike Hotter’s Top 10 Albums
Kirsten Ferguson’s Top 10 Live Cover Songs
The A.V. Club’s Top 10 Comedy Albums
Ed Conway’s Top 10 Pop Albums
The Los Angeles Times’ Top 10 Pop Albums
J Hunter’s Top 10 Live Shows
Mr. Eck’s Top 10 Albums
Richard Brody’s Top 10 Concerts
Mike Hotter’s Top 5 Songs