Best of 2011: Matt Mac Haffie’s Top 10 Albums

10. Charmboy’s “Let It Feed”
Local trio ‘70s-drenched debut CD rocks!

9. Bryan Thomas’ “Smash to Pieces”
Ridiculously good!

8. Laura Marling’s “A Creature I Don’t Know”
Dare I say it, good folk.

7. Mike Viola’s “Electro de Perfecto”
More of “that thing you do” power pop out of Boston.

6. Human Switchboard’s “Who’s Landing in My Hanger?”
This Myrna Marcarian-led outfit burns as bright in reissue as the original vinyl LPs, EPs and 45s it was culled from.

5. Tommy Keene’s “Deep Six Saturday”
No matter the year, Tommy always delivers a well-crafted power pop album.

4. Liam Finn’s “FOMO”
This son of Neil won me over at the Solid Sound fest this summer past.

3. Foo Fighters’ “Wasting Light”
Seventeen years in, still making indispensable guitar rock.

2. Thomas Dolby’s “Map of the Floating City”
Originally part of the Floating City video game, this LP grew a life of its own.

1. Michael Monroe’s “Sensory Overdrive”
Let’s top the rock chart with an album that actually rocks. It rocks its damn fool head off. No song over 4 minutes, no-filler, all-killer, Mike Monroe! So here goes your proof; check out all 3 minutes 30 seconds of the video for “Trick of the Wrist”…

by Matt Mac Haffie, 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 Concerts
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
Fred Rudofsky’s Top 20 Albums
Greg Haymes’ Top 15 Theater Productions
Tim Livingston’s Top 5 Music DVDs
David Brickman’s Top 11 Art Exhibitions
J Hunter’s Top 10 Jazz CDs
Andrzej Pilarczyk’s Top 12 Concerts