Albums Of The Year: 2011

Most of this year’s top albums lists have already been release and whilst everyone is looking towards Pitchfork for the most comprehensive and critically acclaimed list, there will be a large percentage of the music loving community eagerly anticipated Village Boy’s top list. Possibly.

Putting this list together made me realise a couple of things. 1. What an incredible year of music it has been across all genres, the fact that almost all of these albums are debut albums makes you realise that music is in a healthy state no matter what LMFAO and Pitbull try to do to it. And secondly, how much my music taste has changed, I've got TWO R&B albums in there. There's hip-hop, indie, rock, dance, acoustic, it makes my iTunes a happy place to be.

So here's my 21 favourite albums of the year. Feel free to point out ones I've missed, which order they should be in or how completely right I am...


21. Ghostpoet - Peanut Butter And Melancholy Jam

Favourite track - Cash And Carry Me Home


20. Twin Atlantic - Free

Favourite track - Free


19. Everything Everything - Man Alive

Favourite track - Come Alive Diana


18. James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning

Favourite track - We Don't Eat


17. The Weeknd - House Of Balloons

Favourite track - High For This


16. Frank Ocean - Nostaligia Ultra

Favourite track - Swim Good


15. Apollo Brown - Clouds

Favourite track - Never In A Million Years


14. Wild Beasts - Smother

Favourite track - Albatross


13. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

Favourite track - Reunion


12. Ben Howard - Every Kingdom

Favourite track - The Fear


11. The Black Keys - El Camino

Favourite track - Gold On The Ceiling


10. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?

Favourite track - All In White


9. J Cole - Cole World: Sideline Story

Favourite track - Sideline Story


8. Foo Fighters  - Wasting Light

Favourite track - Bridge Burning


7. SBTRKT - SBTRKT

Favourite track - Wildfire


6. Yuck - Yuck

Favourite track - Holing Out


5. Jamie XX & Gil Scott Heron - We're New Here

Favourite track - NY Is Killing Me


4. Drake - Take Care

Favourite track - Marvin's Room



3. Bombay Bicycle Club - A Different Kind Of Fix

Favourite track - Lights Out, Words Gone



2. Jay Z and Kanye West - Watch The Throne

Favourite track - Murder To Excellence

1. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Favourite track - Towers

The Playlist: Miike Snow / Michael Kiwanuka / Kendrick Lamar

Miike Snow - Devil's Work



Michael Kiwanuka — Home Again



Kendrick Lamar - ADHD

Here Comes The Neighborhood: Ep 4 & 5.

As I said in the last post, I'd update with the latest episodes of Here Comes The Neighborhood.



Quick catch-up: part of Miami that has become run down and desperate became the focus of a new art project and became The Wynwood Walls. Graffiti artists came from all over the world to do what they do best, make some art that makes people notice and makes a difference. Each episode is full of rich colours, thought-provoking words and just incredible paintings. Enjoy.

Sleigh Bells: Reign Of Terror.

You thought Sleigh Bells' debut album was pretty heavy and hard? Well it looks like their follow up album, Reign Of Terror, is going to require a change of underwear. Due out in early 2012, this trailer is making it looking pretty ominous. Can't wait.

Kanye West: Watch The Throne: Behind The Scenes.

It is no secret that Kanye West is not short of self-confidence and self-belief. Some brand him as arrogant and big-headed. Myself? I like to refer to him as a genius. Yeah sure he comes across as a bit of an asshole sometimes, but is that a bad thing? So many artists are forced into moulds these days - here to please and sell, but Kanye has refused this at every stage of his career. Everything thing he puts out, his music, the clothes he wears, the words he speaks, is exactly the way he wants it. The man works hard, he doesn't work towards perfection, perfection is just a step along the way. He is provocative, some people love him, some hate him, but isn't that how all the greats are seen? Think about Ali, he boasted, he provoked, screamed and shouted in your face, yet he is considered one of the greatest men to have ever lived. Now maybe it's a bit premature to compare Kanye to Ali, but he's definitely on his way. Definitely.

Kanye West has now started to release behind the scenes videos of the Watch The Throne tour with Jay Z, an exciting and rare chance to see two greats at work. I speak of icons and West's ascendency in that direction, but surely Jay Z has just about cemented himself there? He may not be considered the greatest rapper now, but he is so much bigger than his flow and lyrics, as tight as they may be. Jay Z almost single-handedly brought hip hop and it's culture to the front of society and pop-culture. He was a voice for millions of black youths who were caught in the circles of poverty and drugs, he stepped away from that world and made an empire. An empire that is not just measured in millions of dollars, but in influence and penetration through-out the world. Hip hop and the rest of the world has to acknowledge and appreciate that.

The Playlist: The Black Keys

The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling

The Maccabees: Given To The Wild.

It is a slight understatement that I am very excited for the new Maccabees album, I've got a feeling that 2012 could be their year. They've put out 2 seriously solid albums Colour It In and Wall Of Arms, and Given To The Wild is due out very early January.

And as a little teasing treat they've released a short film clip under the same name as the new album. It is a visual treat and the sound clips from the album sounds brilliant. They've gone big. Seriously can't wait to hear more.