A list of our favorite albums of 2011. Below you’ll find the records that meant the most to me this year. A smaller list than in previous years which is a result of these records remaining in heavy rotation all year combined with an equal amount of time spent listening to records not released this year. [Note: this list does not include releases from the artists I work with directly]

Bon Iver | Bon Iver (buy)
MP3: Bon Iver – “Holocene”
MP3: Bon Iver – “Calgary”

Josh T. Pearson | Last Of The Country Gentlemen (buy)
Video: Josh T. Pearson – “Sweetheart I Ain’t Your Christ”

Feist | Metals (buy)
MP3: Feist – “How Come You Never Go There”

Wye Oak | Civilian (buy)
MP3: Wye Oak – “Civilian”

Conrad Plymouth | Comrade Pylmouth (buy)
Free Download: Conrad Plymouth – Comrade Pylmouth

Jessica Lea Mayfield | Tell Me (buy)
Video: Jessica Lea Mayfield – “Our Hears Are Wrong” (David Letterman)
Video: Jessica Lea Mayfield – “Sometimes At Night”

Nurses | Dracula (buy)
MP3: Nurses – “Trying To Reach You”
MP3: Nurses – “Fever Dreams”

Caveman – CoCo Beware (buy)
MP3: Caveman – “Old Friend”

EMA | Past Life Martyred Saints (buy)
MP3: EMA – “The Grey Ship”

James Blake | James Blake (buy)
Video: James Blake – “Limit To Your Love”
Video: James Blake – “The Wilhelm Scream”

Other Lives | Tamer Animals (buy)
MP3: Other Lives – “For 12″

I caught Nurses last night in Austin. They out supporting their new album, Dracula. The show was great, go see them if you have the chance. Here’s some downloads to get you acquainted.

MP3: Nurses – “Trying To Reach You”
MP3: Nurses – “Fever Dreams”
MP3: Nurses – “Technicolor”
MP3: Nurses – “Caterpillar Playground”

Wilco’s Nels Cline discusses Los Angeles with the L.A. Times and Jeff Tweedy chats with the AV Club.

Aquarium Drunkard gives a nod to Side One of the new self-titled Megafaun album.

Stream the Radiohead ‘The King of Limbs’ Remix Album at Pop Matters.

Wild Flag and St. Vincent perform live in The Current studio.

I listened to Dan Mangan yesterday for the first time. I can definitely recommend his new album, Oh Fortune.

Stream the new Bjork album, Biophilia at NPR.

A great triple bill invaded The Annex in Madison last night. We’ve long been fans of Throw Me The Statue and though I’ve yet to hear their new album Creaturesque, it’s on my list to pick up.

It’s been awhile since we checked in on The Brunettes. The last time we crossed paths was two years ago when they opened for Ferraby Lionheart at the High Noon Saloon.

Enjoy the photos here from Ed Oliver and drop a comment with your review of the show.

Buy: Throw Me The Statue – Creaturesque
++
Myspace: Throw Me The Statue
Myspace: The Brunettes
MP3: Throw Me The Statue- “Hi-Fi Goon”
MP3: Throw Me The Statue – “Ancestors”
MP3: Throw Me The Statue – “About To Walk”
MP3: The Brunettes – Small Town Crew