Albums of the Year - Pop Edition - Final

And so there goes another year, billions of albums released, far too many ignored or at least neglected, and yet some really great albums have surfaced over the past twelve months.

The last three months in particular has seen me finally click with Dubstep and even House to some extent, a genre I never thought i'd get into.

Here we start with the most essential pop albums of the last year. i've narrowed it down to 18, if I was less tired I probably would've rounded it up to 20 and included Sleigh Bells Treats and the eighties-tastic That We Can Play by Games.

The majority of pop that i've fallen for this year has been deeply influenced by the sixties, girl groups especially, not a bad thing considering this was the golden decade for pop.

Hopefully you'll find something new and enjoyable. Enjoy 2011.

Click the reviews link for soundclips and the normal reviews, generally my own comments along with Boomkats plus tracks to stream.

	Artist	Album
1	Best Coast	Crazy For You	Buy	Review + Soundclips
2	Rangers	Suburban Tours	Buy	Review + Soundclips
3	Allo, Darlin'	Allo, Darlin'	Buy	Review + Soundclips
4	Anika	Anika	Buy	Review + Soundclips
5	Big Blood	Dead Songs	Buy	Review + Soundclips
6	The Like	The Like	Buy	Review + Soundclips
7	Magic Kids	Memphis	Buy	Review + Soundclips
8	Tennis	Baltimore - EP / South Carolina	Buy	Review + Soundclips
9	Beach House	Teen Dream	Buy	Review + Soundclips
10	Gigi	Maintenant	Buy	Review + Soundclips
11	Belle & Sebastian	Belle & Sebastian Write About Love	Buy	Review + Soundclips
12	The School	Loveless Unbeliever	Buy	Review + Soundclips
13	Chain and the Gang	(I've Got) Privilege 7"	Buy	Review + Soundclips
14	Cults	Adult Swim Singles Program	Buy	Review + Soundclips
15	CocoRosie	Grey Oceans	Buy	Review + Soundclips
16	Amiina	Over & Again	Buy	Review + Soundclips
17	Gonjasufi	Kowboyz&Indians / My Only Friend	Buy	Review + Soundclips
18	Scout Niblett	Calcination of Scout Niblett	Buy	Review + Soundclips

5. Big Blood - Dead Songs (Time Lag)

Blessed with beautiful voices and the ability to write great songs, from the fuzzed out acid folk opener Dead Songs to one of the most beautiful non instrumental songs of the year, that being the closing track, The Archivist & The Archeologist, a heartbreaking tale of one whom find her soul mate only to find that he is family. Headstone 1974 all dosed up on effects, Curtain Call, remarkebly beautiful in its starkness, a truly great album that seemingly got better and better with each listen.

Big Blood - Dead Songs (Time Lag)

Big Blood - Dead Songs (Time Lag)

A somewhat chance discovery, stumbled upon by the hype of the good folk on the Avant Sounds of Atease thread on the Radiohead AtEase forum. Not typical of the normal Ambient, noise or nu-jazz that normally surfaces on their, instead a woozy mix of folky-psych goodness that sounds like your soul mate repackaged in the shape of a song or twelve.

The Archivist & The Archeologist particularly blissful, 9 minutes of confusing love delivered in the most delightful manner possible.

Each song so loveable and instant, visions of camp fires and late night sing alongs, heavenly vocals and hooks to die for. Like CocoRosie covering Howlin Rain, Nina Nastasia gonna vegetarian. Beautiful Music.

Tons of Big Blood albums to be downloaded here, i'd recommend buying Dead Songs, next best thing, start with The Grove