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

6. The Like - Release Me

The Pierces hinted at this vengeful, messed up ex-girlfriend, post-split up blues sound on their album 13 Tales of Love and Revenge. The Like took that idea and perfected it, like the Shangri La's when they removed those rose tinted glasses and faced reality, the bitterness of being cheated on is a strong feeling and its presence is clear from the very beginning. "If i could smack some senses in to his senses/ then i might feel alright/ Cos i spent the weekend feeling all alone/ for that rat to come back home/ when all the while he was with somebody new/ now that i know, his hours are few/ Cause i just can't forgive and forget/ So when i'm through with him he will be wishing he was dead/ I know what he's been up to/ and i know that he's been untrue/ when i'm through with him he will be wishing he was dead"

The anger subsides at times but generally this is a fantastic anger fuelled heartbroken tale of unfulfilled love and the all the confusion that Best Coast translated so well, all in the guise of the Shangri La's discovering distortion and quirky keys. A quite brilliant tale of love and revenge.

Find more artists like The Like at Myspace Music

Find more artists like The Like at Myspace Music

Find more artists like The Like at Myspace Music