The Top 50 Albums Of 2011: #40-#31

#40
SBTRKT
‘SBTRKT’
(Young Turks)
Radio 1’s endorsement of dubstep and the genre’s subsequent ubiquity has left its founders feeling compromised, however, SBTRKT smartly bridges the divide. Undoubtedly pop but in a unique way, ‘SBTRKT’’s cameos from Sampha and Little Dragon’s Yukimi Nagano inject the masked producer’s beats with soul.
David Renshaw

#39
Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks
‘Mirror Traffic’
(Domino Recording Co.)
Following Pavement’s triumphant exercise in nostalgia was always gonna be tricky, but happily those lovable Jicks turned in their most accessible record yet. With hooks taking precedence over heroics, Stephen Malkmus hasn’t been this instant (or this hilarious) in years.
Will Fitzpatrick

#38 
Lykke Li
‘Wounded Rhymes’
(ll/Atlantic)
Every ounce of Lykke Li’s pain is portrayed in this stunning collection of heartbreak anthems. From the explicit ‘Get Some’ to ‘Sadness Is A Blessing’s’ gush of misery, we’re exposed to a gripping romantic saga.
David Renshaw

#37
EMA
‘Past-Life Martyred Saints’
(Souterrain Transmissions)
At times a noise-rock mud fight, at others, an inky stream of reverb and whispers, EMA’s debut was dynamic but disfigured. Throughout, though, Erika M Anderson’s gnarled Midwest drawl and gritty lyrics united to make it this year’s angst masterpiece.
Matt Wright

#36
Arctic Monkeys
‘Suck It And See’
(Domino Recording Co.)
The cover carried a simple warning –’Suck It And See’ – but the music was not as confrontational; ‘She’s Thunderstorms’ and ‘Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’ showed a psychedelic evolution from the slow grinding rock of ‘Humbug’.
Liam Lidbetter

#35
St.Vincent
‘Strange Mercy’
(4AD)
Annie Clark’s glorious third album has seen her go from being known as a keen collaborator to a star in her own right. ‘Strange Mercy’ delivers on every level, sounding both full of love and enticingly autonomous. The year’s most deserved breakthrough.
David Renshaw

#34
Gruff Rhys
‘Hotel Shampoo’ 
(Turnstile)
Originally conceived as an album of piano ballads, Rhys’ third solo LP quickly grew out of control. Before he knew it, it was a love-struck concept album and art installation about a hotel made from complimentary toiletries. Demented, obviously, but sweet and brilliant too.
Daniel Ross

#33
Noah And The Whale
‘Last Night On Earth’ 
(Mercury)
Broken heart firmly behind him, ‘Last Night On Earth’ finds Charlie Fink in sanguine mood. Musically, there’s a shift too; though NATW’s folk roots remain, ‘Tonight’s The Kind Of Night’ and ‘Just Before We Met’ mark confident, anthemic strides.
Liam Lidbetter

#32
Dutch Uncles
‘Cadenza’
(Memphis Industries)
Mixing the art-pop foppery of early 00s indie with some serious Steve Reich worshipping, ‘Cadenza’ is an underrated joy, with Duncles’ single ‘The Ink’ suggesting that if they so desired, Tears For Fears like grandeur could be just around the corner.
Harriet Gibsone

#31
Mazes
‘A Thousand Heys’
(FatCat)
‘A Thousand Heys’ was the perfect soundtrack to the summer we never had. Full of swathes of fuzzy, hazy, feed backed guitars, this album captures the spirit and energy of youth perfectly.
Mischa Pearlman

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