My Top 30 Influential Albums of 2011

My apologies for the long hiatus. I've just been busy, but I'm back with routine posts. For right now, I think it's important to list my top 30 influential albums of 2011.

01. Atlas Sound – Parallax

Genre: Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Rock

Mood: Nocturnal, Atmospheric, Dreamy, Hypnotic, Reflective

Sample: http://youtu.be/XSB0FVt5XnQ

02. Mazzy Star – Common Burn (single)

Genre: Dream Pop, Alternative Country

Mood: Detached, Soothing, Brooding, Restrained, Sensual

Sample: http://youtu.be/KZUoYK_-nr4

03. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake

Genre: Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Mood: Atmospheric, Eerie, Weary, Spooky, Angst-Ridden

Sample: http://youtu.be/-2tGhWVMc2E

04. Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact

Genre: Psychedelic Pop, Ambient Dub, Electronica

Mood: Ambitious, Dramatic, Dreamy, Gritty, Hypnotic

Sample: http://youtu.be/rjJ8IPDQk6Q

05. Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Genre: Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk

Mood: Wintry, Autumnal, Earnest, Laid-Back/Mellow, Melancholy

Sample: http://youtu.be/bo6lKQYVUBU

06. tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l

Genre: Folktronica, Indie Rock, Ethnic Fusion

Mood: Cheerful, Freewheeling, Ironic, Naïve, Playful

Sample: http://youtu.be/YQ1LI-NTa2s

07. The Weeknd – House of Balloons

Genre: Contemporary R&B, Trip-Hop

Mood: Nocturnal, Atmospheric, Hypnotic, Laid-Back/Mellow, Futuristic

Sample: http://youtu.be/PGCVhhUxnp8

08. Eleanor Friedberger – Last Summer

Genre: Indie Pop

Mood: Carefree, Confident, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Literate

Sample: http://youtu.be/f_BKLMtQZpY

09. Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)

Genre: Underground Rap, East Coast Rap, Conscious Hip-Hop

Mood: Confident, Street-Smart, Uncompromising, Angry, Dramatic

Sample: http://youtu.be/FYgJDTVnUj4

10. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

Genre: Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Mood: Atmospheric, Hypnotic, Melancholy, Quirky, Searching

Sample: http://youtu.be/i00_qTtyxWM

11. The Weeknd – Thursday

Genre: Contemporary R&B, Trip-Hop

Mood: Nocturnal, Atmospheric, Hypnotic, Laid-Back/Mellow, Futuristic

Sample: http://youtu.be/1lZu5DZIxfE

12. Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

Genre: Abstract Hip-Hop, Alternative Rap, Left-Field Hip-Hop

Mood: Rebellious, Street-Smart, Atmospheric, Brash, Druggy

Sample: http://youtu.be/znDsRydk3_w

13. Joe Goddard – Gabriel (ep)

Genre: Indie Electronic, Club/Dance

Mood: Boisterous, Party/Celebratory, Bright, Gleeful, Stylish

Sample: http://youtu.be/p-GWKBe-u8Q

14. Björk – Biophilia

Genre: Electronica, Art Pop

Mood: Delicate, Ethereal, Passionate, Sophisticated, Stately

Sample: http://youtu.be/br2s0xJyFEM

15. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We’re New Here

Genre: Dubstep, Poetry, Dark Ambient

Mood: Austere, Aggressive, Angry, Fiery, Confrontational

Sample: http://youtu.be/rm4zJSyxlOQ

16. Panda Bear – Tomboy

Genre: Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Indie Electronic

Mood: Ambitious, Ethereal, Gentle, Insular, Plaintive

Sample: http://youtu.be/eoOv1tyWHe0

17. Adele – 21

Genre: Blue Eyed Soul, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Mood: Autumnal, Bittersweet, Calm/Peaceful, Intimate, Poignant

Sample: http://youtu.be/eVLJ4HOzi1c

18. Tori Amos – Night of Hunters

Genre: Classical Crossover, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Mood: Ambitious, Brooding, Earnest, Intimate, Literate

Sample: http://youtu.be/9gzKwOcCOYA

19. Wild Beasts – Smother

Genre: Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Mood: Eccentric, Indulgent, Quirky, Outrageous, Whimsical

Sample: http://youtu.be/q-qZgIz79ts

20. Elbow – Build a Rocket Boys!

Genre: Dream Pop, Indie Rock

Mood: Atmospheric, Reflective, Epic, Somber, Autumnal

Sample: http://youtu.be/f_QABAt0iLs

21. Radiohead – The Kings of Limbs

Genre: Experimental Rock, Art Pop, Indie Rock

Mood: Hypnotic, Tense/Anxious, Weary, Insular, Spooky

Sample: http://youtu.be/8A9bMTh9rdQ

22. Meg Baird – Seasons on Earth

Genre: Contemporary Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter

Mood: Atmospheric, Bittersweet, Bleak, Calm/Peaceful, Delicate

Sample: http://youtu.be/QsKtljlJyAA

23. Feist – Metals

Genre: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop

Mood: Intimate, Reflective, Sentimental, Earnest, Gentle

Sample: http://youtu.be/rhoPZ9bbrwA

24. Sondre Lerche – Sondre Lerche

Genre: Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Pop

Mood: Autumnal, Calm/Peaceful, Cheerful, Gentle, Intimate

Sample: http://youtu.be/Drqu_iw4ubk

25. The Roots – undun

Genre: Alternative Rap, East Coast Hip-Hop

Mood: Distraught, Dramatic, Tense/Anxious, Weary, Austere

Sample: http://youtu.be/6vP24wNuRXs

26. Cold War Kids – Mine Is Yours

Genre: Indie Rock

Mood: Earnest, Passionate, Amiable/Good-Natured, Bittersweet, Brooding

Sample: http://youtu.be/GS8NYRLU-xs

27. Lamb – 5

Genre: Trip-Hop, Art Pop

Mood: Passionate, Hypnotic, Atmospheric

Sample: http://youtu.be/gzkGWdw9ieM

28. Little Dragon – Ritual Union

Genre: Trip-Hop, Art Pop

Mood: Bitter, Delicate, Restrained, Warm, Bright

Sample: http://youtu.be/HXn02jofXGk

29. Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

Genre: Alternative Rap, East Coast Rap

Mood: Humorous, Witty, Aggressive, Confident, Freewheeling

Sample: http://youtu.be/WdgLMslbDuY

30. Bibio – Mind Bokeh

Genre: Indie Electronic, Post-Rock

Mood: Trippy, Atmospheric, Brittle, Complex, Enigmatic

Sample: http://youtu.be/cPCLbJujU8E