This was impossibly hard on The Owl Mag this year folks. Since we’ve added so many new writers, photographers, and readers – we were all split on the best albums of the year. During the 1st and 2nd quarters, we brought you our list of favorite albums released during those time frames.

You can easily take a peek at those lists here.1st Quarter and 2nd Quarter ‘best of’s.’

And to not take up too much of your work day (wink wink), we’ve made the reviews of the top albums of 2011 ‘tweet sized.’ From the honorable mentions, to the top albums – here’s our list!

Honorable Mentions

Peter Bjorn & John – Gimme Some

@PeterBjornJohn‘s Gimme Some is an excellent collection of whistling, claps, and cowbells w perfectly placed soundbites. A must have.

Julie Dyer

tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L

@Tuneyards transfixing genre hybridizations should land them appearances in early chapters of 21st Century pop music history books.

Sean Morris

Explosions in the Sky – Take Care, Take Care

@EITS is a virtuoso guitar symphony of supernatural sounds, shooting stars in the stratosphere, along small subtle serene moments.

Mike Sabino

The Antlers – Burst Apart

Silky vocals + piercing lyrics + stunning arrangements = @theantlers No vinyl collection is complete without Burst Apart

Trina Starke

Wye Oak – Civilian

@wyeoak had me at “You still sleep with me, my jewelry, and my baby teeth” Civilian is epic yet intimate, punching yet passive. Flawless.

Trina Starke

10. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Father Son Holy Ghost by @GIRLSsf is an honest, vulnerable & non-cynical album with songs of heartbreak, loss, love & longing.

Miguel Esobar

9. St. Vincent – Strange Mercy

Beautifully melodic vocals meet crunchy guitars, distinctive driving beats, and vibro-electro wonderment on @st_vincent Strange Mercy

Sharon Payne

8. TV On The Radio – Nine Types of Light

@tvontheradio released an album full of groovy love jams. Soulful hooks and horns on Nine Types of Light set the mood just right.

Kirk Reed

7. Cut Copy – Zonoscope

Zesty synths blend with catchy hooks for 11 tracks of non-stop party on @CutCopy‘s Zonoscope

Julie Dyer

6. The Decemberists – The King is Dead

@TheDecemberists swap the maximalism of Hazards of Love w/visceral succinct folk on The King is Dead, their strongest release to date.

Julie Dyer

5. Radiohead – King of Limbs

@radiohead King of Limbs is as euphoric and soul crushing as it is catchy and uplifting. Short, sweet and to the point. Buy this album!

Wolfgangg Sauer

4. Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

Years of @LykkeLiofficial being pigeonholed as cutesy prompted her & Bjӧrn to create ten fierce gothic torch songs: Bella Swan with backbone.

Sean Morris

3. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

The @fleetfoxes drop heavenly harmonies & melodies that merge seamlessly with introspective lyrics on Helplessness Blues.

Jamie Lynn

2. M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming

If dance jams + epicness had a baby, it would be @M83news Hurry Up Were Dreaming. Inspiring lyrics complete carefully crafted pop songs.

Julie Dyer

1. Bon Iver – Bon Iver, Bon Iver

@Boniver proves he is the greatest songwriter of this generation – his voice & instrumentation is ambitious and memorable on his 2nd LP

Jeff Bracco

Thanks for checking out our Best Albums of 2011. You think we missed something? Add it in the comments or tweet at us using the hashtag

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