Your Holiday Shopping: KCRW DJs Pick Their Top 10 Music Albums of 2011

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Jason Bentley
ARTIST ALBUM  
TV On The Radio Nine Types of Light (Interscope)
Elbow Build A Rocket Boys (Co-Op/Fiction)
My Morning Jacket Circuital (ATO)
Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)
Adele 21 (XL/Columbia)
Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee part 2 (Capitol)
Portugal. The Man In The Mountain, In the Cloud (Atlantic)
PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Anti)
Metronomy The English Riviera (Big Beat/Atlantic)
Feist Metals (Interscope)
Photo Credit: Jeremiah Garcia

Chris Douridas facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Adele 21 (XL/Columbia)
Paul Simon So Beautiful or So What (Hear Music)
Tom Waits Bad As Me (Anti)
Metronomy The English Riviera (Because Music)
tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l (4AD)
Nicolas Jaar Space Is Only Noise (Circus Company)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
Teddy Thompson Bella (Verve)
Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch)
Hollie Cook Hollie Cook (Mr. Bongo)
Photo Credit: Ryan Rogers

Tom Schnabel facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Gretchen Parlato The Lost and Found (Obliqsound)
Stefano Battaglia The River of Anyder (ECM)
Eric Alexander Don't Follow the Crowd (High Note)
Maraca and his Jazz All Stars Reencuentros (Descarga SARL)
Ana Moura Coliseu (World Village)
Tinariwen Tassili (Subpop)
Magos Herrera Mexico Azul (Sunnyside)
Various Afro Latin via Cotonou (Syllart)
Ismael Rivera Maelo (Fania / Codigo)
Jose Rizo's Latin Jazz All Stars Mongorama (Saungu)
Photo Credit: Michele Yamamoto

Garth Trinidad facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Metronomy The English Riviera (Because Music)
Raphael Saadiq Stone Rollin' (Columbia)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
Jessica Lea Mayfield Tell Me (Nonesuch)
Thundercat The Golden Age of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder)
J-Davey New Designer Drug (ILLAV8R)
James Pants James Pants (Stones Throw)
Gotye Making Mirrors (Samples n Seconds)
Metropole Orkest Basement Jaxx vs Metropole Orkest (Atlantic Jaxx)
Photo Credit: Starbright31

Raul Campos facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
The Horrors Skying (XL)
Raphael Saadiq Stone Rollin' (Columbia)
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Diego Garcia Laura (Nacional)
Portugal. The Man In The Mountain, In The Cloud (Atlantic)
tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l (4AD)
Wilco The Whole Love (dBpm)
TV On The Radio Nine Types Of Light (DGC)
James Blake James Blake (Polydor UK)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
Photo Credit: Koury Angelo Photography

Anne Litt facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Anna Calvi Anna Calvi (Domino)
Elbow Build A Rocket Boys (Fiction/Downtown)
Tom Waits Bad As Me (Anti)
Ryan Adams Ashes & Fire (Capitol)
PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Vagrant)
Raphael Saadiq Stone Rollin' (Columbia)
St Vincent Strange Mercy (4AD)
The Kills Blood Pressures (Domino)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
Portugal The Man In The Mountain, In The Cloud (Atlantic)
Photo Credit: Starbright31

Liza Richardson facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Hollie Cook Hollie Cook (Mr. Bongo)
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Rival Sons Pressure & Time (Earache)
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Mirror Traffic (Matador)
Richard Buckner Our Blood (Merge)
Thao & Mirah Thao & Mirah (Kill Rock Stars)
St. Vincent Strange Mercy (4ad)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
My Morning Jacket Circuital (ATO)
Grouplove Never Just A Happy Song (Atlantic)
Photo Credit: Michael Dease

Jason Kramer facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Chapel Club Palace (Polydor)
Alexander Alexander (Vagrant)
Fink Perfect Darkness (Ninja Tune)
The Black Lips Arabia Mountain (Vice)
Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch)
Grey Reverend Of the Days (Motion Audio)
Wu Lyf Go Tell Fire to the Mountain (PID)
Nneka Soul Is Heavy (Sony Import)
Ben Howard Every Kingdom (Island UK)
Tom Waits Bad as Me (Anti)
Photo Credit: blinkeng

Gary Calamar facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Decemberists The King Is Dead (Capitol)
My Morning Jacket Circuital (ATO)
Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch)
Wilco The Whole Love (dBpm Records / Epitaph)
Tom Waits Bad As Me (Anti)
Washed Out Within and Without (Sub Pop)
Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes (Warner Bros)
Real Estate Days (Domino)
Raphael Saadiq Stone Rollin' (Sony)
Various Artists True Blood Vol. 3 (WaterTower Music)
Photo Credit: Starbright31

Dan Wilcox facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
PJ Harvey Let England Shake (Vagrant)
tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l (4AD)
St Vincent Strange Mercy (4AD)
Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)
Cut Copy Zonoscope (Modular)
Shabazz Palaces Black Up (Sub Pop)
A.A. Bondy Believers (Fat Possum)
Monogold The Softest Glow (self release)
Steven Malkmus & the Jicks Mirror Traffic (Matador)
White Denim D (Downtown)
Photo Credit: prusakolep

Eric J. Lawrence facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
The Low Anthem Smart Flesh (Nonesuch)
Blitzen Trapper American Goldwing (Sub Pop)
Cloud Control Bliss Release (Ivy League)
Matt Berry Witchazel (Acid Jazz)
Jim Noir The Noir Club (Jimnoir.com)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Fat Possum)
The People's Temple Sons of Stone (HoZac)
White Denim D (Downtown)
Lake Giving & Receiving (K)
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Mirror Traffic (Matador)
Photo Credit: Marc D'Amour

Chuck P facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Wild Flag Wild Flag (Merge Records)
Beirut The Rip Tide (Pompeii)
EMA Past Life Martyred Saints (Souterrain Transmissions)
Tamikrest Toumastin (Glitterhouse)
Brave Irene Brave Irene (Slumberland)
Alvarius B. Baroque Primativa (Poon Village)
Googoosh Googoosh (B-Music)
These Trails These Trails (Drag City)
Various Artists The Amazing Zigzag Concert (Road Goes On Forever)
John Carter/Bobby Bradford The Complete Revelation Recordings (Mosaic Select)
Photo Credit: Michele Yamamoto

Anthony Valadez facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
The Weeknd House of Balloons (Self Release)
James Blake James Blake (Polydor)
Rapahel Saadiq Stone Rollin' (Sony)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
The Weeknd Thursday (Self Release)
Meshell Ndegeocello Weather (Naive)
Dj Cam Seven (Inflamable)
Ben Westbeech There's More To Life Than This (Strictly Rhythm)
Jonti Twirligig (Stonesthrow)
Drake Take Care (Cash Money Records)
Photo Credit: Koury Angelo Photography

Jeremy Sole facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
The Stepkids The Stepkids (Stones Throw)
James Blake James Blake (Polydor)
Black Keys El Camino (Nonesuch)
Jonti Twirligig (Stones Throw)
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Hanni El Khatib Will The Guns Come Out (Innovative Liesure)
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey Race Riot Suite (The Royal Potato Family)
Mia Doi Todd Cosmic Ocean Ship (City Zen)
Gary Clark Jr. Bright Lights (Warner Bros.)
Hollie Cook Hollie Cook (Mr. Bongo)
Photo Credit: Andy Sternberg

Travis Holcombe facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Jay-Z & Kanye West Watch The Throne (Roc-A-Fella)
Cymbals Unlearn (Tough Love)
Bosco Delrey Everybody Wah (Mad Decent)
Paul White Rapping With Paul White (One-Handed Music)
VA Life Is Dance! (Finders Keepers)
VA Acid Rumba: Spanish Gypsy Grooves 1969-1976 (Hundergrum)
Com Truise Galactic Melt (Ghostly International)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Fat Possum)
Planningtorock W (DFA)
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Photo Credit: prusakolep

Aaron Byrd facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Sbtrkt Sbtrkt (Young TurksXL)
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
The Kills Blood Pressures (Domino Recording)
James Blake James Blake (Polydor)
CANT Dreams Come True (Terrible Records)
Metronomy The English Riviera (Because)
Shabazz Palaces Black Up (Sub Pop)
The Weeknd House of Balloons (Self-Release)
Radiohead The King of Limbs (tbd records)
Vartious Artists Brand New Wayo: Funk, Fast Times & Nigerian Boogie Badness 1979-1983 (Comb & Razor Sound)
Photo Credit: Marc D'Amour

Mathieu Schreyer facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Baxter Dury Happy Soup (emi)
Chain & the Gang Music's not for everyone (K Records)
Thundercat The Golden Age of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder)
The Stepkids The Stepkids (Stones Throw)
tUnE-yArDs w h o k i l l (4ad)
SBTRKT SBTRKT (Young Turks/XL)
James Blake James Blake (Polydor)
Omar Souleyman Haflat Gharbia (The Western Concerts) (Sublime Frequencies)
Isolee Well Spent Youth (Pampa)
Photo Credit: Starbright31

Mario Cotto facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Nicolas Jaar Space Is Only Noise (Circus Company)
The Rapture In The Grace of Your Love (DFA)
Gatto Fritto S/T (International Feel)
Part Time What Would You Say? (Mexican Summer)
VA Americana: Rock Your Soul (BBE)
Rebolledo Super Vato (Comeme)
Drake Take Care (Young Money)
John Tejada Parabolas (Kompakt)
Harald Grosskopf Synthesist/Re-Synthesist (RVNG)
VA Fac.Dance (Strut)
Photo Credit: nachotronic

Marion Hodges facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Destroyer Kaputt (Merge)
Comet Gain The Howl of the Lonely Crowd (What's Your Rupture?)
Toro Y Moi Underneath the Pine (Carpark)
Veronica Falls Veronica Falls (Slumberland)
James Pants James Pants (Stones Throw)
St. Vincent Strange Mercy (4AD)
Holy Ghost! Holy Ghost! (DFA)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Fat Possum)
Real Estate Days (Domino)
Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX We're New Here (XL)
Photo Credit: Marc D'Amour

Valida Carroll facebook / twitter facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Lykke Li Wounded Rhymes (LLC Recordings)
Little Dragon Ritual Union (Peacefrog)
Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues (Sub Pop)
Feist Metals (Polydor France)
FosterThe People Torches (Columbia)
Toro Y Moi Underneath the Pine (Carpark)
Hanni El-Khatib Will the Guns Come Out (Innovative Leisure)
Gotye Making Mirrors (Samples'n' Seconds)
Tiger & Woods Through The Green (Running Back)
Tycho Dive (Ghostly International)
Photo Credit: Koury Angelo Photography

Bo Leibowitz facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Christian McBride Conversations With Christian (Mack Avenue)
The Marsalis Family Music Redeems (Marsalis Music)
Kate Reid The Love I'm In (Kate Reid)
Roy Haynes Roy-alty (Dreyfus Jazz)
Alan Pasqua Twin Bill (BFM Jazz)
James Carter At the Crossroads (Emarcy)
Geri Allen & Timeline Live (Motema)
Terell Stafford This Side of Strayhorn (MaxJazz)
Terri Lynn Carrington The Mosaic Project (Concord Jazz)
Stefon Harris/David Sanchez/Christian Scott Ninety Miles (Concord Picante)
Photo Credit: prusakolep

Ariana Morgenstern facebook / twitter
ARTIST ALBUM  
Sean Rowe Magic (Anti)
Shelby Lynne Revelation Road (Everso Records)
My Morning Jacket Circuital (ATO Records)
Feist Metals (Interscope)
k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang Sing It Loud (Nonesuch)
Other Lives Tamer Animals (tbd records)
Iron & Wine Kiss Each Other Clean (Warner Brothers)
Mariachi El Bronx Mariachi El Bronx (ATO Records)
Portugal. The Man In The Mountain, In The Cloud (Atlantic)
Anna Calvi Anna Calvi (Domino)
Photo Credit: Michele Yamamoto

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