So I’ve read through a lot of “best of 2011” roundups in various magazines, online and in print. Whenever I read through lists like that, I find myself questioning my taste in music, as rarely do any of my favorites find their way onto these lists. This year I decided to contribute my two cents to the conversation, and present my top 5 new records of 2011. So without further ado…

5. Friendly Fires – Pala

This was an 11th hour discovery for me. It was initially shared with me by my friend Jessica on the way to an ugly Christmas sweater party, so that should give you a good sense of when I first heard this album. My first impression – which held true through a thorough listening of the entire record – was that they reminded me of a hyperactive, beat-heavy modern Peter Gabriel, specifically from his Up era, and more specifically using the song “Growing Up” as a template. Though that description does certainly not encompass their entire sound, it’s the best I’ve got right now. There’s some indie, some dance-pop, some disco, and somehow I find myself to be incredibly productive while listening to them.

Standout tracks: Live Those Days Tonight, Blue Cassette, Hurting

4. Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues

If I’m to be honest, I should list both Fleet Foxes self-titled album and Helplessness Blues together, as I discovered them them both at the same time, and they quickly became some of my favorite mood music. However, because their debut came out in 2008 and not 2011, I can’t in good conscience include it. Since I found Paul Simon’s latest release a bit of a disappointment, Fleet Foxes have done a great job of filling my desire for gently melodic, meandering melodies with simultaneously sweet and melancholy harmony throughout. They also manage the feat of infusing the tracks with creative song structures and unusual instrumentation (do you know what a Marxophone is? Because I don’t…) without seeming overly esoteric and losing my attention.

Standout tracks: Montezuma, Helplessness Blues, Lorelei

3. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

A few years back, I thought the Foo Fighters might have lost me as a fan. When they released the single “Wheels” with their greatest hits album, I was actually bothered – not because it was a bad song, as if a generally less interesting group such as Train had released that very same song, I would probably have enjoyed it – but because it was below them, and entirely lacked the perfect blend of throat-ripping passion and soul-bearing intimacy that had kept me a fan ever since The Colour & The Shape. While this album does not quite unseat that masterpiece, Wasting Light won me back within the first 60 seconds of the opening track, and it’s by far the best thing they’ve released since Colour.

Standout tracks: Dear Rosemary, Arlandria, Back & Forth, I Should Have Known

2. Mutemath – Odd Soul

I liked Mutemath before I’d ever heard any of their music, specifically because of Paul Meany – I’ve been a fan of his work ever since he was in Earthsuit a decade ago. MM’s debut was excellent, even if it felt perhaps a bit too manufactured. Their followup, Armistice, gave the impression that they were trying to shed the U2 comparisons garnered by their debut, but to my ears came across a bit too oblique, and lacked the sharp memorability of their previous songs. On Odd Soul they seem to have found a perfect balance, showing great creativity while still crafting huge, arena-ready tracks. I think they were listening to some Jamiroquai while writing this album – and that’s not a bad thing.

Standout tracks: Blood Pressure, Cavalries, One More

1. Mat Kearney – Young Love

I concluded a few years ago that regardless of any measure of artistic merit, creativity, or originality, if I’m to be honest with myself the album I rank highest each year should be the one I listened to most. By that metric this record easily wins. Mat Kearney was an artist I’ve had some fondness for ever since his mainstream debut album Nothing Left To Lose, but I always had the impression that he didn’t know exactly what he wanted his music to be. That record contained a lot of awkward white-boy hip-hop influence, which was complete done away with in his sophomore effort City of Black & White. While City was a great listen, there was almost nothing memorable in a sea of adult-contemporary middle-of-the-roadness.

Young Love sounds like an incredibly talented songwriter finally finding a sonic home. It’s a veritable treasure troe of infectious beats, perfectly sparse samples, clever, self-deprecating love stories, and hooks that won’t leave your head for days on end.

Standout tracks: Count On Me, Learning to Love Again, She Got the Honey

So there you have it – my personal favorite releases of 2011. If you haven’t heard all these albums yet, I’d encourage you to do so – and I’d love to hear your top 5!