Let England Shake
We've rounded up lists of our favorite 2011 albums by genre and style and by personal choice. Now, we present our selections for the overall favorites of 2011: the best music culled from each genre and style we've covered throughout our month-long retrospective of the year past, winnowed down to the cream of the crop. You'll find country, R&B, rock & roll, jazz, metal, indie, and all points between on this list of records that represent the best of what 2011 had to offer. 

...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead - Tao of the DeadAdele - 21
Ambrose Akinmusire - When the Heart Emerges Glistening
Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues
Marsha Ambrosius - Late Nights & Early Mornings
Arctic Monkeys - Suck It and See
Katy B - On a Mission
Battles - Gloss Drop
The Black Keys - El Camino
Danny Brown - XXX
Vinicius Cantuária & Bill Frisell - Lágrimas Mexicanas
Chino - Chino
Eric Church - Chief
Class Actress - Rapprocher
Demdike Stare - Tryptych
DJ Quik - The Book of David
EMA - Past Life Martyred Saints
Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Fucked Up - David Comes to Life
PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
Hate Eternal - Phoenix Amongst the Ashes
Van Hunt - What Were You Hoping For?
Iceage - New Brigade
J. Cole - Cole World: The Sideline Story
Krallice - Diotima
Miranda Lambert - Four the Record
Cliff Martinez - Drive
Martyn - Ghost People
Metronomy - The English Riviera
Meshell Ndegeocello - Weather
Brad Paisley - This Is Country Music
Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Roots - Undun
Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'
St. Vincent - Strange Mercy
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
Ashton Shepherd - Where Country Grows
Paul Simon - So Beautiful or So What
Wadada Leo Smith's Organic - Heart's Reflections
Omar Souleyman - Haflat Gharbia: The Western Concerts
Andy Stott - Passed Me By/We Stay Together
Craig Taborn - Avenging Angel
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator
tUnE-yArDs - W H O K I L L
Venice Dawn - Something About April
Veronica Falls - Veronica Falls
Gillian Welch - The Harrow & the Harvest
Wild Flag - Wild Flag
Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage
Zomby - Dedication