Below you will find a brief outline of my top 5 albums to drop this past year. While a lot of great records were released within 2011, these 5 as well as the honorable mentions stood out to me as some of the best vocal, sonic, and lyrical work to debut this year. The list is not numerical in order of "most favorite" as the field this year was so tight and definitely offered a variety of great albums depending on your mood. 2011 was also the year for the ladies in my book as my top 5 is occupied by 5 sublime releases from some phenomenal female vocalists. Peep the list below and Enjoy!
1. "21" - Adele
While other artists attempted to stake claims to 2011 and there were many, Adele came out of what seemed like nowhere to the mainstream public to seize the day with her sublime sophomore effort "21". From the lead single and first song on the effort "Rolling In The Deep," to the last track and second single "Someone Like You," "21" played like a true body of work and not a copy and paste job that is too often done during this era of singles fame. In addition to Adele's two chart-toppers, "Rumour Has It," "Set Fire To The Rain," "Don't You Remember," "Turning Tables," and "One and Only" are other standouts from the effort and the unmentioned songs are also great additions to her growing discography. In addition to offering up some of the best music of the year, Adele's "21" is also the best selling album of the year surpassing 15 million units sold around the world and counting!
2. "The Light of The Sun" - Jill Scott
It had been a minute since Jill Scott released a body of work (2007's "The Real Thing: Words & Sounds Vol. 3") and lord knows I was craving some new material from my girl Jilly from Philly as she always delivers vocally and lyrically with her efforts. Possessing one of the best pens in the game, Jill Scott certainly delivered with 2011's "The Light of The Sun" from the thumping buzz single "Shame" to the highly emotional torch ballad (and one of 2011's best) "Hear My Call." Jill as in all of her records had something for everyone and has the unique ability to craft a sonic masterpiece that appeals to different aspects of music while maintaining her vocal and lyrical integrity. Other standouts from the record for me include "Blessed," "Le BOOM Vent Suite," "Making You Wait," "Missing You," "When I Wake Up," her Anthony Hamilton assisted "So In Love" and clearly "So Gone (What My Mind Says) ." Essentially the whole album is diesel and is one of those bodies of work that can and should be listened to in a continuous loop.
Ledisi always delivers in my book and just when you think you've figured out what Ledisi is all about sonically, she drops another tightly crafted album that explores other vocal and musical aspects of her music. 2011's "Pieces Of Me" is no different and while I wasn't expecting a new album from Led until 2012, partly due to me still rocking with 2009's "Turn Me Loose," I am always glad to get a fresh new album from Ledisi because she always brings it vocally and lyrically for me. With that said, the whole album is a sonic masterpiece in my book and I will be highly surprised if she doesn't snag at least one of her 3 Grammy Award nominations for this album. From the title track and lead single "Pieces Of Me" to the final official track "I Gotta Get To You," the album plays seamlessly and the various bonus tracks are just an added treat to this musical feast. "So Into You," "Bravo," "Stay Together," "Coffee," "Hate Me," "Shut Up," "Shine," and the John Legend written cut "I Miss You Now" are all favorites and have all been and still are in heavy rotation in numerous playlists of mine. Honestly you can never go wrong with a Ledisi album because with a voice like hers you can do no wrong.
It takes a lot of guts to change up your sonic approach to music while at the top of your game and Beyonce's "4" definitely took the charge with this one moving away from her urban pop club ready hits to more of an artistic album that offers up her best vocal and lyrical effort to date in my opinion. Opening up with the power ballad "1+1," Beyonce offers up her most raw and emotional vocal performance that rates as one of, if not her best vocal recording thus far. In addition to "1+1," Beyonce charges in new sonic directions with the alternative "I Miss You," Motown throwback "Love On Top," and Fela inspired "End of Time." In addition to these exciting new sonic charges, Beyonce even gives fans some throwback R&B love on the Andree 3000 assisted "Party" and Boyz II Men sampled "Countdown." Though not her most commercially successful effort, it's her most artistic and critically acclaimed album to date and I think she is helping lead the charge in refreshing R&B music, which has seen a decline in recent years. B's "4" is definitely a sublime record and hopefully fans of the diva's early work will get hip to her best work to date because you can tell she truly put a lot of effort into crafting such a powerful album.
Though "Late Nights & Early Mornings" was thought to of been scheduled for a late 2010 release, fans of the former Floetry songstress were finally treated to her sublime solo debut in March. Propelled by the lyrically and vocally phenomenal Grammy nominated "Far Away," Marsha proved that she just isn't a classic songwriter for the likes of Michael Jackson, but that she saved some of those gems for her own solo debut. Even Marsha's highly underrated lead single ""Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player)" was a great addition to radio and her Kim Kardashian reference proved to be even more poignant as 2011 comes to a close. Other highlights from this body of work include "With You," "Your Hands," the title track "Late Nights & Early Mornings," "Anticipation" and the Lauryn Hill penned "Lose Myself." Offering up one of the greatest lyrical minds in the game paired with an amazing vocalist, Marsha Ambrosius' "Late Nights & Early Mornings" is a great debut solo album that truly matched both of her sublime gifts.
Honorable Mentions
Amy Winehouse - "Lioness: Hidden Treasures"
Anthony David - "As Above So Below"
Anthony Hamilton - "Back To Love"
Eric Roberson - "Mister Nice Guy"
Frank Ocean - "nostalgia, ULTRA"
Jessie J - "Who You Are"
Jill Scott - "Hidden Beach presents The Original Jill Scott From The Vault Vol 1."
Kelly Clarkson - "Stronger"
Kindred the Family Soul - "Love Has No Recession"
Lalah Hathaway - "Where It All Begins"
." Therefore, watch her phenomenal performance of her touch ballad "Turning Tables
" from her AOL Sessions experience earlier this year.
," which was off of Teena's "It Must Be Magic
." Though Marsha has yet to release her take on "Yes Indeed
" dropped last year. While the collection is full of some amazing songs, "Ugly Part Of Me
" is my favorite joint from the record and is one that deserves to be given a first if not second listen by music lovers. Ms. Sunshine is one of the real ones out there and her smooth cooing voice on "Ugly Part Of Me
" is one of the standout tracks from her sublime album and you can check out this live clip of Marsha performing her smooth bedroom jam "With You
