Chris Riemenschneider's top albums of 2011

By Chris Riemenschneider Star Tribune

August 17, 2012 — 4:04pm

1. Bon Iver, "Bon Iver." I'm putting it at No. 1 if only to curb the inevitable backlash already setting in for Wisconsin's most famous purveyor of venison and falsetto.

2. Spank Rock, "Everything Is Boring & Everyone Is a Fucking Liar." The nerdy, sex-fantasy lyrics take hip-hop back to more juvenile and (dare it be said) innocent days, while the static-booming, techno-spiked beats and madcap production move it ahead more than most other rap records of late.

3. Wilco, "The Whole Love." A polished sonic masterpiece in the classic Beatles/Beach Boys vein, it also features some of the Chicago rockers' sweetest and most playful songs.

4. The Roots, "Undun." The Philly hip-hop legends' concept album is as confused as their pal Jimmy Fallon's movie career, but the arrangements are crazy/brilliant, and the hard-times theme makes it the perfect antidote to Kanye and Jay-Z's overrated, out-of-touch "Watch the Throne."

5. Deer Tick, "Divine Providence." The rowdy Rhode Island yahoos answer the "Where is Paul Westerberg?" question with a resounding "Who needs him?"

6. The Black Keys, "El Camino." Heavier, louder and, yes, not quite as stellar as their breakthrough album last year, "Brothers." But neither are most records.

7. White Denim, "D." The baking 'n' boogieing Texas quartet's first widely released album gets an A in a freshman mix of studies: jam bands, psychedelic garage-rock and indie experimentation.

8. Mastodon, "The Hunter." Metal's best of 2011, and the Georgian prog-thrashers' best of all time.

9. Dum Dum Girls, "Only in Dreams." Fuzz-rocking, she-bopping, all-female Los Angeles quartet at once made one of the most fun and touching rock discs of the year.

10. R.E.M., "Collapse Into Now." Even before the breakup, this one deserved more love.