Short one this year, not much time to pound out my usual essay.  I'm
not qualified to call out the best of 2011, only the ones I play the
most this year.

1.  Peter Bruntnell - Black Mountain UFO.   Consistent high quality
music that hits me the right way.
2.  Tommy Keene - Behind the Parade.
3.  The Damnwells - No One Listens to the Band Anymore.  How
appropriate - and sad that this band isn't recognized more.
4.  Foo Fighters - Wasting Light.  Carrying the torch for classic rock - still.
5.  Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs - God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise.
6.  The Nines - Poliarities.
7.  The Decemberists - The King is Dead.  Mining old REM territory -
unfortunately you won't see REM in my top 20.
8.  Graham Colton - Pacific Coast Eyes.
9.  Matthew Sweet - Modern Art.  Interesting and challenging.  You
have to do what you have to do - artistically.  After 40 years
following Rundgren...
10.  Matt Nathanson - Modern Love.
11.  Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire.
12.  The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time.
13.  The Red Button - As Far As Yesterday Goes.  Not as good as their
first effort, but still a very good album.
14.  David Mead - Dudes.
15.  Augustana - S/T.
16.  Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes.
17.  Indigo Girls - Beauty Queen Sister
18.  Josh Rouse and the Long Vacations - S/T
19.  The Bats - Free All Monsters
20.  Matt Wertz - Weights and Wings

Other CDs I played and liked:  Matthew Ryan - I Recall Standing as
Though Nothing Could Fall, Antigone Rising - 23 Red, Beady Eye -
Different Gear, Still Standing, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds -
S/T, Buffalo Tom - Skins, Cage the Elephant - Thank You, Happy
Birthday, Colbie Caillat - All of You, Iron and Wine - Kiss Each Other
Clean, Matt Kearney - Young Love, REM - Collapse into Now, The Bangles
- Sweetheart of the Sun, The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow, Fleet Foxes -
Helplessness Blues, Radiohead - The King of Limbs.

Happy New Year and take care.

Mike