FEATURE: 2011: The Limbs of a Shaking Nation: The Best from a Fantastic Musical Year

FEATURE:

 

 

2011: The Limbs of a Shaking Nation

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IN THIS PHOTO: PJ Harvey (photoed in 2011)/PHOTO CREDIT: Max Marcocia 

The Best from a Fantastic Musical Year

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THIS series is designed to celebrate years in music…

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Radiohead (captured in 2011)/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images

post-2000 - and the fact this century can rank alongside the last in terms of the best music. There are some who claim music peaked by the end of the 1990s and we have not seen anything as good. I have already focused on a couple of years from the twenty-first century and there are few as strong as 2011. From superb efforts from the likes of Laura Marling and Kate Bush to stunners from James Blake and Beastie Boys; PJ Harvey and Radiohead – quite an exceptional and varied year. You cannot claim 2011 lacks bite and, to my mind, it can rank alongside most years in terms of its sheer brilliance. Have a look at the records below and recall all the wonder we saw seven years ago. 2011 remains one of those years that…

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Beyoncé/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images

HAS yet to be touched.

ALBUM COVERS: Getty Images

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PJ HarveyLet England Shake

Released: 14th February, 2011

Label: Universal Island Records

Genres: Alternative-Rock; Folk-Rock; Folk

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RadioheadThe King of Limbs

Released: 18th February, 2011

Label: XL Recordings

Genres: Alternative-Rock; Electronic; Experimental

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St. VincentStrange Mercy

Released: 12th September, 2011

Label: 4AD

Genres: Indie-Rock; Post-Punk; Art-Pop; Baroque-Pop

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Florence + the MachineCeremonials

Released: 28th October, 2011

Label: Universal Island Records

Genres: Alternative; Indie; Pop

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Bon IverBon Iver

Released: 17th June, 2011

Label: 4AD

Genres: Indie-Rock; Folk

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Tom WaitsBad as Me

Released: 21st October, 2011

Label: Anti-

Genres: Rock; Blues

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Kate Bush50 Words for Snow

Released: 21st November, 2011

Label: Fish People

Genres: Art-Pop; Jazz; Chamber-Pop

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Beyoncé 4

Released: 24th June, 2011

Labels: Parkwood, Columbia

Genre: R&B

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James BlakeJames Blake

Released: 4th February, 2011

Label: Interscope Records

Genres: Dubstep; Soul; Experimental; Electronic

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The Black KeysEl Camino

Released: 6th December, 2011

Label: Nonesuch

Genres: Blues; Blues-Rock; Garage-Rock

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Lady GagaBorn This Way

Released: 23rd May, 2011

Labels: Streamline, Kon Live, Interscope

Genre: Dance-Pop

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Björk Biophilia

Released: 5th October, 2011

Label: Universal International

Genres: Electronic; Experimental; Trip-Hop; Glitch

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Wild BeastsSmother

Released: 9th May, 2011

Label: Domino Recording Company

Genres: Indie-Rock; Indie-Pop; Dream-Pop

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Beastie BoysHot Sauce Committee Part Two

Released: 27th April, 2011

Label: Capitol Records

Genres: Hip-Hop; Alternative Hip-Hop; Post-Punk

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Laura MarlingA Creature I Don’t Know

Released: 9th September, 2011

Label: Virgin Records

Genres: Folk; Folk-Rock