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The Top 10 Albums of 2011

9. Joss Stone - LP1 (bedshaped)

Aah, Joss, how I’ve missed you so. I don’t care what anybody says, Joss Stone’s smoky, rich and sexy vocals do it to me every freakin’ time. Unfortunately, it’s the quality of songs that can let her down on previous albums; with eleven or twelve track albums only boasting a couple of stand out tracks at best.

There’s so much that I like about this album; released on her own label, now that she’s parted company with her former label who she’d claimed for a long time were being too constrictive, the fact that it’s been reported it was laid down within a week, and that it feels so laid back, loose and non intrusive. It should come with a label that states the listener should only press play when they are in a chilled out and slightly playful mood. The feel is groovy and laid back, and there’s definitely a sense of minimal production here, even though that’s probably not the case considering who co-produced it. Many of the songs have that ‘mastered in one take’ feel and it just adds to the quality in my opinion.

Typically soulful, pleasingly playful. This album touches a little more on a rinky-tinky blues feel, without taking away Joss’s own identity. There’s some wonderful piano and gorgeous Hammond sounds, coupled with some luscious strings and simple orchestral backing. Not to mention some wonderfully complementary backing vocals. And it all comes together under the watchful eye of Ms Stone herself and Dave Stewart serving knob twiddling duties. Even though the album is under-pinned with this loose feel, the great production sweeps some of the tracks into some great subtle directions; bouncy bass driven blues and tight funk, not to mention some wonderfully delicate and fragile ballads.

Typically panned by the critics, but I love it.

Listen to – BoatYard

9. The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (Swisslet)

Oh good grief, another in the long list of bands hailed by the NME as being the saviours of the British guitar band.  Save us.  I’ve only just recovered from the indignity that was (is?) the Kaiser Chiefs.  But you know what? I caught their set on the Other Stage at Glastonbury in June, and they were so much fun that I gave up and sought out the record. 

Interesting, thoughtful concept albums about war and misery are all very well, but sometimes you just want to have fun, right?  Although this is certainly not the most cerebral album that I’ve heard this year, it might just be the most fun.  It simply rollicks along: Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra) rolls into If You Wanna and you might as well surrender yourself to it now.  It’s not big, it’s not clever and it is certainly not original…. But who cares?  Plus Post Break-Up Sex might just be my favourite song of the year, godammit. Maybe those beer-chucking gibbons at gigs know a thing or two after all?

Listen to - Post Break-Up Sex

9. Christina Perri - lovestrong (LB)

I do like a nice female singer songwriter.  Over the years plenty of those have appeared in these lists from Chantal Kreviazuk to Tina Dico and Alanis Morrisette.  Now it's the turn of Christina Perri, a 25 year old from Philadelphia who shot to fame when her song Jar of Hearts appeared on the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance?

Jar of Hearts became a huge hit worldwide - alongside Lana del Rey's Video Games it's the best ballad of 2011 - and one of the top ten selling singles in the UK this year.  I half expected the album to be full of similar songs, but actually it's a lovely and eclectic mix of styles.  From the lovely opening track Bluebird to the jaunty Bang Bang Bang this isn't the most original album ever released, but it does tick an awful lot of the boxes for things I like in music.  Great female voice, great pop songs nicely produced.  What more could you ask for?

Listen to: Jar of Hearts (52 million YouTube views and counting)