2011

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10. Big K.R.I.T. - ReturnOf4Eva
9. Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler / The Dream EP
8. Death Grips - Exmilitary
7. Poor Lily - Poor Lily
6. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
5. CunninLynguists - Oneirology
4. Kendrick Lamar - Section.80
3. o'death - Outside
2. Danny Brown - XXX
1. K-Dot-O-Dot - Trap Jesus

2011 is the year I started becoming more of a music obsessive. I joined several music websites in this year (including MB) and began to watch people like theneedledrop and dereckvon on youtube. And as a result of the deeper exploration of current music, 2011 is the first year up to this date with seven entries that I consider to be 4.5/5 star records. And by far the hardest year so far to narrow down.

Most of the albums named on my list are rather well known on here and there's no huge surprises to anyone who has followed my posts over the years. But I would like to point out that Poor Lily album as it's one that I have not seen around here all that much. Really fantastic post-hardcore.

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake seems to be missing from your list...

That's a good album. Wasn't really in contention though.

2012

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10. Hop Along - Get Disowned
9. Swans - The Seer
8. Big K.R.I.T. - 4eva N a Day
7. Divorce - Divorce
6. Himanshu - Nehru Jackets
5. Lana Del Rey - Paradise
4. Death Grips - The Money Store
3. El-P - Cancer 4 Cure
2. Kiss the Anus of a Black Cat - Weltuntergangsstimmung
1. Aesop Rock - Skelethon

The discovery kicked into high gear this year. I even had to leave out a few 4.5* records due to the sheer amount of albums I listened to and loved in 2012. Aside from my #1, the rest is basically in an instinctive order, as opposed to a cut and dried personal opinion. It's probably my highest rated year to date, but I also have a feeling that if I listened to some of these albums again I would lower my rating. I don't know if I was just caught up in the moment, confusing new styles with greatness - but I am certain that they are all very good albums.

lol

rockin' on it right now

First thought is John Maus.

2013

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10. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels
9. Saint Pepsi - Hit Vibes
8. Chance the Rapper - Acid Rap
7. きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ [Kyary Pamyu Pamyu] - なんだこれくしょん (Nandakorekushon)
6. Altar of Flies - Female
5. Arctic Monkeys - AM
4. LIZ - Tour CD
3. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience
2. Danny Brown - Old
1. Coin Locker Kid - Traumnovelle

Another jam packed year for me, leading to a very difficult selection process. In the end, I decided I would pick the albums I have listened to the most. I think that's a fairly reasonable way to do things. Had I made this list back in 2013 I can guarantee it would be a lot different, since I only listened to a few of them recently, and gained more appreciation for some in that time too. A pretty sizeable Hip Hop chunk here too, which is of no surprise since I started the year listening to basically only Hip Hop. Though I ended it falling in love with the likes of LIZ, JT and Kyary.

2014

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10. DJ Q - Ineffable
9. The Dead C - The Twelfth Spectacle: This Century Sucks
8. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
7. Les Big Byrd - They Worshipped Cats
6. Kairon; IRSE! - Ujubasajuba
5. RiFF RAFF - NEON iCON
4. LIZ - Just Like You
3. Ought - More Than Any Other Day
2. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
1. Kitty - Frostbite

Nearly there ladies and gentlemen! This list was mighty hard to narrow down and order. Some tough decisions were made and I think that, all in all, these are the albums I would want representing my taste for this particular year. It's all over the shop, from dream pop to noise to post-punk to grime. And those top 4 albums rank right up there with some of my favourite albums of all time. Fantastic year for music.

Great journal, you're like a human ipod, how do you remember all those albums? Personally i couldn't listen to that many albums much less remember them and rank them.

Im a little mad no pixies album reached your number 1 spot but im glad surfer rosa came pretty close.

I use RYM and last.fm. The former is the best resource as I can search for albums by year, genre etc. And thanks. Pixies are one of my favourite bands ever, and could easily have hit #1 that year.

Do you have any plans to take this journal further after you finish 2015? Runoffs or more specified reviews or something?