No Depression’s Crowdsourced Top 2011

My Top Tunes of 2011 is still sorting itself out (it is still 2011 through the end of next week). [Edit: JC’s Top Tunes of 2011]  No Depression‘s community ning, however, is amazingly well organized for a self-organizing successor to the successful music magazine.  The wranglers there solicited and sorted thru about 200 different best-of lists this month (mine own, as I said, missing in action), ranked and re-ranked.  The winners are (drum roll please):

THE NO DEPRESSION COMMUNITY’S 50 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2011

1. Gillian Welch – The Harrow & the Harvest
2. The Decemberists – The King Is dead
3. Wilco – The Whole Love
4. Lucinda Williams – Blessed
5. Steve Cropper – Dedicated
6. Tom Waits – Bad as Me
7. Dave Alvin – Eleven Eleven
8. Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers – Starlight Hotel
9. Jason Isbell – Here We Rest
10. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire

And a bunch more you can look over on-site.  The Critics turned Top Bloggers list is similar but different:

NO DEPRESSION FEATURED BLOGGERS 10 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2011

1. Gillian Welch – The Harrow and the Harvest
2. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead
3. Jason Isbell – Here We Rest
4. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO
5. Chris Thile & Michael Daves – Sleep With One Eye Open
6. Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers – Starlight Hotel
7. Alela Diane – Alela Diane & Wild Divine
8. Steve Earle – I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive
9. Todd Snider – The Storyteller
10. Abigail Washburn – City of Refuge

I heartily endorse the top pick, Ms. Welch will be on my list.  I refuse to listen to The Decemberists (snobbery on my part).  Wilco and Lucinda’s releases left me wanting.  No idea who Steve Crapper or Zoe Muth or Alela Diane are (yes, I’ve been out of it this year, even more than last).  I really should look for Dave Alvin, and I’m sure Jason Isbell rocks as much or more than his former friends in Drive-By Truckers, who will also be on my list.  Steve Earle is on my list, in spite of himself.  Ryan Adams is still alive?  And somebody cares?  Wow, I really am out of the buzz….

And don’t even get me started on the Grammys.  Merry Christmas to you and the Family.

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