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• Listen to our mixtape of the top 10 albums of the year.

• Video: Kevin Coffey talks about his pics

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Some of us document our lives by the music that surrounds us.

Songs come on the radio that conjure up memories of decades gone by. A band reminds you of the time you saw them in concert. A single song makes you recall a specific person, a date you went on, a night out or a family gathering.

That's how 2011 was for us.

March was seeing bands such as The Head and the Heart at SXSW that I knew people back at home would love. Then there was that summer day when it seemed everyone wanted to talk about Bon Iver.

2011 was a diverse year with great music from all genres.

10. NOAH AND THE WHALE, "LAST NIGHT ON EARTH"

(Island Mercury)

With this record, Noah And The Whale moved beyond folk to become something more pop and rock — like Coldplay — but with deft lyrics that paint stories — unlike Coldplay. The music of "Tonight's The Kind Of Night" captures the energy and hope espoused in its lyrics while "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N." is a song that's at once sad and about heart and leaving behind regrets.

9. JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST, "WATCH THE THRONE"

(Def Jam)

This collaboration could have been disastrous, but it produced, front-to-back, one of the best hip-hop albums in years — as well as a song with maybe the most ridiculous title ever (N***** In Paris). The combination of amazing production — samples of the Will Farrell comedy "Blades Of Glory" as well as Otis Redding are so ridiculous they're awesome — are coupled with incredible rhymes and tons of boasting. Kanye West and Jay-Z say they're the illest, um, gentlemen alive on this record. I'd think that was too much if I didn't think they were right.

8. THE CIVIL WARS, "BARTON HOLLOW"

(Sensibility Music)

Modern country radio is more akin to rock than almost anything that Merle Haggard ever wrote or sang. Enter The Civil Wars, a sometimes swampy, sometimes blues and often old-time country duo that sounds as if they've been singing and playing together for their entire lives. Things get toe-tapping with the title track, but tunes like "C'est la Mort" really showcase the vocal work. And "Poison & Wine" may be the breakup song of the decade.

7. DRAKE, "TAKE CARE"

(Cash Money)

Who knew the kid from Degrassi could rhyme? Well, he can. And his name's Drake. After a much-lauded mixtape and first album, he knocked this one out of the park. Somewhere in his combo of rap and R&B comes a whole bunch of incredible pop songs. Then there's the song "Over My Dead Body," which contains the best rhetorical question I've ever heard in rap: "Are these people really discussing my career again?/Asking if I'll be going platinum in a year again?/Don't I got the (stuff) the world wanna hear again?/Don't Michael Jordan still got his hoop earring in?"

6. BRIGHT EYES, "THE PEOPLE'S KEY"

(Saddle Creek)

If you can get past the ramblings of Denny Brewer that bookend the record, you'll find the best album Bright Eyes has ever made. Conor Oberst has long been known as the country-folk singer/songwriter who wears his heart on his sleeve. While his band has occasionally dabbled with keyboards and electric guitars, they've never done it to the effect of this album. While the so-honest-it-hurts lyrics are still there, this album really lets producer/guitarist Mike Mogis and multi-instrumentalist Nate Walcott shine through. Bright Eyes finally found its identity and it's called "The People's Key."

5. THE HEAD AND THE HEART, "THE HEAD AND THE HEART"

(Sub Pop)

If you want the experience of friends sitting around a campfire while playing music, singing and dancing, put this album on now. You'll be transported to a summer night of friends, long conversations and music you'll tap your toes to. Two years ago, this band was no more than some people who performed at the same open mic night (as well as the bartender who worked there). Today, they're selling out clubs to fans of folk dirges, vocal harmony and sweet fiddle sounds. I dare you to listen to "Rivers And Roads" and not feel anything.

4. (EXPLETIVE) UP, "DAVID COMES TO LIFE"

(Matador)

Punk rock is supposed to be angry. It's short music. Loud music. And it's supposed to be songs about anarchy and growing up. So what are we supposed to call this incredibly melodic, sometimes pretty concept album? I say it's as punk as it can be. Starting off with an ever-rising instrumental track, this 18-song album is about a guy named David and his love, loss and fear. Despite a band name that will scare off some, this band managed to make the loudest, rockingest album of the year.

3. PAUL SIMON, "SO BEAUTIFUL OR SO WHAT"

(Hear Music)

You can always count on Paul Simon to make good music. But I was surprised that his new album was this good. It's his best in decades. Even though many songs are very rhythmic, it's the first record Simon's written on guitar since before "Graceland." And, of course, his lyricism shines through. The record addresses everything from Iraq and Martin Luther King Jr. to spirituality and God.

2.BON IVER, "BON IVER"

(JagJaguwar)

Justin Vernon's first album as Bon Iver was about loss. His second, "Bon Iver," is about coming back from that, as evidenced by the refrain of the first track: "Still alive for you, love." And where the last album was sparse — mostly Vernon and a guitar, recorded in a cabin — this one is lush. We hear dual drum kits, horns layered over guitar melodies, harmonies and strings that crescendo into gorgeous art rock.

1. THE DECEMBERISTS, "THE KING IS DEAD"

(Capitol)

The Decemberists' Colin Meloy ditched the concept album. But we still get his literary takes on the post-apocalyptic world ("Calamity Song"), odes to a summer day ("June Hymn") and war ("This Is Why We Fight"). This record is balanced with peppy sing-alongs ("Calamity Song") and slow hymns ("Dear Avery"). Then there's "All Arise!," which has enough country fiddle in it to satisfy anyone who wants to dance. Meloy even pokes fun at his smart lyrics when he sings about Hetty Green, who he calls "queen of supply-side bonhomie bone-drab/Know what I mean?"

"The King Is Dead" is about burdens, freedom, summer sun, war, peace, rebuilding, changes of the season, soft melodies, literary jokes, January, June, nature, standing your ground, snow, childhood, guitar picking, thick drums, harmonica, beautiful landscapes and the state of Nebraska going up in flames during the apocalypse. And it's fantastic.

VIDEO: Kevin Coffey talks about his pics

THE NEXT 15

Those weren't the only great albums. These are well worth your time, too, but didn't quite make the top 10. Here's the rest of the top 25, arranged alphabetically by artist.

» Big Harp, "White Hat"

» Coldplay, "Mylo Xyloto"

» Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues"

» Foo Fighters, "Wasting Light"

» Iron & Wine, "Kiss Each Other Clean"

» It's True, "Another Afterlife"

» Joy Formidable, "The Big Roar"

» Lady Gaga, "Born This Way"

» McCarthy Trenching, "Fresh Blood"

» M83, "Hurry Up We're Dreaming"

» The Roots, "Undun"

» Satchel Grande, "Dancefloor Protest Music"

» The So-So Sailors, "Young Hearts"

» TV On The Radio, "Nine Types Of Light

» Wilco, "The Whole Love"

Contact the writer:

402-444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com

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