Beernerd’s Top Albums of 2011: Music to drink beer to.

James Blake
James Blake
Pair With: Dogfish Head - Bitches Brew
Dubstep producer and DJ James Black delivers one of the years’ most spectacular songwriter albums of the year, and it is his debut album. Go figure… Known for dropping big basslines and big pulses in his DJ sets and previously produced material, Blake’s debut hits the nail on the head with what sounds like a Motown record that’s been thrown through filters and a Juno 106. Sophisticated, graceful, lots of bass and well refined. Top notch!

Apparat
The Devil’s Walk
Pair With: Reissdorf Kölsch

Apparat’s Sascha Ring’s The Devil’s Walk is an emotional and warm journey through all the best parts of electronic music. Ring managed to create an uplifting and melancholic soundtrack from his makeshift studio in Sayulita in Mexico (mastered in Europe). By far one of my most favorite albums of 2011.

Gui Boratto
III
Pair With: Lagunitas IPA

Since the release of Brazilian DJ and producer Guilherme Boratto’s III, it hasn’t left my iPod. Classic Borrato style synths, kicks and song structure compliments his previous game changing albums: the 2007 release Chromophobia and the 2009 release Take Me Breath Away, both on Cologne’s seminal Kompakt label. It doesn’t surprise me that Boratto was nominated as one of the “Who’s the Greatest Dance Acts Of All Time” earlier this year by Mix Mag.

Bon Iver
Bon Iver
Pair With: Anderson Valley - Amber Ale

Recorded in the woods of Wisconsin, Justin Vernon’s minimal and introspective self-titled album hits you over the head like a hammer. Pitchfork finally got it right and gave his album a 9.5 (out of 10). Worth every $9.99 on iTunes.

Radiohead
The King of Limbs
Pair With: Russian River - Pliny The Elder

A lot of critics and fans downplayed this follow up to In Rainbows but, I felt The King of Limbs was a solid release from everyone’s beloved art-rock band. It is Radiohead. Enough said.

Goldie
Fabriclive 58
Pair With: Moonlight - Death & Taxes

16 some odd years later after releasing his pivotal Timeless on his Metalheadz label, Goldie returns with a mix that will for sure realize the sound of dubstep for the kids. Every track on this mix or so solid and just rip through your earbuds. “Each of these are standalone tunes. It is dynamic, it does take you from one extreme to the other, because for me that’s what my life is like,” states Goldie. I agree and that’s why I’ve had this on my iPod since its release.