Top 10 Best Albums of 2011

My top 10 personal favorites of the year... along with some honorable mentions...

Confession: I was not a big fan of the Foo Fighters until this album. I grew up listening to Nirvana, and to me, even though I loved Grohl, the Foo Fighters' music just never measured up.

So, funny story... last year when this album was released, I won an MTV contest to meet the Foo Fighters for their "Rope" video premiere. The entire band was super nice, and they're so great to their fans. They had been playing secret shows in L.A. for weeks and took the time to film the video premiere at another fan's house. The combination of their down-to-earth nature combined with the excellence of this album made me love them.

Best album tracks: Dear Rosemary, I Should Have Known and Arlandria.

(and below... is a photo of Grohl and me!)

How can you not love these guys? They're 60's style rock is so catchy. And it's only two guys!

Best tracks: Lonely Boy, Dead and Gone, Hell of a Season

Another artist I just can't get enough of. The girl just can't write a bad song. And I'm a rock and roll girl at heart, but she's slowly converting my ways.

Best tracks: S&M, Only Girl (In the World), Man Down, Cheers (Drink to That)

Here is another band that I wasn't completely in love with until this album came out. Their music is so dark and eerie, yet catchy. A fantastic album.

Best tracks: Spectrum, What the Water Gave Me, Seven Devils

I have a theory on Adele... Have you ever noticed how artists sometimes blow up after an American Idol finalist performs one of their songs on the show? Last year, Idol finalist Haley Reinhart performed "Rolling in the Deep" on one of the final shows, and I ran to my computer to download this amazing song I'd never heard before. Apparently, so did the rest of America, because the song skyrocketed on the charts shortly after that episode. And from there, Adele blew up.

Essentially, the song "Someone Like You" also makes me want to go home and cry for no apparent reason. In a good way.

Best tracks: Turning Tables, Rolling in the Deep, Someone Like You

One of the best new bands to emerge this decade.

Best tracks: Houdini (my favorite!), Helena Beat, Pumped Up Kicks

Yeah, she gets two. Her music is just that good. And that's pretty awesome to release two kick-ass albums in one year.

Best tracks: Fool in Love, Roc Me Out, Drunk on Love, Talk that Talk, We Found Love

It pains me a little to put this album on here, only because I'm not a big fan of Gaga as a person, but I have to admit that her music is catchy. I saw Gaga perform at Lollapolooza in 2010, and she spent at least 5-10 minutes talking about herself in between sets, to the point that we actually left. I've seen so many live videos where she does the same thing. Less talk, more music, Gaga.

Best tracks: You and I, The Edge of Glory, Born This Way, Marry the Night

I actually didn't even realize how great this album was until I was listening to it while compiling this list, debating whether it should make the top 10.

It did.

Best tracks: Promises, Promises, Adolescents, Isadore

This one was a toss-up for me. I don't think this is Coldplay's best album, but based on popularity, I do think it deserved to make the list.

Best tracks: Princess of China (feat. Rihanna!), Hurts Like Heaven, Paradise

Radiohead - Kings of Limbs

It pains me that I couldn't put this one on the list, since Radiohead is my favorite band. I just don't think it's their best album.

Beyonce - 4

Is it just me, or does the song "Best Thing I Never Had" make you want to roll down the windows, blast the volume, and smile at getting over all the jerks who have ever broken your heart?

Yeah, maybe that's just me.

This one almost made the list, but except for "1+1" I didn't really like the other tracks.

Maroon 5 - Hands All Over

Same with this one. I haven't got a chance to get acquainted with any of the tracks except for "Moves Like Jagger."

Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne

N* in Paris is a great track. So is "Otis." The rest are okay.