The Big Beat: The Big Beat's Top Albums of 2011: #21

Random thoughts on the year-end best of list....

- I love this stuff. Our year end roundtable at WOXY was one of my favorite things we ever did although, admittedly, probably the most self-indulgent. Music nerdness run amok, but the best fly-on-the-wall experience we could give. If you liked the inside baseball aspect of it, then you probably dug it. Mind you, it was programmed to fill space during the holidays and given its length, did so in spades.

- 2011 was a pretty damn good year in music. But, as is usually the case for me, I tend to spend more time seeking out what's next than staying put on what's just been found (i.e. the 'next' of months prior). This represents what stayed with me and as a result, what I reached for the most. As this blog - and podcast - tends to favor new music from, in particular, emerging artists, there's no reason to be surprised that debut records comprise a large chunk of the list. To that end, I'll admit to not showing an equal level of interest for new music from artists that failed to grab my attention previously. A cursory spin, perhaps, but without a compelling first track to hook me, the time or curiosity usually isn't there.

- Try as I might, it was impossible to get to all of even the most well reviewed records of the year. But isn't that always the case. Made a good run at a lot of 'em these past few weeks, I did. In the end, this is very representative of what I've featured on the blog/show. Traditionally, I've only done a Top 20 and that's why these are separated out yet still worth sharing.

As for the big reveal? I'll countdown the The Big Beat's Top 20 of 2011 Tuesday at 4p Eastern, 3p Central (2100 GMT) on DIY Radio, and then post 'em here on the site upon its completion.

And now, on with the countdown....