#1
Get Your Heart On! – Simple Plan

In my original review I praised this album so much and rightfully so. The beauty of this album is that you can listen to it many times and the songs get better each time. From the sing along able singles Jet Lag and Can’t Keep My Hands Off You, to the heartfelt album tracks Anywhere But Here and Gone Too Soon. It just proves how much Simple Plan can pull off. Who could forget the amazing This Song Saved My Life? This song in a nutshell sums up what Simple Plan mean to so many people (myself included) and closes out the album in style. I’ve awarded this my number 1 album of 2011 for these reasons.

#2
Happeners – White Wives

When I first heard about this band I wasn’t sure what to think. Of course I’d heard that it would consist of members from Anti-Flag, Dandelion Snow and The Code. I thought it would be interesting to say the least. Once I heard the EP SituationistsI was hooked and I knew that what these guys did next would be special. I listened to Happeners online before its release and I wasn’t disappointed, in fact I was even more impressed than with the EP (I thought that wouldn’t be possible). Hungry Ghosts, Paper Chaser and Hallelujah I’m Mourning still sound just as great as they did when I first listened to the album. Those gang vocals in Another City For A New Weekend are still just as awesome as they were back when I first heard this album. This is another album I feel gets better on each listen. I still pick up different things from the songs on every listen and that to me proves it’s a fantastic album.

#3
Goodbye Lullaby – Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne is hands down my favourite singer. I am generally more of a fan of her rock sounding songs but there are some slower songs that are favourites too. This album is more mellow and slower than what we’re used to but that doesn’t mean the songs aren’t any good. In fact this album is in my top 3 because I can’t stop listening to it. The songs grow on you but you get something different from it each time you listen. Goodbye still gives me chills when I listen to it now just like it did when I wrote a review for the album. Avril really proves how much she’s grown as a singer and a song writer with these songs. I love this album so much more than I can say with words.

#4
When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes - Yellowcard

Yellowcard went on an indefinite hiatus after touring for Paper Walls and it wasn’t clear when they would release anything else. When it was announced they were releasing this album I was in a great mood. Ever since hearing them way back in 2003 I’ve always eagerly anticipated any new music they release. On first listen I enjoyed this album so much and just wanted to listen to it again and again. From the opening riff of The Sound Of Me it was clear that Yellowcard were well and truly back. For You And You’re Denial, Soundtrack and Sing For Me were my favourites to start and sound just as fantastic now as they did on first listen. Honestly I couldn’t have asked for a better album after Paper Walls.

#5
Screaming Bloody Murder - Sum 41

Sum 41 are one of those bands that I have stages with. There are times I just want to listen to them non-stop for weeks and months. Then there are times when I hardly listen to them at all. With this album it didn’t matter because it was good enough for either stage. Reason To Believe is a great intro and title track Screaming Bloody Murder is typical Sum 41 but better than previous work. There are enough songs like previous albums and enough experimental songs to tie this album together well. I personally love Baby You Don’t Wanna Know, it has an upbeat tune to it and makes you want to sing along instantly. Crash is also another favourite because I think it shows how much Sum 41 have evolved in music style and also Deryck lyrically too. It definitely shows vulnerability that we haven’t heard before from them. Screaming Bloody Murder is not Sum 41’s best album but it comes pretty close, definitely a big favourite of the year for me.

#6
Gravity Happens – Kate Voegele

When I first heard Kate Voegele I was watching One Tree Hill and thought about buying her album. Here I am years later talking about her amazing third album. The thing about Kate Voegele is that she has a way of crafting a song so that it has its best impact. When you add her voice it is just so amazing and unique. Her music style is a mix of pop, rock and even a bit of folk too. The title track is great but my favourites are Sandcastles and Say You’re Mine. If you haven’t heard of Kate Voegele yet I recommend that you give her a listen because she’s unlike any other singer out there. She will definitely not disappoint you.

#7
Wasting Light – Foo Fighters

There are very few albums that are quality all the way through, Foo Fighters did that with this year’s Wasting Light. From the opener Bridge Burning it’s clear the Foo Fighters are back to what they do best, straight up rock. First single Rope is exactly what you expect it to be but it sounds heavier than majority of Foo Fighters songs. Gone are most of the acoustics and instead heavier rock songs which show the Foo Fighters haven’t lost their touch. My personal favourite is One Of These Days, it is well written and is definitely a grower. Overall this album is a great listen start to finish and you won’t want to skip any tracks. Wasting Light definitely deserves its place in my top 10 albums.