Without a doubt, 2011 was a year of great music. Wrapping up the year is no easy task, especially with so many new emerging artists hitting the indie scene and settled greats releasing records as good or better than their efforts decades prior. Our picks for the Top 20 Albums of the year cover a lot of ground, ranging from Indie Beard Rock to Spaghetti-Western, Rockabilly to Hip-Hop, and everything in between. Check out our Top 20 Albums of 2011 after the jump …

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As 2011 wraps up, all the blogs are posting their end of the year lists. We’ll also be presenting a ton of lists including Top Bands of 2011, Top Albums of 2011, and plenty more! However–we are kicking off the best of the best with some of the artists YOU – the reader – have chosen as some of our favorite BeatCrave Favs. We not only began highlighting some of the best up-and-coming, talented indie acts in January but we also gave you a chance to crown some artists with a BeatCrave Fav of the Month title. Those who earned the title advanced into the running for 2011′s last Fav poll.

We now ask you to cast your votes in for BEATCRAVE FAV OF THE YEAR! See who you voted as some of your favorite artists during 2011 below and make your voice heard. Most importantly – support the band you especially cherish!

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Cassiopeia started off as the side project of Missing Bricks, having since branched off from a primarily alternative rock sensibility to old-school rock n’ roll with pop and folk influences. They bring forth a sound that American Bandstand would have loved – but that’s not all. It is worth mentioning that reflective view back towards 1988 coupled with an overall essence of longing and heartache for a loved one is a message being able to transcend the decades, sure; but the Bellingham, Washington-based band’s strength lies in the art of variety. A banjo here, a slightly different rhythm there, the same honey-dripping vocals that help carry each song – all comprise a unique take on a familiar genre, relevant and welcome to the 21st century music scene. Due to their production (as well as putting out music that sticks with you), their following is strong, verifying the resilience, integrity, and welcome intimacy of the indie scene. They will soon release a full-length album later this month; until then, check them out in our BeatCrave Fav series below.

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In our opinion, A House For Lion‘s debut EP, I Want Us To Be Remembered, has set the bar pretty high as far as debuts are concerned. On the one hand, an EP is a great way to precede a full-length, giving listeners a taste and letting things go from there as far a second helpings are considered. In their case, however, instrumentally and vocally they are so rich, raw, and appealing that we were already ready for more on the second track. Their sound is united, harmonious and seamless as much as it is layered, with hints of alternative, country, and folk in a rock setting. Also, we are very happy to report that the LA-based band’s sound is as polished in the live venue as it is in studio. Having just played the CMJ Music Marathon, we’re looking forward to more catchy melodies from them as the year closes and well into the next. Check out A House For Lions in our BeatCrave Fav series below!

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Melbourne, Australia-based self-professed soul surf band Love Connection brandishes a summer-y sound fit for all seasons, even as autumn makes its presence known. Formed in 2009, they’ve made headway in a number of venues local and abroad. Their self-titled debut, released last year, is a dreamy, wispy repertoire with psychadelic undertones. This year they collaborated with label mates Pets with Pets and released the album Home on the Wave, an album recorded and finished within one day, and fueled by a surf-esque richness punctuated by pop that just works. As a collective, Love Connection seems to be about feats and bounds, resulting in the overall rush of what it means to make music. In short, they love what they do, and that makes them a fair enough contender in our BeatCrave Fav series.  Their anticipated  follow-up, titled thus far as “Euphoria by Love Connection,” will be released early next year. Be sure to check them out below and vote for them in our poll at the end of the month!

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Old Man River, aka singer-songwriter Riley Brown, is probably one of the sweetest sounds we’ve heard lately. Whether performing solo or with a band, Brown brings to the fore the talent of stirring up emotions with more than special effects and pleasing visuals. But it would be doing the concept of Old Man River a disservice if we neglected to knowledge the visual aspect of his music. His videos, a few of which we have gladly secured for you here, are built on a lyrical foundation of interpersonal relationships and love of life, but stitched together with brilliant color, fun storylines, and an overall psychadelic feel – the parts creating a whole that takes you somewhere else entirely. And when combined with such ambient melodic themes, you’ve got a recipe of simultaneously ethereal and prodigious proportions. Check him out in our BeatCrave Fav series below, and be sure to vote for him in this month’s poll!

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Camaraderie and forged family ties within bands are necessarily a given, and Tulsa, Oklahoma-based pop/rock band Stars Go Dim are far from the exception in that regard. Bassist Michael Wittig and guitarist Joey Avalos met during their days as members of Christian rock group, Pillar, adding  vocalist Chris Cleveland to their ensemble, and finally forming in 2007.

Theirs is an introspective and far-reaching take on the pop genre – with enough lyrical universality to resound emotionally within many, as well as enough harmonious rock in vocals, guitar rifts, and backbone rhythms alike. Their latest single, “Like I Mean It” was released nearly a year ago, but there’s been no shortage of their presence. Not only are they set to play a number of shows this fall, but their forthcoming album, Between Here And Now, will make its way on personal soundsystems of varying sizes on October 4th. Check them out in our BeatCrave Fav series below, and if so inclined, vote for them as your favorite in our poll at the end of the month!

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You voted Brian Buckley Band as your BeatCrave Fav for the month of August!  The four-piece band from Los Angeles consists of Brian Buckley, Mike McGraw, Dan Boderman, and Albert Estiamba, Jr.  Their latest album, Hysterical Blindness, came out June 21st, well-received and licensed to film and television alike. More recently, they won the “New Music Night” competition sponsored by House of Blues/LiveNation and SonicBids, celebrating with performances at House of Blues in San Diego, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.  Check out our exclusive interview with Brian Buckley, who talked to us about writing lyrics, his piano-teacher father, and the beauty of spontaneity below…

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Our first Fav for the month of September is New York-based singer-songwriter Alicia Lemke. Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Lemke’s studies in music at Berklee College of Music aren’t the only elements comprising her talent. Her edge runs along a specialization in the relationship realm of the pop world – interjecting a wealth of emotion via lyrics that convey more often than not the things gone unsaid in the most normal of romantic couplings. From the good end of the spectrum to the bad, there is a raw lyric quality that well summarizes even the most familiar of feelings. When contrasted with an acoustic, folk-esque feel – sometimes jazz, sometimes rock – there is just the right amount of punch in her sound that allows it to stick around just a little while longer than usual. Lemke is currently set to play a few shows in New York, then Boston, what’s next we’ll hopefully be ready fo – she’s a talent well on the rise to some great heights, especially if her fans have something to do with it. Check her out in our BeatCrave Fav series below and see (hear) for yourself.

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