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Far and away, the best album of the year was Miley Cyrus’s “Can’t Be Tamed.” I’m kidding, that album came out in 2010.  But 2011 did prove to be a great year for indie bands and hip-hop acts as they gained recognition for their individual styles and creative choices. After much deliberation, here are the top five international albums of the year, plus a few honorable mentions.

1‘21,’ by Adele

Adele’s break-up album is so good that you’re a little glad she got her heart ripped out. Created in the aftermath of an epic failed romantic relationship, Adele was able to craft an impressive album filled with pitch-perfect vocals, poetic lyrics and honest emotions. “21” has been a hit with music critics, fans and anyone who has ever had a broken heart.

The lead single, “Rolling in the Deep,” was released last January, and after nearly a year it continues to be wildly popular. Fusing anger and regret with a more Southern country music sound, “Rolling in the Deep” caught on like wild fire and was the first song to create buzz among listeners this year.

While fans were still obsessed with “Rolling,” Adele released the second single, “Someone Like You,” a mournful and beautiful take on moving on, and cemented her place as one of our generation’s most talented musicians.

The album earned the singer-songwriter six Grammy award nominations, including nods in the song, album and record of the year categories. “21” has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide.

2 ‘Watch the Throne,’ by Jay-Z and Kanye West

When news came out that rap superstar Jay-Z was collaborating with kindred spirit Kanye West on a new album, music fans waited with baited breath to find out if it would be a cacophony of clashing egos or a magical symphony of talent.

The album lived up to the hype and broke out of the rap and hip-hop genre, attracting praise from a wide variety of fans.

While some wrongly thought the duo’s lyrics about being insanely rich (Jay-Z talks about planking $1 million while West mentions rolling up in his other, other Benz) were insensitive, it was obvious that they rapped about luxury and opulence with a sense of humor. But don’t let the more decadent songs fool you, “Throne” also covers darker themes such as violence, success and race.

“Throne” proves that despite their mainstream success, Jay-Z and Kanye are still relevant and talented. As Jay-Z says in the wonderfully catchy single “Otis”: “I guess I got my swagger back. Truth.”

Yeah, Hova, truth.

3 ‘Ceremonials,’ by Florence and the Machine

Lead singer Florence Welch’s voice gets lovelier and lovelier with every record, doesn’t it? Rich, haunting and commanding, Welch’s voice is the perfect accompaniment to her dramatic lyrics. Welch takes everyday bummers such as regret and the end of a romance and transforms them into epic, universal issues.

The power of singles like “Shake It Out” and “No Light, No Light” can’t be denied. Her production creates so much more than just individual songs. It creates atmospheres.

A fine successor to influential musician Kate Bush, Welch offers an exemplary example of baroque pop — a genre that uses orchestral instrumentation and can be esoteric and hard to digest — that also manages to win over the mainstream.

4 ‘w h o k i l l,’ by tUnE-yArDs

tUnE-yArDs is creativity personified. Musician Merrill Garbus displays an amazing ear, precise instinct and complete disregard for musical rules as she blends the best of multiple genres to create the truly unique “w h o k i l l.”

Gospel, funk, experimentation, pop, jazz and punk influences combine to create memorable and complex songs.

But it isn’t just the instrumentation that is notable. Garbus tackles important social issues such as inequality, race and gender, which sets this album apart from 2011’s numerous vapid releases that focused on partying, partying and really partying. A perfect example is the mish-mashed, reggae-influenced single “Gangsta,” which explores social and financial inequalities.

It’s mind-boggling how Garbus has woven everything together, and fun to try figuring out her methods while listening to “w h o k i l l.”

5 ‘Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,’ by M83

French DJ Anthony Gonzalez (also known as M83) and his band managed to create not one, but two albums filled with infectious and danceable songs that are infused with heart and feeling.

M83, already known as a skilled producer and a DJ, takes it to another, almost unbelievable level with “Hurry Up.” This album will surely make him a household name.

The standout track, “Midnight City,” displays just enough of a chillwave influence to give the song depth and layers. It’s that same depth and multiple layers that serve as the distinctive characteristic of the 22-track, double-disk album. On top of that, Gonzales adds a pinch of whimsy, storytelling and magic to the quality synth rock to round it all out.

Honorable Mentions:

“Camp,” by Childish Gambino. The alter-ego of actor-comedian Donald Glover released his first album that wasn’t free on the Internet. Although the songs can be inconsistent, his verses are extremely smart, witty and filled with incredible pop culture shout outs.

“Let England Shake,” by PJ Harvey. Harvey’s masterpiece is a concept album that explores the theme of war throughout history. It has won unanimous praise and earned Harvey her second prestigious Mercury Prize.

“So Beautiful or So What,” by Paul Simon. Music legend Simon’s songwriting is at its best on “So Beautiful.” In a year of up-and-comers, it’s good to know there are still musicians that have staying power.

“Nostalgia, Ultra,” by Frank Ocean. Like tUnE-yArDs, Ocean created a mixtape that was unexpected and adhered to no rules. Ocean’s deft touch created something that is truly rare. 

Best Local Albums of 2011

Local music fans suffered through a shortage of memorable homegrown releases this year. Although there were a few saviors, by and large there was an obvious drought in epoch-making records, and none that shifted your perspective on what you thought music could do. There were some good albums, but none that screamed “greatness.”

1 ‘DGNR8,’ by BRNDLS

The garage-rock revivalists fourth record comes closest to being the next great record, but fell just short due to a throwback sonic quality that borrows more than a little from British electronic-rock act Primal Scream. Still, the songs and production offer an undeniable array of sounds beyond anything the band had produced previously. The clash between the digital coldness of the band’s electronic flourishes and their raw abrasiveness results in an unique mash of danceable punk rock.

2 ‘See It, Hear It, Feel It,’ by Sound of Silence

This album is just one of the many released online for free by Sound of Silence. It is a meditative record that brings to mind a more conventional approach to ambient music. This obvious nod to Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports” finds a delicate balance with minimalist instrumentation, creating a majestic allure not often found in local music. Sometimes the songs tread dangerously close to saccharine territory, but thankfully never cross that line. Tranquil and relaxing, this album is certainly worth the download.

3 ‘Indonesia,’ by Morfem

Slipping outside the retro-infused touchstone of his successful main band The Upstairs, singer Jimi Multhazam goes back to basics with Morfem. Backed by a band of grungy punk rockers, Jimi drives Morfem with catchy melodic rock that pays equal homage to 1970s art rock as it does to ’80s and ’90s independent rock. On their debut record, the quartet serve up an amalgamation of Jimi’s typically droll lyrics and immediately hummable rock that satisfies the need to destroy rooms with undeniable efficiency.

4 ‘Fake/Faker,’ by Polyester Embassy

Owing a whole lot to the post-psychedelia sounds of bands like Mercury Rev and the dynamic instrumental interplay of so-called post-rock bands like Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky, Bandung band Polyester Embassy isn’t exactly noted for its sheer originality. But its second album is nonetheless commendable for how it filters all of those influences into something slightly more elementary, without sounding too tired. You often wish the band would tread outside its comfort zone a little more (if we’re wishing, maybe taking out the metal edge would also help), but the band fills each song in “Fake/ Faker” with so many sections, it becomes an intriguing wall of sound that never loses its edge.

5 ‘Pop,’ by Individual Distortion

This online release from one of the country’s most active avant-garde musicians is an audio head trip that is unforgettable in its sheer inventiveness. Brutal death metal and cheesy disco music get bundled up alongside intoxicating computer experimentations. Along the way, sound samples from pop hits and melodies from children’s songs join in, creating a bewildering cacophony of soundscapes.

The mix of all the elements creates a surprising nuance of chaotic togetherness that is equally danceable and head-bangable.