Adele, Florence and The Machine, Bon Iver, or Fleet Foxes: Who made EW's album of the year?

There are only a handful of days left in 2011, which means it’s time to sum up the year that was in various cultural formats.

Entertainment Weekly‘s Best and Worst of 2011 issuehits newsstands today, and inside you’ll find music critic Melissa Maerz’s list of the 10 greatest albums of the year, along with our staff’s picks for the 10 best singles, the five worst, our favorite soundbites, and a look at some key breakout performances. It’s a good way to reflect, look back on the previous 12 months, and remember, “Oh yeah, Limp Bizkit did put an album out–and it was terrible!”

The most important question, of course, is who scored the coveted number-one spot? The debate among the music aficionados here at EW was fierce, but it ultimately came down to a quartet of sophomore albums: Adele’s 21, Florence + the Machine’s Ceremonials, Bon Iver’s Bon Iver, and Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues. Check out the video below for the arguments made for each of these stellar releases.

They’re all deserving, but which album finished ahead of the pack? Stay tuned to the Music Mix, pick up the new issue on newsstands or download the extra-fancy tablet edition to find out the big reveal.

And while you’re waiting with breathless anticipation (right?), leave your votes for your personal album of the year in the comments below.

Read more on EW.com:

Review: Adele, 21

Review: Florence + The Machine, Ceremonials

Review: Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Review: Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues