Clockwise from top left: Sleigh Bells, Stew, Sharon Van Etten, Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater. Courtesy of the artists hide caption
All Songs Considered
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Sufjan Stevens performing at the bandshell at Celebrate Brooklyn in Prospect Park on August 3, 2011. Ryan Muir/Ryan Muir hide caption
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Hail of Bullets practically steamrolled East Saratoga St. with death metal at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore this past May. Laina Dawes/Handshake Inc. hide caption
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Barton Hollow, by the Nashville duo The Civil Wars, was released in February, but took a long road to Ann Powers' list of albums of the year. Tec Petaja hide caption
Wye Oak's Civilian, known now and forever as Stephen Thompson's third favorite record of 2011. Merge Records hide caption