Best Albums of 2011
11. 'Mr. Nice Guy,' Eric Roberson
Mr. Nice Guy, which was released in the U.S. on Nov. 8, 2011, is a delight for anyone who's a fan of music with substance. Although the typical R&B staples of love and relationships are the meat and potatoes of the album, Eric Roberson differs from other artists in that his songs have an amount of intellectual depth that's absent from a lot of the cookie-cutter, generic R&B and Soul music out there today.More »12. 'Chapter 5: Underrated,' Syleena Johnson
On her fifth studio album, Chapter 5: Underrated, Syleena Johnson lets it be known that she's well aware of her underdog status, but has no intention of simply fading into the background. Quite the opposite, in fact. Underrated, released in the U.S. on Sept. 26, 2011, is the most bold, aggressive and consistently enjoyable album of her career so far.
13. '4,' Beyonce
Beyonce remains one of the more talented, hardworking vocalists of our time, and it seems like this project is an example of her evolving into a more mature artist and person.14. 'F.A.M.E.,' Chris Brown
Chris Brown's F.A.M.E. doesn't quite elevate him back to the level of popularity that he'd held during his pre-controversy days, it definitely helps his cause. Love him or hate him, F.A.M.E., released on March 22, 2011, shows that Chris Brown is back.More »
15. 'Back to Love,' Anthony Hamilton
On his earlier albums, Anthony Hamilton's voice was somewhat like a untamed bronco; strong and bold, and also restless and wild. However, on his latest release, Back to Love, which was released in the U.S. on Dec. 13, 2011, the vocal stallion seems much tamer than at any time in the past. And his newly restrained vocal style is sure to be more pleasing to a mainstream audience and gain him some new fans.
16. 'As Above, So Below,' Anthony David
This album cements Anthony David's status as one of the more deeply soulful, thought provoking and cerebral vocalists around. As Above, which was released in the U.S. on March 22, 2011, is many things, including placid, uplifting and well sung. It's one big drawback however, is that sometimes it's too laid back and low-key.More »
17. 'Greatest Hits,' Nikki & Rich
On their impressive debut album, the duo of Nikki & Rich manage to expertly blend multiple music genres into their overall sound, from R&B and Gospel to pop and Hip-Hop. The result is a project that manages to defy categorization and escapes being placed inside a musical box.18. 'The Remedy,' Jagged Edge
The Remedy, which was released in the U.S. on June 21, 2011, manages to pull off the tricky task of trying to appeal to Jagged Edge's younger, newer fans while at the same time not alienating their more mature fanbase.More »
19. 'Twenty,' Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men's latest studio album, Twenty, which was released in the U.S. on Oct. 25, 2011, is a tribute to the 20th anniversary of their debut album. And although the double-CD is split between new and old material, it manages to fully showcase the fact that the group still has a good deal of life left in it and still might for years to come.20. '7,' Mint Condition
On their seventh studio album, appropriately titled 7..., the band Mint Condition shows that it still has plenty of life left. Although 7..., which was released in the U.S. on April 5, 2011 doesn't break much new ground for the band, the ground they tread on is still musically firm and fertile.More »
