It’s that time of the year again when critics put out their best of the year lists. The editors at TIME and Rolling Stone have released their picks for the best albums of 2011. Adele’s Grammy-nominated 21 scores top honors on both lists and Jay-Z and Kanye West’s historic joint LP Watch the Throne also ranks in the top 3. Although it was never commercially released, Frank Ocean’s debut Nostalgia, Ultra earns praise from TIME and Lady Gaga’s hit-filled Born This Way lands at #6 on Rolling Stone‘s list.
See the familiar (and unfamiliar) names that made the cut.
TIME’s Top 10 Albums of 2011
1. Adele, 21
2. Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials
3. Kanye West and Jay-Z, Watch the Throne
4. PJ Harvey, Let England Shake
5. Frank Ocean, Nostalgia, Ultra
6. tUnE-yArDs, W h o k i l l
7. Caitlin Rose, Own Side Now
8. The Beastie Boys, Hot Sauce Committee Part II
9. Civil Wars, Barton Hollow
10. Black Keys, El Camino
Rolling Stone’s Best Albums of 2011
1. Adele, 21
2. Kanye West and Jay-Z, Watch the Throne
3. Paul Simon, So Beautiful or So What
4. Fleet Foxes, Helplessness Blues
5. Radiohead, The King of Limbs
6. Lady Gaga, Born This Way
7. The Decemberists, The King Is Dead
8. Wilco, The Whole Love
9. Wild Flag, Wild Flag
10. Robbie Robertson, How to Become Clairvoyant