What would the end of the year be like without a few best-of lists? Our favorite music critics, NPR's Ann Powers and Drew Tewksbury, talk about their favorite albums of 2011.

Ann Power's favorites:

Kate Bush, "50 Words for Snow"

Alabama Shakes, self titled

tune-yards, "Who Kill"

G-Side, "Island"

Shabazz Palaces, "Black Up"

Drew Tewksbury's favorites:

The Kills, "Blood Pressures"

Raphael Saadiq, "Stone Rollin'"

Little Dragon, "Ritual Union"

PJ Harvey, "Let England Shake"