2011 marked a year full of excitement, from Egyptian protests to a royal wedding, the whole world was on the edge of their seats. Most notable though, was the music. Veterans to the music scene came out with fresh songs, while newcomers equally impressed the masses. At the Grammys Feb. 12 , the Best Album of the Year will be decided, so here’s a preview of the nominees.  

Adele – 21

4 out of 5 Stars

Adele has done it again; she has turned her heartbreak and personal experiences into hit songs. Per usual, all of the her songs are emotional ballads, most recognizably, “Someone Like You.” The Saturday Night Live skit only helped to cement the iconic song. 21 demonstrates just how much the young singer has improved since the release of her aptly named album, 19. While both show her powerhouse vocals, 21 really proves her tenacity.

Rihanna – Loud

4 out of 5 Stars

2011 seemed to be the year for Rihanna. With the release of her latest album, Loud, her stardom only increased. Her album features such superstars as Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Eminem. With such superstar power behind her, Loud marks a turning point in Rihanna’s career. After its release, there is no question Rihanna cannot only just sing a melody, but she also has the talent to be considered in the same circle as female icons like Beyoncé. “Love the Way You Lie” featuring Eminem instantly became one of the more successful tracks off the album. Only five of the eleven tracks on this album haven’t become successful hits.

Bruno Mars – Doo-Wops & Hooligans

2 out of 5 Stars

With so many chart-topping singles, such as “Grenade” and “Just the Way You Are”, it may be shocking to some that this album really does not go much further. All of the songs are happy-go-lucky, classic pop songs, but when is enough enough? Once you’ve heard those singles, you’ve essentially heard the entire album. Yet, just because Doo-Wops & Hooligans doesn’t provide for a well-rounded album doesn’t mean that a few of the singles aren’t catchy.

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light (by senior Drew McDonald, guest contributor)

2 out of 5 stars

The new Foo Fighters album, Wasting Light, was a big disappointment for all us Foo-Heads. Not one song was impressive. Even the slow ones lacked emotion. It felt like Squidward was singing in his monotone drawl. The lyrics on the album were pretty good, though. As lead singer post-Nirvana Dave Grohl gets older, he starts talking about family, and it’s not overly bad. But all and all, this album just stunk. It felt like another Them Crooked Vultures super group release, but it wasn’t, it was just bad. Enough with all the odd rhythms, this isn’t a Rush album, as much as you want it to be. Hopefully, Dave can recover from this slump, because when all is said, he’s still cool enough to maintain respect.

Lady Gaga – Born This Way

3.5 out of 5 Stars

Born This Way is exactly what everyone expects from Lady Gaga: craziness and excessiveness. One of the more notable hits from the album, “Born This Way”, which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 100 and has become an anthem for people worldwide. Gaga’s ability to connect on such a personal level with the masses through her music is what makes her such an iconic singer/songwriter/performer. Singles from this album seem to take on a life of their own as hits like “Judas” and “You and I” have become extremely successful.