Back to The Best Albums of 2011

20. Yuck, 'Yuck'

Amazon

On first listen, the only thing more apparent than Yuck's '90s influences -- Dinosaur Jr., Pavement, Sonic Youth, etc. -- is their ability to synthesize them into music both familiar and utterly fresh. Their timing couldn't have been better, what with grunge nostalgia reaching a critical mass, but it was their songs -- all aching hooks and sweet, sweet fuzz -- that kept this charmer of a debut in heavy rotation. -- K.P.