James Blake... AOTY 2011? Because Kanye West and Beach House are soooooo 2k10

Published Dec 23 2010, 03:21 PM by Michael C. Walsh

Since we here at the Phoenix only take our social cues from Jay-Z, we would like to make it known that we on to the next one. So long to 2010 and the mounds of year end lists showering praise on Kanye West (as if he needed his ego stroked any further). In fact, we're so over 2010 that we've already turned to our crystal ball and our go-to illegal file sharing sites, and are prepared to go out on an asinine limb to declare Album of the Year for 2011. That's right, an entire 374 days before the end of next year and with no attention paid to what's actually being released, we're ready hand the crown over to James Blake's full length debut, dropping February 7 on A&M/Atlas. If you thought that music publications finalizing year end lists in November was ignorant, we're taking ignorance to a whole ‘nother level.

If there's one thing music criticism has taught us, it's that the finished product isn't worth nearly as much as the buzz, and this kid is riding a massive wave right now. Let's look at the tale of the tape: He released three massively acclaimed EPs over the past year. He's only 21. And he's British. AKA the Holy Trinity of Hype.

JKJK. We've gave it a couple spins so far and are not quite sure what to make of it. We're much more concerned with the pent-up critical exaltation that's fina blow the fuck up over the next couple weeks. Publications that wouldn't touch dubstep with a ten foot poll are ready to prematurely bust in their knickers. Stay tuned for our (4 star??) take on the album sometime early in the next year. For a taste, you can view the first single, a cover of Feist's "Limit To Your Love", below and take our word for it that the rest of the album is just as beautiful.