Clearly in something of minority here, but I think 2011 has been the best year for new music for quite some time.
3 new records might include-
Colin Stetson:New History Warfare 2
Alexander Tucker: Dorwhich
Tim Hecker : Ravedeath 1972
and then there's the Miles Davis bootleg series - old but new if you know what I mean.
But could list another dozen straight off.
Most of the good stuff I've enjoyed has been well away from the mainstream. Not much has impressed involving guitar/bass/drums ( the PJ Harvey record is pretty good but is my least favourite of hers). Given the 4 I've named in my 3 already, the records I think I'll still be playing in 20 years are J Mascis's "Several Shades of Why", and Bill Frisell's "Sign of Life", both of which seem are low key, acoustic and slightly understated but are just lovely and have been played an awful lot for most of '11. Then here's the Thurston Moore record, the Josh T Pearson record, the new Gillian Welch, Waits. Bjork, Destroyer, John Maus, the Weeknd download, I've not got the new Oneohtrix Point Never yet but that may join the list, the new Bonnie Prince Billy... and plenty I've forgotten. I'll struggle to cut it down to a top 10 tbh.
As I say, I think 2011 is the best for some time.
Kevin