Guess this is it for Where’d the Guitars Go? If I have one regret for the semester, it’s that I should have done more Loutallica bashing when I had the chance. I failed you Vox Talk readers, and I apologize.

I leave you with my list of the top 10 guitar albums of 2011 (with videos). Enjoy.

Courtesy of Merge

1. Wild Flag — Wild Flag [Merge]

Former Sleater-Kinney members Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss originally formed Wild Flag as an instrumental project, but quickly discovered the strength of their songs and recruited Helium frontwoman Mary Timoni to add vocals. The supergroup’s debut is simply the most addicting rock and roll record of 2011. Brownstein’s jagged guitarwork and Timoni’s swagger form an idiosyncratic rambunctiousness evocative of post-punk bands like The Raincoats and Wire. “Racehorse” marks the album’s climax: “I’m a racehorse—you lay your money on me” snarls Brownstein. These “riot grrrls” still have some venom left in their fangs, and Wild Flag‘s all the more entertaining for it.

Courtesy of Merge

2. Wye Oak — Civilian [Merge]

Striking moods with the guitar was emblematic of the early ’90s shoegaze movement. Vocalist and guitarist Jenn Wasner tapped into that aesthetic on Wye Oak’s third album Civilian. Thought-out tones, quirky tunings and country rock flourishes combine to create a soundtrack for overcast days and half-buzzed nights. Wasner’s vocals are a pleasantly understated take on the Michael Stipe-mumble. Sometimes her words float along unnoticed, other times they surge. The album’s title track is a triumphant piece of indie rock — and my song of the year…

Courtesy of Secretly Canadian

3. The War on Drugs — Slave Ambient [Secretly Canadian]

Somebody’s been listening to too many Bob Dylan records. Fortunately frontman Adam Granduciel spent just as much time making his guitar sound absolutely gorgeous, outweighing the fact that his vocal delivery is Dylan. Slave Ambient‘s sound can be described by its cover art: traveling-song folk rock drenched in swaths of warm feedback.

Courtesy of Fat Possum

4. Yuck — Yuck [Fat Possum]

Yuck is a hodgepodge homage to ’90s indie rock that echoes Dinosaur Jr., Buffalo Tom and The Field Mice, often simultaneously. Frontman Daniel Blumberg’s lyrics are forgettable, but the kid has a knack for catchy hooks. “Operation” highlights Yuck’s throwback stylings with momentous Mascis-esque riffing and singable/shoutable vocals. A seemingly never-ending tour in support of the album has left the band in creative limbo. This debut deserves a sequel, so hopefully they’ll get back into the studio soon.

Courtesy of Yep Roc

5. Fountains of Wayne — Sky Full of Holes [Yep Roc]

The year’s most well-constructed pop rock album, Sky Full of Holes continues Fountains of Wayne’s streak of solid releases that started with their self-titled debut back in 1996. The wider audience still knows them as the “Stacy’s Mom”-band, but songwriters Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood deserve so much more. Sky Full of Holes introduces tinges of Americana that perfectly complement the band’s definitive brand of power pop, and naturally recalls Matthew Sweet (this album’s guitars also sound like they were lifted straight off Sweet’s Girlfriend, which isn’t a bad thing). “A Road Song” is a sappy, hyper-referential ballad full of innocent charm. These guys have done their fair share of sap, but this might be their most huggable song yet.

The rest:

6. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring for My Halo

7. Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost

8. Real Estate – Days

9. Sloan – The Double Cross

10. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light