I've already posted my favourite songs of all time plenty of times, so I'mma just post my favourite from 2011. Might introduce some people to some new recent music.
Most people have heard a few songs by Elbow, but don't actually know the band. They are still reasonably well known, but still, imo,
should be considered one of the best current bands from the UK.
indie rock is really the only way to genre categorise them; but I like the frontman's summary "we're a bit like a prog rock band but without the solos".
My favourite track from their latest album, Build A Rocket Boys!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTcrX17joIE
the strings about 5 minutes in are just great, as always lyrics are really good too.
This one is really good too, and a bit more accessible I think:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwcsVEwJyj8
Low, I like for similar reasons. They've established themselves in the """underground indie""" scene way back in the 90s (one of the most important bands in slowcore), but are still making great music. Their latest album C'mon is ons of the best amongst the 9 albums they've made.
Again, my favourite is quite lengthy, but I just love the buildup to such a great crescendo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEXTHwjFpww
And another more accessible one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_G7PYb3aD8
SBTRKT is one of my favourite current musicians; post-dubstep is what most people call him, but I've heard people call it soul-step and I prefer that label. The tracks with Sampha on them are so much better as well:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKY1iy9pxdU
I discovered this yesterday too and it's beautiful. Great lyrics; even sadder when you find out what it's about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp9vq2QZjXQ
and pretty much all beyonces latest song everyone's already heard that not gonna tl;dr it