Dave's Favorite Albums of 2012

Hello! Happy 2013! You may be asking yourself why this list hasn’t come out sooner or why it’s not broken into a zillion parts like it has been in the past and my answer is rather simple. I assumed the Mayan apocalypse was going to happen and that I wouldn’t need to post these things anymore. Silly me. Since this is late, and since my listening queue is significantly less than it has been in years past, I’ll cut right to the chase and get to the honorable mentions...

Honorable Mentions:

So this year there were a few albums that came out that really affected me positively, I mean, none of these albums made the top 20 for a reason, but they are all good in their own rights. First off, there’s the worlds biggest pop star Justin Bieber. His massive album Believe touted a handful of mainstream singles, and also showed just how much the Biebs has grown up. Granted, he’s still a kid, but he has proven that he’s a lasting talent with a keen ear for catchy beats. Not to mention he has an incredible voice. In the same catchy vein, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed fun’s second LP Some Nights. I know I’ll probably catch more flack for listening to this than Bieber, but I really enjoy the pop meets glam rock approach that fun. takes. It’s an album I’ve spun a lot over the past year and one that’ll definitely stay in somewhat regular rotation.

In the hip-hop realm, I had a blast with the corny and ridiculous Based on a T.R.U Story by 2 Chainz. It’s nothing that’s going to change the world, but it was more consistent than the Kanye lead crew album Cruel Summer that featured 2 Chainz prominently, and if this goofball can make an album better than Kanye and his hand picked guests, he deserves a mention. So perhaps this 2 Chainz nod is more compensating for the fact that one of my favorite artists of all time made a bad album...

Speaking of my favorite artists of all time, a handful of artists I really enjoy put out good albums that just quite didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. Returning to the honorable mentions list is one of my oldest guilty pleasures Yellowcard with their eighth LP Southern Air, which packs another dose of fun pop-punk. It’s not quite as good as last years When You’re Through Thinking Say Yes, but it is a fun 40 minutes. Perhaps the biggest surprise was that a reunited Van Halen put out a listenable and downright kick-ass LP in A Different Kind of Truth, the first full length album David Lee Roth has contributed to since the classic 1984. Truth is run of the mill Van Halen for the most part, but considering the last “good” Van Halen album came out 26 years ago, that’s an achievement. A former list-topper and Outkast member Big Boi also put out his more experimental second LP Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. The album isn’t nearly as powerful and party friendly as its predecessor Sir Lucious Leftfoot: The Son of Chico Dusty, but it does have the interesting dynamic, heavily featuring electronic bands like Little Dragon, Wavves and Phantogram. The album peaks with the track “In The A” which reminds us why the party-banger Big Boi is what we love the most, as the track features a bumping beat with some fiery guest verses from T.I. and Ludacris. Another former list-topper, Brother Ali put out a very interesting and admirable album in Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color, which shows Ali lamenting on the problems with our fine nation and thinking about how he can make the world better for his children. I’ve said in the past that I love the Brother Ali that talks about his upbringing and life in general, so when he focuses in the problems with our government, I couldn’t help but find myself a little disappointed. And finally, the RZA spearheaded the soundtrack to his directorial debut The Man With The Iron Fists with a soundtrack that shows just what makes him the head of Wu-Tang Clan’s rhetorical Voltron. The soundtrack obviously features Wu-Tang member heavily, but perfectly adds in a ton of my favorite artists like The Black Keys, Danny Brown, Kanye West, Pusha T and more. It’s really good. 

But enough about these good albums...let’s get to the 20 best!

DAVE’S TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2012:

20. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis-The Heist


People throw around the term “bro rap” when they talk about Macklemore. He’s the guy that dudes go to when they want to seem deep, or to say that they do indeed listen to hip-hop that has actual subject matter involved. I was worried about that image going into The Heist, but I left it with a ton of respect for Mack as a lyricist. He really knows how to spit, and he has a ton of personality too, which shines through on tracks like “Ten Thousand Hours”, “Can’t Hold Us” and “Make The Money”. Mack also manages to tackle some legitimate issues like gay marriage on the track “Same Love” and the absurdity of hip-hop’s love of sneakers on the track “Wing$”. What ultimately holds this album at the bottom of the list is the production from Ryan Lewis. It feels as though he’s desperately trying to find a pop sound that sticks and makes Macklemore famous rather than crafting him beats that show off his lyrical chops. And clearly the formula works, as my least favorite track on the album “Thrift Shop” is a major hit. Soak it in mainstream listeners. Soak it right in.

NOTABLE TRACKS: "Ten Thousand Hours", "Make the Money", "Wing$"

19. RiFF RaFF and Dame Grease-Hologram Panda


If Macklemore is everything I love about lyrical hip-hop, then Riff Raff is everything I love about the idiocy of hip-hop culture. The Houston based trap rapper and meme kingpin released a slew of mixtapes in 2012, most of which recycled songs and featured a boatload of obnoxious autotuned singing. But it must be noted that there were always gems lodged in those tapes, tracks that featured the ridiculously unique rhyme flow and absurd metaphors and similes that made Riff Raff “famous”. On Hologram Panda, superproducer Dame Grease hooks Riff up with beats that perfectly match what makes him such an enigma. It’s whacky and fun and some lines are hilarious and some left me going “What does that even mean?” so log onto Rap Genius and push play on track one and let this mixtape flow through your ears, because it’s awesome.

NOTABLE TRACKS: "Chop Another Rock", "Peppermint Tint", "Versace Lies"

18. Carly Rae Jepsen-Kiss


For real. Nobody expected Carly to recover from “Call Me Maybe” but not only did she, but she lapped it as far as catchiness is concerned. Sure, 2012 will be a year remembered by that iconic pop masterpiece, but for those of us with too much free time and a love of catchy pop music, Kiss provides us with a ton of material. Carly Rae is full of personality and the tracks don’t have that overproduced, too many hands in the bowl feel that a ton of pop artists have. It feels like Carly Rae Jepsen is genuinely invested, rather than singing songs handed to her by a committee. And she co-wrote the majority of the album too, so she really is a pop artist, not just a pop star. Please don’t hate me for enjoying this.

NOTABLE TRACKS: "Call Me Maybe", "Good Time", "Guitar String/Wedding Ring"

17. La Coka Nostra-Masters of the Dark Arts


When La Coka Nostra dropped their first LP in 2009, A Brand You Can Trust, I was all about hardcore hip-hop. Distorted guitar, rugged lyrics, badass personas...basically everything that LCN was about. As time has passed, I’ve grown a bit jaded to that style, I still hold a warm place in my heart for it, but I’ve moved onto new things. So when I heard Everlast had dropped out of LCN and the group was still putting out an LP I was genuinely upset. Yet when I pushed play on “My Universe” I was almost immediately happy. I was brought back to my junior year of college, but with a distinct 2012 flare. Masters is definitely a step above A Brand You Can Trust as far as production is concerned, and in that cleaner production, I feel as though primary MC’s Ill Bill and Slaine feel the need to bring the lyrics much more than in the past. Or maybe it’s the lack of Everlast’s “Whitey Ford” style slower songs and hooks that just keep this train rolling, but at the end of the day it’s pretty awesome. I shouldn’t have doubted these guys, and I shouldn’t have shunned my taste from a mere 3 years ago!

NOTABLE TRACKS: "Creed of the Greedier", "Mind Your Business", "Coka Kings"

16. The Darkness-Hot Cakes


You may be asking yourself, “These guys are still around?” and the answer is yes! In fact, they recently reunited after a hiatus! And they’re just as goofy and killer as ever! Now, I know that a lot of people aren’t fans of completely over the top and ridiculously sexual rock and roll, but for those of us that enjoy a good time, Hot Cakes delivers. It’s got all the trademarks that made the first two Darkness albums really underrated, and it even has a Radiohead cover to show the hip kids that even the shredders who sing about STD’s and things called love can get on their level. Check this out. Check out their prior two LP’s because you’re missing out with them too.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Keep Me Hangin’ On”, “Living Each Day Blind”, “Street Spirit (Fade Out)”

15. KISS-Monster


Speaking of shredders who sing about STD’s and things called love, America’s favorite/least favorite band of all time put out another stellar rock and roll album...in 2012. Now, we all know KISS from their classics in the 70’s and 80’s, stuff like “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Detroit Rock City” and “Lick It Up”, but they kind of tanked quickly after their peak ended. I mean...Songs From The Elder anyone? Psycho Circus? But since the bands last LP Sonic Boom in 2009, it felt like the guys actually cared just as much about the music as they do about the dollar signs. So Monster was a pleasant affirmation of that ideal. It feels like a classic era KISS LP, chock full of riffs, solos, vocal harmonies, and just an overall atmosphere that bands today wish they could cultivate. I doubted that these guys could top Van Halen’s superfun A Different Kind of Truth, but man...they did. And they did it without having to break up for the umpteenth time.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Hell or Hallelujah”, “Eat Your Heart Out”, “The Devil is Me”

14. The Smashing Pumpkins-Oceania


Since Billy Corgan picked the name of the Pumpkins up again, the results have been less than stellar. 2007’s Zeitgeist was a mess of hard-rock, and then Billy tried to say he was done releasing traditional LP’s and instead was going to focus on singles and EP’s as part of his Teagarden by Kaleidyscope project. Thankfully, he returned to the traditional LP format with his current lineup and put out Oceania, a surprisingly modern and consistent take on the traditional Pumpkins sound. Billy’s not trying to make a hard rock album, nor is he expanding on some ridiculous concept, he’s just making a solid LP. Oceania shows that even after fumbling several times and fading into the retro/nostalgia scene, an artist can truly show their true colors and lasting power. This is definitely worth checking out, as it does it really does clean up the mess Corgan made in the mid 2000’s and forges forward with a new sound and hopefully a new motivation to continue making LP’s.

NOTABLE TRACKS: "My Love is Winter", "Pinwheels", "The Chimera"

13. Dave Matthews Band-Away From The World



Over the summer I got the chance to experience Dave Matthews Band live. What I got out of the 2 night bender was that the guy can pull a billion people into one venue, and that he loves to just jam with his boys. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I didn’t leave a bigger fan of the band, just a very tired and jammed out individual. So when Away From The World was released I had to look back when Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King came out in 2009, and how I was blown away by how much fun I had with it, rather than the superjams that filled my drunken ears just a few weeks prior. In channeling that excitement, I found myself compelled to listen to Away From The World, and man do I like it! While it’s not as funky as Big Whiskey, it’s really catchy and fun and shows that these guys are much more than their public image. The musicianship is there, the songwriting is there, the good times are there, basically this album is the complete package of a good time LP. I’m still not going to call myself a diehard DMB fan, but I’m slowly crawling up the ranks, and I owe that all to the fact that these guys just do what they do well.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Belly Belly Nice”, “If Only”, “Rooftop”

12. El-P-Cancer 4 Cure



I got really into El-P at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, listening to his 2007 LP I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead ad nauseum. So when Cancer 4 Cure was released I was really excited to get my first dose of brand new El-P, and this does deliver. While it’s not as groundbreaking or unique as I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, it is consistent and just as whacky. I was kind of let down by Killer Mike’s R.A.P. Music, which was entirely produced by El, so hearing C4C wasn’t a letdown was a great treat for me. The beats bang really hard and sound completely original, which is a testament to El’s production skills. And the guests are awesome, Exquire, Danny Brown, Killer Mike, Despot and Nick Diamonds fit perfectly into El’s mold. While some fans would have preferred a more forward moving LP, I think C4C does a fine job solidifying El as a legend behind the board, and a genius behind the mic.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “The Full Retard”, “Oh Hail No”, “Tougher Colder Killer”

11. Frank Ocean-Channel Orange



I think it’s a shame that Frank’s name is almost synonymous with his letter revealing his sexuality that came out earlier in the year. While it was a brave act, and one that should be seen as an example among the hip-hop and R&B community, it overshadowed the power that he brought to the table with Channel Orange. This LP just overflows with his unique voice and personality. I was not a fan of Nostalgia, Ultra, Frank’s pseudo cover LP, so when I listened to this I was wowed. Frank brings so much unique flavor to the table both in his lyrics and vocal presentation, as well as the beats he chooses. This feels like his album, and there’s only one other Odd Future member present (Earl Sweatshirt) and the other guests are clearly hand chosen by Frank for a reason. I’m not the biggest R&B fan, but this album made me very curious about this new class of singers, I’m definitely intrigued to say the least.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Super Rich Kids”, “Pink Matter”, “Lost”

10. Death Grips-The Money Store


You want to talk about hype? I really enjoyed Death Grips first release Exmilitary, and I was pumped for this, but then it came out and the internet soiled themselves over how great they thought it was. I was skeptical, because when the ol’ net soils themselves I usually find myself disliking whatever it is that caused the soiling, but Death Grips brought it on The Money Store. To call this a hip-hop album would be a lie, but to call it an album that fits in any genre would be...so let’s just say this experimental LP features a math rock dummer and a loud MC that channels equal parts DMX and the RZA. And on The Money Store, the guys aren’t as consistently abrasive as they are on Exmilitary. The beats really vary in both sound and influence, I feel a distinct 80’s vibe from some songs, especially the infectiously absurd “I’ve Seen Footage”. From track one you'll know whether or not this is your cup of tea. For me, it did it’s job. I see a bright future if Death Grips continue to evolve and provoke.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Get Got”, “I’ve Seen Footage”, “Hacker”

9. Nas-Life is Good



When you talk about legendary hip-hop albums Nas’ debut Illmatic immediately comes to mind. Everything after that is kind of rocky though, not to say he’s made a string of bad albums, but there’s no denying the inconsistency of his body of work. His last string of LP’s Hip Hop is Dead, Untitled (originally called something a tad more controversial) and his collaboration with Damian Marley Distant Relatives, have all been met with lukewarm praise. They were all great in concept but lacking in definition and to be quite honest they felt like Nas had given up his title as one of the greatest MC’s of all time. Thankfully, as Mr. Jones approached 40 he was given a miraculous boost of charisma and motivation and released Life is Good, an LP that celebrates and dissects the success that he has achieved. Granted, it’s no Illmatic, but as a fan of his work and of hip-hop in general, this feels natural in an environment where false egos and absurd characters dominate the radio and even the underground scene. I’m not complaining about the state of hip-hop, I am praising the fact that Nas didn’t need to change himself to regain relevance. I hope this is the beginning of a new era for the MC, but even if it isn’t we got one great album.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Loco-Motives”, “Back When”, “The Don”

8. Miguel-Kaleidoscope Dream


When I first heard Miguel’s single “Adorn” on the radio I wrote it off. Sure it’s a great track, but it’s the radio, how many artists that make it on Hot 97 are actually good? Then some friends said I had to listen to Kaleidoscope Dream and I was swayed. And wow! This album is good. Miguel has a really unique voice and a great delivery. The production here is tight to boot, most of it due to Miguel himself. I know Frank Ocean has been receiving a ton of hype for the quality of Channel Orange, but honestly I will listen to Kaleidoscope Dream over that any day of the week, regardless of how much more polished and commercial it is. I think that is a testament to the quality of some mainstream artists.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Adorn”, “Kaleidoscope Dream”, “Don’t Look Back”

7. Bloc Party-Four



Bloc Party is a band that never really struck a chord with me, sure their debut Silent Alarm is an album chock full of great songs, but the rest of their discography has drastically fallen short of that. When Four came out I was told by some people that it was a retread, Bloc Party trying to go back to basics to get wandering fans back into them, and then some people said it was just a straight up awesome hard rocker. So, listening to it, I was surprised to not agree entirely with either. It’s definitely a guitar rocker, that’s for sure, but it’s not like Hot Cakes or anything like that. It still has that more indie feel, which is appreciated. One thing that sticks out to me is the fact that it doesn’t seem pandering. I feel like these guys just wrote some awesome tracks. And one thing I notice in both the chord progressions and guitar sounds is that this LP draws a lot from 90’s alt, specifically the Smashing Pumpkins, and I love subtle homages like that. In no way does this come off as a ripoff of that style, but it feels like it’s equally modern and nodding to its influences. Bloc Party are going to be around for awhile, and I’m glad they got their act together and put out another awesome album.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “So He Begins to Lie”, “Kettling”, “Team A”

6. Ty Segall Band-Slaughterhouse


I was sold on this album by the cover of it, but in all honesty, I thought it was going to be a lot more...metal than it actually is. In actuality, California native Ty Segall, put out a pretty killer garage/noise rock album with his bands LP Slaughterhouse. It feels like equal parts The Beatles and The Stooges thrown in a blender and then recorded in the tiniest corner of a big room. It sounds minuscule and condensed, but it contains a ton of ripping guitar and pretty sweet vocal harmonies. I think it’s in that production that this album goes from somewhat hokey, almost throwback-y to straight up awesome. These guys, Segall in particular, have a bright future ahead of them if they can continue being so innovative in combining influence with modern styles.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “The Tongue”, “Tell Me What’s Inside Your Heart”, "Wave Goodbye"

5. Action Bronson & The Alchemist-Rare Chandeliers


If Dame Grease was the perfect producer to compliment Riff Raff’s absurd style on Hologram Panda, then The Alchemist is the perfect producer to harness the overblown ego and mafioso-esque bravado of Action Bronson on his mixtape Rare Chandeliers. Bronson, often compared to Ghostface Killah due to his raspy voice and intense flow, feels like a child of 90’s Cuban Linx/Ironman style hip-hop infused with the disposition of the current underground stylings of A$AP Rocky, Danny Brown, or even the aforementioned Riff Raff. Adding The Alchemist to that style, a producer whose clientele ranges from Eminem to B.o.B. to Linkin Park to Everlast, gives this tape a flair that many underground mixtapes just lack. In a world where Lil B puts out tape after tape of uninspired rhymes and lame beats just to garner a reaction, and where stars like Rick Ross and Lil’ Wayne spew out extra material, it’s a blessing to see two people collaborate to make a genuinely artistic project. I look forward to Bronson’s studio debut, and pray that The Alchemist at least pops in to produce a track or two.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “The Symbol”, “Sylvester Lundgren”, “Gateway to Wizardry”

4. Metz-Metz


When I heard Slaughterhouse I was certain that my mind had been sufficiently blown as far as rock music was concerned in 2012. But then, late in the year, a friend of mine recommended this LP to me and the lid that had just been re-attached after enjoying Ty Segall blew right back off. While this LP may not be the most technically sound piece of music from 2012, it just rocked my brains off from front to back. It’s loud, and it has a ton of personality.  Perhaps the best part of this is that it’s a great time. I think a lot of time with critically acclaimed LP’s, we see atmospheric tunes that don’t tickle that part of your brain that just triggers a smile. Amidst all the noise and distortion on Metz, I found myself smiling the whole time. And that is a trait that a lot of albums, even some of my favorites, can’t do.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Headache”, “Sad Pricks”, “Knife In The Water”

3. Aesop Rock-Skelethon



When I first got into hip-hop I fell in love with a few indie rappers, Atmosphere and Aesop Rock were the two that absolutely charmed me, but as the years passed, and as my fandom grew, they both fell a little out of style. While I do appreciate pure lyricism, I found their beats to be a little uninspired, especially with age. So when Skelethon came out I almost didn’t listen to it. Thankfully, the nerdy little angel on my shoulder told me to, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What bothered me about prior Aes LP’s was that the man just spits as many words as possible over Blockhead beats. On Skelethon, Aes produced the whole thing himself, and in that the whole experience feels more organic. Where once I was bored with Aesop oozing words, on this LP it all syncs up. As I write this I find myself at a loss for words, since I honestly never thought Aesop Rock would top a list, let alone appear on one. Kudos Aes! You’ve shut me up.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “ZZZ Top”, “Zero Dark Thirty”, “1,000 O’Clock”

2. Kendrick Lamar-good kid, m.A.A.d city



When I listened to Kendrick Lamar’s 2011 mixtape Section.80 I thought that he would remain an odd indie rapper and coast along the mixtape scene for a few years before falling into irrelevance. Alas, good kid, m.A.A.d city shows that Kendrick is not only capable of mainstream success, but he’s thriving in this new environment.  This album manages to incorporate everything that makes indie rappers succeed, while touting guests like Drake and Dr. Dre and producers like Pharrell, Scoop Deville and Just Blaze. But the best thing about this is Kendrick’s flow. He’s a one of a kind rapper who changes up the pitch of his voice, his cadence, his energy...things that seem like nothing, but compared to other famous rappers, they are very important. Good kid also manages to ride a fine line between historically classic albums and forward thinking ones. The skits on this album are definitely reminiscent of mid 90’s hip-hop, but Kendrick himself sounds so unique that you can’t pinpoint an era for him. Which is why it’s good that he’s fit so well into the current indie scene, because he can lead this new class into the mainstream. His success is a blessing for hip-hop fans, and this album is a testament to his quality.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Backseat Freestyle”, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, “Money Trees”

1. Jukebox the Ghost-Safe Travels


“Who in the blue hell is Jukebox the Ghost?” asked everyone reading this list. Well, this Brooklyn based trio has released two surprisingly fun pop-rock LP’s over the past four years, and Safe Travels is their third! While I was always a fan of theirs, they never blew me out of the water. However, when I first popped Safe Travels into my car CD player I just smiled. And I smiled the whole time this album ran, and here I am, months later, still smiling. These guys produced an infectious LP that has everything that I want out of music. It’s original, it’s got killer vocal harmonies, it’s a foot tapper, and the lyrics have some depth to them. Granted, not all of the songs are super deep, but it’s got a lot more to offer than most pop rock. Another huge perk of this band is that there are two distinct voices, pianist Ben Thornwell and guitarist Tommy Siegel share the frontman-ship. Having two different voices stops the monotony, and gives every song a different vibe. There’s a ton to love here, and while this isn’t the most challenging LP I’ve ever heard, the fact that I can enjoy it at the most basic level and still be able to read into the lyrics is awesome. Listen to this LP and try not to enjoy yourself, because I found it impossible.

NOTABLE TRACKS: “Oh Emily”, “At Last”, “Everybody Knows”

See you next year music! From the looks of it some of my favorites have LP's coming out...A$AP Rocky, Biffy Clyro, Tomahawk, Ghostface Killah, Danny Brown, Kanye West, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend...I'm pumped already!

Dave's Favorite Albums of 2011 Part Four: 10-1

So here we are, again, still way too late, but we won’t hold that against me will we? Without any further ado let’s finish this bad boy and move on with 2012 tunes, eh?!

10. Thundercat- Golden Age of the Apocalypse



There was a period towards the end of my time in high school where I got really into 70’s jazz and fusion, most notably Herbie Hancock and bass god Jaco Pastorius and his work with Weather Report. I liked the funky vibes, and especially with Weather Report there was a very cheery mood that somehow managed to stay cool without getting stupid and sounding like elevator music. Now, in 2011 I was graced to hear Suicidal Tendencies’ bassist Stephen Bruner, under the stage name Thundercat, release an LP in the same line of that 70’s fusion, this time interjected with some 00’s flare. And the end result is a surprisingly tight and unique brand of bass lead electronically injected fusion. It’s surprising a hardcore punk bassist would decide to make a jazz LP, and perhaps more surprising that it is not only good, but great. Cheers!

NOTABLE TRACKS: Fleer Ultra, For Love I Come, Jamboree

9. J. Cole- Cole World: The Sideline Story



Signed by the great Jay-Z, there was a lot of hype behind German born and North Carolina rasied J. Cole. After a handful of mixtapes and a few years paying dues, Cole released his first full length LP in Cole World: The Sideline Story. And I must admit, at first I was put off to the LP, as the pun-based album name is really, really corny. But when I finally decided it was time to push play on The Sideline Story I felt as though my early judgments on the corniness of the albums name were only keeping me from hearing the awesome tunes on the LP. Now, Cole isn’t the best at what he does, but the way he presents his work is his strong point. This LP is unique, original, and really ambitious. A lot of people said Wale was going to be the ‘rookie’ of 2011, but Cole swiftly knocked Wale off his throne with incredible ease. And he proves a point that all hip-hoppers need smart lyrics and catchy beats to really hook in audiences. Cole is the full package and this album is proof.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Can’t Get Enough, Mr. Nice Watch, Work Out

8. Foo Fighters- Wasting Light



I’ve never been a huge Foo Fighters fan. I’ve always dug their classics, songs like “My Hero”, “Learn to Fly”, “Monkey Wrench” and more recently “The Pretender” are all jams that get spun pretty frequently for me. But I’ve never gotten really into their albums, and when I saw them live I was really disappointed. So, when I heard Wasting Light was not an overproduced, grandiose album filled with symphonies and such I was a bit taken aback. As the Fighters have gotten more and more mainstream, they’ve seemingly taken a lot of cliche steps. They lost their punk edge, they made an entirely acoustic LP, and got so overexposed everyone and their mother knows their lyrics. But back to the point, I doubted Dave Grohl and company could actually execute an album of fun jams, and oh was I wrong. Wasting Light is chock full of awesome, foot tapping arena rock tracks. And while that’s not the punky edge they had in their youth, it’s certainly several steps above what they were doing before. I feel as though Dave’s time in Them Crooked Vultures alongside John Paul Jones and Josh Homme really sharpened him up, and this album really feels awesome. I never thought it’d be a 2011 album that would turn me into a full fledged fan of this band, but here I am, finally waving the Foo Fighters flag.

NOTABLE TRACKS: White Limo, Rope, These Days

7. The Roots- undun



The Roots are easily one of, if not the, hardest working groups in music. Between their day job as house band on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, extensive touring, Questlove’s side jobs DJ’ing and constantly tweeting and even throwing a giant concert for their hometown every year, it’s weird thinking that they have time to release new music. And I’ve found their last few albums to be a bit lackluster, 2008’s Rising Down felt like a poor retread of the bands 2006 classic Game Theory, then in 2010 they released the more rock-based How I Got Over and a quickly thrown together collaboration LP with John Legend Wake Up! Now granted, none of these albums are bad by any stretch, but they really lacked that passion and raw emotion present in both Game Theory and their prior classics like Things Fall Apart. But undun is a different beast altogether. It has a bit of the edge that made How I Got Over different, with all the emotion of Game Theory, and it has a story, a narrative. Which to me is just downright amazing. The band has been around since 1987, and now fifteen years later, they decide to make a concept album, and not just make one, craft one that’s breathtaking. The album tells the story of fictional Redford Stephens and his life...in reverse. Sort of like the serious How I Met Your Mother of hip-hop. And the topics touched upon, the energy in both the music and Blackthought’s lyrics, and the overall vibe of the album is top notch. This album is easily the bands most ambitious work, and sits atop the list of their best.

NOTABLE TRACKS: One Time, Tip the Scale, Lighthouse

6. Jay-Z and Kanye West- Watch The Throne



This album may be the most talked about album of the past year. The hype behind it was astronomical, and many feel that it didn’t deliver upon being released. There was a lot of people saying that Jay and Kanye are wealthy, powerful people just rapping about their wealth and power. And you know what? I agree. And I love it. While this album isn’t perfect, the good parts are great, and they come frequently. Also, Jay-Z hasn’t been this strong lyrically since The Black Album dropped in 2003. Not to mention this album touts party jam after party jam after party jam, and they are all songs that aren’t going anywhere. “Niggas in Paris” is going to be a staple of awesomeness for quite some time. And Kanye West’s production on this LP is near flawless. He has a very strong command of how to handle beats, as we’ve seen on his solo work and production work for others, but on this album he takes it to a new extreme. And it works. With this album the idea of high risk high reward comes into mind. These two bragged for 50 minutes while they sampled iconic artists and spmgs, things could’ve gone sour very easily, but instead these two men secure even moreso that they do deserve the throne that we are watching.

NOTABLE TRACKS: No Church in the Wild, Niggas in Paris, Who Gon Stop Me

5. Battles- Gloss Drop



Friends of mine had been recommending Battles debut LP Mirrored for years, and I’d always said “Yeah sure!” and never gave it the time of day. So when Gloss Drop came out, and the same comments started coming out, I figured it was time to give the band their due. And this album is really good! The mostly instrumental, sort of progressive, and always fun and funky Gloss Drop is a reminder that happy music doesn’t always have to have the Andrew W.K. style that so many people assume. This album is intricate and really musical and sounds really unique, but at the same time it always had me smiling and every time I listen to it I get pumped up. The way the trio play their instruments is really cool, and they weave within each others grooves and loops and create this just fun, and kind of schizophrenic listening experience. And the cover of this album is so weird. That deserves kudos too right?

NOTABLE TRACKS: Futura, My Machines, Rolls Bayce

4. Beastie Boys- Hot Sauce Committee Part Two



I wrote a lengthy review of this LP on this blog before, so I will keep this short: I didn’t expect the Beastie Boys to make a good album following the innovation-less To The 5 Boroughs and the instrumental The Mix-Up, but alas! They’ve proven me wrong. I love this album. A great LP from a great group. Listen to it and read my full review if you want to know my real in depth thoughts!

NOTABLE TRACKS: Make Some Noise, Tadlock’s Glasses, Say It

3. TV on the Radio- Nine Types Of Light



First and foremost, when writing this, I need to say rest in peace Gerard Smith, the man responsible for the bass guitar on this album. Now, in the past few months I’ve fallen in love with this band. I’ve had their prior two LP’s Return to Cookie Mountain and Dear Science gathering digital dust in my iTunes, so I decided to give them spins and I found all of these things I missed in them when I first heard them. And Nine Types Of Light fits perfectly into the groups discography. Everything this band does is great. The unique voices, harmonies, the atmospheric guitar and thumping bass, the saxophone lines...I could go on and on. At the end of the day this group knows how to craft a solid LP of great songs. All the pieces fit together on this vast LP, and while the band is not for everyone, I am glad to have them click for me after all this time.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Second Song, No Future Shock, New Cannonball Blues

2. Danny Brown- XXX



While Odd Future may have cornered the mainstream market of hip-hop fans who want to hear obscene topics covered, they did so with a constant sigh of disappointment from me. Everything they did was pretty good and had great moments, and then fell flat on it’s face for being so dumb and repetitive. So where did I turn when I wanted to hear a vulgar, filthy, emcee who has no restraint rap over really strong beats? Well I turn to Danny Brown’s FREE LP XXX. The title of the album comes from the fact that he hit the big 3-0 in 2011 and because he is an abuser of illegal substances. And with both of those facts we have more life experience that the teens of Odd Future, and with the substance abuse we have credibility when talking about doing drugs and the highs and lows that ensue, whereas Tyler, The Creator has admitted publicly that he's straight edge. And the end result with this album is just extreme everything. The beats hit hard, the lyrics are clever and sometimes hilarious and super crude and violent. This just hits the nail on the head for what it’s trying to do. It’s tongue in cheek in a sense that everything is over the top, but it’s honest in a sense that it shows the listener a man who is absolutely absorbed in a life controlled by substances. Download XXX because it’s FREE.

NOTABLE TRACKS: XXX, Die Like a Rockstar, Monopoly

1. Grieves- Together/Apart



I knew nothing about Grieves and his production partner Budo going into this album. I saw a bunch of mini-video podcasts on the Rhymesayers Youtube channel, so when I saw it at FYE, I decided it was worth a gift card swipe. And sure enough this album blew my mind. If Atmosphere dominated the late 90’s and the 00’s with their brand of honest and gripping hip-hop, then I think they are passing the torch to these two. Grieves is a phenomenal lyricist. He throws references to corny 90’s things like tamagatchi’s without coming off like a Chris Webby or a Mac Miller, and then lines later he’ll be talking about losing loved ones. Being a recovering addict whose relapsed certainly helps Grieves in the credibility department, as his words hold a bit more poignancy knowing that they aren’t falsified. And he also manages to entertain while spilling his guts on the track. He can spin issues to being about him overcoming, and how life is worth living, instead of simply wallowing. And while his name isn’t on the album, the production from Budo is amazing as well. His use of live instruments that he plays most of the time (keyboard, trumpet, guitar, and percussion) really give the beats a natural feel, unlike some mainstream artists who have beats that feel as though they came off a conveyor belt. The passion and delivery on this album make it a standout LP among the lengthy and iconic Rhymesayers catalogue, and it is without question my favorite album of 2011.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Bloody Poetry, Tragic, Prize Fighter

That’s that. Hopefully I’ll post more on this blog in 2012. Who knows?

Dave's Favorite Albums of 2011 Part Three: 20-11

Okay, so I know I said this would be up last week, and it probably should’ve been up before January 1st, but who cares right? And if you really do care, you can blame my job and Arkham City, as those two things have chewed away at my time more than anything else. And my Arkham City save file just corrupted, so what the heck else am I going to do? Here are numbers 20-11!

20. Manchester Orchestra- Simple Math



Atlanta’s Manchester Orhcestra is a band I’ve slept on for a while. I like them, I liked their last album Mean Everything to Nothing so much that it ranked #16 in my Top 20 albums of 2009, and I honestly think that Simple Math is an improvement on that LP. The album is indeed a somewhat simple, yet still awesome rock and roll in an age that the great things about the gnere are being covered up by trendy indie bands and obnoxious pop music. And while these guys are conventional rock, they don’t do it in an Andrew W.K. style of just non-stop noise, they are methodical with their music and create a really cool 44 minute LP that doesn’t just rock your face, but challenges you a bit as a rock fan. It’s not experimental per se, but it is different than your normal batch of foot tappers and I really do enjoy that.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Deer, Pensacola, Pale Black Eye

19. The Black Keys- El Camino



I’d never been a big fan of The Black Keys until I listened to their 2010 LP Brothers, wherein I was promptly forced to apologize to friends who had been recommending them to me for years. So when I heard they were dropping El Camino a little more than a year and a half later, I was a bit worried that it would sound lazy and perhaps come off as a Brothers b-sides LP, and gladly El Camino isn’t that at all! While this album is more of an effort to be mainstream, as Brothers was too, it still succeeds at creating really catchy bluesy rock jams. So while the old school Keys fans are shaking their fists at this more poppy, mainstream sound, myself, and not to mention the Black Keys themselves are smiling and waving (and the band are laughing their way to the bank!)

NOTABLE TRACKS: Gold on the Ceiling, Hell of a Season, Mind Eraser

18. Evidence- Cats & Dogs



Producer, Rapper and Dilated Peoples member Evidence released his first LP on indie hip-hop label Rhymesayers, and the end result is a polished, straightforward hip-hop album. Ev covers typical hip-hop bases and does so with ease and great success. He effortlessly breezes across subject matter like a poor upbringing, his daily routine, death, his hometown, working with Kanye West and Will.i.am and several others over beats that are as smooth as butter. And this album is chock full of great guest spots, Rass Kass, Raekwon, Prodigy, Slug, and Aesop Rock to name a few, and Ev chooses their places wisely, as opposed to a more mainstream figure would, just tossing names onto tracks for exposure. And another thing that Ev does in his stoned out head is make a somewhat simple idea such as being late for a flight into a great track that makes that concept abstract, and the great “Late For the Sky” is the end result of that. So, I highly recommend this LP to people that want straight up hip-hop from a source that isn’t force fed to you by way of the radio.

NOTABLE TRACKS: It Wasn’t Me, Late For The Sky, Where You Came From

17. Lil’ Wayne- Tha Carter IV



Ah Lil’ Wayne, the most talked about rapper of 2011. So many people absolutely loathe everything he does, and then so many more people think he’s the best thing this side of Eminem and Jay-Z. And Tha Carter IV, his first legitimate hip-hop LP since 2008’s Tha Carter III, is exactly what fans expected it to be. It’s filled to the brim with party jams and a who’s-who of guest spots including Drake, T-Pain, Rick Ross, Jadakiss, NaS, Andre 3000, Busta Rhymes and a whole lot more. Now, this album is not the kind of thing that is put together artfully, each track isn’t placed in it’s slot for a reason, and I think a lot of the backlash on this album is the fact that this LP feels more like a collection of unrelated songs than it does a real LP. And taking that into account, this is really good. I mean, yeah there are a few duds, but for the most part this album is fun and Wayne does a lot of good in showing off his guests. Not to mention he himself is one of the better punchline rappers to grace the radio. If you’re into fun music that’s full of brags and over the top ideas of people, enjoy Tha Carter IV.

NOTABLE TRACKS: John, 6 Foot 7 Foot, Abortion

16. Death Grips- Ex-Military



Every now and again I like it when the music I listen to grabs me by my collar and smashes my head into the ground several times and leaves me with the impression of “Wow, that was crazy.” and with Death Grips FREE LP Ex-Military, that’s exactly what happens. It’s loud to the point of being disturbing, and the lyrics are militant. Now, I know there has been aggressive hip-hop, but this breed of aggression brought classically angry groups like N.W.A and Public Enemy to mind, just with a tinge of DMX’s rage into them. And just like with those classic militant hip-hop, the beats on Ex-Military are part of the reason why this comes off as so over-the-top. And those beats can be attributed to Hella drummer Zach Hill, whose diverse ear gives the beats the edge over the rest of the beats floating around the internet. Now, I know this kind of music isn’t for everyone, in fact, many people I’ve recommended this to have disliked it. But the commitment to the insanity, as well as the way it just never ceases, really makes me love this LP. And did I mention it’s FREE?

NOTABLE TRACKS: Beware, Lord of the Game, Thru the Walls

15. Patrick Stump- Soul Punk



So in 2011 I found myself falling in love with Fall Out Boy, a band I loathed during high school and college. And seemingly right as I grew more and more fond of FoB, their lead singer and guitarist Patrick Stump released his solo LP Soul Punk. The album can be taken as literally as the title. It’s a great infusion of Michael Jackson and Prince style soul music with that punk rock edge that Fall Out Boy made famous in the mid-00’s. But to the Fall Out Boy haters of the world, this album isn’t weighed down with obnoxious song titles and overly dramatic lyrics, well not as much as Fall Out Boy, it’s just a solid, fun LP of songs that show that Stump doesn’t need Pete Wentz to put out hits. For fans of both Fall Out Boy and those classic artists like Michael and Prince, this album is worth a listen. Maybe you’ll leave it jaded because it’s that clown from Fall Out Boy, or maybe you’ll appreciate a fan of a genre doing his best to modernize it, at least that’s what I got out of this.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Explode, Run Dry (X Heart X Fingers), Dance Miserable

14. Mastodon- The Hunter



For years friends of mine had been trying to get me into Mastodon, now not even just metalhead fans, though they were trying too. It was as if the band retained their credibility while appealing to a broad audience. And on The Hunter, it appears as though they are reaching out to the mainstream a bit more openly. This album doesn’t feature epic tracks, in fact the longest track on the album is only slightly over five minutes. Now, just like with The Black Keys, I can be called out for being a bit of an amateur fan of this band, but I can’t deny that I really like this album. It hits hard, and granted, it might not hit as hard as their earlier albums, and it might not be as sludgy either, but that doesn’t mean this isn’t pretty awesome. So picky fans can be picky, but please allow me to enjoy my entry level metal music for at least a little while.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Black Tongue, Curl Of The Burl, The Hunter

13. Bon Iver- Bon Iver, Bon Iver



Pitchfork’s #1 album of 2011 really had a strong impact on me as well. I sat on this one for a while and when I finally turned it on for the first time I just sat with the speakers cranked up and my jaw hanging a lot of times. This album is just sonically awesome. I know a lot of people have chastised Bon Iver for not caring too much about the mix on this album, and that it could have a completely more well rounded sound if time were put into mixing and whatnot, but I think the flurry of sounds thrown at the listener is beautiful. I’m generally not a fan of atmospheric indie music, but throughout the course of this album I was taken places in my ears and brain that I’ve only dreamed of! Very rarely do I love a Pitchfork favorite, but with this album I’m forced to shut up and say they made a good call.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Holocene, Wash, Minnesota, WI

12. Chickenfoot- Chickenfoot III



And immediately following the indie darling is the cock rock masterpiece of 2011. Now for those that haven’t seen my insane number of tweets about this band, Chickenfoot is the definition of a supergroup. Fronted by solo artist and former Van Halen singer Sammy Hagar, featuring VH bassist Michael Anthony, solo guitar god Joe Satriani, and drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith, the group make the exact style of music you would assume them to make. And this album is really, really, really fun. I was a bit skeptical going into it due to the limited promotion and the short time between its announcement and release date, but I was silenced immediately as I first popped this into my CD player. It just runs its course and easily entertains. For those that do know Chickenfoot, and have listened to their self titled debut, there may be questions of “How is this any different than the first one?” and to me the differences aren’t really blatant, but they are present. The band feels more at home with the songs on this LP, and the cheeziness seems to be embraced in the right ways a bit more. And I absolutely love that. There’s no age to these guys, as these tunes feel like 20 year olds could be churning them out. And I mean that as a compliment, not a slight! Not to mention the 3D packaging is AMAZING.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Alright Alright, Up Next, Dubai Blues

11. tUnE-yArDs- who kill



Connecticut born tUnE-yArDs was an act I had a hard time getting into. Maybe it was just because I was stubborn, or maybe it was because the vocal looping was annoying to me at first, but once I escaped that imaginary barrier, I really loved this LP. And what I think is the factor that made me love it is the fact that at the end of the day, regardless of the indie blog press it’s been getting, is that this is essentially stripped down pop music. Now, maybe this isn't Miley Cyrus or Ke$ha pop music, but with some more conventional instruments playing these tunes instead of vocal loops and ukulele this could be mainstream! And I give credit to tUnE-yArDs to keeping this as weird as possible.

NOTABLE TRACKS: Riotriot, Bizness, You Yes You

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!!!

Dave's Favorite Albums of 2011 Part Two: Let Downs and Honorable Mentions

Hello! Back again with the albums that didn't make my Favorite list! Shame on them! Or if it's the honorable mention area, good effort!

The Let Downs:

1. The Strokes- Angles



The Strokes are responsible for one of the most iconic albums of the 2000’s with their debut Is This It? Not to mention their follow-up LP’s Room On Fire and First Impressions of Earth had a handful of gems on them, regardless of their failure to live up to their predecessor. So when it was announced that the band was back together after hiatus I expected great things, and following the release of the single “Under Cover of Darkness” I thought perhaps the band could make another iconic LP. Alas...this album is so flat and void of emotion aside from “Under Cover” and the cool guitar line in the track “Metabolism”. It’s clear the band doesn’t get along, considering singer Julian Casablancas e-mailed in his vocals and feedback on the music, and guitarist Albert Hammond Junior spent much of the recording process battling drug addiction. The point in which this album, and to a certain degree the band as a whole, looked bleak was when Casablancas said in an interview that he was proud of “About 60% of the album.” Next time I release an album to the masses, I’m going to make sure to tell them it’s only a little more than half good.

2. Tyler, The Creator- Goblin



In the first quarter of 2011, Tyler, The Creator and his cronies in the Odd Future movement had the world in their hands. After a shockingly bizarre performance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and the viral success of the music video for the song “Yonkers,” it seemed as though there was no way Goblin wouldn’t live up to the hype. When the LP dropped, the hardcore OFWGKTA fans ate it up and praised it, however, I can’t stand it. There are some great tracks, some good ones and then the rest of this album is god-awful. There are songs on this album that I would go as far as to say are among the worst songs I’ve ever heard in my life. With so many well-received mixtapes and digital albums under his belt, I assumed Tyler would know how to please a mainstream audience. But unfortunately Tyler was perhaps a bit too cocky with his song choices, and the end result is upsettingly bad. I pray that he can regroup and make his next LP, Wolf, a cleaner and more well thought out effort.

3. Lupe Fiasco- Lasers



Five years into the hip-hop game, Lupe Fiasco seemingly had the world in his palm. He’d achieved both critical and relatively commercial success with his first two LP’s Food and Liquor and The Cool. And the longer he awaited after the latter of those two albums, the more unintentional hype he put behind the LP that we came to know as Lasers. And when it dropped the negative reviews came from all corners, and I didn’t want to believe them. But then I listened to this album. It’s infused with poppy, electronic beats, and the lyrics are not nearly as potent as they once were. Lupe Fiasco could have cemented himself as a mainstay in the genre, but all of the things I’ve just mentioned, as well as lazy guest spots did a lot of damage to Lupe’s image. This album really is a fiasco.

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers- I’m With You



After longtime guitarist John Frusciante quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009 and was quickly replaced with touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, there was a bit of unease from hardcore fans. Could the band continue to play funky jams and entertain fans without the signature sound of Frusciante (not to mention his vocal harmonies)? And the answer was yes. Klinghoffer fit in very well. The problem was, the entire band decided to record and release a more or less lazy LP on every front. Where once Flea slapped and popped strings left and right, here he plucks his way through riffs, like the single “The Adventures of Raindance Maggie”, and where once lead singer Anthony Kiedis crafted quirky and fun lyrics, now he seems like an awkward older guy trying to grab onto the youth inside of him with lines like “Hustle me bitch and you best beware!” And you can’t say Klinghoffer takes away, it’s almost as if he’s not even there! The guitar is almost a secondary instrument on this album. And perhaps the biggest let down of this LP is that there are moments of sheer greatness, tracks like “Monarchy of Roses” and “Look Around” are amazing, and different than the “Can’t Stop” and “Give It Away” style that RHCP have sort of gotten stuck in. But the goods are too little and the mediocres are far too many. Is there any ounce of decency left in the Chili Peppers? Yes, they just seem to brush over it. I pray they can regroup and forge onward instead of holding their current ground, as the new stylings they played with on I’m With You could flourish if given more time to develop.

5. Childish Gambino- CAMP



Troy from NBC’s Community, a.k.a founding member of the Youtube comedy group Derrick Comedy a.k.a Donald Glover a.k. Childish Gambino finally released his first studio LP following a string of free tapes and the aplty titled EP earlier in 2011. And to put it bluntly Gambino can’t be taken seriously. While he is a fiery lyricist, and delivers some downright amazing punchlines, the overall themes of songs are diminished, as they almost contradict each other from track to track. Glover keeps saying he’s pining after one girl, and then has a track about how his fake girlfriend has a key to his house and he doesn’t want his real girlfriend, and how his girl is a Maxim model. Then he says he wants to be relatable to the black community as an alternative to what you hear on the radio, then he makes a brag track in the same vein as Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne or a more commercial Tyler, The Creator. And how can he seem relatable when he keeps saying he great he is? I really enjoyed this album after the first few listens, but the more it sunk in, the more I just got frustrated with how lazy and inconsistent this is. I had very high hopes for this LP and while it does offer some cool beats and good punchlines, its lack of any real focus really brings it down.

The Honorable Mentions:
(note: the term ‘honorable mention’ does not mean that these next LP’s deserve the 21-25 slot on my list, it means they stood out in one way or another. Quality is not always what makes the effort honorable.)

1. Bad Meets Evil- Hell: The Sequel



In a further step to return to the notoriety he had in the early to mid 2000’s, Eminem reunited with former ally Royce Da 5’9” to deliver Hell: The Sequel, a 9 track EP that’s just as vulgar, violent and vicious as the filthiest tracks in Em’s discography. And Royce is no chump on the mic, as fans of his solo work know. It’s an impressive EP lyrically, and reminds us that even though Em has found commercial success with songs about overcoming obstacles like “Not Afraid” he can still chew you up if he wants to. What brings this EP down is the need for hooks. Tracks like “Lighters” and “Above the Law”, while potent in their lyrical content, feature gag worthy hooks that belong on someone else’s songs. So yeah, cheers to Em and Royce for spitting fire, even after being in the game for so long, but us real hip-hop fans don’t need Bruno Mars singing hooks. Hopefully following the success both critically and commercially of this and Em’s last LP Recovery, we can see the man truly regain his place as one of hip-hops greatest lyricist.

2. Drake- Take Care



With his first album, the ambitiously titled Thank Me Later, Drake did nothing more than brag about how great he was, regardless of how little time he’d spent in the spotlight. And that left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth. So when Take Care started getting raving reviews I was skeptical about whether or not it was worth my time to listen to it. But I succumbed to the peer pressure and finally gave this album a few spins, and while I’m not a huge fan of it as a whole, there’s a whole lot of audacity going into this release. Drake opens up his soul and pours it all over the duration of this, and for the first time in history, I’ve felt a connection to him. He talks about how fame can’t buy him money, regardless of how much fun he appears to be having. And he has the balls to sing a good majority of this album. So to me Drake could’ve coasted along with another LP full of brag tracks where he sings hooks and then raps verses, but on Take Care he really explores a lot of things musically. So I do give credit where credit is due.

3. Mac Miller- Blue Slide Park



I’d first heard Mac Miller on Chris Webby’s track “I Need A Dollar” wherein Miller killed Webby in a verse that seemed to take little to no effort from Miller. So after hearing his K.I.D.S mixtape and getting really excited from that, I was ready to enjoy Blue Slide Park. And I did. It’s a solid output. It’s not great. But there are a few things that I really admire. Number one is the fact that it sold 145,000 copies in its first week. Now Miller is not a mainstay on hip-hop radio, nor is signed to a massive record label. He’s toured extensively and built a following off of social networking and releasing mixtapes. So, it’s good to see his hard work pay off. And what else makes this album so notable? The fact that regardless of his affiliations with Wiz Khalifa, Maroon 5 and several other mainstream music figures, Miller doesn’t have a single guest appearance on this album. In an age where most hip-hop albums don’t go more than two tracks without guests, this kid from Pittsburg put out an album with ZERO guests and sold 145,000 copies in a week. That my friends, is incredibly honorable.

4. Wale- Ambition



I’ve been an on and off fan of Wale for some time. I enjoyed his tape The Mixtape About Nothing, hated his debut LP Attention Deficit, and then loved his mixtape More About Nothing. So when Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group signed him to a deal, I was both excited and scared. Could Wale deliver an LP on a major label that delivered the lyrical poignancy that he became known for on his mixtapes? And he did! Ambition is exactly what its title implies, and Wale can finally be proud of both commercial and critical success. This isn’t the best hip-hop album of the year by a long shot, but the fact that Wale transcended a record label watering down what makes him who he is and delivered a solid LP proves that the music industry is not run by corporations, but by individuals and groups of people with drive. I think with some fine tuning, Wale can follow up Ambition with something equally hungry, just a bit more fine tuned.

5. Primus- Green Naugahyde/Yellowcard- When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes/Bela Fleck and the Flecktones- Rocket Science





Why have I lumped a funk metal band, a pop punk band and a bluegrass band in one category? Allow me to explain. All three of the groups I’ve placed here are among my favorites. Primus is without question my favorite band of all time, Yellowcard was my guilty pleasure all throughout high school and college, and The Flecktones were a group that really challenged me musically, and continue to do so. Essentially, all three of these groups are in my ‘top tier’ of bands. And all three released good LP’s in 2011. However, all three groups produced albums of tunes that sort of fit in with their prior releases without really doing much to grow artistically. I’ve listened to all three of these albums extensively and really enjoy them, I just can’t call these among the best of the year because the bands are musically treading water. So good tunes yes, but charging forward musically instead of standing still would’ve pushed them from the honorable mentions onto my favorites. No big deal!


Alright folks! Numbers 20-11 will be up soon, with numbers 10-1 up shortly thereafter! Hope you're enjoying 2012! The world will end this year!