20. Rob Zombie-Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool
When I was in sixth grade I used to listen to the tracks “Meet the Creeper”, “Dragula” and “Superbeast” several times a day. Then in high school I bought the first Hellbilly Deluxe at one of FYE’s several “Buy 3 get 1 free!” sales and surprisingly enjoyed it beyond a nostalgia level. A few weeks ago, after listening to Rick Ross’s Teflon Don, iTunes automatically put on what was next in the playlist, Rob Zombie’s Hellbilly Deluxe 2. I had every intent to change it, but as soon as it started I felt like that sixth grader walking home from elementary school with my Walkman on full blast. Without as much of an “ehhh” I made it through the entire album and enjoyed myself. While HB2 is not a piece of timeless art, it’s fun, and it’s retro (weird thinking that sounding like a ’98 album is retro) and it never really takes itself too seriously. Not to mention psychobilly prodigy John 5 brings his country flavor to the music, adding a quirky new dimension. For those that publicly or privately enjoy the Zombie in all of his glory, Hellbilly Deluxe 2 is an album for you. If you don’t enjoy the Zombie…then get out of here!
Notable Tracks: “Jesus Frankenstein” “The Man Who Laughs”
19. Devo- Something for Everybody
Aging geeks. That is exactly what Devo are. And on Something for Everybody they make it abundantly clear. While many bands try to retain their heavy credibility into old age (see KISS) or try to turn their music to prove that they have become wise in their years (see Johnny Cash) Devo are the same guys, just 20 years older than the last time we heard something new from them. This album sounds as if they wrote it in the 80’s and re-mastered it now, tweaking some lyrics to be more relevant to today’s audience. The Mothersbaugh’s, the Castle’s and drum god Josh Freese are really in tune to what made Devo great in the day, and allowing fans to pick what songs were on the album certainly made it Something for Everybody. Not the bands best work (I mean, they peaked in the 70’s) but a fun album that knows just how corny it is. If there was only a young band like Devo today.
Notable Tracks: “Don’t Shoot (I’m a Man)” "Please Baby Please" "Step Up"
18. Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.- Record Collection
Record Collection is an album that has me scratching my head every time I listen to it, thinking “Is this really all that good?” I think the fact that it has me so intrigued listen after listen means that Mark and the crew are doing something right. The first two tracks wham off collaborations with hip-hop vets Q-Tip and Ghostface Killah over catchy synthy beats. It’s different than the Dap Kings influenced Version, in a sense that every song is not arranged in the same fashion. And as it keeps going the guest spots get more and more strange, creating quite the interesting vibe. Boy George, Spank Rock, and the London Gay Men’s Chorus all contribute interesting and odd parts to snappy fun tracks, making the listen not only fun but fascinating. I still prefer Version, and the complete wackiness of Here Comes the Fuzz even, but Record Collection is a nice showing that proves that Ronson doesn’t have a formula to fit into.
Notable Tracks: “The Bike Song” “Introducing the Business” “Bang Bang Bang”
17. Weezer- Hurley
Here it is. Soak it up ladies and gentlemen. Weezer has returned. After three consecutive flops and a departure from Geffen, it seemed as though Weezer had 2 options. One was continue making watered down pop rock under an independent record label, and the other was take some time to record a good album that makes people remember why they love Weezer. What they did falls somewhere in the middle. A year after the laughably bad Raditude, Hurley shows a band that may have been held back by the people at Geffen, but also a band that knows how to make fun pop rock. What was lost between the heavy Maladroit and Hurley? Who knows, but there’s no denying that while it’s not classic, it is certainly a FUN POP ROCK album. The bands critics keep saying they’re never going to be as good as Blue Album or Pinkerton, and my response to that is WHO CARES?! Can’t we just enjoy what they’re making? I thoroughly enjoy this new sound, do I like it better than Blue and Pink? No! But I like it! Rivers may have lost his mind with some of his lyrics (“B.o.B is dying to hang out!”) but he can still make a song that gets stuck in your head for days, and that’s a skill that not many rockers have in this day and age.
Notable Tracks: “Memories” “Trainwrecks” “Smart Girls”
16. Infant Sorrow-Get Him To The Greek
The soundtrack to the same named film, the fictional band fronted by off the wagon rock star Aldous Snow does exactly what the film needs it to do, rock. In the beginning of the film, Jonah Hill’s Aaron Green laments that Snow is the last remaining true rock star, and that perhaps the world needs people like him, and the songs on this soundtrack certainly prove that. They are funny and quirky in their lyrical content, but at the end of the day the just straight up rock. What’s the formula to the greatness of these songs? Is it the mix of having actual rock stars like Jarvis Cocker write music and have comedians like Jason Segel and Judd Apatow write lyrics? Maybe. But the point is that in a generation where all of our comedy music comes from geeky self aware comic groups like Tenacious D and Flight of the Conchords (no offense meant to either group) it’s great to see a Spinal Tap-esque fictional band that can not only make you laugh, but make you bang your head and tap your foot.
Notable Tracks: “Furry Walls” “The Clap” “Bangers, Beans and Mash”
15. The Roots- Hot I Got Over
I was not excited for this album. The constant delays, the shameless self promotion that it was “classic” by Questlove, and the fact that the Jimmy Fallon gig may have taken a toll on the bands songwriting skills, really had my thinking this was going to flop, especially following the star-studded and over the top Rising Down, but this album did deliver in an odd and satisfying way. It’s not the same Roots we’ve heard before, it’s a more driven, rock based sound, and it knows how to entertain. While Blackthought may not be spitting his most politically relevant lyrics, nor is Questlove pushing the band to their musical limits, this album is for once positive in its content and fun in its presentation. With such a vast discography, and a changing of the guard from the god of bass Hub to white boy Owen Biddle, it’s no surprise this isn’t their best work, but it shows that they still have plenty of potential to grow even more than they have over the years.
Notable Tracks: “Dear God 2.0” “How I Got Over” “The Fire”
14. Eminem-Recovery
There are a few artists that are so iconic, that you can’t help but root for through thick and thin. Eminem is one of those guys. Defying the odds and transcending race he became the voice of our generation and made all of us cringe and make sure our parents weren’t in the room when his music videos came on TV. But after the disappointments in Encore and Relapse, there was doubt that Slim Shady would return to true form, but Recovery showed that there is still life in the aging Detroit rapper. This isn’t the same, constantly angry at the world Eminem, this is a grown up who has more life experience than 90% of the rap community. And while he may not be as on point as he was in the past, he can still make rhymes and use his unique and intense flow to command respect. Is this as good as the Slim Shady or Marshall Mathers LP’s? No. But we have an album that never quite hits the lows that his prior two have, and we have a new sort of insight. He can still reference obscene things, but at the same time he can go and preach in songs like “Not Afraid” and it doesn’t seem awkward. I enjoy this album a lot, and if Em can hone his skills even more on his next album, he may have another classic in him.
Notable Tracks: “Cold Wind Blows” “On Fire” “Won’t Back Down”
13. The Dead Weather- Sea of Cowards
In his third consecutive year on the list, Jack White’s The Dead Weather put out another great album. The thing about Jack White is that while all of his music is good and entertaining, it seems as if he’s coasting by putting albums out so fast. And that amazes me. Released a year after their debut Horehound, Sea of Cowards packs the same bluesy, hard edged punch that the bands debut had, and it took less than a year to write and record! That’s incredible. This album starts off hard and effective with “Blue Blood Blues” and more or less keeps rocking until it ends. It’s punchiness musically can be handed to bassist Jack Lawrence and the man himself White behind the drum kit, and the vocals of White and Allison Mosshart just fit perfectly in the sleazy blues of the bands music. Jack White seems to be defying the odds in terms of his track record as of the past few years, and after Sea of Cowards I have high hopes for what is next.
Notable Tracks: “Blue Blood Blues” “Hustle and Cuss” “Gasoline”
12. DJ Muggs vs. Ill Bill-Kill Devil Hills
The third album in Cypress Hill DJ Muggs’ “vs.” series sees the California native team up with Brooklyn’s Ill Bill of Non Phixion and La Coka Nostra. The end result is a very nice dose of hardcore hip hop in a time where the hardest rapper on the radio used to be a corrections officer. Bill has a killer delivery and Muggs crafts great beats that both have a vintage vibe, while still hitting hard. Not to mention the guest spots are pretty good. The obvious Cypress Hill and Coka Nostra ones coming from B-Real, Slaine and Everlast, and surprises from Raekwon and Jedi Mind Tricks’ Vinny Paz help break up Bill’s talents. I like the continuity from Bill’s verses on La Coka Nostra’s A Brand You Can Trust to this album, still talking about how fat America is and his own difficult life, while peppering in political themes with government use of LSD and the illuminati. It’s an album that went overlooked by a lot of people, but it’s a nice combination of two similar forces that is a good time overall.
Notable Tracks: “Cult Assassin” “Amputated Saint” “Skull & Guns”
11. NaS & Damian Marley- Distant Relatives
Another album plagued by delays that made me fear what its quality would be bad, but again I am proven wrong. This disc is just a whole dish of odd-defying quality. While their prior collaboration on Jamrock’s “Road To Zion” showed the chemistry between the two men, Distant Relatives takes that chemistry to new and unseen levels. The dread-ed militant Marley combined with the clean cut, bling and fitted wearing NaS literally come together, combining cultures and styles in a hybrid reggae/rap that never gets boring. While it does run a tad long, it mixes things up enough to make it worth the listen. When not working strictly together, they bring in logical collaborators like Stephen Marley and K’Naan, and those sort of bizarre ones like Lil’ Wayne & Joss Stone (together on one track?). If there was one album that should have received a lot more mainstream attention, it is this one without question.
Notable Tracks: “As We Enter” “Nah Mean” “Africa Must Wake Up”
Stay tuned for the top 10! Surprises may ensue!
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