2006:
Here's my top albums in my life right now. I encourage feedback, your top albums, etc.
In no particular order:
The Postal Service - Give Up
It's been out for a few years now, and it still remains in heavy rotation. I don't even think that there's really a throwaway track on the album. The combination of Ben Gibbard's vocals and Jimmy Tamborello was better than I could have imagined. A powerful album and it's good for a variety of moods.
Deep Puddle Dynamics - The Taste of Rain....Why Kneel?
This was one of the albums that sparked my interest in the indie rap scene. Anticon and Slug with some crazy beats. I remember I listened to this album end to end for a few weeks. It's still relevant to my life after 4 years. It was crazy good.
Aesop Rock - Labor Days
Another album that turned me on to indie rap. Aesop had some amazing lyrics and really dope beats to match it up. 5 years later rap cats are still just discoveing Ace Riggity Rock. Dude's ill. Hope he can match this album sometime soon as this is his most coheisve and best produced album to date. Worth a spin or two if you get the chance.
Arcade Fire - Funeral
I'm not going to lie, I hated this album the first time I heard it. In fact I hated it the second and third time I heard it. But I caught it in a soundtrack for some obscure video a year back and I kicked myself for being a jackass. It's not everyone's cup of tea but this is seriously one of my favorite albums of all time. Powerful music that drags various emotions out of me. I mean I absolutely get chills listening to some parts, it's that powerful. So good that I found myself picking it up on vinyl just to have it.
Various Artists - Rawkus Presents Soundbombing II
In my opinion the last good album that Rawkus put out before it's demise. This was the high school anthem album. You've got Mos Def, Talib Kweli, some old Eminem, Co Flow, Cocoa Brovaz, Common, the Beat Junkies, and a ton of other artists that just heated up the tracks. And let's not forget Pharoahe Monch and Shabaam Shadeeq with WWIII. A dope dope album. A must listen if you're into the late 90s underground sound.
Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
End to end burner. Dude had some serious narative ability. Paved the way for hip hop's flashy hustler era. So many crazy tracks and beats to match the lyrics.
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
For a while I used to think Smashing Pumpkins were the only band for a long period in high school. I was obsessed. But after I grew up a little bit I still look back at this album and think of how good it is. It had the soft songs, it had the hard songs. It had the highs and lows of life and I still love listening to it.
Common - Be
The Illmatic of the new millenium. Insanely short and concise but effective nonetheless. In an era filled with skits, the "hot" producer of the moment, Common stuck to two good ones: J Dilla and Kanye West. And it was nothing but fire. Just good lyrics and nice to see Common making some old boom bap. Despite the album of the moment feeling of our era, this one will stand the test of time. Minimal cameos (that's a good thing). And it's one of the very few albums I went to buy the day it came out.
Cannibal Ox - The Cold Vein
The sum surpassed the parts. El-P, Vast and Vordul....straight fire. Vast and Vordul aren't quite as good solo, but were definitive as a group. They painted a dark picture of NYC through some really off the wall metaphors. But dudes were serious lyricists. Probably one of the best indie rap albums of all time. And so many quotables to disect for days. "you was a stillborn baby/mother didn't want you/but you was still born." I only knew one other guy that had even listened to this album and for a week straight our conversations were all about the various lyrics on this album.
Atmosphere - God Loves Ugly
I remember trying to go to the God Loves Ugly tour the day of the release of this ablum. Unfortunately it was sold out, so I just went to Ameoba and copped the album instead. This remained in heavy rotation for a month easily. It was just good from front to back. Now everyone's in to Sluggo and I can't blame them. Dude is just that good. I've had the pleasure of seeing him more than a few times and the live show is definitely not to be missed. From large venue to small venue, dude rocks like it's his last show. And this album had some serious emo-rap going down. Check it if you get the chance. There's nothing wrong with emo-rap
Broken Social Scene - You Forget it In People / Self Titled
Not only is this one of my favorite bands, but they've easily put up the best live performance I've ever seen (better than Radiohead). Solid solid sound, good music to rock to. It's often border line instrumental music, but it's scattered with lyrics throughout. And the formula works to perfection. I urge you to pick up either one of these albums. You won't be disappointed. If there was one album to pick up, it'd be one of these or the Postal Service.
Bun B - Trill
"UGK is the Click" Dude spits mad lyrics. I couldn't believe how good this album was. Beats to back it up. He even gets really introspective and despite Pimp C (his partner in UGK) being in jail, he still sends out big ups to him and holds down fam tight. Probably not for the casual hip hop / rap head, but definitely something you shouldn't miss out on if you're looking for something a little bit different. You're gonna see a lot of Bun B, and more importantly UGK real soon. Watch out.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Howl
I was long turned off to them solely because of their name. I can't lie, it's extremely corny, but at first listen, I got sucked in. Solid live act to boot. But yeah, this album has a lot of heart to it and is good drinking, mellow out music.
Radiohead - OK Computer
Far and away their best album. I wasn't as much of a fan after they took to their electronic music path, but wow. This album has been a favorite of mine since I saw the Paranoid Android video. Such a good album from cover to cover. This sound has been often imitated but never replicated and solidified their already large following. I wish I had gotten to see them live during this tour. I definitely missed out. I have an imense love for this album because of how groundbreaking their sound was. The fact that they haven't come close to this perfect of an album since also kind of engrains this into my collection.
Honorable mention include: Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism, DJ Shadow - Endtroducing and The Outsider, RJD2 - Dead Ringer, Nas - God's Son and Stillmatic, Kanye West - the College Dropout, Interpol - Antics, Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell, Cream - the Best Of, and Led Zeppelin's I - V, Lil Wayne - The Carter II, Radiohead - The Bends, Bloc Party - Silent Alarm, Organized Konfusion, Victor Vaugh - Vadeville Villain, KMD - Black Bastards, Sole - Bottle of Humans, all 3 Dosh Albums.
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