The list continues. I hope you enjoy these albums as much as I do.
Top Albums (5-1).
5. Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
With Sir Lucious, Big Boi drops his first proper solo album and fills it with everything except disappointment. There is so much going on in each of the individual tracks, that even the laziest beat is laced with excitement and inventiveness. As half of Outkast, Big Boi has been commended, but also been left in the shadow of counterpart and visionary André Benjamin. SLLF will without question, change that assumption. Big Boi has given us the most electrifying hip-hop album in a long time, and to this point, the best of the year.
4. Sleigh Bells- Treats
Sleigh Bells’ Treats is 32 minutes of aggressively glitchy dance-synths, harrowing punk and metal guitar riffs, and syrupy sweet girl-pop melodies mixed so loudly that your speakers are in serious danger. Not since Pixies' Doolittle have I enjoyed losing my hearing more. Sleigh Bells have influences, but are beyond categorization. At any given moment the beyond heavy reverb and panicky distortion keep the album teetering on the edge of collapse.. Satisfying, urgent, and wildly entertaining, Treats is a great welcoming party for Sleigh Bells, a band we’re sure to hear more from.
3. Janelle Monáe- The ArchAndroid
Janelle Monáe toys with musical concepts like a 12 year old boy with ADHD. Her first full length The ArchAndroid is an 18 song genre hopping, mammoth of a debut. It carefully incorporates R&B, funk, hip-hop, folk, psychedelic rock, dancehall, and whatever else she happens to be feeling. Janelle Monáe is a force to be reckoned with and if you haven’t heard of her yet you will. As a debut album The ArchAndroid is unparalleled, already reminiscent of someone like Prince, Madonna, or Michael Jackson in their prime.
2. Spoon- Transference
Spoon scrapped its studio-slicked production as an instrument sound of 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga choosing instead to strip down their sound. What remains on Transference are consistently tight-knit 3 to 5 minute grooves equipped with the unmatched pipes of Britt Daniels, excellently restrained studio work, impeccable mixing and a never before seen magnestism and intimate vulnerability. Transference gives us a peek at the Spoon we’re not supposed to see. If Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is Spoon performing as indie superstars, live on their biggest stage yet, Transference is Spoon drunkenly leaving their studio door open and accidently pressing record during a late night jam session. The result doesn't disappoint.
1, LCD Soundsystem- This Is Happening
James Murphy is cool because he doesn’t care to be. He makes dance music that isn’t. Simultaneously he can break your heart while making you shake your ass. This Is Happening is LCD Soundsytem’s best and most personal album. The subject matter is darker and heavier, but the synths have never sounded better. On his previous full-lengths we were allowed to look but not touch. With This Is Happening, the insanely self-aware hipster dance messiah dares to allow the listener to visit his brain, and even gives them some space to poke and prod around. James Murphy knows not to outwear his welcome and has made it very clear that this is the last LCD Soundsystem record. Knowing that this may be the best move for Murphy's career doesn’t sway my opinion; I'm not ready for it to end.
Top Tracks (5-1).
These may teleport their way to your next mixtape. Careful.
5. Pantha Du Prince- Stick To My Side
4. The Radio Dept.- Heaven's On Fire
3. Spoon- Who Makes Your Money
2. The Morning Benders- Excuses
1. LCD Soundsystem All I Want & Dance Yrself Clean (Tie)
(All pictures derived from Flickr.com. Photo of Janelle Monae is credited to jcbehm-- photo of James Murphy credited to Ryan Muir-- photo of Britt Daniel credited to Eric J Hermann-- photo of Sleigh Bells credited to Deadly Viper Photo Squad. Thank you all.)
No comments:
Post a Comment