This just popped up in my mind right now. Ben I know you are big on Ghostface Killah is there a chance we're going to see his latest album in your top albums?
I'm surprised at how much success this album has gotten. That's not a dig at the album, but just shocked. "The Pretender" is still #1 on Modern Rock, and the album with "The Pretender" got a bunch of Grammy noms including Album and Record of the year. I think the band certainly deserves it, but it's just so out of nowhere. It's a very solid album and their first album produced by Gil Norton since their breakthrough The Colour And The Shape. It really does a great job at showcasing all the styles of music they have done over the years, and works great as an overview of the band's career. Do I think it's one of their best albums? Honestly, i'm not sure. I would put maybe a few of them (Colour And The Shape, There Is Nothing Left To Lose, In Your Honor) above this one, but it's definitely a great effort and proves the band can still stay vital for years to come.
Best Songs:
1.Let It Die
2.Long Road To Ruin
3.Statues
29.Beastie Boys - The Mix-Up
I've been debating putting this album on ever since I started the list. It's an all instrumental album, but then it's from one of my top 3 favorite groups ever. I decided to put it on, because The Mix-Up (along with another album coming up) ruled my Summer. Both were the perfect soundtracks to a great warm Summer. Some of my favorite Beastie Boys songs were the instrumental songs in between their albums, but their last album To The 5 Boroughs didn't include any of them which kinda bummed me out. So this album is definitely needed, and it delivers. the Beastie Boys have been talking about ever since the album came out that there would be another album with other artists singing over the songs from The Mix-Up. Names thrown out there from the group included M.I.A., Lily Allen, and Jarvis Cocker. Also the Beastie Boys are promising to release another album sometime in 2008 with vocals. The Mix-Up is still very much worthy of getting listened to. It's really the perfect album to just put on whenever, and it works as great background music (which isn't a diss, it's a compliment).
Best Songs:
1.Off The Grid
2.Electric Worm
3.The Melee
28.M.I.A. - Kala
This album is a complete trip. one of the most enjoyable listens of the year is M.I.A.'s Kala which is even better then her last album Arular. I don't even know what to say about Kala that hasn't already been said about it. When I first heard the album listening to first song "Bamboo Banger", I was like those words sure sound familiar. of course they come from The Modern Lovers classic "Road Runner" which is about the farthest song from "Bamboo Banger", but she makes it work. The highlight of the album though is "Paper Planes", which is one of the best songs of the whole year. It's insanely catchy while having a great message. If you haven't heard it, you should all check out the remix to "Paper Planes" featuring Bun B and Rich Boy. it's fantastic. actually......
Best Songs:
1. Paper Planes
2. Bird Flu
3. $20
27. Bad Religion - New Maps Of Hell
I would have to say Bad Religion are one of the most reliable bands in all of music. I mean, right now tell me which Bad Religion album is bad? exactly. They've been cranking out quality albums since 1982's How Could Hell Be Any Worse? and New Maps Of Hell keeps the tradition alive as their 14th full length release (20 releases overall). Surprise! it's amazing. Instead of letting band member Brett Gurewitz produce the album like he has over the last couple albums, they sent in Joe Barresi who has done some work with The Melvins, and Queens Of The Stone Age. Honestly, I don't know what else to say about the album besides saying it's yet another solid album from one of the greatest punk bands of all time.
Best Songs:
1.The Grand Delusion
2.Fields Of Mars
3.Requiem For Dissent
26.Bedouin Soundclash - Street Gospels
One of Canada's best talents. On their last album Sounding A Mosaic, Bedouin Soundclash scored a huge hit here in Canada with "When The Night Feels My Song". It was played all over the radio: Rock radio, Pop radio, AC radio. I would have to say it was one of the most deserved hits in quite some time. But now they are back with their first album since the big success in Canada with Street Gospels. It's once again produced by Darryl Jenifer of Bad Brains, and I honestly think it's even better then Sounding A Mosaic. It's more of Bedouin's great mix of rock, reggae and ska, and it's just a very relaxing record. If you live in the U.S. or a part of the world where they haven't gotten big, I highly recommend checking them out.
Best Songs:
1. Walls Fall Down
2. Nico On The Night Train
3. Until We Burn In The Sun (The Kids Just Want A Love Song)
Part 3 in the can. Now there probably won't be another albums part in a couple days since I did Part 2 and 3 back to back. That doesn't mean though that this thread will be dead. I should post a different sidelist on both days, until I then get to Part 4.
in the mean time, please do comment. I appreciate them all.
Completely agree on your comments about the Foos and MIA.
And wonderful to see your recognizing our homegrown canucks Bedouin, that album is fantastic.
This just popped up in my mind right now. Ben I know you are big on Ghostface Killah is there a chance we're going to see his latest album in your top albums?
Oh yeah and Eardrum
sadly, there isn't. That has nothing to do with the quality of the record though (it's fantastic as always). It's just that it came out too late in the year. The cutoff for albums with me was end of November, so GFK doesn't make it. I did it like that because I personally feel that you can't accurately judge an album when it's out the same month you are doing your year end list. But like last year I'll do a section where I talk about the great albums that came out this month like Ghostface, Wu-Tang Clan, and some others.
Obviously I need to work on exanding my taste in music because these ar e5 straight albums that I've never heard.
And no matter what you say Ben, I'm probably gonna be putting "the Cool" on my list; and it might make an appearance on my list next year if i'm around to do one lol j/k
lol j/k