NG Presents: NG's Top 30 Albums of 2008 (#18-16)
18. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Released: March 18, 2008.
Best Tracks: Through the Hosiery, Alice Practice, Love and Caring, Black Panther
With Crystal Castles’ infectious, electric music, their self-debut title is easily one of the highlights of the year and a great addition to the super-genre that is electronic music. If some of you havn't been familiar with them, Crystal Castles are pretty much famous for combining a fresh mix of grimy beats, melodic undertones, punk and rock music and video game sounds. Edgy tracks like "Alice Practice" are nice offerings to punk rock music as the track belts out the sound you probably wouldn't find it amuse to listen to, but somehow manages to make you fall in love with it. On the other hand, "Love and Caring," features the catchiest drum beat on the album along with Glass’ shrieking vocals and yes, more video game sounds! Gotta love it. Whether it's a thank you or challenge to everyone they've worked with, Crystal Castles opens up endless remix possibilities and a place for a spot in my top 20 albums this year.
17. John Legend - Evolver
Released: April 20, 2008.
Best Tracks: Green Light (Feat. Andre 3000), Quickly (Feat. Brandy), It's Over (Feat. Kanye West), Everybody Knows
Legend has all sorts of eyebrow-raising ideas on his third album,
Evolver. This effort has a mission to evolve Legend's vocal and take the listeners to a new direction with the style he never recorded before, like reggae tune. Legend evolves yet he still maintains his R&B-esque style with songs like "Everybody Knows" and "Good Morning." However, it is the collaborations that win me over starting with the first hit single, "Green Light." The track is a double-time drum loop, darting electro-funk synths and a rarely- sighted rap cameo from Andre 3000. The track follows by another unique collaboration with Kanye West in the heart-breaking, "It's Over", which showcases Kanye's autotune as he breaks it down in the middle of the song. Finally, it would be a shame not to mention the R&B dream track "Quickly" as Legend teams up with Brandy, together produce a killer love song. I'd say for all the music fans out there, R&B lovers or not,
Evolver is a must have album for your iPod playlist of '08.
16. Duffy - Rockferry
Released: October 28, 2008.
Best Tracks: Stepping Stone, Mercy, Rain on Your Parade, Warwick Avenue, Serious
People would always compare Duffy as the new Amy Winehouse, but I see a larger potential in her than just an artist who can belts out high soulful notes. The first single "Mercy" is everywhere, on the radio, TV commercials, movie trailers, you name it. On
Rockferry, the former waitress deals in wistful, cloudy-day soul with tracks like "Warwick Avenue" and "Stepping Stone" showing powerful ballads and vocal that might blow you away. Both tracks are an interplay between her vocals and the slow-burning arrangements that hearken back to the best moments of Motown. The new single, "Rain on Your Parade" is an instant winner as Duffy vocal stays strong, soulful and satisfying. It is an album that marks her career and that's pretty impressive for a debut disc.
, the third one hmm.