While the album has it's obvious ups, ("Otis", "Ni**as in Paris", "No Church in the Wild", "That's My Bitch") it also has it's obvious downs ("Welcome to the Jungle", "Primetime", "The Joy", etc.). Filler on the album (which is somewhat abundant) keeps it from achieving greatness. However, the album rides high on it's fantastic production, not a single song sounds bad instrumentally. Ultimately the album is good, but more is expected from these hip-hop juggernauts. With rumors and talks of a possible 2nd album, let's hope they get it perfect the next time.
Now I've never been a big Keri fan but ch... I'd be lying if I didn't say this was the cutest single of 2011. The production is ace, has a nice little throwback sound which I can always get with. The music video was nice too. Don't expect Keri to appear anymore on this list, this is her magnum opus.
#29
Best Thing I Never Had | Beyonce
This is one of those songs that you like alright at first, then love, then hate, then like again. It's truly a beautiful song, and the video agrees as Bey looks gorgeous. The lyrics are also nice.
#28
Gucci Gucci | Kreayshawn
This song is TRASH. The kinda trash that is so bad it's good. The beat is sick and it just has that earworm factor. You can't help but to play this song over and over. Dead. I can't believe I included this on my list. Whatev. #KREAYSHAWNTAKEOVER2012.
"Written in the Stars" caught my attention at the beginning of 2011, and quickly became one of my favorites. So I knew I had to check this out. The album flopped big time because everything after the 1st single was a disaster. The 2nd and 3rd singles were some of the weakest songs on the album. As a whole, the project is very futuristic sounding and the sound is a nice breath of fresh air. Like the last album on my list, production is on POINT. He's a decent enough rapper I suppose. I get the feeling that his label didn't know how to present him to the US, because while he is a rapper you wouldn't find anything on the album sans one or two songs being played on urban radio. so yeah he's a flop but the album is cute and I can get my bop from most of the songs especially "Wonderman" featuring Queen Ellie.
The first single from Kanye and Jay's collab album surely didn't disappoint. The two monsters effortlessly trade verses over a perfectly used sample. The song doesn't really set the tone for the rest of the album, but it sure is rock solid.
#26
Man Down | Rihanna
While I certainly love this clinking island spiced jam, I don't hold the same feelings that many of the Navy did for it. It's a great song but highly overrated if you ask me and (along with CKB) shouldn't have been a single. The video was very nice though.
#25
The Edge of Glory | Lady Gaga
I originally didn't like this song and around the time she released this was the time I started hating Gaga the most but that is besides the point. The point is that it grew on me tremendously. While the song is cheesy is hell it just works so well for so many different instances. I first fell in love with it when driving through Boston late one night. All of the lights and people and blasting this song mashed so well. The commercial she made ***** all over the video but don't even get me started on that because I could bitch about that abomination for hours.
In August, Natalia Kills finally released her debut album in the US, and it turned out to be not only one of the best pop records released in 2011, but perhaps one of the best debut pop records in recent years. Natalia and her label managed to eff up in every way possible with the album however, so you (the general public, anyways) may not be aware of this fact. She really nails the whole dark-pop concept wonderfully, and that makes her who she is. But of course her label put out the most generic fluff that they could ("Free", "Kill My Boyfriend") in hopes to get that hit. Not to mention the she got zero promotion. They should have put out "Love Is a Suicide", "Wonderland", "Nothing Last Forever", etc. to see if she had what it takes to change the game. But whatever, I'm done bitching. The album is flawless, go buy it.