NG Presents: NG's Top 30 Albums of 2008 (#12-10)
12. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
Released: June 11, 2008.
Best Tracks: Viva la Vida, Lovers in Japan, Violet Hill, Yes
Some say Coldplay is possibly the best band on earth. Their long-awaited new effort,
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends helps explain the popularity of Coldplay. Most tracks in the album are an artsy aspirations that intensify the glory moments offered by Coldplay's lead singer, Chris Martin. The band wrote each songs to influence and inspire their listeners. For instance, the track "Viva la Vida" inspires people that anything is indeed possible if you believe in it, while "Yes" finds Martin lowering his voice to match with an exotic violin in a song addressing the problem of lust for love. All in all, the album illustrates a string of revolution filled with elevating rock, orchestra, and also a strident optimism that keep the listeners going on their weakest days.
11. Britney Spears - Circus
Released: November 28, 2008.
Best Tracks: If U Seek Amy, Womanizer, Circus, Unusual You
I never thought a Britney album would end up being in my list. However, a second coming is indeed in full progress.
Circus is an album fulfills with a compilation of songs Britney wrote while her life has gone under a huge media craze. The opening track, "Womanizer" is just pure pop perfection. It brings back the Britney we all knew, the one who dances and actually enjoy performing on the stage. The second single, "Circus" becomes a grower with a music video that suits the entire theme of the album as Britney persuades and invites us to come into her illusion circus show. My favorite track has to be "If U Seek Amy", seriously, the subliminal message she has hidden behind the song is ****ing brilliant, not to mention the track itself is catchy and fun. Another track that becomes one of my favorite is "Unusual You", a sad mid-tempo/electro pop track that balances with the fun/dance side of
Circus. Hopefully, Britney stays on track and promotes this album because I can tell she works hard on this record.
And enter the top 10!
10. Bloc Party - Intimacy
Released: August 21, 2008.
Best Tracks: Mercury, One Month Off, Halo, Ion Square, Talons
Now with their third effort,
Intimacy, Bloc Party gets intimate with their music. The guys make sure they combined the experimental sound of
A Weekend In The City and the raw lyrics of
Silent Alarm and taken it one step further. The band has shown their diversity by experimenting with an electronic sound, layering vocals, and drum beats, and even adding trumpets in my favorite track, “Mercury.” What I am trying to say is Bloc Party have made what seems like a natural progression into a more electronic style, but have still retained key elements from their past records. Personally, I'm all for electronic since it is one of my favorite genre. Other tracks like "Halo" and "Ion Square", both still maintain the indie/guitar sound that would excite any mega-fan of the previous, Silent Alarm.
Intimacy is a refreshing album, and when the final song ends, you might find yourself caught up in an intimate affair.
Singles # 12-11 is coming later tonight!