[I Got Soul]

I agree with the "too much" aspect of RHCP's latest album.
It's fantastic and a valiant effort - but seriously now.

[Dr. Spaceman]

Surprise Of The Year


Will.i.am somehow becoming a great producer

Songs Produced that I liked:
The Game-Compton
Common-I Have A Dream
Nas-Hip-Hop Is Dead
Nas-Can't Forget About You
Nas-Who Killed It?
John Legend-Save Room
John Legend-Each Day Gets Better
John Legend-Slow Dance
Justin Timberlake-Damn Girl

now, if you would of told me a year ago that I would be posting a picture of Will.i.am on my year end in a non negative section I would of said you are crazy. somehow it happened. when reports of Hip-Hop Is Dead started coming out in July saying Will.i.am was producing a few songs I was like NO!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU NASTY NAS?!?!? yet, I realize now he was a great choice. every beat he did for the album is great and well done. he has now also become the go to producer for rappers now with him also giving very great beats to Common and The Game among others.

now, don't get me wrong. he hasn't improved completely. he is still complete verbal diarrhea on the mic (his "verse" on "Damn Girl" is one of the most inane things i've heard all year), and is still the spawn of satan, but now when I see that he is producing for an artist I like, I won't shriek. it could end up being the highlight on that certain album.

maybe part 6 up tomorrow? not sure.

predict on what you think will be in the top 10 if you wish.

[TC]

[Playboy]

Must be a great list for rockers & diehard hip hop heads.... but damn where is the R&B??

Oh well, I will be checkin out a few of the albums on your list.... good job.

[Light Years]

THe Flaming Lips!!!

[Dr. Spaceman]

10 Albums That Missed The Top 40

in no order


Jay-Z-Kingdom Come

ah, where to begin with this album? the best part of the album is the Trifecta of Just Blaze songs all in a row. also the Prelude is nice, and Do U Wanna Ride shows off more of Kanye's new production style for the year with a very smooth John Legend hook. "Beach Chair" also is great. other then those and a couple others, the album is ehhhhhhh. as I have said many a' time "Anything" just might be one of Jay-Z's worst songs. i'm not too much a fan of "Dig A Hole" or "Hollywood", and Dr.Dre's production is just ****in sloppy and lazy (though I do like the "Lost Ones" beat, but thats all). .overall, I think Hova should of really stepped it up lyrically, and should have limited the Dre beats to only "Lost Ones" , and had more Just Blaze.

Best Song: Kingdom Come


Belle & Sebastian-The Life Pursuit

now this was tough. this album leaked back in the beginning of December of last year. I played it a lot, and absolutely loved it. only thing was this album was slated to come out in Feburary. so this was hard to put on the top 40 of albums I played a lot this year, since the majority of plays for this came from December-Feburary. If I didn't download it, and just waited till the release date it would most likely of been on the top 40 list. what a shame.

Best Song: The Blues Are Still Blue


Christina Aguilera-Back To Basics

I don't understand the hate this gets. especially disc 1. I know I am in the very very small minority when I say I like disc 1 better then disc 2, but that is cause i'm partial to DJ Premier. his production on here is amazing. Mark Ronson also does a great job on it. Christina's voice is also just amazing. I honestly never would of thought that I would buy a Christina album, but it ended up happening this year.

Best Song: Still Dirrty


Nicolay-Here

Nicolay is such a great producer. his work reminds me of the just as great 9th Wonder. this quote from Pitchfork about the album is great and true.

Originally posted by Pitchfork

“... either Nicolay is a musical genius who simply understands the language of classic R&B better than most stateside producers, or a Stax Records jetliner crashed in the Netherlands..”

check out this album. a very enjoyable listen.

Best Song: I Am The Man feat. Black Spade


Skyzoo & 9th Wonder-Cloud 9: The 3 Day High

the 3 day high refering to the fact that the album took 3 days to record 12 songs. quite impressive seeing how good it is. Skyzoo reminds me of a young Jay-Z, and 9th Wonder's beats are on point per usual.

Best Song: A Day In The Life



John Legend-Once Again

this album I honestly completely forgot when I did the list. quite annoyed that I did. on first listen, it's a pretty good album, but it gets better as you keep listening. "Show Me" which was done with Raphael Saadiq is the best R&B song i've heard all year, and his best to date.

Best Song: Show Me



Westbound Train-Transitions

my gosh, this album is amazing. The best real ska band around today. they are so authentic, and just so ****in good. this generation's The Specials. imo. I saw them live in November, and they were just such pros. check out this album, and if they come close to your area see them live. they put on a hell of a show.

Best Song: I'm No Different


The Casualties-Under Attack

these guys are so crazy. would love to see them live. it would be quite the experiance. this album is produced by Bill Stevenson who produced for Black Flag. most hardcore music these days is complete dog **** and not hardcore at all, but these guys are one of the only real hardcore bands left.

Best Song: Without Warning


Tapes N Tapes-The Loon

technically this album came out in 2005, but barely anyone heard it then so I'll just count it for this year. these guys remind me a lot of one of my all time favorite bands, Pavement. If you still haven't checked this album out, then you should get on that.

Best Song: Cowbell


Beyonce-B'day

I never would of given this album the time of day if it wasn't for the constant praise I kept seeing it get. so I finally did, and I see why it was getting that praise. Beyonce is just so strong on these songs. "Upgrade U" has to be the best Swizz Beats beat ever, and this is coming from someone who thinks he's complete garbage. some people are complaining how she has released so many singles off this album, but I say go ahead. she has singles for days.it's also quite the rarity when Beyonce has a better album out then Jay-Z, but now she does. If this album would of came out earlier in the year, it would of most likely have placed on the top 40.

Best Song: Irreplaceable

with that done, I can now say that 10-6 WILL BE UP TOMORROW!! no joke this time

[Calvin McHobbes]

spin city!

[TC]

[Playboy]

Christina, Beyonce & John Legend..... well damn u shut me up. lol Jay cd is a big disappointment. Big ups to for praisin 9th Wonder, he's from NC so I'm glad u feelin his work. He's on the come up fo sho.

[Dr. Spaceman]

Part 6


10.Thom Yorke-the eraser

this album sure came out of nowhere. in May 2006, Thom posted a rather cryptic message on Radiohead's blog Dead Air Space saying that was releasing an album in July called the eraser produced by Nigel Godrich. the album leaked later that month, and I loved it on first listen. apparently he made the majority of this on an Apple iMac, which is quite incredible. it may not be up to par with other Radiohead records, but it definitely is a great appetizer before the next Radiohead album.

Best Songs
1.Black Swan
2.the eraser
3.Analyse


09.Neko Case-Fox Confessor Brings The Flood

my gosh, she's so amazing. Her voice is like an angel. some may know her as a member of canadian supergroup The New ****ographers, but she's been releasing great solo albums at the same time. this one being her best yet. Garth Hudson from The Band performs the piano/organ on it, and it sounds amazing. Jenny Lewis released an album this year, but I just find her as a Neko lite. If you like great music, then check out Neko and this album.

Best Songs
1.Hold On, Hold On
2.Maybe Sparrow
3.Fox Confessor Brings The Flood


08.Bruce Springsteen-We Shall Overcome:The Seeger Sessions

now, when I heard news stories about how Bruce was going to release an album of folk music, I completely wrote it off. then I saw countless positive reviews for it, so I decided to check it out. this album really is more fun then it really should be, and the most energetic a Springsteen album has been since the 80's.he gathered a huge group of people to form the Seeger Sessions band which includes Max Weinberg 7 members La Bamba, and Mark Pender. best song on the album, "Jacob's Ladder", keeps escalating until near the end when everyone is going nuts on their instruments and it's just such a great thing to hear. I really hope Bruce does a sequel to this album. it would be a wonderful thing.

Best Songs
1.Jacob's Ladder
2.Pay Me My Money Down
3.Old Dan Tucker


07.Clipse-Hell Hath No Fury

this album just came out November 28th, so it's crazy that it's this high. if this album was released in July like it was supposed to, it would most likely be even higher. this album faced countless delays by the worst record label ever, Jive. they started recording it back in 2003, and got delayed throughout 2004, and 2005. they kept their name known by releasing the We Got It 4 Cheap mixtapes which featured the Re-Up Gang (Ab-Liva and Sandman). they got a lot of attention, and made people wanting Hell Hath No Fury sooner. so finally "Mr.Me Too" came out in April, and it looked like the wait was finally over. after a few more delays, Hell Hath No Fury finally became a reality.

and the album was worth the wait easily. the beats are grimey, the Clipse are the best they ever have been, guest spots by Ab-Liva, Sandman, Roscoe P. Coldchain are perfect, and everyone loves it. who knows what they are going to do for the next album, but I can't wait. let's just hope it doesn't take another 5 years for it to come out.

Best Songs
1.Trill
2.Chinese New Year feat. Roscoe P Coldchain
3.Keys Open Doors


06.Beck-The Information

Beck has to be one of the most consistant artists in music today. He is easily one of my favorite artists, and doesn't disappoint with each new album. this album, once again produced by Nigel Godrich who did Mutatatins and Sea Change, is just so well done. "Cell Phone's Dead" has to be one of Beck's best songs to date. apparently Beck's new album is going to be a country album, to which I say bring it on!!!

Best Songs
1.Cell Phone's Dead
2.Movie Theme
3.Strange Apparation

so woo. now finally in the top 5.

any predications?

[Calvin McHobbes]

[TC]

Thom Yorke = woooooo
Neko Case and Beck = double woooooooooooooooo

[I Got Soul]

Shame that Belle & Sebastian didn't make it. That album is great.
Big up for Yorke and Beck in the top 10.

KICK ASS LIST BEN

[CyborG]

Woo for Beck, that album rocks!

[MC Steven]

[Light Years]

Whaaat? No Belle And Sebastian on the Top 40????

[Dr. Spaceman]

Producer Of The Year


Just Blaze

Production Done This Year (that I can remember):
Jay-Z-Kingdom Come

Jay-Z-Oh My God

Jay-Z-Show Me What You Got

The Game feat. Nas and Marsha-Why You Hate The Game

The Game-Remedy

Rhymefest-Dynomite (Going Postal)

Ghostface Killah-The Champ

T.I.-King Back

T.I.-I'm Talkin' To You

Kanye West feat. Lupe-Touch The Sky (single released this year, so it counts)

Diddy feat. Christina Aguilera-Tell Me



was there any doubt? he was behind nearly all my favorite hip-hop albums of this year.he has always been one of my all time favorite producers, and this year was his banner year. he even made a really bad song (Tell Me) bearable cause he gave Diddy a great beat. next year should be even better with him producing the majority of Saigon's "The Greatest Story Never Told".

now I know some people will be like OHHHHH THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!! IT WAS TIMBALAND! while Timbo had a great year too, he released the terrible "Wait A Minute" with Pussycat Dolls which has the worst, and cheesiest Timbaland beat ever created. while Just Blaze dropped nothing but straight heat.

2006 was the year when people finally realized Just Blaze was in the producing elite, and it's about ****in time. i've been saying it for years!


the #5 album might be up tonight. BE ON THE LOOK OUT!

[Arith]

@ Just Blaze being the producer of the year!

Seriously; "Show Me What You Got", "I'm Talking To You", "Touch The Sky" & "Remedy" all have amazing productions, courtesy of Just Blaze!

[TC]

JUST BLAAAAAAZE

!

[Dr. Spaceman]

#5


05.TV On The Radio-Return To Cookie Mountain

I remember when I first heard of TV On The Radio it was when "Staring At The Sun" came out. I wasn't really a fan of the song at all. on top of that, their album, "Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes", won the 2004 Shortlist Prize which pissed me off intensely because Ghostface Killah's "Pretty Toney Album" should of won. so I kinda wrote them off due to that injustice. until earlier this year when their album leaked unmastered, and I heard insane amounts of praise from everyone. so I checked it out in all of it's unmastered glory, and I didn't like it right away, but I knew it was something special. as I kept listening to it, I grew to love it more and more. especially the song "Province", where it sounded like David Bowie was on it (which it ended up to be true).

then the real album leaked. the track sequencing was different ("I Was A Lover" being first track instead of "Playhouses"), and it took a bit to get used to the new order. everyone has said why the album is amazing, and it really is. nothing is skippable at all. this is the top rock album of 2006 definitely, and now, 2 years later, I understand why they won that Shortlist. even though I still think GFK still should of won, but thats a whole other issue.

Best Songs
1.Province
2.I Was A Lover
3.Wolf Like Me

woo. more stuff up tomorrow or something.

now that I said "Return To Cookie Mountain" was the best Rock album of the year, it makes things a bit easier to think of. what will the top 4 be with? pop? hip-hop? dance? country? all of them? WHO KNOWS!!!

comment, and predict away!