Part 6
15. Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads
I don't know why I like this album so much when it seems some people aren't feeling it as much. I just personally think it's a ****-ton of fun (put that quote on the sticker!). While I have greatly enjoyed every album the group has put out thus far, I think Off With Their Heads is the strongest front-to-back album they have put out.
Off With Their Heads is just so much fun, and it's almost like a big budget version of Employment. Bringing on James Bond composer David Arnold for "Like It Too Much" probably wasn't needed, but it sure sounds cool! On my personal favorite song on the album, and for my money one of the best Kaisers songs to date, "Half The Truth" UK rapper Sway does a verse for no apparent reason, and it, for me, works. Was it needed? Probably not, but it adds more to the song. Mark Ronson proves to be a great fit for the group, and he serves to push the groups sound to stadium status (TM Yeezy).
Best Songs:
01. Half The Truth
02. Like It Too Much
03. Always Happens Like That feat. the murmurs of Lily Allen
14. Young Jeezy - The Recession
Do I have to explain the appeal to a Young Jeezy album? I guess I do. This is Jeezy's best album ever, and he remains to have one of the best ears for beats out of any rapper. hmm, what else
- The whole Recession theme on the album is great and is a new angle on Jeezy's Hood Superstar angle
- With other popular rappers nowadays indulging themselves on the pop side (Yeezy, Weezy, T.I.), Jeezy remains true and just delivers HARD rap.
- Jeezy with this album has greatly improved as a lyricist. While he has always been one to say he's more of a motivational speaker then a rapper, with The Recession he's finally starting to be able get rhymes to match the monster beats he is on
- Yeah, the beats mainly by unknowns and Jeezy regulars (Shawty Redd, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Drumma Boy) are just ridiculous. If Jeezy were to rap on these types of beats forever I wouldn't mind.
- "Put On" is the best single (since "The Wrestler isn't a true single) of the year, and Yeezy and Jeezy seriously need to make an album together. Do you have any idea how good that would be? Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!
Best Songs:
01. Put On feat. Kanye West
02. My President feat. Nas
03. Circulate
13. Beck - Modern Guilt
Beck + Danger Mouse = Not Top 10? I don't get it either.
Something I must stress, I really, really like this album. It seemed to fly below peoples radars this year, and it's a great album. Just, Beck always puts out great albums. Beck is probably my favorite artist, and I don't think he has ever put out a less-than-stellar album and this is no exception. So maybe it doesn't shock me that much when this album is great. I have tried to reason it out, but it's just the case of the twelve albums above this being better. Which, still doesn't compute. Well, the album rules and you should all listen to it. It's Beck, cmon. How could you not give it a listen?
btw, Danger Mouse produced an album better than this that is in the top 10. HMMMMMMMMMMMMm
Best Songs:
01. Chemtrails (I know this was the first single, but what. a. song.)
02. Modern Guilt
03. Profanity Prayers
12. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Nick Cave has always been one of those artists where I see people rave constantly about him and his side projects, but I never gave a chance. Until Grinderman hit. While I placed that album in my closecalls last year, that would seriously be a top 10 album today. Holy ****, does that album rule.
Cave is now back with The Bad Seeds, and some of that Grindeman magic has rubbed onto this album. Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! is such a monster of an album and I really can't get enough of it. Cave weaves hysterical stories sounding like Moses on the mountain top over The Bad Seeds' great music. If he ever comes close to my area live, I will jump at the chance to see him. I think everyone else should as well, as they check out this amazing album.
Best Songs:
01. Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
02. We Call Upon The Author
03. Albert Goes West
11. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
What a surprise deuce!
As I said in the writeup for "Grounds For Divorce", I first heard that song in the trailer for Burn After Reading. That song lead me to the album, and it really gets better with every listen. Like, seriously this album when I started ranking the list was #20. It is now #11. Maybe in January it would be a Top 10 contender. It really could be.
The instrumentation on the album is lush, the vocals are beautiful, and the songs are amazing. "An Audience With The Pope" is the best song with the word Pope in it (beating out Weezer's 2002 single "Pope Nose"). I have said this so many times so far, and will most likely be saying it a few more before the end, but I suggest that everyone check this album out. It's a masterful piece of work that won the Mercury Prize for good reason.
Best Songs:
01. An Audience With The Pope
02. Grounds for Divorce
03. Weather To Fly
sorry for the long delay. I was, frankly, lazy and busy at various points in the past few days. There should be a sidelist of some sort before the Top 10.
The Top 10 finally begins now. Any predictions?
thanks for the comments!