The top 10 is upon us! Here are some of my favorite albums of the year, #10 to #6...
Why I chose Dignity
Ah, Hilary Duff, how I love you so. Who would've seen this coming? This year,
Dignity came out of nowhere and proved itself to be one of the best albums of the year. It's a dance party from start to finish, with all kinds of electronic influences and instruments I've never heard on a Duff record before, that's for sure. It's just so easily listenable, I had a hard time putting it down when it first came out. I listened to it again, again, and again, and it never got old. Almost every track is great. I don't think it's too much of an overstatement to say this is a work of pop genius. As for its sales, I don't care! Sales don't determine a good album. This is pure quality, and to leave it out of the top ten would be a foolish move.
Highlights from Dignity
• "Stranger" –
There's no kindness in your eyes; the way you look at me, it's just not right
• "Dignity" –
Where's your, where's your, where's your dignity? I think you lost it in the Hollywood hills
• "Play With Fire" –
Burn into the sky, love me love me, burn into the sky, if you want me
• "Gypsy Woman" –
Try to run away with the gypsy woman, here today then gone for good
• "Between You and Me" –
My love's not up for negotiation, "hello" doesn't mean an open invitation
• "Happy" –
I'm happy and I can thank myself; if it were up to you, I'd be in my bed crying
• "I Wish" –
I wish that you could make my world feel better and take away the hurt so I won't be so far gone
Why I chose Riot!
Here I go again with another female-fronted band that came out of nowhere this year with a great album... the fourth in a row in this block! There's something irresistible about Paramore. This band pretty much is the lead singer, Hayley Williams. She's not a sex symbol. She's not a rebel. She's just a sweet little girl with an amazing voice and the ability to make great songs out of otherwise generic music. She also brings an unprecedented amount of energy and happiness to their live shows. I feel like once you really sit down and listen to them, you can't not like this band. They really did well for themselves this year. Rock on, rag-tag bunch of high school kids!
Highlights from Riot!
• "Fences" –
It's obvious that you're dying, dying, just living proof that the camera's lying
• "Crushcrushcrush" –
They taped over your mouth, scribbled out the truth with their lies, your little spies
• "Born For This" –
Alright, so you think you're ready? OK, then you say this with me, go! We were born for this!
• "Misery Business" –
Second chances they don't ever matter, people never change
Why I chose Icky Thump
Jack and Meg hit it out of the park this time. Discarding any attempt at being radio friendly (though "Icky Thump" still did well thanks to the White Stripes name), they pretty much decided to do whatever the hell they want, and the result is their best album in years and years. Beyond the title track, some of my favorites include the fun "Rag & Bone," the near perfect "You Don't Know What Love Is," the sharp-witted "Effect & Cause," and the repetitious "Little Cream Soda." Add it all up and this album is hard to beat.
Highlights from Icky Thump
• "Icky Thump" –
Americans, what, nothing better to do? Why don't you kick yourself out, you're an immigrant too!
• "Little Cream Soda" –
All I wanted was my ice cream colder and little cream soda, oh well oh well
• "Effect & Cause" –
I ain't the reason that you gave me no reason to return your call
• "You Don't Know What Love Is" –
No you don't know what love is, you just do as you're told
• "Rag & Bone" –
Can't you hear we're selling rag and bone? Bring out your junk and we'll give it a home
Why I chose The Good, The Bad & The Queen
First things first: Who are The Good, The Bad & The Queen? The project is a collaboration between Damon Albarn from Blur and Gorillaz, Paul Simonon from The Clash, Simon Tong from The Verve, and Tony Allen from Fela Kuti. Look at all that star power. This album is pretty subdued, not rocking out much except for the final self-titled track. Now, what is this album like? Let's get some help from a certain online encyclopedia to explain. It's more-or-less a concept album, as its songs are all themed around modern life in London. Damon Albarn described it as "a song cycle that's also a mystery play about London." Most of it is pretty ominous if you pay attention to the lyrics. Some people said it was disappointing, but I couldn't disagree more. It's one of my favorite albums of the year. Hence, it's here at #7!
Highlights from The Good, The Bad & The Queen
• "Herculean" –
The medicine man is here 24/7, you can get it fast in armageddon
• "Kingdom of Doom" –
Friday night in the kingdom of doom, ravens fly across the moon
• "History Song" –
Come the day, you see the sun, hit the arch, a history song
• "The Good, The Bad & The Queen" –
It's a blessed routine for the good, the bad, and the queen
• "Three Changes" –
Everything's jolly, tunning up the hill on a stroppy little island of mixed up people
Why I chose Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
You can always count on Foo Fighters to rach out the house and down the street and around the block and then some. I was there for their limited acoustic tour last year, and it was so amazing. It secured their status as my favorite band. Now, two years after the excellent double-disc
In Your Honor, the Foos are back in more traditional form on this record. It's not anything that's gonna change and shape the history of music as we know it, but it's solid all around. The lead single, "The Pretender," has dominated rock radio for the longest time now. Some of the other tracks, including the epic "Let It Die" and "Summer's End" are also great. My favorite, though, is "Long Road To Ruin," complete with a hilarious video that includes the Foos in classic comical form. Put it all together and you've got my #6 album of the year from my favorite band!
Highlights from Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
• "Long Road To Ruin" –
Long road to ruin, fear in your eyes, under the cold street lights
• "The Pretender" –
We are not permanent, we're temporary, temporary, same old story!
• "Summer's End" –
Just keep staring at the sun, pray for summer's end
• "Cheer Up, Boys (Your Make-Up Is Running)" –
Tell me lies or tell me when, tear me up again
• "Let It Die" –
In too deep and out of time, why'd you have to go and let it die?
It's New Year's Eve... next up, my #5, #4, and #3 favorite albums of the year!
