Jay is pretty much my favorite rapper in the game right now. Ye just came off of making hip hop's equivalent to The Downward Spiral. As a fun down-time project they made this. It's almost effortless. And yet it's amazing just how solid it is considering it was a pet project made on their "time off." Mindblowing and awesome.
2. Sonic Youth - SYR9: Simon Werner A Dispparu
The ninth volume in their experimental SYR series is incredible. And also very sad for me. It looks like they might actually be ending this thing after 20 years. This is a moody, somber, scary, sexy, ridiculous record that I adore. If it is the end, thank you for all the memories.
3. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
This would be even better if it wasn't called Tha Carter. The original trilogy are tough to go up against. But Wayne certainly sounds hungry again. Notice the parallels between "Six Foot Seven Foot" and "A Milli" for instance. It's not a perfect album. But it is an excellent album. And probably appeases casual listeners more than his last two since it's a bit more focused and a bit less out there. Even if that is kind of a step down artistically in the eyes of certain rabid fans (me).
4. Radiohead - The King of Limbs
So good. Just so so good. It's such a weird album, and a lot of parts seem to make no sense until like the 50th time you've heard them. I've been following Radiohead for well over a decade and I'm still thrilled by what they come up with each time.
5. Big KRIT - Return Of 4eva
This is a time machine. It's the mid-90's. Southern hip hop is just coming into the public's attention. Woah.
6. Ritualz - Ghetto Ass Witch
Suggested to me by Nintendork666 based solely on the fact that he knew I'd love the cover art. Turns out I really enjoy Witchhouse music! Haha. It kind of sounds like a cheesy 80's horror score meshed with Rave. I ended up downloading both remix companion albums as well.
7. Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire
A beautiful record that goes back to his early post-Whiskeytown works like Heartbreaker and Demolition. It's a slowburner (excuse the pun), but a powerful work none-the-less.
8. Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts
Not nearly as good as his last (Trees Outside The Academy), but a very dark, angry and difficult singer/songwriter affair. Produced by master Beck, it actually sort of gained a more interesting tone (?) to me after the announcement that the band might split.
9. Tyler The Creator - Goblin
Not nearly as good as Bastard. And really, not as good as most of the best Odd Future stuff. The bad tracks are horrible. But the problem is the good songs are incredible. So even though I only liked about half the album... I loved about half the album. More than anything, I'm excited to see what happens next as Tyler has pretty much said he's done with the shock lyrics and on to something new.
10. Lil B- Bitch Mobb: Respect Da Bitch
Lil B was fascinating to watch this year. He's not for everyone. He's almost not even for me. But he is interesting to say the least. This record hooked me mostly because of its minimal production. It's kind of a hard album to explain. Well, Lil B is pretty hard to explain. You probably won't like him on first listen. Or maybe not on any listen. But dammit, it's a tough train wreck to turn yr eyes away from.
