Year In Music, 2009!!

I don't really know how to sum up the Year in Music of 2009. If you went off the Billboard charts, this was a truly awful year for music. Formulaic, Generic, Dance hybrids with insanely annoying but catchy hooks were seemingly all you needed to hit #1 this year. On a good note, all the music released this year wasn't awful. There were a few underrated gems, and a few deserved successes, so here is a quick recap of the best and worst of these past 12 months.

*Artist of the Year*

1. Michael Jackson
Typically, if an artist is able to move TWO MILLION units in one week, completely dominate the iTunes album singles and video charts, and open up a movie that grosses $200 million -- they would undoubtedly become everyone's Artist of the Year. Unfortunately it took Michael Jackson passing away for him to achieve all of this since June of this year. However A lot of the younger generation, who grew up around the time his star was being trampled on by the media, were able to appreciate his music really for the first time and sort of got to re-discover him as a new artist.

2. Beyonce
3. Lady GaGa

*Biggest Flop of the Year, or the Try again next time award*:
Awarded to the artist who this year had a less than successful run on the charts, but the talent and the drive is still there enough for us to not underestimate them in the long run. Even the greatest have flops, so chin up and come back harder next time. You can do it.

1. Ciara
2. Leona Lewis
3. Jordin Sparks

*New Artist of the Year*

1. Lady GaGa

Lady GaGa might officially have been the new artist of last year since her debut "The Fame" was released in October 2008. However, 2009 is when Lady GaGa pretty much conquered the world and made a name for herself. Though the material on her album might not be the most inventive, she more than made up for that with some truly amazing performances. She did the New Artist thing right, she made sure she made headlines with her outlandish fashions. She had people talking about her before they even saw her perform, and that's when she always managed to live up to the hype and deliver pretty flawless, and surprisingly strong singing and always some sort of arty-gimmick to keep viewers eyes on her at all times. She ended the year releasing a strong set of dance songs on an EP called "The Fame Monster" that showed some growth. A very strong year for GaGa, let's see where she goes from here.

2. Drake
3. Kid Cudi

*Guilty Pleasure of the Year*:
Those songs that you KNOW are terrible from the first time you hear them, but for some reason -- most likely due to radio saturation -- you can't escape the song and before you know it, you're humming the melodies uncontrollably and sooner or later that awful song you made fun of at first is on your iPod and inching closer and closer to your Most Played.

1. Lady GaGa "Poker Face"
2. The Jonas Brothers "Tonight"
3. Jeremih "Birthday Sex"
4. The Lonely Island feat. T-Pain "I'm on a Boat"
5. Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA"

*Top 10 Albums of the Year*

1. Jay Z "The Blueprint 3"

2. Rihanna "Rated R"
3. Phoenix "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix"
4. Animal Collective "Merriweather Post Pavilion"
5. Mariah Carey "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel"

6. Yeah Yeah Yeah's "It's Blitz!"
7. Mos Def "The Ecstatic"

8. Black Eyed Peas "The E.N.D."

9. Chris Cornell "Scream"

10. The-Dream "Love vs Money"

*Worst single of the Year*

1. 50 Cent "Baby By Me"
2. U2 "Get on your Boots"
3. Usher "Papers"

*Best and/or Dumbest Dance Craze of the Year*

1. The Ricky Bobby, "Do the Ricky Bobby" by B-Hamp
2. The Stanky Legg, "Stanky Legg" by GS Boyz
3. The Jerk, "You're a Jerk" by New Boyz

*Best Comeback of the Year*

1. Britney Spears

Britney takes this crown, because her comeback was more true to what the term was originally intended to mean. She really made a true return to form. True, a return to form means more lips-ynching and mediocre dancing while being sexy. That's what has gotten her this far, and it's not hard to do. However anybody who has a TV, a computer, a radio, or access to any tabloid magazine knows that Britney's chaotic story in 2007 after her divorce. She tried to, or more like Forced by her label, save her image with the album "Blackout" which was a surprisingly hot album. The problem was that she was completely whacked out, either psychologically and physically drained or on drugs and was obviously just not into it. With her late 2008 release "Circus" and it's video she's great, looking fresh and toned, attacking the (again mediocre) choreography, but the best was that she seemed "Present". The album was actually above par, and very late in her US tour she delivered some knock out performances (of course still lip-synching). I don't think she has much longer before time catches up with her body forever, and apparently she's ready to release another album in 2010 and keep the streak going.

2. Kelly Clarkson

Kelly didn't have any apparent drug or psychological problems to comeback from, but she did have a very nasty and public dispute with her label and label head Clive Davis over her last album "My December". That album tanked, and Kelly was seriously in a critical situation with her career. She came back this year though, and with a huge record breaking #1 "My Life Would Suck Without You". Her album sold decently, but another hurdle of massive weight gain (maybe that's a little mean, I should say rapid weight gain) almost stopped her career dead in it's tracks. However the Ryan Tedder production "Already Gone", that she openly did not want as a single, is still doing really well on the singles charts and at the end of the year she's garnered a Grammy nomination.

3. Whitney Houston

It seems like people have already forgot about Whitney's big comeback, almost 6 years in the making. Grammy voters sure did. About 6 months ago, everybody was predicting Whitney would have one of the strongest comebacks in music history, and was sure to grab multiple music trophies just for coming back strong. The main problem was that she didn't comeback strong, even though her "people" did a fantastic job of trying to fool everyone. Her album "I Look to You" was passable, if a little boring and ultimately forgettable. Her live performances were another story, though her voice has come along way since her last comeback in 2002, she literally can't hold a note. And no amount of backup singers or extremely loud backing vocal tracks can hide it. That, and the Oprah interview that really didn't show her in a flattering light. Though her album did sell pretty well, there are seemingly no plans for any follow up singles or anything else. This might be a wrap for Whitney.

*Artist that most needs to just Give it up this Year*: The greats are great forever, unless they don't realize that they're not the #1 stars they used to be and keep releasing material in hopes of dominating the music world, when in reality their mainstream relevance has been gone. These three artists still seem to think they can regain (and in one case achieve) Popular success, and they seriously need a wake up call before it's too late.

1. Janet Jackson

Janet seems to be very likable in the mainstream, but the problem is nobody is buying her albums. 2008's "Discipline" completely flopped, and the album before that "20 Y.O." didn't fair any better. She hasn't had a #1 single since 2001's "All For You", and hasn't managed even a Top 10 single since the second single from that album was released. And here she is in 2009, getting major sympathy points from the death of her brother. Has a highly publicized network television interview where they debut her new video "Make Me", yet the song has made ZERO dents in the chart. Just give it up Janet. "Why Did I Get Married Too" is set to be released in early 2010, and that might just be her new medium to attack, Acting. I think it's time to step away from the studio because, hell she doesn't even have a contract right now.

2. Mario

Mario has never been The One! He's never had any real stretch of time as the reigning R&B singer. When he first came out, he was basically the younger Usher with braids. He had a hit, but this was during one of Usher's several dominant periods of R&B. When Mario's second album was released, he managed to score a big hit out of "Let Me Love You", but somehow that songs writer Ne-Yo ended up eclipsing him. 2007's "Go!" was a great album for Mario, but than he had both Ne-Yo and pre-battery charge Chris Brown owning him on the charts. And now, when he probably thought it was safe to release his 4th album "D.N.A.", Trey Songz is completely owning him as the new young R&B Heartthrob. So, Mario, Sorry! Your time has passed. Give it up.

3. Jennifer Lopez

Honestly. Even though you're "Louboutins" single is actually kind of cute and catchy, people stopped caring about you years ago. Focus on acting (re-train yourself, take some classes) and please stay out the studio.

*Top 10 Singles of the Year*

1. David Guetta feat. Akon "Sexy Bitch"
2. Animal Collective "My Girls"
3. Mstrkrft feat. John Legend "Heartbreaker"
4. Kid Cudi "Day n Nite"

5. Green Day "Know Your Enemy"

6. Lady GaGa "Bad Romance"
7. Jay-Z feat. Kanye West and Rihanna "Run this Town"
8. Maxwell "Pretty Wings"
9. Beyonce "Sweet Dreams"
10. Keri Hilson with NeYo and Kanye West "Knock You Down"

*Awards Ceremony of the Year that sucked the Least*

1. MTV VMA's ... Yeah, that's it.

MTV got back to when the VMA's were actually good. They had a killer roster of performers who turned in some really great highlights. Taylor Swift performing in a subway, GaGa dying, Pink singing while doing acrobatics from the ceiling, JayZ and Alicia getting ambushed by Lil mama, and Beyonce's hundreds upon millions dancers. And, back to form, the VMA's delivered a water cooler topic in Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to declare "Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time". Staged? Well, I have my theories, but the important thing is it was a great moment that will stand against the other great moments of the VMA's.

*Most Unnecessary Collaboration of the Year*

1. Wale and Lady GaGa "Chillin"

There's actually nothing wrong with the song, but it was so obviously intended for M.I.A. and not Lady GaGa (who actually does make the song). I guess it was a smart decision since GaGa was so hot at the moment, but the collaboration doesn't make sense given how both artists are from completely different worlds in genre, fan base and personality.

2. 50 Cent and NeYo "Baby By Me"

I just hate this song so much, and really upset that after releasing an album titled "Year of the Gentleman" NeYo would participate in a song with such a vile message.

3. Shakira and Lil Wayne "Give it up to Me"

Good song, but Lil Wayne really wasn't needed and he contributes nothing. It almost sounds like one of those mixtape mash ups of one of his mix tape verses. This is the song where I, personally, officially got tired of the Weezy verse.

*Best Impersonation of another Artist of the Year*

1. Lady Gaga as Madonna on "The Fame Monster"

Bravo! GaGa has been getting Madonna comparisons since "Poker Face", but never has she got the essence of Madonna until her "The Fame Monster" EP was released. "Alejandro" plays like a soft mash of "Cherish" and "La Isla Bonita". And when she gets to name calling famous screen sirens and art Icons on "Dance in the Dark" ("Marilyn, Judy, Sylvia" "Liberace" "Kubrick") it becomes obvious that the mockery is intended. (?) Never the less, she did a great job.

2. Chester French as Weezer on "Love the Future"

If you imagine that Weezer recorded an album produced by the Neptunes in 2002, it would sound pretty much exactly like Chester French's debut "Love the Future". Except that it would have been 10 times better.

*Most likey to become a One Hit Wonder of the Year*

1. New Boyz "You're a Jerk"
2. Ke$ha "Tik Tok"
3. LMFAO "I'm in Miami Bitch"

*Best Collaboration of the Year*

1. R. Kelly and Keri Hilson (or R. Keri Baby!) "Number One"

2. Jay Z, Kanye West and Rihanna "Run This Town"

3. Keri Hilson, NeYo and Kanye West "Knock You Down"

*Cheesiest Album cover of the Year*

1. Adam Lambert (tie) Chris Brown

*Most Underrated Album of the Year*

1. Ciara "Fantasy Ride"

2. Shakira "She Wolf"

3. Akon "Freedom"

*Best DanceFloor Song of the Year*

1. Lady GaGa "Bad Romance"
2. David Guetta feat. Akon "Sexy Bitch"
3. LMFAO "I'm in Miami Bitch"

*Most Underrated Single of the Year*

1. Jordin Sparks "Battlefield"

2. Charles Hamilton "Brooklyn Girls"

3. Mary J. Blige and Drake "The One"

*Youtube LOL Moment of the Year*

1. Britney Spears and the "crazed" fan.

It's not even that this kid managed to get past security and actually get face to face with Britney and dance with her that's funny. It's Britney's reaction, and how long it takes her to get back to dancing and lip-synching.

*Most needed STFU of the Year*: Alot of artists are best when they aren't speaking (ahem, Beyonce), and these are the three artists this year that should have refrained from any interviews because it did them more damage than good.

1. Chris Brown

Doing one Larry King Interview was fine. Even though it came nearly 7 months After the well-known "Incident" in February involving Brown and than-girlfriend Rihanna (we all know the story). The interview is understandable, just to clear the air and protect his image. Unfortunately, Brown sounded pretty damn moronic during the interview. He was totally evasive about the incident itself, and sounded like he was recycling the same 5 "I was wrong! Please forgive me" sound-bites he had most likely been rehearsing for weeks. Bad interview, but it gets worst. After Rihanna did a much more respectable and revealing interview with Dianne Sawyer, Chris Brown did yet ANOTHER interview where again he revealed nothing and again was playing himself as the victim. Please Chris Brown! STFU!!! Both of you should have just let it go, nobody really cared 7 months after the fact, but Chris made it worst for himself by talking too damn much.

2. Tiffany Evans

Her tweets about Rihanna and the devils in the music industry wasn't necessary. And when Rihanna calls her out for it, Evans tweets "at least I can sing". Yeah, you do have a good set of pipes, but the problem is nobody wants to hear you sing. Most people don't even know you. Rihanna is worldwide. Don't be mad? Get some people behind you that will make things happen for you. And it doesn't have to be the devil. While your assembling that team... STFU!!


3. Keri Hilson (tie) Whitney Houston

Keri, and not just because she dissed Beyonce in a remix to her "Turnin me On" single ("yo vision cloudy if you think that you the best, she can sing, she can dance, but need to move to the left. she need to go have some babies, she need to sit down, she fading."), its really the fact that she went on radio and said A) she didn't want to record it B) she said it wasn't about anybody in particular. STFU!!
Whitney, because on Oprah she said plenty of times she didn't smoke crack. Oprah: "so you laced marijuana with cocaine" Whitney: "Yes Rock Cocaine". colossal FAIL!!! Whitney STFU!!

From *Hottest to Weakest Producer of the Year*

1. Ryan Tedder. This guy started out the year in high demand. He had monster success in 2008 with Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love", and coming into 2009 he had the epic "Halo" by Beyonce. Shortly after that, it seems he had peaked. Kelly Clarkson famously called Tedder out for giving her almost an exact replica of "Halo" in her own "Already Gone". By the time the end of the year rolled around and I'm sure he was expecting to repeat the success of "Bleeding Love" with Leona's "Happy", but being that it sounded just the same as pretty much all his other tracks it tanked on the charts and effectively ended his reign as the "IT" Producer of the moment.

*Leaked (!?) Nude pics of the Year*:

1. Rihanna

Just when things couldn't get worst. She just got beat up by her boyfriend, terrorized by the paparazzi and tabloids, and lost a cosmetics contract. Than some very sexy nude pics, obviously taken with and by than boyfriend Chris Brown. Though many question the pics that show her frontal view, most people were on Rihanna overload at that point so nobody really cared much and they were soon forgotten.

2. Jamie Foxx

The funny thing when male celebrities pictures leak, they always have to come up with a statement about it. Either declaring they are fake and that they'd never do anything like that, or admit that the pictures are them, but try to spin it so they don't seem like a big pervert. Jamie Foxx didn't do any of that. He or his team just made sure they were removed before it got to millions of viewers, which is something that surprisingly alot of those other guys don't make the effort to do.

3. Cassie

For the amount of times nude pictures have leaked of a celebrity, Cassie gets the crown this year. Although she's not much of a celebrity.

Album Review: Snoop Dogg, Clipse, Timbaland

So today I'll be reviewing a few of the newly released Hip Hop albums, and sorry I didn't listen to Gucci Mane's "The State vs. Radric Davis" even though I actually really like the first two singles from that album "Wasted" and "Spotlight" featuring Usher. Maybe this weekend I'll download it, but for now I want to talk about some of the more Established names in the Hip Hop industry. Starting out with one of the most well known names and a true Hip Hop Legend Snoop Dogg and his 10th studio album "Malice N Wonderland" which hit stores December 8th. Snoop is definitely a staple of the genre, and he's actually managed to be rather consistent over the past 16 years but he seems not so interested in wow'ing his listeners with anything groundbreaking or innovative, and this album is a testament to that. Snoop's aim seems to be divided on each release, about half of the songs are genuine "Thug" anthems, and the other half would be him flowing effortlessly over the sound of the moment or smoothed out R&B sounds. So on "Malice" he'll go from the heavy bass and abrasive lyricism of "That's Tha Homie" or the albums best cut "Upside Down" which are ready-made for cars with huge woofers and rims. Than he'll switch it up with "Different Languages" and "Luv Drunk" featuring Jazmine Sullivan and The-Dream respectively (The-Dream shows up on two cuts, "Luv Drunk" and the albums first single "Gangsta Luv", and they are two of the better songs on the album) which are ready-made for radio play. What's awesome about this album is that he keeps it simple and short. Unlike last years "Ego Trippin" or 2006's "Tha Blue Carpet Treatment" which were solid albums but were brought down because they were so long, "Malice" is a solid and cohesive album that never feels overlong, and the Neptunes produced "Special" is the perfect closer for another really solid outing from Uncle Snoop.

Clipse also released their third studio album "Til the Casket Drops" on December 8th, and the Neptunes protegee's also keep it short and sweet however the result is less effective. Just like their other two studio albums, this one is produced predominantly by The Neptunes and that might be it's downfall. There's not one song I can call out as being bad, with bad lyrics or a bad track because there's really nothing wrong with the album on the whole. It does all flow well together and you never want to turn it off or skip past anything while listening, but there's just nothing that grabs you. I think that's because The Neptunes tracks that were provided are a little too mellow for their own good, at times it feels like one long song. Mind you, I've only listened to the album once and maybe can go for another one person listening party. And if I can call out a few of the tracks that I rated higher were the end tracks "Life Change" and "Champion", one of it's leaked singles "I'm Good" is also one you might want to check out.

The one album of all the three that I have been listening to the most is Timbaland's "Shock Value II" (also released December 8th), however much like 2007's "Shock Value" this album is so NOT Hip Hop. In fact this one is even less Hip Hop than the previous outing which at least included a few collaborations with Missy Elliott, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. "Shock Value II" is strictly a POP album where as "Shock Value" was a little grittier and leaned more toward the Rock/Alternative side. With collaborations with Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Nickleback, Daughtry, Nelly Furtado and The Fray to name a few "II" can't be classified as anything other than Pop. Surprisingly Timbaland does a very good job with this, it's the perfect album to end 2009 because it draws from the popular sounds of this past year. And that's not to say there isn't anything original on this album. "Undertow" with The Fray and Esthero is easily the best track on the album, a smooth ballad that benefits from the extra electronic glitches he includes. "Lose Control" featuring Jo Jo and "Carry Out" featuring Justin Timberlake are perfect songs for the car during the summer. "Can You Feel It" and "If We Ever Meet Again" featuring Katy Perry are perfection when it comes to dance rythms, and even when he gets with Disney Queen Miley Cyrus the result is alot more inventive and edgy than you'd imagine it would be. Though two songs I generally skip over, this is one album that doesn't take any wrong turns. I could sometimes do without him trying to sing, if he had just produced this album and left all the vocals to more talented guys it would have been an A+, but still if his voice didn't annoy you in "Shock Value" than you'll be more than ready for the sequel. (And this is important, you should buy the Deluxe version that features an excellent collaboration with Daughtry "Long Way Down" and three other worthwhile tracks that shouldn't be missed)

Album Review: Alicia Keys

What Happened to Alicia Keys?
Yesterday she released her 4th studio album "The Element of Freedom", and unfortunatley it's just a tad forgettable. Not to give the impression that it's a bad album, it really isn't. In fact there really isn't anything about the individual songs that I can complain about, however altogether there are some issues with the album. My main complaint though is that a majority of the songs on this new effort don't sound new at all. There are times while listening when you feel like you may be listening to some unreleased demos to her last album "As I Am" (evidenced in "Love is My Disease" or "Doesn't Mean Anything") and other instances where you feel like you are listening to discards from her second album "Diary" (the Beyonce featured "Put it in a Love Song" and "Empire State of Mind Part Two"). There are a few, well TWO, songs that breakthrough and take Keys to a new level and those are "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" which has a bit of a vocal cameo from Drake, and "That's How Strong My Love Is" which is a huge R&B ballad reminscent of the classic 80's hit "Tender Love" by Force MD's. Those two (well and "Wait Til You See Me Smile" which has a very nice arrangement, but the vocals leave alot to be desired) are really the only stand outs and that's the real problem with the album on the whole. It feels like Alicia has plateaued and maybe run out of new and interesting ideas. She herself did say in a interview I happened to read that she went into this album having no idea what to do, and it's pretty evident. She didn't know how to take her music to the next level, so she just stayed where she was comfortable.
And again, I think I should say this isn't a bad album. It's thouroughly listenable, and it might even grow on me, but Alicia has a history of grabbing you with that first listen and because this album doesn't offer that same effect, it's a bit of a disapointment. I still have faith in her, she is probably one of the more talented artists of her generation and I think she just needs some real inspiration to deliver another Amazing album. A bad album happens to the best of them, and this is just a slight hitch in Keys' discography. Better luck next time A.

Album Review: R. Kelly, Chris Brown, Adam Lambert

Every time R. Kelly releases a new album, I always underestimate him for some reason. He was the King of R&B in the 90's and portions of this decade, and even with a very nasty and potentially damaging public scandal he stayed consistent in his music. Over the past four albums, I've tired of him because I feel like he is struggling to stay relevant and young when he should be transitioning into an older sound. Having said that, I've said the same thing before listening to his past four albums, and surprisingly they've all been pretty great. And this new album "Untitled", now his 9th solo studio album (it's really his 12th if you count his debut with Public Announcement and his two collaboration albums with Jay-Z) is also just as great. Here's what, R. Kelly is, has always been, and will always be the best when it comes to R&B Sex Music. And this album is all about sex. In fact on one track he openly admits "There's only 2 things, in this world, That I'm the best at, it's true, Number 1 is music, Number 2, can't nobody rock your body out" and throughout this very pleasant and very well sequenced album he goes on to yodel "Echo", sing in spanish (the albums first single) "Number One" with Keri Hilson, and even get "Religious" all about sex. I can't hate, it's what he's built his career on thus far and obviously what works for him, at one point he even says this is "12 Play, 4th Round" referencing his most successful albums and the classic 90's album that started it all (and has had 2 sequels so far). He does a fine job of putting together a nice album, and there are even points where he ventures out of the R&B world on the club track "I Love the DJ", and "Be My #2" which has a nice disco feel to it. Nothing truly groundbreaking, but for R. Kelly fans they won't be disapointed because he stays in a very familiar, thus comforting territory.

Speaking of R&B Artists who are releasing albums after very public scandals, let's talk about Chris Brown. His new album "Graffiti" comes out December 8th, and for alot of reasons fans are looking for him to drop something amazing to bring the focus back to his music. The big problem with this album, now his third, is it's so all over the place conceptually. He goes from being the sad, love struck, "woe is me, my life as a celebrity is so hard" guy on tracks like "Lucky Me" and "So Cold". Than he goes on to reinforce a bad boy, Player image on tracks like "What I Do" and (the terribly innapropraite and sickening) "Wait". I think what's more disappointing about the album is the fact that he hasn't progressed much since his last album "Exclusive", and at times this album seems like a continuation of that album instead of being what it should have been, an improvement. There's alot of good stuff on the album, but even some of the better tracks like "Famous Girl" and "Sing Like Me" sound like they could have fit easily on that prior album. And what's funny, is this R&B crooner has some of his best moments on this album, and of his career when he ventures outside of that genre. "Crawl" is a really wonderful Pop ballad in the vein of his duet with Jordin Sparks "No Air", while "I.Y.A." and "Pass Out" (which sounds like "Disturbia", and I'm quite certain it was meant as a duet with him and Rihanna, but don't quote me on that) have him feeling confident and at home in the club music genre. And the albums closer "I'll Go" is phenomenal vocally and production wise. The track which is almost R&B somewhat Rock, is matched perfectly by the lyrics and the vocal delivery. If he had took more of a risk with this album and really went outside of his comfort zone this could have been a really great album. As it stand, it's average for the most part, but him stepping outside the box on those few songs shows a little promise for his career.

And for something completeley out of the box, Adam Lambert. He may not have officially won American Idol earlier this year, but undoubtedly he was the Star of the season. In fact, with his Rolling Stone cover (the only Idol alum EVER to cover the magazine solo) and the media circus surrounding his sexuality, and the "controversial" American Music Award performance have made him a true star. And, surprisingly, the music on his album "For Your Entertainment" is better than the hype. Normally these Idol albums are a pretty generic mix of the artists influences and ready made Radio hits. This album follows that format, and there are a few truly awful tracks but for the most part this is a very solid debut album. The album goes from Rock to Dance music and back a few times, with a few glimpses into Lambert's inspiration growing up. So you'll get tracks like the title track, "If I Had You" and "Sure Fire Winners", fun dance tracks with a little Rock attitude which Lambert more than handles even when you can tell he's less than thrilled with the material. "Whataya Want from Me" "Sleepwalker" and "Pick U Up" have him vying for time on Modern Rock and A/C radio stations and these are a few of the best tracks on the album. However Lambert is really at home on "Soaked" and beautiful "Broken Open", which show restraint over tracks obviously inspired by the Epic Power Ballads of the 70's by the likes of Queen and Meatloaf. Overall a very promising debut, it may be all over the place and a bit long, but Lambert's voice is unique and diverse enough to tackle it all. We will probably be hearing from this guy for a while now.

Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists (5-2)

2. Madonna

As a kid of the 80's, some my earliest Music memories involve Madonna. She practically OWNED MTV and all the other video shows in the 80's, her songs were Always on the radio, and just the phenomenon that was Madonna back in the 80's is something that is really indescribable to someone who didn't live through that era. And she paved the way for alot of (well MOST of... i'd actually say 100% of...) the Female artists and Female celebrities in general of today. In terms of image, sexual empowerment, being an opinionated female Pop entertainer and being unapologetic about the things she did. And let's not even get into how Awesome she was at the whole Publicity stunt. She was really one of the first artists to totally Use the media for her own gain, and as you see so many artists Male and Female follow that trend. Another great thing about Madonna is that she really Is the only big artist from the 80's that still makes quality music and is as relevant over the past two decades.

myTop 3 Favourite Madonna albums: 1. Music (2000), 2. Bedtime Stories (1994), 3. Ray of Light (1997)


3. Marvin Gaye

I have to admit, I never fully got into Marvin Gaye until maybe 6 or 7 years ago. Ofcourse I knew Alot about him beforehand. Most of my close family members are Music lovers just like me so Good Music was always heard when I was a child and I knew alot about the Motown sound when I was really young. I read a Biography about Gaye and they talked alot about the "What's Going On" album, and how revolutionary it was for the time. How at the time Socially conscious R&B was not really heard of. How he produced it all himself and was the first act to use the technology to do His Own backing vocals, and it was the first album to have songs lead into each other. And how he fought so hard to get it out, how he refused to do any work for Motown until the album was released. He put all his heart into it, and you can tell... 37 years later. It's really the best album ever made. Aside from that one album, Gaye truly has one of the best stories. A guy who was overtly talented as a vocalist and for years was a team player doing what Berry Gordy wanted (not without a few fights though) and than totally took control of his career and his image and his name and from "What's Going On" and on did whatever was He wanted to do with His music. Truly an admirable guy. Fuckin crazy ofcourse, but I think most of the people on my list are Nuts.


myTop 3 Favourite Marvin Gaye albums: 1. What's Going On (1971), 2. I Want You (1976), 3. Let's Get It On (1973)

4. Mariah Carey

I've been a huge fan of Mariah's since her 1990 debut. And the reason that she is so high on the list is pretty simple. Her voice, the fact that she's a hard worker, writes her own music, and has provided the world with some of the best songs in the past 19 years. And in the past 5 or 6 years she's really settled into a place with her music that is really fun and really represents who she is, which is drastically different than her earlier albums, and it gives me a whole new respect for this major talent.

myTop 3 Favourite Mariah Carey albums: 1. Daydream (1995), 2. Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009), 3. Butterfly (1997)

5. Daft Punk

I dont really know how to explain my love for Daft Punk, other than they are just right up my alley I guess. I was first introduced to them by their completely Awesome music video for "Around the world", and that one Awesome video started the love affair. They've only released Three actual albums in the past 10 years, but when they do release an album it's always on point, it's Always a completely different sound than the last, and it always gets major play from ME for the years I have to wait for the next album. And they've further impressed me with their Live album they released in 2007, I have never seen these dudes live because I never thought Electronic artists could put on an interesting show. I was hella wrong! The cd is AMAZING!!! The mixes they do, just genius. These guys are just geniuses at what they do.

myTop 3 Favourite Daft Punk albums: 1. Homework (1997), 2. Human After All (2005), 3. Discovery (1999)

Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists (10-6)

6. Bob Marley/The Wailers

Last year, I got really into discovering the legacy of Bob Marley and The Wailers. And much like The Beatles, I love Marley not only for the amazing music but also for having a very inspirational career. There are the undeniable Reggae classics like "Jammin" "Is This Love" "Turn Your Lights Down Low" and (my favourite) "Waiting in Vain", and aside from the singles Marley delivered some truly amazing albums in "Natty Dread" "Burnin" and the epic "Exodus". What I think is amazing about his career is that for one, he basically carried the whole Reggae genre on his shoulders and introduced it to the masses in the U.S. and Worldwide which in turn inspired dozens of artists in very different genres. Though he did have his fun songs, Marley also was very politically driven and used his music to let the world hear the voice of the oppressed in Jamaica, which actually translated quite well in the U.S. during the 1970's. And I think the most admirable thing about Marley's too short career was that he used his music to make a change. He used his music, his image, his celebrity and fame, and his power to make positive changes in his community. In videos and in different biographies, it seemed like he actually put his community above himself and was never really selfish or let his success go to his head and make him forget about what's really important. A truly inspirational genius.

myTop 3 Favourite Bob Marley/The Wailers albums: 1. Exodus (1977), 2. Kaya (1978), 3. Rastaman Vibration (1976)

7. Stevie Wonder

You don't even really have to dig too deep into Stevie's musical catalogue to know that this man is incredibly talented. His lyrics are beyond amazing, and of course he has a great voice. One of the highest regarded musicians of all time, with all the gold award trophies to prove it. If you do happen to dig deeper, which I did last year, you will realize that Stevie is one of the more diverse artists in our history. Of course he was part of the Motown machine in the 1960's, he truly emerged in the 1970's. And listening to any of those albums, "Music on My Mind" "Innervisions" "Songs in the Key of Life", you will see he never boxed himself into one genre. He experimented with Country, Reggae, Pop, Funk, R&B even Rap in the early 80's. A risk taker who loves music, and has contributed some of the most well crafted music of all time.

myTop 3 Favourite Stevie Wonder albums: 1. Hotter than July (1980), 2. Innervisions (1973), 3. Where I'm Coming From (1971)

8. Kanye West

This guy is well on his way to topping my list if he keeps going the way he's been the last four albums. I think I can personally relate to his music more than any other artist on this list. I love the fact that he's not the stereotypical Rapper of today, he's Himself and not scared of it. He wasn't scared to rhyme about working at the Gap on his first album instead of pretending he was a drug dealer or something like that. Things like that make me respect him on a personal level, and his music and how it just keeps getting better and better each album makes me respect him on that artistic level. He... like Prince... is always forward thinking, original and creative, gives you something outside of the norm but is still accessible to the masses. Genius!

myTop 3 Favourite Kanye West albums: 1. Late Registration (2005), 2. Graduation (2007), 3. 808's & Heartbreak (2008)

9. Missy Elliott/Timbaland (tie)

Don't really know what I can say that hasn't already been said about these two. They are just so far left and do their Own thing, and always have. The most unique, creative hip hop artists since they both were introduced on the scene. Admittedly, they both have fallen off considerably. Timbaland mainly because he keeps producing the same types of tracks over and over. And Missy only because she's been gone so long. I still will love them for the great music they gave me from 1996-2002ish...

myTop 3 Favourite Missy Elliott/Timbaland albums: 1. Da Real World (1999), 2. Shock Value (2007), 3. MissE... So Addictive (2001)

10. OutKast

I honestly don't know where to start when it comes to talking about these ATLiens Outkast. Who really knows what's going on with them at the present moment, but they have consistently produced some of the best Hip Hop albums of all time. In fact if you ask me, "Aquemini" and "The Love Below/Speakerboxxx" are two (or three) of the best albums Period. Simply put, they have had an incredible career. The two very different personalities of Big Boi and Andre 3000 work well on their own (as best evidenced in the aforementioned double album, and even on their most recent and underrated "Idlewild" album) but are just as good and sometimes better together. And what seemingly might be taken as gimmickry (Andre 3000's bizarre fashion sense, Big Boi's obsession with booty in his videos) to hide minimal talents, is completely not the case with this duo because from their beginning they proved they have the skills in both delivery and their writing and production. I hope there is at least one last album from the pair, and i'd have no doubt that it would be another classic.

myTop 3 Favourite Outkast albums: 1. Aquemini (1998), 2. Speakerboxx/The Love Below (2003), 3. Stankonia (2000)

Album Review: Rihanna, Lady GaGa

I Love the Internet. Probably my most anticipated release of the year leaked about two weeks early. And I'm so happy it did. Coming after the hugely successful "Good Girl Gone Bad" and the trio of singles released from it's re-release, Rihanna had a lot to live up to on her 4th album "Rated R" (officially released November 23rd). Not even going into her personal troubles, Rihanna was definitley busy this past year fine-tuning what is actually a pretty amazing album. This wasn't clearly evident late last month when she leaked 3 of the tracks off the album. On their own they were very underwhelming, and I lost some faith in the album.
Luckily it turns out that the songs she leaked are basically all the filler, as she left some really outstanding stuff for the album. In fact the album is sequenced so well, that the filler tracks sound alot better while listening to the whole album. The similarities between "Rated R" and "Good Girl Gone Bad" end at the fact that they both are very well put together and can easily be played from front to back.
"Rated R" has Rihanna continually evolving from a teeny-bopper Pop personality into a more edgy Rock Icon. The sound of "Rated R" is Definitley darker, edgier, more street and more mature, which is exactly what I love about the album. What made me fall in love with Rihanna in the first place was her personality and aggressive attitude she left on the tracks, this album takes all of that to a new level. Her voice and her vocally delivery have improved quite drastically on this album, the official first single "Russian Roulette" and the perfection that is "Cold Case Love" (masterfully produced by Justin Timberlake's production team The Y's) show her vocal maturity. And tracks like "Rude Boy" and "Hard" show that even when presented with material that might sound a little dated, she owns with the delivery of the lyrics which make the songs.

Probably the three stand out cuts on this album are the aforementioned "Cold Case Love", which is such a great production in that it builds, her vocals and the great lyrics are at the forefront throughout most of the song and than it builds up to a grand finale. Truly an epic track. The same can be said for "Firebomb" a perfect Pop/Rock mashup, almost reminiscent of a Leona Lewis or Beyonce track, but the producers take it to a rougher edgier level. This song also has great lyrical content. Finally "Rock Star 101", an infectious track and her Swag is at 110% on this one. The rest of the album flows really nice, there are actually a bunch of great songs I could name, "Stupid in Love" "Hard" "The Last Song" "Photographs", even the one I like the least are undeniable. I was worried, but I don't have any doubts that this 4th album will establish Rihanna as a force in the industry that is definitley here to stay.

Now if you follow this blog, you might have seen my "Love/Hate" article about Lady GaGa. And I was on the "Hate" side at that time. I felt like she was getting alot of undue praise for being just average. Since than, a bunch of Lady GaGa songs have ended up becoming guilty pleasures and I have seen her turn in a few outstanding live performances. So when her "The Fame Monster" leaked, I got it. And boy am I shocked. Let's just clarify one thing first, "The Fame Monster" is going to have a bit of a complicated release on November 23rd. There is a Deluxe Edition that will act as a re-release of her debut "The Fame" and including the 8 new tracks she's recorded for the "Monster" portion. And you can buy the "Monster" portion by itself, it will still be titled "The Fame Monster" even though it won't include "The Fame".

Okay all of that out of the way, "Monster" is actually a really great set of dance material which subtly shows GaGa's growth as an artist. Listening to the album, it's like each track is a different form of Dance music. Unlike her debut, which I felt was a majority of uninspired and generic dance beats, this one ventures into everything from straight up House tracks, 80's Freestyle, Industrial, New Wave, Funk and even some R&B. The track "Speechless", reminiscent of "Brown Eyes" from her debut, actually is heavily (and obviously) inspired by the Beatles and the hook recalls "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, though her vocals make the song all her own. Which can be said about every song on this album actually. At certain points, there is a MAJOR Madonna sound ("Alejandro" "Dance in the Dark") but on first single "Bad Romance" and album closer "Teeth" it's 100% GaGa. She can even hold her own against powerhouse Beyonce who is featured on the Rodney Jerkins produced "Telephone". I'm not fully on the "Love" side for GaGa, but my ears and eyes are open and I think maybe she could become a bit of a force in the music world.

Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists (14-11)

Without purposely ranking them like this, this next seems to be a celebration of of artists who were a major part of a incredible groups, but also were able to emerge and have incredible solo careers as well.

11. No Doubt & Gwen Stefani

In the late 90's No Doubt had their big breakthrough in the now classic album "Tragic Kingdom". The Orange County based ska/pop/rock group exploded on MTV and have since stayed a constant staple on U.S. Pop radio. Their big hits like "Underneath it All" "Just a Girl" "Spiderwebs" and their timeless classic "Don't Speak" can be heard daily on Pop, Alternative and Rock stations. The bands work was incredible, but it wasn't just the music that made America fall in love with the group. Their front woman Gwen Stefani can take a lot of the credit for making the group so marketable, a gorgeous, smart, fun and stylish blonde. And much respect for Stefani who decided to make a fun Pop Dance album in 2004 while the group was on hiatus which became a huge success, leading to a second album and two national solo tours. She has now said she is done with the solo thing and the group is back in the studio hoping to deliver some incredible new music (crossing our fingers) together in 2010.

myTop 3 Favourite Gwen Stefani/No Doubt albums: 1. Rock Steady (2001), 2. Tragic Kingdom (1995), 3. Love Angel Music Baby (2004)

12. Janet Jackson/ Michael Jackson & Jackson 5 (tie)

May he rest in peace, all of the various and never ending specials about Michael Jackson can't really describe the impact he had on the 80's. And I imagine the same can be said about the impact of the Jackson 5 in the 70's. I just remember seeing his concerts on TV and all the people who had to be wheeled out on stretchers because they were so overwhelmed with the guy. And I also remember how whenever Michael Jackson had a new video coming out... All the family would gather around and watch it like it was the Oscars or something. I remember all the 80's Douchebags with one glove or the "Beat It" jacket. And than I remember how quickly everybody turned on poor MJ when a scandal hit. However, before the possible pedophilia was exposed he already created a great catalogue of music for himself. And let's not forget the scandal can't erase the fact that he's still regarded as The best Music Video artist ever. And his death this past summer is somewhat bittersweet. We lost a legend, but now people appreciate his legacy a lot more and his groundbreaking music.

By the time that the scandal hit, it was already time for Miss Jackson to take over as the most popular Jackson. Janet, while sort of a puppet, is a performance artist point blank. And you can criticize her minimal vocal skills, or alleged Co-writing skills, or her plastic personality, or that she has a pattern of blatantly lying to the media. One thing you can't talk bad about is her on stage. Compared to concerts by her brother, I won't hesitate in saying she's a way better performer than he is. And probably one of the best performers of the past 30 years. It's no secret that she often lipsyncs, but she Attacks the stage like nobody's business. And (up until the last two albums) she was a very consistent album artist... you were almost guaranteed an excellent album if her name was attached.

myTop 3 Favourite Janet Jackson albums: 1. The Velvet Rope (1997), 2. Rhythm Nation (1989), 3. Control (1986)

myTop 3 Favourite Michael Jackson albums: 1. Off the Wall (1979), 2. Thriller (1982), 3. HIStory (1995)



13. Beyoncé & Destiny's Child

I'm not going to go on and on about Beyoncé (because I could... easily), what I will say is I didn't think an artist like her was possible anymore. So accustomed to having a female artist who could either Dance and entertain but couldn't sing and wouldn't sing live. Or the powerhouse singers whose performances consisted mainly of dramatic gowns and alot of standing. In comes Beyoncé and Destiny's Child. It wasn't until maybe 2001 where the true artist in Knowles truly started to emerge and on her debut solo album she easily shot to the top of the list in the industry. And incredibly gifted vocalist, who also is an incredible performer who sings Live (in stiletto heels no less) and engages the crowd. And she continually, in all areas, improves album after album. A True Legend in the making. Okay that's all I'm going to say =)

myTop 3 Beyoncé/Destiny's Child albums: 1. B'Day (2006), 2. The Writings on the Wall (1999), 3. Destiny Fulfilled (2004)

14. Raphael Saaqiq & Tony! Toni! Toné!

Saadiq is one of the most underrated Geniuses out there today. Beginning with the New-Jack swingers Tony! Toni! Toné! of the early 90's. They were never the majorly successful mainstream group, or flavor of the moment either. They did provide a consistent string of solid and truly soulful hit singles, creating new sounds all with clear influences from the 50's 60's and 70's and using live instrumentation. At the top of this decade Saadiq formed the short lived Lucy Pearl with En Vogue's Dawn Robinson and Tribe Called Quest's Ali Shaheed Muhammed. Though they only had one album, it was as flawless earthy and soulful as previous Tony! Toni! Toné! albums. His first solo album "Instant Vintage" is one of my all time favorites and his productions for other artists (Badu, Joss Stone, Dangelo, Whitney, Total) include a lot of my all time favorite songs.

myTop 3 Favourite Raphael Saadiq/Tony! Toni! Toné! albums: 1. Instant Vintage (2002), 2. Lucy Pearl (2000), 3. Sons of Soul (1993)

Top 25 All-Time Favourite Artists (Tie for 15)

15. The Beatles/ The Rolling Stones (tie)

Last year I did a little Musical Education course of my own on the music of the 1960's. And with the Motown Sound, the Wall of Sound, the Girl Groups and the Garage Bands and everything else I have to say (as I've said before) the 60's is my favourite decade of popular music. And the true stars of the 60's were two Brit Bands that have both made an everlasting impression on music and culture. And now, an everlasting impression on me. Both of these groups will probably place higher next year because I like both more and more as the months go by and I discover more of their music.

I'm talking of course about The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

They both started out being heavily influenced by the Rock & Roll/Blues sound of the US as their groups formed. Both crossed the pond around the same time in the early 60's, and both had their US breakthrough singles around the same time as well. Both groups have dynamic personalities and are focused on the music above all else.

Let's first speak on the group that is still active, and has basically become the Greatest Rock & Roll Group of all time, based on their over 50 year recording history. The Stones have contributed a slew of some of the Greatest songs ever made. The genius songwriting of "Sympathy for the Devil", the socially conscious and stirring "Gimme Shelter", their fun rock anthems "Jumpin Jack Flash" and "Satisfaction". And that's just to name a few.

The reason I'm such a big fan is because they cover all these musical genres, and a lot of lyrical and conceptual diversity within their music, but they do it all in good fun. The one complaint is that throughout their career they haven't stayed the most consistent. A lot of their late 60's albums were hit or miss, though they did have a popular string of albums from 1969 up until 1971. Than from what my research shows, they got a little played out and started using publicity ploys to increase excitement for much of the rest of the 70's. However throughout the next 3 decades they've always managed to have at least a handful of great singles and a few great albums.

What I love about The Beatles, is that althought they didn't have as long a stretch, they managed to be consistent and constantly grow with their albums. Like The Stones, they were always witty with their lyrics though The Beatles had a more polished production and vocal style. The catchiness of their early singles like "I Want To Hold Your Hand" "Ticket To Ride" "Hard Day's Night" are what make them classic. Their simplicity really paved the way for Pop music of today.

Later in their career they started to expirement with their sound to great results. Incorporating sounds and instruments from different genres and cultures, and their ability to still remain relateable and accessible to the masses while doing so is nothing short of amazing. With only 13 albums before they dismantled, The Beatles had probably one of the best recording careers of all. They were able to constantly grow, while still being top sellers, and not having to compromise their style or image to remain relevant.

myTop3Favorite Beatles albums: 1. Magical Mystery Tour (1967), 2. Revolver (1966), 3. Abbey Road (1969)
myTop3Favorite Rolling Stones albums: 1. Aftermath (1966), 2. Let It Bleed (1969), 3. Beggars Banquet (1968)

Album Review: Shakira, Leona Lewis, Mario

Easily the biggest surprise I've had in the music world this year is how great Shakira's new album "She Wolf" (which actually won't be released in the US until November 23rd). The albums title track was cute and catchy, and the video was sexy as usual for her. However it wasn't strong enough for me to really want to hear the whole album. Than I saw the video for the second International single "Did It Again".
I instantly fell in love with the song, and when I looked up information about the album I noticed that The Neptunes (or Pharrell Williams) had produced a good number of tracks on the album. As you might have seen, I think very highly of Pharrell and I was very interested to see how they would work together. Williams is responsible for the aforementioned single and a host of the more infectious dance floor ready cuts like "Why Wait" and "Good Stuff", but surprisingly the best cuts come from the producer of the title track, John Hill. "Men in this Town" is a new wave/disco ode to Los Angeles that works great with Shakira's unique voice. The same can be said for the more rocked out "Mon Amour". The biggest surprise though, is that the whole album is solid with different collaborations with Wyclef and Amanda Ghost.
This is only Shakira's third all English album, but it seems like her confidence with the language is peaking. And she is able to deliver something totally relate able, current, and completely undeniable. It at times reminds me of Madonna's last effort "Hard Candy" (she does use the two primary producers on that album, Timbaland contributes what will be the second US single "Give it Up to Me") except that Shakira's vocal delivery is more fun and alive, and the lyrical content more witty and creative. Shakira's performances have always amazed me, and now it seems her recordings are finally going to match that greatness. This album has flaws, but I think her future in English recordings will get better and better in time.

All I had to do was listen to Leona Lewis' rendition of Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to know that Leona had a bright future in front of her. She's the U.K. phenomenon who won the "American Idol" styled show "X-Factor", released a massively successful first single in "Bleeding Love" and delivered a solid (if boring and a little dated towards the end) debut album. Her follow up "Echo" (released November 17th in the US) is a step toward that bright future with a few stunning ballads, a little more current sounding than her debut "Spirit". The album is just solid, there's not a tremendous display of growth or personality for that matter. It just shows that her voice is consistent, and that it is able to transcend different genres. The problem is, there's really not enough diversity on the album. They throw her only one uptempo, which actually is a very well done Electronic sounding "Outta My Head", and the rest is a variation of different ballad types. She owns the Poppier type ballads, the first single "Happy" and "I Got You" and my favorite track "Can't Breathe". There are two other standouts in the minimally produced "My Hands" and the Justin Timberlake featured "Don't Let Me Down". The rest of the ballads go from terribly boring to just not very well produced.
However, if you are a fan of albums that are heavy on the ballads this will probably be right up your alley.

As Shakira was my biggest surprise, Mario's new "D.N.A." might be my biggest dissapointment. To be fair, I only skimmed through the songs on iTunes and download about half of the songs based on that. Which isn't a good thing to begin with. When I listened to those few songs, almost none of them showed any personality and sounded terribly stale and uninspired. Both vocally and production wise. I enjoyed his last effort "Go" as it did give him a great showcase for a great voice, while that album was based in R&B, this album is a little all over the place. There's a few pop ballads, there's a few Hip Hop/R&B hits, there's a few dance cuts. And unfortunatley it just sounds like a bad radio station and doesn't showcase the artist at all. The albums first single, production wise, is hot (they should have taken Sean Garrett's voice off the song and given his verse to Mario so it's clear that it's HIS song) and the albums second single "Thinkin' About You" isn't bad, but the real highlight of the whole album is "Soundtrack to my Broken Heart" which should get some serious consideration as a cross-over Pop single.

Album Review: Quick Update!!

I feel really bad about not updating this blog for so long. Being a good employee and good student has really been taking most of my time. So I'm going to just give you all (LOL!) a quick update on the new stuff I've been listening to since the last update.

1. Mariah Carey,"Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel".
Mariah, or Mrs. Cannon, keeps the winning streak going from 2005's "Emancipation of Mimi" to her current stunner which is actually the best of her current albums. Working with just one production team, Tricky Stewart and The-Dream, and putting together a cohesive story with amazing vocals and great and funny lyrics. Mariah seems so at home on the kiss-off songs "Up Out My Face" and "It's a Wrap", but is also able to switch it to a more vulnerable vocal on "Angels Cry" "Languishing" and her Foreigner cover "I Want to Know What Love Is". In just sticking to one vibe and one story Mariah pulled off probably the best album of her career.

2. Zoot Woman, "Things are what they Used to Be".
I first found out about this Electronica/Dance group when I was doing research on Stuart Price, producer and remixer for acts as diverse as Madonna, Gwen Stefani and The Killers. Price is the mastermind of a few different groups, and Zoot Woman is the closest to a legitimate vocal group. This album is their third and is actually a great sonic experience. This album has a few misses, but the overall vibe and production on this album save it from completely falling apart. Album opener "Friend of Mine" as well as "Lonely by your Side" could easily become global hits. While "Saturation" and the calming stunner "Blue Sea" help seal this album as a winner.

3. Kid Cudi, "Man on the Moon: The End of the Day".
The newest back-packer rapper backed by top Hip Hop names Kanye West and Jay-Z. Seems familiar? (Lupe Fiasco anybody?) Cudi has seemed to follow the same story coming up, but he is actually delivering. Not to keep a comparison going, but Cudi suceeds in his debut because he seems like he's not scared to take risks, unlike Lupe who's debut was relatively safe (with the result coming off as boring). Cudi's debut is a nicely strung together story of the Lonely-Loner, narrated by Common. There's a few times where Cudi tries to go a little too mainstream ("EnterGalactic" "Simple As"), but there are true star moments throughout this whole album. And a true commitment to the concept of the album, and also the rare case of vulnerability in delivery. A Very Promising debut album.

4. Mr Hudson, "Straight No Chaser".
Mr Hudson's single "Supernova" had been burning up my iPod all summer, and than he popped back up on Jay-Z's "Young Forever". His album doesn't drop in the US until December (which I'm guessing is because they are trying to cross-promote with that aforementioned song. I could be wrong) but was released in the UK a few weeks ago. I was really excited for this album, and there are times on this album where that excitement was justified. "There will be Tears" is an amazingly weird Electronic/Pop almost Trip Hop concoction that is actually very heartfelt and emotional. "Stiff Upper Lip" is a surprisingly laid back and soothing break-up song, and "Learn to Live" is a fantastic 80's homage. However, there seems to be alot of desperation in getting a mainstream hit. "White Lies" the albums second single and the albums title track come off as a little phoney in delivery ("I was just playin' girl" and "we don't waste our time on Fake Thugs"... hmmm), but still have great production behind them. Another complaint is that it's sometimes too all over the place and could have used a better sequencing job. Having said that, it's mostly passible and I'm sure it will grow on me the more I listen to it, which I plan on doing.

5. Basement Jaxx, "Scars".
It seems like every time, I get excited for the new Basement Jaxx album and when it comes out I'm slightly disapointed. Their first two albums "Remedy" and "Rooty" were flawless, "Kish Kash" was about half and half and "Crazy Itch Radio" suffered the same problem of being way too much. Luckily the duo have calmed down a bit in their frantic production. In all honesty, it's the times when they get a little too frantic on this album that are the worst of a pretty okay album. The best moments are when they really slow it down, which on those past two albums were the best moments of their careers ("If I Ever Recover"), and they have some amazing moments like that here with "A Possibility" "D.I.S.tractionz". Even on some of their more traditional housers they show restraint with their effects box to make some great cuts like the first single "Raindrops" "Feelings Gone" and "Gimme Gimme Somethin True". All in all this album is a step back into the right direction for the duo and I'll have some justification in being excited for their next album.