2022 The Albums: Top 10

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See the 2022 League of Their Own Album

It is that time of the year again, our favorite time actually, as we look back on the year in music and select the 10 best albums of the year.  

See List of 2022 Honorable Mentions

10) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Cool it Down"

9) Yard Act - "The Overload" 

8) Nas "King's Disease 3" 

7) The Smile - "A Light For Attracting Attention" 

6) The Afghan Whigs - "How Do You Burn?"

5) Kendrick Lamar - "Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers" 

4) Sharon Van Etten - "We Have Been Going About This All Wrong" 

3) Maggie Rogers - "Surrender"

2) King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - "Omnium Gatherum" 

1) Beyonce - "Renaissance Pt. 1"

2021 The Albums - Honorable Mentions

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In keeping our Thanksgiving weekend tradition, we are coming out of hiatus to post our year-end music lists for the year. Here is the first of three lists dedicated to our favorites of the calendar. 

Instead of presenting everything over the course of three weeks as we did last year, we are going to just get them all out now over the course of this weekend. 

Here is our first list -- Honorable Mentions -- records that were good but not strong enough to crack our top 10. As we always do, we breakdown the list in short form and then with explanations.

- L.A. Exes - Get Some

- Benny the Butcher - The Plugs I Met 2

- DMX - Exodus 

- Inhaler - It Won't Always Be Like This

- Parquet Courts - Sympathy for Life

 

L.A. Exes - Get Some

Jenny Owen Youngs leads a brand new band that brought glossy fun in the sun sounds back to rock and roll in a year where we tried our best to emerge from darkness. A blast to listen to from start to finish and includes of the best renditions of The Cranberries timeless classic, "Linger."

Benny the Butcher - The Plugs I Met 2

One of hip-hop's finest emcees fires back with the sequel to a mixtape that had everyone talking. The Plugs I Met 2 is proof that sometimes sequels don't suck and is the musical equivalent of Empire Strikes Back to A New Hope. A hell of a listen from start to finish. 

DMX - Exodus 

The Swizz Beats-produced posthumous release from one of the best to ever do it is a sad but triumphant listen. One of X's best albums and sad to see that he could not be here to enjoy the fruits of his labor which featured collaborations with U2's Bono, Jay-Z, The Lox, Nas, Benny the Butcher, Snoop Dogg among others. 

Inhaler- It Won't Always Be Like This

Dublin's much talked-about four piece were set to take over the world in 2020 but the pandemic forced their global domination back a year. As they hit sweaty clubs, the son of U2's Bono fronts the group that oozes charisma, charm, vulnerability, and seduction on a fantastic debut. 

Parquet Courts - Sympathy For Life

The New York City indie rock favorites return with one of their best records in years. A record that buzzes and captures the energy of the city they call home as well as playing off post-pandemic themes of going about your life after two terrible years. 

2018 The Albums: Honorable Mentions

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Last week we broke the news that the site was going on hiatus but we did promise that each year we will continue to roll out year end lists. 

So it begins.....the rollout of various music lists from us as we look back at the year that was and present our picks for the most recognizable albums of the year.

It has become a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for us to issue our first year end list -- Honorable Mentions. This is the first of three lists we will bring out over the next three weeks, next week we will present our coveted League of Their Own and then finally, the Top 10 albums of the year. Here we go -- our Honorable Mentions, albums that were very good, but not good enough to crack the Top 10 but still worth of note. 

As we always do, we breakdown the list in short form and then with explanations.

 

2018 Honorable Mentions in Short Form (In No Particular Order):

 

- Nas "Nasir"

- Internal Bleeding "Corrupting Influence"

- Editors "Violence"

- Albert Hammond Jr. "Francis Trouble"

- Blu & Nottz "Gods in Spirit, Titans in the Flesh"

- The Good, The Bad, and The Queen "Merrie Land"

 

 Now, in Long Form (In No Particular Order):

 

 Nas - "Nasir"

 

Nas fell into the Kanye West production hole that many artists did this year and while some of the releases were hit or miss, the Queens emcee came out with his follow-up to 2012's instant classic, "Life is Good," and handed a solid album to fans. While critics were mixed on some of the messages Nas was saying about vaccinations and failing to address allegations set forth by his ex-wife, the rapper lyrically may have played it safe on some songs but on others like "Not for Radio," "Cop Shot the Kid," and "Bonjour," the legendary rapper flexed over vicious West beats. It was a grand combination that yes, could have been grander, however, with another album allegedly in the can by Nas, "Nasir" was a taste of what seems to be coming. 

 

 Internal Bleeding - "Corrupting Influence" 

 

The Long Island slam-core icons returned with not only the most brutal and intense release of 2018 but their greatest album to date. Following the death of long time drummer Billy Tolley, the band could have called it quits or could have rested on their laurels but instead they channeled the spirit of their fallen brother and crafted a record that is not only shaking up heaven but one that also frightens the devil himself. "Corrupting Influence" not only pays homage to Tolley is also hits on the society we live in today thanks to themes of selfishness, loneliness, and always looking for something more. 

 

 

 

 Editors - "Violence"

Editors have been on a rocky path for 8 years thanks to various line-up changes, alterations in sound and style, but also trying to figure out their place in music after the hype around them settled. After 8 years, they not only threw their own rule book out the window the finally sound like a band who are comfortable with who they are and what they have become. "Violence" is the British band's best album since "In This Light and On This Evening" and the gap between the two records were clearly growing pains to get to where they wanted to be and for fans, it was well worth the wait. 

 

Albert Hammond Jr. - "Francis Trouble" 

Albert Hammond Jr. has been releasing quality solo records since 2006. While he has always lived in the shadow of being the guitarist of The Strokes, after 12 years he finally sounds comfortable with not just that title but being a solo artist as the band continues to be on hiatus. "Francis Trouble" is a deeply personal and tragic record about his family in which he tells the story about finding out later on in life that he was supposed to be a twin but his brother died in the womb. The child was to be named Francis, whom Albert paid tribute to in title and song. The album, which dealing with heavy themes, does in fact have a summer time light feel to it and as you bopping around to dense lyrics but all equipped with perfect pop hooks. 

Blu & Nottz - "Gods in Spirit, Titans in the Flesh" 

While this album is sorta cheating in effort to get on this list, it is so good they managed to break the rules. The very underrated West Coast rapper Blu and equally underappreciated Virginia producer Nottz released two EPs in 2013 and 2016 respectively,
"Gods in Spirit, Titans in the Flesh" is the combination of both of them in one package bringing fans the 90s throwback hip-hop vibe of boom bap and soul. The songs were reorganized in a much more logical song order telling the story of their underground musical dominance while bringing in couple new songs to the mix that were not featured on either EP. 

 

 

The Good, The Bad, and The Queen - "Merrie Land" 

The supergroup of Blur / Gorillaz member Damon Albarn, The Clash's Paul Simonon, The Verve's Simon Tong, and Fela drummer Tony Allen return with their second album in 11 years. Unlike its 2007 predecessor, "Merrie Land" does not feature production by Danger Mouse instead behind the decks was long-time David Bowie producer Tony Visconti. The album is a love letter to England but unlike their self-titled debut, it isn't about the doom and gloom aspect of growing up in the kingdom but honoring the fallen soldiers who fought for the monarchy during World War I. Perfectly timed to be released during the 100th anniversary of the end of the first Great War, the supergroup show their appreciation in song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Listen to Nas 'Live at the Kennedy Center'

In 2014, Nas celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut, Illmatic, with a performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The performance was released this year as a Record Store Day vinyl and as a PBS special. Now, you can listen to the whole performance online.

Quick News

The Voidz, the side project of Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, will release their second album, Virtue, at the end of March. Take a look at the cover, above.

Pedro the Lion are working on their first album in 14 years. The record is due to arrive later this year and frontman David Bazan released a press statement about it: "Today is the first day back in the studio as Pedro the Lion. After writing and arranging a handful of new songs, then rehearsing and arranging them further with the band, we’re ready to record a couple of them for a new album. I didn’t realize what calling my music Pedro the Lion again would mean to me, but it’s re-connected me to parts of myself and my history (both sonic and personal) that I had lost touch with. This re-awakening is making the process so much more enjoyable and I’m grateful for the chance to do this again."

According to Troy Carter, who works for Prince's estate, he said that the late icon will have "mind blowing" and unreleased music coming soon. In an interview with Variety, Carter shed the news. “He was a guy who practically lived in a recording studio, and once we started going through [the unreleased material] we really started finding some gems,” Carter told Variety. “I heard some music the other night that was pretty mind-blowing and we’re getting some stuff mixed right now. We’ve got great projects in the works that I’m excited to talk about.So the answer is yes, there will be unreleased Prince music coming soon." No specific date was given.

Netflix has announced a new hip-hop docuseries called Rapture which will tell the stories of Nas, Logic, Just Blaze, and more. The series is set to come in March but they just released a trailer for it. Take a look:

Nas / PBS Share 'Illmatic' Concert Film Trailer

In 2014, Nas celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut, Illmatic, and performed the album in full with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Now, next month, PBS, will air the concert in part of their Great Performances series. Take a look at the trailer.

DJ Shadow Shares New EP

DJ Shadow has shared a new EP called The Mountain Has Fallen and features Nas, Danny Brown, and Steven Price. Take a listen!

Remembering Prodigy of Mobb Deep

The hip-hop world was stunned on Tuesday to learn of the passing of a true icon and original -- Prodigy of Mobb Deep. The Queensbridge rapper passed away at 42 in Las Vegas. A statement to XXL from his publicist said he had battled sickle cell anemia but a cause of death has not been determined.

In a statement to XXL, his publicist said: "It is with extreme sadness and disbelief that we confirm the death of our dear friend Albert Johnson, better known to millions of fans as Prodigy of legendary NY rap duo Mobb Deep. Prodigy was hospitalized a few days ago in Vegas after a Mobb Deep performance for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis. As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth. The exact causes of death have yet to be determined. We would like to thank everyone for respecting the family’s privacy at this time."

Nas, a fellow QB rapper and one of the many inspired by Prodigy, took to Instagram to break the news of his friend and hero. 

🙏🏾 QB RIP King P. Prodigy 4 Ever

A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Jun 20, 2017 at 10:33am PDT

Others have taken to social media to pay their respects to the "Shook Ones" rapper. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, especially Havoc of Mobb Deep.

Forever

A post shared by Havoc of Mobb Deep (@mobbdeephavoc) on Jun 20, 2017 at 11:32am PDT

We're remembering legendary New Yorker and hip-hop icon Prodigy today with a view from Queensbridge. #RIPProdigy pic.twitter.com/PX6JBaAbFf

— NYC Parks (@NYCParks) June 20, 2017

RIP #hiphop #legend #prodigy #mobbdeep just saw him Saturday in Vegas at #AllEyezOnMe. #ShookOnes #condolences

— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) June 21, 2017

Pic from 3days ago.. Sat Night in Vegas… @Raekwon ‘PRODIGY’ @GhostfaceKillah @mobbdeephavoc A Legend is Lost… So terrible... pic.twitter.com/Jl7bjvqubi

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) June 20, 2017

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday! I will miss you bro. R.i.paradise PRODIGY 😢

A post shared by Raekwon Da Chef (@raekwon) on Jun 20, 2017 at 1:13pm PDT

In memory of Prodigy of MOBB DEEP! #RIPProdigy pic.twitter.com/M7WrJNcc9s

— Apollo Theater (@ApolloTheater) June 20, 2017

P kept it thoro. Salute this general. #RIPProdigy

A post shared by Talib Kweli (@talibkweli) on Jun 20, 2017 at 12:13pm PDT

new york and the world just changed. rest in peace Prodigy.

— el-p (@therealelp) June 20, 2017

Nas & Jack White Perform 'One Mic' For 'American Epic'

Nas and Jack White have come together to perform the Queensbridge rapper's classic "One Mic" for the BBC series American Epic. Take a look!

Listen to Our Essential Nas Playlist on Spotify! 

The Weeknd Enlists Kanye, Nas, Ghostface For 12-Minute 'Tell Your Friends' Remix

The Weeknd took to Soundcloud Tuesday and uploaded a 12 minute remix of his song "Tell Your Friends" which features Nas, Ghostface Killah, Kanye West, Drake, Belly, Young Braised. Take a listen!

Listen to Nas / Madlib 'Nasimoto' Mashup Mixtape

As we patiently wait for a new Nas album, even though he said it was done last year, a fan from New Hampshire mashed-up the "Street Dreams" rapper's tracks with Madlib's Quasimoto-era beats. Take a listen!

Listen To Our Essential Nas Playlist on Spotify! 

Playlist

Head on over to Spotify to listen to our February Playlist of 27 random musical musings. Enjoy!

Quick News

Next month, Depeche Mode will release their brand new album, Spirit. Take a look at the cover, above. 

BET has greenlit a biopic series on the life of Nas. The show will be titled, Street Dreams, based off his song from Illmatic, and the pilot will begin shooting later this year. According to Deadline, the show will take place in the early 90s and focus on his life before his debut arrived. 

A biopic on John Lennon and Yoko Ono is currently in the works. Ono will produce the film which, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "will focus on ripe and relevant themes of love, courage and activism in the U.S.” No title nor release has been announced.

Radiohead's Johnny Greenwood has signed on to score the yet-to-be-titled Paul Thomas Anderson film the director is currently crafting. The movie will star Daniel Day-Lewis and is expected to arrive later this year. It is the fourth time Greenwood has done the music for Anderson -- famously for 2007's brilliant score of the equally great film, There Will Be Blood, 2012's The Master, and 2014's Inherent Vice.

Great Soundtracks: The Wackness

In 2008, the New York City coming of age dramedy The Wackness took audiences around the world by storm. The little independent movie starring Ben Kingsly as a drug dealer and one of the Olsen Twins, showcased a Manhattan many remember -- the one of the 90s. Set in the summer of 1994, the film captures the city in Guiliani's era as a "broken windows" policy was implemented by the NYPD, Times Square started to become Disneyland and nothing could touch the city's hip-hop artists.

Listen to Our Essential Tribe Called Quest Playlist on Spotify!

The soundtrack captures the era perfectly. Featuring Biggie Smalls, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Craig Mack, KRS-One, A Tribe Called Quest, as well as a throwback classic rock song from Mott the Hoople, The Wackness blended the dopeness of NYC hip-hop of the mid 90s together better than any film ever. Listening to this album is the ultimate summer jam throwback and one that seals the debate -- the 90s rap of NYC was the best ever.

Listen to Our Essential Nas Playlist on Spotify!

What's Coming in 2017?

via GIPHY

The new year is here and with it comes new music. 

Run the Jewels, who were supposed to dominate January, surprise released their RTJ3 record causing nearly everyone to change their Top 10 lists, thanks guys. That being said, their is other fresh music on the horizon. 

Take a look at what is projected to arrive in 2017: 

January

Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes – Modern Ruin

Austra – Future Politics

Cloud Nothings – Life Without Sound

Steel Panther – Lower the Bar

AFI – AFI (The Blood Album)

Japandroids – Near to the Wild Heart of Life

Foxygen – Hang

Bonobo – Migration

Bash & Pop – Anything Could Happen

The xx – I See You

Major Lazer – Music is the Weapon

Sepultura –  Machine Messiah 

February

The Mezingers – After the Party

Marilyn Manson – Say10

Tinariwen – Elwan

Surfer Blood – Snowdonia

Los Campesinos! – Sick Scenes

Power Trip – Nightmare Logic

Save Ferris – New Sound EP

Elbow – Little Fictions

Thievery Corporation – The Temple of I & I

Ryan Adams – Prisoner

Big Sean – I Decided

Lupe Fiasco – DROGAS Light

March

Nelly Furtado – Ride 

Tennis – Yours Conditionally

The Magnetic Fields – 50 Song Memoir

Craig Finn – We All Want The Same Things

Other Artists Expected to be Releasing Albums in 2017

Depeche Mode – Spirit

U2 – Songs of Experience

Living Colour – Shade

Paloma Faith – The Architect

The Shins – I Gleek on Your Grave

GZA – Dark Matter

Glassjaw

Brand New

Erik B & Rakim

Liam Gallagher

Gorillaz

Spiritualized

The National

Arcade Fire

Tears for Fears

Danzig

The Roots

The Black Kids

Stone Roses

Afghan Whigs

Nas

Jay Z

Phife Dawg

Justin Timberlake

The Lemon Twigs

Wu-Tang Clan

Ride

Portugal. The Man

Leon Else

Dej Loaf

Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Lady Leshurr

Joey Bada$$

The Jesus and Mary Chain

At the Drive-In

Bjork

Ed O'Brein

Pearl Jam

Modest Mouse

Broken Social Scene

Schoolboy Q

Chic

Phoenix

Grizzly Bear

Neutral Milk Hotel

LCD Soundsystem

Fleet Foxes

Mastodon

Spoon

St. Vincent

Slowdive

Lana Del Rey

Queens of the Stone Age

Foo Fighters

Quasimoto

Bruce Springsteen

Slonk Donkerson

Beck

Haim

Syd

Internal Bleeding

Movie of the Month: 'Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap'

In 2012, Ice-T, who has made a career as an emcee and actor, stepped behind the camera for the first time to direct his first film about a topic close to his heart. He unleashed to the world, Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, which takes the iconic emcee interviewing his friends and colleagues about how spitting on a microphone started in the Boogie Down Bronx and then ended up in the West Coast before taking over the world. From well known acts of today like Kanye West, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Nas, Ice Cube, Yasiin Bey, to the O.G.'s like Chuck D, Marley Marl, Melle Mel, Rakim, Grandmaster Caz, Ice-T gets the story from the source. According to reports, the project came about in a conversation the director had with producer Paul Toogood about how Ice-T crafted his hits "6 in the Morning," and "Colors." It was then and there that Ice-T realized his friends and other emcees have stories to tell about how they crafted their hits, how they made their style and above all, how they came up. If you needed a lesson in the genre, this is the crash course you needed.

Playlist

Our November playlist is here! Take a listen to our 27 musical musings for the month.

Quick News

A Tribe Called Quest will release We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service, their first album in 18 years, next week. Now, the iconic hip-hop group has released the cover art to the record.

We got it from Here... Thank You 4 Your service. Pre-Order now and receive the digital album on release date with other items to deliver later. smarturl.it/ATCQ_D2C

A photo posted by ATCQ (@atcq) on Nov 3, 2016 at 3:12pm PDT

The Weeknd told The Wall Street Journal that his upcoming album, Starboy, is "a thousand percent" inspired by David Bowie. He said: "I just love Bowie, I think he’s the ultimate inventor.”

The soundtrack to the Broadway smash Hamilton is getting a mixtape treatment that is arriving tomorrow. Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted the info:

Hello hello hello!
Been working on a mixtape for years.
It's finished.
You can pre-order it TOMORROW.#HamiltonMixtape pic.twitter.com/PcgluIUXw4

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 3, 2016

But wait there's more! #HamiltonMixtape pic.twitter.com/cguOx95N96

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 3, 2016

Erykah Badu & Nas on 'Kimmel'

Watch Erykah Badu and Nas perform "This Bitter Land" on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

QUICK SPINS

 

Frank Ocean – Blond

After all of the waiting, guessing games and curiosity, Frank Ocean returns. In a surprise move he released the visual album, Endless, and his proper record, Blond. The album, which gives listeners a further taste of the singer’s soul is also highly charged with what is going to African-Americans in this country. Blond is an ambitious album that at some points leaves you uncomfortable and other times makes you believe you have known Ocean your whole life. Some things are worth waiting for, a Frank Ocean record such as this is one of them.

FINAL GRADE: A

Har Mar Superstar – Best Summer Ever

Some records fall through the cracks and it takes a while to get to them and review, for Har Mar Superstar’s latest, Best Summer Ever, it was like that for us. It came across our attention months after being released and all we can say is PLEASE DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS RECORD LIKE WE DID!

FINAL GRADE: A

Blu & Nottz – Titans in the Flesh

 The dynamic duo of Blu and Nottz team up for an epic combination of glory hip-hop. The only issue with the EP is that it is too short, hopefully this leads to a full album among the two underground giants.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Dinosaur Jr. – Give a Glimpse Of What Yer Not

Like most things in 2016, the best things to come out this year are from seasoned veterans and icons. Dinosaur Jr. return with what could be their best record in decades. It is everything we have come to love about them over the years but better.

FINAL GRADE: A-

Maxwell – blackSUMMERS’night

 The smooth R&B crooner and for a while was filling the Frank Ocean-sized void in the genre. blackSUMMERS’night is sexy, seductive, mysterious and introspective. It is a record that will make you wanna make love and a record that will also make you want to find yourself at the same time.

FINAL GRADE: A-

DJ Khaled – Major Key

DJ Khaled is to music what the Kardashians are to TV. They are all famous for being famous and clearly have some sort of talent, but nothing the warrants the status they have. On Major Key, Khaled called in every favor and friend he could in order to make one of the summer’s most slamming albums. With verses from Kendrick Lamar, Jay Z, J. Cole, Future, Rick Ross, Nas, among others, the record is a major key in Khaled’s career. Also, give us that new fucking Nas record album! ;)

FINAL GRADE: B+

Of Montreal – Innocence Reaches

The flamboyant and envelope-pushing Of Montreal return with a record that adds to their storied career but doesn’t do more than just that.

FINAL GRADE: B

Ingrid Michaelson – It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense

The New York singer returns with personal record that proves why she is one of the best to ever do it. It Doesn’t Have to Make Sense is heartbreaking as it is kind. It is personal as it is expressive. Above all, it is one for anyone going through hard times.

FINAL GRADE: B

De La Soul – And The Anonymous Nobody

After 11 years, the hip-hop icons return with a concept record about today’s society. While this crowd-funded, sample free album is all new territory for the pioneers it is not what we would have expected. With guests like Snoop Dogg, Damon Albarn, Little Dragon and others, this album is interesting but not one we feel we will be returning to.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Banks & Steelz – Anything But Words

The combination of Interpol’s Paul Banks and Wu-Tang’s RZA would be odd on paper, but the manage to pull it off. While RZA shows his age as a rapper, Banks’ voice is the real star of the show. With special guests like Florence Welch, Ghostface, Kool Keith and others, this debut is interesting and worth a listen.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Melvins – Basses Loaded

The Melvins return with an ode to the bass, seriously, it is chock full of bassists and it packs a punch.

FINAL GRADE: B-

The Living End – Shift

The Australian punks return with a record of more rockabilly thrash and social commentary.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Gone Is Gone

Members of Mastodon, At the Drive-In and Queens of the Stone Age team up for a pulse pounding debut EP that leaves you guessing what they will do for a possible full length.

FINAL GRADE: B-

Young the Giant – Home of the Strange

Young the Giant had so much promise as a rising alternative band but after a strong debut, everything after has been mundane and disappointing. Home of the Strange just adds to a collection of mediocre songs and radio-friendly type hooks.

FINAL GRADE: C

Schoolboy Q – Blank Face

After a strong debut 2 years ago, Schoolboy Q returns with a murky and dramatic sophomore release that takes a few listens to really get into. While it deals with so many important topics facing America today and what goes on in the inner cities, it doesn’t pack the punch it ultimately should.

FINAL GRADE: C