Blakroc was my #3 album for the year but it is slowly moving up on the list. It is such a solid album. Blakroc is a team up of The Black Keys, Raekwon, Mos Def, Q-Tip, OBD, RZA, Jim Jones, Nicole Wray, Noe, Pharoahe Monch and Billy Danze. They spent 11 days in the studio and walked out with this 11 track album. The mix of the jazzy blusey sound of The Black Keys mixed with the all star hip-hop line up creates a sound I haven’t heard before. I’d have to say RZA really holds his own on the album.

Be sure to check out On The Vista (Feat. Mos Def) and Tellin’ Me Things (Feat. RZA)

www.blakroc.com

The Beatles- Real Love

When The Beatles came together for the Anthology series it was easy to assume it was just another cash in (after all the band had been gone 25 years and Apple was still making money off their one band, and they still are).  Real Love was the second Lennon demo that they had been given access to master and do what they please.  But it comes off great, George’s guitar work is fantastic, John sounds fresh and alive, a quality sorely lacking in Free as A Bird, and the harmonies are there along with Ringo’s steady backbeat.

G. Love and Special Sauce- Crumble

G. Love has been around an awful long time with his hip-hop/blues genre, and while that is no longer novel, G. Love has a knack for production that is the show piece of this song.  Starting with beautifully played piano interwoven with upright bass, it blossoms into nice syncopated drum and acoustic guitar work, the melody is shimmering and the music surrounds you, its not so much his words that have the flow on this song, its the music, though the words are good too.

Slow Club- It Doesn’t Have to be Beautiful

Slow Club is an English folksy rock duo in the She and Him style, except they’re much more bright in their melody and harmony, this song chugs along at a frenetic pace and the singing is wonderful and catchy too.

The Love Language- Lalita

This song bursts out of the gate with a Motown drum roll but keeps itself low-fi, the melody is insanely catchy and the whole thing sounds like it was recorded on one take, full of life and energy, you can just hear the fun the band is having playing this song.

Q-Tip- Believe

Q-Tip defied common belief when he continued to have a quality career after the fallout from A Tribe Called Quest’s breakup.  This song has swagger but in ways that Jay-Z wished he had, the back track is funky and D’Angelo’s backing vocals are beautifully arranged, try and hate this song, go ahead I dare you.

Pete and J- Young Love

Boasting a Simon & Garfunkelesque harmony as well as a feel for Elliot Smith melody, Pete and J (now known as Harper Blynn) are a great up and coming group fashioned in the old style melodies and classic rock production.

Hall and Oates- You Make My Dreams

Sure its old, sure its cheesy, but can anybody hate this song? Its just so damn happy and the harmonies are great

Prince- Raspberry Beret

Prince is never conventional, and the cello violin arrangement thrown into this song is a perfect example of his eccentric genius, and no song about this subject matter should be this catchy and the bridge is fantastic. Favorite line thunder chimes out when the lightning sees her kinda makes you feel like a movie star.  Wonderfully done all around song.

Sammy Davis Jr- These Foolish Things

Some songs just put you in a mood, overcome with love and memory, this is one of them, the arrangement is sparse and the lyrics are beautifully poetic, and Sammy Davis Jr.’s performance here is fantastic.

Soul Coughing- Soft Serve

Beat poetry meets funk, in the best of marriages, the bass line is fantastic, the arrangement creative, a very underrated song.

Port O’Brien- Love Me Through

Another great new band to watch out for with the members hailing from Alaska and California, the guitar work on here is great and a very beatle-esque melody.  Great rainy day song

The Beatles- Every Little Thing

People love to look back at the early years of The Beatles and criticize their simplicity, but sometimes simple is perfect (Lou Reed made a career out of it).  This song is very beautiful in its understatement, the harmonies are great the melody is sweet and you can just hear their youth, and the feeling is universal.

Jimi Hendrix- May This Be Love

As great as he was a guitarist, Jimi Hendrix was an equally excellent arranger and lyricist.  His flashy guitar work takes a backseat on this one and even without it, I rate this as one of his best songs.

Kings of Leon- True Love Way

At the time they hadn’t blown up yet, Use Somebody and Sex on Fire hadn’t been overplayed by every single radio station yet, the bravado hadn’t come yet, but the presence was there, great arrangement and vocal performance on this one, I’d argue this song is more powerful then Use Somebody and Sex on Fire put together.

She’s the One- Bruce Springsteen

No longer was he under the shadows of Bob Dylan and Van Morrison comparisons, he was on his own, and he exploded on to the scene with this album.  She’s the One doesn’t do alot to avoid his former comparisons though, it even adds a few new ones, his lyrics are as poetic as Dylans and his vocal performance is reminiscent of Morrison and Orbison and the guitar work, Bo Diddley.  But that great melody, and those hooks, and the heart, thats all his.

Robert Palmer- Fine Time

Robert Palmer wasn’t always the suave power rock guy his 80’s hits made him out to be, sure he always loved the suits, but in the 70’s he was funky and he had great taste.  Fine Time boasts the immortal James Jamerson on bass as well as a combined backing band of Little Feat and The Meters who were both great bands on their own.  The highlight of the track though is the intensity he puts into the vocal performance, he really feels the music and he drives the band in return with his powerful presence.

Keb’ Mo’- Love Blues

Keb’ Mo’s first record soungs so organic, if you closed your eyes you’d feel like he was just in front of you playing his acoustic guitar, he’s got a great voice to boot, an underrated essential to being a bluesman, and nice harmonica work as well.  A real sunny Sunday afternoon kind of song.

G. Love and Special Sauce-Ride

I don’t know any other artist who can emulate summer as well as G. Love can, and the arrangement and production values are great on this song as well.

Bob Dylan- Love Minus Zero/ No Limit

Bob has a lot of well written songs, and this is among his best

The Explorers Club- Last Kiss

Imagine that the Beach Boys came out in the last couple years, they would be this band, the similarities are unnerving.

John Lennon- Real Love

The original demo before The Beatles put their production hands on it, the piano work is beautiful as well as his vocals, its almost as if you’ve got him playing the piano just for you and its really endearing.

Brilliant collabo…can’t wait for D’s next offering, hopefully an album that’ll give Miseducation a run for accolades…and go gold at least – nature of the beast unfortunately!

COMBO OF ALTERNATIVE BAND MUSIC WITH HIP-HOP!!!

I actually got this album within minutes of it coming out and just realized I never put it up. This album is said to be by Blakroc which is really just the band The Black Keys teaming up with producer Joel Hamilton and all the rappers it features. Because no one track is just the Black Keys they figured they wouldn’t take the credit for the album, rightly so. This album was recorded in something like 4 days. Mos Def wasn’t even originally on it but happened to come into the studio while they were recording and dropped a song himself. It’s a very laternative rock feel with some sick rappers.

Feautred rappers on the album are Mos Def, Jim Jones, RZA, Raekwon, NOE, Q-Tip, among many others. It is pretty good overall and I enjoyed it, but it does get a little old after awhile and you can kinda tell it was recorded quickly.

Overall: 7  /   10   IF YOU CAN FIND IT FREE THAN GET IT!!!

Best Songs: “Ain’t Nothing Like You (ft. Jim Jones & Mos Def)” “Tellin’ Me Things (ft. RZA)” “What You Do to Me (ft. Billy Danze, Jim Jones & Nicole Wray”

Similar Artists: The Black Keys (no duh)

One Down Fall: Semi-repetitive sound and nothing truly amazing

Ain’t Nothing Like You (ft. Jim Jones and Mos Def)

Tellin’ Me Things (ft. RZA)

Mos Def

PREVIEW: WATCH Mos Def’s Flow On Chappelle’s Show on ebaumsworld

Whether he’s demolishing Kanye in a rap battle or traveling the galaxy with Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel, Mos Def is a legend. As one of the most well-known MCs in the entertainment industry, Mos Def has garnered friends such as Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, Talib Kweli and Dave Chappelle. The recent viewing of a clip of Mos Def on the latter’s show, however, was when Mos Def, for me, became not only one of the most respected MCs but also one of the most talented.

When the episode premiered on Chappelle’s Show in 2003, Mos Def had not yet released his third album “The New Danger”, which includes the song “Close Edge” that Mos presumably “freestyled” on the show. Even if you thought the rap was pre-meditated, it wouldn’t matter. I rewound the two minute segment at least four times in one sitting because I couldn’t stop watching Mos. Even when he’s casually driving around with an incredibly goofy comedian, his flow is absolutely flawless.

–Elizabeth Vogt, Assistant Front of Book Editor

Havent written about anything much on here for a long time, but i felt the need to document my favourite 50 albums of the decade. My music taste has varied hugely throughout the decade from obsessions with Nirvana/Green Day to Sum41/Limp Bizkit/Coldplay to Usher/Kanye West to Arctic Monkeys/The Killers/Milburn to Death Cab/Bright Eyes to Jay-Z/Lupe Fiasco through a million other bands. this list would have probably be vastly different 5 years ago,even 1 year ago, and im sure it will be different once again in a years time. Enjoy…

50.Snow Patrol-Final Straw (2003)

5 years ago I would have told you this was one of the greatest albums of all time. Snow Patrol were rising through the charts and seemed to be riding a wave of new found Radio 1 love and popularity. My opinion of the band has deteriorated notably since then, but its that deterioration that highlights just how good the band were at this stage of their career. Final Straw shows Lightbody at his lyrical peak, singing convincingly of broken relationships and fresh ones beginning. Musically its hardly groundbreaking but the melodies twist round Lightbody’s words perfectly throughout a diverse range of songs. It seems as though the band are stuck in cliches now, a sad state considering just how good they can be.

Favourite Song: Grazed Knees (It’s easier to lie and be safe, Time and time again I’m half stalled, One giant leap of faith is easy, When everyone you ask is so sure)

Sample:Chocolate video

Metacritic score: 73 (86 user rating)

49. The White Stripes-White Blood Cells (2001)

White Blood Cells, like Final Straw was for Snow Patrol, was the White Stripes’ commercial breakthrough. Back when I was 12 or 13 I was obsessed with Fell in Love with a Girl, listening to it 4 or 5 times a day, ignoring the rest of the album. When I did branch out, the results were incredibly impressive. Jack White is undoubtedly one of the success stories of the decade and his unrelenting brilliant guitar playing and immense yodelling drawl on this album pretty much define rock and roll in the noughties. Hes not just an amazing guitarist and singer though, he is also a brilliant songwriter and lyricist. From the thrilling drive of Fell in Love With a Girl to the innocence and sweetness of We’re Gonna Be Friends to the Union Forever which is basically Citizen Kane in a song. Genius.

Favourite Song: We’re Going to be Friends

Sample: Hotel Yorba video

Metacritic score: 86 (87 user rating)

48. OutKast-Stankonia (2000)

At the turn of the decade OutKast had released three brilliant, critically acclaimed Southern hip-hop albums, providing  a welcome alternative to Diddy’s Bad Boy Empire of the East and Dre’s Aftermath of the West. Stankonia somehow  managed to improve what OutKast had already mastered; they went from an outstanding Southern hip-hop duo to an outstanding, multi genre act. Stankonia incorporates elements of drum and bass, heavy metal, funk, samba, gospel, techno and bhangra garnering comparisons to Prince. Lyrically both rappers are on form throughout, combining Big Boi’s realism with Andre 3k’s surreal imagery. B.O.B. is in a way a perfect summary of this, the song has a ridiculous amount going on yet it works perfectly. In 2001 Jay-Z Set a Blueprint for mainstream hip-hop, but arguably Andre and Big Boi had already set one for creativity and originality in 2000.

Favourite song: Humble Mumble (do you want to live or wanna exist? The game changes everyday so obsolete is the fist and marches, Speeches only reaches those who already know about it, This is how we go about it-all of this verse is immense)

Sample: Ms Jackson video

Metacritic score: 95 (84 user rating)

47. Q-Tip-The Renaissance (2008)

Q-Tip’s second studio came to my attention through Kanye West’s blog, with Kanye frequently “ZOMGZ THIS SHIT IS HOT” posting songs from the album, so I thought i’d give it a try. Thank you Kanye West. The Renaisscance is an intelligent and positive record about life, love and loss told by The Abstract himself. Since Tribe split up, Q-Tip released Amplified (a great funky album, but not a classic) and worked unsuccessfully on the experimental unreleased (until 2009) Kamaal the Abstract, so The Renaissance marked a welcome return to form. Musically it lies somewhere inbetween the funky Dilla beats of Amplified and the smooth Love Movement but with added energy, all provided by Q-Tip. The production (10 tracks Q-Tip, 1 Ronson, 1 Dilla) is perfect and works so well with Q-Tip’s rapping (and singing) voice. Guest stars work brilliantly, providing hooks but taking no attention away from the song or Q-Tip himself. This is quite possibly the best uplifting album I’ve heard, pure brilliance.

Favourite song: Gettin’ up (We can start a clan just like the Kennedy’s)

sample: Life is better feat. Norah Jones video

Metacritic score: 82 (92 user rating)

46. Grizzly Bear-Veckitamest (2009)

I’m a latecomer on the Grizzly Bear bandwagon, but I’m most definitely on it now. Veckitamest is a complex, poignant and beautifully written record. It seems to incorporate large elements of different styles of music from the “indie-folk” genre blended together by Droste and Rossen’s haunting vocals. Fellow folk act Fleet Foxes debut was a great album, but the vocals sometimes felt cluttered; Veckitamest has none of this problem. The vocals here are textured brilliantly, and the songs sound like a symphony weaving its way through an epic piece. Lyrically, the album is outstanding and While You Wait for the Others deserves special attention (its now one of my favourite songs of all time). The songs tone is so defiant, so critical and incredibly accurate (i’ve felt this way about a lot of people. and people have probably felt this way about me) that it is faultless.

Favourite song: While you wait for the others

Sample: Two weeks video

Metacritic score: 85 (85 user rating)

45. Noah and the Whale-The First Days of Spring (2009)

It seems impossible to believe this band released Peaceful, the world lays me down a happy, yet bland and generic indie pop album, nothing original or relevant, only 1 year earlier because The First Days of Spring marks not just a development but a sharp change of direction. The album is specifically focused on the break up of Charlie Fink’s relationship with Laura Marling, taking the listener through casual optimism to depression to defiance to acceptance to insecurity to hope and ending with the declaration that “my door is always open”. Fink isnt even that talented a lyricist but here his words are so full of emotion, so full of life-reflected in his voice throughout- that the album is a beautiful piece of work. Musically, the album ranges from orchestral (Love of an orchestra) to low-key acoustic sounds, perfecting both. It will be interesting to see where the band goes from here, whether Fink can create an album quite so emotive again is anyones guess.

Favourite song: Our Window

Sample: The First Days of Spring trailer (the brilliant film they made to go with the album)

Metacritic score: 71 (96 user rating)

44. Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend (2008)

Vampire Weekend burst onto the indie scene in late 2007, breathing life into what was becoming a dead and original mainstream. The band’s infusion of energy and originality are frankly apparent in their brilliant debut, with uplifiting “afro-pop” sounds complemented by Ezra’s brilliantly dexterous voice. Along with a good dose of lyrical wit in tales of everyday people (“One”), places (“Campus”) and journeys (“M79″) the album has an overarching theme of freedom and breaking off from the norm. Koenig is not only a storyteller but an observer, a detailed one at that, telling of spilt kefir on your keffiyeh and a satirist (Lil’ Jon he always tells the truth). it’s going to be difficult for them to improve on near perfection but i’m confident it can be done. Bring on Contra!

Favourite song: Bryn

Sample: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa video

Metacritic score: 82 (80 user rating)

43. The Maccabees-Colour It In (2007)

The Maccabees came onto the scene at the same time as a number of apparently similar generic sounding indie-pop bands with a couple of standout demos and singles, but not a great deal setting them apart from the rest. However, when Colour it In was released it was clear the band were a cut above the crowd. The album works so well, as it covers a wide range of topics from evil girls (X-Ray) to young love (First Love) to nostalgia (Lego) to the beginnings of a relationship (About Your Dress) and even the local swimming pool (Latchmere). Orlando and Felix are hardly Conor Oberst with the pen but they write sweet, clever, relateable songs with awesome melodies. To write a song as cutting and energised as X-Ray and one as sweet and poignant as First Love deserves applause. Even songs that aren’t stunning lyrically manage to tug at heart strings by a simple repeating melody (Tissue Soldiers). The band have only gotten better since.

Favourite song: Precious Time

Sample: First Love video

Metacritic score: No score-c. 72

42. Kings of Leon-Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)

Its not useless, its a blinding album, better than their first one, and they came up with it really quickly-Vince Noir, The Mighty Boosh. Randomly watched that episode of the Boosh last night and thought it fitting to include that quote. Aha Shake is a brilliant album, with the Followills driving guitars and Caleb’s drawl complementing each other perfectly. The album is full of danceable bangers (Four Kicks, Razz, King of the rodeo) and slow epics (Milk, Rememo, Day old Blues) but the best is saved for Taper Jean Girl, an all time classic. It should be compulsory ,when downloading Sex on Fire or Only by The Night, to be redirected to the Kings of Leon’s wikipedia discography to highlight that they existed before 2008 and were in fact alot better. I dont resent the band now because of their success, I just think they have run out of creative talent. Only by the Night has some good songs on but it is clearly written for stadiums, there is a lack of energy or grit that made this album so special.

Favourite song: Taper Jean Girl (Heartbreak knocking them down like the 7th grade)

Sample: The Bucket video

Metacritic score: 74 (82 user rating)

41. The Shins-Oh, Inverted World (2001)

The Shins’ debut is so great because of its raw, atmospheric sound. The band’s sharp melodies and the stunning strength of Mercer’s lyrics create an album that sounds almost part Beach Boys, part Paul Simon. Mercer is arguably as talented a lyricist as the latter and shows his prowess throughout. He excels at pretty much everything he tries. Know Your Onion is a look back at his teenage days (shut out pimpled and angry) and feelings towards life (what kind of life you dream of? you’re allergic to love), whilst New Slang describes disilusionment and longing, clinging to lost hopes for love, “looking in on the good life” of others. I could quote from the album all day, as it is a piece of genius. Mercer releases his collaboration with DangerMouse on March the 8th, exciting times.

Favourite Song: New Slang

Sample: New Slang fanmade video-Garden State/The Last Kiss/Napoleon Dynamite clips

Metacritic score: no score c. 85

Top 200 Singles of 2009

Here is a list of the top 200 songs from 2009…

1. Courtney John – Lucky Man
2. Estelle & Sean Paul – Come Over
3. Screw Driver & Inner Circle – Never Give Up
4. Daweh Congo – Straight Up Conscious
5. Sean Paul – So Fine
6. Michael Franti and Spearhead – Say Hey (I Love You)
7. Luciano & Easy Star All-Stars – With A Little Help From My Friends
8. Luciano, U-Roy, & Easy Star All-Stars - With A Little Dub From My Friends (Version 2)
9. Chali 2na, Damian Marley, and Stephen Marley – Guns Up
10. John Legend & Buju Banton – Can’t Be My Lover
11. Daweh Congo - Ghetto Skyline
12. Ziggy Marley & Willie Nelson – This Train
13. YT, Million Stylez, Mr. Williamz, Blackout Ja, Jah Knight, & Iverse - Champion Sound
14. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Fan It
15. The Decemberists – The Rake’s Song
16. Alborosie – No Cocaine
17. M. Ward – Stars of Leo
18. K’Naan & Chubb Rock – ABC’s
19. Norah Jones – It’s Gonna Be
20. Elephant Man – Dance and Sweep
21. The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
22. Daweh Congo – One Day
23. K’Naan & Damian Marley - I Come Prepared
24. Michael Franti & Spearhead - Rude Boys Back In Town
25. Laden – Time To Shine
26. Queen Ifrica – Lioness On The Rise
27. Brother Ali – Fresh Air
28. Wilco – Wilco (The Song)
29. Michael Rose, Menny More, & Easy Star All-Stars – A Day In The Life
30. Kid Cudi – Day ‘N’ Nite (Nightmare)
31. Julian Marley – Boom Draw
32. Buju Banton & Third World – Sense Of Purpose
33. K’Naan – Take A Minute
34. The XX – VCR
35. Serani – Playing Games
36. Major Lazer, Jovi Rockwell, & Mr. Vegas – Can’t Stop Now
37. Tarrus Riley – Herbs Promotion
38. Michael Franti & Spearhead – Soundsystem
39. M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel - Never Had Nobody Like You
40. Ziggy Marley & Toots Hibbert - Take Me To Jamaica
41. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Sweet Jennie Lee
42. Daweh Congo – Steppin
43. Yim Yames – My Sweet Lord
44. The Avett Brothers – January Wedding
45. George Strait - El Rey
    
46. Bounty Killer – Corrupt
47. Mayer Hawthorne – Maybe So, Maybe No
48. Michael Franti & Spearhead – A Little Bit Of Riddim
49. Dave Matthews Band - Funny The Way It Is
50. Jay-Z & Mr. Hudson – Young Forever
51. Monsters of Folk – Say Please
52. Julian Marley & Damian Marley - Violence In The Streets
53. Tarrus Riley – Human Nature
54. Spoon – Writing in Reverse
55. Phoenix – Lisztomania
56. Andrew Bird – Oh No
57. M Ward – Rave On
58. Yim Yames – All Things Must Pass
59. Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin
60. Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros – Home
61. Slaid Cleaves – Cry
62. Phish - Backwards Down The Number Line
63. Graham Wilkinson, Hayes Carll, and Lloyd Maines – Ragamuffin
64. The Itals – Let Dem Talk
65. Sean Kingston – Fire Burning
66. Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow
67. Black Ryno – Real Stingers
68. Romain Virgo – Alton’s Medley: Breaking Up / Ain’t That Loving You / My Willow Tree
69. Jah Cure – Sticky
70. Pearl Jam - The Fixer
71. Vybz Kartel - Life Sweet
72. Q-Tip – Even If It Is So
73. Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
74. Capleton – Acres
75. Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA
76. Mariah Carey – Obsessed
77. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, Barrington Levy, & Beenie Man – She Call Mi Phone
78. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
79. The Swell Season – Feeling The Pull
80. George Strait – Arkansas Dave
81. Chino – Never Change (From Mawning)
82. Sean Paul – Press It Up
83. Queen Ifrica - Coconut Shell
84. Lyle Lovett – Loretta
85. Beres Hammond - Can’t Say I Never Tried
86. Chali 2na - Comin’ Thru
87. Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
88. K’Naan – Wavin’ Flag
89. Beirut – The Shrew
90. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Right or Wrong
91. Metric – Sick Muse
92. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – Flyin’ Shoes
93. Regina Spektor – Eet
94. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
95. Soja & Rebelution – Here I Am
96. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band – Nikorette
97. John Fogerty & Bruce Springsteen – When Will I Be Loved
98. Julian Marley & Stephen Marley - Things Ain’t Cool
99. George Strait – Living For The Night
100. Frankie Paul & Easy Star All-Stars – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
101. Graham Wilkinson & the Underground Township - Boys and Girls
102. Major Lazer – Cash Flow
103. Zee Avi – Bitter Heart
104. Etana & Alborosie - Blessings
105. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - I’m Sittin’ on Top of the World
106. Jay Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind
107. Danny Malone – Basement
108. Black Eyed Peas – Rock That Body
109. George Strait – Easy As You Go
110. Jay-Z – D.O.A. [Death Of Auto-Tune]
111. Suga Roy, Conrad Crystal, & Gyptian - Jah Jah See Dem
112. Danny Barnes – Pizza Box
113. Major Lazer – Bruk Out
114. Robert Earl Keen, Jr. – The Rose Hotel
115. Soja, Tamika, & Gentleman – I Tried
116. Casual Sax - Baby I’m Black (From The Waist Down)
117. Courtney John – I Want To Get Next To You
118. Major Lazer – Pon De Floor
119. Rhett Miller – I Need To Know Where I Stand
120. The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
121. Beres Hammond - See You Again
122. Micachu & the Shapes – Golden Phone
123. Queen Ifrica – Keep It To Yourself
124. Bob Dylan – Beyond Here Lies Nothin’
125. Son Volt - Dynamite
126. N.A.S.A., Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner - Whachadoin?
127. Elephant Man – Nuh Linga
128. Levon Helm - Tennessee Jed
129. Eminem – Crack A Bottle
130. Ziggy Marley, Jack Johnson, & Paula Fuga - Cry, Cry, Cry
131. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard – California Zephyr
132. Boycott Blues – Got Beef? (Food Coma)
133. Snoop Dogg – I Wanna Rock
134. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - Won’t You Ride in My Little Red Wagon
135. N.A.S.A., Kool Keith, & Tom Waits – Spacious Thoughts
136. Max Romeo & Easy Star All-Stars – Fixing A Hole
137. The Lemonheads – Waiting Around To Die
138. Conor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band - Air Mattress
139. Neil Young – Johnny Magic
140. Ziggy Marley, Rita Marley, & Cedella Marley – I Love You Too
141. Queen Ifrica - Daddy
142. Cunninglynguists – Never Come Down
143. Mavado – So Blessed
144. Mos Def & Talib Kweli – History
145. B-Real & Damian Marley – Fire
146. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Corrine Corrina
147. Anthony B & Horace Andy – Enter The Kingdom of Zion
148. John Legend – Can’t Be My Lover (Curtis Lynch Remix)
149. Bruce Springsteen – Outlaw Pete
150. Sizzla – Black Man In The White House
151. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Bring It on Down to My House
152. Wasp - Unfair Officer
153. Sugar Minott & Easy Star All-Stars -When I’m Sixty-Four
154. Bitty McLean – Fall In Love (Rub A Dub Mix)
155. Taken By Trees – To Lose Someone
156. Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel – Hesitation Blues
157. U-Roy, Bunny Rugs, & Easy Star All-Stars – Lovely Rita
158. Daweh Congo – Daybreak
159. Coconut Records – Any Fun
160. Serani – When It’s Cold Outside
161. Telekinesis – Coast Of Carolina
162. Mavado – On The Rock
163. Bill Callahan - Jim Cain
164. Kirsty Rock & Easy Star All-Stars – She’s Leaving Home
165. Noah and the Whale – Blue Skies
166. Daweh Congo – Joy Brings Pain
167. Fanfario – I’m A Pilot
168. Mavado – Money Changer
169. The Dry Spells – Black Is The Color
170. David Guetta & Akon – Sexy Bitch
171. Animal Collective - My Girls
172. Taken By Trees – My Boys
173. Tribal Seeds – The Garden
174. Norah Jones – Chasing Pirates
175. Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard - These Roads Don’t Move
176. Matisyahu – Struggla
177. Black Eyed Peas – Meet Me Halfway
178. Buju Banton – Rastafari
179. Juvenile – Gotta Get It
180. Groundation – Beating Heart
181. 10 Ft Ganja Plant - 10 Ft. Ganja Plant and Weed
182. Mishka – Stay By My Side
183. Raekwon & Lyfe Jennings - Catalina
184. Bebel Gilberto – Chica Chica Boom Chic
185. Pitbull – I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)
186. Phoenix – 1901
187. Bramma – Da Body Deh
188. Kid Cudi - Make Her Say
189. Mayer Hawthorne – Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out
190. Flo Rida – Right Round
191. Raekwon, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, & Ghostface Killah – House Of Flying Daggers
192. Matisyahu – Smash Lies
193. Timbaland & Justin Timberlake – Carry Out
194. Chezidek – Border Line
195. Bebel Gilberto – Sun Is Shining
196. Gregory Isaacs – Fools Fall In Love
197. Oba Simba – The Herb
198. Robert Glasper – Butterfly
199. B.B. Seaton – Life Goes On
200. Johnny Clarke with Soothsayers meet Red Earth Collective – Bad Boys
201. Sean Paul & Keri Hilson – Hold My Hand [I'll Be There]

The Grammy’s seem early this year. It will air on Jan 31, 2010. After reading over the noms, I’m filled with apathy.  I actually have heard most of this music which says…nothing.  I will watch the show for the performances and for Album of the Year. I’m hoping DMB will finally get the recognition they deserve from their peers. I’m also excited for Maxwell.

I’ve listed a few categories below. I’m probably not going to do a breakdown of the Grammy’s this year because I don’t like the nominations…And I’m working on my Top 30 (or 40) singles of 09.

Album Of The Year

• I Am… Sasha Fierce – Beyonce

• The E.N.D. -  The Black Eyed Peas

• The Fame – Lady Gaga

• Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King – Dave Matthews Band

• Fearless – Taylor Swift

Song Of The Year

• Poker Face – Lady Gaga & RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)

• Pretty Wings – Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)

• Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)

• Use Somebody – Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)

• You Belong With Me – Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best New Artist

• Zac Brown Band

• Keri Hilson (yay)

• MGMT

• Silversun Pickups

• The Ting Tings

Best Pop Vocal Album

• The E.N.D. -The Black Eyed Peas

• Breakthrough -Colbie Caillat

• All I Ever Wanted -Kelly Clarkson

• The Fray – The Fray

• Funhouse – Pink

Best Rock Album

• Black Ice – AC/DC

• Live From Madison Square Garden – Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood

• 21st Century Breakdown – Green Day

• Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King – Dave Matthews Band (tough competition)

• No Line On The Horizon – U2

Best R&B Album

• The Point Of It All – Anthony Hamilton

• Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics – India.Arie

• Turn Me Loose -Ledisi

• Blacksummers’ Night – Maxwell

• Uncle Charlie – Charlie Wilson

Best Rap Album

• Universal Mind Control – Common

• Relapse -Eminem

• R.O.O.T.S. – Flo Rida

• The Ecstatic – Mos Def

• The Renaissance – Q-Tip

Best Country Album

• The Foundation – Zac Brown Band

• Twang – George Strait

• Fearless – Taylor Swift

• Defying Gravity – Keith Urban

• Call Me Crazy -Lee Ann Womack

I can’t do anymore but there are about 1,567 more categories on Grammy.Org

What do the Black Keys, Mos Def, RZA, Q-Tip, Billy Danze, Nicole Wray, and Jim Jones have in common? Talent. That and the fact that they’ve come together to form a new supergroup called BlakRoc. With a lil help from our favourite super mogul of the 2000s – Dame Dash

The album is actually out already and is pushing decent numbers but it’s really all about the music. They hit the studio on some eleven artists, eleven days, one studio tip. And even had the courtesy to record it all for our viewing pleasure. There are, you guessed it, eleven webisodes and I’ll be uploading them time to time. Enjoy.

The time is 1996. The album is Mobb Deep’s “The Infamous”. The song is “Drink Away the Pain” The verse is Q-Tip’s ode to what would become the seeds for streetwear. Peep the linguistics…

I haven’t had a good music post in a while, so I am happy I finally found something both new and good. I also was sad to hear about the breakup of the Diplomats os it was great to see Jim Jones getting it in. I was a little bit affraid when I saw the name “Blakroc”, I thought, “this can go really badly with a good bad name to match, but judging by this clip, it is hard body/ good/ great/ cool/ awesome, and finally dandy… I am calling stuff that now, I just decided.

The album features the Black Keys and some of the most respected names in hip-hop. The album, Blakroc, was released Nov. 27 2009 which is also “Black Friday”,  the official holiday shopping season  kick off  and day after Thanksgiving. It has slightly annoyed me in the past when people have tried to do “black rock” or “hip hop rock” but this just simply sounds like “good music”. It was also nice to see Dame still doing the ‘Damon Dash dance’.

watch the full trailer here.

Album includes contributions from Mos Def, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Ludacris, Pharoahe Monch, NOE, Nicole Wray, Billy Danze and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard.

The track Dallaz & Sense off the album could be the other BlackRock’s (investment firm) motto… “If it don’t make dollaz, it don’t make sense…” Can you imagine if this song were playing when you went to their website (below)… It would really make you feel like you entered the ‘new era in investing’. That was actually Thrasher. Oh well.

]]> http://urbanmogullife.com/2009/12/16/morning-waffles-17/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:16:15 +0000 Danny Ocean http://urbanmogullife.com/2009/12/16/morning-waffles-17/

Little Brother x Pete Rock – Whatever You Say

Q-Tiip – Shaka

Mos Def – Priority

…sometimes lead to big disappointments. This is a post ’bout 4 albums that let me down this year.

Clipse – Til The Casket Drops

To me this was an album anticipated for almost the whole year, and I was really thinking they were gonna drop a bomb like the previous record, but as soon as the first tracks started leaking, I knew something was wrong.

The mistakes made are mainly in the choice of the beats…the production sounds like everything else out there, tracks are disconnected and ruin the flow of the album.
It’s common sense that nowadays The Neptunes don’t make such fresh stuff as in the days of Hell Hath No Fury, but still they should come up with more than this, and Pusha and Malice should have a better ear. Some songs sound like there was no big effort put in them, even in the lyrics…and the songs that were made singles and that I’ve posted before over here, when heard in the context of the album don’t even stand out.
Read a more complete review here.

Rakim – The Seventh Seal

This album is just a sad story from beginning to end.
Again, the production ruins most of the deal. Worthless guest singers and samples that should not even be considered (No Doubt? what the fuck?), but Rakim also sounds tired and uninspired in some tracks. After reading the review on Pitchfork (link below) I came to admire his integrity for choosing not to work with Dr. Dre, but this is Rakim we’re talking about and he deserves nothing but greatness in everything he puts his voice in, this is one of the true “greatest rappers of all time”.

If you’re a Rakim fan, do yourself a favor and pretend this album never existed. Yes it’s still the God MC and he still spits with that perfect technique, but to hear just good lyrics I prefer to go back when he had also great beats.
Read a more complete review here.

Kid Sister – Ultraviolet

Also very anticipated for me, but also a flop. This album is what I call a 50/50.
50% of it has that feeling and tracks that I was expecting from this artist, and then the other 50% are just a fuck up. The funky and technological beats (“54321″), some of them already old and used on other releases (“Get Fresh”, “Control”), are clearly Kid Sis comfort zone, even when the Pop element is more present (“Life On TV”), but whenever she tries to reach out another type of stuff, the result is terrible.

Tracks like “Daydreaming” and “You Ain’t Really Down” don’t sound good, cause the girl can’t sing. She can rap in her own style, and make perfect party music, but someone should have told her that she can’t sing.  “Big N Bad” is also one big and bad mistake, mainly due to the chorus sample…revivalism has limits.
This is an album that has some good tunes for the dancefloor, I can already predict great remixes coming out of it, but as a release that took 2 or 3 years in the making, it’s just weak and emotionless.
Read a more complete review here.

BlakRoc - BlakRoc

Another 50/50. What seemed a really interesting project with everything to become one of the best musical experiences of the year, comes out competent, but lacking emphasis and feeling.
I agree with Ian Cohen in his review on Pitchfork (link below), saying that “BlakRoc often comes off as a resolutely sober affair – mutual respect leads to no on stepping on each other’s toes or letting loose”, but more than that, it has a duality in the flow, and specially in terms of the quality of the artists involved.

While tracks like “Ain’t Nothing Like You” and “Hope You’re Happy” surprised me (specially Jim Jones and Q-Tip respectively), and others confirmed the quality I was expecting (Raekwon and RZA’s tracks), there’s stuff in this album that should never have left the studio.
Who the fuck is NOE and who the fuck is he fooling with the emulated Jay-Z flow? Even the vocal pitch is similar…c’mon, I can’t believe Dame Dash made the mistake of getting this dude in 2 tracks. And that Ludacris and ODB song…terrible. It just sounds awkward and misplaced in every way, nothing works in that song and Ludacris had much more to offer than that. As for ODB, just let him rest in peace.

Like I said, it’s a competent album, but it has too much skip tracks, and that’s never good.
Read a more complete review here.

I condensed the reviews not only cause the albums were not worthy of single posts for each, but also cause this way I get more synthetic in my opinions and I give you readers the chance to click on the links from Pitchfork and read more elaborated and “righteous” critics that I mainly agree with.

]]> http://dayandadream.com/2009/12/14/road-to-the-grammys/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:10:00 +0000 brandoc06 http://dayandadream.com/2009/12/14/road-to-the-grammys/ http://holdthethrone.com/2009/12/13/a-tribe-called-quest-weekend-rare-tribe-promo-ep-1997/ Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:01:07 +0000 domcorleone http://holdthethrone.com/2009/12/13/a-tribe-called-quest-weekend-rare-tribe-promo-ep-1997/

Download: A Tribe Called Quest - Rare Tribe Promo EP – 1997

Tribe rarities for your collection including a collab with Common, don’t sleep!

1. Glamour and Glitz 3:37
2. Same Ol’ Thing 4:20
3. If The Papes Come 4:12
4. Peace, Prosperity & Paper 3:51
5. The Remedy ft. Common 4:25

Download: A Tribe Called Quest - Hot Sex (UK CDS) – 1992

1. Hot Sex (Album Version)
2. Hot Sex (Instrumental)
3. Scenario (Young Nations Mix)
4. Everything Is Fair
5. Butter (U.K. Hip Hop Remix)

Since it’s A Tribe Called Quest Weekend here at HTT, I’m goin’ in. What better time to drop this post than now?

Tribe Vibes Volumes 1-3 is an epic vinyl collection compiled by Strictly Breaks for the true hip-hop head. Much respect due to T.R.O.Y., where I first spotted these enormous lists of samples spanning Tribe’s prolific discography. This is an absolutely essential download, so I re-upped my own links plus included the original post.

Check below for the track lists & download links. I can’t express how much I appreciate the good folks at T.R.O.Y. Strictly Breaks and Ivan for putting me on to these projects. Word on the street ‘net is there might be a Volume 4 coming soon. Stay tuned, Enjoy! 

Download: Tribe Vibes Volume 1 [Orginal Post]

Download: Tribe Vibes Volume 2 – Part I

Tribe Vibes Volume 2 – Part II

 [Original Post]

Download: Tribe Vibes Volume 3 – Part I 

Tribe Vibes Volume 3 – Part II

[Original Post]

Funky cut off Tribe’s 5th and final album The Love Movement before they broke up, unfortunately..

Download: A Tribe Called Quest – Like It Like That (VLS) – 1998

1. Like It Like That (Radio Version) 2:46
2. Like It Like That (Album Version) 2:46
3. Like It Like That (Instrumental) 2:46
4. Pad & Pen (Radio Version) ft. D-Life 3:23
5. Pad & Pen (Album Version) ft. D-Life 3:23
6. Pad & Pen (Instrumental) 3:23

Gotta be one of their smoothest beats, that Kool & the Gang sample is ill-na-na..

Download: A Tribe Called Quest – Oh My God (CDM) – 1994

1. Oh My God (Rap Version) ft. Busta Rhymes 3:29
2. Oh My God (Remix) 4:02
3. Oh My God (Know Naim Remix) ft. Know Naim 2:48
4. Lyrics To Go (LP Version) 4:09
5. Lyrics To Go (Remix) 3:50 ft. Tumblin’ Dice
6. One Two Shit ft. Busta Rhymes 4:31

Some fresh remixes to the classic song..

Did you know: Kid Hood was killed 3 days after recording his verse for the remix.

Download: A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario Remixes (VLS) – 1992

1. 05:20 Scenario (7 MC’s Mix) ft. Leaders of the New School & Kid Hood
2. 05:03 Scenario (Young Nation Mix) 
3. 05:18 Scenario (12″ Instrumental Remix) 
4. 05:01 Scenario (Young Nation Instrumental) 
5. 05:16 Scenario (Remix) 
6. 04:09 Scenario (LP Mix) 
7. 05:11 Scenario (Remix Instrumental) 
8. 04:10 Scenario (LP Instrumental)