Top 10 Albums Of The Year MOTHERFUCKERS, (with YSIs) Options

[C-OBO]

I am bored, and seeing as how it's still too early for dinner and I've pretty much had this laid out for a few weeks now, I figured rambling about music would pass the time nicely. I'm sure I'll come across ten thousand albums I'd put on here in a second the instant I post this (I mean that Brakes album is still staring me in the face), but fuck it; god forbid I should ever get something wrong on the Internet.

As always, fix the YSI links in order to download.

10. The Guillemots, I Saw Such Things In My Sleep EP

hXXp://s21.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0O934BQN3GTDB0QMIBUBBIATBE - "Who Left The Lights Off, Baby?"

God, these guys are about to be so huge (two releases in a row completely sold out of the shops on pre-order!) and they completely deserve it. I actually liked the Decembrists' album just fine, but the Arcade Fire kinda ruined me on "jaunty" indie-pop for a good long while last year; instead I settled on this EP which goes for "breezy" instead and nails it to within five decimal places. It does kind of peak with "Who Left The Lights Off, Baby", the first song on the album and easily one of my favorite songs of the year (not to mention an instantaneous mixtape staple), but the rest of the album's no slouch - it's probably the strongest EP I've heard since TV on the Radio's, which is saying more than the two or three years since that EP's release might indicate.

9. Pendulum, Hold Your Colour

hXXp://s36.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=01BMXSV9JUX2T0N7ULA2G4RKI1 - "Tarantula" (feat Fresh, $pyda, & Tenor Fly)

I am sincierely not a drum 'n bass person, but this album is just an unstoppable monster. I really give a thousand internet smoochez to whoever described this as the d'n'b equivalent of stadium rock, because they really did get it bang-on-the-money; all the songs are epic in scale, but not so wrapped up in their own brilliance that You The Listener have to buy in on the ground floor. The obvious single is still "Tarantula" due to possibly having this year's version THE GREATEST CHORUS EVER*, but I haven't found a weak track anywhere on this album yet, and I've been looking for like five months now.

*I apologize to the board's Brits for picking this one; hopefully Zane Lowe hasn't played it QUITE out just yet. Seriously though, every track on here's a killer, so go track the fucking thing down already.

8. Akron/Family & Angels of Light, s/t split

hXXp://s20.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2IWCU8A8637PJ1KTY7WPILK848 - "Moment"

Man, picking the track to YSI from this one was a bitch; I didn't want to post the obvious best single ("Raising The Sparks") since I'd already had it on ye olde blog pretty recently, and besides, the album is by far the least consistent on this list in terms of what the songs sound like. It is, admittedly, one of those lots-of-bearded-guys-who-went-to-college-yelling-a-lot records; it is also a really great, REALLY dynamic record that never once forced me to deal with it being SO FUCKING INDIE!!111!!!!11!!, which is all I can ask of an indie rock album in the post-Funeral age. I ended up going with "Moment" since it probably sums that ethos up best on the album (plus it has an incredibly pretty part towards the end); if it's too experimental for you, please try the album anyway, since the rest of it's a LOT more song-oriented (hell, there's even a cover of Dylan's "I Pity The Poor Immigrant" on there).

7. New Order, Waiting For The Siren's Call

hXXp://s16.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=35RJPHP3WB3RY2TT1ZJX4M14JT - "Guilt Is A Useless Emotion"

I am a well-avowed sucker for a good production job; it is why I didn't get into Belle & Sebastian until Trevor Horn sat down behind the boards, and it's probably why I didn't think too much about New Order outside of a couple of singles (and not as many as you'd think) until I read that they were working with Jacques motherfucking Lu Cont (the guy who produced that Madonna album that came out last month and has everyone admitting how guilty a pleasure it is for them) on their new one. Needless to say it is the only NO album I own now, although I still say it's a really good album on its own merits even if it's not twelve straight "Blue Mondays". "Guilt" is probably the most dance-oriented track on the album (and definitely the most obviously influenced by JLC - that spiraling-to-infinity breakdown shows up again and again in his remixes), but I still think it does a damn good job of representing the album, which is more about flawless pop music (seriously, I'd take the guitar pop numbers on here a thousand times over Bloc Party, who I actually do like more than I probably let on) than anything that you might hope would come from A New New Order Album, which is probably why I love the shit out of it and all the hardcore NO fans seem kind of disappointed. And I also want to point out the cover, which I inexplicably love.

6. Kanye West, "Late Registration"

hXXp://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2ZK4JXFQ0NJNU0OIMQYL5BLPK9 - "Heard 'Em Say" (live @ Abbey Road with a full orchestra and [I think] John Legend)

I would say at this point, I only really give a shit about maybe half of this album; everything that happens in between Paul Wall signing off on "Drive Slow" and Shirley Bassey floating in on "Diamonds Are Forever" is more or less unessential. I would also say that this is going to be one of those albums that's going to crack under the pressure history's going to be putting on it - regardless of what you or I think about it, it's clearly going to be one of those albums that'll be promoted as Important until the cows come home in spite of the fact that the big attraction here is CLEARLY the music. I mean, if you want to hear the Kanye persona evolving, you're probably best off sticking to the mixtape stuff or College Dropout; Registration is basically just the Windows 98 to Dropout's '95 - in other words, nothing to go line up outside of Best Buy over.

But the arrangements are flat-out unfuckwithable, and all the credit for that can't exactly go to Jon Brion when all the album's strongest points were there (in less refined form, maybe) on College Dropout anyway. And the stretch that runs from "Diamonds" to the end of the album would have to be considered UTTERLY classic regardless of whether or not it came out of Kanye, Crown Prince Of The Media's Relationship To Hip-Hop or MC Backpackery McBackpackerson. So yeah.

5. Kelley Polar, Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens

hXXp://s9.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=20KO15NEDNLD70IWHNL6DVZ3LU - "Ashamed Of Myself"

God dammit do I ever love this album. It sucks that nobody's going to buy it until someone licenses it for use in a car commercial, but oh well; I seem to be getting the kind of vibes for this album that I absolutely did not get even a little bit from the Junior Boys last year. It's like someone was listening to Off The Wall one day and came to the thunderous realization that that album sounded like their life, and then set out to make another album like it with only the help of a computer and incredibly hip uberproducer Morgan Geist. Oh, and a cello. Can't forget that cello.

4. Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock & Roll

hXXp://s14.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=16Q7RGH2JN0751L35XK4ZYYSH0 - "Emily Kane"

Every so often, a band comes along and articulates something in your head so perfectly that the fact that that impulse isn't necessarily a part of everyone's character doesn't make the band any less truly, unquestionably great in any way. That would be Art Brut for me; we may be living in a golden age of bands nailing "meaning it" to the wall for God and everyone to see, but outside of LCD Soundsystem, Art Brut just flat out > everyone. "Emily Kane", in addition to being one of the very and I mean VERY best songs of the year, is probably the least caustic song on the record (which features no less than three separate and equally entertaining songs about sexual dysfunction), and even then it's all wrapped up in a weird, self-aware take on self-consciousness (lead singer Eddie Argos has said in interviews that he hoped this song would lead to him and Emily reconnecting), like one of those Buzzcocks songs where it's perfectly obvious to everyone involved that they're making an incredible pop confection in spite of the fact that they're trying to get at something Raw and Real and Genuine and above all Not Stupid. I seriously doubt that Art Brut are ever going to top this album - it's rare enough that you get a single's worth of awareness this acute, let alone an album's worth.

3. Vashti Bunyan, Lookaftering

hXXp://s34.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2N60YW81KOEP41NF2EOFE6J15F - "Here Before"

This album is just so pretty it hurts. I probably wouldn't have taken to it so ferociously if I'd heard it back before the Christmas season started, but since I didn't, I've just been a complete victim for the way this album sounds; it's unapologetically sentimental, but in a way that makes it sound like the kind of sentimentality that people don't normally see any need to run up the flagpole so that everyone can bask in its glory. It's almost church-y, really - music coming from a tangible desire to honor something or other. Oh, and it's also possibly the best album out there as yet unruined by Wes Anderson and his Ever So Quirky Soundtracking Techniques.

2. Rachel Stevens, Come And Get It

hXXp://s19.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1M6FXF7W5J6CI3P1CWPEA53RM8 - "Every Little Thing"

Ten years ago, I would have been furiously and ineffectively punching at my current self for loving this album this much seeing as how it's basically the UK's version of the best Kelly Rowland album possible; fortunately I'm not fourteen anymore and can appreciate this for what it is, namely the best radio-pop album I've come across since motherfucking Thriller. This was, barring a monstrous Mariah Carey-esque comeback song, Rachel Stevens' last chance to be a pop superstar; as such this album is packed ship to stern with the best producers and songs money can buy, and sadly I am nothing but a quivering idiot in the face of their Christlike perfection. It is also, and I cannot stress this enough, an INCREDIBLY daring album by radio pop standards; I suppose it's possible that I'm just reading too much into her decision to sample the Cure (!) on "All About Me" or to channel Adam & the Ants on the motherfucking unSTOPpable"I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)", but I'm pretty sure I don't run across artists who genuinely seem to enjoy understanding the past as much as Ms. Stevens. I'm posting "Every Little Thing", inexplicably relegated to the dreaded status of "UK Bonus Track" on the album when it's better than %99 of the singles I heard on the radio this year, because I think it sums the album up best by the way it sounds; just listen to how much of an effort everyone involved is putting into making a New Country song on the computer, and then listen to how much goofy shit they're able to get away with because of it.

Yeah, I like this album a lot. I will leave it up to you to discover the endless pleasures of the two Richard X songs (one of which, "Some Girls", is the best song I heard all year). And OH GOD THE COVER OF THAT ALEXIS STRUM SONG TOO. This album's just an embarassment of riches, assuming you enjoy being embarassed.

1. Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom, The Days of Mars

hXXp://s29.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2CWZ80TXR8D9G398C2X03FBQ6E - "Black Spring"

Five months later and I still have no idea how to sell people on this album of beatless instrumental electronic Kraut-ambient except to say that it is still hands-down the best thing I've heard this year. If you don't like movies like Koyaanisqatsi and such, this isn't really the album for you; it consists of four songs which gradually go in and out of phase over the course of twelve-plus minutes, and that's about it. I'm really not sure what to say about it since I can't for the life of me imagine any sort of standardized audience for it; I know that I enjoy having it on since it's proven to be just as rewarding to pay close, meticulous attention to it as it is to just have it on in the background. I know it works really well early in the morning, especially if you like easing into your mornings with a nice dose of "Autobahn" or Music For Airports; I also know it works just as well driving home late at night stoned as fuck. And I know it came out on DFA, and that I always enjoy working through anything they ever put out just to see what's going on with them. I also know it's pretentious as fuck and that I'd never hold it against someone for thinking it was boring, shitty music for guys who wear turtlenecks and smoke scented tobacco out of pipes. I have no defense against this; I am, after all, someone with multiple Phillip Glass CDs on his iPod. All I know is that this has been my album of the year, and not in a "HEY LOOK HOW RIGHT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN" way either, since the instant that I figured it out, and nothing else has frankly even come close. And I really like that Rachel Stevens album.

And now I will go intoxicate myself with vigor and pride.

[Andrew POE!]

Here's mine, no YSI links.

1) Kanye West - Late Registration

Yes, yes, I know....it's Kanye West. But damn, was this a consistent album. I need to listen to more albums that are possibly better (Sufjan, New Pornographers, etc.) however, but I don't have enough time. Still, it's hard to not like this album and most of the songs from it. "Gold Digger," "Hey Mama," "Celebration," "Addiction," "Drive Slow..."

2) Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy

Awesome, underrated album beginning with a cover of Tim Hardin's "Black Sheep Boy."

3) The Dirty Projectors - The Getty Address

Imagine Ornette Coleman's Skies of America being done by Philip Glass and you have this album.

4) Gang Gang Dance - God's Money

Tribal, percussive album that tests the listener. The sound of staring into the abyss and seeing it stare back.


5) Caribou - The Milk Of Human Kindness

Proggy fun.....very consistent.

6) Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning

Awesome album....I listened to this for months in the early part of the year. Better than the Digital Ash album.

7) LCD Soundsystem - S/T

Yes, yes, it's derivative. And you can name every artist he sounds like. But damn is it fun.

8) M.I.A. - Arular

Ignore the vocals and consider it another instrument and you'll probably love this album.

9) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

Very consistent album save for a few missteps. If it were trimmed down to 10 - 12 tracks, it would be the most perfect album of 2005.

10) Animal Collective - Feels

I'm partially overrating this album a bit because of my love for Animal Collective, but I really liked this album.

The rest of my list:
11) Crooked Fingers - Dignity & Shame
12) Fantomas - Suspended Animation
13) Ash - Meltdown
14) M. Ward - Transistor Radio
15) Jamie Lidell - Multiply
16) A Silver Mt. Zion - Horses In The Sky
17) Final Fantasy - Has A Good Home
18) Archer Prewitt - Wilderness
19) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - S/T
20) Mercury Rev - Secret Migration

21) Deadly Snakes - Porcella
22) Petra Haden - Sings The Who Sell Out
23) Hood - Outside Closer
24) Common - Be
25) Oasis - Don't Believe The Truth
26) Gorillaz - Demon Days
27) M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us
28) Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
29) Neil Diamond - 12 Songs
30) The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree

31) Low - The Great Destroyer
32) And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Worlds Apart
33) The Raveonettes - Pretty In Black
34) Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeney - Superwolf
35) Maxmilian Hecker - Lady Sleep
36) Pajo - S/T
37) Young Jeezy - Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101
38) Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman's Woman
39) Lemon Jelly - '64 - '95

40) Beequeen - The Bodyshop
41) Jeff Hanson - S/T
42) Magnolia Electric Co. - What Comes After The Blues
43) Sam Prekop - Who's Your New Professor?
44) Iron & Wine/Calexico - In The Reins EP
45) Konono No. 1 - Congotronics
46) Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
47) Louis XIV - All The Best Secrets Are Kept
48) Field Music - S/T
49) Magnolia Electric Co. - Trials & Errors
50) Mars Volta - Frances The Mule

[Zubaz/GreggG]

The only three things I'm familiar with on this album are the new New Order and Kanye and Art Brut, which is solely thanks to you.

The Art Brut album, I echo everything you said about them.

Listening to Emily Kane and then the other songs by Art Brut reminded me of the first time I heard Weezer, Less Than Jake, Weston or Ash. And I know most of those bands are considered lightweights (aside from Pinkerton by Weezer or anything by The Pixies or 1977 by Ash) so that might not be a great endorsement.

But what I meant by it was this: between the ages of 16 and 24, it was incredibly easy for me to fall in love with a song or a girl. I still remember how Becca looked like when I kissed her at Verona Park and I still remember the first time I heard My Name Is Jonas while I was playing Road Rash on Sega with my brother. Or how Less Than Jake played my friends 4th of July picnic (about a year or two before they got big, before they made their first album) and how it was the last time we were all together before we left for college and then on the first night in college I met Natalia and spent the next year trying to show impress her with how cool I was (not very) in an attempt to win her heart from the indie rock drummer. Or how I was at my umpteenth Weston show at a roller rink in Wayne and met Adrienne and I'd go out on a memorable awful date with her. Or the first time I heard "Girl From Mars" and how Missy looked at me the first time we kissed.

I'm older and in a different emotional state right now and I listen to Van Morrison and Big Star (thanks Dean!) more than anything current. But "Emily Kane" by Art Brut made me feel like I was 19-years-old again, where all I wanted from music was for me to play a song for a girl and have her fall in love with me.

[futureproof]

My number one pick is the self-titled album by Serena Maneesh. One of the best albums ever in my opinion. It's like a combination of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine.

Other top notch albums include Boards of Canada's "The Campfire Headphase" M.I.A.'s "Arular", Sleater-Kinney's "The Woods" Lau Nau's "Kuutarha " and Sigur Ros "Takk".

I think that's it...

[robconway>...]

My number one pick of the year definitely goes to Nevermore's "This Godless Endeavor. Perfect album I cant find a thing wrong with it, awesome riffs, great vocals, and a near perfect production job.

Between The Buried And Me's "Alaska" is quite impressive. Ive always been a fan of there's, but this new album is breathtaking and there one of my favorites bands ever now.

Novembers Doom "The Pale Haunt Departure" Fantastic doom album with more clean vocals then ever before to go along with the growls. Great album with haunting songs that stick in your mind.

God Forbid "IV: Constitution of Treason" Hands down the best of the metalcore crop. Great thrashing riffs, huge breakdowns and gut wrenching screams. The guitarist's really stepped up the clean vocals and have some very memorable hooks to go along with the heavyness.

Every Time I Die "Gutter Phenomenon" Great mix of rock and roll and hardcore, best of all its just a fun album to drink a beer too.

Bolt Thrower "Those Once Loyal" There back with more war-themed death metal anthems. Nothing really different from what they usually do but its a great album for fans of bolt thrower.

Jello Biafra With The Melvins "Sieg Howdy!" JELLO BIAFRA WITH THE MELVINS nuff said! Buy this now.

AKERCOCKE "Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds that Go Undone" Ah yet another brilliant amazing release from these Brits, These sick motherfuckers have handed me my ass on a platter many a time, Never failing me. Solid musicianship! dark,intelligent,technical ,with a blackend sickness equalled with slaying death passages and progessive prowess and the imagery is darkly ellegant and sophisticated.

1349 "Hellfire" twisted riffs and machine-gun drumming courtesy of Satyricon's Frost, abrasive and ripping vocals, this album delivered one of the best black metal releases of 2005.

Exodus "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" Wow 3/4's of the band leave, then Gary Holt just laughs it off and releases a heavy as hell thrash album that puts most other thrash bands to shame. The new vocalist is just as good if not better then Souza, Paul Bostaph of Slayer and Testament fame handles the drum dutys well. I didnt think they could top tempo of the damned, especially after losing most of the bands members, but all is well this album just crushes.

[Seej]

These aren't really in any particular order. Close, though.

1-Chaos And Creation In The Backyard-Paul McCartney
2-Man Made-Teenage Fanclub
3-Plans-Death Cab For Cutie
4-Excerpts From The Diary Of Todd Zilla-Grandaddy
5-Songs For Silverman-Ben Folds
6-12 Songs-Neil Diamond
7-X & Y-Coldplay
8-In Your Honor-Foo Fighters
9-The Weight Is a Gift-Nada Surf
10-How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb-U2

[L.A. Par-K Owns ...]

Is it a bad thing that I seriously can't even think of five albums that came out this year that I felt strongly enough about to even illegally download, much less actually buy, and that none of those were really all that good?

I think the beginning of the 21st century marked the point when virtually no music I enjoyed would ever be produced again.

[DeadAndRestless]

I won't even acknowledge a top 10 without the new Lightning Bolt.

[gregjr]

i don't think i've purchased enough albums that came out this year to make a top ten list but i can tell you that the Magic Numbers S/T album would be #1 on that list--so good

[Interruptor Jone...]

The only albums I really loved this year were "The Woods", and the new K-Os.

[benj]

Here's my Hip-Hop list for anyone who cares:

1. CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange
(My bad, it's a 2006 release, i dl'ed it, but I liked it that much.)
2. Blackalicious - The Craft
3. Lyrics Born - Same Shit Different Day
4. O.C. - Starchild
5. Chino XL - Poison Pen Mixtape
6. One Be Lo - S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
7. Murs & Slug - Felt 2(Tribute to Lisa Bonet)
8. Blueprint - 1988
9. Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
10. Opio - Triangulation Station

[Throat]

I'm only doing five, 'cause that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

1. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
2. The Residents - Animal Lover
3. Petra Haden - Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out
4. Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die
5. Ladytron - Witching Hour

The Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds b-side collection would rank high, but most of it was old to me, so it's hard to consider it a new album.

[Zounds'Sblood]

Here's my Hip-Hop list for anyone who cares:

1. CunninLynguists - A Piece of Strange
(My bad, it's a 2006 release, i dl'ed it, but I liked it that much.)
2. Blackalicious - The Craft
3. Lyrics Born - Same Shit Different Day
4. O.C. - Starchild
5. Chino XL - Poison Pen Mixtape
6. One Be Lo - S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
7. Murs & Slug - Felt 2(Tribute to Lisa Bonet)
8. Blueprint - 1988
9. Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
10. Opio - Triangulation Station

Good List, but I'd make one change
1-Cage- Hell's Winter

[Just Ed]

Here's my Hip-Hop list for anyone who cares:

7. Murs & Slug - Felt 2(Tribute to Lisa Bonet)

Fuck yeah. So much better than Felt 1, which I really wanted to like but just couldn't. All the old soul production on this.....so very, very cool.

[benj]

Good List, but I'd make one change
1-Cage- Hell's Winter

Oh yeah, i forgot about that, you can throw that on there and take off the Cunninlynguists album cuz that really ain't coming out till next year.

[Stuttsy]

Is it a bad thing that I seriously can't even think of five albums that came out this year that I felt strongly enough about to even illegally download, much less actually buy, and that none of those were really all that good?

I shall use my first post ever in the music forum to say that I agree with that. I am shocked (and envious) of you guys who can list 20+ albums this year you liked.

[caley]

My list is delayed as I'm having a hard time ranking my Top 20. One day it will be one way, the next completely different.

Cobo, I'm embarassed to say I've heard of 4 of your Top Ten (R.Stevens who is in my Top Ten, possibly Top 5; K.West, who's in the Top 10, I think; Art Brut, whom I never really got into, and New Order who's on the lsit somewhere.

But, I'm checking out the YSIs and am really disappointed I never caught your #1 as it's completely destroying me right now. What a spectacular song.

I am shocked (and envious) of you guys who can list 20+ albums this year you liked.

Get ready for the Caley100. The 100 Best Albums I heard this year (not counting EPs which almost number 20 on their own). I'd expect installment #1, either tomorrow, or Monday.

[krappyman]

My hip-hop list:

1. Edan - Beauty And The Beat
2. Ohmega Watts - The Find
3. Blueprint - 1988
4. Cage - Hell's Winter
5. Gza & Muggs - Grandmasters
6. Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust
7. Murs & Slug - Felt 2
8. Opio - Triangulation Station
9. DangerDoom - The Mouse And The Mask
10. Lyrics Born - Same Shit, Different Day

Still waiting for American Hunger but it'll probably drop in '06.

[New Talking Wall]

You guys did know Three-6 had a new album, right?

Aside from that, the only other albums that came out this year I bought were the new Blackaliscious, which I never listen to, and that Wu-Tang meets indie culture thing, which I'm not sure where I placed. Thank God for Three-6 Mafia.


Throwrag also had an album out over the summer, but I never picked it up. It has Lemmy on a track, so I imagine it's alright.

[Kingm0b]

You guys did know Three-6 had a new album, right?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA oh my. Context clues would indicate Three 6 probably won't end up on most of those lists. I had to think hard to come up with 10.

THE TEN, MOTHERFUCKERS:

1) Little Brother - THE MINSTREL SHOW
2) Common - BE
3) Bun B - TRILL
4) Edan - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
5) Three 6 Mafia - MOST KNOWN UNKNOWN
6) Kanye West - LATE REGISTRATION
7) Geto Boys - FOUNDATION
8) DJ Mark Marcelo - THE IG'NANT MIX
9) Mike Jones - WHO IS MIKE JONES? (I only include this because I bought the double CD. The screwed/chopped version is the only one I listen to anymore.)
10) Afu-Ra - STATE OF THE ARTS

TRILL wasn't as good as that KING OF THE TRILL mixtape, but that's a hard act to follow.

I paid money for Jeezy's album, but kinda wish I'd copped it off the net.


STUFF I STILL NEED TO CHECK OUT:

Gza/Muggs - GRANDMASTERS
Talib Kweli - RIGHT ABOUT NOW (wtf, didn't know he dropped another album until I just saw it)
Ghostface/Trife - 718: STAPLETON TO SOMALIA
Sadat X - EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION
Ras Kass - INSTITUTIONALIZED
David Banner - CERTIFIED
J-Live - THE HEARAFTER
Royce da 5'9" - INDEPENDENTS DAY (even though I have a feeling it'll be disappointing)
Akwid & Jae-P - KICKIN IT... JUNTOS
Busdriver - FEAR OF A BLACK TANGENT
MF Doom/Danger Mouse - DANGERDOOM
Sean Price - MONKEY BARS (I've heard a couple tracks off this, it's pretty solid)
Clinton Sparks - MAYBE YOU BEEN BRAINWASHED
OC - STARCHILD