It is that time of the year when all of us who think we know music decide to shove our favorite albums down the throat of the general public. Well, I decided that I should make a rare appearance and do the same thing. First shall be my top albums that are not hip-hop (because that gets it's own list.) Now I will not say this is anywhere near a definitive list of the greatest music this year. While I have heard a good chunk of albums, there is a lot that I simply have not had the pleasure of listening to, so yes feel free to tell me that I missed, so and so's album and I will be glad to tell you why I didn't make the list, either because I didn't like it as much as the others or I didn't hear it. But enough of that. This year was a pretty good year for albums for a rather wide variety of music, and artists. But you don't want to hear my ramble you want to read my list and tell me how much you disagree, because that is the fun of lists.
Let me start with the honorable mentions:
Todd Clouser's A Love Electric "Entre: Selections in Garage Jazz"
Great funky, guitar driven jazz. No standards here, just a selection of some of the groups best work to date.
Leonard Cohen "Old Ladies"
What can I say about Leonard Cohen that hasn't already been said, the guy is a genius and a true original. "Old Ladies" does not disappoint at all, you get what you expect from the poet, singer, songwriter, etc.
Hawthorne Headhunters "Myriad of Now"
Coultrain and Black Spade come together to give you one hell of a soulful album, that pushes genre boundaries and some how they continue to get overlooked.
David Byrne & Saint Vincent "Love This Giant"
David Byrne is awesome...End of story.
Robert Glasper Experiment "Black Radio"
This album almost cracked the top 10, it has a great mix of jazz, hip hop, r&b, just everything. It has the mix of music that a radio station should have, and comes together pretty well as a full album concept too.
Now onto the top 10
10. Wadada Leo Smith "Ten Freedom Summers"
This album is something truly special. 4 CDs worth of near genius level music by Wadada Leo Smith, covering the Civil Rights movement in America. It has everything you could ask for in statement album. The ONLY downside (which is part of what makes it amazing at the same time) is the length of the project. But it is a must experience for any music lover.
9. Norah Jones "Little Broken Hearts"
There was a time when I debated who was better Alicia Keys or Norah Jones, and it went back and forth for a while, but while Alicia Keys has abandoned what made her, her, Norah Jones is continuing to create her own little niche in the pop world, never afraid to try something a little unusual. A beautiful album that just makes you want to sit back and enjoy it.
8. Computer Jay "Savage Planet Discoteque Vol. 1"
A am a huge fan of Computer Jay and often struggle as to what genre he fits into and I realize that is because he doesn't fit into one. He makes music that some how is both so soulful and robotic and funk-filled and what not. This album does have a major flaw...it is an EP. Yea, not really a flaw at all. Great futuristic modern music.
7. Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra "Theatre is Evil"
If Robert Smith, Depeche Mode, and Freddie Mercury had a bastard love child, it would sound like this album. It gets under your skin and makes you love it and then the songs borough into your head and they will not leave.
6. Fela Kuti "Live in Detroit 1986"
Yes, the concert is from 1986, but it has never been released and arrived this year. And it is Fela Kuti...do I have to say more? Some of the most alive music you will ever hear and you will wonder how a 30 minute track can seem so short.
5. Steve Lehmen Trio "Dialect Fluorescent"
Steve Lehmen on the sax is masterful. This album takes you places, and you just want everything else to disappear so you can sink into it.
4. Jimmy Cliff "Rebirth"
I cannot claim to be an authority on reggae, and especially not anything that has been released recently, but have always enjoyed the style and when I stumbled across this album I was blown away. The reggae legend (I don't think that is a stretch) sounds as good as he ever has and I dare you to listen to this album and sit still.
3. Willie Nelson "Heroes"
Anyone who knowns my musical taste, knows I have a soft spot for the original outlaw country artists, especially Willie Nelson. He is one of the best song writers to ever walk this earth and a technician on the guitar. "Heroes" shows Willie in top form, both on ballads and his more upbeat tracks. I got lost in this album many times.
2. Vijay Iyer Trio "Accelerando"
You will be hard pressed to find any jazz artist putting out the quality of music that Vijay Iyer has put out in the last few years and it just seems he gets better with each album (well...his albums with Mike Ladd are still my favorite.) In a time when it seems so many jazz artists are unwilling to take risks, Iyer is constantly pushing himself and others around him to create something new and memorable and that is exactly what he does here.
1. Jack White "Blunderbuss"
When I heard the White Stripes were done making music, I was severely disappointed. Yes, his other groups are ok, but they really aren't his ideas, they are more collaborative efforts, and really he isn't the lead in any. But then "Blunderbuss" arrived and let him go where he couldn't always go on the White Stripes. This is blues, rock, maybe even some pop (depending on your definition) but it is great. I never tire of this album, from start to finish it has me and will routinely repeat it wanting more.
So there you go, my favorite albums of the year, yes I didn't do a great job explaining all of them but just wanted to get the ideas out there. Curious to see what you guys think, hope it was somewhat enjoyable and let the arguments begin.
