Favorite Albums of the year (non hip-hop)

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.

Agartha Audio & Taiyamo Denku "Quadrofiendia"

I feel there is no need for me to say how much I enjoy when one MC and one producer work together and actually collaborate on an album, but I will anyway; I LOVE IT. When done correctly they are incredible pieces of art. I won't lie, when I first heard that Denku was doing an album produced entirely by Agartha Audio, I was little nervous. I wasn't sure how the two would sound together. I don't know why, but I was just uneasy about the pairing, would Denku be able to handle Agartha Audio's left field beats, would Dig Dug be able to create beats that allows Taiyamo Denku's lyricism to shine? I can tell you right now that I have NO IDEA why I was worried. I mean you take one part Agartha Audio aka Dig Dug, who if you do not know is one of my favorite producers out, and one part Taiyamo Denku, incredible lyricist and member of W.A.S.T.E.L.A.N.D.S., and sprinkle in some monster guest verses from a variety of top tier MCs and you get the beast that is Quadrofiendia and this album is a living, breathing, mind fucking, sonic creature. But you probably want a little more detail than that possibly disturbing image, so here it goes.

Right away your ears find out that this album is something different, a real mesh of the instrumentation of Agartha Audio and the lyrics of Denku as "Welcome to NeverLand" is a mixture interlude and song, depending on how you hear it, before Denku takes over. And really, that sort of idea continues throughout the album, it could work as a straight ahead boombap album if you change the producer, you know Denku could alter his flow to work beautifully and Dig Dug could let this breathe as an instrumental piece but together it is something extra special. This is very evident in the almost call and response between Denku and the beat on "Here Lies Lyricism."

Even what I usually see as a negative in such a tightly knitted sounding album, such as guest verses, works perfectly on this album. Whether it is Masai Bey and Atari Blitzkrieg obliterating the masterful beat (picture a Just Blaze track on acid) on "Predator" the perfect mix of Bey, L.I.F.E. Long, Teddy Faley and Denku (talk about four unique voices that know how to body a verse) on "Storm Drain," or when the legends Sadat X and Craig G close the album with "Road is Ruff." The guest verses are wonderfully done, you don't feel like you are being ripped off because Denku isn't on the songs enough or wish there were more guests.

Quadrofiendia is that rare collab album that lets each artist really explore what they love and put their stamp on it without one artist dominating the discussion (think Madvillainy, yes I know that may sound crazy to some of you, but the comparison is apt.) Each time you find something new and different to really enjoy about this album, sometimes you find yourself getting lost in the production, other times the lyrics are the stars, then eventually you will hear it all together and realize just what this album is, so put on your headphones, or turn your speakers up and let this monster really live.

You can stream and download the album here.

Megabusive "Study the Breaks"

While we wait on his next album, Megabusive graces us with a new track, "Study the Breaks" that he also produced. On "Study the Breaks" lets us know in under 2 minutes that he doesn't care what other rappers are doing or what the industry says is the "right way" to do things, he is going to do what he does on his terms, and "study the breaks." So check out the track and enjoy, hopefully the album will be coming soon, but as long as Megabusive keeps dropping quality tracks I can forgive him (sort of) for making us wait for the LP.

Black-Tokyo Musik "Above De-Skies EP"

I feel like every time Black-Tokyo releases a project, I say, "This is his best work yet." And this time is no different, in fact, I am damn sure Above De-Skies is his best project to date. The album is filled with his best tracks, including my personal favorites, the mind altering, vertigo inducing, "Gravity Boots" and "Lamination" with its off beat drums that some how find the magical place in an almost avant garde jazz instrumental. I really hope that Black-Tokyo holds off releasing a new project for a while, not because I don't love hearing his music, but I want to really enjoy and dissect this before the next one drops and I recommend you do the same. Put your headphones on, turn it up and prepare yourself for a feast of music, hopefully you will be ready when the next Tokyo creation is released.

You can stream and download the album here.

TeV95 "Crime Loops 3"

Not too long ago, I posted a video for TeV95's "Color Code Pistols" and stated that once it reached 2,000 views, he would drop Crime Loops 3. Well, shortly after I posted that (possibly even before) the video got the needed views and a few days later, TeV95 kept his word and unleashed his newest project on the world. The best part, Crime Loops 3 does not disappoint, in fact, it shines as it further investigates the concept of what are now stone age copyright laws. In a world where so much art (in all forms) is being created by altering previous works, artists have to decide whether it is more important to create what is in them and what they experience or make money. This leaves us with a world of starving artists and rich frauds, so it is time that we all examine what is truly art and what the laws should be. In the mean time sit back and take a journey through the world of Crime Loops 3 with your guide, TeV95.

You can stream and download the album here.

Random (aka Mega Ran) "Language Arts: Volume One"

Often people call themselves artists but are just trying to do the same thing that has been done many times before and not attempting to actually create something larger than themselves. Luckily, Random (aka Mega Ran) is not one of those people. Whether it is the creation of the alter ego Mega Ran, the incredible Black Materia or his latest endeavor Language Arts, Random keeps bringing original ideas to the music and makes sure to push his creative boundaries on each outing. Language Art: Volume One is the beginning of a multimedia journey that includes three EPs, a video game, and a comic. But, I am getting ahead of myself, first let us discuss Volume One, here it goes.

"Introduction" kicks off the album and acts as an, get this, introduction, to the lead character, Raheem Jarbo, or Mr. J "a language arts teacher in the roughest neighborhood in town" with "dreams of becoming a successful musician." Sound familiar? It almost has a movie feel (as it should considering the epicness of this endeavor.)

The first actual song, "City of Angels," features a very somber beat by EOM, where Random paints a picture his city as he looks out his window. Imagine, a black screen slowly fading into a man waking up and contemplating the struggle of his neighborhood "full of heroes and villains, good seeds, bad seeds, most of them is in-between." The images that really stick for me are when he is addressing the problems of teaching and reaching the children (his students) because of all the problems around (from drug dealers, jail, school system that often doesn't care, etc.)

As depressing as "City of Angels" feels, "Wake Up!" sounds that uplifting. But, the instrumentation masks the idea that both tracks are just as true and real. Now, Raheem Jarbo is faced with a trouble any teacher and rapper faces (really any rapper who also has a 9-5, which is most), balancing between your job and your career. Random's first verse features one of my favorite lines of the album (warning, Nerd Alert coming up), "my lady thinking I don't show her respect, but she don't know, I have games I haven't opened up yet, now that's love." MC Frontlot makes an appearance on the next verse, almost sounding like Jarbo's inner thoughts "you wanted to be a rapper, now you got what you were after, wouldn't rather, well you know you have to, grab the mic and make noises into it, you and the beat get intimate."

The character of Jarbo really starts to become clearer and take center stage on "Language Arts (1st Day of School)" when he uses a song to introduce himself and basically present his syllabus to his students.

First off, I'm Mr. J, I've been teaching five years and in my spare time I hold a nice career, I make music, but not just anytime, I'm a poet who combines dope rhythm with rhyme, and in most circles that would make me a rapper, but I don't call myself that, not what I'm after, so don't ask for my super dope ride, because I'm pushing that black Kia right there outside.

As Random often does, he is great at creating the picture of the moment and making you feel like you are right there as a student in the class.

By far my favorite song off the album is "Buggin' (The Metamorphosis.)" While yes it does have a very cool beat (and transforms beautifully on the chorus) and Random does what he does on the mic, what blows me away about the track is that it is Kafka's masterpiece in just over 3 minutes. So yea, it is probably my literary nerd that makes this so incredible. But it also works perfectly for the story, because it is Mr. J teaching to his students. I could ramble about this track for a LONG time, but it would be more a dissection of the track compared to Kafka's and no one wants to read that.

Ariano and Punchline each make appearances on "The Constant" an ode to all things hip hop (good and bad) while reminiscing about way back when. The chorus does such a great job of summing up the feelings of so many hip hop heads "Every day I rise, hip hop's on my mind, because its my constant."

Every time I hear the beginning of "KillCount" it sends a jolt through me because of the sounds of video games gun shots and car crashes. A student addicted to the latest ultra real game, that mirrors the city and area they are in. It does a great job of subtly making you feel uncomfortable about enjoying similar games and makes you question why we want to play ourself in a world that so many people try so hard to get out of everyday.

The student from "KillCount" kicks off "Classroom Blues," itching to cut class and go back to the game, Dr. Awkward plays another student wanting to leave as well. After the chorus, Mr. J speaks to the class only to find out about Joshua and Kareem (the two students) cutting class. Then things get very interesting for the star of the trilogy, as he is warned he may be fired if his students don't improve. The album ends with "Volume One Ending" which acts as a teaser for Volume Two.

It is tough to really get an idea of the breadth of this project by just listening to this album, because it isn't just a single album...no it is three albums, plus a video game (which has a soundtrack) and a comic. But, even if this was a standalone piece it would be spectacular (minus the cliffhanger ending.) Random once again shows that he knows how to craft an album (or at least the beginning of this trilogy) and if he keeps it up with the next two volumes, the musical side of this alone is going to be something extra special.

You can stream and download the album here.

TeV95 "Color Coded Pistols" (Video)

Producer extraordinaire, TeV95 is holding out on releasing his latest instrumental project Crime Loops 3 until the video for the first single "Color Coded Pistols" reaches 2,000 views (about half way there right now.) I selfishly feel the need to share this video with you as a fan of his previous solo work (you can check out Crime Loops 1 & 2, plus Loop Language at his bandcamp page) not to mention his work with Shottie and Admiral Grey to name a few. Take a look at the video, which really is a wonderful piece of art, and check out the credits to, because this is one of those beautiful videos, that should get some recognition (and the music is top notch of course.)