See what my thoughts on last year's albums were! Full list, with blurbs, after the jump.
10. The Knife- Shaking the Habitual
It's weird. There are songs ranging from funky romps to ambient background tracks. The cover is delightfully indicative of the oddities to come. Yet with all that being said, The Knife embrace their weird beautifully, and at some point along the way of this album you figure out that this is a different brand of cool instead of being an off-putting soundtrack to hysteria.
Why It Isn't Higher:
The "real" songs on this album are too scarce. Ambient songs fit this record pretty damn well, but about a third through the album you forget about the great opening track as Shaking the Habitual becomes a back-burner record.
9. Rhye- Woman
Rhye's soundtrack to sensuality is well balanced; it has its fun romps but has two-thirds songs that are straight up sexy, making it a musical fogged-window view into a passionate night. Rhye nail their point with almost androgynous vocals and simple, sensual rhythms, the production of their two sole members. Woman is a very consistent album, which makes it easy to bounce from track to track, sometimes leading to a lost memory of ever having done so.
Why It Isn't Higher:
Consistency can often be viewed as static or even boring, which is the biggest fault of Woman. It delivers extremely well on its overall feel, but makes just as good an album to sleep to as to have extracurricular activities to, feeling a little too relaxed and slowed at times.
8. Run the Jewels- Run the Jewels
Killer Mike & El-P should remain a duo, or at very least do another album as such. Run the Jewels is indicative of the gangster rap of the 90's with modern beat conventions. This album is hard, and that shouldn't be overlooked. There are many absolutely insane lyrics on this record, and almost every song seems to have a distinct difference to the last. Sometimes glitch hop, sometimes straight up rap, sometimes a beautiful fusion of both, Run the Jewels is a record with a massive amount of potential for future projects, but is still an excellent stand alone piece.
Why It Isn't Higher:
Because the album is rather short (10 songs), a couple songs that were ultimately weak when compared to other tracks on Run the Jewels simply are more prevalent than they would be on a 15-16 song album. The self-titled record would've been higher with more songs like "Job Well Done" (could've been the introductory track, has a great start) and less like "A Christmas F***ing Miracle."
7. Justin Timberlake- The 20/20 Experience -2 of 2
"The epitome of smooth." This is a great way to describe both 20/20 2 and its artist, with Timberlake creating a fun romp well laced with soulful R&B roots. Arguably at the height of his career thus far, JT seems to be doing everything right. Timberland has produced yet another great Timberlake album, with perhaps the best sound of all. There is a 5 song ride of fun and funk, from Cabaret to Drink You Away, that is perhaps the best stretch of songs on any album of 2013. This record is an homage to soul with a modern twist, all conducted by one of the smoothest men on the planet.
Why It Isn't Higher:
Although a great marketing strategy, the splitting of 20/20 into two parts hurts it musically. Instead of maybe one of the best R&B records of all time with 15-17 killer songs, the 24 song double feature has its share of what feel like filler songs, with this record being the beneficiary of more excellent content. If the latter half of this second part showed the incredible funk of the former, this would be much higher on the list.
6. Daft Punk- Random Access Memories
It is very telling of the incredible discography of an artist like Daft Punk that arguably their weakest studio album is still consistent among "best of" lists. Punk had such a library of incredible records that this conundrum was almost predictable, but that's not to say this album by itself isn't a strong one: the album is incredibly funky. Almost a reinvention of themselves, Daft Punk has always had a great funk sound to them, but this album has less electronic elements, which makes it much more easily accessible to the masses, as witnessed by the overwhelming reception of "Get Lucky."
Why It Isn't Higher:
Personally, I may have actually been overexcited for this album, which may be why it's where it is on this list. That being said, my main problem with the album is that it has such a specific sound some of the tracks tend to blend in memory as they sound so similar to one another, creating a lack of distinction.
5. Childish Gambino- Because the Internet
In one of the strongest years in recent hip hop history, Gambino's sophomore album stands out on merit, as he has crafted one of the best all-around rap records of the year. Standout beats really help push BtI along, and Gambino's very unique style is typically befitting of said beats. There are many absolutely awesome tracks on the record, as it is overall a strong 20 song tracklist. What makes this record so special is the forward-thinking sound that Gambino has patented, fusing modern electronics with a freakish talent for word play.
Why It Isn't Higher:
I'm not a big fan of rappers singing, and Gambino has always spread this out sparingly enough as not to irritate me, but is nevertheless a point of concern. "Urn" for example, doesn't have nearly the same appeal to me as "Sweatpants" does for an artist as talented a rapper as Glover.
4. Danny Brown- Old
This record was the biggest surprise of the year for me. Danny Brown was someone I, at the end of 2012, would've said had too niche a sound to have a truly great album. I was wrong. He has somehow put his odd voice, rap style and overall demeanor to use about as well as he could have. The thing that makes this record so appealing is Brown's style makes every song seem that only he could have pulled off. "Dip" is for me the highlight of the album, and a great intermingling of great lyrics and a great sample. Lackluster songs are so far and few between on an album of this length it's really surprising.
Why It Isn't Higher:
These last four albums were really hard to rank; each have their own something special. The reason this took fourth place is that if you like Brown's brand, you will most likely love this excellent record, but even as a big fan of Old, I can see that it doesn't have the widespread audience of the next records. So the biggest flaw of Old isn't a flaw, it's just Brown is very unique and possibly just as polarizing.
3. Janelle Monae- The Electric Lady
This year held witness to what could arguably be the reemergence of R&B as a force in music. Janelle Monae's second studio album is the height of this renaissance, with a foray into new soul. Not only are Monae's vocals as sharp as ever, the first six songs (sans the skit) are so strong and yet so varied. From a Prince-produced rock R&B song in "Givin Em What They Love" to a romp of funk in "Electric Lady" and quite possibly the best sensual song of the year with Monae's duet with Miguel on "Primetime." The first half of the album is more dynamic, but unlike previous entries on the list, the second half is much closer in quality.
Why It Isn't Higher:
The Electric Lady definitely wows, especially for those unfamiliar with Monae's discography. The album trails off a bit in its last three or four songs, but its main hindrance is its skits. While cute, they ultimately don't add anything in my opinion. After the first listen through, these become skips, which is a big problem in listening to the album all the way through. Their concept of a robotic future doesn't play enough into the album to be substantial.
2. Kanye West- Yeezus
This album is not what I expected from Kanye when I first listened to it. As a longtime fan, I was optimistic for this record as 2010's MBDTF was an amazing record. My optimism was challenged, and I liked it. Yeezus is experimental in various ways, and throws off even the biggest West fans at first, but it's damn good music, and will be looked back on as an album that pushed the envelope. I went into Yeezus expecting vintage Yeezy, and instead got an adventure into a hypnotic rebirth of an artist not easily defined.
Why It Isn't Number One:
It is so polarizing. As many people loved the record as despised it, which honestly hurts it a little. My only personal issue has to be its length. It is really short. 10 songs from Kanye is almost disappointing, as it left me wanting more, but just a little too much. Still an amazing record.
1. J. Cole- Born Sinner
As is human nature, as a reader you were probably scanning your head to try and predict what I gave Album of the Year. I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't what you guessed. In fact, many critics don't have it in their top five. What sets Born Sinner apart from the rest of its competition is its consistent variety. Cole goes hard on every song, but in different degrees. Sometimes emotional, sometimes gangster, Cole has made his stamp on the Rap industry. The skits make sense and add depth to the record, and while Cole's obsession with Nas would normally be a hindrance, its pinnacle of "Let Nas Down" is the equivalent of a great B Story in any other media outlet. Cole has proven that he deserves a spot in the modern hip hop conversation, and Born Sinner is his solid footing.
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