Woy's Album Reviews.

[CCBrink]

Doing a full review for EOS?

[Woy]

Doing a full review for EOS?

I want to, but I doubt it. Just trying to put together the rest of my 2011 albums lists so I can make a top 10 list and be fresh for 2012.

[Woy]

Gonna put together some brief reviews for Undun and Echoes of Silence, then put the finishing touches on my Top 15 list. I'm going to look through all my reviews and make adjustments that I see fit before put them in order and post them.

e: Posting three albums a day. I'll add the track-by-track scoring in spoiler tags and after my list is done, I'll probably do a list of songs/disappointments/etc.

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011

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#15


sailing soul(s) - Jhené Aiko

Release Date: March 18, 2011
Score: 4.06/5
Rankings: #4 free album, #5 R&B release
Best Songs: July (ft. Drake), Hoe (ft. Miguel & Gucci Mane), Higher
Metacritic Score: N/A

The Lowdown: sailing soul(s) is a very consistent release that features big name guests such as Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Drake, among others. Despite all the star power, Jhene holds her own throughout the 13-track free album with a beautiful voice, introspective lyrics and a variety of production styles that can appeal to most listeners. Not to mention, she's drop-dead goregous.

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1.) The Beginning | 3 - 3.75
2.) Stranger | 4.25 - 5
3.) Hoe (ft. Miguel & Gucci Mane) | 4.75 - 5
- Even Gucci Mane can't ruin this song. Needs more Miguel though.
4.) July (ft. Drake) | 5
- Not going to lie - emotions came into play when rating this song. I had this on my iPod all of last summer.
5.) My Mine | 4
6.) Popular | 2
- The 50 Cent sample makes me laugh, but overall this sounds like a better version of a Kelly Clarkson song.
7.) Real Now (ft. Lite, HOPE & Roosevelt) | 3 - 3.25
8.) Sailing NOT Selling (ft. Kanye West) | 4 - 4.75
9.) Do Better Blues (ft. HOPE) | 4.25 - 5
- "She wants three things...eyes that won't cry, lips that won't lie, love that won't die." Don't we all.
10.) Higher | 4.5 - 5
11.) You vs. Them | 3 - 3.5
12.) Space Jam | 4
- Production fits the title of the song.
13.) Growing Apart Too (ft. Kendrick Lamar & HOPE) | 4.5 - 5

Overall: 4.06/5 [previous rating 3.96/5]

Brief Notes:
- This is an Album of the Year contender if Popular wasn't on here. The "July" song last year came out of nowhere and I'm thrilled that I gave it a listen just because I knew of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar features.

[Updated (1/3/2011): One of the most overlooked releases of 2011. Solid R&B from a beautiful woman...who wouldn't want that?]

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011

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#14


Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music) - Stalley

Release Date: February 8, 2011
Score: 4.16/5
Rankings: #3 free album, #10 hip-hop release
Best Songs: Slapp, She Hates The Bass, Assassin (ft. John Mayer)
Metacritic Score: N/A

The Lowdown: You know Rick Ross, Wale and even Meek Mill at this point. But how about getting to know maybe the best artist on the Maybach Music Group label, Stalley? After making appearances on Curren$y's Pilot Talk and Ski Beatz's 24 Hour Karate School in 2010, Stalley released his second free album in Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Muzik), a 16-track collection revolving around jazzy beats and conscious lyrics that mostly focus on cars and their soundsystems. One of the easiest listens of 2011 from a hip-hop standpoint.

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1.) See The Milq In My Chevy | 4.5 - 5
2.) Slapp | 5
- Part of this beat is from Wiz Khalifa's "Spotlight", but it's still beautiful.
3.) 330 | 4 - 4.5
4.) Hercules | 4.25 - 5
- The faint guitars in the production are my favorite part of this.
5.) Chimes of Freedumb (ft. Rashad) | 3.75 - 4
6.) The Night (ft. Rashad) | 3.25 - 4
7.) Pound | 3 - 3.25
8.) The Sound of Silence | 4
9.) She Hates The Bass | 5
10.) Hard | 3 - 3.25
11.) Assassin (ft. John Mayer) | 4.75 - 5
- It's not a bad song, but it throws off the vibe of the album. [Never mind. This track is great.]
12.) Go On | 3 - 3.75
13.) Milq 'n Honey | 3.5 - 4
14.) Monkey Ish (R.I.P. Pimp C) | 4.5 - 5
15.) Tell Montez I Love Her | 3.75 - 4
16.) Lincoln Way Nights (Shop) | 4.25 - 5

Overall: 4.16/5 [previous rating 4.01/5]

Brief Notes:
- The Intelligent Trunk Music title definitely fits, with brass featured in every beat. Stalley's lyrics focus on what the title says and he is an entertaining enough MC to the point where the subject matter doesn't get old. The album's production altogether is some of the best I've heard all year.

[Updated (1/3/2012): Assassin has grown on me tremendously. Just a solid listen from front-to-back and easy to put people on to.]

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011

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#13


The Greatest Story Never Told - Saigon

Release Date: February 15, 2011
Score: 4.17/5
Rankings: #6 retail album, #9 hip-hop release
Best Songs: It's Alright (ft. Marsha Ambrosius), Bring Me Down Pt. 2, Come On Baby (ft. Swizz Beatz & Jay-Z)
Metacritic Score: 89/100

The Lowdown: After years in the making, Saigon's debut album The Greatest Story Never Told was finally released in February, much to the delight of hip-hop fans everywhere. A worry of it sounding possibly outdated was quickly diminished with an excellent effort by Just Blaze, who had a comeback of his own in 2011. Saigon glides through each track with conscious lyrics, keeping true to the album's loose concept of a man in jail wondering how exactly he found himself in this situation. And with a Metacritic score of 89 (only behind Phonte's Charity Starts at Home for the top spot in 2011 hip-hop), most people are thankful that Saigon's story was finally told.

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1.) Station Identification (ft. Fatman Scoop) | 2.5 - 3
2.) The Invitation (ft. Q-Tip & Fatman Scoop) | 3.75 - 4
3.) Come On Baby (ft. Swizz Beatz & Jay-Z) | 4.75 - 5
- I first heard this beat on Asher Roth's most recent mixtape...fail on my part.
4.) War | 3 - 3.75
5.) Bring Me Down Pt. 2 | 5
- Hook of 2011 so far.
6.) Enemies | 4 - 4.75
7.) Friends | 4.25 - 5
8.) The Greatest Story Never Told | 4.5 - 5
9.) Clap (ft. Faith Evans) | 4.25 - 5
- Love the Reverend's outro.
10.) Preacher (ft. Lee Fields & The Expressions) | 3 - 3.75
11.) It's Alright (ft. Marsha Ambrosius) | 5
- Marsha Ambrosius kills the hook with her beautiful voice, Kanye comes through with an outstanding beat and although the song is six minutes flat, it's worth every single second of your listening time.
12.) Believe It | 4.5 - 5
- Corny joke in the outro by Just Blaze.
13.) Give It To Me (ft. Raheem DeVaughn) | 3 - 3.5
14.) What The Lovers Do (ft. Devin The Dude) | 4.75 - 5
- Devin is perfect for the hook.
15.) Better Way (ft. Layzie Bone) | 3 - 3.75
16.) Oh Yeah (Our Babies) | 4 - 4.25
17.) And The Winner Is... (ft. Bun B) | 3 - 3.5
- Not sure why they used live verses, takes too much away from the potential of the song.
18.) Too Long (ft. Black Thought) | 4.5 - 5

Overall: 4.17/5 [previous rating 4.08/5]

Brief Notes:
- A little too long in some spots, but this album was deserving of the hype its gotten over the past few years. Just Blaze and Saigon is an awesome producer/rapper combination.

[Update (1/3/2012): This is an album that might be forgotten on most top album lists just because it came out early in the year. Went back to it for my Top 15 list of 2011 and it sounds even better than ever in some spots. It's Alright is too awesome.]

[BrntO4Life]

You gonna review T.I., Raekwon, and Kool A.D.'s mixtapes that dropped this week?

[Woy]

You gonna review T.I., Raekwon, and Kool A.D.'s mixtapes that dropped this week?

Possibly, but it won't happen until after I'm done with this list. Putting all my focus into this for the next few days.

[BigBucs]

Imma punch u in the teef if Cold day In Hell doesnt crack top 5, your review of it wasnt that great.

[MvP]

I knew all three of those would be in your top list. I gotta check out that Jhene Aiko album.

[Woy]

Three more coming tonight.

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011

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#12


Cole World: The Sideline Story - J. Cole

Release Date: September 27, 2011
Score: 4.20/5
Rankings: #5 retail album, #8 hip-hop release
Best Songs: Lost Ones, Sideline Story, Breakdown
Metacritic Score: 75/100

The Lowdown: Like Saigon's album, some people wondered if this would ever come out. After the success of Cole's second mixtape, The Warm Up, a release date of October 24th was set...in 2010. Obviously, we know that never happened but just 11 months later, Cole World: The Sideline Story was finally released to the masses. The 16-track debut contains songs that were highly anticipated from the beginning ("Lost Ones", "Never Told"), ones remastered from previous mixtapes ("Lights, Please", "In The Morning") and new ones that show not only Cole's talent, but the progression in his rapping and production styles. A brief two-song stretch derails the album slightly, but standout tracks such as the aforementioned "Lost Ones" along with "Sideline Story" and "Breakdown" pick it right back up. It might not be the classic hip-hop heads predicted, but it's still a really good album nonetheless.

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1.) Intro | 3 - 3.5
2.) Dollar and a Dream III | 4 - 4.5
- Love the production, but can't get over the "can't outfart me" line.
3.) Can't Get Enough (ft. Trey Songz) | 4 - 4.75
- 2011 version of Big Pimpin'.
4.) Lights, Please | 5
5.) Interlude | 3 - 3.75
6.) Sideline Story | 5
- Gives me a Pac vibe.
7.) Mr. Nice Watch (ft. Jay-Z) | 3 - 3.5
- Hated it at first, but now it's okay. Hook is catchy and Hov wrecks it.
8.) Cole World | 2 - 2.75
9.) In The Morning (ft. Drake) | 4.75 - 5
10.) Lost Ones | 5
- Absolutely lived up to the hype. So happy I waited to listen to this.
11.) Nobody's Perfect (ft. Missy Elliott) | 4
- Listen to this song in the car sometime. That bass really surprises you.
12.) Never Told | 3.75 - 4
13.) Rise and Shine | 5
- Those horns!
14.) God's Gift | 4.5 - 5
15.) Breakdown | 5
16.) Work Out | 3.75 - 4
- I'm a sucker for that Paula Abdul sample. Sue me.

Overall: 4.20/5

Brief Notes:
- There's a part of me that's satisfied with Cole's debut and part of me that's disappointed. Tracks like "Cole World", "Work Out" and "Mr. Nice Watch" should never have been on here especially with all the awesome free tracks that were included on his mix-tapes. Still, I can't be disappointed with a great album that I went out and bought and listen to daily. Cole really improved his production tip on here compared to Friday Night Lights, although the beats to "Rise and Shine" and "God's Gift" sound a bit similar.

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011

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#11


Thursday - The Weeknd

Release Date: August 18, 2011
Score: 4.28/5
Rankings: #5 mixtape, #4 R&B release
Best Songs: The Zone, Rolling Stone, The Birds Part 1
Metacritic Score: 80/100

The Lowdown: Thursday is truly a cinematic experience. From its beginning "Lonely Star", The Weeknd breaks down his experience with the opposite sex in mulitple ways. It showcases the process of getting her to commit to his lifestyle in "Life of the Party", pleading to her to not get too attached in "The Birds Part 1" and revealing himself in his most vulnerable state with "Rolling Stone". Compared to the other two tapes of the trilogy, this moreso is well-received because of the atmospheric vibe it gives off. It might not have the peaks of House of Balloons, nor the edginess of Echoes of Silence, but Thursday can easily be mentioned as one of the best projects in 2011 R&B.

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1.) Lonely Star | 4 - 4.5
2.) Life of the Party | 3.75 - 4
3.) Thursday | 4 - 4.75
4.) The Zone (ft. Drake) | 5
- Drake's verse is too good.
5.) The Birds Part 1 | 4.75 - 5
6.) The Birds Part 2 | 4
7.) Gone | 4 - 4.25
8.) Rolling Stone | 5
- Beautiful.
9.) Heaven or Las Vegas | 3

Overall: 4.28/5 [previous rating 4.49/5]

Brief Notes:
- More complete than House of Balloons although the latter has better highlight tracks ("What You Need", "Wicked Games"). The way this unfolds like a story is awesome.

[Updated (1/4/2012): Fell a bit victim to the hype. Still an excellent tape and the story beneath the tracks is refreshing as hell, but from a quality standpoint, it's behind the other two parts of the trilogy.]

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011

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#10


Elmatic - Elzhi

Release Date: May 10, 2011
Score: 4.31/5
Rankings: #4 mixtape, #7 hip-hop release
Best Songs: Memory Lane, Life's A Bitch (ft. Royce da 5'9 & Stokley Williams), Detroit State of Mind
Metacritic Score: N/A

The Lowdown: Remember Fashawn's Ode to Illmatic? Well if you don't, you didn't miss much. Fashawn tried to pay tribute to Nas's classic Illmatic in 2010 and although it did have some solid rapping, it didn't do the original justice and was considered a failure in many eyes. So when Elzhi said he'd try to pay tribute to (possibly) the greatest hip-hop album in history, there was some cautiousness within hip-hop fans. However, with a smooth flow, clever lyrics and a live band that recreated the original beats, Elmatic didn't just turn into a successful tribute disc, but it became one of the most impressive hip-hop releases of 2011.

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1.) Genesis | 3.5 - 4
2.) Detroit State of Mind | 4.5 - 5
3.) Halftime | 4
4.) Memory Lane | 5
5.) The World Is Yours / Represent Intro | 4 - 4.5
- The piano outro is just a thing of beauty.
6.) Represent | 4.5 - 5
7.) Life's A Bitch (ft. Royce da 5'9 & Stokley Williams) | 4.75 - 5
- Another awesome outro.
8.) One Love | 4 - 4.25
9.) It's Ain't Hard to Tell | 4 - 4.75
10.) Pete Rock Shout | 3 - 3.5

Overall: 4.31/5

Brief Notes:
- Elzhi recaptures most of the magic of Illmatic with his own rendition, Elmatic, but it's not completely the same. His effort is much better than Fashawn's attempt last year and creates one of the best projects of 2011, but I just can't see myself listening to this like other albums I've rated highly (nostalgia, ULTRA and Return of 4eva) just because I still rather listen to the original.
- The live bands are amazing. That needed it's own line.

[Woy]

Three more albums coming tonight.