Not Another Top Albums List

[NAHSTE]

Watch The Throne succeeds because it doesn't take itself seriously, but at the same time is still miles ahead of just about any other hip-hop album this year in terms of innovation and creativity.

LOL, but it's not even that good musically. The subject matter aside, a good number of the beats are uninspired.

Oh, and one more thing ...


WE GON TAKE IT TO THE MOON,
TAKE IT TO THE STARS

[FedEx227]

It's the laziest album I've listened to in quite some time given what both of these guys are capable of.

[BrntO4Life]

Watch the Throne is so awesomely divisive.

There are some great ideas and really :turrible: ones on that album.

[Woy]

I liked your write-up for it. We'll see tonight if I agree with you or not. /shamelessplug

[MvP]

It's the laziest album I've listened to in quite some time given what both of these guys are capable of.

That's the thing. I thought the album overall was a disappointment, but I still believe it was better than most rap releases this year.

It's similar to the Peyton Manning/LeBron James theory you were discussing in the chatbox earlier. This is definitely not Jay or Kanye's best work, but (IMO) it's still a good album, and the album being just "good" doesn't satisfy fans of both artists, so it's been highly criticized.

[NAHSTE]

That's the thing. I thought the album overall was a disappointment, but I still believe it was better than most rap releases this year.

It's similar to the Peyton Manning/LeBron James theory you were discussing in the chatbox earlier. This is definitely not Jay or Kanye's best work, but (IMO) it's still a good album, and the album being just "good" doesn't satisfy fans of both artists, so it's been highly criticized.

It has its moments, don't get me wrong. It grew on me after initially hating it, but it's like a 17 point, 6 rebounds, 2 assists type of game from two dudes from whom I expect at least a double-double (if not a triple-double).

The problem is they are still boasting as if they destroyed that shit, when in actuality they played it safe and produced a rather generic effort (again, admittedly by their own lofty standards). They are stunting like they are LeBron but they turned in an Al Harrington project.

Album is maybe the 5th best album in either guy's discography.

[MvP]

#7 Evidence - Cats & Dogs

Another Alchemist-produced album makes my list here at #7, with Evidence releasing what I believe is easily the most underrated hip-hop album of the year. I guess it was because this dropped on September 27th, the same day Sideline Story, Charity Starts at Home, and The Wonder Years came out, but I feel as though many people overlooked this project, which is a shame because this is definitely Evidence's best solo work to date.

Featuring long-time collaborator Alchemist, DJ Premier, Statik Selektah, Sid Roams, and more behind the boards, this is gritty, sample-based hip-hop production at its finest. Also, Ev's signature lazy flow is still sharp after all these years, and he acquired some standout guest verses from the likes of Raekwon, Ras Kass, Roc Marciano, Aesop Rock, and more. Stop sleeping on this album.

Favorite tracks: The Red Carpet, Fame, You

[FedEx227]

The Red Carpet is like GOAT beat.

[Woy]

Album is maybe the 5th best album in either guy's discography.

To be fair for Jay, not many have created four albums to the quality of Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, American Gangster and The Black Album. So if WTT is 5th in his discography (which I don't think it is, I'll slide it one spot lower but it's still really good), that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially at the age he's at now.

[MvP]

The Blueprint > Reasonable Doubt > American Gangster > Vol.1 > The Blueprint 2 (i have reasons) > The Black Album > Vol.2 > Watch The Throne > Dynasty > Vol.3 > Kingdom Come > Collision Course > The Blueprint 3 > that shit he did with R.Kelly

[MvP]

#6 Adele - 21

Simply a great album from start to finish, 21 is definitely deserving of being (by far) the best selling album of 2011, and most likely the Grammy Album of the Year award winner. It's refreshing to see the general masses appreciate an album like this. Literally every song on this could be a Billboard Top 100 #1 single.

Favorite tracks: Turning Tables, Don't You Remember, He Won't Go

[Woy]

Only reason why I didn't have 21 on my list was because I never rated it and I felt it fell outside the genre region (hip-hop/R&B) that I rated this year.

Great album. Post the next one already.

[MvP]

#5 The Black Keys - El Camino

As evidenced by this list, I have trouble writing about non-hiphop music in detail. I'll be first to admit that I'm not very knowledgable about other genres, so excuse my generic statement here, but this is just some really fucking good rock music. I don't know what else to say. Maybe, as more of a hip-hop guy, I enjoy it because Danger Mouse co-produced and heavily influenced it? Who knows.

This was the first Black Keys album I've ever listened to. As of right now I have still yet to listen to Brothers or any other album of theirs. I have no idea if listening to their previous work would alter my opinion on El Camino, but right now this is easily my favorite rock album of the year.

Favorite tracks: Gold on the Ceiling, Lonely Boy, Sister

[MvP]

#4 Holy Ghost! - Holy Ghost!

First and foremost I have to thank Irish for making his top albums thread so that I could be introduced to bands like Holy Ghost!.

The electric/pop/dance genre is one that I've pretty much ignored up until now, but there is something about this album that just resonated with me. I love the fact that every instrumental sounds like it was made with standard Garage Band loops, but yet still sounds awesome. I love the slight hip-hop and 80's influence throughout the entire album. I love the random Michael McDonald hook on the last song of the album. "Jam for Jerry" is one of my favorite songs of the year, and overall Holy Ghost! is one of my favorite albums of 2011.

Favorite tracks: Jam for Jerry, It's Not Over, Some Children

[Woy]

I still need to download that HG album.