Woy's Album Reviews.

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011<hr>#4

House of Balloons - The Weeknd

Release Date: March 21, 2011
Score: 4.49/5
Rankings: #2 mixtape, #2 R&B release
Best Songs: Wicked Games, What You Need, The Morning
Metacritic Score: 87/100​

The Lowdown: This is the trendsetter. The first volume of the Trilogy - House of Balloons -couples lustful production with lyrics that, if possible, could be assigned a R-rated attachment to them. One of the most beautiful things about this tape is the variety of peaks it has - you can make an argument for multiple songs when asked about House of Balloons' best. Do you go with "What You Need", a hazy sex ballad that might be The Weeknd's most accessible song? Maybe "The Morning", which is like the 2011 version of R. Kelly's "Bump 'N Grind"? Or even "Wicked Games", which could be the greatest one night stand song recorded? In the beginning Abel Tesfaye suggests that you want to be high for this, but by the end of your listening experience, you'll be on another cloud.<hr>

 

1.) High For This | 4 - 4.75
2.) What You Need | 5
3.) House of Balloons / Glass Table Girls | 3.5 - 4
4.) The Morning | 5
5.) Wicked Games | 5
- I can't help but screaming out "let me seeeeeee that ass, look at all this caaaaaaaaaash" in the first verse.
6.) The Party & The After Party | 4.25 - 5
7.) Coming Down | 4 - 4.25
8.) Loft Music | 4.25 - 5
9.) The Knowing | 3.75 - 4

Overall: 4.49/5 [previous ratings 4.26/5 and 4.36/5]

Brief Notes:
- I get a lot of homework done while listening to this.

[Updated (5/31/2011): I can't believe I rated "What You Need" as the worst song on the album previously. Something just clicked recently with it as I've been bumping this mixtape again constantly. It's kind of an awesome feeling to come home from a party and wake up with this playing.]
[Updated (6/25/2011): Still on repeat. And if the songs "Rolling Stone", "The Birds (Pt. 1)" and "Trust Issues (Remix)" are any indication, then the next tape, Thursday, might find itself on the top of this list.]
[Updated (1/17/2012): "What You Need" + rainymood.com might be the most perfect sounding thing on the universe. Besides realizing that, I also realized how much I underrated this tape throughout the year. Everything still sounds so fresh and there isn't a song I skip when I play through it. This man is absolutely brilliant.]

 

[Rudi]

WE WANT THE REST

 

[MvP]

Dammit some of your write-ups are way too similar to mine, I gotta finish my list lol

 

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011<hr>#3

Section.80 - Kendrick Lamar

Release Date: July 2, 2011
Score: 4.51/5
Rankings: #2 retail album, #2 hip-hop release
Best Songs: HiiiPower, Keisha's Song (Her Pain) (ft. Ashtro Bot), Rigamortus
Metacritic Score: 80/100​

The Lowdown: Albums like Section.80 don't come around very often. Yes there are ones that might feature better rapping or production, but there aren't many that showcase the artist being so conscious of his surroundings and the willingness to tackle any subject. Kendrick Lamar excels in both throughout the 16-track album, talking about everything from race and prostitution to our government. "HiiiPower" was the early single that started it all and also the perfect outro to this project. In most years, this would be the clear-cut Album of the Year but because of a strong 2011 (and an awful beat on "Tammy's Song") it only slides in at #3 on my list. Have no fear though, as Kendrick is just 24 years of age and has the brightest future in hip-hop.<hr>

 

1.) Fuck Your Ethnicity | 4 - 4.75
2.) Hol' Up | 4.75 - 5
3.) A.D.H.D.| 5
- This beat sounds perfect for Curren$y or Wiz Khalifa.
4.) No Make-Up (Her Vice) (ft. Colin Munroe) | 4.75 - 5
- Colin Munroe makes some damn good hooks.
5.) Tammy's Song (Her Evils) | 2 - 2.5
- Don't like the beat.
6.) Chapter Six | 4
7.) Ronald Reagan Era | 5
8.) Poe Mans Dreams (His Vice) (ft. GLC) | 4 - 4.75
9.) The Spiteful Chant (ft. ScHoolBoy Q) | 4.25 - 5
10.) Chapter Ten | 3 - 3.5
11.) Keisha's Song (Her Pain) (ft. Ashtro Bot) | 5
12.) Rigamortus | 5
- Pretty interesting beat for Kendrick to kill all our favorite rappers on, but I'm not gonna complain. That hook is crazy catchy for me.
13.) Kush & Corinthians (ft. BJ The Chicago Kid) | 5
- Does BJ The Chicago Kid have any solo material out? He impresses me every time I hear him on a feature or hook.
14.) Blow My High (Members Only) | 4 - 4.75
15.) Ab-Soul's Outro (ft. Ab-Soul) | 4.75 - 5
16.) HiiiPower | 5
- I don't even have a word that can describe this song. The unaminous choice in my mind for best this year.

Overall: 4.51/5 [previous rating 4.38/5]

Brief Notes:
- I heard this comparison by a friend of mine and I see it the more and more I listen to this album - Kendrick Lamar is the Nas of the digital-age. He puts a lot of emotion behind his music and is very conscious of his surroundings, which in part makes him an even better rapper...and we haven't even gotten into how technically impressive he is. His voice isn't as grating as it was in the Kendrick Lamar EP or last year's critically acclaimed mix-tape (O)verly (D)edicated, but it still might turn the listener off at first listen; it almost did with me when I started to visit his music. If you can get past that however (and believe me, you want to), then you'll find one of the best young talents out at the moment and definitely someone you'll hear more from in the future.
[Updated (1/18/2012): I stand by my previous comparison. Everything sounds better (besides "Tammy's Song", that beat is too awful to make it through the entire song) than it did when I first reviewed this. "Keisha's Song" is immaculate.]

 

[Rudi]

Hiiiiipower

 

[NAHSTE]

I wrote this record while 30,000 feet in the air,
stewardess complimenting me on my nappy hair,
If I can fuck her in front of these passengers,
they'll probably think I'm a terrorist, eat my asparagus, then I'm askin' her
Thoughts of a young nigga ...

 

[Woy]

I wrote this record while 30,000 feet in the air,
stewardess complimenting me on my nappy hair,
If I can fuck her in front of these passengers,
they'll probably think I'm a terrorist, eat my asparagus, then I'm askin' her
Thoughts of a young nigga ...

HOL' UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP!

 

[Yawkey Way]

SECTION 80 FLOW YES

 

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011<hr>#2

Echoes of Silence - The Weeknd

Release Date: December 21, 2011
Score: 4.51/5
Rankings: #1 mixtape, #1 R&B release
Best Songs: Echoes of Silence, Next, Initiation
Metacritic Score: 82/100​

The Lowdown: By now, you all should have the lowdown on Abel Tesfaye and the first two segments of the Trilogy. House of Balloons was the one that started it all, coming out of nowhere to provide the listener with some of the best songs of 2011. Thursday was the cinematic experience that provided an atmospheric feel more than just a collection of great tracks. Echoes of Silence takes the best of both worlds and combines them into one ultra masterpiece, starting with The Weeknd's risky attempt of covering a legend's classic tune. Although it isn't better than the original, "D.D." (or "Dirty Diana") is still a great way to kick the tape off, showcasing both Abel's voice and maybe the best production team in the business right now in Doc McKinney and Illangelo. Throughout the 9-track project, the subject matter stays relatively the same as the first two installments, although there is more of a "you only want me because I'm famous" attitude coming from Abel; which is understandable, considering the boost of popularity he has had since March. Oh, and the title track "Echoes of Silence" is the absolutely perfect outro - not only for this tape - but for the Trilogy altogether. It's hard enough to drop three great projects throughout a career, but to accomplish that in one year? Incredible. I know myself and many others are waiting to see what Abel Tesfaye can do for an encore in 2012.<hr>

 

1.) D.D. | 4.25 - 5
- Michael Jackson is still alive.
2.) Montreal | 4.75 - 5
- This is Abel's most accessable song since "What You Need". Love the harmonizing in French throughout.
3.) Outside | 3.75 - 4
4.) XO / The Host | 3.25 - 4
5.) Initiation | 5
- Still as brilliant as ever when it first came out.
6.) Same Old Song | 4 - 4.75
- Juicy J's skit at the end is hilarious.
7.) The Fall | 4 - 4.5
8.) Next | 5
- Maybe the overwhelming favorite of everyone who has listened.
9.) Echoes of Silence | 5
- Perfect outro to not only this tape, but the trilogy altogether.

Overall: 4.51/5

Brief Notes:
- The Weeknd > R&B right now. It's not even a debate.

 

[MvP]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO UNDO UNDO UNDO UNDUN UNDO UNDO UNDO UNDO UNDO UNDO

 

[BigBucs]

Garbage list

 

[Woy]

Garbage list

:jimmer:

 

[Rudi]

iKno what #1 is


















































:kobe:

 

[GangstaE]

I just had to say thanks to Woy for doing these reviews. Ive been slacking lately in the music department. Ive been going through this list listening to songs i like to fill up my iPod. There is a ton of great music here.

 

[Rudi]

just post #1 already!

 

[Woy]

#1's coming tonight.

 

[Woy]

WOY'S TOP 15 PROJECTS OF 2011<hr>#1

Undun - The Roots

Release Date: December 2, 2011
Score: 4.53/5
Rankings: #1 retail album, #1 hip-hop release
Best Songs: Make My (ft. Big K.R.I.T.), Tip The Scale, The Otherside (ft. Bilal & P.O.R.N)
Metacritic Score: 88/100​

The Lowdown: Concept albums are a hard thing to pull off. When done right - like Jay-Z's American Gangster - they generate universal acclaim and add to an artist's or band's repertoire. It takes a special type of artist/band to accomplish this, and judging from longetivity and quality standpoints, no one would be better to attempt this than The Roots. 10 albums into their career, The Roots have put themselves into the discussion for the greatest hip-hop group of all-time. They have numerous classics and have tackled many different subjects, but undun surprisingly is the band's first concept album. The 14-track project is about the fictional character Redford Stevens, who lives life in poverty before he tragically dies at age 25. The story is told in reverse-chronological order, starting with his death at "Dun" and finishing off with the four instrumental movements. But one of the most impressive qualities of undun is that you can play the album in reverse order and it also tells the same story, with the former intro and now new ending "Dun" symbolizing his metaphorical death. It's an all-around brillant effort and should be recognized as one of the best albums in The Roots' discography.<hr>

 

1.) Dun | 4 - 4.25
2.) Sleep (ft. Aaron Livingston) | 3.5 - 4
3.) Make My (ft. Big K.R.I.T.) | 5
- K.R.I.T.'s verse gave me chills the first time I heard it.
4.) One Time (ft. Phonte & Dice Raw) | 4.25 - 5
5.) Kool On (ft. P.O.R.N & Truck North) | 4 - 4.75
6.) The Otherside (ft. Bilal & P.O.R.N) | 5
- Awesome hook.
7.) Stomp (ft. Just Blaze & P.O.R.N) | 4 - 4.25
8.) Lighthouse (ft. Dice Raw) | 4.5 - 5
- Great transition from the previous track.
9.) I Remember | 4.75 - 5
10.) Tip The Scale | 5
- Another awesome hook.
11.) Redford (For Yia Yia & Pappou) | 4.5 - 5
12.) Possibility (2nd Movement) | 4 - 4.75
13.) Will To Power (3rd Movement) | 4
14.) Finality (4th Movement) | 4.25 - 5

Overall: 4.53/5

Brief Notes:
- If you stayed up-to-date with the creation process of this album, then this won't be news to you but if not, I have a tip: listen to this album backwards. Seriously. Start at the closer "Finality" and listen as the story of a fictional poverty-stricken character Redford Stevens has his life end tragically. Listen to it normally and you get the same style of ending. After 10 albums, it's The Roots' 11th that is their first conceptual success and one of their most impressive.

 

[NAHSTE]

Make My and One Time are on another level, but after that I really enjoy Lighthouse.

 

[Woy]

A few 2012 reviews are going up today.

 

[Woy]

1.) MadexMen | 3.25 - 4
2.) BexForever | 3 - 3.25
3.) Furthur | 4.75 - 5
- I'm not sure where the samples come from, but I like this one in particular the most.
4.) NuerxOld | 4 - 4.25
5.) TripxEnt | 3.75 - 4
- The guitar that comes in is the best part.
6.) 1StxFlr | 3.25 - 4
7.) RedxBloor | 4 - 4.75
- This song best captures the whole atmosphere of the project.
8.) StillxShots | 4.25 - 5
9.) PairxDis | 3 - 3.5

Overall: 3.94/5

Brief Notes:
- DropxLife - affiliate of The Weeknd - releases a nine-track (just like a typical The Weeknd tape) instrumental project that captures some of the best qualities of the XO movement. His work on "Initiation" from Echoes of Silence showcased his talent and he brings the scariness from that song into effect with tracks such as "NuerxOld" and "RedxBloor". It's a very interesting and short (no track over five minutes) listen that has been overlooked in a slow start to the year of 2012 in music.