like we do every year...
1. Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels 2
this album is unreal. I'm a long (LONG) time fan of El-P. And Killer Mike has always got the props. But this record just came out of nowhere and dethroned everything for me. It's a mess of crazy production and shit-talking. But it's also a masterpiece of the old back-n-forth MC vocals. Brilliant to the point I don't have words. You just gotta hear it.
"Jeopary" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUZaEDl ... oXB5eQijs7
2. Rick Ross - Mastermind
I'd never expect Rick Ross to end up in my Top 10. Nevermind the fact he came close to #1. But yeah, Mastermind is fucking awesome. I think my favorite thing is that it's the usual Ross - expensive thug shit - it's also this homage to golden age hip hop referencing Wu-Tang, Camp Lo, Souls Of Mishief, and Biggie. Never have I felt that Ross was such a straight up classic hip hop fan til I heard this record. It's just stunning.
"Thug Cry" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTBRFeJ8lqw
3. Mobb Deep - The Infamous Mobb Deep
No secret - I love Mobb Deep. And while most fans spent the past decade (or two) wishing they'd just remake The Infamous, I've been enjoying their records plenty anyway. But for them to go back and try to re-capture that energy and macabre creepiness with this one (plus include a full disc of 94 sessions) means that they've managed to somehow record their most compelling album in probably a decade. Even if it was a shrewd cash-in, it totally worked.
"Taking You Off Here" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eadPjCzBVw
4. Mogwai - Rave Tapes
Agh, Mogwai. Sure they've got their pretty shit. Sure they've got their heavy shit. But on this one they managed to get both on balance and also lace it in awesome electronics. This album sounds like a score to an 80's b-movie that none of us saw because the VHS was too warped when we rented it. Fucking awesome.
"Remurdered" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ5nEuG-CRc
5. Crosses - s/t
I love The Deftones. And I love 80's synthpop. So hearing Chino sing over 80's inspired synths is incredible to me. This album felt to me like Chino fronting Depeche Mode.
"This Is A Trick" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuQV3sDW2YE
6. Iggy Azalea - The New Classic
Iggy was certainly a polarizing figure this year. She was introduced to me as "A$AP Rocky's ex." Later she was the girl responsible for "Fancy" which played every half hour of every day of the entire Summer. But the truth is she made one hell of an album.
"Rolex" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epiM94qLmLU
7. Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence
I had no idea Lana could get so much better. I loved Born To Die. Paradise was great. But she went into hiding and came out with this insanely dark blend of tremelo'd guitars and tremelo'd vocals. This is a lost David Lynch soundtrack right here. Brilliant, beautiful and scary.
"Black Beauty" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLNN82R9K5o
8. The Roots - And Then You Shoot Your Cousin
The Roots went further into the realm of concept album on this one. They dipped their toe before. But this is off the deep end Pink Floyd shit here. This is crazy musique concrete and snatches of ambience shit. This is just completely amazing.
"Understand" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umuJUsZjHEw
9. Flaming Lips - With A Little Help From My Fwends
Like most of the best Flaming Lips projects, this makes no sense on paper. Ok, so a cover album of the entire Sgt. Pepper's record and bring in folks as divers as Maynard and Miley. Yet it's just ridiculously incredible.
"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a77SVKEXLQE
10. YG - MY Krazy Life
The antithesis to Kendrick's Good Kid Maad City, this is party and BS music at it's finest. The soundtrack to a night of debauchery. Minimal beats and icy synths keep heads nodding while lyrics bounce from sex, drugs and breaking the law.