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Old 01.01.2014, 06:22 PM   #1408
noisereductions
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noisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's assesnoisereductions kicks all y'all's asses
1. A$AP Rocky - Long.Live.A$AP
Rocky killed it this year. This album came out in January, and I still listen to it weekly. Dude is really amazing to me. And he's still young! But the beat selection is huge too. I love all the chopped 'n screwed style slowness. I'm super excited for the A$AP Mob album coming this year.
"LVL" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR5dwQNizVU

2. Kanye West Yeezus
Was tough deciding between this and Rocky, but ultimately I listened to Rocky more even if this is the more impressive album. I love when artists throw a curve-ball and Kanye's been doing that for several albums now. I've said it before, but this sounds to me like Kanye fronting the band Suicide. Which is awesome.
"Send It Up" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYzG4nIuT7I

3. Spring Breakers (soundtrack)
This album will forever remind me of the Summer of 2013. My wife and I were just recent homeowners, and this is the soundtrack to mowing lawns for the first time, painting rooms, and getting in the few trips to the beach we could. A mix of Skrillex & Cliff Martinez doing scores, some Southern hip hop and bits of electropop. (Sadly missing the Britney song though!) Even though a lot of this material was culled from previously released albums, it just works so well as a cohesive whole.
"Son of Scary Monsters" Cliff Martinez & Skrillex - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mie6FzZkFNs

4. Jay-Z - Magna Carta… Holy Grail
I love HOVA. We all know that. This one didn't get much praise, but I really enjoyed it and listened to it a hell of a lot. It's more of a club (or cruising) album than a deep thoughts album. But it seems like even when Jay doesn't have a whole lot on his mind, he still sounds great saying whatever it is that comes out.
"Picasso Baby" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI7ZWuAkVOc

5. Eminem - The Marhsall Mathers LP 2
This was a real nice surprise! Basically the most consistent release from Em in years. I'll put this above Relapse and Recovery. He just sounds like he's really really hungry on this one. Like he's got something to prove.
"Rap God" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbGs_qK2PQA

6. Ghostface Killah - Twelve Reasons To Die
OMG! Ok, so Ghost hires a live band to create something sounding like the score to an Italian Giallo film and then writes a concept album about his own origin. Unreal. This guy will never slow down!
"An Unexpected Call" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P9F1Tq63w4

7. Drake - Nothing Was The Same
Man, this guy can't seem to make a bad album. But what's cool about NWTS is just how focused it is. It's like Drake really got comfortable with making an ALBUM instead of just an awesome collection of songs. It's crazy to me the progression he's made in a relatively short period of time.
"Tuscan Leather" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U8FzehonsE


8. Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap
Chance is that guy who came out of NOWHERE this year. His voice can turn folks off, but once you get used to it he's just incredible to try to follow his syllables. Chance is definitely one to keep an eye on seeing as how this was a freebie mixtape. He's going places for sure.
"Favorite Song" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mtA9GvpzwU

9. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience
If you are a JT fan there's no way this album could have let you down. It's a crazy sprawling work that gives the production plenty of room to breathe, move around and then morph into something else. I couldn't say the same about Vol 2, but this first set is untouchable.
"Strawberry Bubblegum" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRXCfOYnSZM

10. Lil Wayne - I Am Not A Human Being II
What a mess! Weezy made a play towards getting focused again this year (see also: Dedication 5) but couldn't quite do it. So basically I love half of this record and could do without the other half. But the half I loved, well that kept me coming back to it all year... even more so than albums I heard that I'd call "better albums."
"Trippy" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lto2J6ymAOM


...PS

some albums that were close contenders were Chelsea Light Moving's S/t album, Danny Brown's OLD, Tyler's WOLF and Earl Sweatshirt's DORIS. Oh and Joey Bada$$ and Tha Underachiverz made great mixtapes. As was the NY Renaissance mixtape assembled by Peter Rosenberg. These just happened to be the ones I listened to most though. I also didn't buy a ton of albums this year w/ the house and all. I probably listened to Pandora more than albums. Oh, biggest disappointment for me was Flaming Lips' THE TERROR which I found shockingly boring. And I think if I had picked up Neil Young's CELLAR DOOR set, that would have probably landed on here. Shrug.
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