51-60
50-Grand Archives-Keep In Mind Frankenstein
Their self-titled disc was a good start, so again, I was eager to give this one a listen. I’m finding that a group’s second disc really defines their sound. Definitely more laid back than their first album, this one kept them constant in my mind. “Oslo Novelist” and “Willoughby” were my favorites.
49-Kanye West-808's & Heartbreak
Rap has been making a huge push in my listening habits within the past year, mostly thanks to Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3, and my discovery of Akon. Kanye isn’t quite as talented as a handful of other rappers. “Welcome To Heartbreak” has a great, driving beat. “See You In My Nightmares” features the ever-entertaining Lil Wayne. I still prefer Graduation and The College Dropout, but a good disc nonetheless.
He’s crazy, quirky, and catchy. I love his use of strings in his songs. You definitely have to be in a certain mood to listen to his music, but he’s crafted a niche for himself. He’s progressed since his first disc, which is great to see.
Well, I was trying to move away from the overly poppy, singer-songwriter, usually sappy music, but this one got me more than I want to admit. We all know that Howie isn’t the most talented musician out there, but I’ll still come back to this album, especially “No Longer What You Require.”
As I reflected on Imogen, I realized that I’m not that big of a fan. She has an intriguing sound, and “Hide And Seek” is a breathtaking song, but overall she relies on the quirky as an easy way out. From “I Megaphone” to “Speak For Yourself” to “Ellipse” all her albums sound basically the same. I can only take so much of a sound that makes you feel like you’re suspended in clouds while being bombarded with bubbles and the occasional piece of fruit.
46-Flight of the Conchords-I Told You I Was Freaky
Their self-titled CD was so witty, inane, and comedic that it was hard for this one to measure up. It still captured the sound and style that the Flight of the Conchords are known for, but didn’t really impress me further.
She was going to be hard pressed to improve upon such brilliant and beautiful tracks as “One Moment More” and “Out Loud.” Add to that I’m moving away from this sort of sound and this album was merely alright. She still has that stunning voice, but often fails to show it off. The slight country twang drove me away a bit too. If you happen to like female vocalists and blugrassy/country music this is a huge win.
This album pleasantly surprised me, really liking tracks “Needle And Haystack Life”, “Always”, and “Sing It Out.” Perhaps it was my low expectations, but Switchfoot showed me something.
46-Animal Collective-Merriweather Post Pavilion
What is all the hype about? They’re in the same arena as MGMT and Phoenix, but the majority of their music is a cacophony of white noise (I don’t even know if that makes sense). When they turn down the electronica and the wailing, maybe I’ll give them another chance.
46-Melody Gardot-My One And Only Thrill
Her voice is heavenly, but this just isn’t my style. If you happen to like jazzy female vocalists, you will absolutely love her.
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