No Disassemble has a mature, hot-buttered-toast sound that maintains its interesting twists and elegant feel right to the end. No Disassemble is a fantastic album that will only grow on you with time. Interesting, cultivated and truly unique from beginning to end.
8. I Will - MoZella
Since the success of artists like Norah Jones and Madeleine Peyroux there have been many imitators. MoZella could be, at first glance, mistaken for such an imitator but that would be a purely shallow observation. MoZella’s debut album I Will reflects the romance and jazzy smoothness of Norah and Madeleine with the pop/hip-hop of Nelly Furtado and the energetic soul sounds of Macy Gray. It is original, fresh, intelligent pop music.
This strong, smooth album is filled with jazzy beats, soulful vocals, and beautifully crafted lyrics and is an excellent departure from the cookie-cutter pop of Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears or Mariah Carey. I Will is accessible but still a departure for those of you wanting to experiment musically, just a little bit. An album you must have!
7. Soft Machine - Teddybears
Teddybears — formerly grindcore-punk group Skull out of Sweden — this year released their US debut album Soft Machine. With its diverse mixed-and-matched genres ranging from punk to reggae, all enhanced with electro-pop dance beats, it is one of the most original albums out this year. It has an interesting array of featured vocalists – including Neneh Cherry (elder sister of Eagle Eye), Mad Cobra, and Iggy Pop (his best work in years). And the three best tracks released by anyone this year.
Soft Machine with its clean danceable beats, fun pop hooks, bouncy pop rhythms, high energy lyrics, and tons of synth harkens back to all those summer pool parties and BBQs. Soft Machine is everything that pop music should be — funky, fresh, frolicsome, danceable and intelligent. It’s pop like only former punk rockers could make it. It is a fantastic dance/pop party album.
6. Peeping Tom - Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom is what happens when one of the planet’s most talented, busy, and eclectic musical artists decided to bring trip-hop into the 21st century. This album is Mike Patton’s latest offering – yes THE Mike Patton of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and Tomahawk fame – but with a twist. It’s not just him, oh no, it’s Patton with various other musical artists – most considered rather eccentric or brilliant in their own right. They include (to name a few): Odd Nosdam, Rahzel, Dan the Automator, Massive Attack, Kid Koala, and, bizarrely, Norah Jones.
Article comments
1 - M.D. Sandwasher
Excellent Best of List.
I totally agree with Iggy Pop's work with the Teddybears. When I first heard the song, I couldn't believe that was Iggy. I didn't think he still had it in him.
2 - A.L. Harper
Iggy is brill on Punkrocker. Best thing he has done in ages!
3 - D'oh
Another one that has forgotten 10,000 Days by TooL
But that's ok, I'll just add it here for you.
Give it a listen, and be amazed.
4 - Al Barger
"Stupid Girls" is a fine song as music - melody, rhythm and harmony, stuff like that. It's also a good, well-focused lyric seriously challenging the culture and behaviors of her own audience. She's saying something important at the significant risk of alienating part of her audience.
But this lyric Miss Harper quotes for "Dear Mr President" is crap. Now, I hate Bush as bad as the next guy, but direct political polemics generally make for poor songwriting craft. As is common for such things, this is just typical leftwing boilerplate that doesn't adhere as any kind of cohesive artistic statement. She could have just as well said simply "Bush sucks" over and over and left it at that.
Also, specifically the business about how Bush would hate his daughter if she were gay is just a complete malicious fabrication. No Bush has been anti-gay. It's just dumb and dishonest to say that. But Bush is a bad guy, so it's ok to just make up any old evil dumb crap on him, cause he deserves it. Indeed, it'll automatically rate your pedestrian song as a Major Artistic Statement.
Which is not to say that Bush can't be usefully and memorably criticized artistically. WAY the best artistic bashing of W that I've seen is through The Boondocks. The worse than worthless heir Ed Wuntzler III is a danger to humanity playing gangster with family immunity insulating him from all the damage he does. Note his big gold "W" bling hanging around his neck as he goes around wreaking havoc and trying to convince himself that he's Billy Badass from the streets.
But this involves Mr McGruder putting in some actual creative thinking about how to portray this character and dramatize the damage. That's a lot harder than a puked up diatribe.
5 - Greekmenrule
Why such Harsh Criticism of Mariah Carey? I don't understand, There is enough room for everyone. I bet you have never listened to her music beyond what you might hear on the radio. Her Music and Voice are Divine and there is truly alot more substance to her music and artistry than you are giving her credit for. You sicken me..Pink's album deserves to be on this list, Snow Patrol=OVER RATED along w/ all of your other "Music"...give ANY of these artists the chance at serious mainstream success and they'd sell alot more than their souls for it!
6 - DJRadiohead
Yeah, Guster is Voldemort and Pink released the third best album of the year. I think that about says it all.
7 - A.L. Harper
*laugh* So I take it you haven't heard the new Pink album darling.
8 - DJRadiohead
I heard a clip of whatever that rubbish first single was and have heard her previous rubbish material. Hideous.
9 - A.L. Harper
A clip? You're judging from a clip? Sad.... very sad.
10 - Mark Saleski
ms. harper, i thought that the best chance (and it's a small one, i admit) of the dj enjoying Aquilera would be to send him an mp3 of something from the second disc, maybe "Nasty Naughty Boy".
but, like...he knows where i live and stuff.
11 - Mark Saleski
...and the same goes for Pink. though in that case the change of enjoyment is pretty much zero.
12 - DJRadiohead
I didn't have to hear the whole thing to know I hated it. I'm decisive. I know crap when I hear it. =)
13 - neptunian
Snow Patrol....hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! no soul, no balls and not an ounce of originality in this album. Sorry, I visited the wrong planet, I shall now go back to planet earth. My fellow earthlings won't believe me when I tell them that...
14 - Mark Sahm
I won't take sides on the Snow Patrol or Pink threads here (since I've heard neither). But I can fully agree with the #10 choice, as Jose Gonzalez is a seriously talented singer-songwriter. Veneer has this optimistic tragedy to it that makes it a complete listen, and not just a couple good singles with filler.
Ms. Harper, if you should have the chance to see Gonzalez live, I highly recommend it. I wrote an article here at BC about a show he did with Zero 7 last fall. My wife and I enjoyed his performace a lot, and bought Veneer the next day. Cheers.
15 - r dorsett
your right on with g.r.o. and snow patrol.great songs through entire album.thanks
16 - A.L. Harper
R, you are very welcome! I'm so pleased you liked GRO.