Wu-Tangs'
Raekwon redeemed the history of the Wu in one clean swoop by delivering the hardest, gimmick-free hip-hop record of the year, even in it's rare flaws, it's authencity makes up for.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs went pop,
Mos Def's The Ecstastic continued reppin Brooklyn and hip-hop at its finest, while TV on The Radio 's Kyp Malone debuted a solo project as
Rain Machine and went Americana, indie stand-outs Grizzly Bear and
Animal Collective dominated. The Knife's Karin Elisabeth Dreijer's debuted solo as
Fever Ray and made the record Portished should've made. Kany West associate,
Kid Cudi kicked with MGMT and Ratatat and South Africa's brightest indie hope BLK JKS hinted at their potential. Picks from my Village Voice
Pazz & Jop Poll 2009 ballot, full reviews via
Culture Bully.
1. Raekwon -
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx IIWith 22 tracks there’s easily a few songs that Raekwon should have sent to the mix-tapes, but still, the overall return to the criminal, coke-rap manifesto is on point. It’s great to finally have an authentic top shelf Wu-Tang release,
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II being a near classic and the best Wu release since Ghostface Killa’s
Supreme Clientele. It is a fantastic, triumphant return to that genuine street shit, full of visual lyrical darts and hard-knock satisfaction.
review
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs -
It's Blitz!At 41 minutes,
It’s Blitz! is a short, somewhat adventurous record that feels like two EPs-one filled with soft-core melodies and orchestral pop, and one that wants to rock, albeit softly like Debbie Harry. Even though it’s uneven, It’s Blitz! proves its worth with keepers “Heads Will Roll,” “Dull Life,” “Shame and Fortune,” and “Runaway.”
review3. Mos Def -
The EcstaticThe Ecstatic shows an artist’s growth artistically without reaching for the obvious. Mos Def’s charismatic voice and playfulness, even when dealing with serious subject matter, shows a maturity and willingness to take risk. And even if not that drastic, those risks are more than welcome in the era of ring-tone rap. Mos Def is first and foremost an original b-boy with tons of artistic integrity and respect for the culture in which he serves as an ambassador.
review4. Grizzly Bear -
VeckatimestGrizzly Bear's excellent "Ready,Able" off
Veckatimest alone is worth all the praise NME would scream of a new Smiths song. The songs melodramatic groove, haunting vocals, spiraling guitars and meticulous, swelling arrangements showcase singer Edward Drose fragile, beautiful vocals.
"Ready,Able"-mp3
5. Animal Collective –
Merriweather Pavillion Post
6. Rain Machine -
Rain MachineTVOTR's Kyp Malone lets us in on his personal travels with emotional charged tales of suffering,love and loss. While I'm definitely not a Americana or folk expert but this feels likes a musicians record. On tracks like jubilant "Give Blood" there's a swing and swanky bottom end. The quieter moments are really stark and a bit sleepy. It's a slow burn soaked in bluegrass, acoustic blues, storytelling, observations of want/love and it's salvation or not.
7. Fever Ray –
Fever RayThe Knifes' Karin Dreijer Andersson aka Fever Ray serves up a banger with the seductive slow dance "Keep The Streets Empty For Me" off her brilliant self-titled solo debut.
"Keep The Streets Empty For Me"-mp3
8. Kid Cudi –
Man On The Moon : The End Of DayMan On The Moon is a very welcome shot-in-the arm album that dispels the notion that hip-hop records aren’t as experimental and daring as past landmarks… Divine Styler is somewhere smiling at Kid Cudi and his tight pants.
review9. Sonic Youth -
The Eternal"Sacred Trickster"-mp3
10. BLK JKS -
After RobotsThe quartet from Johannesburg and Soweto are equally influenced by rock legends such as Rush, Pink Floyd and Television, as they are traditional music of South African Mbaqanga, Kuti, and Bob Marley. This is not the fraternity funk of Vampire Weekend.
review
