#5 Kanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
We’ve only just barely escaped the hysteria that surrounded this album when it was released a few weeks back, so we’ll refrain from going on about it at length anymore than we already have. We’ll simply say that Mr. Kanye West has gone and made a very special rap record here—one that pushes the genre’s boundaries in myriad unexpected directions and that plays with the very notion of how a rapper is supposed to behave. It’s a flawed record, bogged down by some really stupid lyrics and a good deal of unnecessary length. But remember: all the other records on here are flawed in some ways too. Let’s not hold it against Kanye that, despite what he believes and what some people keep telling him, he didn’t achieve perfection. Key Track: “Power”
for me Titus Andronicus “No Future Part III: Escape From No Future” is track of the year. Nice list.
The lack of The National’s High Violet is a major oversight, especially for such a Brooklyn-centric publication.
the title of this list be top 25 albums for hipsters. All of their “rock” stuff listed is such a carbon copy of that “indie” soft rock that’s so narcisistic (excuse my spelling) which I think might be the fruition of the facebook generation which is completely self-absorbed in their trivial personal drama and completely removed from reality.
For example, you have a song like Suburbs from Arcade Fire and you have a great opportunity to talk about real issues regarding suburban sprawl, sustainability, and the advent of the car-economy and super-consumerism. Instead, it’s personal nostalgia for simple days growing up as a white teen in the suburbs.
FINE. WE’RE HIPSTERS.
(What’re your top 10 albums of the year, that we might more easily situate you within a specific demographic based on your musical taste?)
The spelling I can excuse.
Nice list. Wasn’t that Charlotte Gainsbourg album released in 2009 though?
@madluke
Nope, Jan 26, 2010.
Easy mistake. 🙂
Nevertheless I like this list more than most. A few albums I’d have liked over others but you can’t please everyone. 🙂
Nice list, and you obviously have good taste (thankfully) – I agree with the earlier poster and think that High Violet should be in there. The other big omission to me is Plastic Beach by Gorillaz which I think was one of the most inventive and downright fun records in years. But good job and I love your column!