Friday, December 26, 2008

PUT THE NEEDLE ON IT!: Tauwan's Top Albums of 2008


Our work is never over.

01/Erykah Badu/New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War


I speak on it cause it needs to be said.

I speak on it cause it needs to be heard.

-Cause our work is never over-

And a beautiful world is what I am trying to find.

I speak on it cause that’s just me,

trying to make it over that hump and succumb to that twinkle in my eye I overlook.

"It’s bigger than my nigga,

it’s bigger than religion."

And that is why I speak on it. That is why we speak on it;

That is why she speaks on it,

Ms. Badu,

with her

New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War.

This album is a revelation. A straight up start to finish, top notch LP drenched in reality, drenched in soul. From the opener Amerykahn Promise -a Blaxpoitation Grindhouse theater trailer without the visuals -right on down to the bonus track [that's right bonus track] and "safe" first single Honey, Badu opens her mouth, raises a fist, and tells it like it is, in whatever way she deems fit. [Stick around for the end of Me. Some might find the vocal play weird and out of control, but I think it's clever, nicely unexpected and inspired.] It’s an ambitious, soul stirring effort, music for fans of good music, soul music; you know, that real good shit. You ain't gotta be a fan of just soul, hip-hop, and/or R&B to buy what's she's selling, trust me. It’s bigger than "my nigga", this one is the healer.
KEY TRACKS: The Healer(Hip-Hop)/Soldier/That Hump

  • 02/Hot Chip/Made in the Dark


  • 03/Of Montreal/Skeletal Lamping


  • 04/Friendly Fires/Friendly Fires


  • 05/Jenny Lewis/Acid Tongue


  • 06/Solange Knowles/Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams


  • 07/TV on the Radio/Dear Science


  • 08/The Cool Kids/The Bake Sale EP


  • 09/Conor Oberst/Conor Oberst


  • 10/Vampire Weekend/Vampire Weekend


  • 11/Kanye West/808s and Heartbreak


  • 12/Bon Iver/For Emma, Forever Ago


  • 13/The Black Keys/Attack & Release


  • 14/Hercules & Love Affair/Hercules & Love Affair


  • 15/MGMT/Oracular Spectacular


  • 16/The Kills/Midnight Boom


  • 17/Madonna/Hard Candy


  • 18/Lil Wayne/Tha Carter III


  • 19/Ashlee Simpson/Bittersweet World


  • 20/Santogold/Santogold


  • 21/The Roots/Rising Down


  • 22/Kidz in the Hall/The In Crowd


  • 23/Panic at the Disco/Pretty.Odd.


  • 24/Deerhunter/Microcastle AND Why?/Alopecia


  • 25/Kings of Leon/Only By the Night
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