Ok, so every year we here at InsidePulse give a rundown of our Top Ten of the year. As a follow up I usually give my Next Ten of the year. Not wanting to break with tradition, here are the ten albums that didn’t make the Top Ten, yet still round out the Top Twenty.
9th Wonder & Buckshot – Chemistry
I dig collabos. It’s why I picked up Madvillainy, Jaylib and The Mouse and the Mask. I’m also a fan of 9th Wonder. Buckshot, not so much. Still I gave this album a listen and enjoyed it. I never thought I’d enjoy an entire album of Buckshot rhyming, but over 9th’s beats he sounds great. Again, the beats will have your neck in motion. And having various Hip Hop icons define “chemistry” was a nice touch.
Choice Cuts: Slippin’, Birdz – Fly the Coup, Side Talk
Caesars – Paper Tigers
So, like everyone else I saw the Ipod commercial that featured Jerk It Out and I thought it was catchy. But then when I actually caught the vide for the song, I was impressed enough to try the album. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t what I got. The album sounds like Britrock, yet the bands Swedish. Some songs have an epic and sweeping feel to them, while others are immensely catchy. What results is an album that sounds fun and doesn’t sound like it was made to move units.
Choice Cuts: Winter Song, Your Time Is Near, Jerk It Out
Danger Doom – The Mouse and the Mask
I’m a recent convert to the cult of MF Doom (courtesy of last year’s Madvillainy) and I was impressed with Dangermouse’s The Grey Album mash up. I was also a fan of Adult Swim’s original line up, to I figured this was going to be an album for me. There’s enough “quirk” for three albums on this disc. The guest starts (including Talib Kweli and Ghostface) are on the top of their form. This album sounds like nothing else out. The only reason it didn’t make the list last week is because of its brevity. Just Missed the Top Ten
Choice Cuts: Sofa King, Vats of Urine, The Mask
Feist – Let It Die
For months I had “Feist” written on a piece of paper and was puzzled by what it was supposed to signify. Finally I caught a rerun of Conan where Feist was the musical guest and put everything together. This album is such a mellow experience. Her voice isn’t that strong but it conveys such emotion and is used to great effect. This is just a great chill out album. Her cover of Inside Out is way smooth.
Choice Cuts: Mushaboom, Lonely Lonely, Leisure Suite
Gorillaz – Demon Days
I was torn about this album. I couldn’t wait for it to drop, but I was worried about the lack of Dan the Automator. All of my fears evaporated once I heard Feel Good Inc. (which became inescapable.) Dangermouse created soundscapes as lush and vibrant as the groups cartoon images. And the album actually seemed to have a cohesive feel and actual storyline. Not quite one of the best albums of the year it was still an incredibly enjoyable effort.
Choice Cuts: Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head, Last Living Souls , Dirty Harry
Seu Jorge – The Life Aquatic Sessions
I don’t speak Portuguese, but I love David Bowie. I actually saw The Life Aquatic on Christmas Day 2004 and was slayed by Seu Jorge’s performances. I picked up the soundtrack and was disappointed that he didn’t have more of a presence. So when I heard that this album was about I was pumped. It’s really difficult to go wrong with an album of acoustic David Bowie covers. This is honestly akin to the quality of Johnny Cash’s covers during his tenure on American. This is a really good album.
Choice Cuts: Life on Mars?, Rebel Rebel, Ziggy Stardust
Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth
I’ll be honest; I wasn’t expecting much from this album. I pretty much bought this album because I remember Trent’s heyday. So imagine my surprise when I ended up really digging the album. Trent wisely abandoned trying to remain “cutting edge” and instead invested his effort in making an album full of his two favorite concepts; hurt and anger. (This album has some of the best drums I’ve heard in a long time.)
Choice Cuts: Love is not Enough, With Teeth, All the Love in the World
Sean Price – Monkey Barz
Sean Price is funny. Like almost “Redman” funny. I was never a fan of Heltah Skeltah, but after Nick Salemi suggested I try this album, I knew I had to give it a shot. I was actually impressed. Price has a wicked flow and he’s pretty clever. The beats will have heads nodding, and it strikes me very much of a “cold weather, rocking a hoodie and skully” type of album. It’s got such a vintage East Coast vibe that it’s a treat to the ears.
Choice Cuts: Heartburn, One Two Y’all, Mad Mann
Quasimoto – The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Hip Hop doesn’t have enough albums dedicated to alter egos. There, I said it! Madlib stays the course with Quas’ second album. The samples from other media (movies and non music records) are still present. Quas’ barely on beat flow and uncensored lyrics are remain intact as well. The result is an album that does justice to the debut. Just Missed the Top Ten
Choice Cuts: Players of the Game , Rappcats Pt. 3, Closer
Juelz Santana – What the Game’s Been Missing
Juelz is the future! When this much-delayed album dropped, I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype. Still Juelz managed to avoid the sophomore slump and create one of the best Hip Hop albums of the year. Juelz weaves street tales and club songs into a cohesive effort. He even manages to make me curious about Young Jeezy.
Choice Cuts: Rumble Young Man Rumble, Gangsta Sh*t, This Is Me
MIXTAPES OF MENTION
Notorious B.I.G./Frank Sinatra – Blue Eyes Meets Bed-Stuy
In a year that featured Biggies verses performing duets with a number of artists, this mashup of Biggie and Frank Sinatra seemed more natural and 100 times better. Biggie’s lyrics just seem perfectly suited for the beats culled from Sinatra songs. And when ever Sinatra’s voice appears matches Biggie’s theme. This is one of the best mashup projects yet and certainly makes it worth suffering through the horrid ones.
Choice Cuts: Everyday Struggle, Hypnotize, 10 Crack Commandments
Common/Mick Boogie – Uncommon
This is a great collection of some Common rarities. This is some of the stuff that you’ll never find on a collection of Common’s greatest hits. This mixtape features remixes and some pretty great, if rare, guest spots. It’s a great companion piece to my favorite album of the year Be.
Choice Cuts: Sun God , Who Shot Ya? , In The Sun
Joe Budden – Mood Musik
I love Joe Budden and this mixtape showcases why. He can tell a story and he’s got an insane flow. This is as personal as you’ll hear an MC get outside of an effort for sales.
Choice Cuts: Cut 2nite, Where I’m From, This is For
Juelz Santana – Back Like Cooked Crack Vol. 1 & 2.
Juelz keep the streets hot while his album was on the backburner with this mixtape series (I’ve yet to cop Vol. 3). Juelz rips beats that range from years old to months old. He shows his versatility and his wit by injecting humor in many tracks. The rest of the Dip Set show up, but it’s really Juelz’s show.
Choice Cuts: Harlem Stunting, Mic Check, Time
Clipse – We Got It 4 Cheap Vol. 1 & 2
While label problems keep their second album from being released, the Clipse keep their name hot by releasing two bangin’ mixtapes. Sure Sandman and Liva occasionally weigh things down with clunky rhymes, but Pusha and Malice will have you fiending for their follow up album. And Skateboard P pops up and convinces you that maybe he can carry an album on his own.
Choice Cuts: Studin’ Y’all, Maybe, Hate It or Love It
Thus that concludes my wrap up of 2005. Who knows what I’ll write about next week.
12/31
Greg Wind shares his Top Ten Albums of 2005.
Aaron gives you a rundown of 2005 Hip Hop.
Gloomchen tackles artistry.
Jon has his Top Ten of 2005 list for your approval.
1/1
Ian gets me pumped for a new Richard Ashcroft album!
Phil depresses me with Soundscan figures, but uplifts me with news about Little Brother!
Magazines With the Five Best Year End Issues
1. XXL
2. Spin
3. Blender
4. The Source
5. Rolling Stone
