year: 2016 tones of: james blake, kanye, anohni genre samples: electronica, country, folk, pop, jazz music: experimental, soft, layered, misty, beautiful, multifaceted, wispy, quiet, melodic, robotic, artistic favs: 22 (over s∞∞n), 8 (circle), 666 ʇ, 33 "god" notes: yet another album this year that just does so much in only about half an hour. amazing. score: 8.5/10
favs: fml, ultralight beam,real friends, i love kanye (insane brilliance on so many levels), feedback, famous, highlights, 30 hours guest stars: chance raps out of his mind on "ultralight beam". frank ocean both softens and haunts "wolves". the weeknd is perfectly cast on "fml". ty dolla $ign is weird like always on "real friends". it's almost like kanye made these songs for them. score:8.5/10
note: meticulous production per usual. brilliant cubist in song change ups. stellar guest features. multilevel lyricism (back to pre yeezus levels). somewhat scattered but excellent, like a great playlist or shuffle session. kanye has still never made a bad album. impressive.
1. Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of The City 2. DJ Koze: Amygdala 3. Chance The Rapper: Acid Rap** 4. Autre Ne Veut [Oh-truh Neh Vuh]: Anxiety 5. Disclosure: Settle 6. The National: Trouble Will Find Me 7. Kanye West: Yeezus 8. Arctic Monkeys: AM 9. Daft Punk: Random Access Memories 10. Drake: Nothing Was The Same HM. Pusha T: My Name is My Name
T R A C K S*** 1. James Blake: "Retrograde"
2. Lorde: "Royals"
3. Drake: "Hold On, We're Going Home"
4. FKA Twigs: "Water Me"
5. Daft Punk: "Lose Yourself To Dance"
6. Chance The Rapper: "Juice"
7. Disclosure: "White Noise"
8. Autre Ne Veut: "Counting"
9. Pusha T: "Numbers On The Boards"
10. Local Natives: "Heavy Feet"
HM. Vampire Weekend: "Don't Lie"
* HM = Honorable Mention does actually rank at #11 this year ** Technically this is a mixtape, but the quality is the difference *** Excludes repeated artists (#s 1, 6, 7, HM) for breadth
year: 2013 tones of: crystal castles, death grips, kid cudi
genre samples:glitch hop, minimal techno, indie electronica, gary glitter (on black skinhead), hip hop
music: jarring, spacious, moody, stark, minimalist, ominous, forward, pounding, dark, soulful, rhythmic lyrics: scattered, unfiltered, careless, frustrated, honest, disrespectful, defiant, poignant, nostalgic, self centered, weak, blunt, flippant, exhausted favs: i am a god (minus the croissants), new slaves, hold my liquor, blood on the leaves, bound 2 note: yeezy had another classic on his hands here. RIDICULOUS production, but the overall lyrical content is underwhelming. still a very solid album though.
