I know I know, you thought today would be the day we’d finally get numbers 10 through 1.
However, it is important to note that there are so many great albums that didn’t make the cut.
The list contains the Honorable Mentions and the big disappointments of the year. Hopefully these will hold you over until Friday which is when we will FINALLY get to the top 10.
There are countless albums produced every year, and it is impossible to get everything, but I try. If I forget anything big, comment away and add it!
Honorable Mentions:
– Ted Leo And The Pharmacists – Brutalist Bricks
– Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
– Cocorosie – Grey Oceans
– Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
– Michael Bernard Fitzgerald – MBF
– Delorean – Subiza
– Zola Jesus – Stridulum EP
– LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
– Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
– Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II
– Four Tet – There Is Love In You
– I Blame Coco – The constant
– Caribou – Swim
– Sleigh Bells – Treats
– Broken Bells – Broken Bells
– No Age – Everything In Between
– Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
– The Cub – Leaf Piles EP
– Grace Potter And The Nocturnals – Grace Potter And The Nocturnals
– Pantha Du Prince – Black Noise
– Grinderman – Grinderman 2
– Circa survive – Blue Sky Noise (LP)/Appendage (EP)
– Sunday Girl – Four Floors EP
– Matthew Dear – Black City
– Chromeo – Business Casual
– Erykah Baduh – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
– Tame Impala – innerspeaker
– Bombay bicycle Club – Flaws
“Dissapointed” List: aka the “ugh, this could’ve been SO much better”
1. Francis And the Lights – It’ll Be Better – The openers for Drake’s tour give so much live, and their videos are live takes of the songs, however this album falls short in all those places it needs to give them the national boost recognition they need.
2. How To Destroy Angels – How To Destroy Angels – Fantastic idea, Trent Reznor, but it falls short of the brilliance in your head. The idea is there, now it’s time for the music to catch up.
3. Nicki Minaj – Black Friday – Nicki Minaj is infamous for her short verses and destroying every song she’s a guest in. However, in Black Friday we see an artist with a vision, but afraid of it. This is evident from the MTV “Behind the Scenes” where she is scared of her VMA performance and the critics. A mediocre debut at best with the gems as bonus tracks. She has the fire in guest spots, see Kanye’s “Monster”, but can’t handle the long run. It’s a sprinter trying to run a marathon.
4. Uffie – Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans – Uffie’s support by EdBangerRecords, Justice and Steve Aoki should’ve given her a full blown chance to be huge. However, after 4 years of record turmoil, the final product was so disappointing. “Pop The Glock” was a huge success and B-side “Ready To Uff” but the rest of the album sees her losing the sound that she seemed most comfortable in.
5. Beatles on iTunes – this could’ve been better if it was…. oh, I don’t know, 10 years ago when iPods just came out. I feel like everyone somehow or someway would already have the full length albums. Right? Honestly, who doesn’t?
6. Die Antwoord – $o$ EMI-Big-Label-Reissue. Yes this was on the Top 50 list but with a re-issue, no new tracks? You’re kidding right? Just the same track listing with better artwork?
7. Kele – The Boxer – Bloc Party’s lead singer trying to make his debut in electronica. While his work with Tiesto was mediocre, his voice seems to constantly clash with the high end production that the electronic music he’s creating demands. If he ventured into chill electronica, see Telepopmusik, I think his voice would be better.
8. MIA – MAYA – you either love it or hate it, and I couldn’t spend all the time to try and like it. while having Rusko on board was such a great idea, it wasn’t coherent and it jumped all over, everywhere in the wrong directions. M.I.A. couldn’t agree with Rusko (as evidenced by his comments) and her ego made this album a hit or miss.
9. Pipettes – Earth vs. The Pipettes – Worst upset of all time. Thank god for The Like filling my 60’s/70’s pop-girl sound.
10. Katy Perry – Teenage Dream – This is the CD you get when you take away the songwriter from her own project. Mainly pop by Dr. Luke. “One Of the Boys” she was sincere, and true. Here we find an artist losing to the industry machine.
11. Darkstar – North – highly anticipated release from Hyperdub records, Darkstar’s sound from “Aidy’s Girl Is A Computer” and “Videotape” was a cool, dark electronic droning sound, but this album seems to have too much space. It split critics in half.
12. Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon II – aka stay with producing other people’s music and keep the role of “I’m too high” rapper to Snoop.
