(Nov 2008-Nov 2009)
#10- Billy Talent III- Billy Talent
The Canadian Post-Hardcore outfit, returns once more, this time with a far more refined, mature sound. The first album where it feels as if they really know what they're doing as a band, refined gentlemen in a youthful thrashers genre.
#9- The Fame- Lady Gaga
Whatever I think of her music, her level of creativity as an artist is almost unrivaled. Her vocal capabilities, influence from various pop stars and heavy sense of style makes up for the lack of substance. This really goes out to Lady Gaga, not her album.
#8- Theatre of the Mind- Ludacris
The South normally spawns gangsta rappers speaking ignorantly and falsely of the glitz and glamour of hip-hop and making neurotic, uninteresting folklore of the thug life. Ludacris is one of the few talented performers from that area, and lately he's been trying out a darker, deeper styele of substance, to even sharper effect in Theatre of the Mind. The King of the South maintains his throne.
#7- Homesick- A Day to Remember
One of the better bands in todays Post-Hardcore scene, ADTR branches out even more. The album is a highly potent combination of death metal growls, melodic hardcore beats, the occasional pop punk and the raw artistic force of the hardcore genre, which nimbly contains commentary on themes of hatred, redemption, honesty and sorrow.
#6- Fantasies- Metric
The dreamlike album sends echoes through the minds of its listeners with its constant remakrs and complaints on society. The band frequently also questions our motives in reality. In true indie spirit, once you pick up this album it touches your soul in ways few other genres can. Brilliant stuff.
#5- It's Blitz! - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Thematically, the album isn't perfect, but the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are known for their creativy, and this album has few equals. A highly eclectic blend of dream pop,alternative dance and dance-punk, a deftly handled semi-departure from their signature art punk sound. We need more innovators like them in the game, their extending the art form.
#4- Old Crows/ Young Cardinals- Alexisonfire
Alexisonfire once again shows that they are arguably the greatest Post-Hardcore group in Canada right now. Their kinetic rhythms, the sombre beats, the silently furious melodies, matched up perfectly with the intensity of George Petit and the surreal sounds of Dallas Green. The best part is, there is a recognizable influence from the old school emo bands of the early 90's and late 80's.
#3- 808's and Heartbreak- Kanye West
It isn't particularly easy to display emotions of sadness and misery in the Hip Hop genre. Few rappers are able to pull it off. Kanye West must have thought the same, so he decided to switch to a Pop/R&B sound in order to get his feelings out, to great effect. The beautiful production fits perfectly with the haunted lyrics, and the whole thing is a testament to Kanye West's ability as an artist in general.
#2- Day and Age- The Killers
One of the more underrated mainstream bands in the business, The Killers do something different each time. They're first album, Hot Fuss, was more traditional Post-Punk Revival, the second album, Sam's Town, was a mix of their previous sound and Heartland Rock. Day & Age is a fusion of their signature sound of post-punk with the stylings of New Wave music. To wonderous effects. Themes of human individuality and questions of modern life are perfectly stage to upbeat electronic sounds. It's not only "they're most playful album yet" but most likely they're best too.
#1- Man on the Moon: The End of Day- Kid Cudi
An insatiably eclectic, mind numbing fusion of hip-hop, psychedelic rock, and electronica. The album goes from dreamlike, to harshly realistic in the blink of an eye, and displays only the creativity and depth of a mind left harmed by the world. In addition the emotional connection I feel with the album is very strong, it's easy to relate with Cudder. The darkness within us can be our biggest bother, our biggest fear, the pains we hide are shared by everyone. That we keep ourselves away from the universe and become walking wounds, ticking time bombs, dark shadows of what we could be as the conclusion. Unconventional genius.
