a blog about a lot of things

 I wrote this during December and January and I thought I published it. I didn't actually. Mostly written in airports, so you can blame the clunky writing to jetlag. As always, I follow music reviews a lot cause that's the only way I can find most of these bands (that and soundtracks) so the sample is not free of bias. Although the ranking is. And I'm pretty sure if Jai Paul released an entire album of 'Jasmine'-esque quality, it'd take the #1 spot. Maybe next year 20.  El-P - Cancer 4 Cure why: This guy usually makes weird albums and this is the least weird (but still very unusual, especially for hip-hop). Confrontational album but not a call-out, conceptual but not really. An album of paradoxes. Hip-hop that's about hip-hop itself and not what success in hip-hop is like. 19.  Bob Dylan - T empest why: The darkest Dylan album I've heard but still talking about love and tough times and loss. Lots of different song styles and structures o...

20. The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin -1999-USA why: Years later and the band is still getting props for it, so much that they played it in its entirety in July. basically established that lush soundscape that you associate with The Flaming Lips now. It has the twofold effect of complex music with simple lyrics so it never tries to confuse you. It's always completely listen-able. Example Tracks : Race for the Prize, Waiting for a Superman 19. Nas -Illmatic -1994- USA why: The debut and still the best Nas album. The beats are great, yeah, but Nas has the best, most brilliant lyrics and at the time was the closest thing to poetry that you got from a rap artist. Lyrical content that depicts accurately his world while being able to see it and not get sucked in. Example Tracks: Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours 18. Massive Attack - Blue Lines -1991 -England why: The first trip hop album ever. That whole electronic, dub, hip hop and soul merging could only be good. Total soul mu...

70 . Feist - 1234 (2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmEHauRTzJI Why: Sounds like it should be on Sesame Street. So they put it on there. Starts off as a vocal ballad and finishes up with an entire horn orchestra and crashing cymbals. It remains brilliant even though overplayed through that iPod commercial. 69. U2- Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of (2001) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbdX94df3OM Why: Usually the criticism directed at U2 is that they don't live up to their own standard they set with their early works. Maybe that's evolution but this song is a throwback to those early U2 days. A lyrical masterpiece of not letting the past keep you down. 68. Black Kids - Love Me Already (2008) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9V3oITDq0U Why: The perfect mix of alienation, unrequited love and bad advice is how this song starts. One guitar solo and a keyboard bridge later and it all works out in the end. It's the most high energy song that seems like it should be sl...

I'm taking the decade as 2000 - 2009, otherwise there'd be some songs from 2010 on the list. Here's the continuation : 90. Nas - One Mic (2002) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCOURZ-yx4E&ob=av3e Why: The ode to the simple life. Nas finds the perfect lyrics to go with excellent production, managing to find space for both dystopian and religious themes. And he samples Phil Collins; can't argue with that. 89. The Cribs - Men's Needs (2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1ZqqDHofn8 Why: The most infectious opening riff of 2007 sent this Brit indie band catapulted them to stardom . Mostly because of this song being on continuous loop on the dance floors of London clubs. The accent is a bit thick but if you can listen through it, the lyrics aren't bad. 88. Junior Senior - Move Your Feet (2002) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un842Z0EnrQ Why: A song that was the background music for several football trick compilation videos on Youtube.Because the mix of disco, pun...