Rolling Stone's Top 20 Hip-Hop Albums of 2021
- I mean WTF.. How is CLB ranked better than Little Simz's 'Sometimes I Might Be Introvert'.
- How did Nas' 'King's Disease 2' and Baby Keem's 'Melodic Blue' not even make the list?
- How is Whole Lotta Red the best album of the year, sure it was a great album but how is it the best album?
Donda's Review from the list:
“Who’s the busiest loser?” Kanye asks on his 10th album. Um, go find yourself a mirror, big fella. Donda was a 27-track brain-heart-spleen-ego dump that was at points confounding, exhilarating, morally bankrupt, deadening, and dazzling. Amidst what is, even by the most generous assessment, an athletically unfocused, petulantly redundant two-hour-plus mess.
https://consequence.net/2021/12/top-metal-hard-rock-albums-2021/11/
Not bad for a band well into their fifth decade.
#338 Brian Eno-Another Green World
Brian Eno is one of those artists that I always wanted to get into but never had the chance to sit down and listen to one of his albums. I first became aware of him through his production work with The Talking Heads, U2, and Coldplay and David Bowie. Brian Eno basically created ambient music. Another Green World was his transition from writing quirky rock songs into writing the ambient song scapes that he would really be known for. This album has a good mix of both of these sounds. It reminds me of early Pink floyd. “I’ll Come Running” is the perfect example of this. Its a damn catchy song. The second half really bounces back and forth between the two sounds. This is the perfect album for anyone who hasn’t heard a Brian Eno album. You can hear how it influenced a generation of EDM artists.
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#341 The Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream
Some albums leave a mark with you that is so powerful your perception might be left skewed. When I think of Siamese Dream I always think about the winter. I remember buying this CD right before Christmas 1993. Driving back from the record store it starts snowing and I am driving my shitty blue car jamming out to this CD. It’s a memory I still have when I put this on 27 years later. This is a remarkable piece of art. The sound of the album is very dense. I believe it encapsulates what a perfect 90’s alt-rock album should be. This album can be very heavy at points but also melodic too. Billy Corgan is one of the best songwriters from the 90's. The Lyrics on this album stick with you. I I don't think Corgan gets the recognition he deserves. Maybe because of his reputation of being difficult to work with but that shouldn’t have any bearings on his genius. This album is a journey. It takes you to so many levels high and low. Every track is masterfully done. I don’t think there is a filler track on here. I love every song on here. Siamese Dream contains some of the best riffs you will ever hear on an album. I don’t think another band could copy the sounds that come out of this album. The Smashing Pumpkins are one of my favorite bands of all time. I think everyone should experience this powerful album.
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#337 Bob Dylan-John Wesley Harding
This was Bob Dylan’s return to the folky-country sound that made him a star on the folk scene in the early 60’s. With it’s quiet and laid back sounds it is one of Dylan’s most accessible albums. You definitely could see a change in style from his prior releases. The lyrical content contains references to American outlaws and biblical figures. It is a case study of an artist trying to go underground during the peak of his popularity. It does contain one of Dylan’s best known songs “All Along The Watchtower” and “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” It is worth checking out. Bob Dylan is one of my favorite artists of all time. This one is one of my favorites. It is just a solid and focus album of an artist at his peak.
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#347 GZA- Liquid Swords
There will never be any hip hop group like Wu-Tang Clan again. Their style and talent is unmatched even today. They took the genre to another level. If someone argues that hip hop isn’t music or art, put it on Wu-tang's debut album and this masterpiece. First, this album is a masterclass on how to create instrumentals on an album. The sampling on here is genius. GZA is one of the most underrated lyricists of all time. The album features all the members of The group. GZA is the star though. He flows in and out of this album with no problem. It is refreshing listening to a 90’s hip hop album that lyrical content wasn’t the predictable bitches, hos, and gun violence. It's hard not to get lost in the album I found myself even now listening to to stop what I am doing and get mesmerized by what I am listening to. Isn’t that the goal of any great album to get the listener to be in awe in the listening experience. I would recommend this album to anyone who wants a hip hop experience that makes you feel this music can go to the next level.
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#342 Let It Be-The Beatles
This is the first Beatles Album that has appeared on the RS list. First thing I wondered if they voted on the list now how high this album would sky rocket after the release of “Get Back” the documentary about recording the album. This album is criminally underrated on this list. This is easily a top 100 album. I blame the sad saps who like to say The Beatles are overrated. There is not a musical act who hasn’t been influenced by The Beatles . Their final album Let It Be has aged so well. This is one of my favorite Beatles Albums. Starting out with the beautiful Harmonies of “Two Of Us” which is such an underrated Beatles tune. “Across The Universe” is so simple and beautiful. Lennon never sounded so heartfelt . “I Me Mine” and “I’ve Got A Feeling” are great rock tracks. “The Long And Winding Road” and “Let It Be” are great McCartney ballads. “Get Back” is a great closing track. This is a 5 star album from a 5 star band. Nobody could touch The Beatles in the studio and that's why they are the best.
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#339 Janet Jackson- Rhythm Nation 1814
I heard a great quote about Janet Jackson while Micheal Jackson made albums to just load them with hit singles Janet actually made fully realized albums. Which I think is so true especially with the two albums she has on this list. Janet had it rough since the infamous superbowl performance in 2001. Which was one of the most overhyped conspiracies in the history of popular culture. It is a perfect example of how the media can destroy someone's reputation by making something as silly as a “wardrobe malfunction".they really canceled Janet and her career never recovered. Rhythm Nation was her second album with the great producing team of Jerry Jam and Terry Lewis. The album deals with many social topics of the day. You can definitely see how this album influenced many black artists in the decades that followed. The album has a harder industrial feel than most pop albums of that timeout it still has a funky groovy feel to it. Thank god it doesn’t have that cheesy production that plagued some albums released in the 80’s. The album is loaded with classic pop jams of the early 90’s. It captualted Janet into super stardom. The album stayed on the charts for two years which is an incredible feat for a pop album. If you never checked out this album I would recommend a listen. It has surprisingly aged very well. It is an example of how pop music can be socially conscious and be successful.
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#343 Sly & The Family Stone-Greatest Hits
One of the most mind boggling things RS does on these lists is including so many greatest hits albums. Now I understand including artists like Robert Johnson whose greatest work was done before albums became a thing. Including Sly & The Family Stone greatest hits on the list where one of the other great albums could be included. “There’s A Riot Goin On”. I love Sly & The Family Stone. They made fantastic music in the late 60’s and early 70’s but the deep tracks from the great albums are just as good as the big hits. Check this album out if you need an introduction to the band. I will never complain about listening to “Dance To The music” “Stand” or and “Everyday People”. This album also includes the songs that didn’t appear on other Sly & The Family Stone’s albums. “Everybody Is A Star”, “Hot Fun In The Summertime” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)” So I say check this album out if you never heard Sly & The Family Stone’s great mix of funk, soul and psychedelic rock and shame on RS for the lazy placement where they could have highlighted one of the great protest albums of all time in “There’s A Riot Goin On”
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#345 Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band- The Wild, The innocent & The E Street Shuffle
This was Springsteen’s second album forebearer of what would become his classic period. This Album is loose, raw, and fun. He captures the energy of his live shows. If you have never seen him live, the hype is real. He is one of the most amazing live performers in history. The Alub starts with the band the “E Street Shuffle '' just full of energy and a great way to kick off any Springsteen album. “4th of july Asbury Park (Sandy) a classic springsteen love story. It has a very low key mellow groove that I love. “Kitty’s Back” is a classic Springsteen jam it has infectious groove. The Album ends with three powerful gems. “Incident at 57th Street” proves that Springsteen is getting good at telling these stories about life in the cities. “Roselita” is everything that makes Springsteen and the E Street Band. It builds and builds until it explodes out of your speakers. It is one of the greatest rock songs ever. My first experience with this song is a live version which played on MTV when they played videos, I was a prepubescent youngling and I think this song ushered me into manhood. The album closer “New York Serenade” after the high energy of “Roselita” is the low key energy of the closing track “New York Serenade” 10 minutes of beautiful music. It brings the listener down proves the E Street Band is more than a bar room band. However you feel about Bruce Springsteen he has to be regarded as one of the greatest performers ever. I love his discography and he should Be well represented on this list. This album was only the beginning of his impressive run.
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#351 Roxy Music-For Your Pleasure
I never listened to a roxy music album before this. I heard a few songs and I am aware of Bryan Ferry and Brian Eno. My first reactions were that I got a David Bowie feel on this album. For Your Pleasure is glam rock in all its power. The band plays loose and groovy and Ferry’s voice although not as strong as Bowie’s is a powerful tool in the band’s arsenal. The Album starts out with “Do The Strand '' which reminds me of Rocky Horror Picture Show/Meat Loaf. I mean that as a compliment and not a dig. It’s weird and fun. To me the second half of the record is where it gets good starting with the “In Every home A Heartache” Which is a love song about a blow up doll which makes it even better. “Bogus Man” is a nine minute glam rock fever dream. The album closes with “For Your Pleasure” , an excellent closer , weird and fantastic. Roxy Music has another album on this list and Brian Eno has an entry as well. I can't wait to sit down and listen to them both.
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