By Keir Bristol > Northeastern University
By now you should have expected College Magazine’s Music Insider to provide you with a top 10 album list like any other music blog, right? But keep in mind, this is all a question of taste . It’s very hard to judge albums that are in completely different genres. It’s hard to say that Rihanna’s "Loud" isn’t as good as Antony and the Johnson’s "Swanlights" when they are two completely different types of albums by two completely different artists, right? The albums are judged by production, range of topics and sounds, lyrical content, etc.
1. Kanye West – My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted, Fantasy
But all of the production doesn’t take away from the fact that in a shallow way, West seems to bare his soul on this album. It’s a “take me or leave me” vibe, in which he’s very open about his flaws, especially when it comes to his relationships with women… But just as quickly as he admits his flaws, he dismisses them in the same rush.
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2. Joanna Newsom- Have One On Me
Joanna has a voice like a music box- an amazing range with a soft magical tone, similar to the harp she plays in each song while she sings. Have One On Me takes this voice and creates a new set of lullabies for the children of 2010 to learn and love.
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3. Janelle Monae – The ArchAndroid
While Monáe’s musical styles vary throughout the album, the truly admirable quality of the album (other than her absolutely fantastic voice) is the cohesiveness of the album. None of the songs sound the same, and yet they are all undeniably her own. (
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4. Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People
It begins with the song for which the album is titled, “All Delighted People,” backed with a haunting chorus and full orchestra… “From the Mouth of Gabriel” combines classic Stevens songwriting with the angelic chorus from the first track and even a touch of electronic sound effects that sound as if they could have been inspired by UFO’s. And before the album ends with the electric guitar-tinged “Djohariah,” at a whopping 17 minutes, we are graced with a shorter rock remix of the title track. (
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5. Antony and the Johnsons – Swanlights
He is a singer with a rare quality- he has something that no one else can touch. I’m sure no one in the world has a voice as supernatural as his, and the composition of his albums are purely genius. Every song written with poetic lyrics, every instrument forming intricate melodies and harmonies. When it comes to Antony and the Johnsons, there is no such thing as filler; each song is connected AND can stand on its own if need be. (
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6. Drake – Thank Me Later
Drake is in the new school of rappers that are the talk of the town before they have even released an album. Now, with Thank Me Later, Drake has given fans and haters alike more to talk about.
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7. Nicki Minaj- Pink Friday
The best track? Undoubtedly “Fly” featuring
Rihanna
, in which a frustrated Minaj raps inspiring lyrics like “I am not a word, I am not a line / I am not a girl that can ever be defined / I am not fly, I am levitation / I represent an entire generation,” in between Rihanna’s delicate and melodic chorus. (
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8. The Roots- How I Got Over
Although they sometimes throw in some surprises,
The Roots
can always be counted on for several things: thought-provoking,
politically
and spiritually charged lyrics, beautiful hooks and simple live-band beats. (
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Rihanna – Loud
Loud is the total opposite of her last album Rated R… and for those who have been following
Rihanna’s
career, you are probably are aware that
Rihanna
can fit into a variety of genres and she’s not anywhere close to
committing to just one. (
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Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
I’m not sure there is any other band in 2010 that managed to produce a successful album in which the band itself mocks their own fans. Of course, there probably isn’t any other band in 2010 that is gutsy enough to do so.
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Honorable Mentions (in no particular order): Big Boi- The Son of Chico Dusty // Vampire Weekend- Contra // Robyn – Body Talk // Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Ads // Yeasayer- Odd Blood // The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards // Gil Scott Heron – I’m New Here // The Black Keys – Brothers.
Photo by: http://captainsdead.com/arcade-fire-on-live-oxygen.html
