By shelz.
This is today’s list. It will undoubtedly change tomorrow and the next day… and the day after that.
Phonte – Charity Starts At Home
You can have your expensive cars and over priced bobbles, Phonte’s easy everyman release is better than whatever you’re rocking right now unless you’re listening to undun. Charity Starts At Home is genuine and heartfelt; an offering that Mr. Coleman’s fans can relate to. He spoke to us and for us and delivered one of the best rap songs of the year with the closer, “Who Loves You More?”
St. Vincent – Strange Mercy
Strange Mercy is a potent comment on well…almost everything. But schizophrenic it isn’t. This is a brilliant piece of out loud thinking that moves from almost embarrassing sexuality to politics and parenthood. It’s bold, weird and brilliant and Miss Clark, with her guitar is a thing to behold and umm.. belisten. The foundation is all about creating and elevating emotion to almost unbearable levels, both good and bad. Some songs come with a release valve, but the better ones don’t. If this album doesn’t move you, you shall not be moved.
Kendrick Lamar – Section .80
The Hip-Hop elderly rarely want to give new jacks any sort of props. We say they want the crown without the dues. They rarely find a lane that isn’t heavily traveled. They don’t respect the culture. blah blah blah. Mr. Lamar (and plenty of his 20-something brethren) killed the idea of the lazy lil boy rapper looking for a handout. Section .80 was a powerful statement about 80’s babies; their collective ideologies, fears and triumphs. Not only did Kendrick rock the house, he taught us something. How many 40 year old rappers did that this year?
tUnE-yArDs – W H O K I L L
I’ve played “powa” more than any other song in my digital collection according to the good folks at Apple. This is the most wonderfully odd and quirky album I think I’ve ever heard. Merill Garbus defies labeling. I can’t even tell you what kind of music this is. The themes and schemes are deep, dark and thoughtful, but it doesn’t come off as melancholy. Damn this chick is good.
Le Butcherettes – Sin Sin Sin
I know what you’re thinking. Punk rock? From Mexico? Word shelz? Yup. I tend to always find some angry lady manifesto to champion and this is it. Sin Sin Sin is clever, playful, shocking, perfectly proportioned head-banging heaven. This is the kind of sonic angst that gets the fed up citizenry to rally around the cause properly, even if the cause is just that tired ass man on your couch. Go occupy something bitches. Your sound track awaits you.
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