Best of 2008

Preach Jacobs for the Free-Times
1. Erykah Badu, New Amerykah, Vol. 1 (Motown)
(10 points)
This is the first full-length album the queen of neo-soul released in eight years. Even though she might have taken people for a loop who were looking for more sappy-jazzy-tunes of her past, this album explored more funk and sass that the public wasn’t use to hearing from her. I for one love the effort and commend her no fear attitude. Artists, take notes.

2. Black Keys, Attack & Release (Nonesuch)
(10 points)
I love this album. The music was intended for the late, infamous Ike Turner, but due to scheduling conflicts and death of the blues star, Dan Auerbach and Pat Carney decided to save the tunes for themselves. Throw Grammy golden boy Danger Mouse in the mix and you have the perfect blues-rock hybrid.

3. Black Milk, Tronic (Fat Beats)
(10 points)
Ever since the death of J. Dilla, many wondered who would take the torch as elite boom-bap producer. It’s become very clear that Black Milk is up to the task, as his latest opus is as perfect of a hip-hop record I’ve heard in a while. I believe Black Milk released the best hip-hop album of the year, and I dare anyone to prove me wrong.

4. Foreign Exchange, Leave It All Behind (Hard Boiled)
(10 points)
Rappers don’t want to rap anymore. Well, it’s really a problem in this instance because Phonte of Little Brother can sing his ass off. Backdrops produced by indie-producer superhero Nicolay equals a great offering of house-soul and hip-hop all into one.

5. Al Green, Lay It Down (Blue Note)
(10 points)
One of the greatest soul singers of the past 30 years is back. Of course, he’s had his moments with the hot grits and turned to gospel, but he’s back in R&B form with his throwback modern-day classic.

6. Kings of Leon, Only By the Night (RCA)
(10 points)
The Southern rockers are back and catchier than ever. Who would’ve thought they started out with religious-oriented content with songs like “Sex on Fire”? Kings of Leon prove once again that they are one of the best rockers out there today.

7. N.E.R.D., Seeing Sounds (Interscope)
(10 points)
The all-time hipster beat-maker comes out with another passion project under the N.E.R.D. moniker. It’s impossible to accurately define the sound, as it’s a jambalaya of every possible genre except country. It’s a testament to how good artists can sound when they’re not thinking about album sales.

8. One Day as a Lion, One Day as a Lion (ANTI)
(10 points)
Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine and Jon Theodore of The Mars Volta release another revolutionary-inspired record loud enough the shake the establishment. Zach is in top form over heavy baselines and threatening drums. Only complaint is that it’s an EP and not a full-length.

9. Q-Tip, Renaissance (Motown)
(10 points)
If A Tribe Called Quest was to put out an album now, we would be lucky if it sounded remotely like this. Tip, one of the last active members of The Native Tongues, produces a great collection of jazzy-honest-hip-hop music reminiscent of Tribe’s glory years. Also, anyone able to get D’Angelo out of hiding gets my support any day of the week.

10.Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It (Sony)
(10 points)
The ex-frontman of Tony! Toni! Tone! returns with his third solo-effort that reminds you of an old Smokie Robinson record. Replacing neo-soul grooves from his previous efforts with ‘60s throwback tunes proved that Amy Winehouse isn’t the only person that can have a great album by recreating vintage soul music.