25. Jay-Z - The Black Album (2003)
I can remember hearing "Dead Presidents" from Jay's debut Reasonable Doubt back in '96. It instantly became one of my favorites. That album introduced us to quite possibly the largest ego in the rap game over the past 13 years. That's saying a lot. This is rap music, afterall, where self love is necessary for success. Jay proceeded to release his second album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 in '97 and even back then there were rumors that "Hova" had plans to release Vol. 2 & 3 and then call is quits, going out on top. I thought it was brilliant. He would be a legend, the only man to walk away from the business on his own accord, after dropping four classics. As we got closer to Vol. 3 though, it started to become clear that Jay had no intention on following through with his plan. He showed no signs of slowing down, there were no references to retirement hidden in Vol. 2 and I started to lose respect for Jay. He would then release four more albums of mediocrity. He seemed content with selling records on his name, with making club hits and doing it as quickly as possible. Lyrics were no longer relevant, just get it on the radio. I was embarrassed for him when Eminem so clearly out shined him on his own record with "Renegade" back in '01. Rumor was Jay became known for laying lyrics down in one take, refusing to go back and try it again and as impressive as that seems at times it's equally as obvious that it's a weakness of hubris.
So, when talk about Jay's retirement record resumed in 2003 I took it with a grain of salt. I was a bit surprised when The Black Album was released. He actually tried to say goodbye. Maybe he really believed that he could walk away. Maybe that's what pushed him to use some more effective quality control, to be more honest, to make real music again. He makes a welcome confession on "Moment of Clarity" - I dumb down for my audience/And double my dollars/They criticize me for it/Yet they all yell "Holla"/If skills sold, truth be told/I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli/Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense (but I made five mil)/I ain't been rhymin' like Common since.
Jay-Z = self-proclaimed sell out.
Funny thing is, we forgive him. He tried to go out in style, displaying his entire talent, returning to story telling, hiring the industries top beat makers, making a song and video with Rick Rubin and in trying to say goodbye, left us wanting more. It was a perfect farewell. Of course, he had to go and ruin it three years later with another album full of fluff. Did you not have enough money, Jay?
24. Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street (2004)
Here is another one that I'm surprised Paste overlooked. The Norwegian duo of Erlend Øye and Eirik Glambek Bøe make some pretty great folk music together. It's easy to compare them to Simon & Garfunkel (hear "Homesick" or "Surprise Ice"), but for some reason that doesn't seem fair. Their vocal harmonies are reminiscent though and sound like pure gold. So smooth and calming, the two of them compose soft and stirring songs about love and it's complications. On this, their second album, they sweeten the deal with guest vocals by Feist on "Know How" and "The Build-Up." As opposed to the Knife, this is the kind of music you might imagine hearing while taking in Scandinavia's lush country side.
These guys possess an excellent sense of rhythm and have a way of making the simple intricate. Guitars perfectly picked, pianos weaving in and out, bass lines rolling - the Kings are craftsmen. And it seems to me that Erlend Øye can do no wrong. If you haven't heard his album Unrest or Dreams, the first release from his other band, The Whitest Boy Alive, you need to take a time out right now and find them. Look here.
23. John Legend - Get Lifted (2004)
If you've been following along, then you probably already know why I'm including Get Lifted in my list. I gave up on R&B music a long time ago. When Babyface lost his grip on the industry in the late '90s and R. Kelly's bump 'n grind sex music took over the air waves (12 Play ruined the genre forever) I found the whole thing rather boring and...offensive. Fortunately for all of us, Kanye West stepped out of the shadows in '04, flexed his ego and took the industry by storm. With him he brought a handful of talented artists that seemed to bring a new relevance to hip-hop and R&B. John Legend has certainly contributed to and enjoyed Kanye's revolution. That's not to take away from Legend's talent, however. He is deserving of the critical acclaim and Grammy nominations.
Legend's voice and style is a throwback to the great soul singers of the past (perhaps selecting "legend" as a stage name is more appropriate than it is ambitious). His first words on the opening track of this, his debut, are "I got something new for you..." but the truth is, there is really nothing new happening here. This is more like something old - a return to original song writing, live instrumentation and excellent production. The fact that "Ordinary People," a song about an aging love, featuring just John and his piano, was a chart topping hit that received heavy rotation on national hip-hop radio stations is nothing short of historic for this decade.
22. My Morning Jacket - Z (2005)
Talk about unexpected, prior to 2005 My Morning Jacket was just your run of the mill southern sounding folk-rock band. They were pretty good at that, but Z is pretty much a complete departure from their previous sound. The heavy re-verb is gone and a heavy emphasis on experimentation takes it's place. The circus-like opener "Wordless Chorus" makes that clear. What we find is a much bigger sounding band, one capable of composing carnival theme songs ("Into the Woods"), gospel-rock sing-a-longs ("What a Wonderful Man") and broader versions of their previous vision of Americana ("Gideon"). They achieve this by employing new instruments, lots of synth and letting Jim James' voice be heard.
It's more up-tempo, the drums sound fantastic and "It Beats 4 U" will get stuck in your head for days. It's just a great album.
21. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)
I almost didn't put this one on the list. Then I remembered that it became the fastest selling debut album in UK history and still is the fastest selling debut for a band. That's quite an accomplishment. Think about it for a second. Oasis, Radiohead, Coldplay...The Beatles - there have been a ton of successful debuts across the pond. Whatever People Say is also one of the first albums to achieve retail success by using the web to build all their buzz, without the aid of a record label. Of course, none of that actually means the music is any good. It just means the Arctic Monkeys are popular. However, unlike The Rollings Stones (most overrated band ever! yes, I said it!!) these four dudes from England do make some decent music.
This is the UK's version of post-punk and if you ask me it sounds more like The Clash and The Sex Pistols than anything The Strokes have ever created. Paste hits it right on with their description of this one, including their link to The Streets Original Pirate Material, which I almost want to include in my list as well. Whatever People Say is a soundtrack for "British youth culture," and an outlet for the "young and bored." In fact, I don't think this record works if it's not British. Imagine hearing "Riot Van" without Alex Turner's accent. It doesn't make sense. It might just be my fascination with all things English, but just the fact that words like "coppers," "lads," and "scummy man" are in play here is enough to sell me on this album.
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