The Top 20 Albums of the Decade (2000-2009)

Posted by Michael on January 12, 2010 under Reviews | Read the First Comment

Why are people always complaining that music isn’t as good as it used to be. I think this decade featured some very fine music. I’ve seen a lot of lists that are so indie it hurts, and a lot of albums hailed not so much because they are *enjoyable* and more because, well, they AREN’T.

My top albums of the decade are diverse, and there a couple lesser known titles, but many of those were a bit bigger across the pond. Some trends I like? A couple oldsters put out their best work in years, some new people broke innovative ground, and others bucked the system… and it made for some compelling music.

I’m actually quite anal about rating and ranking my albums. I have four categories that I rate 1-10, resulting in a possible 40 point total. The categories are: (S)ONGS – How good is the songwriting? (P)RODUCTION – How much detail, how much punch… did the producer/engineer succeed to the fullest? (M)USICIANSHIP – How is the vocal quality, instrumental players, arrangement, etc… (C)OHESIVENESS – The most subjective, does the album flow well, do the songs combine to form a whole that is greater than the sum of it’s parts?

If you like popular music, and you are unfamiliar with any of the albums I talk about, I urge you to run out right now and get it, because you’ll be in for a treat! So without any further ado, let me begin the countdown. Read more of this article »

My Top 10 Pop Albums of All Time

Posted by Michael on March 11, 2009 under Articles, Reviews | 2 Comments to Read

(edited June 26, 2009) Michael Jackson, how did I miss you? “Thriller” and “Bad” should both be on this list. “Dangerous” is damn close. Please accept my apologies in this article.

I hate constantly hearing the cry of “The Album is Dead” or “the iPod has killed the Album.” Since I got my iPod several years ago, I have listened to more full albums more frequently than I EVER did. Having my whole library with me all the time make it just so easy to listen to whatever best suits my mood at the moment.

Pop artists often get the shaft. They are often thought of as just “singles” artists. While many pop albums have sold very well, they are often forgotten in critics “all time” roundups. I can also face it, many times, the albums were of-the-moment and just don’t hold up well. So as a fan of pop music, I wanted to looks at the albums that have held up, and the new ones I believe will still be classics.

I tried to stay with artists that are strictly viewed as pop artists. While many singer-songwriters, rockers, synth-pop acts, dance artists, etc… have had many hit singles, I limited the list to my definition of pop artists. I’m sure many of you listen to their singles or have a greatest hits compilation or have cherry picked tunes from iTunes, but I urge all of you to check out these full albums, the journey is worthwhile.

1. George Michael – Faith – 1987

Monster hits, lush production, George’s great voice, artistic integrity… this album has it all. George Michael was at the top of his powers with his debut Solo Album. Dance hits, ballads, and he even created a new jazz standard, taking “Kissing a Fool” to the top 10. While there aren’t many songs that weren’t hits, most of the album cuts could have fared equally well on the charts. Choice Album Cuts: “Look at Your Hands” and “Hand to Mouth”.

2. Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation 1814 – 1989

Janet flooded airwaves for over two years with 7 top 5 hits from this album. The amazing part was how cohesive all these pop nuggets were in her creative vision. Her pairing with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis ushered in a new era where the producers were often as big a star as the artists… a dubious achievement, yes, but the album is so good, that I can forgive what it wrought. Choice Album Cuts: “Livin’ In a World (They Didn’t Make)” and “State of the World”

3. Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesounds – 2006

The “producer power” Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrought turned into albums that were a mismash of various producers with no cohesion. Justin Timberlake wisely pulled out of this for his second Solo CD to work exclusively with Timbaland. The pairing was heaven. The CD is filled with smart songs, creative production, and a feel of pop experimentation I haven’t heard since the 80′s. Choice Album Cuts: “Losing My Way” and “Damn Girl”. Read more of this article »