Author Topic: AOTY  (Read 735 times)

Eric/E.T.

  • Elite Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3830
AOTY
« on: March 04, 2022, 08:54:28 PM »
I recently was a bit bored and decided to write down my album of the year for each year going back to when I first really started thinking about music criticism, around when I started reading The Source religiously. I figure, maybe I'll post these, and it will encourage other people to take a walk down memory lane and at least share some of their albums of the year as well.

Starting with the most recent year, going back to '95, when I was 13.

And righting a wrong from 2020 that's been bugging me basically since I made that list.

2021 - Vulture Prince - by Arooj Aftab
2020 - RTJ4 - by Run the Jewels
2019 - U.F.O.F. - by Big Thief
2018 - Daytona - by Pusha T
2017 - DAMN. - by Kendrick Lamar
2016 - Puberty 2 - by Mitski
2015 - I Love You, Honeybear - by Father John Misty
2014 - Run the Jewels 2 - by Run the Jewels
2013 - Yeezus - by Kanye West
2012 - Celebration Rock by Japandroids
2011 - Father, Son, Holy Ghost - by Girls
2010 - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - by Kanye West / The Suburbs - by Arcade Fire
2009 - Hospice - by The Antlers
2008 - Dear Science - by TV On The Radio
2007 - In Rainbows - by Radiohead
2006 - Return to Cookie Mountain - TV On The Radio
2005 - Late Registration - by Kanye West
2004 - Funeral - by Arcade Fire
2003 - 8,000,000 Stories - by Soul Position
2002 - God's Son - by Nas
2001 - Stillmatic - by Nas
2000 - Stankonia - by Outkast
1999 - Things Fall Apart - by The Roots
1998 - Aquemini - by Outkast
1997 - Wu-Tang Forever - by Wu-Tang Clan
1996 - The Score - by Fugees
1995 - Liquid Swords - by Genius/GZA

I stopped there, because I wanted to list music I actually listened to and loved in the year it was made. Illmatic is the clear-cut choice for 1994, but I didn't listen to it until It Was Written was released. Similarly, I was a year late on Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers, which is the best album of 1993.
A witty saying proves nothing. - Voltaire

Verite

  • Elite Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4479
  • Maybach School of Film Studies
Re: AOTY
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2022, 12:46:15 PM »
RTJ3, RTJ2, RTJ4 would top their respective years were I to make a list. Seems like consensus has those ranked in order of greatness: rtj2, rtj4, rtj3. I got 3, 2, 4, 1. For my money, Killer Mike was the best on the planet during 2 and 3.
"When in doubt, seduce."
                   -Elaine May

Eric/E.T.

  • Elite Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3830
Re: AOTY
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2022, 10:22:56 PM »
RTJ3, RTJ2, RTJ4 would top their respective years were I to make a list. Seems like consensus has those ranked in order of greatness: rtj2, rtj4, rtj3. I got 3, 2, 4, 1. For my money, Killer Mike was the best on the planet during 2 and 3.

I go 2,4,1,3. Maybe 3 just came out at a bad time, but it's the one I've listened to the least by far. I am surprised by how Killer Mike has raised his level with El-P's production. I always thought he was just a minor annoyance when he'd appear on Outkast songs, but he's become a force larger than rap.

I actually think El-P's best production work was during the Def Jux era, especially the Cannibal Ox album The Cold Vein and his solo album Fantastic Damage. These are my Albums of the Year as I experienced them, but I'm writing a parallel list with my actual favorite albums from those years. Lots more Radiohead ('97 - OK Computer, '00 - Kid A, '03 - Hail to the Thief), but also '01 - The Cold Vein (edging out Amnesiac).

2009 - Girls' Album, but a lot of the rest stays the same/holds up.
A witty saying proves nothing. - Voltaire