Note: This is purely a personal list of my favorite albums. If you don’t like them, that’s fine. Some albums do contain explicit content. The way I choose my favorites are how often I listen to them, personal significance, how many songs I don’t like on the album (or, don’t love) and sonically how the music is (although, lyrics mean a lot to me too). To allow you to know why I love these albums, I’ll provide a quick blurb along with my favorite song and lyric from each album. Finally, if you haven’t heard these albums, I recommend trying them; I listen to music virtually all day, every day (aside from a podcast or Ted Talk in the given day). Without further ado:
10. You Get What You Give (2010) by Zac Brown Band
This will be the only country album on the list, but for good reason: it’s a strong album that shifts and swings in a myriad of ways. From being fun-loving and energetic (Knee Deep), to falling into lulls at times (Colder Weather), the album holds strength in balance. With powerful tunes to softer ones, it holds attention very well and for a country album, is well done (I listen to country, but not many full albums).
Favorite song: Every Little Bit [Live]
Favorite lyric: “Now I'm falling in love as she's walking away/And my heart won't tell my mind/To tell my mouth what it should say.”- As She’s Walking Away
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28793675
9. The Cool (2007) by Lupe Fiasco
Consensus seems to be this is his best album. Supposedly a conceptual album (I say supposedly because it doesn’t feel like one), The Cool showed what Lupe Fiasco is capable of intelligent songs that challenge the status quo…while also having a hit with “Show Goes On”. A decade later and people still love this album, including myself. “Kick, Push” is a fun song and this album has things to say as well.
Favorite song: Gotta Eat
Favorite lyric: “I'm fearless, now hear this, I'm earless/And I'm peerless, that means I'm eyeless/Which means I'm tearless, which means my iris/Resides where my ears is, which means I'm blinded…”- Dumb it Down
Image Credit: Wikimedia
8. Sigh No More (2009 and 2010)* by Mumford and Sons
The introduction to a genre I would come to continue to enjoy, this album is special to me in a variety of ways. From Shakespearean references, to strumming banjos and even references to God, it’s an exciting album. Babel (2012) is probably the better album, but this one is favored more by myself. Marcus Mumford brings a certain life to the music with his singing and the lyrics they wrote together.
Favorite song: Sigh No More
Favorite lyric: “How fickle my heart and how woozy my eyes/I struggle to find any truth in your lies/And now my heart stumbles on things I don't know/My weakness I feel I must finally show.”
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25341545
7. Jackie Wilson: 20 Greatest Hits by Jackie Wilson
While the album is a compilation of greatest hits, I enjoy these songs too much to not include it on the list. With Jackie Wilson’s soaring vocals, emotive power and fun tunes (for the most part) this album is just overall fun to have and listen to. There’s not much I can say about Jackie Wilson that others haven’t, so I’m just going to stop there.
Favorite song: To Be Loved
Favorite lyric: “That one day you'll return/'Cause everyday that you've been gone away/You'll know my heart does nothing but burn.”- Lonely Teardrops
6. Because the Internet (2013) by Childish Gambino
The second best concept album I’ve heard in my life so far, Childish Gambino (aka Donald Glover, aka: Troy Barnes) creates an album about internet culture and the affects thereof. It’s filled with internet ideas and concepts. With beats that create the sometimes somber notes, along with others that give the album more life when it needs it, the album itself is ordered correctly and even has a script associate with it. Also, all the music videos tie-in together if you watch them in their order on the album. A lot of effort for what turned out to be a strong project. ‘Bino is a nerd, unapologetically, as a fellow nerd: I love his music. His newest album came out at the end of last year and is opposite to this album in terms of sound, production…the whole nine.
Favorite song: IV. Sweatpants
Favorite lyric: “Retweet the truth then regret the mentions/ We are the wireless survivors of things gone.”- II. Earth: The Oldest Computer (The Last Night)
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41245215
5. To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) by Kendrick Lamar
To Pimp a Butterfly is the third album by rap superstar Kendrick Lamar and was met with critical acclaim upon release. With jazz influences and production oozing in throughout the album, Kendrick provides a summation of his life in the past two years along with what’s been happening to the black community as well. It provides the strongest political and societal commentaries of all albums on this list with powerful lyrics and the best emotion for rap music in recent memory.
Favorite song: How Much a Dollar Cost
Favorite lyric: “Where was your antennas? Where was the influence you speak of? You preached in front of 100,000 but never reached her…”- u.
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46240164
4. Channel Orange (2012) by Frank Ocean
I have to give his latest album, Blond(e), more listens before it jumps the list. Fun fact: I didn’t listen to the whole album for the first time until mid-2014. Frank Ocean’s singing voice is amazing, the beat work is amazing but truly this album follows a concept very well (unrequited love), better than other “concept” albums I’ve heard. There’s no song on this album I’d get rid of because of the flow of the album…but it’s not number one or even in my top three because it doesn’t mean as much as the other albums on my list do.
Favorite song: Pink Matter feat. Andre 3000
Favorite lyric: “The market’s down like sixty stories/And some don’t end the way they should/my silver spoon has fed me good/A million one, a million cash/ Close my eyes and feel the crash.”
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3659303...
3. Tetsuo & Youth (2015) by Lupe Fiasco
Yes, twice on this list prolific (and my personal favorite) rapper Lupe Fiasco shows up on this list. T&Y is laced with lyrical miracles, concepts and possibilities proposed by others that still has some wondering some of the messages behind the album. He tackles issues in society, mainly contemporary American issues, as he always has but with less force and more thought this time. His last album with Atlantic Records (whom he’s had many disputes with) Lupe brings back The Cool in a dominant album. There are songs that go on too long, something Lupe himself acknowledged, but with the help of hacker group Anonymous, Lupe got to release the album he wanted…not the one Atlantic forced him to do (ahem…Lasers).
Favorite song: Prisoner’s Pt. I & II
Favorite lyric: All of Mural.
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44576438
2. Georgica Pond (2016) by JohnnySwim
Honestly, I didn’t learn about this duo until October of 2016 but I fell in love with them and their album(s) fast. It’s the album that has come closest to surpassing my next album on the list. JohnnySwim is a duo consisted of Amanda Sudano (daughter of legend Donna Summer) and Abner Ramirez. This album is filled with magical melodies and the chemistry between Abner and Amanda is very strong (they are married and have a kid, who makes an appearance in the album). Both of them have wonderful singing voices and fun lyrics central to the topic of love. Quite the contrast to my next album…
Favorite song: First Try
Favorite lyric: “Caught up in, this friendly fire/Wounded by, what we admire/ What drives us crazy draws us closer”- Villians
Image Credit: NPR Music
1. For Emma, Forever Ago (2007) by Bon Iver
If you know me personally, this shouldn’t be a surprise. The first time I heard this album I was in love with it. While it’s being a breakup album, it’s truly felt throughout. With the calm strumming, Bon Iver’s awesome voice and songs to relax to, I listen to this album at least once a week. Lead singer Justin Vernon had escaped to a cabin in the woods of Wisconsin after his breakup with his girlfriend, became ill with mono and wrote this whole album. Aside from the masterful work on the construction of the beats, it’s the lyricism that creates the imagery Bon Iver supplies that really takes this album.
Favorite song: Re: Stacks
Favorite lyric: “There’s a black crow sitting across from me; his wiry legs are crossed”- Re: Stacks
By Source, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16093878
*- Released in 2009 in the UK. 2010 in the US.
Honorable Mentions:
1. 1999- Joey Bada$$
2. Acid Rap- Chance the Rapper
3. Bon Iver- Bon Iver
4. Graduation- Kanye West
5. We Got it From Here…Thank You 4 Your Service- A Tribe Called Quest
Well, that's my personal list, hope you check out some of the music if you haven't heard them before. Again, it's just my list and y'all can have your own.
