Blockhead - "Interludes After Midnight" 2012
Blockhead is a funny artist to me. He stays good by staying the same as he always was, which is usually a quality I don't like in artists. He's barely changed his production style up at all since his first solo release, and i'm content with that. I can always count on him to come through with some good instrumental music to chill out to.
The MC Type - "Amateur Hour" 2008
I really think Type is a talented rapper that just needs to find the right balance between comedy and seriousness. This album falls in the comedy category, and anyone who knows me and my sense of humor will probably think this is weird of me to say, but I almost think most of the songs are too crass to enjoy. Dude is insanely talented though, and I think he hasn't created his best material yet.
Killer Mike - "R.A.P. Music" 2012
I never really thought too much of Killer Mike from his Dungeon Family stuff and solo albums, but this album he hits it outta the park. All beats done by El-P, which seems like an odd combo on paper, but really works when you hear it in reality. They found the right balance between catchy down south stuff and El-P's abrasive, bangin production. I especially enjoy the song "Reagan".
John Robinson - "Brilliant Soundscapes Vol. 2" 2012
Little instrumental EP. Most of these beats are only OK to me, but a couple were pretty cool.
Jimmy Edgar - "XXX" 2010
I've been going through this dude's career, and it seems like he doesn't really progress at all in between albums. This seems like a weak version of his 2006 album. Disappointing.
Madlib - "Medicine Show #13: Black Tape" 2012
My theory is that he had 2 albums worth of remixes for Medicine Show #12 and just really wanted to put out another one. I think I actually like this one a little bit better than #12.
Rapewolf - "Rapewolf In Compton" 2011
This album is hard to explain. It's underground rap for people that have been into underground rap for so long, that the current scene is so passe to them that it's annoying and boring. It's nice to hear something that doesn't have some specific formula or agenda coming out of the hip hop scene at all.
The Alchemist - "Rapper's Best Friend" 2007
He just put out the part 2 to this, so I figured i'd go back and listen to this one again. It's a little better than I remember, but still pretty standard Alchemist stuff. I actually think he's been at the top of his game the last year or so with the Gangrene stuff he's been doing with Oh No.
Anders Osborne - "Black Eye Galaxy" 2012
I saw this guy open up for and also play in Karl Denson's band earlier this year. He displayed some pretty insane guitar skills in a live setting. It's a shame that aspect of him doesn't come through in this album a little bit more. For the most part I would recommend this album to people who like The Black Keys, but I think his singing voice needs a little work. He shows promise though.
SebastiAn - "The EP Collection" 2012
This is a compilation of all the singles that were released last year for his "Total" album. I had a lot of these songs already, but I still got 4-5 new remixes from this. I never thought I would hear Mayer Hawthorne's voice over a Rustie track.
Tyler The Creator - "Bastard" 2010
When people get really popular, and I just can't understand why, I find myself obligated to go back and listen again, to make sure i'm not crazy or something. I just can't get into Odd Future outside of 4 or 5 songs total from tons of releases. I wonder if I would enjoy them more if I was still young and on drugs and freestyle sounding rap wasn't played out as fuck to me yet.
DeVotchKa - "SuperMeloDrama" 2000
Going to see them live again in July, so i'm brushing up on the old stuff again. This definitely sounds like their first album compared to all the rest that came after it. Them just trying stuff out, seeing what works. Just a glimpse of the greatness that was to come, but still a good LP in it's own right.
Krizz Kaliko - "Kickin & Screamin" 2012
It's no secret how big of a fan of his I am to people who know me, so I was anticipating this one, big time. He delivers for the most part, I have a feeling this album will have certain songs that will grow on me even more with repeat listens. I kinda wish he didn't try to make a foray into a couple rock/rap songs on here, but whatever, there's plenty of other songs to bump on here, and i'm sure there's some really happy trailer park residents somewhere listening to those couple songs I don't care for. On the flipside- the best songs on here are some of the best of his career, and I feel like this is his most "sellable" album yet, in terms of what regular people might think about it.
WUF TIX - "Scumbag Delirium" 2011
This is The MC Type and at least one other dude, but i'm unsure of who the other people in the group are due to my lack of knowledge about the Seattle hip hop scene. An enjoyable listen for sure.
Jimmy Edgar - "Majenta" 2012
I like this one a lot better than his 2010 album, but it's still not stellar. There's some dope electro sounding stuff on here. The best songs on the album are a lot better than the rest of the album, unfortunately.
Jimmy Edgar - "This One's For The Children" 2012
Single from the album, with an exclusive B-Side and the instrumental of the title track.
Quakers - "Quakers" 2012
I actually don't know a whole lot about who actually made the beats on here. I know Geoff Barrow from Portishead had something to do with this album, and it came out on Stones Throw. I like the A.D.D. nature of the tracklisting, with mostly short songs and a lot of quick interludes, so you don't get bored, and if you don't enjoy something, it will be over soon. It mostly sounds like a fake Madlib album, but i'll take that over most new hip hop. The guest list is varied from new underground cats who i've never heard of before, and some well-known vets.
The Cinematic Orchestra - "In Motion #1" 2012
This is just like any other great jazz or classical album, where if you're into the right mood for it, it is the most relaxing and exhilerating music, at the same time.
