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If you listened to mainstream radio this year, you would be forgiven for thinking that Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Susan Boyle, and Miley Cyrus were the only artists making records. The Big Music Machine spent 2009 pushing the same ten artists on us. Meanwhile, over on the left of the dial, diversity reigned. From Brooklyn to Africa, artists from the edges pushed themselves to center stage, reminding us that music is at its best when it's lacking self-consciousness and possessed of a sense of purpose greater than climbing the charts. Here are some albums you should have played in 2009. If you missed 'em, you have nine days left in the year and a record store waiting for you. Enjoy, happy holidays, and may all your music have soul. Who was the most overrated artist of 2009?![Monsters_of_Folk]()
PLAY: Monsters of Folk, "Monsters of Folk" This is a supergroup I can love. Indie darlings M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and Jim James banded together to raise the ghosts of '70s AM radio past. Some might call the Gram Parsons-CSN-Neil Young mash-up of their debut album derivative. I call it refreshing. WATCH Monster's of Folk's "Say Please"![A_Fine_Frenzy]()
PLAY: A Fine Frenzy, "Bomb in the Birdcage" Admittedly, there are about 10,000 bands out there with waifish female singers backed by delicate, tasteful arrangements. And admittedly, I'm a sucker for most of them. Still, Alison Sudol's followup to her 2007 debut stands above the rest of the sensitive piano girls for her inventive melodies and the infectious giddiness of her lyrics. WATCH: A Fine Frenzy's "Blow Away"![Grizzly_Bear]()
PLAY: Grizzly Bear, "Veckatimest" The Brooklyn outfit's latest album was full of the twisted, weird folk that has come to define a new musical genre. As ethereal and eerie as "Veckatimest" is, there's something more insanely twisted: the alternate single version (available on iTunes) of "While You Wait for the Others," with ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald taking lead vocals. I'm not kidding. LISTEN TO: Grizzly Bear with Michael McDonald![Amadou and Mariam]()
PLAY: Amadou & Mariam, "Welcome to Mali" The blind husband-and-wife duo from Mali have opened for Coldplay, played the Glastonbury Festival, and count Damon Albarn as a fan. Still, like so many African artists, they are criminally underexposed in the U.S. Their seventh album (with lead track "Sabali" written by Albarn) started to change that. It's got grooves as long as the Niger River. WATCH: Amadou & Mariam's "Welcome to Mali"![The_Avett_Brothers]()
PLAY: The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You" This year, the North Carolina brothers released their major label debut, with producer Rick Rubin presiding over their fraternal harmonies. The Avett Brothers dress like the Band, sing as hypnotically as the Everly Brothers, and write instant classics. The achingly epic title track alone will make you look for someone across the bar to marry. WATCH: The Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You"![Morrissey]()
PLAY: Morrissey, "Years of Refusal" It seems like only yesterday that I was in my dorm room blasting my Smiths cassettes. More than 20 years later, Morrissey is as fabulous as ever. The single "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is enough to make you smile all through winter. Plus, any dude who lets pugs run around on the set of a music video is all right with me. It takes a real man to show off his pug. WATCH Morrissey's "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"![Flight_of_the_Concords]()
PLAY: Flight of the Conchords, "I Told You I Was Freaky" If you watched Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement's HBO series finale, you know these songs, Nearly all of them were released on iTunes immediately after each episode's airing. They're some of the most finely crated pop songs anyone's written in a long time. And they're hysterical. Play 'em and pray they return soon. WATCH: "Flight of the Conchords' "Sugalumps"![Jay-Z]()
PLAY: Jay-Z, "The Blueprint 3" 2009 was the year Jay-Z became a full-fledged pop star. His album featuring the single with Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind," was as inescapable as swine flu. Sometimes the Big Music Machine gets it right and delivers a record that lives up to the hype. I believe Jay- Z's hype. WATCH: Jay-Z + Alicia Keys, "Empire State of Mind"![Mary J. Blige and FFAWN]()
By Shawn Amos Only nine shopping day left until Christmas, which means that this is the final new release edition of PLAY>SKIP for the year. Next week we'll review the must-play and must-skip albums of 2009. In the meantime, here are the last of the new 2009 albums in the Big Music Machine closet. They accomplish a rare feat: they're all worth a play. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get to my holiday shopping list. Have you finished your holiday shopping? (REUTERS)![Julian_Lennon_and_James_Scott_Cook]()
PLAY: "Lucy" (single) It's one of the most famous chapters in Beatles lore: A three-year-old Julian Lennon shows his daddy a drawing of his classmate, Lucy Vodden. Julian describes his preschool masterpiece as "Lucy in the sky with diamonds." The rest is rock history. The Beatles had a psychedelic hit, Julian got dumped by John, and Lucy died earlier this year from lupus. Julian Lennon's single — his first new music in more than ten years — brings the story full circle. He says that his recent writing and recording have helped him forgive his absentee dad while he's been able to publicly pay his respects to his old childhood friend. And the single's damn good to boot. Proceeds benefit lupus research. A full album from Lennon arrives next year. See Julian Lennon's video for "Lucy."![Mary J. Blige]()
PLAY: "Stronger with Each Tear" Don't let the Auto-Tune nightmare of Blige's first single, "The One," scare you off. "Stronger with Each Tear" puts Mary J. Blige one step closer to claiming Aretha Franklin's crown as the Queen of Soul. Her voice is full of the Pentecostal pain and victory that can only come from a woman approaching forty as a survivor — not a victim. Some of the album's beats feel as if they'll be dated by the end of 2010, but Blige's vocals — particularly on the jubilant "I Am" — are timeless. Is Mary J. Blige the heir to Aretha Franklin's throne?![Robin_Thicke_ui]()
PLAY: "Sex Therapy" Robin Thicke has been keeping company with some hot ladies. Over the last couple of years, the soul singer has been on the road with Beyonce and Mary J. Blige. It must have made him horny. "Sex Therapy" takes a page from Justin Timberlake's playbook and attempts to raise the bedroom ghosts of 1970s-era Teddy Pendergrass and Marvin Gaye. It's full of lusty falsettos (in fact, maybe one falsetto too many) that are guaranteed to make your Christmas eve a little warmer. See Robin Thicke's "Sex Therapy."![Alicia_Keys_fsd]()
PLAY: "The Element of Freedom" Keys and her record label are playing for keeps on her fourth album. "The Element of Freedom" — and its massive marketing campaign — is the sound of an artist determined to take over. Keys opens her album by quoting French author Anais Nin ("And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom"), setting the raison d'etre for the 13 songs that follow. Even a tepid torch ballad remake of Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind" and a contrived "Single Ladies" sequel with Beyonce can't slow "Freedom" down. Keys walks the line between confessional heartbreak, pop mastery, and New York 'tude with the mastery of a woman who is... free. Who's the better piano diva, Alicia Keys or Tori Amos?![Animal_Collective_wer]()
PLAY: "Fall Be Kind" This five-song EP contains some extra tracks from New York freak folk outfit Animal Collective. They had a couple of extra songs left over from their January 2009 release, "Merriweather Post Pavilion," plus a few new experiments. Like their fellow New Yorkers Grizzly Bear and the Phenomenal Handclap Band, Animal Collective make music meant to short-circuit your brain while moving your feet. "Fall Be Kind" is not for the musically weak of heart, but it will make you smile. Plus, they managed to persuade the Grateful Dead to allow their first-ever sample (of 1974's "Unbroken Chain") for the space-age stomp "What Would I Want? Sky." That's gotta put a smile on some hippies' faces. What city is producing the best music?![What to Play, What to Skip]()
By Shawn Amos You know things are rough in the world of music when a Chris Brown record is the week's highlight. This week's new releases are heavy on hip-hop and beats but light on memorable recordings. With only a few weeks left in the year, it seems that the Big Music Machine is almost empty. Let's hope that 2010 begins with a bang, because 2009 is going out with a whimper. At left, the cast of 'Glee' gets musical. (FOX)![Snoop Dogg]()
SKIP: "Malice 'N Wonderland" Snoop Dogg wants it both ways. There's the G-rated, family friendly Snoop, who makes mashed potatoes with Martha Stewart, and then there's the X-rated pothead, who brags about his "n-words" and flaunts his half-naked hos. Frankly, the G-rated Snoop is a lot more fun — and inventive. "Malice" feels less like a passion play than a calculated move to protect Brand Snoop against fans who think the rapper may no longer be hard. I'll wait for the album of nursery rhymes. That would be more believable. Who's the greatest rapper of all time?![30 Seconds to Mars]()
PLAY: "This Is War" On the their third outing, 30 Seconds to Mars — brothers Jared and Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic —is swinging for the stadium rock fences. They even enlisted U2 producer Steve Lillywhite to help them build up their anthemic chops. It largely works. "This Is War" is filled with big riffs, big choruses, and big ideas. Frontman Jared Leto even persuaded Kanye West to dump his Auto-Tune (sort of) on the single "Hurricane." That alone may be the biggest idea on the album. Who are the best band of brothers playing today?![Chris Brown]()
PLAY: "Graffiti" Just four years ago, 16-year-old Chris Brown became the first male artist to have his debut single enter the Billboard chart at #1. With his third album, Brown — and his label — are most likely hoping "Graffiti" helps fans forget about his Rihanna troubles. It might. The album is uneven but has some infectious grooves ("I Can Transform Ya," featuring a guest rap from Lil Wayne) and some surprisingly vulnerable moments ("Fallin' Down"). It's a long way from musical redemption, but it's a lot better than watching him squirm on "20/20." Will the controversy surrounding Chris Brown help or hurt sales of his new album, "Graffiti?"![What to Play, What to Skip]()
By Shawn Amos This week's new releases include albums from vindicated R&B singer R. Kelly, vintage live recordings from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and yet another "American Idol" debut — this time from Allison Iraheta. As always, there's a lot to play and some you're advised to skip. (AP)![Allison Iraheta]()
SKIP: "Just Like You" Allison Iraheta was the fourth runner-up on last year's "American Idol." Since when did the fourth runner-up of anything get such a chance at the big time? Does anyone remember the fourth runner-up of the Summer Olympics? The fourth runner-up of the Grammys? No. And there's a reason. "Just Like You" is an album made for the mall and all the Hot Topic kids who will have moved on to the next tween sensation a week from now — which is the shelf life for this album. Which "American Idol" finalist deserves more attention?![Juvenile]()
PLAY: "Cocky and Confident" To me, New Orleans' hip-hop is personified by Louis Armstrong, so I'll admit that I'm a bit out of my element discussing Louisiana rapper Juvenile. The man who brought bounce music to the mainstream has made a refreshingly... bouncy (sorry, couldn't resist) album. "Cocky & Confident" is 72 minutes of deep Southern hip-hop grooves. It's got all of the vocoders, Auto-Tunings, and self-aggrandizing that permeates every forgettable rap album out there. But somehow, Juvenile's vocoder, Auto-Tuning, and self-aggrandizing makes me wanna dance. It's far from good, clean fun, but it is fun. Is hip-hop too misogynistic and materialistic for its own good?![Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers]()
PLAY: "The Live Anthology" Most of the classic rock dinosaurs who could make a claim to be the "World's Greatest Rock Band" are either past their prime or pretending not to be. Petty's hand-picked concert gems from 1978 to 2007 are hard proof that his band may be the most deserving of the title. The four-CD set is free of any fixes or studio trickery that makes most concert albums "live" in name only. It's also a reminder that playing live rock 'n' roll with skilled spontaneity is quickly going the way of the dinosaur. Plus, any band that can play the theme from the James Bond film "Goldfinger" and the Grateful Dead's "Friend of the Devil" with equal conviction deserves some kind of "World's Greatest" title. Who's the greatest live band of all time?![The Bravery]()
PLAY: "Stir the Blood" The Bravery is stuck between early '80s U2 and early '80s Echo & the Bunnymen (apologies to Bunnyman Ian McCulloch, who's made a second career of bashing U2). Lead singer Sam Endicott continues to sing in his best fake-British, post-punk accent, and the whole group pulls every trick from the '80s band playbook. And it's all good, New Wave revival fun. "Stir the Blood" is the soundtrack to the great John Hughes movie that never got made. Hit "play" and pretend it's 1982 for the first time. Who's the greatest '80s band ever?![R. Kelly]()
SKIP: "Untitled" Fresh from his 2008 courtroom vindication on child pornography charges, R. Kelly releases his first new music since 2007's "Double Up." The project was originally to be released in 2008 with the title "12 Play, 4th Quarter," but the album was leaked, prompting R. Kelly to start over. But if you've heard one R. Kelly slow jam, you've heard them all. No surprises here, just 15 more songs celebrating R. Kelly's love of sex —in the bedroom, in the kitchen... he's a simple man with simple needs. Who's the sexiest male R&B singer?![What to Play, What to Skip]()
By Shawn Amos Nothing says Thanksgiving like Lady Gaga wrapped in black vinyl, Shakira wrapped in close to nothing, or Susan Boyle in sequins. Welcome to this week's edition of Play>Skip — full of pop divas, she-wolves, glam wannabes, and grizzled singer-songwriters. At left, Shakira shakes it to "Give It Up To Me" at the 2009 AMAs on November 22, 2009. (REUTERS)![Shakira]()
SKIP: "She Wolf" Maybe it's synth-pop retro burnout, but Shakira's 1980s flashback lacks the humor and believability of those of Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga. Unlike the unbridled bombast of Gaga and Glambert, Shakira seems self-conscious throughout "She Wolf." Despite help from beatmaster Pharrell Williams, the album fees like a career obligation instead of a catharsis — although no one looks better dancing half-naked in a cage. Who's the sexiest Latina singer?![Adam_Lambert]()
SKIP: "For Your Entertainment" The Glambert finally lands with his post-"Idol" debut. "For Your Entertainment" tries as hard as the singer's Sunday night AMA performance. The songs bounce between Euro-disco, rock bombast, power ballads, and '80s synth attacks. It's designed to make sure no part of the Glambert army is left unsatisfied. For those blinded by Glambert fever, the album delivers on all of its overhyped promises, despite its musical hopscotch. For the other ten people out there who haven't drunk the Kool-Aid? This album wasn't made for you. Did coming out of the closet help or hurt Adam Lambert's career?![Susan_Boyle]()
SKIP: "I Dreamed a Dream" How can you not want to love the debut album of the Scottish sensation from "Britain's Got Talent"? Her underdog story has been burned into all of our frontal lobes. "I Dreamed a Dream" was a best-seller before it was even released. Boyle turns the Monkees' sunny "Daydream Believer" into a forlorn ballad. She sings "Amazing Grace" for chrissakes! You must have ice water running through your veins to not love this woman and this album. Call me icy. This whole project is too precious for its own good. Yes, Boyle has the voice of an angel, but after 12 songs of heart-tugging, piano-accompanied weepiness, I was ready for the angels to take me home. Has the media made too much of Susan Boyle's appearance?![Rihanna]()
PLAY: "Rated R" It's impossible to listen to Rihanna's fourth album without looking for clues to her explosive relationship with former boyfriend Chris Brown. Songs like "Russian Roulette," "Hard," "Fire Bomb," and "Mad House" are a psychoanalyst's dream. The whole album is infused with an urgency and intensity of a woman hell-bent on taking charge and taking no prisoners. Would it make for as good of a listen if we didn't have the backstory? Maybe not, but it's still a tight record. Do you think Rihanna should take Chris Brown back?![Tom_Waits]()
PLAY: "Glitter and Doom Live" Coming from the other side of the universe as Susan Boyle's clarion call, Tom Waits' gutter growl bellows like an evil troll inside a black hole. Waits' 2008 tour was a rare event — not only because he plays in front of audiences so infrequently, but also because no one plays a show like Tom Waits. His concerts are a mixture of twisted faith-healer revival, burlesque vaudeville camp, and a Fellini nightmare. "Glitter and Doom Live" is the perfect keepsake for those unfortunate enough to have missed Waits in-person. It'll also put a little dirt in your CD player after all of those squeaky clean synth-pop records. Who's the greatest '70s-era singer-songwriter?![Lady Gaga]()
PLAY: "The Fame Monster" Lady Gaga's followup to her 2008 debut, "The Fame," has her sticking with the same '80s rerun formula that makes her the Queen of the Queens. Frankly, seeing Lady Gaga is better than hearing her. Watch the "Bad Romance" video and try to look away. Listen to the same thing without the images, and it's not as unforgettable. Still, it's good to know 1984 still can hit it big in 2009. Who does Lady Gaga rip off the most?![Leona Lewis]()
SKIP: Leona Lewis, "Echo" Leona Lewis' sophomore album has the feeling of "too big to fail." Lewis — and no doubt her label — were careful to cast "Echo" with heavyweights from every corner of the world of popular music to ensure maximum mainstream takeover. Justin Timberlake dutifully shows up for "Don't Let Me Down," Oasis is covered faithfully with "Stop Crying Your Heart Out," and throughout it all, Lewis lays on the emotional sincerity. The chick can sing. Too bad she can't do it without getting steamrolled by production overkill.Which British diva is most overrated?![50 Cent]()
SKIP: 50 Cent, "Before I Self Destruct" Staying true to his creed of "Make everything your own," 50 Cent's fourth release (which has been kicking around since 2007) is not just an album, it's a multi-platform takeover. Along with the CD is 50 Cent's film of the same name (in which he makes his directorial debut), and a documentary on the late Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC (he was rumored to be killed in retaliation for working with a young 50 Cent, who'd been blacklisted). All of it seems like a rerun of 50 Cent's dark, self-congratulatory rags (and bullets)-to-riches story.Which rapper is the best actor?![John Mayer]()
PLAY: John Mayer, "Battle Studies" John Mayer is a man on a mission. He's long been shedding his pop persona for a place at the "serious artist" table. He deserves it. "Battle Studies" continues Mayer's quest to channel the spirits of the great guitarists and songwriters upon whose shoulders he stands. He's got the mighty veteran rhythm section of Pino Palladino and co-producer Steve Jordan to hold him up. Mayer's also smart enough to stick Taylor Swift on the album (on the super-hooky "Half of My Heart"). Hey, a guy can chase the charts and cred at the same time.Who's the greatest guitar hero under age 40?![Boyz II Men]()
SKIP: Boyz II Men, "Love" One could argue that Boyz II Men have run out of ideas. The male vocal group is following up their 2007 album of Motown covers with a new album of... covers. This time, they're singing songs of love. The playlist includes Journey ("Open Arms"), Cyndi Lauper ("Time After Time"), and 11 other ballads you don't need to hear again — unless you like them with extra syrup on top. "Love" is thick with sentiment, thanks to "American Idol" dawg Randy Jackson. Maybe next time Jackson can find someone to write some new songs for the Boyz. Their voices deserve fresh material. And less reverb. Which song NEVER needs to be covered again?![Dave Rawlings Machine]()
PLAY: Dave Rawlings Machine, "A Friend of a Friend" Dave Rawlings has been Gillian Welch's not-so-secret weapon for more than a decade. The two have carried the bluegrass/trad-country torch across a collection of exquisitely stark albums (Google their cover of Radiohead's "Black Star" to have your world turned upside down). Now, Rawlings steps up front with nine songs that fuse Neil Young, Ralph Stanley, and Bob Dylan with a Friday night at the Opry. It's music that will feed your acoustic soul — unless you don't dig that kind of thing.Who's best carrying the country tradition?![Kris Allen]()
SKIP: Kris Allen, "Kris Allen" The curse of being an "American Idol" alumnus is that no one will let you make an album like a normal person. "Idol" albums must be events. They are marketing campaigns in search of a theme song. Lyrics are replaced with slogans like, "Live with no boundaries" (yep, he sings it). Allen's second album sounds like a million other contrived, overwrought, forgettable anthems I've heard before — most of them from "American Idol" alumni. Won't someone just let these kids sing like normal people?Which "American Idol" artist has the best voice?Play > Skip: The Best Albums of 2009
By Shawn Amos The year's best albums that should be on your holiday playlist
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- Play > Skip: The Best Albums of 2009
