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Music

Jason Richards’ Top 10 albums

A lot of thought went into creating a top ten list of the year’s best music. But obviously not everyone agrees. So, for the next week, NOW will be posting top ten lists from all our individual music writers – all the different opinions that went into creating that master list. Watch NOW Daily for a new list every day.

1. KANYE WEST My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)

I know, such a cop-out to make this number one, but shut up because who deserved it more? Hip-hop on some Renoir shit. The only stain on the upholstery: that aggravating Chris Rock cameo on Blame Game.

2. JOANNA NEWSOM Have One On Me (Drag City)

Harp-plucking new-millenium-Kate Bush came with a record denser than the population of Jakarta.

3. RICK ROSS Teflon Don (Slip N Slide)

For years, no one took dude seriously cause he rhymed “Atlantic” with “Atlantic,” rocks a big, stupid pendant of his own face encrusted with canary diamonds, and turned out to be a correctional officer. But now who’s laughing? Hint: his name rhymes with “dick floss.”

4. SLEIGH BELLS Treats (N.E.E.T./Mom and Pop)

Pretty much the dopest way to get tinnitus.

5. DAS RACIST Sit Down, Man (Mad Decent)

So quotable, they should be signed to Bartlett’s.

6. BIG BOI Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son Of Chico Dusty (Def Jam)

Yo, this album by the Felix Unger of Outkast only moved 62,000 (U.S. Soundscan) in its first week. What is wrong with everyone?

7. GIL SCOTT-HERON I’m New Here (XL)

So grimy, I want to hose it down with CLR, let that shit sit for an hour, put on some rubber gloves and go at it with a Brillo.

8. CURREN$Y Pilot Talk II (BluRoc/DD172/Def Jam)

Why Jay-Z stopped working with Ski Beatz, who did all the beats on this thing, is anybody’s guess. Spitta talks so greasy here, he should change his rap name to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. Actually, I take that back – that’s not a good rap name at all!

9. THE-DREAM Love King (Radio Killa/Def Jam)

If Prince was alive today, this is the kind of album he’d make. Yeah, I know Prince is still alive, but you know what I’m saying.

10. DIE ANTWOORD $O$ (Cherrytree)

These phony baloney “rave rappers” winningly exploited the fact that nobody knows anything about South African culture except for like, Mandela and District 9, and distilled that ignorance into a brash cornucopia of artistry and outsider bravado.

Honorable mention

KATY PERRY Teenage Dream (Capitol)

Obviously this wasn’t great, but I have a huge crush on her. Plus, the title track makes me feel like a 14-year-old girl who posts YouTube videos that get 65 views on average.

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