It's one of my favorite of his solo numbers.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 01:03 (nine years ago) link
"The Blanguage" is pretty awesome
― some dude, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 02:48 (nine years ago) link
I've laughed off the YT rumors but that T.I. track is the only time it felt like two rap dudes doing "(I've Had) The Time of My Life."
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 02:56 (nine years ago) link
Pitchfork - The 50 Best Albus of 2014
50. Ben Frost - AURORA49. Mr. Twin Sister - Mr. Twin Sister48. Clark - Clark47. Shellac - Dude Incredible46. Ariana Grande - My Everything45. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers44. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Sea When Absent43. Madlib / Freddie Gibbs - Piñata42. Owen Pallett - In Conflict41. Leon Vynehall - Music for the Uninvited40. Ty Segall - Manipulator39. Ought - More Than Any Other Day38. Hundred Waters - The Moon Rang Like A Bell37. Perfect Pussy - Say Yes to Love36. Tinashe - Aquarius35. Shabazz Palaces - Lese Majesty34. Cloud Nothings - Here and Nowhere Else33. Rich Gang - Tha Tour Part 132. White Lung - Deep Fantasy31. Taylor Swift - 198930. Iceage - Plowing Into the Field of Love29. How to Dress Well - "What Is This Heart?"28. Pharmakon - Bestial Burden27. YG - My Krazy Life26. Ex Hex - Rips25. Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste24. Parquet Courts - Sunbathing Animal23. Lykke Li - I Never Learn22. Future Islands - Singles21. Brian Eno / Karl Hyde - High Life20. Vince Staples - Hell Can Wait EP19. Sharon Van Etten - Are We There18. Arca - Xen17. Flying Lotus - You're Dead!16. St. Vincent - St. Vincent15. Angel Olsen - Burn Your Fire for No Witness14. Real Estate - Atlas13. Spoon - They Want My Soul12. Mac DeMarco - Salad Days11. Perfume Genius - Too Bright10. Caribou - Our Love09. Ariel Pink - Pom Pom08. Todd Terje - It's Album Time07. Sun Kil Moon - Benji06. Swans - To Be Kind05. Grouper - Ruins04. Aphex Twin - Syro03. The War on Drugs - Lost in the Dream02. FKA twigs - LP101. Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels 2
― Dan S, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 06:52 (nine years ago) link
no Pallbearer, no Against Me!
― alpine static, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 07:40 (nine years ago) link
Against me was in the honourable mentions iirc
Taylor at #31 despite no review
― uxorious gazumping (monotony), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 07:48 (nine years ago) link
like most lists it's a more interesting list in reverse
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 07:59 (nine years ago) link
I'm dimly and shamefully aware that on the odd occasion I've seen the name, I've filtered Asiatisch out because I thought it was a French shoegaze hipster metal band.
― Doran, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 08:27 (nine years ago) link
xp Lex, you've summed up my feelings about Asiatisch and Future Brown.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 09:30 (nine years ago) link
asiatisch isn't offensive in that it's literally just art school project wank that's only relevant inside its hermetically sealed bubble but future brown, from the name and its connotations (and, indeed, origins) to the ooh-so-edgy bringing in of hitherto-mostly-ignored hood artists to this extremely bourgeois milieu to the apparent way no one can see the immense privilege at the heart of it...ugh. album's dry as fuck obv.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 09:43 (nine years ago) link
Yeah it is dry. I don't know enough about the members' backgrounds to have an opinion on their privilege. It's not new for middle-class artists to work with MCs is it? But I don't have much invested in the politics of grime so maybe I'm missing something. At least Tink and 3D Na'tee sound great on it.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 09:53 (nine years ago) link
not a tink fan but na'tee, shawnna and timberlee in particular have sounded fantastic for many years in many places including their OWN records (and i don't think they've outdone themselves in any way here), because they're incredible talents, and received 1/100000000000th the attention of this
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:02 (nine years ago) link
cant totally believe that RTJ at number one. my krazy life was better, as far as high profile rap albums.
― StillAdvance, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:36 (nine years ago) link
I love both albums but RTJ2 is clearly the one that's gonna find favour with a broader cross-section of p4k writers.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:43 (nine years ago) link
i didn't even like RTJ2 by RTJ standards but i can't even imagine a world in which it isn't white indie writers' token pick. obviously YG was miles better, which is why i expected this result from p4k.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:48 (nine years ago) link
i like RTJ2 much more than RTJ. Voted for it and YG in my top ten.
― Tim F, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:52 (nine years ago) link
Yeah that's the least surprising Pitchfork choice imaginable. An album that recalls PE is going to appeal more than a very good gangsta rap album. Personally I think RTJ2 is stronger front-to-back anyway but then I have corny indie fuxxor tendencies.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:53 (nine years ago) link
i like RTJ2 much more than RTJ.
why is this out of interest? i enjoyed RTJ in a lukewarm way (doubt i'll ever properly enjoy el-p's beats) but RTJ2 seemed even more awkward and annoying than usual, had no desire to return at all
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:55 (nine years ago) link
I'd be interested to read some smart writing about why YG is more than just a very good gangsta rap album. I feel like I'm missing what makes it great.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 10:55 (nine years ago) link
Tiny Mix Tapes - Favourite 50 Music Releases 2014http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2014-favorite-50-music-releases-of-2014
50. Lil Herb - Welcome to Fazoland (NLMB)49. The Body - I Shall Die Here (RVNG Intl.)48. T C F - 486669f0e9b8990384108f3d54c6a8f… (Self-Released)47. Ai Aso - Lone (Ideologic Organ)46. Ninos Du Brasil - Novos Mistérios (Hospital)45. Lee Gamble - Koch (PAN)44. Death Grips - niggas on the moon (Third Worlds)43. The Soft Pink Truth - Why Do the Heathen Rage? (Thrill Jockey)42. Gem Jones - Admiral Frenchkiss (Goaty Tapes)41. Burial Hex - The Hierophant (Handmade Birds)40. Beyoncé - Beyoncé (Columbia)39. Sun Araw - Belomancie (Sun Ark/Drag City)38. Objekt - Flatland (PAN)37. James Ferraro - SUKI GIRLZ (Self-Released)36. Fear Of Men - Loom (Kanine)35. Dean Blunt - Skin Fade (Self-Released)34. White Suns - Totem (The Flenser)33. FKA Twigs - LP1 (Young Turks)32. Fennesz - Bécs (Editions Mego)31. Kane West - Western Beats (PC Music)30. Swans - To Be Kind (Young God/Mute)29. Call Super - Suzi Ecto (Houndstooth)28. Aphex Twin - Syro (Warp)27. Ariel Pink - Pom Pom (4AD)26. Magic Eye - Babylon (Not Not Fun)25. Perfume Genius - Too Bright (Matador)24. Jenny Hval & Susanna - Meshes Of Voice (SusannaSonata)23. Actress - Ghettoville (Werkdiscs/Ninja Tune)22. Pharmakon - Bestial Burden (Sacred Bones)21. 18+ - Trust (Houndstooth)20. Arca - Xen (Mute)19. Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Piñata (Madlib Invazion)18. Valerio Tricoli - Miseri Lares (PAN)17. Lil B - 05 Fuck Em (Self-Released)16. Lotic - DAMSEL in DISTRESS (Janus)15. PC Music - PC Music x DISown Radio (PC Music/DIS Magazine)14. Sun Kil Moon - Benji (Caldo Verde)13. E+E - The Light That You Gave Me To See You (Self-Released)12. copeland - Because I’m Worth It (Self-Released)11. C L E A N E R S - Real Raga Shit Vol. 1 (Bootleg Tapes)10. iLoveMakonnen - iLoveMakonnen EP (Self-Released)09. Andy Stott - Faith In Strangers (Modern Love)08. D/P/I - MN.ROY (Leaving)07. Giant Claw - DARK WEB (Orange Milk/Noumenal Loom)06. Ian William Craig - A Turn Of Breath (Recital)05. Kevin Drumm / Jason Lescalleet - The Abyss (Erstwhile)04. Scott Walker + Sunn O))) - Soused (4AD)03. GFOTY - Secret Mix (PC Music)02. Grouper - Ruins (Kranky)01. Dean Blunt - Black Metal (Rough Trade)
― Ottbot jr (NickB), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 11:14 (nine years ago) link
think i preferred the copeland record to the dean blunt but only listened to each once so yep great post
― Ottbot jr (NickB), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 11:17 (nine years ago) link
― lex pretend, Wednesday, December 17, 2014 10:55 AM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Dunno really! It strikes me as a party record in a way the debut doesn't. In fact in that regard it reminds me of Wu-Tang Clan's Iron Flag (a record I seem to be alone in totally venerating). The beats feel more kinetic than before. Also (alongside the typically great Killer Mike raps) it has a lot of surprisingly-good El-P raps. Like this from "Crown":
Down with the shameDown with the shameCarried the flag in some other men's nameLoaded my weapon and swore to them vengeance and stepped with aggression right into the frayInto the hazeInto the murkTold me to prove to them what I was worth"We’ll teach you to move without mercy and give you the tools to go after the causers of hurtYou'll become deathYou will take breathThis is for everything you’ve ever lovedUse all the pain that you’ve felt in your life as the currency go out and trade it for bloodYou are not youYou are now usWe are the only ones that you can trustYou’ll become fearThey’ll become dustBefore this moment you didn't mean muchYou are the smoldering vessel of punishment born to do nothing but justify usGive us your empathy we’ll give you lustLet yourself go my son time to grow upGive up your childish obsession with questioningAnything we don't tell you is irrelevantEverything you've ever been is replaced by the metal and fire of the weapon you clutch"
― Tim F, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 11:21 (nine years ago) link
ok "more of a party record" was not what i was expecting. i feel like r.a.p. music was ten times the record than either RTJ and that had super-diminishing returns for me.
re: YG, i guess it is a great gangsta rap record, but there's no "just" about that. it's really danceable at its best, i feel that's important.
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 11:35 (nine years ago) link
A Closer Listen - ACL 2014: Top Ten Experimentalhttp://acloserlisten.com/2014/12/17/acl-2014-top-ten-experimental/
Cliff Dweller ~ The Dream in Captivity (Patient Sounds)Erik K Skodvin ~ Flame (Sonic Pieces)Felix Kubin ~ Chromdioxidgedächtnis (Gagarin)Loren Connors ~ My Brooklyn (Analogpath)Marcus Fjellström ~ Lichtspiel Mutation 2: Alechsis (Dronarivm)Nicola Di Croce ~ Fieldnotes (Oak Editions)Public Speaking ~ Within Patterns (Self-released)Squanto ~ Basement Tropic (Lily Tapes and Discs)United Bible Studies ~ Doineann (A Year in the Country)Valerio Tricoli ~ Miseri Lares (PAN)
― Ottbot jr (NickB), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 11:36 (nine years ago) link
i've listened to the copeland and blunt albums quite a bit and personally feel black metal is the grower of the two
― nxd, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 11:56 (nine years ago) link
There are 7 hiphop albums on the pitchfork list in a year where they only bnm'd 2. It was kinda the same last year. For some reason, rap consistently gets lower review-scores and less accolades compared to how much their writers like them. It's really weird. Or really, it's not.
― Frederik B, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 12:06 (nine years ago) link
rtj2 is better than the first one. it has more energy and confidence to it, like they know someone is listening to them now, whereas with the first one, it felt like a bit of an experiment, 'lets see what this is like'. i like the album but think it has too many corny indie choruses for my liking. love that el-p still divides people, even though hes more accessible than EVER. *scratches head* YG is more than just a good gangsta rap record, its like a redefinition of a good gangsta rap record (more musically, than lyrically). but even then its a fucking brilliant gangsta rap record, not just a good one.
― StillAdvance, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 12:17 (nine years ago) link
anyway, black messiah is better than all these albums.
― StillAdvance, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 12:18 (nine years ago) link
Spoon is one of my favorite bands ever, but on what planet is They Want My Soul Better than the St. Vincent self titled record?
― DavidLeeRoth, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 12:19 (nine years ago) link
El-P says that the first RTJ used beats he already had lying around for his next solo record whereas this one was made from scratch and I think it shows. Tracks like Early and Crown go somewhere new, sonically and emotionally.
One thing that mutes my YG love is his lyrics. DJ Mustard does a lot of the heavy lifting on that record. Would have loved more in the vein of Meet the Flockers.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 12:50 (nine years ago) link
Thing is that YG just has such explosive presence and flow and that makes him a perfect foil for Mustard (who otherwise tends to work with vocalists who are average at best). After years of slow autotuned shit and laconic drawl over sluggish beats it's just so refreshing to hear an acclaimed rap record with such force and energy.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 12:59 (nine years ago) link
True. It's just one of a few hip hop albums this year where there was a ceiling on my enjoyment - a certain something missing - which is probably why RTJ2 felt so welcome.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 13:01 (nine years ago) link
hip-hop was so amazing for singles this year but not much of that translated into albums; still two rap albums in my EOY top 10 though (yg and gangsta boo/la chat)
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 13:11 (nine years ago) link
Yes it's been fantastic for singles.
― Re-Make/Re-Model, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 13:19 (nine years ago) link
I'd be interested to read some smart writing about why YG is more than just a very good gangsta rap album. I feel like I'm missing what makes it great. --Re-Make/Re-Model
it's that goddamn momentum-killing "do it to ya," I swear, if you cut that awful track it flows almost perfectly imo
― franch montana (slothroprhymes), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:11 (nine years ago) link
I bought that record in one of my "trying to check up on whatever's popular with the goons this year" sprees. First listen it just felt mediocre. Deleted from ipod. Listened to the Schoolboy Q record more, but that one was pretty frontloaded, imo.
― the mooney tanuki (how's life), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:19 (nine years ago) link
xp the skits are way way worse than "do it to ya" (which is the worst actual song, yes) for momentum-halting, really wish i could delete them. they're so LONG
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:20 (nine years ago) link
the skits are def meh, and although they do add story details they're far from essential.
― franch montana (slothroprhymes), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:22 (nine years ago) link
taking up half the running length of "bicken back being bool" with material that is not the music of "bicken back being bool" is inexcusable
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:23 (nine years ago) link
I'm not really a fan of the R&B tracks clogging up a lot of the second half but it also has Smokin' & Drinkin' on it and that ensures I keep listening, but I don't know how anyone could listen to the first five tracks or so and not immediately sit up and take notice.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:34 (nine years ago) link
the bonus trax "459" and "bompton" are 100% essential too, esp the former
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:35 (nine years ago) link
I got it in April a couple weeks after the buzz and...it was OK? Its brevity was attractive and hence easy to overrate. I kept "I Just Wanna Party" and the Drake collab briefly.
― guess that bundt gettin eaten (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:36 (nine years ago) link
Resident Advisor - Top Albums 2014http://www.residentadvisor.net/feature.aspx?2332
20. Wen - Signals19. Fatima - Yellow Memories18. Edward - Into A Better Future17. Max Graef - Rivers of the Red Planet16. Call Super - Suzi Echo15. FKA twigs - LP114. Answer Code Request - Code13. Dean Blunt - Black Metal12. Todd Terje - It's Album Time11. Head High - Megatrap10. Moodymann - Moodymann9. Joey Anderson - After Forever8. Kassem Mosse - Workshop 197. Francis Harris - Minutes of Sleep6. The Bug - Angels & Devils5. Objekt - Flatland4. Aphex Twin - Syro3. Gesloten Cirkel - Submit X2. HTRK - Psychic 9-5 Club1. Andy Stott - Faith in Strangers
― Ottbot jr (NickB), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:43 (nine years ago) link
HTRK is kind of a weird choice for them but i do love that album
― Ottbot jr (NickB), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:44 (nine years ago) link
19. Fatima - Yellow Memories16. Call Super - Suzi Ecto8. Kassem Mosse - Workshop 197. Francis Harris - Minutes of Sleep
:)
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:46 (nine years ago) link
No Terrence Parker no credibility.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:47 (nine years ago) link
I couldn't really get my head around that Francis Harris record, it sounded like an amazing party going on in the next room, without my being able to get to it. Like it was impressive in its sound design but I couldn't find much to love about it.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:48 (nine years ago) link
Back to YG, it may be front-loaded, but if you leave out "Do It To Ya" (or if you like "Do It To Ya," which, you know, the piano is nice) it's front-loaded with 10 amazing tracks in a row.
― quan voice (voodoo chili), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:53 (nine years ago) link
the R&B run on My Krazy Life rules. it lends color to the album while staying within its character in a way that a lot of Mustard R&B hits wouldn't if they were on the album instead.
― christmas with the canks (some dude), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 14:59 (nine years ago) link
"me & my bitch" is fine, but do it to ya is hopelessly skewered, imo, by tee flii's crap singing.
― franch montana (slothroprhymes), Wednesday, 17 December 2014 15:05 (nine years ago) link