Dec. 13 issue - There's been a wealth of music to celebrate this year, though we had to scour albums from San Francisco to Senegal to find it. Here's a list of contenders who should find their way to your heart, or at least your CD player.
1. Kanye West, 'College Dropout'
West's phenomenal "Jesus Walks" is '04's best single, and "College Dropout" its most original hip-hop CD. The megasuccessful producer raps about everything but the usual BET/MTV fare. Yes, he's an egomaniac—for good reason.
2. Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones, 'The Original Jam Sessions 1969' and 'The New Mixes Vol. 1'
Outkast's most bizarre efforts seem tame compared with these vintage jams. The instrumentals, which Cosby helped produce for his shows, are funky, experimental and at times hilarious. The new mixes are by varied producers, including Cornershop.
3.Green Day, 'American Idiot'
Forget ironic indie throwbacks like Franz Ferdinand—former MTV sellouts Green Day made the most daring rock album of the year. This punk-rock opera is bombastic and destructive, dreamy and delicate. The lyrics? Brilliant. Who knew that you could love your little brother's favorite band this much?
4.Youssou N'Dour, 'Egypt'
The Senegalese superstar makes an album about his Muslim faith. His vocals, which weave and dip atop Afro and Arabic melodies, are awe-inspiring. If N'Dour meant to show us that his Islam is a thing of beauty, he certainly made his case.
5. Interpol, 'Antics'
So maybe this is an '80s retro record, but at least Interpol chose to pilfer from that decade's most talented New Wavers and punks. If you love Joy Division and Gang of Four, this is the closest you'll get to the golden days of mope rock.
6. N.E.R.D., 'Fly or Die'
The Neptunes took a break from producing hit songs and gave their dweeby alter ego a whirl. The result: prog rock for the Tupac generation. Warped electro effects, acid-rock guitar and catchy boom-car bass are the best examples yet of why it's hip to be square.
7.Madeleine Peyroux, 'Careless Love'
She sounds a lot like Billie Holiday, and that's a good thing. Peyroux, her smooth voice slightly dusty and rife with melancholy, sings standards with the smoky vibe of a true jazz club.
8. Beenie Man, 'Back to Basics'
The dance-hall star crosses over to the urban crowd by combining his Jamaican roots with hip-hop. The talented toaster gets down and dirty, winning the award for the most creative tales about "gettin' bizzee."
9.Bjork, 'Medulla'
It's a cappella, uses a human beat box for percussion and showcases Inuit throat singers. Bjork is still our favorite weirdo.
10. Loretta Lynn, 'Van Lear Rose'
Country music's First Lady sings about her mama ("the rose"), the coal mine her daddy worked in (Van Lear) and many more Loretta-esque tales. Producer Jack White did away with the slick production, so when you look at Lynn you really are lookin' at country.
From Newsweek
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