Adam’s World Top 25 of 2007 Part IV of V
The fourth installment of my Top 25 Albums of 2007, albums 10-6, includes two famous rockers’ latest projects, two extremely skillful MCs from opposite sides of the country, and a mash up of epic proportions.
10) Sixx: A.M. – The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack
In 2007 one of the strongest rock albums I heard came courtesy of Motley Crue bass player and songwriter Nikki Sixx’s new project Sixx: A.M. The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack is the accompaniment to Sixx’s book, which is a diary of a drug filled year in his life, and it features some fantastic lyrics about coping with addiction and recovery. Highlights include "Van Nuys," "Pray For Me" and “Accidents Can Happen,” the latter giving hope to those who have the occasional misstep, while “Dead Man’s Ballet,” as depressing as it is lyrically, features the full scope of the band’s musical abilities.
Song you need to hear: Van Nuys
Website: sixxammusic.com
9) Homeboy Sandman – Nourishment
Many artists who have a rapid fire flow like Homeboy Sandman’s can’t seem to ever find a groove musically. They have their flow and that’s about it. Homeboy Sandman, on the other hand, carves out a unique niche for himself with Nourishment where he proves a rapid fire flow can be combined with interesting and catchy beats. For one song he interpolates Lily Allen’s “Knock ‘Em Out” while on another he rhymes off the beat he makes clapping his hands. All in all, Nourishment is both fun and funky with a few great storytelling tracks thrown in for good measure. What more could anybody ask for?
Song you need to hear: Knock ‘Em Out
Website: homeboysandman.com
8) Blaqk Audio – CexCells
The side project of AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget, Blaqk Audio is the duo’s exploration into electronic music and on CexCells they do a fantastic job of channeling their inner Depeche Mode while still holding on to their AFI identities. Every song is about some aspect of sex and relationships, but they’re all done in such a way as to not beat you over the head with it. Midway through CexCells the album turns more dance oriented and Havok utilizes his higher range rather than the lower, foreboding range heard earlier on the album. Either way he goes he and Puget create great music.
Song you need to hear: Stiff Kittens
Website: blaqkaudio.com
7) Knobody – Tha Clean Up
Good old fashioned Hip-Hop, that’s what Knobody brings with his first Heiro effort, Tha Clean Up. Sick beats, a dope flow and fantastic lyrical ability are all on display here as the California native shows everyone how a rap album is supposed to be done. Production-wise the beats are, for the most part, provided by Knobody’s longtime collaborative partner Da Beathoven, which makes for a cohesive album that never feels jumpy. If you dig Hip-Hop you’ll more than likely dig Tha Clean Up, and even if you don’t dig Hip-Hop give it a chance, you may have never heard it done this well before.
Song you need to hear: Champ
Website: myspace.com/knoz
6) Esoteric vs. Gary Numan – Pterodactyl Tubeway
What do you get when you combine one of the great Hip-Hop artists of today with one of the great synth artists of the 80’s? You get Esoteric’s Pterodactyl Tubeway, a collection of songs that were created when Esoteric decided to start working with the music of Gary Numan. The album is only available through certain online retailers, coming as a bonus CD with the purchase of 7L and Esoteric’s Egoclapper, but it’s well worth the effort to find. Pterodactyl Tubeway has the ability to move people in a number of different ways and has solidified Esoteric's place at the forefront of creativity in Hip-Hop today.
Song you need to hear: Deathless Fascination
Website: 7l-esoteric.com
Adam’s World Top 25 of 2007
Part I: Albums 25-21
Part II: Albums 20-16
Part III: Albums 15-11
Part IV: Albums 10-6
Part V: Albums 5-1
10) Sixx: A.M. – The Heroin Diaries SoundtrackIn 2007 one of the strongest rock albums I heard came courtesy of Motley Crue bass player and songwriter Nikki Sixx’s new project Sixx: A.M. The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack is the accompaniment to Sixx’s book, which is a diary of a drug filled year in his life, and it features some fantastic lyrics about coping with addiction and recovery. Highlights include "Van Nuys," "Pray For Me" and “Accidents Can Happen,” the latter giving hope to those who have the occasional misstep, while “Dead Man’s Ballet,” as depressing as it is lyrically, features the full scope of the band’s musical abilities.
Song you need to hear: Van Nuys
Website: sixxammusic.com
9) Homeboy Sandman – NourishmentMany artists who have a rapid fire flow like Homeboy Sandman’s can’t seem to ever find a groove musically. They have their flow and that’s about it. Homeboy Sandman, on the other hand, carves out a unique niche for himself with Nourishment where he proves a rapid fire flow can be combined with interesting and catchy beats. For one song he interpolates Lily Allen’s “Knock ‘Em Out” while on another he rhymes off the beat he makes clapping his hands. All in all, Nourishment is both fun and funky with a few great storytelling tracks thrown in for good measure. What more could anybody ask for?
Song you need to hear: Knock ‘Em Out
Website: homeboysandman.com
8) Blaqk Audio – CexCellsThe side project of AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget, Blaqk Audio is the duo’s exploration into electronic music and on CexCells they do a fantastic job of channeling their inner Depeche Mode while still holding on to their AFI identities. Every song is about some aspect of sex and relationships, but they’re all done in such a way as to not beat you over the head with it. Midway through CexCells the album turns more dance oriented and Havok utilizes his higher range rather than the lower, foreboding range heard earlier on the album. Either way he goes he and Puget create great music.
Song you need to hear: Stiff Kittens
Website: blaqkaudio.com
7) Knobody – Tha Clean UpGood old fashioned Hip-Hop, that’s what Knobody brings with his first Heiro effort, Tha Clean Up. Sick beats, a dope flow and fantastic lyrical ability are all on display here as the California native shows everyone how a rap album is supposed to be done. Production-wise the beats are, for the most part, provided by Knobody’s longtime collaborative partner Da Beathoven, which makes for a cohesive album that never feels jumpy. If you dig Hip-Hop you’ll more than likely dig Tha Clean Up, and even if you don’t dig Hip-Hop give it a chance, you may have never heard it done this well before.
Song you need to hear: Champ
Website: myspace.com/knoz
6) Esoteric vs. Gary Numan – Pterodactyl TubewayWhat do you get when you combine one of the great Hip-Hop artists of today with one of the great synth artists of the 80’s? You get Esoteric’s Pterodactyl Tubeway, a collection of songs that were created when Esoteric decided to start working with the music of Gary Numan. The album is only available through certain online retailers, coming as a bonus CD with the purchase of 7L and Esoteric’s Egoclapper, but it’s well worth the effort to find. Pterodactyl Tubeway has the ability to move people in a number of different ways and has solidified Esoteric's place at the forefront of creativity in Hip-Hop today.
Song you need to hear: Deathless Fascination
Website: 7l-esoteric.com
Adam’s World Top 25 of 2007
Part I: Albums 25-21
Part II: Albums 20-16
Part III: Albums 15-11
Part IV: Albums 10-6
Part V: Albums 5-1
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