Best of 2005 : Honorable Mention The Game

"Hate It Or Love", "Dreams", and "No More Fun and Games" are three of the best tracks I heard in 2005. And they are instant hip hop classics that will stay with me forever. The Game added fiery passion to a mostly dull, mainstream hip hop scene in 2005. If not for Damian Marley, The Game would have been my artist of the year. I think he brings some raw, honest, unpolished realness that has real staying power. Backed up by all-star beats, The Game truly delivered some of the most memorable musical moments of 2005.

"Somebody tell Eazy they still yellin' it!"

Trans Dilla Express Jay Dee In Memoriam

I suppose now is as good a time as any to review Jay Dee's last full length, Donuts. I'd been planning to write some kind of obituary or tribute, but words have failed me for a few days now. Instead, I hunkered down with Donuts, and the instrumental version of Welcome 2 Detroit. Obviously, there's a lot more to his career than those two albums. But I strongly feel that those two albums, particularly Donuts, are crystal clear glimpses into the mind of a sonic genius. They are psychedelic soul masterpieces that defy genre, time, and space. Donuts is a 21st century Electric Ladyland. It's an experimental, mashed up, stream-of-conscious, post-modern epic that destroys genre boundaries with futuristic precision, and blurs the concepts of sampling and mixtapes into a cosmic blend of electro-surrealism and mesmerizing, artistic wizardry. Jay Dee truly was the hip hop equivalent of Jimi Hendrix. He left us way too soon. Yet he left behind an inspiring, enjoyable, mind-blowing body of work that will stand the test of time. He has altered the musical landscape permanently. He will be missed, but take comfort in the notion that immortal music lives forever.

RIP Jay Dee 1974-2006

Welcome To Gramm-rock!

Richard Ashcroft "Break The Night With Colour"

The new Richard Ashcroft album, Keys To The World, is getting hammered by critics. I've only heard one track so far - "Break The Night With Color" - and it's a really good tune! Almost on par with the better ballads off Urban Hymns. I'm really exicted to hear the rest of the album. It seems that what critics don't like about Richard Ashcroft are the qualities that his loyal fans love him for. If "Break The Night With Colour" is any indication, he's still on top of his game, and still bringing the cosmic soul that his fans are hungry for.

Best of 2005 : Honorable Mention Ladytron

Ladytron delivered a surprising, epic album in 2005. Witching Hour buried the remnants of electroclash under an avalanche of unmatched futuristic creativity. A new standard has been set for the future of modern rock.

Best of 2005 : Honorable Mention Ian Brown

Manchester in the area! In 2005, Ian Brown released his 4th solo album, the fantastic Solarized, featuring the rocking collaboration with Noel Gallagher, "Keep What Ya Got" - and a truly awesome greatest hits compilation, The Greatest, which included a superb new track, "All Ablaze" - proving that there is indeed life after the Stone Roses. But wait, there's more. The Manc messiah toured the world, including an earth-shaking stop in NYC, which I was privileged enough to witness. He whipped the crowd into a frenzy with not only a great collection of his best solo tracks, but also a handful of superbly performed Stone Roses anthems. Was 2005 Ian Brown's best year since the Stone Roses nearly conquered western civilization in 1989? Definitely.