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December 22, 2011
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Eclectic Eavesdroppings Favourite Albums of 2011

Music bloggers love lists and regrettably, I’m not different. So to give the year some closure, it’s only right if I list off my favourite musical moments of the calendar year. I’ll start off with my 15 Favourite Albums of 2011 and then in a couple days time I’ll put up my 25 Favourite Songs of 2011. Just to reiterate, this is merely my humble opinion; nothing more, nothing less. I’ve only got one set of ears and simply can’t listen to all the excellent music to justify any hyperbolic claims. The over-saturation of the online musical scene makes it tough to keep track but I do my best to pick out the gems amongst the rough. So without further ado, Eclectic Eavesdroppings fifteen favourite albums:

15. Mayer Hawthorne: How Do You Do

The smooth and soulful crooner from Detroit has the magic Motown recipe. On his second album, he successfully brings back that 1970’s R&B nostalgia with a series of retro classics. Not bad for a white guy.

Mayer Hawthorne: Henny & Ginger Ale

14. ASAP Rocky: LiveLoveA$AP

This latest internet rap sensation out of NY can back up the hype with a perfect blend of effortless style and southern lyricism. His much anticipated mixtape didn’t disappoint and sets the scene for the full debut next year.

ASAP Rocky: Out Of This World

13. Raphael Saadiq: Stone Rollin

Rolling back the years in his swagged out manner, this latest collection of soulful reinventions is slightly more eclectic. He may have been born in the wrong era but the musical quality and variety is undeniably excellent.

Raphael Saadiq: Just Don’t

12. Florence & the Machine: Ceremonials

Topping her debut was never a feasible possibility but Florence Welch does incredibly well with this second effort. Booming vocals, dark undertones and catchy choruses are all in place for mass appeal.

Florence & the Machine: All This and Heaven Too

11. Arctic Monkeys: Suck It And See

The British foursome’s style is still in tact but they managed to find the right combination between rock-n-roll numbers and guitar pop melodies on this fourth album. All the funner for it.

Arctic Monkeys: Piledriver Waltz

10. Frank Ocean: Nostalgia/ULTRA

The most refreshing new R&B star in the game announced himself via a free mixtape. It’s sample heavy but acts as a platform for his silky smooth vocals which are both sensitive and heartfelt. Watch this space next year.

Frank Ocean: Stawberry Swing

9. Adele: 21

The worldwide best selling record also turns out to be pretty good. Shock horror. The London songstress dominated the pop scene this year with her incredible mix of sincere songwriting, crashing choruses and delicate vocals.

Adele: Rolling In The Deep

8. Foster The People: Torches

These californians may lack musical depth but more than make up for it in catchiness. The numerous singles are undeniably brilliant pop/rock that acted as the soundtrack to many of my summer adventures.

Foster The People: Houdini

7. Smith Westerns: Dye It Blonde

Four young and reckless romantics from Chicago teamed up to make a flawless album of fuzzy pop/rock. It strikes the perfect balance between rock-out guitar moments and subtle pop melodies.

Smith Westerns: Dance Away

6. Theophilus London: Timez Are Weird These Days

The most stylish man in the game and a personal favourite of mine finally let loose his debut album after a string of exceptional mixtapes. There were some wonderful moments as it seamlessly morphed the worlds of hip-hop and pop.

Theophilus London: I Stand Alone

5. Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch The Throne

Two of the best rappers alive teamed up for joint album of bombastic proportions this year. Expectations were sky-high but the quality is apparent as the superstars trade verses about wealth, power and success.

Jay-Z & Kanye West: No Church In The Wild

4. The Weeknd: House of Ballons

Out of nowhere, this mysterious Toronto singer popped up with his own distinct brand of avant-garde R&B. The mixtape is destructively dark, full of self-loathing and sexual undertones…yet it’s intoxicatingly awesome. I can’t wait to hear the next installment in the series.

The Weeknd: High For This

3. J. Cole: Cole World

This South Carolina rapper has been bubbling round the surface for a while and on his debut he struck gold by discovering the middle-ground between accesible commercialism and skilled lyricism. Wise beyond his years, this man is in it for the long run. Keep an ear out for him.

J. Cole: Lost Ones

2. Bon Iver: Bon Iver

Having become the mainstreams favourite indie artist, there was even more pressure on to deliver second time round. Fortunately the sophomore lives up to ‘For Emma, Forrver Ago’ and even manages to expand his beautiful musical range. A top effort.

Bon Iver: Holocene

1. Drake: Take Care

This second album from the Canadian rapper/singer displays great beat selection, improved song-writing skills and a range of emotions varying from boastful arrogance to brutal honesty to lonely self-pity. What’s apparent, is that he approached the album with a clear vision that rings true throughout the seventeen tracks. Instead of taking the easy mainstream radio route, he toned his game and focussed on genuine artistry. Drake, Eclectic Eavesdroppings salutes you and your Record of the Year.

Drake: Take Care feat. Rihanna

There have been so many great albums this year that I’ve enjoyed and others that I sadly wasn’t able to get round to. Honourable mentions go out to Wild Beasts, The Antlers, Cults, Cut Copy, Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar who all released great LPs that just missed the cut.

Tags: Mayer Hawthorne ASAP Rocky raphael saadiq florence + the machine arctic monkeys best of 2011 Frank Ocean adele Foster The People smith westerns theophilus london jay-z kanye west the weeknd j. cole bon iver drake

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October 24, 2011
If you check Eclectic Eavesdroppings on a semi-regular basis, odds are you’ve already heard of the young South Carolina rapper J. Cole. The up-and-comer has been on the sidelines, aggressively trying to make it in the cut-throat industry by dropping a string of quality mixtapes (The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights) over the last couple years . They were good enough to catch Jay-Z’s ear and earn him a recording contract with the esteemed Roc Nation label. J. Cole: Nobody’s Perfect feat. Missy Eliott The rap game appears to be at a decisive point whereby the split between commercial ‘pop-rap’ and genuinely conscious rap music is expanding by the day. Yet, J. Cole has found a niche because he manages to find middle-ground between accessible commercialism and skilled lyricism. He has this innate ability to weave a story in a similar way to Nas in his glory days and then go hard on a radio-friendly number like T.I. does when not in prison. These increasingly rare skills are perfectly put into motion on the track Nobody’s Perfect which features the excellent Missy Eliott on vocal duties. It has lyrical depth, a soulful hook and a head nodding beat.  J. Cole: Breakdown Cole varies between the radio bangers (like Can’t Get Enough) and lyrically intense numbers (like Dollar and a Dream III) until the album reaches its midpoint peak with the incredible Lost Ones; an impassioned, two-sided argument between the rapper and his baby mama as they weigh up the pros and cons of abortion. This serious tone is then maintained on Breakdown as he deals with issues involving his absent father and druggy mother. J. Cole: Lost Ones The album is filled with the sort of emotional and lyrical narratives that take J. Cole above and beyond his more experienced peers. It truly feels like he’s letting us into his world as he keeps it honest throughout. Because of the numerous album delays, anticipation peaked a few months back and a lot of reviews have unfairly held this against him. But if you judge J. Cole on his sixteen track LP, it’s quality is undeniable and stacks up as one of the best debuts of recent years. In a day and age when no-one buys music, this one is well worth your hard earned bucks.

If you check Eclectic Eavesdroppings on a semi-regular basis, odds are you’ve already heard of the young South Carolina rapper J. Cole. The up-and-comer has been on the sidelines, aggressively trying to make it in the cut-throat industry by dropping a string of quality mixtapes (The Warm Up and Friday Night Lights) over the last couple years . They were good enough to catch Jay-Z’s ear and earn him a recording contract with the esteemed Roc Nation label.

J. Cole: Nobody’s Perfect feat. Missy Eliott

The rap game appears to be at a decisive point whereby the split between commercial ‘pop-rap’ and genuinely conscious rap music is expanding by the day. Yet, J. Cole has found a niche because he manages to find middle-ground between accessible commercialism and skilled lyricism. He has this innate ability to weave a story in a similar way to Nas in his glory days and then go hard on a radio-friendly number like T.I. does when not in prison. These increasingly rare skills are perfectly put into motion on the track Nobody’s Perfect which features the excellent Missy Eliott on vocal duties. It has lyrical depth, a soulful hook and a head nodding beat. 

J. Cole: Breakdown

Cole varies between the radio bangers (like Can’t Get Enough) and lyrically intense numbers (like Dollar and a Dream III) until the album reaches its midpoint peak with the incredible Lost Ones; an impassioned, two-sided argument between the rapper and his baby mama as they weigh up the pros and cons of abortion. This serious tone is then maintained on Breakdown as he deals with issues involving his absent father and druggy mother.

J. Cole: Lost Ones

The album is filled with the sort of emotional and lyrical narratives that take J. Cole above and beyond his more experienced peers. It truly feels like he’s letting us into his world as he keeps it honest throughout. Because of the numerous album delays, anticipation peaked a few months back and a lot of reviews have unfairly held this against him. But if you judge J. Cole on his sixteen track LP, it’s quality is undeniable and stacks up as one of the best debuts of recent years. In a day and age when no-one buys music, this one is well worth your hard earned bucks.

Tags: j. cole

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August 06, 2011
2 notes
If you’re anything like me, then you’ve got J. Cole’s album release (September 27) marked in your calendar in over-sized permanent marker. The anticipation has been killing me and I don’t think I’ve felt this way about a debut album since Theophilus London very recently dropped his magnificent opus. To make the wait for Cole World: The Sideline Story that little bit easier, the Roc Nation rapper has decided to give us some loving (in the form of songs, music videos etc.) ever Sunday til the album drops. This week he decided to drop a 5 track EP (download). Cole World all the way! J. Cole - Like A Star

If you’re anything like me, then you’ve got J. Cole’s album release (September 27) marked in your calendar in over-sized permanent marker. The anticipation has been killing me and I don’t think I’ve felt this way about a debut album since Theophilus London very recently dropped his magnificent opus. To make the wait for Cole World: The Sideline Story that little bit easier, the Roc Nation rapper has decided to give us some loving (in the form of songs, music videos etc.) ever Sunday til the album drops. This week he decided to drop a 5 track EP (download). Cole World all the way!

J. Cole - Like A Star

Tags: j. cole

Photo
June 20, 2011
1 note
My admiration of North Carolina rapper J. Cole goes way back to his The Warm Up mixtape during the summer of 2009. Over the last couple years, his stock has steadily increased in value and will very shortly reap massive dividends. Even though his debut album on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has been delayed innumerable times, it’s supposed to drop this summer fall and will undoubtedly bring the heat. The latest single to drop via his official website (MP3) is called Work Out and whilst it isn’t my favourite song of his, it should keep the buzz going. Work Out by J. Cole Whilst were on the topic, a track leaked without Coles approval a week ago and he vented his frustrations via twitter. The song is called Lost Ones and features the consious and lyrical style that has earned him praise in the first place as he tackles the issue of abortion through the story of a young couple. Stream it below: Last but not least, I’ll leave you with a hard hitting track called Return of Simba. It’s unclear wether it will make the final cut for the album but there is no doubting its awesomeness. (MP3)  Return of Simba by J. Cole

My admiration of North Carolina rapper J. Cole goes way back to his The Warm Up mixtape during the summer of 2009. Over the last couple years, his stock has steadily increased in value and will very shortly reap massive dividends. Even though his debut album on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has been delayed innumerable times, it’s supposed to drop this summer fall and will undoubtedly bring the heat. The latest single to drop via his official website (MP3) is called Work Out and whilst it isn’t my favourite song of his, it should keep the buzz going.

Work Out by J. Cole

Whilst were on the topic, a track leaked without Coles approval a week ago and he vented his frustrations via twitter. The song is called Lost Ones and features the consious and lyrical style that has earned him praise in the first place as he tackles the issue of abortion through the story of a young couple. Stream it below:

Last but not least, I’ll leave you with a hard hitting track called Return of Simba. It’s unclear wether it will make the final cut for the album but there is no doubting its awesomeness. (MP3) 

Return of Simba by J. Cole

Tags: J. Cole