#6: Guero – Beck

Now I only found this Beck album comparatively recently. For quite some time I’d been listening to Odelay and Midnite Vultures (woot) and enjoying them quite a lot. When I got Rock Band 2 I was introduced to E-Pro. What a tune. If you check my last.fm list, E-Pro is top overall. So inevitably I checked the album it came from and each song was great.

Listen to it when…
When you want what only Beck can provide

Best Track is…
E-Pro (click to play)

Spotify link

#7: Primitive Plus – Edan

Lav introduced me to Edan a wee while ago now. Primitive Plus is his first album and it’s really quite mental. Edan raps, DJs and produces his own stuff so the whole thing is a single musical vision which is quite a refreshing thing. Listening to it you can tell it is quite pure in that respect.

Listen to it when…
When you want something a bit weird

Best Track is…
Mic Manipulator (click to play)

#8: Music for the Mature B-Boy – DJ Format

I first saw DJ Format supporting Ugly Duckling just before the FA cup in which Saints valiantly lost 1-0 to Arsenal. I had no idea who he was but himself and MC Abdominal (more later) were hands down the greatest support I’ve ever seen. Again I sniffed out the album and holy crap what an album. More…mature I guess than Ugly Duckling and because Format is only a DJ his albums are a showcase for many a great MC many of whom will appear as later candidates. It all started here for me.

Listen to it when…
You want a broad look at current great hip hop

Best Track is…
The Hit Song (click to play)

Spotify link

#9 Mystery Theatre – Aspects

Aspects are a group that I find out about off the back of the album above. Mystery Theatre is their second album and it’s a doozy. It’s a great testament to the potential of British hip hop. Solid, high quality stuff with not a bad song in the bunch.

Listen to it when…
You wanna be reminded that the brits can make some mature high calibre hip hop

Best Track is…
Off The Lip (doesn’t exist online, pro :P)

#10: Fever To Tell – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

For quite a long time I didn’t get the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I like to think I’ve softened musically recently and have become a bit more receptive to music outside my comfort zone of underground hip hop. Less snobby I guess which is no bad thing. Anyway, eventually I got it. It’s rocking, it’s wild and it’s soulful. It’s such a mish mash of different styles and pace but it just works somehow.

I love this album for many reasons but the main one is the drumming. I don’t usually pick out individual parts of an album but the drumming on this album is just joyous, Maps and Date with the Night in particular.

Listen to it when…
You want everything

Best track is…
Date with the Night (click to play)

Spotify link

Next time on #00top5albums

We head to the murky depths of 11-15!