10. Cypress Hill - Rise Up -- Ganja smoking hip hop icons. They come out with their 8th studio album and some crazy collaborations with RATM's Tom Morello.
9. Janelle Monae - Arch Android -- Didn't really intend for this to be this low on the list. Amazing front to back album you really need to listen to as such. Also crazy intense live show.
8. BRMC - Beat the Devil's Tatoo -- I don't ride a bike nor am I affiliated with any biker gangs... listening to this album kinda makes me want to do both.
7. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way -- Amazing show, commanding stage presence. SJDK puts out a great soulful album here.
6. The Black Angels - Phosphene Dream -- Haunting vocals, distorted guitar, errie classic black metal-ish sound. Love it.
5. Gogol Bordello - Trans Continental Hustle -- One of my many regrets of this year was missing their show at Turner Hall. High energy gypsy punk that doesn't disappoint. Try not to tap your toes and/or dance to this.
4. Deftones - Diamond Eyes -- One of my favorite hard rock groups since high school. Reminds me of "Around the Fur" and some earlier, heavier sounds of theirs.
3. Aloe Blacc - Good Things -- One of the best suprise finds of the year for me. Can't help but think of the classic Motown artists of the 60's & 70's listening to this.
2. The Roots - How I Got Over -- Hip hop innovators who somehow found time away from a nightly gig as Jimmy Fallon's late night house band to put out their 9th studio album.
1. Gorillaz - Plastic Beach -- Snoop Dogg on the opening track and the catchiest song of the year in "Stylo"... great album front to back.
***Honorable mentions***
Drake - Thank Me Later -- Actor turned rapper. Sounds like Lil Wayne.
The Black Keys - Brothers -- Bluesy, classic rock-esque. Dig it.
Buddy Guy - Living Proof -- A blues legend, "74 years young".
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy -- Public personality aside, a pretty darn good hip hop album.
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