Top 10 Non-Hip Hop/Non-R&B Albums of 2008

by Sean Deez on January 18, 2009

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Top 10 Non-Hip Hop / Non-R&B Albums of 2008

Before we finish up our year end list with the Top Hip Hop albums of 2008, let’s take a look at a few outastanding albums that really can’t be classified in either hip hop or R&B…

10. Lady Gaga: The Fame
Lady Gaga 

  • Akon has uplifted another talent and made her the face of dance music for the time being. The album is hot and “Poker Face” is no joke. Consider her a guilty pleasure or just really good music; either way, she’s on this list for plenty of reasons.

9. Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak
Kanye West 

  • It was hard to classify this album as anything. Surprisingly, I didn’t hate it as much as I thought I did because it surely shows flashes of the potential it could’ve had. It still lacks plenty, but when it does do something right (“Welcome to Heartbreak”), 808s shines.

8. Guns N’ Roses: Chinese Democracy
Guns N' Roses 

  • How many people were expecting this to suck? I was. I was, along with plenty of other purist, very surprised at the great comeback album. Musically, they might’ve lost a small step, but the title track shows flashes of rock and roll genius. It’s a loaded album; just brace yourself for tons of loud poetry.

7. T-Pain: Thr33 Ringz
T-Pain 

  • Yeah, it’s on the list. The album is catchy as hell and there are so many flashes of genius on this album. Also, I don’t think there has ever been an album in the last 3-5 years that had so much club music material on it. It knows what it is, it doesn’t get lost in any other identities because it is what it is — fun music. Pain isn’t trying to break any new ground with this, but he certainly is original on many aspects.

6. Leona Lewis: Spirit
Leona Lewis 

  • This beauty should clean up any award she is nominated for at the Grammys and rightfully so. With a team of super-producers, super-singers, and super-talent behind it, Spirit turned out to be as good as expected. Her voice is so soulful, and although the tracks don’t really have an R&B feel to them, Leona has a voice diverse enough to justifiably touch any genre.

5. Zo! & Tigallo: Love the 80′s
Zo! & Tigallo 

  • When I heard “Africa,” I was pleasantly surprised. It was done so tastefully, and even though it was simply a remake, Phonte and Zo! made it their own. The entire album is like that: their own. Phonte displays some killer vocals on this and Zo! tidies up the production with his unique flavour. It’s all in all a great album with plenty of replay value and fun joints to sing along to. It’s also family friendly.

4. MGMT: Oracular Spectacular
MGMT 

  • Have you peeped the video for “Electric Feel?” Probably one of the trippiest videos I’ve ever seen and although liquid pouring from a model earth is probably metaphorical for something, I was still lost in how amazing the track was. Of course, I peeped the album and couldn’t enjoy it more. It was always a strong contender for this title based on its unique, flavourful sound alone, but the songwriting was top notch as well.

3. Coldplay: Viva La Vida
Coldplay 

  • Even though it is probably the worst album Coldplay has released, Viva La Vida still provides plenty of groundwork for what a great group is. It’s Coldplay expanding and trying new sounds, all the while they keep their signature tidbits. The song writing is still very strong and the presence of the group is apparent. “Lost” and “Violet Hill” are great tracks in any genre and they have plenty of replay value to them like the rest of the album.

2. Adele: 19
Adele 

  • If the Mick Boogie 1988 mix didn’t catch your attention with this girl, hopefully this post will. She’s the real deal. Think of a non-R&B Jill Scott. She’s got plenty of skill and talent and she utilizes the uniqueness of her voice to the best of her ability. There was a great team behind 19 to push it and to make it the great piece it has become. “Cold Shoulder” and “Chasing Pavements” should be cranking out of your speakers right about now.

1. Santogold: Santogold
Santogold 

  • “Brooklyn (Go Hard)” was certainly only a small, small piece of what this girl can do. It is not only so hard to classify this album, but it is so hard to explain how great it is. She may be a slightly less political, but just as innovative, version of M.I.A, with all the talent and support. This self titled debut offers plenty for any fan of music. It even includes some production work from the late legendary Disco D and newcomers, Spank Rock. It’s hip hop, it’s pop, it’s rock, it’s punk, it’s dance…it’s good music. Don’t miss out on this.

Honourable Mentions

  • Radiohead: In Rainbows
  • Deathcab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs
  • Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping
  • Metallica: Death Magnetic
  • Seal: Soul

Related posts:

  1. Top 25 Hip Hop Songs of 2008
  2. Top 10 Mixtape/Remix Albums of 2008
  3. Top 10 Most Disappointing Albums of 2008
  4. Top 10 Slept on Albums of 2008
  5. Top 10 Most Anticipated Albums for 2008

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  • http://www.myspace.com/skillz_202 J. Rizzle

    I I have to say is Adele is the truth, Sanatagold kills it and the Ting-Tings grooves.

  • http://www.myspace.com/cenzobeatz08 Cenzo

    i think it is important for producers & music lovers to have an eye on other genres. props for this list!

  • http://www.therealfrequency.com Vatkeezy

    Very nice list, agree with Santo, Zo & Phontigga (so glad to see this up here), and Adele. No homo at that MGMT cover.

  • http://www.myspace.com/jfizzthenomads J Fizz

    this is a cool list…. I actually really liked this group called FLEET FOXES, and Flying lotus, and some other stuff i cant tink of right now but yeah

    fleet foxes was album of the year in all genres, they got soulllll.

  • http://www.myspace.comflamesyall FlamesYall

    Yeah, I love the Zo! CD and also think that Lady GAGA is hot as fuck.

    Flying Lotus is dope. Also, ‘Angles’ by Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip is genius.

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

    Fizz, I hadn’t heard the Fleet Foxes until AFTER I made this list. They certainly got plenty and plenty of acclaim though

    for the most part, I like this list a lot

  • http://www.myspace.com/jfizzthenomads J Fizz

    definitely 5 4 3 2 1 are all cool pieces of music. ( i recently checked out santogold shes real nice), Mgmt does their damm thang

    but im sorry to disagree but 10,9,8,7,6 are all weak in my book. Nobody would ever catch me listenin to those (except in my friends car cause his cd players Broken and thats all radio wants to play)
    those were maybe real popular this year so i guess it depends on wht were rating them for. Kanye doesnt deserve to be on any page with the word (best ) in it this year.. Portis head did their damm thing this year. Black keys make some good blues rock. I mean if lady gaga is what it takes for the girls to start actin wild at a party than thats fine w/ me, i still think its trashy music

  • http://myspace.com/tokyocigarstyle Tokyo Cigar

    Yo J fizz you on point with mentioning Portishead. The 3rd album was my favorite non hip hop joint of the year.
    Dope list Deez. BTW Phonte and Zo’s album cover still gets me laughing my ass off everytime isee it. They went hard with bringing the jherri curls back ( you gotta let your sooooooul glow )

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

    Portishead fans have seemingly spawned by the minute though.

    I just didn’t.. “get it” i guess

  • C-Villain

    Deez i got a lot of respect for u, you know everything about hip hop and i enjoy your frequent post. But personally this list is fucking whack. Kanye was garbage, T-pain week, guns & roses was their worst album to date. Coldplay not even close to radiohead. mgmt was pretty good, BUT TV ON THE RADIO’s “dear science” was most definitely the best ablum of the year. An instant classic. A soulful and experimental rock masterpiece. Black Keys killed it this year. Also got to agree Fleet Foxes was amazing similar to my morning jacket but even better. Bon Iver was some real shit this year. Im surprised you didn’t put that i kissed a girl bullshit on here. ay one love
    -C Villain

  • Kujo

    “In Rainbows” was a masterpiece. Coldplay completely lost me after “X&Y”.

    T-Pain, and auto tune can go straight to hell. Auto-tune is one of worse things to ever happen in music.

    I still plan to listen “808s & Heartbreak” one time out of curiosity.

    Loved the “Zo! & Tigallo: Love the 80’s” album.

    I have to check the Santogold album.

    My list.

    Radiohead – In Rainbows
    Foreign Exchange – Leave It All Behind
    Jose James – The Dreamer
    Jazzanova – Of All The Things
    Dwele – Sketches Of A Man
    Portishead – Third
    Kylie Audist – Just Say
    Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
    Lykke Li – Youth Novels
    Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Sean Deez

    The Jazzanova should’ve been in here, I certainly wish I could edit the list to include that album, but it too, was a late discovery. But your list includes Dwele, Erykah Badu, and FE, all 3 which were on my R&B list lol
    and Flying Lo is hip hop.. I just didn’t like his album

  • Marcha

    Sorry Deez but TV On The Radio – Dear Science > All the albums you posted

  • C-Villain

    Marcha my man. thats what im saying, DEAR SCIENCE!! saw them live and it was the greatest show i have seen in years. They are so soulful yet they rock so hard. Very original material, I highly suggest checking them out if you haven’t or just do not know TV ON THE RAIDO.

  • Kujo

    I just noticed the Non-R&B part in the title. :)

    I still have to peep the TV on the Radio album. It would have probably been on my list.

    Yeah, I guess you could call the Flying Lotus’ album hip-hop (though I thought it was experimental in a lot of ways), so I technically it should be disqualified from my list.

    Thanks for the heads up on Adele. Not sure how I didn’t discover her before. Peeped some of her stuff on youtube. I’ll definitely check out the album.

    Have you heard the Jose James album? Peep it. It’s Incredible. Classic material imho.

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