1. Natasha Bedingfield – Unwritten
I remember when I first heard “Unwritten,” and how it made me feel: joyous, carefree, and full of possibility. And that’s not just the one song either, but the entire album. What Natasha Bedingfield did here was capture lightning in a bottle and put it on record. This is easily pop perfection along the lines of Dido’s No Angel. There’s something about British chippies knowing how to capture pop hooks so effortlessly. And don’t get me wrong. Natasha didn’t stop there. Her album N.B. is almost as good, and her recent Strip Me has some phenomenal moment as well. Standout song:
2. Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
There’s something to be said for a band from Florida whose lead singer affects a cockney accent to go along with the band’s pseudo-European flavor, and then calls itself a name that doesn’t in any way resemble its band members. Talk about irony, and Black Kids do it best with their aptly titled first album. It truly is a party from start to finish, and while parts of it can be amazingly cheesy, it’s the cute kind, not the kind that makes you want to puke. Insanely catchy choruses also add to the feel of the record. Definitely a must-add. Standout song: I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again).
3. Jason Mraz – Mr. A-Z
From even the album title, which is a play on Mr. Mraz’s own name, you could tell that this album was going to be an original. There’s just a fun quality he possesses that is infectious and is transferable through his music. Having seen him live, I can attest to it being uniquely his talent, not just something cooked up in the studio. Songs like “Geek in the Pink,” and “Wordplay,” highlight this sense of goofyness that hides the deeper side of someone in turmoil. Just look at songs like “Clockwatching,” and you can see some of that emerging to the surface instead of being hidden down deep. And boy, can he scat! Standout song: Clockwatching.
4. Lisa Loeb – Firecracker
Known for her indie sensation, “Stay (I Missed You)” and her quirky, geek-girl quality, Lisa Loeb is often misunderstood. She is much better at turning a phrase than you would think, and nowhere is this showcased more than on this, her sophomore record. “And now you want to ask me how. It’s like how does your heart hurt, and why do you cry?” This is one of those complete records, from the time right before iTunes made individual tracks the most important thing, and it tells because Lisa tells a story throughout, a story of relationships, lost and otherwise, and you can feel her in the music. It’s subtle, it’s understated, and it’s just how Lisa Loeb does it best. This is a travesty that more people don’t own this one. Standout song: Split Second.
5. Mat Kearney – Young Love
Mat Kearney can do no wrong in my book. He writes. He sings. He even raps on occasion, and while he’s no Eminem, he’s a pretty good alterna-Shady. He’s been cast in the Christian music light, but that’s not such a bad thing either. Even U2 has been miscategorized there, but Christian music is fresh these days so that’s no slight. This is his most recent album, and he has brought all the pieces together. Remember what I said about Lisa Loeb having a complete album? Well, this one qualifies as well, and it really does flow together from one song to the next. In fact, I’m having a hard time coming up with a standout song because it really goes best as an entire piece, from start to finish. That being said, I did find one, but only because I had to. If you like Coldplay, or Marc Cohn, odds are you’ll like Mat Kearney as much as I do. And listen closely because while the raps are at a premium here, they are around. Standout song: Learning to Love Again.
6. OneRepublic – Waking Up
I’m a little apprehensive about their new album out next week because they’ve set the bar so high. This was actually a tossup between their first album, Dreaming Out Loud, and this, their second, because both are phenomenal from start to finish. This one narrowly won out simply because it contains my favorite song from them (which also played a large role in one of my favorite movies, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice), “Secrets.” I saw Maroon 5 a couple of summers ago and just missed out on OneRepublic opening for them, so I was really upset, but I don’t think they’ll be opening for anyone the next time around. I highly recommend this album for those reasons and more. Check it out. Standout song: Secrets.
7. Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl
I had to go old-school with this one because I think most people forget just how perfect this debut album from Miss Abdul really was. It had the best of all worlds. Paula had a charm that was unmatched at the time. She had the dance moves, the credentials, and the songwriters who showcased her small voice. Put it all together and you have an amazingly catchy album (a prerequisite for any good pop album), with songs people could sing along to, and the ability to dominate the charts. Of course this was back in the late ’80s, but the songs have stood the test of time, and still sound amazing today. I miss Paula. Standout song: Knocked Out.
Sam
Sam's Online Journal 