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Johnny from Ill Mondo's favorite videos of 2009
POS - Drumroll
Midwest rapper POS has been doing his thing for years, but this is the first album that really blew me away from start to finish. Never Better opens at a breakneck speed and the whole album is well constructed and cinematic. With a lot of the underground rap scene going stagnant, POS stood up and showed that there's still a ton of innovating to do. The video is a great example of a well-executed concept done on a smaller budget. Post-apocalyptic action in the vein of Children of Men set to brutal, up-tempo punk rap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfo-EGDBEAY
St Vincent - Actor Out of Work
St Vincent has been around for a while, but like POS, this is the album where I think she really found her voice. THe production and songs are all top notch; bizarre and catchy at the same time. Clocking in at 2:30, this song is bittersweet and poppy while still retaining grit in the synth line, nicely contrasted with the layered vocal harmony build. Really great stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZW9NYX6JZA
Raekwon - House of Flying Daggers
It seems like these days, Wu solo albums can be a real crapshoot, but some of the OG Wu founders are still coming 100%. Most of them are on this track! With a beat by Detroit legend J Dilla, and featuring GFK, GZA, Method Man, and Inspectah Deck, this is a classic Wu banger. There's nothing radio-friendly about the brutal string loop or the raw rhymes. Cuban Linx II is the best solo Wu album in years, and the video is a great cartoon throwback that builds on the Wu mythology and fits the track perfectly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR7kVnh3PlI
Best random video: Boz Scaggs - Lowdown live at the Paramount 1976 with Jeff Porcaro on drums!
I'm partially biased on this one because I live and work so close to the legendary Paramount venue that this was taped in. But aside from any local pride, this performance is timeless! It's a rare treat to see the incredible drummer Jeff Porcaro playing live (also a legend, having written songs like Human Nature for Michael Jackson and being a founding member of Toto). Porcaro's deep pockets are supported by an epic stage show, complete with backup singers, a fresh-and-clean Scaggs strutting in a white suit, and a full string and horn section. The band reveal at 2:25 and hearing the crowd go wild is just great!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afBdFyE7PeE
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