Top 5: Most Underrated Albums

1. Scream – Chris Cornell

This album was absolutely amazing to me! More than just music, it was a continuous listening experience expertly crafted by my favorite producer and my favorite Rock singer of all time. It was a critical disaster that received horrible press and was openly bashed by other Rock artists for its urban sensibilities, but I found it to be groundbreaking and refreshing in a world where so many things sound exactly alike. It’s become increasingly obvious that the distance between us all is shrinking with the advent of social networking and other communication related technologies. This was an album that incorporated so many musical genres, styles, and cultures I felt like it accurately reflected how small the world has become. I absolutely love Chris Cornell’s lyrical style and his vocals are stellar. The only rational explanation for this album’s lack of positive buzz: it was far, far ahead of its time.



2. /\/\ /\ Y /\ - M.I.A.


Unlike Cornell’s Scream M.I.A.’s album MAYA received a ton of buzz in the beginning and was often touted as one of the most anticipated albums of 2010. Fans of her earlier work seemed a little bit critical of the way she presented this 3rd offering, saying it lacked the innovative edge of her previous 2. I did not agree. I thought it was a testament to her growth as an artist, and it pushed the envelope with both it’s production and lyrical content. I love albums that don’t sound like anything else that’s out at the time, but affect the sound of everything that comes after them. This was definitely one of those albums.



3. Morning – Amel Larrieux

I had to go back 6 years instead of 5 just to add this album to the list (it was released in 2006). I have been a fan of Ms. Larrieux since her days with Groove Theory and she has never let me down. This album was the pinnacle of that soaring ability to lift my spirits, make me laugh, make me dance, and make me think that she has. The production sounds like it was carefully crafted and influenced by music from all over the world, and the lyrics to every song are both memorable and meaningful. The thing that stands out the most to me about this album though, has to be Amel’s voice. It has this ethereal quality that is all at once accessible and intangible. Her next release is definitely on my most-anticipated list.


4. Pebble to a Pearl – Nikka Costa

Nikka Costa may be the most underrated artist in music today, period. This particular album won me over because it was so authentic, so real, so soulful… it was just plain undeniable. Her vocals are powerful and confident, her lyrics are thoughtful and clever, and the production is a nod to everything that is good about the soul music of the 60’s and 70’s. What more could you ask for in an album?







5. Transition – Ryan Leslie

I am a huge fan of R-Les, and this album was a perfect indication of why. He really brings musicality to the forefront of everything he does. As a producer he doesn’t necessarily push the envelope but he certainly does lick it and stamp it with his own signature brand of Pop-R&B. You get the impression that this guy could create a masterpiece with nothing more than a broom handle, some rusty piano wire, and an empty coffee can. He possesses many of the qualities I love in artists like Prince and Michel Jackson, and this album shows that he is not a one-hit-wonder fly-by-night type. This man is definitely on the fast track to legendary status.

Don't Cheat Yourself, Treat Yourself (Like a Human Being)

Sooooooo a facebook friend of mine recently brought an "interesting" article to my attention. It was titled "Let Your Man Cheat". (You can read the article for yourself here.) The article is in response to another article on the Huffington Post site by sociologist Dr. Eric Anderson, who is the author of a book titled The Monogamy Gap: Men, Love, and the Reality of Cheating.

Whew, where do I begin? First of all, I do not agree with the notion that all men cheat. It is simply not true. That would be like saying all women don't cheat. Now doesn't that sound stupid? Men are certainly designed to respond sexually to many different stimuli, especially if it's visual. I do believe that it is part of their genetic heritage to be aggressive sexually, as sexual prowess is key in winning a suitable mate. In the days of early humans, sexual prowess also implied dominance and an ability to protect that mate, which was an important part of the selection process.

Today, women no longer require the direct protection of a man to survive. A woman can learn to defend herself, or buy a gun, or simply call the police. So what has happened to the male instict for sexual dominance? I believe it has morphed into the male desire to cheat. It's completely understandable, men are designed with pro-creation in mind and so their instinct tells them to fertilize as many women as possible in order to further our species.

But to say that in order to keep a man happy he has to be allowed to cheat is a stretch. We all have compulsive desires. Some women like to shop, and perhaps we could infer that the behavior of shopping is linked with the gathering responsibilites of the early human woman. So by that same standard, women should just be allowed to shop and shop as much as their hearts desire, regardless of the consequences to themselves and those around them, right?

It is just as foolish as it sounds.

To add a little more perspective to my point, the arguement that men are genetically predisposed to be unable to control their sexual urges is the same arguement that is used to justify legal rape in some countries. I'm sure most men you ask will tell you that rape is morally wrong.

So what is the point here? To say that men should be allowed to cheat because they can't help it really doesn't give men a whole lot of credit. I think men are much, much more than sexual beings. If nature didn't intend for them to be capable of a commited relationship (which requires faithfulness) then men simply would not have the capacity for love at all. And I think every man who is currently in a successful monogamous relationship is clear evidence to the contrary.

I could go on and on about this but in conclusion, I'd just like to say I am a woman in a monogamous relationship where great sex, laughter, and common interests are part of my daily life. I absolutely adore my man, and would not trade him for anything, and everyday we fall a little more in love. I pity anyone who does not know the joy of not only being with someone you can trust, but BEING someone who is trustworthy. It has truly enriched my life and made me a stronger, more confident woman.

There is just no way that what the good doctor is proposing is anything more than a sweeping generalization, rooted in a lack of understanding about the purpose of sexual relationships as they relate to the growth of a well-adjusted human being.

Nice try Dr. Anderson... Nice try.