Renée Graham's picks
1. The Streets, “A
Grand Don’t Come for
Free” (Vice/Atlantic)
Mike Skinner’s
concept album about
the life and times of
a British slacker is more involving and
better plotted than many of this year’s
big Hollywood releases. A masterpiece.
2. K-os, “Joyful Rebellion” (Virgin/
Astralwerks)
Intelligent hip-hop with a splash
of soul, funk, and reggae from this innovative
Canadian rapper gives us yet
another reason to consider relocating
north of the border.
3. Joss Stone, “Mind, Body, and Soul” (S-Curve)
If some dismissed her debut, “The
Soul Sessions,” as a novelty — white teenage
girl from England sings soul — this
album proves Stone’s only gimmick
is having actual talent in an industry
where it isn’t always required.
4. Nas, “Street’s Disciple” (Sony/
Columbia)
As ferocious and focused as he’s been
since his legendary 1994 debut, “Illmatic,’’
Nasty Nas is back. Jay-Z better
be taking notes.
5. U2, “How to Dismantle an Atomic
Bomb” (Interscope)
U2 should be doing little these days
beyond counting its millions and waiting
for that inevitable call from the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame. So how is it the
band is still producing passionate, energetic
albums after more than 25 years?
6. Green Day, “American Idiot” (Reprise)
Who could have expected this
ambitious, politically charged rock
opera from the Bay Area goofballs
whose breakthrough album was called
“Dookie”?
7. Hil St. Soul, “Copasetik & Cool” (Shanachie)
This “Zambian child with a heart
of gold,” as singer Hilary Mwelwa calls
herself, also has a stunning voice, which
serves as the centerpiece of this British
soul gem.
8. Cee-Lo, “Cee-Lo Green . . . Is the Soul
Machine (Arista)
Somehow this album fell between
the cracks, but this funky gumbo of
vintage soul and Southern hip-hop is a
revelation. Isn’t the world big enough
for more than one iconoclastic rap act
from Atlanta?
9. Dizzee Rascal, “Boy in Da Corner” (XL/Matador)
For this young British rapper, an oftkilter
(and nearly indecipherable) flow
matched with jolting crash-bang-boom
beats made this album a powerhouse debut.
10. Loretta Lynn, ‘‘Van Lear Rose’’ (Interscope)
The song ‘‘Women’s Prison,’’ on which
Lynn awaits execution for the murder of
a cheatin’ lover, is reason enough to hail
the glorious return of the Queen of Country
with this album produced by Jack
White.
Renée Graham is a Globe staff music
writer.
