Dec 27 2011
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SHEEL’S TOP 5 ALBUMS of 2011 1. The Weeknd - House of Balloons  I first heard “Wicked Games” and I realized that it could be the record I had been waiting to hear for a long time. Then I heard “High for This” and “The Knowing.” After a few solid listen-throughs of the whole album, it became my favorite album of the year so far. It filled a void in my musical taste that hadn’t been filled since I heard the Deftones - Diamond Eyes the year before. It’s melodic, beautiful, eerie, epic, heavy and the production is very minimal (yet very effective). I’ve heard people say this dude bites The-Dream. I am a huge fan of The-Dream and yes, maybe some of his vocal tones/phrases, maybe influenced at MOST? I don’t give a fuck. This dude is touching on musical, lyrical, melodic and production elements that I think no one else in modern R&B is touching on right now. I put this dude in a league of his own. I have to be honest though…This summer, a girl came onto our tour bus and said “can we listen to the Weeknd!?!?!?!?!?” Something about that really pissed me off. Maybe it was the tone of her voice or the fact that I realized that the Weeknd had maybe become too “hip” ?? Haha. Either way, there is no need to hate on someone’s music spreading the way the Weeknd’s music has spread this year, especially if you genuinely enjoy the music.  2. Cody B. Ware - Welcome Home  Cody B. Ware is my brother and one of the most passionate artists I have ever met. He is also a numbskull sometimes. He once sent an mp3 to a mix engineer and asked him if he could mix the actual mp3. Some may not know how stupid that is, but trust me it was pretty stupid. My good friend, fellow Bad Rabbit and production partner RP Thompson and I produced this album. It was an incredible learning experience and a true test of patience. It reinforced my thoughts that every artist at some point (whether it’s earlier or later in the artists career) needs to explore their deepest creative roots instead of trying to craft the “perfect” album in a label, business or marketing sense. “Welcome Home” is a conceptual album and his stories are real. It’s even narrated by his mother who happens to be one of Cody’s biggest supporters. I don’t really need to talk about the actual musicality of the record because it’s kind of like trying to suck my own dick (which I kind of already am by putting this in my top 5 albums), but I will say that this album will forever be one of my favorites for many reasons. “Sheel, can you make the snare drum sound like the APOCALYPSE?” - Cody B. Ware.  3. The Contortionist - Exoplanet  I heard the song “Contact” at my brother Shan’s apartment and instantly knew this would be my favorite heavy album of the year. It is brutal and beautiful. I need at least one heavy band/album each year to keep me rooted. I will never give up on heavy music. 4. Action Bronson & Statik Selektah - Well done Some have compared Action Bronson to Ghostface Killah. It’s clear as to why, but I am not hating on that comparison at all. That’s a compliment. This album, especially the production was very refreshing considering a lot of commercial hip hop right now is flooded with southern 808 drum or dark/drugged out type of beat production. These are well crafted, classic hip hop songs that would make 90’s hip hop babies proud. NY should be proud. 5. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra  Prior to listening to this album, I was already very much intrigued by anything Odd Future related. Not even necessarily because of their music, but because of their grasp on a very particular youth DIY movement. Hate it or love it, no one can deny that they took over this year and are doing things the way they want to be doing them (at least I hope so). I heard “Strawberry Swing” (Coldplay mash) and was not expecting that type of song to be anything like what I was expecting from anyone in the Odd Future collective. Then I heard “Novacane” and knew this dude was real deal. If he continues to write the way he is writing, I think he will have a very rewarding career. Also, If Teddy Riley heard “Novacane,” he would be proud. Honorable Mention: Bon Iver - Bon Iver Favorite song of 2011: “Shuffle” by Bombay Bicycle Club To look for in 2012: Children of the Night - Queens Revisited 

SHEEL’S TOP 5 ALBUMS of 2011

1. The Weeknd - House of Balloons 

I first heard “Wicked Games” and I realized that it could be the record I had been waiting to hear for a long time. Then I heard “High for This” and “The Knowing.” After a few solid listen-throughs of the whole album, it became my favorite album of the year so far. It filled a void in my musical taste that hadn’t been filled since I heard the Deftones - Diamond Eyes the year before. It’s melodic, beautiful, eerie, epic, heavy and the production is very minimal (yet very effective). I’ve heard people say this dude bites The-Dream. I am a huge fan of The-Dream and yes, maybe some of his vocal tones/phrases, maybe influenced at MOST? I don’t give a fuck. This dude is touching on musical, lyrical, melodic and production elements that I think no one else in modern R&B is touching on right now. I put this dude in a league of his own. I have to be honest though…This summer, a girl came onto our tour bus and said “can we listen to the Weeknd!?!?!?!?!?” Something about that really pissed me off. Maybe it was the tone of her voice or the fact that I realized that the Weeknd had maybe become too “hip” ?? Haha. Either way, there is no need to hate on someone’s music spreading the way the Weeknd’s music has spread this year, especially if you genuinely enjoy the music. 

2. Cody B. Ware - Welcome Home 

Cody B. Ware is my brother and one of the most passionate artists I have ever met. He is also a numbskull sometimes. He once sent an mp3 to a mix engineer and asked him if he could mix the actual mp3. Some may not know how stupid that is, but trust me it was pretty stupid. My good friend, fellow Bad Rabbit and production partner RP Thompson and I produced this album. It was an incredible learning experience and a true test of patience. It reinforced my thoughts that every artist at some point (whether it’s earlier or later in the artists career) needs to explore their deepest creative roots instead of trying to craft the “perfect” album in a label, business or marketing sense. “Welcome Home” is a conceptual album and his stories are real. It’s even narrated by his mother who happens to be one of Cody’s biggest supporters. I don’t really need to talk about the actual musicality of the record because it’s kind of like trying to suck my own dick (which I kind of already am by putting this in my top 5 albums), but I will say that this album will forever be one of my favorites for many reasons. “Sheel, can you make the snare drum sound like the APOCALYPSE?” - Cody B. Ware. 

3. The Contortionist - Exoplanet 

I heard the song “Contact” at my brother Shan’s apartment and instantly knew this would be my favorite heavy album of the year. It is brutal and beautiful. I need at least one heavy band/album each year to keep me rooted. I will never give up on heavy music.

4. Action Bronson & Statik Selektah - Well done

Some have compared Action Bronson to Ghostface Killah. It’s clear as to why, but I am not hating on that comparison at all. That’s a compliment. This album, especially the production was very refreshing considering a lot of commercial hip hop right now is flooded with southern 808 drum or dark/drugged out type of beat production. These are well crafted, classic hip hop songs that would make 90’s hip hop babies proud. NY should be proud.

5. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra 

Prior to listening to this album, I was already very much intrigued by anything Odd Future related. Not even necessarily because of their music, but because of their grasp on a very particular youth DIY movement. Hate it or love it, no one can deny that they took over this year and are doing things the way they want to be doing them (at least I hope so). I heard “Strawberry Swing” (Coldplay mash) and was not expecting that type of song to be anything like what I was expecting from anyone in the Odd Future collective. Then I heard “Novacane” and knew this dude was real deal. If he continues to write the way he is writing, I think he will have a very rewarding career. Also, If Teddy Riley heard “Novacane,” he would be proud.

Honorable Mention: Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Favorite song of 2011: “Shuffle” by Bombay Bicycle Club

To look for in 2012: Children of the Night - Queens Revisited 

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