Best Albums Of The Decade(2000-2009): #96-95

96.Arch Enemy-Doomsday Machine(2005)

Angela Gossow and the Sweedish melo-death army known as Arch Enemy sixth album(third with Gossow on vocals) is the heaviest, fastest record they have ever made. Doomsday Machine is chock full of brutal tracks that aim for the throat and don't hold back. Angela Gossow has never sounded beter and The Arnott brothers, as usual never cease to amaze me with their thrash-influenced guitar work. Their guitarwork is particularlly impressive on the album's notable tracks "My Apocalypse" and "Nemesis" (the latter which is going to be featured in the new Guitar Hero game, and for those who don't know Arch Enemy be prepared for a challenge). It's been 5 years since this record has come out but the sound is still fresh and it has held up extremely well over time.

Standout Tracks 1.My Apocalypse 2.I Am The Legend/Out For Blood 3.Nemesis

95.Nas-Untitled(2008)

Nas caused quite a stir with this record before it was even released. He intended to use the N-word as the album title but the record label would not let him. Nas agreed to leave it Untitled but in the press he still refers to as its original title and kept the cover. This is a very powerful album and I have so much respect for Nas as an artist. In a time where most mainstream hip hop artists sell out and lose focus of their career, Nas raps with intelligence about things he has a problems with in the world such as racisim and poverty.This is not an easy record to listen to, but if you give it a chance and disgest it properly, you will see what a powerful and excellent record it is.

Standout Tracks 1.America 2.N.I.G.G.E.R(The Slave and The World) 3.We're Not Alone

Album Review: Nas/Damian Marley-Distant Relatives

Finally a mainstream rapper taking a risk on a record! Recently plenty of mainstream rappers that I have enjoyed in the past (Jay-Z,Eminem(a review for his new record Recovery should be up in the next couple of days,etc) have sold out and made complete commerical shit that has nothing in common with their previous records. Nas has always been one of the best rap acts around and with his new collobration record with Damian Marley he proves that he is not going down the same path.

The best thing about this record is the beats. There is a lot of experimentation with the tribal music of Africa and other world music that is really original and fresh. I haven't heard beats this good in quite some time. Damian Marley's prescense also adds a whole new range to Nas's style and they suit each other very well. Reggage and rap might be two different genres,but on this record the blend is just right with not letting one another completely take control of the record. Another huge standout is the lyrics. They are extremely heartfelt about the world's problems. "Africa Must Wake Up" and "Land Of Promise" are particularlly powerful and convey the strongest message on the record.

This is a must-listen record for hip-hop fans. In a genre that is currently full of forgettable, meaningless trash, Nas and Damian Marley have made a standout record. Kudos to Nas for not selling out and sticking to his artistic vision unlike so many of his peers.

4/5 Stars

Standout Tracks

1.Land Of Promise

2.Count Your Blessings

3.Africa Must Wake Up