Akini's Top 100 Albums of All-Time [2012 Edition: COMPLETE!]

[aang]

#110. Usher - Confessions

#110

#110

YOU CRAZY????

*unfollows Akini on Twitter*

lol kidding.

[Benny]

From your "bubbling under" list I own two albums, "Jagged Little Pill" and "Dangerous", both are great and would have been much higher on my list.

"Daydream" and "I'm Your Baby Tonight" are good albums though both Mariah and Whitney have done better. Speaking of which, "Whitney Houston" is a classic that deserves to be under the bestselling albums of the 1980s.

[Tripolis]

I can take "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" at #100... but... BUT... "Daydream" at #98?! I can't!! :evil: #bye

And... you just called the ballads the main raeson for the low ranking of the record?! They're definitely the highlights, BY FAR, from the album for me!

And... the possibility that "Rainbow" ranking higher than "Daydream" on your albums countdown... you may have just angered the stan in me. :x

I know your countdowns are always controversial... but.. I just can't take this massive shocker. I knew it wasn't one of your fave MC albums, but I definitely didn't expect this to crash out in such a low ranking. It definitely deserves much more.

Okay... finished ranting. Let's get on to the more important reviews:

With "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel", the album tracks (in particular) are really either hit or miss. The highlights of the album are definitely those you mentioned, with the exclusion of "Standing O". I'd add "Angel's Cry" in there too. The album on a whole definitely isn't that... strong, so I'm still quite okay with your ranking of this.

Ah, Whitney's debut album really isn't that great. Even though I've only heard about 75% of the album in full, I echo your sentiments exactly. The only tracks I really love from the album are "How Will I Know", "Saving All My Love For You" and "Greatest Love Of All". The others are just... bland. I don't really think it's among Whitney's best, definitely.

and... Daydream. I just can't get over how this ranked so low. The ballads are just so phenomenal and really make the album what it is for me. Granted, it does have some fillers ("Long Ago"), but let's face it - which album doesn't? Other than that, the album is close to perfect for me, with every song having their own unique sellpoints. My favourite tracks from the album are "Fantasy", "Always Be My Baby", "I Am Free", "When I Saw You" & "Looking In".

Whitney's "I'm Your Baby Tonight" does contain some stellar tracks, that comes along with subpar ones too. My favourite tracks are those that you mentioned + "Miracle", which I think is one of her best non-singles. Though the album definitely isn't as great as her other work, I believe it does deserve to get ranked higher, along with the three albums below it.

I don't really care about Usher except a few tracks.. and unfortunately, 8701 only does have a track from him that I really like ("U Got It Bad").

I'll be grateful if I don't see "Merry Christmas" falling in the next batch, seeing how controversial your countdown has been already.

[PosziMC2]

Memoirs can go Daydream and I'm Your Baby Tonight cant.

[BadGirl]

Well, my favourite MC album is Memoirs, so don't get your hopes too up... I know i have strange tastes in terms of Mariah's music, my two favourites albums are the two worst rated amongst her fans. I think Memoirs is such a cohesive album, surely not all the tracks are that strong, but i love the summery vibe it has, sometimes it can be very chilling and relaxing. It lacks variety in some songs, this is the only bad thing i can think about it. I agree with a couple of your best tracks (I Want To Know What Love Is and Betcha Gon' Know), but i'd add Candy Bling, Ribbon and It's a Wrap as my favourite tracks.

And i have to say Memoirs is the only album i know from this first bunch. Whitney isn't my cup of tea, apart from her more known singles, but i'm curious about Daydream and 8701. I'll listen to the tracks you have mentioned as soon as i can.

[swiftie13]

Mat.. loving the shade

Akini, it's fine LOL, I wasn't expect Madge love here... anyway.. Daydream is overrated and probably rightfully placed. Apart from like the singles and 2-3 songs, it's a filler fest.
Her latest album is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy imperfect LOL, she needs to step it up.

I have not heard either Whitney album yet, nor the Usher album so I have no opinion haha. But yeah, still not sad

Maybe the only one I wished to see higher would be Glitter ( ) but I wasn't expecting much. I prefer it to these other two MC albums.

[Gagich]

Your #1 album is as obvious as Nickf1`s #1 song of 2011!

Blackout 4 the win!

[Cless]

So, Mariah has 9 entries in the top 100? I'm guessing the remaining albums would be:

Butterfly
Mariah Carey
Emotions
E=MC2
TEOM
Music Box
Merry Christmas

If Rainbow appears on your list, then gurl...

[Spartan]

I voted Breakway as it's the only album from that list that I actually own, and it's lovely.

Glee, vol. 5 is pretty week in my opinion. A couple of good songs though: Thriller/Heads Will Roll, Landslide, Don't You Want Me.

[crystalphoenix]

Memoirs = I actually totally forgot about this album when I was commenting on Charmbracelet and Glitter! in regards to Mariah's albums, I'd much rather have seen this one miss the Top 100 than either of those two! I like the idea of a Mariah album without any featured acts, and I don't think the cover is quite as awful as fans make it seem, but this was the first Mariah album that I felt truly disappointed with on first listen. as you mentioned, "The Impossible" and "More Than Just Friends" are pretty painfully bland, and several others are just very...unexceptional. I still don't get what you hear in "I Want To Know What Love Is", but I'd say my favorite tracks are "H.A.T.E.U.", "Ribbon", "Candy Bling", "Obsessed", and "Angels Cry" (in no particular order).

Whitney Houston = yeah, singles aside, this album really doesn't have much to offer. "How Will I Know" is epic, of course. <3

Daydream = thanks for the shout-out (well, sort of). No. 98 does seem...very dramatically harsh...but I take solace in the knowledge of how intensely your opinions can change over time. I still believe that you'll come to appreciate this album someday. in the meantime, I think you made four excellent picks for the best tracks - "Forever" is the only glaring omission IMO.

I'm Your Baby Tonight = hmmm...my gut tells me this is too low, but then again, there are quite a few underwhelming tracks on it. "My Name Is Not Susan" is certainly the standout for me, but I definitely love "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "Miracle" too. I do owe you for inspiring me to check out the two Japanese bonus tracks, which really ought to have replaced two of the tracks on the standard edition (*cough* "After We Make Love" and "I'm Knockin'" *cough*).

[joel77m77]

Good to see Whitney's self titled album, some great songs on it.

[GoodBoyGoneBad]

I love Memoirs, great way to start this countdown!

[JSparksFan]

Eh, no death threats? Last batch wasn't controversial enough, I suppose. :-?

Kidding aside, much thanks for all the feedback, guys! It is much appreciated!

Aww, "Daydream" and "8701" are quite low!

Good to see those Whitney albums here too!

You think so? I find those two are pretty hit or miss. Mariah's got a number of stronger records than Daydream. As for Usher, 8701 is perhaps his most cohesive effort to date.

#110. Usher - Confessions

#110

#110

YOU CRAZY????

*unfollows Akini on Twitter*

lol kidding.

It could be worse, Abiyasa. That could be a Queen B album at #110.

From your "bubbling under" list I own two albums, "Jagged Little Pill" and "Dangerous", both are great and would have been much higher on my list.

"Daydream" and "I'm Your Baby Tonight" are good albums though both Mariah and Whitney have done better. Speaking of which, "Whitney Houston" is a classic that deserves to be under the bestselling albums of the 1980s.

Perhaps those two bubbling under albums will grow on me in the future.

As for those three albums you highlighted, they've all got some undeniable classics on them but overall, they're definitely not as strong as one would expect.

I can take "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel" at #100... but... BUT... "Daydream" at #98?! I can't!! :evil: #bye

And... you just called the ballads the main raeson for the low ranking of the record?! They're definitely the highlights, BY FAR, from the album for me!

And... the possibility that "Rainbow" ranking higher than "Daydream" on your albums countdown... you may have just angered the stan in me. :x

I know your countdowns are always controversial... but.. I just can't take this massive shocker. I knew it wasn't one of your fave MC albums, but I definitely didn't expect this to crash out in such a low ranking. It definitely deserves much more.

Okay... finished ranting. Let's get on to the more important reviews:

With "Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel", the album tracks (in particular) are really either hit or miss. The highlights of the album are definitely those you mentioned, with the exclusion of "Standing O". I'd add "Angel's Cry" in there too. The album on a whole definitely isn't that... strong, so I'm still quite okay with your ranking of this.

Ah, Whitney's debut album really isn't that great. Even though I've only heard about 75% of the album in full, I echo your sentiments exactly. The only tracks I really love from the album are "How Will I Know", "Saving All My Love For You" and "Greatest Love Of All". The others are just... bland. I don't really think it's among Whitney's best, definitely.

and... Daydream. I just can't get over how this ranked so low. The ballads are just so phenomenal and really make the album what it is for me. Granted, it does have some fillers ("Long Ago"), but let's face it - which album doesn't? Other than that, the album is close to perfect for me, with every song having their own unique sellpoints. My favourite tracks from the album are "Fantasy", "Always Be My Baby", "I Am Free", "When I Saw You" & "Looking In".

Whitney's "I'm Your Baby Tonight" does contain some stellar tracks, that comes along with subpar ones too. My favourite tracks are those that you mentioned + "Miracle", which I think is one of her best non-singles. Though the album definitely isn't as great as her other work, I believe it does deserve to get ranked higher, along with the three albums below it.

I don't really care about Usher except a few tracks.. and unfortunately, 8701 only does have a track from him that I really like ("U Got It Bad").

I'll be grateful if I don't see "Merry Christmas" falling in the next batch, seeing how controversial your countdown has been already.

I knew that you would be the most upset by my ranking of Daydream. Please don't hurt me!

I've honestly given Daydream multiple opportunities to grow on me as I know a number of lambs regard the album as one of MC's ultimate best efforts. It's just too monotonous for my liking. It's not representative of the MC I love, the power balladeer who can just as easily whip out a first-class uptempo track. The album drags on and on for me.

I'm pleased to hear that we agree on the Whitney albums and on the ranking for Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. I hope you check out those "Best Tracks" from Usher though I doubt you'll like them more than the incredible "U Got It Bad".

And I hate to devastate you even further but Merry Christmas shan't be making an appearance here. I regard as more of a Christmas album than a standard album so I didn't consider it here.

Memoirs can go Daydream and I'm Your Baby Tonight cant.

I figure that with Glitter not even making the Top 100 that we've already gotten off to a bad start for you. I've got some picks you'll love higher up though. Worry not!

Well, my favourite MC album is Memoirs, so don't get your hopes too up... I know i have strange tastes in terms of Mariah's music, my two favourites albums are the two worst rated amongst her fans. I think Memoirs is such a cohesive album, surely not all the tracks are that strong, but i love the summery vibe it has, sometimes it can be very chilling and relaxing. It lacks variety in some songs, this is the only bad thing i can think about it. I agree with a couple of your best tracks (I Want To Know What Love Is and Betcha Gon' Know), but i'd add Candy Bling, Ribbon and It's a Wrap as my favourite tracks.

And i have to say Memoirs is the only album i know from this first bunch. Whitney isn't my cup of tea, apart from her more known singles, but i'm curious about Daydream and 8701. I'll listen to the tracks you have mentioned as soon as i can.

OMG, I'm sending home all your fave albums! Sorry!

Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel isn't a bad album. I wouldn't have included it if I felt so. It's just that there are too many wishy-washy tracks for my liking. The highlights are absolutely brilliant though.

Glad to hear you'll check out the recommended tracks from those two albums! I'm crossing my fingers that you love them as much as I do!

Mat.. loving the shade

Akini, it's fine LOL, I wasn't expect Madge love here... anyway.. Daydream is overrated and probably rightfully placed. Apart from like the singles and 2-3 songs, it's a filler fest.
Her latest album is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy imperfect LOL, she needs to step it up.

I have not heard either Whitney album yet, nor the Usher album so I have no opinion haha. But yeah, still not sad

Maybe the only one I wished to see higher would be Glitter ( ) but I wasn't expecting much. I prefer it to these other two MC albums.

Ah, glad to hear you weren't expecting Madonna. This way, you're not disappointed!

Glad to hear someone else shares my sentiments on Daydream and I'm glad there are no major upsets...yet.

Your #1 album is as obvious as Nickf1`s #1 song of 2011!

Blackout 4 the win!

Am I that predictable?

So, Mariah has 9 entries in the top 100? I'm guessing the remaining albums would be:

Butterfly
Mariah Carey
Emotions
E=MC2
TEOM
Music Box
Merry Christmas

If Rainbow appears on your list, then gurl...

Um...you see...what had happened was...

Substitute Merry Christmas for Rainbow and those are the remaining MC albums.

I voted Breakway as it's the only album from that list that I actually own, and it's lovely.

Glee, vol. 5 is pretty week in my opinion. A couple of good songs though: Thriller/Heads Will Roll, Landslide, Don't You Want Me.

I love how Breakaway has moved from underdog status to one of the favourites poised to win!

I hope you'll like the other two Glee entries more.

Memoirs = I actually totally forgot about this album when I was commenting on Charmbracelet and Glitter! in regards to Mariah's albums, I'd much rather have seen this one miss the Top 100 than either of those two! I like the idea of a Mariah album without any featured acts, and I don't think the cover is quite as awful as fans make it seem, but this was the first Mariah album that I felt truly disappointed with on first listen. as you mentioned, "The Impossible" and "More Than Just Friends" are pretty painfully bland, and several others are just very...unexceptional. I still don't get what you hear in "I Want To Know What Love Is", but I'd say my favorite tracks are "H.A.T.E.U.", "Ribbon", "Candy Bling", "Obsessed", and "Angels Cry" (in no particular order).

Whitney Houston = yeah, singles aside, this album really doesn't have much to offer. "How Will I Know" is epic, of course. <3

Daydream = thanks for the shout-out (well, sort of). No. 98 does seem...very dramatically harsh...but I take solace in the knowledge of how intensely your opinions can change over time. I still believe that you'll come to appreciate this album someday. in the meantime, I think you made four excellent picks for the best tracks - "Forever" is the only glaring omission IMO.

I'm Your Baby Tonight = hmmm...my gut tells me this is too low, but then again, there are quite a few underwhelming tracks on it. "My Name Is Not Susan" is certainly the standout for me, but I definitely love "I'm Your Baby Tonight" and "Miracle" too. I do owe you for inspiring me to check out the two Japanese bonus tracks, which really ought to have replaced two of the tracks on the standard edition (*cough* "After We Make Love" and "I'm Knockin'" *cough*).

OMG, is Memoirs... really that forgettable? The album's definitely not remarkable by any standards but I think it's still a bit stronger than most people give it credit for. I'm glad to hear that we share similar views as to what the album's worst tracks are.

My feelings as it relates to a lot of things are given to fluctuate over time ( ) but it's gonna take a miracle for Daydream to grow on me. Then again, it is MC so it's quite possible.

Glad to hear my Whitney tribute got you into those two bonus tracks!

Good to see Whitney's self titled album, some great songs on it.

Yes, some of her most classic hits are on that album.

I love Memoirs, great way to start this countdown!

Yay! Glad to hear you appreciate it!

[JSparksFan]

#095. Whitney - Just Whitney...

One of Houston's most poorly-reviewed albums, Just Whitney... was released during a period when the legendary balladeer was under intense scrutiny from the media over some happenings in her personal life. Those issues aside, the album's not a bad effort overall. Though there is no jaw-droppingly amazing song on the album as the strongest track, "Try It On My Own", would only get an 8/10 from me, the album's a largely consistent body of work overall. I'd love to know what possessed Whitney and her label to release the absolute worst track on the album as the lead single. I can't with single choices sometimes.

Best Tracks:

- Try It On My Own
- Unashamed
- One of Those Days
- Dear John Letter
- My Love

Overall Rating: 6.61/10

#094. Glee Cast - Glee: The Music, Volume 1

The first of two entries from the Glee Cast, this was the group's very first release. The album features some of the cast's most classic and most impressive covers to date ("Don't Stop Believin'", "Somebody To Love", "Bust Your Windows", "Hate On Me", "Keep Holding On") but the absolute highlight is undoubtedly the cover of the Broadway show-stopping anthem, "Defying Gravity" that just brings tears to my eyes when I remember the context in which the song was featured on the show. Mind you, the album's far from perfect (*Akini takes this moment to look at the unconvincing "Gold Digger", the vapid "Take A Bow", the wreckage that is "No Air", and the atrocious "Bust A Move"*) but it's certainly enjoyable.

Best Tracks:

- Defying Gravity
- Don't Stop Believin'
- Somebody To Love
- Bust Your Windows
- Hate On Me
- Keep Holding On
- Maybe This Time

Overall Rating: 6.62/10

#093. Amy Studt - False Smiles

I'm crossing my fingers that Bill and Horacio aren't the only two who know (and like) this album. Amy Studt's only entry in my Top 100, False Smiles is a collection of some pretty impressive Pop and Alternative Rock tracks marred by a few duds haphazardly thrown in here and there. The first three tracks are all ace after which things start to go downhill quite a bit. Studt's vocals are pretty remarkable on some tracks though. The album's highlight is definitely "Under The Thumb" though "Misfit" did go on to become Amy's biggest hit of her career.

Best Tracks:

- Under The Thumb
- Just A Little Girl
- Misfit
- Happy Now
- Ladder In My Tights

Overall Rating: 6.63/10

#092. Kelly Clarkson - My December

The first of five entries from Idol's very first winner, My December featured the Pop/Rock star transitioning into a darker, more gloomy and less mainstream direction. Though it's still my least fave record from her, I have nothing but respect for the superstar for defiantly recording this album in discordance with her label. Granted, the album did underperform but her statement was clearly sent and fans and critics alike welcomed the album. Though there's nothing quite as impressive as the saucy break-up anthem that is "Never Again", the album does feature one of my all-time fave Kelly songs in "Sober" and there is a pretty impressive album track here and there too. I must say that the album cover is absolutely beautiful, KC's best yet.

Best Tracks:

- Never Again
- Sober
- Haunted
- How I Feel
- Don't Waste Your Time

Overall Rating: 6.69/10

#091. Rihanna - Music of the Sun

The first of six entries from my Bajan Queen, Rihanna, Music of the Sun was the album that introduced the future megastar to the world. True to it's title, the album is the perfect fusion of Dance-Pop and Caribbean music genres such as Dancehall and Reggae. Though the album's biggest (and if we're being honest, only) hit was "Pon de Replay", the record's highlight is undoubtedly the title track where Rihanna's vocals sound so soothing and the beat is just so infectious, so energizing, so perfectly tailor-made for summer dancing. It really is amazing. As it was Rihanna's first effort, there are a number of clunkers as is expected with new artists still trying to forge for themselves an identity. Anyway, if you get nothing from this write-up (by someone who's clearly a Rihanna stan), I highly recommend everyone to check out the title track. I doubt you'll be disappointed. Also, if you're in the US and you've got a few extra bucks laying around, feel free to purchase Music of the Sun as it's RiRi's only album to not achieve Platinum certification there and every copy sold helps!

Best Tracks:

- Music of the Sun
- Pon de Replay
- The Last Time
- Willing To Wait
- If It's Lovin' That You Want

Overall Rating: 6.83/10

[Tiger]

#092. Kelly Clarkson - My December
#093. Amy Studt - False Smiles

Amy Studt is CLASSIC.

[aang]

It could be worse, Abiyasa. That could be a Queen B album at #110.

Oh, you mean Britney? Because King B would never go that low.

Anyway.... Don't really like Rihanna's debut. She looks innocent on the cover though. <3

[BadGirl]

Nothing really impressive in this bunch... well, finally!

I like a couple of songs on both Rihanna's and Kelly's, but nothing more. But i'm glad to know that all of Rihanna's albums appear in your countdown. And i wonder if a certain Lana could appear too...

Oh, and i also checked your recommended tracks from 8701 and Daymdream, but i didn't find nothing really great. But i'm listening a lot to Jagged Little Pill since you charted it here.

[PosziMC2]

Just Whitney >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


Tell Me No >>>

[swiftie13]

I was NOT expecting Amy Studt! glad to see her here, and though her second album is wayyyyyy better I am juts glad to see her here! It's also surprising to see Glee... but anyway haven't heard the other albums.. well except for Music From the Sun which was alright. Pon de Replay is still my jam though.. very memorable time

[GoodBoyGoneBad]

Music Of The Sun is my least fav Rihanna's album, while My December is one of the better works of Kelly Clarkson.