Paqman's Top 10 Albums of 2013

Tens of thousands of albums have been released this past year, so P&B are taking on the arduous task of breaking down our very own Top 10 Albums of 2013 List. We'll break down the albums, EPs, and mixtapes, etc, that made for quintessential listening throughout the year. If you don't see something on here that you feel should've made the lists, feel free to leave a comment or send us an email about it!

10) Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here

Alice In Chains welcomes you to this year's countdown coming in at number 10. I've had my doubt about this iteration of the band with William DuVall taking over on vocals. I wasn't a fans of their first album together, "Black Gives Away To Blue", but "Devil" came off like the AIC album we've all been waiting for, post-Staley. Sludgy guitars, heavy beats and signature harmonies make this a must for any nostalgic grunge head.

P&B Approved Cuts: Hollow, Stone, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here

ALL OF THE P&B APPROVED CUTS CAN BE ENJOYED HERE ON RDIO

Turnbull's Top 10 Albums of 2013

10) Jim James - Regions of Light and Sound of God

(image via stereogum.com)

The My Morning Jacket frontman go solo and gives us a funky set of songs with a spiritual bent, using some interesting drum loops and gaining inspiration from R&B and soul.

9) Oddisee - The Beauty In All

(image via hhv.de)

Some of Oddisee's albums feature lyrics, but I feel his true essence is captured through his instrumental LPs.  He first blew me away on his Rock Creek Park mixtape from 2012 – a love letter to an area in his hometown of Washington, DC.  This new record shows a huge leap in production skills, is a bit more progressive, and is reminiscent of Flying Lotus.  This guy keeps getting better and better.  He's one of the most underrated producers in hip hop.

Paqman's Top 10 Albums Of 2012

Tens of thousands of albums have been released this past year, so P&B are taking on the arduous task of breaking down our very own Top 10 Albums of 2012 List. We'll break down the albums, EPs, and mixtapes, etc, that made for quintessential listening throughout the year. If you don't see something on here that you feel should've made the lists, feel free to leave a comment or send us an email about it! 

10) Kid Koala - 12 bit Blues

I've got so much love for Kid Koala, and it goes beyond him being a proud Canadian. Eric San (aka Koala)  takes old blues to the next level with a fresh take on some old recordings. As an added bonus, San creatively found a way to turn the CD case into a working mini turntable. Brilliant.

P&B Approved Cuts: 1 bit Blues (10,000 miles), 3 bit Blues, 8 bit Blues (Chicago to LA to NY)

                   ALL OF THE P&B APPROVED CUTS CAN BE ENJOYED HERE ON RDIO.

Paqman's Top 10 Albums Of 2011 - The Year Of The Mixtape

Tens of thousands of albums have been released this past year, so P&B are taking on the arduous task of breaking down our very own Top 10 Albums of 2011 List. This is the second of a 2-part series (Turnbull's first, with Paqman's second). We'll break down the albums, EPs, and mixtapes, etc, that made for quintessential listening throughout the year. If you don't see something on here that you feel should've made the lists, feel free to leave a comment or send us an email about it!

10) Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

The Foo had one hell of a year. They reestablished themselves as the premiere stadium rock band with a massive sold out tour. If you haven't checked out the "Back and Forth" documentary which chronicles the band's history and the making of "Wasting Light", it's a must for any fan of the Foo Fighters and modern rock.

P&B Approved Cuts: Bridges Burning, Rope, Arlandia

 9) Drake - Take Care

Canada's hottest export did not fail with his sophomore release. With longtime producer Noah "40" Shebib, Just Blaze and T-Minus, Drake proved that his star continues to rise as he delivers his trademark introspective lyrics over fantastically produced beats.

P&B Approved Cuts: Buried Alive Interlude, Under Ground Kings, Take Care

Turnbull's Top 10 Albums of 2011

Tens of thousands of albums have been released this past year, so P&B are taking on the arduous task of breaking down our very own Top 10 Albums of 2011 List. This is the first of a 2-part series (Turnbull's first, with Paqman's to follow). We'll break down the albums, EPs, and mixtapes, etc, that made for quintessential listening throughout the year. If you don't see something on here that you feel should've made the lists, feel free to leave a comment or send us an email about it!

10) Theophilus London - Lovers Holiday

Amongst a couple of mixtapes, and a major label debut that I found somewhat disappointing, this 5-track EP captured the true essence of this debonnair Brooklyn MC/singer-songwriter, who sights Prince, Mike J, and The Smiths as his key influences.  London is a fashion savvy street rebel who struck gold with this short yet solid set of tracks.

P&B Approved Cuts: Strangelove, Wine & Chocolates

9) Bon Iver (s/t)

Truth be known, I didn't know what to make of this album when I first heard it, but it certainly has grown on me over time.  This record serves less as an album, and more as a collection of lush 'soundscapes' that conjure up the same feelings of isolation shown on Bon Iver's critically acclaimed debut album For Emma, Forever Ago.

P&B Approved Cuts: Perth, Holocene, Towers

Happy Holidays From Paqman&Bull

(Photo via fairfaxbynight.com)

We want to take this opportunity to wish everyone happy holidays, no matter how you celebrate. Best wishes to you and yours, even if you have been naughty or nice. 

We will be going dark for the next few days, but have a few treats in store for you before 2011 wraps up. Please keep it locked as both Paqman and Turnbull will be offering you their top 10 albums of 2011. There might be a few surprises on our lists, but we posted some clues throughout the year if you have been faithfully reading since our launch in February. 

Thanks again for being among our readership. We are truly thankful for you taking the time to stop by and read our work.

- Paqman&Bull 

Spin Out: The Top 10 NHL Spin-O-Rama Goals (And Save) Ever

From theScore's awesome hockey blog, Backhand Shelf, comes the top 10 spin-o-rama goals of all time. The classic spin move is a treat to watch when beautifully executed into an incredible pass or goal. Don't want to give it away, but #1 on the list is worth the wait. 

-Paqman