2001 Album of the Year
926953
It is extremely difficult to describe this album for you but I will do what I can. The first thing I will tell you is that you should do whatever possible to listen to this album. I don't care if you buy it, steal it, or download it. Just listen to it at least!
I've listened to a lot of music in my time and there are very few albums that compare to this. Speaking mostly of this genre, of course.  It reminds me of how I felt the first time I ever heard "Endtroducing" by DJ Shadow. It's even similiar to "Endtroducing" but more experimental. I always wanted to be able to erase that album from my memory to enjoy it all over again. cLOUDDEAD, in a sense, have granted me that wish with this release. To say this is some incredible music is sort of an understatement. It's very atmospheric and spaceous, but at the same time very beat driven.  It also happens to have the sweetest sample of "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues.  I won't tell you which song.  You'll know it when you hear it.
The artists here are from an underground hip hop collective from San Francisco known as anticon.  If you dig this release, I would suggest checking out all the other artists from anticon.  Although, I think this album is the finest of all those.  Just my opinion...
Should appeal to anyone into experimental music and underground hip-hop.  Some may not like why? and Doseone's vocal styles, but don't let that stop you.  I think it's quite interesting once you hear how it plays with the album.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
1413010
Hey STAIND and COLD fans, whats' up? How amazing is this album? Well to put it simply, it is one of the best albums in the last 5 years. I would put this right up there with "Dysfunction",  INCUBUS "Make Yourself" and all three albums by the DEFTONES as the truly great albums to come out since KORN s/t CD in 1994. With all of the Limp Bizkit's, Slipknot's, and Marylin Manson's that have emerged in recent years, here comes yet another band Discovered by Fred Durst who has clearly shown they are among the best everything good in music today.
4158912
Patti Smith's Trampin is eaily one of the year's best albums. Music this fresh, vital, smart and kick ass makes a mockery of the faceless corporate "product" shoved on us by the music "industry."

  Patti Smith excels in so many ways that she is easily taken for granted. Lyrically, this album is poetic, incisive, cutting and spiritual. Allusions are made to Blake, historic Babylon, Buddhist symbols, war imagery and more. She writes lyrics more interesting than than the books of most authors.

  One example, on the hypnotic, rocking "Radio Baghdad," she alludes to the current American destruction of the birthplace of civilization, ancient Baghdad and Babylon. "We invented the zero...but we are nothing to you...," referring to American bombs falling on the city.

  Vocally, she does it all. From fiercely protective maternal wails to gently soothing reassurance, her voice has grown deeper and more resonant over the years. She now sounds worldly, experienced, knowing and compassionate.

  The mood and tempos of the songs vary from stripped down punk rock to gentle ballads, to Marian Anderson's "Trampin." Yet the overall feel is energetic, rocking, kick ass music that makes you think and feel and move all at once.

  Few musicians have continued to grow and reflect, and make music so uncompromising and vital. (Johnny Cash and Tom Waits are the only two that come to mind). These stand like islands of passion, integrity and the true spirit of rock and roll, amid the commercial wasteland of prepackaged "product" foisted on us year in and out.

  This goes not only for Patti Smith, but the entire band as well. They are one of the most seriously under rated talents in rock. Witness Lenny Kaye's amazing guitar work, from Cash like ballad precision on "Mother Rose" to remarkably energetic garage band/surfer/Dick Dale sounding pumping on "Stride of the Mind" and other tracks. This band has been together a long time, and created shockingly original and vital music.

  Thank you and congratulations to Patti Smith and her group, for keeping it real in a prefab world. Some of us out here still care and really appreciate it.
3558133
One of the best albums of 2012. My vote for album of the year. Sky is an amazing writer, and the production will keep you replaying A Dream Deferred. This album features some of my favorite artists and producers. Well delivered...hip hop at its finest. s/o to Skyzoo, thank you for raising the bar.
3217880
This cd is the bomb it brings back so much memories of 2001 I remembered listening to this cd when I was 14 I still have this cd
994014
I have had this album for over a year now and the songs are still speaking to me.  This is one of my favorite albums of all time.  You will be doing yourself an injustice by not purchasing this album.  One you listen to the whole thing a few times you will see what I mean.  Some songs start off pretty good and then get AMAZING!!
76133
Just maybe one of the best albums of the last five years.  The more I listen, the more I love it.  As for the vinyl pressing, it could have been better.
766172
I had read Blender's review of this album, they rated it as the best album of 2003. I had already heard some of the White Stripes and decided I to spend my R150 (+/- $23) on Elephant. I put it on when I got home and wasn't dissapointed. Below is my track ratings out of ten, along with reasons and my favourite line/s on the song.
1) Seven Nation Army 10/10 - Fantastic. A great riff with clever lyrics make this the best possible opening. "I'm going to Wichita/ Far from this opera for evermore."
2) Black Math 6/10 - Probably my least favourite track, a bit irritating. "Maybe I'll put my love on ice."
3) There's No Home For You Here 10/10 - A fantastically good ' I hate you' song, with cool solos and vocal effects. " So completely stupid/Just go away."
4) I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself 9/10 - A great cover, turning Bacharach's love song, into a strange story of stalker like desparation. A cool video too, you'll understand when you see it. "Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain/ I need your sweet love to fill me up again." (Or so I think?)
5) In The Cold, Cold Night 7/10 - Not a bad song, it's just not one of my favourite, nice to hear Meg find her voice, though. " And I know that you feel it too/ When my skin turns into glue."
6) I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart 9/10 - A good, simple song about Jack trying impress a gir's mother but not succeeding. "I'm inclined to go finish high school/Just to make her notice that I'm around"
7) You've Got Her In Your Pocket 8/10 - Quite a sad acoustic track, good nonetheless. "You've got her in your pocket/ Where there's no way out."
8) Ball and Biscut 10/10 - A long Bluesey track where the guitar takes over and becomes the real star."But it's my mother who made me the seventh son"( I personally have no clue what the entire song is about)
9)The Hardest Button To Button 9/10 -  Again I have no idea about buttoning or whatever's going on here, but its a cool catchy tune. "Now we're a family!"
10)Litte Acorns 8/10 - Wierdest song on the album ("Be like the Squirrel girl") and a bit irritating, but worth alisten. Strange intro is funny. "Your problems hide in you curls."
11)Hypnotize 7/10 -  Not bad, but not great. " Be your right hand man/ till your hands get old"
12)The Air Near My fingers 9/10 - A good song, with some good lyrics. "Life's so Boring/ It's really got me snoring"
13)Girl You Have No Faith in Medicine 9/10 - A rocking high- energy guitar song. " Give me a sugar pill and watch me just rattle down the street"
14) Well It's True That We Love Each Other 8/10 -  A quirky end to a great album. " Jolly good! Get us some tea then Bruce!"
4405894
terrific!!! This album should be in the list of the best albums of 2011 at the end of the year!
235230
Nobody was making music like this in 2000 Buy this album its well worth it!
2522954
I'm embarrassed and upset with myself I bought this album so late--almost a year after it was released. When I first listened to it, I couldn't believe it is SO good. It was an incredible experience and I haven't been able to put it down since.

This album--this album--is Paul's best since Band On The Run and one of the best of the decade. Sonically elegant, musically subtle and intelligent, with adventurous vocals and instrumentation, it's a perfect geometry of forms and substance. Daring, delicate, trippy, rocky, reflective, progressive, hypnotic, addictive, with a taste of psychadelia. Both for teenage kids and mature generations. You'll LOVE it. Just listen to it.
2078250
When this album was released, I was surprised and annoyed at the lack of positive reviews, lack of radio spins and the overall negative reaction (or no reaction at all) it garnered. Surprised because after a first listen, second and so on, I was hooked to every lyric, every beat, every theme of each song. Annoyed because this album had been so wrongfully ignored and still is.
Now almost a year after it's release, I'm still awestruck at just how brilliant "American Life" really is. Unlike her contemporaries, Madonna has illustrated that the art of her music is more important than making safe, comfortable, carbon copy tunes. That's quite evident on this album. She could easily be churning out the same tired radio-friendly music that many of today's musicians do (wake up Janet Jackson).
Only time will prove how ahead of the pack "American Life" is. Ten years from now, the genius of this album will be all but obvious. So, if you enjoy safe popular music, don't purchase "AL." If you have an open mind and are interested in a concept album that's lyrically and musically ahead of it's time, don't waste another moment; purchase this album.
"American Life" is only prove that not only is Madonna still relevant, but it also suggests even more brilliance from her in the years to come. I can hardly wait for what's next.
1027691
If you buy only one album this millennium, this is it.
32590
This is by far the best album of the year! I have listened to it everyday since receiving it and am in awe of the talent! I ordered another for a Father's Day gift and my dad loves it to. So glad to get on Amazon at a reasonable price.
310243
This album is amazing. It encompasses all forms of music that have come around in the last twenty years with the exception of country and rap. The lyrics are thought provoking and interesting as you slowly figure what they are actually saying. They utilize several different vocal styles from deep growls remeniscent of early 90s death metal to gutteral growls similar to the early days of Carcass. They also utilize some screams and clean vocals, some acompany music that reminds one of all the boy bands that appeared in the 90s. These sections are brief and add to the overall texture of the music. Every style they utilize has been done before, however, the mix is phenomenal. It creates a landscape of sound that is at one moment visceral and the next serene. The album as a whole has a flow to it as well. This is a rare album that has 13 singles but at the same time, is more complete as a whole. Since I found this album, i have not stopped listening to it (about four weeks now). Even my wife enjoyed it and her usual is onerepublic and bucky covington. This music spans so much without being pigeonholed into any one genre. Buy this album and you will not be dissappointed. easily the best of 09!!!
646642
This album made my "Best Albums of 2006" list (see http://www.amazon.com/Best-Albums-of-2006/lm/R3A0M7FT9VW902/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full). Not only is this my top pick for 2006, but this is a desert island disc for me now as I couldn't imagine life without it. This is one of the best albums to fall asleep to as well. The writing is simply killer, although a lot of it is high-brow erudite stuff that I admit I don't always get. This is the first album by Neko Case that I've purchased.
1118809
I knew before I bought this album it was going to be great, I prepared myself for a little bit different style, but a little bit of the same sound. This is going to make it a three way tie for album of the year for me, along with 'Cold Roses' by Ryan Adams, and 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' by Kings of Leon. Hopefully this won't be their last album like they announced at the end of last year. I recommend, if you are a fan, or are curious, buy this album. It's perfection.