nate patrin.

I thought I already did this “favorite album of each year of your life” exercise sometime, somewhere, some years ago. But in case I didn’t, here’s my current version. As a special bonus, I’m throwing in singles and obscure/underrated/overlooked favorites, ’cause I feel like it. Enjoy this perplexing juxtaposition of famous rap records, club/pop dance stuff and indie rock/new wave/Britpop/nu-psych.

1977: Steely Dan, Aja; Parliament, “Flash Light”; Mandre, s/t

1978: Van Halen, s/t; Giorgio Moroder, “Chase”; Parlet, Pleasure Principle

1979: The Clash, London Calling; Machine, “There But for the Grace of God”; Candido, Dancin’ & Prancin’

1980: The Clash, Sandinista!; Prince, “Dirty Mind”; Defunkt, s/t

1981: Kraftwerk, Computer World; Rick James, “Give It to Me Baby”; Scientist, Scientist Meets the Space Invaders

1982: Michael Jackson, Thriller; Afrika Bambaataa & the Soul Sonic Force, “Planet Rock”; Prince Jammy, Prince Jammy Destroys the Invaders*

1983: Madonna, s/t; Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel, “White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It); ESG, Come Away With ESG

1984: Prince, Purple Rain; Van Halen, “Jump”; The Treacherous Three, s/t

1985: New Order, Low-Life; Doug E. Fresh, “The Show”; Mantronix, s/t

1986: Run-DMC, Raising Hell; Beastie Boys, “It’s the New Style”; Just-Ice, Back to the Old School

1987: Boogie Down Productions, Criminal Minded; Prince, “U Got the Look”; Just-Ice, Kool & Deadly (Justicisms)**

1988: Public Enemy, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back; Eric B. & Rakim, “Follow the Leader”; Stetsasonic, In Full Gear***

1989: The Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique; Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”; Low Profile, We’re in This Together

1990: Eric B. & Rakim, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em; Brand Nubian, “All for One”; D-Nice, Call Me D-Nice

1991: Massive Attack, Blue Lines; A Tribe Called Quest ft. Leaders of the New School, “Scenario”; Ragga Twins, Reggae Owes Me Money

1992: Eric B. & Rakim, Don’t Sweat the Technique; Pete Rock & CL Smooth, “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.); Diamond & the Psychotic Neurotics, Stunts, Blunts & Hip-Hop

1993: The Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers); KRS-One, “Sound of Da Police”; Black Moon, Enta Da Stage

1994: Nas, Illmatic; OutKast, “Git Up, Git Out”; Bay B Kane, The Guardian of Ruff

1995: Genius/GZA, Liquid Swords; Pulp, “Common People”; Big L, Lifestyles Ov Da Poor and Dangerous

1996: OutKast, ATLiens; Beck, “The New Pollution”; The Juggaknots, s/t

1997: The Chemical Brothers, Dig Your Own Hole; The Notorious B.I.G., “Hypnotize”; Faze Action, Plans & Designs

1998: Massive Attack, Mezzanine; OutKast, “Rosa Parks”; Hieroglyphics, 3rd Eye Vision

1999: MF DOOM, Operation Doomsday; Basement Jaxx, “Red Alert”; Mike Ladd, Welcome to the Afterfuture

2000: Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele; Wu-Tang Clan, “I Can’t Go to Sleep”; Lifter Puller, Fiestas + Fiascos

2001: Daft Punk, Discovery; The Strokes, “Hard to Explain”; Res, How I Do

2002: The Roots, Phrenology; Clipse, “Grindin’”; Comets on Fire, Field Recordings from the Sun

2003: Basement Jaxx, Kish Kash; Dizzee Rascal, “I Luv U”; Burnt Sugar, Black Sex Y’all Liberation & Bloody Random Violets

2004: Sonic Youth, Sonic Nurse; Annie, “Heartbeat”; Soulwax, Any Minute Now

2005: M.I.A., Arular; Three 6 Mafia, “Stay Fly”; DJ Muggs vs. GZA, Grandmasters

2006: Ghostface Killah, Fishscale; T.I., “What You Know”; Ciara, The Evolution

2007: UGK, Underground Kingz; Justice, “D.A.N.C.E.”; Neil Landstrumm, Restaurant of Assassins

2008 (so far): The Bug, London Zoo; Justice, “DVNO (Radio Edit)”****; Kail, True Hollywood Squares*****

*man, the early ’80s were a great time for Space Invaders-themed dub records

**so yeah, Just-Ice was pretty damn good

***though I guess only in the ’80s’ best year for rap could this get overlooked

****I know this showed up on their album last year but this version’s more than different enough to count as an ‘08 track

*****maybe it’s kind of early to call this one obscure/underrated/overlooked but dude doesn’t even have his own page on discogs.com or rateyourmusic yet