Top Ten Most Bumping Albums of All Time (Part 1)

As I have explored more and more music, I have recognized that different music appeals to me for different reasons: There are songs that have motivated me, ones that have healed me, those that have taught me, and those that have made me dance.

I've noticed that some songs are great to blast at full volume, and others deserve a quiet atmosphere to be enjoyed, and that some songs made me smile, while others made me cry.

As I was looking for new albums to add to my collection, the word "bumping" came to mind. I was trying to think of booming, bumping, grooving tunes to add to my commute playlists. So, I did what any music nerd of the 21st century would do ... I asked my Facebook friends.

The question I posed: "What is the most bumping album you own?" The responses were great, and while many were focused on hip-hop, there were mentions of everything from John Scofield to the New Deal, the New Mastersounds to Nine Inch Nails.

Granted, my group of friends likely fit some demographic that influenced the albums proposed, but it was intriguing to see the answers, and to be reminded of some truly amazing albums.

My method for choosing a top 10 was to do a March Madness-style bracket where albums competed with each other and my friends voted for the winners ... a thoroughly scientific and accurate method to be sure. Ho ho. Then I relatively arbitrarily assigned a seeding system, and designed the bracket with the 16 suggestions I felt fit the bill the best.

While seeding, I took into account the notoriety of the album, the "bump" factor, album depth, and the overall likability of the album. Some were seeded lower than others, but there was no denying that every album in the "Sweet 16" was bumpworthy.

The bottom line ... I used a method—an admittedly faulted one—and have no excuse if you disagree with the results.

I plan to write an album review each week as we count down the top 10 "Most Bumping Albums You Own," as voted on by my peers.

There were six albums in the tournament that didn't make the cut, but still deserve a listen:

• King Fantastic's "Finger Snaps and Gun Claps" was an album I hadn't heard of until it was nominated. As the album started, the opening line did a great job of summarizing the album: "King Fantastic, a concise study in West Coast synthesizer, beach bum, gangster music." A listen revealed a rapper spitting flows over electronica tracks. While many rappers rode the funk grooves, this album relied on a more whomping feel. The real question, bumping? Yep. 
• Jamiroquai's "Rock Dust Light Star" fell into my lap a week before it was nominated as a potential most bumping album. While it didn't make the Top 10, it did remind me that Jamiroquai creates some of the tightest, funkiest, crunchiest grooves in the business. Singer Jay Kay is a demanding band leader with a reputation for flawless performances and dance-party inducing shows. If you've never listened to Jamiroquai, this album is a good place to start, and it definitely bumps. 
• Boombox features Donna Godchaux's (Grateful Dead) son, but had very little in common with the Dead in terms of music. Nominee "Visions of Backbeat" featured a beat-driven electronica formula, and kept speakers vibrating in my '07 Sentra (jealous?). Boombox lacked the substance I usually demand, but in a tournament concerned with bumping, this certainly qualified. 
• John Scofield's "Bump" was a contender with it's funky low end, but it also had songs where jazz triumphed. The jazz gave the album more depth and variety, but sapped the album of some of its punch. That's probably why it didn't crack the top ten. Still a great album, and a phenomenal musician. 
• The Downward Spiral was an unexpected nominee for me, though when I ventured back to the album I hadn't listened to in well over a decade, I recognized its bumping status. The album featured driving bass, heavy bottom, and rhythmic aggression that could be described as "bumping." While the album was definitely different from the other nominees, the more I contemplated it, the more I felt it belonged in the conversation. If you've never heard it, it's worth a listen. Trent Reznor was at the most creative and effective point in his career. 
• The New Deal's self titled album was one I hadn't heard before. From the first track I knew why it had been suggested. In that song's own words: "If you've got a pair of headphones, you better get them on and get them cranked up." While I've never been the biggest fan of electronica, this album had a sonic quality that grabbed me from the jump with intensely bumping grooves. Of all the suggestions, this was my favorite addition to my collection. It may not have made the top 10, but I'm grateful that it was suggested. 

Over the next 10 weeks, I intend to reveal and review the Top 10 Most Bumping Albums (as suggested by my Facebook friends). Stay tuned next week for my review of Number 10: Red Hot Chili Peppers "Blood Sugar Sex Magik."

Until then, keep bumping.