My Top Ten Favorite Albums of 2010

10. "Crystal Castles II" by Crystal Castles

Standout Tracks: "Doe Deer", "Baptism", "Pap Smear", "Not in Love"

9. "Night Work" - Scissor Sisters

Standout Tracks: "Any Which Way", "Something Like This", "Invisible Light", "Fire With Fire"

8. "Flesh Tone" by Kelis

Standout Tracks: "22nd Century", "Fourth of July", "Emancipate", "Acapella"

7. "Head First" by Goldfrapp

Standout Tracks: "Rocket", "Believer", "Alive", "I Wanna Life"

6. "It'll Be Better" by Francis and the Lights

Standout Tracks: "For Days", "Knees to the Floor", "Darling, It's Alright", "Going Out"

5. "Animal / Cannibal" by Ke$ha

Standout Tracks: "Take It Off", "Boots & Boys", "Cannibal", "Sleazy"

4. "Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty" by Big Boi

Standout Tracks: "Shutterbug", "General Patton", "Hustle Blood", "Tangerine"

3. "Body Talk (Parts 1, 2, and 3)" by Robyn

Standout Tracks: "Dancing On My Own", "Hang With Me", "Invincible", "None of 'Dem"

2. "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" by Kanye West

Standout Tracks: "Runaway", "Monster", "So Appalled", "Lost in the World"

1. "The ArchAndroid" by Janelle Monae' (Absolute Recommendation!)

Standout Tracks: The entire album, from start to finish. Period. The End. Listen to it.

Francis and the Lights

Okay. So let's just get this out there. My favorite band is Francis and The Lights. This is Francis Farewell Starlite. That is his legal name. I want to be him when I grow up. Badly. 

When the band was introduced to me, and I'm sure when they're introduced to anyone, there was immediately a comparison made to Prince. The sound is funky and Francis dances in that old school James Brown kind of way, but you really need to listen; lyrically, there's no comparison. Francis and the Lights take everyday life and frame it in full, soulful, memorable melodies. I'm not saying that Prince doesn't, but there's a lyricism and a sense of the world that makes them unique. They have a sound, and that's important when we're inundated everyday with music that is unoriginal or disingenuous. 

I think if anyone really wants to get into my head-space, then they should get hold of their releases. I can't pick a favorite between their EP's ("A Modern Promise" & "Striking") or their latest album "It Gets Better". However, if I had to pick a favorite song, like the one that I want playing at that last moment of my life, then it would definitely have to be "He Was A Good Friend". It's just an experience record, the kind of record that leaves you in tears. Definitely get into that. Other songs of note (though let's not get this twisted; everything they've released is incredible) would be "For Days" and "Knees to the Floor" from their last album, the singles "The Top" and "Darling, It's Alright" and "A Modern Promise" from the EP of the same name. Those were just from the top of my head.  

I love this band, and if there was ever an act that I wanted to see before I die, then this would be it. 

Why do I think this is awesome? Because it was done in one take. Live. Yeah.  

Same concept, but now it features the band and some incredible lighting effects. 

So, yeah. When I'm talking about something being awesome, this is the bench mark. I want them to sell a bajillion records, play out Madison a hundred times, and live on forever. I can't gush enough. If there was ever a band to make me scream and fall out like a Japanese Schoolgirl at a Michael gig, then this is it. 

We have come to terms. 

I Am The Doyenne.

My name is Syeed. And I am The Doyenne.

doy·enne [doi-en; Fr. dwa-yen] : a woman who is the senior member, as in age or rank, of a group, class, profession, etc.

That isn't a statement of arrogance. As I strive to use my talent to contribute something to the world that hasn't been done before, I find that I am slowly cementing a group where I am the only member. Hence, I am the senior member in this House. Therefore, I am The Doyenne. That's my professional title, the name that will be on my intellectual properties, and it is as much a part of me as my given name.

Over the years, I've learned that I'm a person who tends to have a lot on his mind. So, having a blog where I can cement those feelings and a Facebook page where I can network socially with people who not only live around me but who live all over the country is very important in my journey to get to where I want to be. Since 2006, I've been a recording artist with varying degrees of success in what I've created. Only now with my latest album, "The House of Augustine", have I begun to establish with a clear mind what kind of artist I want to be.

Hopefully, with this blog, I can keep the journey to a place of prestige as interesting as possible. I'm inviting all of you to watch me grow into this fully fledged artist that I was meant to be. I'm inviting all of you into my thoughts, my dreams, and my House.

I Am The Doyenne. And I Am yours.