Originally posted by Kang. OMG just realized there's only room for 1 female rapper left on the countdown Azealia vs Azalea who will it be.

25. Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence

Girl kinda finally cashed in on that initial Q3-2011 promise? I found Born to Die's sell-it-with-a-big-ass-wink shtick really overdone as a whole, so it was a nice surprise to see LDR strip things down this time around and just give into her persona completely. Musically "stripped" doesn't necessarily fit all the time; the best song she's put to tape so far in her career is the 7-minute washed downward spiral that is "Cruel World," but the album definitely benefits from a deeper and more varied aesthetic that just wasn't there on the first try. Maybe she doesn't go further than the SAD GIRL, but that's all good when now at least we have shades of sad.


KEY TRACKS

24. TV on the Radio Seeds

And American Radiohead quietly knocks it out the park again! For a band that's done a lot of crazy experimental **** in the past an overtly pop-centered release might come across as lazy or uninspired, but I found SEEDS as consistently fresh and entertaining as any other big rock release in the last 5 years or so. These 12 songs are super super catchy once they sink in, and the direct but compelling lyrics accompanied by some very CRISP production work make for an album that's basically endlessly listenable. And proof that just because an album starts with its best track doesn't mean it's frontloaded.


KEY TRACKS

23. Angel Olsen Burn Your Fire for No Witness

An album I wish now I listened to a lot more at varying points during the year, and furthermore Exhibit A of some of the hardest hitting music out there being the softest to the ears. If you don't know, Angel is signed to Bon Iver's label and her shtick alternates between these short bursts of lo-fi ~garage rock, and more frequently on this album, more quietly devastating folky warblings. Her mix of aggression and passivity reaches a peak on "White Fire," ANOTER super intense 7-minute meditation on bad **** from the past set to some spooky ass strummed chords and not much else. This is very pretty music but if you take the time to listen, the words she's singing are just absolutely brutal and that's what takes it a couple steps above the boring mess that my housemate listens to.


KEY TRACKS

Tove Lo, Lana Del Rey slaying! Ultraviolence is better than Born To Die at least in my opinion, BTD just didn't age well.



Honestly, TRF.

22. Les Sins Michael

One that flew under the radar a smidge. For those who didn't catch it, Les Sins is the alter ego of Chaz Bundick aka Toro Y Moi, and while I could always appreciate the man's talent and the strength of his album artwork, this side project was all the confirmation I needed that to appreciate his music, I'm just gonna need a higher BPM and maybe not as many lyrics to decipher. Mike stays mostly instrumental with a vocal hook thrown here and there, and this lightweightness keeps everything bouncing along very smoothly. Idk maybe not appealing at all to those who vibe out to the other side of Chaz, but you're looking for 40 minutes of FUN clutter-free beats to get you moving then I don't think you could have done better this year.


KEY TRACKS

Originally posted by Giliap liked/loved all of these. do you prefer michael or anything in return?

21. Jessie Ware Tough Love

Ya we could go the 'disappointment' route, but it's tricky to recapture lightning in a bottle and since there was roughly nowhere to go after Devotion but down, I appreciate the good Jessie's tactful shift to a different, poppier lane! Restraint is still her strong side, and it's what allows her to elevate an alright song to a great one without breaking a sweat. I feel Tough tops Devotion in terms of consistency; no WEAK songs allows the whole project to stand on its own a little better. Oh and I love love "Say You Love Me" in all its Ed Sheeran DELIGHT. Brilliant voice, brilliant singles, brilliant mood setter — these other sophomore slumpers looking lame in the streets.


KEY TRACKS

Ya we could go the 'disappointment' route

Originally posted by Lil Misty jessie wares album is trash but Id still lay on the couch with you and listen to it

Originally posted by primo. Yes we could cause it's trash.