Fair enough on the mixtapes. They are free though. You like the Neighbourhood I think. That would be the one I recommend. But, they're not essential or anything.
Sorry about The Lord. If she ditched those two songs I mentioned, she would probably go top ten. I like "Wildest Intercourse" though. That's one of the messiest names I have ever heard for a song title
Caught you again
I've not even listened to their album I like them for the Afraid video
No Well, the song is basically about that anyway
Hmmm Run The Jewels, I've heard some songs and they're not really my thing, but I feel like I could get ratchet to them
Aquarius The CD looks so good And yaaas drag Bet
Hmmmmmm D'Angelo, perhaps I would listen to it if he went all "Untitled" again
Bloomers! Amazing albums set! I love Run the Jewels (shame about the computer issues, though IMO I think RTJ2 isn't as good as the first, so it's probably a fair ranking. Though saying "not as good" is like saying The Godfather part 1 isn't as good as part 2 [or Toy Story, Star Wars, whatever analogy works for you]. Both are amazing). Wow, that last parenthetical was out of control. Longest in history? Will need to contact the Guinness book, but before I do I want to also say I LOVE Black Messiah. I love your write-up, as it's so true how much time has passed between Voodoo and it. I have my own specific memories of what I was doing during the Voodoo-era, and now all these years later, pow! The follow-up, finally. I love the line " It's an album that didn't need to be released in 2014 but just happened to be anyway," as that's exactly it. Nothing current about it, it's just timeless.
Those are the two I have heard, though I def need to hear Mastodon's latest album in full. Really slacked off there. And I have liked what i've hears from Tinashe, so I need to listen to her album, as well.
Great stuff!! Excited to see what makes it in the top five.
25-21: Are you She Came to Give it to me, Usher? Oh, yeah good song by Usher and Nicki. What a funky groove. 0 To 100/The Catch-Up is good and Chasing Time is great. Azealia.....never mind.
20-16: It's really a Cruel World. Broken Bells! Something in the (Holy) Water is brilliant.
15-11: High Road has an interesting sound, but I like it. Midnight is a good in-depth look on what sound Coldplay was going to have on the album-still need to hear the album tho. You're Mine (Eternal) is not bad and I guess she was letting go Nick. Can't Remember To Forget You is good and I can't remember to forget the video because I want to remember it. Invisiable is not bad.
10-6: Tuesday is a nice jam. It's weird to party on a Tuesday unless you're an everyday partyer. I'm crying for a reason and that reason is that I have a problem. But, hey Nicki Lookin Ass.
5-1: Nice review on Heavy Metal And Reflective and I'm listening to it and still can't get into it, but it's a grower. Let me hear the #1 and it's a good song. I do enjoy Dierks' music, but I haven't listen to Country music that much these days.
Good-year end countdown. I had a good time listening to new music. I would check again for the albums, but I like only listen to 6 in 2014. Hmm. I was about to post my next update on Sunday, but stupid me wasn't paying attention and I messed up and lost the update. I was thinking to just post the update without the write-ups, but stubborn me won't take it like that. Gotta start over. There's only 4 days left! Gotta rush and update on all of those days. It will be a bit difficult since I got school now, but I will manage. I will finish or not. oh.
Aquarius' lives up to its watery name: the calm and serene "Bated Breath," the smooth velvety title track, the jagged "All Hands On Deck," the stagnant and fetid "Bet," it all flows together.
I LOVE RTJ2 and Aquarius. But, I never really liked Jhené Aiko She just seems so uninteresting to me.
Also, I MUST listen to Black Messiah. I MUST. I just... don't know why I haven't listened to it yet.
Honestly, TRF.
Jhene's album is brilliant if you just want to unwind and don't want anything too challenging. It's also a beautiful album from a production stand point.
You definitely need to listen to Black Messiah. I promise that if it clicks, it really gets you. It's an incredibly rewarding album
Quote:
Originally posted by Already Gone
Don't know this, but I'll try it
That's the spirit
Really though, it's a great album, but might take some getting used to.
Quote:
Originally posted by sumthintoxic82
Aquarius
although I adore all of How Many Times...
I love How Many TImes, until Future's part. It's like you're being serenaded gently and then somebody runs in screaming and yelling. It would be a highlight without future.
Quote:
Originally posted by Allstar
I wanna listen to D'Angelo's album because everybody loves it..
But I'm so sure it's not gonna be for me at all. It's probably too R&B. I hope I'll like it.
D'Angelo's album is amazing. It is a very different album than pretty much anything else here though.
One of those albums you got to romance and spend time with. It clicked for me when I was making a pizza and listening to the album.
Quote:
Originally posted by holyground
Caught you again
I've not even listened to their album I like them for the Afraid video
No Well, the song is basically about that anyway
Hmmm Run The Jewels, I've heard some songs and they're not really my thing, but I feel like I could get ratchet to them
Aquarius The CD looks so good And yaaas drag Bet
Hmmmmmm D'Angelo, perhaps I would listen to it if he went all "Untitled" again
Ok, you caught me with my pants down there.
You definitely can get ratchet to RTJ that's the best way to listen to them. They're releasing a remix album filled with cat noises. Maybe that one could work if this one doesn't
Your taste remainns superior with your bet trashing .
Aquarius has great packaging. I love it.
I don't think D will go all untitled again. It's the reason he went MIA in the first place.
Quote:
Originally posted by MP2K
Love the fact that you BUY the music though own. I mean who's really doing that?
Love the inclusion of A Place Like This. The top 10 is GREAT can't wait for the top 5.
Judging by the sales of some of these albums, not many people It's kind of a hobby.
Yes at you loving A Place Like This. Can't wait for Majid's album!
Quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Spaceman
Bloomers! Amazing albums set! I love Run the Jewels (shame about the computer issues, though IMO I think RTJ2 isn't as good as the first, so it's probably a fair ranking. Though saying "not as good" is like saying The Godfather part 1 isn't as good as part 2 [or Toy Story, Star Wars, whatever analogy works for you]. Both are amazing). Wow, that last parenthetical was out of control. Longest in history? Will need to contact the Guinness book, but before I do I want to also say I LOVE Black Messiah. I love your write-up, as it's so true how much time has passed between Voodoo and it. I have my own specific memories of what I was doing during the Voodoo-era, and now all these years later, pow! The follow-up, finally. I love the line " It's an album that didn't need to be released in 2014 but just happened to be anyway," as that's exactly it. Nothing current about it, it's just timeless.
Those are the two I have heard, though I def need to hear Mastodon's latest album in full. Really slacked off there. And I have liked what i've hears from Tinashe, so I need to listen to her album, as well.
Great stuff!! Excited to see what makes it in the top five.
I think I agree that RTJ is better than the sequel. It's almost always with the case for every non-Empire Strikes Back sequel. Oh I don't know about your parenthetical being one of the longest in history (in fact, I am known to throw a crazy long parenthetical in many of my posts/writings as well, this one may not be that long, but you get my point I'm sure )
Thanks for the compliment and for reading my rambling. I really was impressed with D'Angelo, his album... it's been growing on me like crazy.
You definitely should check out Tinashe, I was wary at first, but her album is one of the most solid albums (and I mean albums in the true since) I heard this year. I've been a huge Mastodon fan since Blood Mountain. They'll always be on my list in all likelihood. I'd call it their worst effort so far, but that's not saying much when everything they've done has been top notch.
Quote:
Originally posted by Flame Beat Z000
25-21: Are you She Came to Give it to me, Usher? Oh, yeah good song by Usher and Nicki. What a funky groove. 0 To 100/The Catch-Up is good and Chasing Time is great. Azealia.....never mind.
20-16: It's really a Cruel World. Broken Bells! Something in the (Holy) Water is brilliant.
15-11: High Road has an interesting sound, but I like it. Midnight is a good in-depth look on what sound Coldplay was going to have on the album-still need to hear the album tho. You're Mine (Eternal) is not bad and I guess she was letting go Nick. Can't Remember To Forget You is good and I can't remember to forget the video because I want to remember it. Invisiable is not bad.
10-6: Tuesday is a nice jam. It's weird to party on a Tuesday unless you're an everyday partyer. I'm crying for a reason and that reason is that I have a problem. But, hey Nicki Lookin Ass.
5-1: Nice review on Heavy Metal And Reflective and I'm listening to it and still can't get into it, but it's a grower. Let me hear the #1 and it's a good song. I do enjoy Dierks' music, but I haven't listen to Country music that much these days.
Good-year end countdown. I had a good time listening to new music. I would check again for the albums, but I like only listen to 6 in 2014. Hmm. I was about to post my next update on Sunday, but stupid me wasn't paying attention and I messed up and lost the update. I was thinking to just post the update without the write-ups, but stubborn me won't take it like that. Gotta start over. There's only 4 days left! Gotta rush and update on all of those days. It will be a bit difficult since I got school now, but I will manage. I will finish or not. oh.
Thanks Flame! I love the name Something in The (Holy) Water. Fitting, but unexpected. I almost spit out the water I was drinking when I read the comment.
That Can't Remember To Forget You video is pretty great. Who'd forget it? Who'd want to forget it? Did it need music?
Nicki needs to stop looking at those asses or she's going to have a problem and I'm not just crying about that for no reason.
I didn't know that you like Dierks. He's so good. He got me in a big way this last year. The very first update on my Top Ten chart when I first joined had Drunk On A Plane. Memories
Anyway, I really hope that you finish yours. I'd love to see what's number one in the zone! I know what it's like with school being annoying though...
Quote:
Originally posted by Eeveelution
Every time I listen to Black Messiah it gets better. Really Love is especially amazing.
Jhene above Tinashe though?
Black Messiah is that kind of album...
If Tinashe left off Bet and Future she just may have been higher than Jhene. Jhene's album is kind of great though, sometimes you need a good nap, you know?
Quote:
Originally posted by Superiore
NOOOOOO
Leave the Beautiful Experimental Track alone
Tinashe should have left the track alone... off the album
Quote:
Originally posted by V3$$3L.
BLACK MESSIAH
I must purchase that album. I got into it after the initial hype and LAWD. I borderline stan for the man now.
All of which means I'll probably get around to hearing Vulnicura next month.
That album is incredible
I am just about in the same boat as you. It's knocked my socks off.
I haven't gotten into Vulnicura yet, I have it, I've listened to it, I just haven't gotten into it yet and I love her. All this probably means that in the next month when you get it, I'll be loving it though.
Ghost Stories. The name conjures up ideas of camp fires, of loneliness in the dark, of spookiness. I went into this one expecting something overtly dark, especially after Coldplay's Blair Witch inspired video for Midnight. I bought the album, looked at that lonely heart, alone in the middle of the vast ocean and wanted to throw myself into the album. I didn't quite get it at first. Most of the album was not the Coldplay I've grown to love. They replaced their extroverted sound with a downcast little album, the songs seemed to be much smaller in scale than the arena-fillers they're known for (Paradise, Teardrop, Fix You, Clocks, Viva La Vida) replaced by what seemed like aimless meandering. I listened to the album so many times and nothing really clicked; until one day when I sat down to listen to the album. Coldplay are too polite of a band, they're too nice and people-pleasing to release a bummer of an album, instead they give little hints at the heartbrokenness that inspired the album throughout. The song titles tell the story (Another's Arms, Midnight, Oceans, Always In My Head), the little musical nuances hint at the emptiness and isolation (the bass drops, the reverb, the auto-tune) of the album, the incredible sequencing that seems to follow Chris as he transitions from love to break-up (that stretch of songs from Midnight through Oceans is heartbreaking in particular). They show their beating heart, proclaiming they believe in Magic and True Love, but that's made all the more crushing at the underlying story of the album: you can believe in this things, but that doesn't make things work out. #BloomersRealTalk
04. Flying Lotus - You're Dead!
Flying Lotus was one of the few artists this year who improved upon his previous body of work. I've been a huge fan of his since Cosmogramma, one of my favorite 2010 albums, and I think I may be about to call You're Dead! his strongest body of work yet. Looking at it now, 2014 was kind of a year when a lot of artists looked at mortality and stepped back and assessed things, (maybe because many 2014 albums began recording in 2012 and all the end of the world stuff?) and You're Dead! is not the last album on this countdown to do so. I'm getting off topic though...
You're Dead! is one of the most fully realized albums of the year and one of the most impressive. It fuses jazz and electronic elements near-seamlessly and bassist-Thundercat remains FlyLo's strongest collaborator throughout the album, adding an astral element to the music. That's not to bash any of the other collaborators, the album is filled with incredible guests; Kendrick's fiery verse over "Never Catch Me" is one of the year's best, Snoop Dogg adds his cool flow to the zombified "Dead Man's Tetris" and FlyLo's Captain Murphy alter Ego adds a sinister foreboding feeling across the length of the album also, especially on "The Boys Who Died In Their Sleep."
Listening to this album for the first time, I was reminded of a story from a segment of a review of Flying Lotus's first album 'Los Angeles'
Quote:
Originally posted by Allmusic
Before he started experimenting with left-field hip-hop beats and electronic samples, Steven Ellison, aka Flying Lotus, experienced a moment of enlightenment. While filming a documentary about his great aunt/spiritual advisor Alice Coltrane and his cousin Ravi Coltrane, their cab driver asked if they were musicians. Alice responded that, in fact, the three of them were, except Steven didn't know it yet.
That quote always stuck with me as being kind of ironic, since Flying Lotus is one of the best artists working today and You're Dead! is an artist working at his best.
(Side Note: You're Dead! hands down is the most beautifully packaged album of the year. IT came complete with dramatic artwork inserted into the case. The artwork is two sided: one shows the apocalyptic rapture like scenario I choose to show, while the other is sketchings of each of the songs. Check the artwork for Never Catch Me to get an idea. Also, the CD packaging is 3-D and has actual depth, and is covered in shiny foil in places; it's very opulent, if you can get it for the same price as an MP3 download, I highly recommend it)
03. Mariah Carey - Me. I Am Mariah. The Elusive Chanteuse
Not going to lie, up until 2013, I really didn't like Mariah. I knew a couple of her songs, but didn't want to check out anything else. For some reason, I don't really remember, I listened to #Beautiful and had to grudgingly admit that it was the perfect song. It was so sunny and light, it seemed to exist out of time, in some sepia-toned memory. I was worn down and snapped up her (reasonably priced) discography. I needed to hear the album that completed #Beautiful's promise, I don't know how her fans waited years for it to happen. The album turned out to be even better than I imagined it could be. She truly seems to be moving into some elder stateswoman role in pop music and I mean that in the best possible way. She's accepting her maturity and using her life experiences to help her music grow and develop into these pop songs that are just so perfect and lived in. She's always been a great writer, but these songs are only the work of one person, and only seem like they could be the work of one person; how many artists could say that they're churning out such solid and mature music after a career as long as Mariah's, music that sounds fresh yet also sounds timeless. #Beautiful album. Well done Mariah.
02. Azealia Banks - Broke With Expensive Taste
"I've been waiting for Azealia Banks..." begins Peter Rosenberg on Desperado. We all were, she had so much promise early on, but seemed to not be able to get it together for long enough to put out an album. But, it happened. She released an album after more than a year of push-backs, delays, twitter wars, her music career seemed to be a footnote on her autobiography of history's greatest internet troll. She dropped the album, and offered up a classic. Broke With Expensive Taste is one of the best debuts in recent times. Her creative vision is so tightly focused, her skill so honed, the album is stronger than some artists could put together at their peaks. Broke With Expensive Taste is also one of the most tightly sequenced albums of the year. It's about an hour long, but zips by; the first half is filled with precisely placed beats and carefully planned raps, everything is so cool and clean; gradually the album escalates until "Soda" throws the album wide open and you're allowed to breathe and realize that Azealia's put together one of the finest albums of the decade and still has time to grow.
01. Dierks Bentley - Riser
Thanks for showing up other albums, you put up a nice effort. Really though, Azealia, you almost did it; but just like "I Hold On" was the only real answer for my favorite 2014 song, 'Riser' is the only real answer for my favorite album. It's a pretty straight-forward album, cut and dry, without any pretense, or fancy frills, but that's the kind of guy I am. I bought it first day it came out in February and have been playing it since. It's just clicked in a way few other albums this year have. It was the album I needed to hear for various reasons and while I'm not happy that it exists, I'm grateful it's here.
Dierks Bentley lost his father during the process of making the album, and there is a lot of self-reflection and lonesomeness going on here. He steps back, reflects, and assesses on so many songs here; and even on the songs that don't do exactly that, loss hangs heavy, loves are lost, memories hang heavy, but there's still optimism and triumph here. Even though the hardship and the pain, he clings on to his beliefs and memories to keep him going, he's a riser and knows this. Lyrically, the songs are top-notch, complete with vivid story-telling that puts you right in the middle of the music. Sonically, some of these songs are as big as the open county, filled with glimmering guitar work that should have been used throughout U2's album. His voice though, brings all the songs down to Earth, it's weathered, emotional, it's perfect.
That's it for the albums. I might throw up a surprise list of two in the coming days for fun. I'll definitely have one more for sure to come, one that might answer a question that you might have about this best of.
Best of really was a fun time here on ATRL to talk music with everybody, it is what I signed up for afterall. Thank you very much to everybody that commented here, I enjoyed checking out your lists and getting to know you all better. I appreciate the support and look forward to seeing everyone's list at the end of 2015! It's going to be a good year, judging by the music released alread.
The more I listen to Azealia's album, the more I'm realising how good it really is. All the pieces are starting to come together, even the album cover is seemingly more powerful now. The ballerina pose is actually a brilliant way to present the album as brutal, in the most stereotypically feminine sense. It takes so much strength to affectively pull off that pose.
I'm not surprised about Coldplay, given your admiration for them. I am surprised about Mariah, though! I never listened to her album, but I agree, "#Beautiful" lives up to its name. It was actually somewhat of a hit over here, which was so unexpected, but it definitely deserved to!
You really have the most amazing taste, well done! Excited to discover some new jams from you this year.
You definitely can get ratchet to RTJ that's the best way to listen to them. They're releasing a remix album filled with cat noises. Maybe that one could work if this one doesn't
Your taste remainns superior with your bet trashing .
Aquarius has great packaging. I love it.
I don't think D will go all untitled again. It's the reason he went MIA in the first place.
Receipts!!!
What, are you serious about that?
Yas
And prob cuz he doesn't have the bod anymore
Ghost Stories
Quote:
replaced by what seemed like aimless meandering
But... that's the whole point and it's so heartbreaking
Tinashe Just got the album yesterday from Amazon. Definitely an amazing release, especially a debut one.
Azealia Her album was alright, a tad too experimental for me but I assure that means it's even more suitable for you. Don't really care for anything else in the top 10.
Amazing Ghost Stories write-up! I love when that happens, when you listen to an album at first and you are like “eh,” but then after repeated listens it just “clicks.” I like how you described that process, and I like you tying the themes from the record into the song titles. Well done. I love that album, as well! I am such a slacker for not listening to the Flying Lotus album yet. I love his work, and good job singling out Thundercat! He is amazing!! I also like you talking about the album artwork, as while I typically buy digital nowadays (though I tend to buy 3-4 CD’s a year, usually from indie record shops or online preorders from the record label, like Merge Records), but i’m glad that Flying Lotus put the effort into the packaging! I haven’t listened to the Mariah and AB albums yet, though your write-ups are intriguing. And Dierks’ Riser at #1! What a great choice! It couldn’t make my own countdown, but I really loved it, and I love how it just connected with you this year. Dierks really doesn’t get enough credit, even on his lesser albums he still has strong songs (I thought Home was OK, but there’s some great songs on there, like the title track and “When You Gonna Come Around” with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild). It’s more outright country/bluegrass, but have you heard Up on the Ridge? It is really amazing, and there’s even a cover of “Pride” (In the Name of Love) on it, so your talk of U2 really does fit haha! Wonderful #1!
I just want to say, while I wasn’t here at the beginning, I want to complement your year-end. I’ve been posting on these year-end forums since they began as an off-shoot of the Your Top Ten forum 11-12 years ago, and yours is one of the best I have ever come across. Strong variety of music, passionate write-ups, creative pics of the artwork/packaging, no easy snark, it was a complete pleasure to read through. And this was your first year! Great job, and I look forward to next year’s edition!