This is my first year on ATRL so I'm new to the whole "best of" thing so bare with me. I'm a bit late as well but I don't care. I'm going to be counting down the top 50/25/30/whatever number I decide albums of the year, and I might do singles as well if I have the time.

I'm a fan of pop, rock, alternative, electronic, etc. so the list will be as diverse as possible and there should be something for everyone. I'll also be highlighting some of the standout tracks from each album so you can have a taster if you're interested in checking out the best of that particular album.

I should be starting the countdown in a few days if I can get the order sorted by then. Stay tuned!

~Sam

MILEY CYRUS
BANGERZ

Miley Cyrus has been inescapable this year,
and though I had high hopes I found her fourth
studio album Bangerz somewhat disappointing
and forgettable. Aside from the two smash hits,
there are a couple of other gems too - "Adore
You" and "Drive" to name a few. But it's songs
like "4x4" and "FU" that, in their try-hard-
ness, bring the album down for me.

Check out:
"Adore You"
"We Can't Stop"
"Wrecking Ball"
"Drive" 

CELINE DION
LOVED ME BACK TO LIFE

I was pleasantly surprised by Celine Dion's
eleventh album Loved Me Back to Life;
the title track is, of course, an absolute
jam. Other highlights include "Breakaway",
a captivating power ballad and "Unfinished
Songs", an upbeat anthem. 60% of the
material is largely mediocre filler but the
album's pleasant nonetheless - enough
to land on my "best of" at number 39.

Check out:
"Loved Me Back to Life"
"Breakaway"
"Unfinished Songs" 

JAI PAUL
JAI PAUL

Although not an official release, I
couldn't not include Jai Paul in my end of
year list. The album is not Paul's debut,
but a collection of stolen recordings,
and yet it's still pretty decent. "BTSTU"
is by far the best, but there are highlights in
"Str8 Outta Mumbai", "Crush" and
"100,000" too. I'm expecting good things
from his first official release next year.

Check out:
"Str8 Outta Mumbai"
"Crush"
"BTSTU" 

LADY GAGA
ARTPOP

Where do I start with ARTPOP?
After years of waiting, it turned
out to be a lot of hype for not as
much in quality. Some songs are
terrific, i.e. "Gypsy" and "Sexxx
Dreams", others, like "Dope" and
"Jewels N Drugs", are unlistenable.
The highs are enough saving grace
to put ARTPOP on my "best of", but
the lows are low for Gaga standards.

Check out:
"Sexxx Dreams"
"Gypsy" 

V V BROWN
SAMSON & DELILAH

I first heard of V V Brown a couple of days ago,
I'd heard her song "Shark In the Water" but didn't know
who it was by. This album marks a huge departure
from that upbeat pop sound, with Brown going in more
of an alternative/electronic/soul/experimental direction.
The opener, "Substitute For Love", is incredible and
definitely the highlight, but "I Can Give You More"
and "Igneous" are great too. She's for sure under-
rated, and definitely deserves more listeners.

Check out:
"Substitute For Love"
"I Can Give You More"
"Igneous"