JAPOY'S BEST OF 2012:
TOP 20 ALBUMS: 13-11
 |
RELEASED: 12.04.2012
LABEL: Kemosabe, RCA
US BILLBOARD 200: #6
TRACKLIST:
01. Warrior
02. Die Young
03. C'Mon
04. Thinking Of You
05. Crazy Kids
06. Wherever You Are
07. Dirty Love (feat. Iggy Pop)
08. Wonderland
09. Only Wanna Dance With You
10. Supernatural
11. All That Matters (The Beautiful Life)
12. Love Into The Light
* Favorite Tracks |
ALBUM REVIEW:
I have thoughts in putting this album next year because it was just recently released but I have made the final decision of placing it this year in my list instead. Just like the style of her previous releases, Ke$ha provides another fun album to contribute to the pop industry. Her latest effort for Warrior is not a let down and I can honestly say there are some enjoyable tracks to listen. Warrior starts with the fierce title track on which Ke$ha growls on the chorus. I like the production on the latter portion of the song. The lead single Die Young is just so irresistible to listen as Ke$ha sings about living our lives while we are still young. C'mon serves as a solid filler for a weekend party soundtrack as Ke$ha invites us to stay up all night. Thinking Of You is about returning back the favor as Ke$ha recalls her song on the radio that reminds her of the guy she used to love. One of the standout tracks is Crazy Kids on which we see Ke$ha rapping in a grimier beat while we see her romantic and sensitive side on Wherever You Are. The following track is Dirty Love, which features Iggy Pop, has this familiar old school hook-up while the mood shifts back to a mellow side on Wonderland, a slow and sad ballad similar to The Harold Song. The bouncy throwaway Only Wanna Dance With You is an ode to 70's rock and features The Strokes while another standout track Supernatural is just so eargasmic because of its pre-chorus and breakdown. The Max Martin and Shellback produced track All That Matters (Beautiful Life) follows from there as it's about an all-hands-in-the-air joint. Warrior ends with the vulnerable Love Into The Light as Ke$ha sings about reconciliaton which is accompanied by robotic and drum beats. Ke$ha certainly explore different genres to include on her album such as rock n' roll, electronic rock and pop rock. It's a clever way to incorporate these genres to her own style and the result, an impressive fun album simply titled Warrior.
2009: Rihanna - Rated R
2010: Jason Derulo - Jason Derulo
2011: LMFAO - Sorry For Party Rocking
 |
RELEASED: 05.04.2012
LABEL: Epic
US BILLBOARD 200: #18
TRACKLIST:
01. Walking On The Moon
02. Brokenhearted
03. I Told You So
04. Too Many Fish
05. I'm Just Sayin'
06. Coming Up Strong
07. Hello
* Favorite Tracks |
ALBUM REVIEW:
One of the interesting new acts this year that got my attention is Karmin. The American pop duo consist of the engaged couple Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan release a great EP, good enough to make it this high on the list even though it only has seven tracks. Lead vocalist Amy provides an outstanding vocals in all the tracks with those outstanding rap verses and catchy hook ups. Their record starts with Walking On The Moon wherein Amy delivers a hip hop style of rapping turning this one into a mainstream sound while Nick is assigned in the piano background. Up next is the track you all are familiar with, their successful hit for Brokenhearted. At first listen, you will definitely judge that this could be a Ke$ha song. I definitely love this track, Amy sings about being fed up waiting all day for his lover to call her up. In addition to this, I like the acoustic version of this track which is probably the reason for me to love it for a long time. The rapping skills of Amy continues on I Told You So wherein it could be a perfect answer to Chris Brown's Look At Me Now. The next cut is Too Many Fish, this one sounds like a mash-up of some of Beyonce's early hits like Crazy In Love, Single Ladies and Get Me Bodied. I'm Just Sayin' comes up next wherein it is about 'What you see is what you get'. One of the distinct track from Hello is Coming Up Strong. The reason is that Nick gets the part in singing the chorus and he sounded like David Archuleta here yet it is still works for me. We end the EP with Hello, the title track which interpolates the classic hit of Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit. This record could have been higher though in my list if there at least three more tracks but nevertheless, hands down for this sweethearts in making the pop scene interesting this year. Let's hope they can give us more fun record just like Hello.
2009: Mariah Carey - Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel
2010: Taylor Swift - Speak Now
2011: Jessie J - Who You Are
 | 11 | ALICIA KEYS
Girl On Fire |
RELEASED: 11.22.2012
LABEL: RCA
US BILLBOARD 200: #1
TRACKLIST:
01. De Novo Adagio (Intro)
02. Brand New Me
03. When It's All Over
04. Listen To Your Heart
05. New Day
06. Girl on Fire (Inferno Version) (feat. Nicki Minaj)
07. Fire We Make (duet with Maxwell)
08. Tears Always Win
09. Not Even The King
10. That's When I Knew
11. Limitedless
12. One Thing
13. 101
* Favorite Tracks |
ALBUM REVIEW:
Barely missing the top 10 is Alicia Keys with her latest record for Girl On Fire. This year, I didn't expect anything new from Alicia but when it was confirmed that she will have a record, I just have to give it a listen. Just like The Freedom Of Element, I was impressed with most of the tracks from Girl On Fire. The theme focuses on the recent wonderful events that happened in Alicia Keys' life like her relationship with Swizz Beatz and the joy of having her son Egypt. Girl On Fire kicks of with the piano interlude De Novo Adagio, then we move to the piano driven ballad for Brand New Me. It is about confronting an old lover wherein Alicia offers a brand new version of herself. When It's All Over is also a standout track wherein is set on the judgement day as Alicia is proud to say that at least she has gotten to love her man. Her son Egypt makes a surprise cameo as he sings the cute eh eh's. Listen To Your Heart is the fourth track which is an updated spin on a 70's soul vibe while the record shifts to a more upbeat tempo in New Day. Swizz Beat and Dr. Dre are the producers behind this standout track that is accompanied by drums and percussions. Girl On Fire, which is slowly climbing the charts, talks about the great achievements done by a woman while Alicia teams up with Maxwell on the seductive Fire We Make. For Tears Always Wins, Alicia expresses her loneliness in missing her man as they are apart from each other then we move on to another beautiful track for Not Even The King. This one simply tells that love is bigger than the world on which not even the most wealthy person can afford. There is some reggae-soul flavor found in the record from the likes of Limitedless, then Alicia looks back on a mournful memory of a passed relationship in One Thing. The album ends on a somber note with 101, wherein Alicia proclaims herself as the latest victim to fall for her former lover's tricks. Girl On Fire is another brilliant record to add to Alicia Keys' discography. If this one got released a bit earlier, this could probably end up in the top 5. Nonetheless, it is good enough to make it to my list this year.
2009: Shakira - She Wolf
2010: Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans
2011: Chris Brown - F.A.M.E.
RECAP: 20-19 |
18-17 |
16-14
COMING UP: Top 10-09 Albums
but I wasn't a huge fan of this one sadly 
with this slayage. Karmin and Ke$ha's albums SLAY. Still have to listen to Alicia's, but I'm sure it does as well.