David Bowie 'The Next Day' Genre:
Art Rock, Pop Rock
Art Pop, Alternative Rock, Glam Rock, Chamber Pop Highlights: "Dirty Boys", "(You Will) Set the World on Fire", "If You Can See Me", "Heat", "Where Are We Now?" Label: Columbia You'll Like It If You Like: Bowie's best, Arcade Fire (8.4)
#20.
Moderat 'II' Genre:
Indietronica, IDM
Future Garage, Electropop, 2-Step, Techno Highlights: "Milk", "Bad Kingdom", "Let In the Light", "Gita" Label: Monkeytown You'll Like It If You Like: Passion Pit-meets-IDM, Apparat (8.5)
#19.
F**k Buttons 'Slow Focus' Genre:
Neo-Psychedelia, Electronic
Drone, Progressive Electronic, Synthwave, Indietronica Highlights: "Hidden XS", "Prince's Prize", "The Red Wing" Label: ATP You'll Like It If You Like: The Chemical Brothers, Crystal Castles, Mogwai (8.5)
#18.
Jon Hopkins 'Immunity' Genre:
IDM, Microhouse
Ambient Techno, Tech House, Glitch Hop, Progressive House Highlights: "Collider", "Breathe This Air (feat. Purity Ring)", "We Disappear", "Sun Harmonics" Label: Domino Records You'll Like It If You Like: Aphex Twin, Four Tet, Andy Stott (8.6)
#17.
Gesaffelstein 'Aleph' Genre:
Electro House, Tech House, Industrial Techno
EBM, Electro-Industrial, Ambient Techno, Trap Highlights: "Trans", "Destinations", "Obsession", "Pursuit", "Hellifornia" Label: Parlophone You'll Like It If You Like: The Prodigy, Deadmau5 (8.6)
#16.
Disclosure 'Settle' Genre:
Deep House, UK Garage
UK Funky, Dance-Pop, 2-Step Highlights: "Confess to Me (feat. Jessie Ware)", "White Noise (feat. AlunaGeorge)", "Tenderly", "Second Chance", "Latch (feat. Sam Smith)" Label: PMR You'll Like It If You Like: Jessie Ware, Katy B, Rudimental, 90's house music (8.7)
#40.
Kanye West "Black Skinhead"
from the Album ’Yeezus' Genre:
Hardcore Hip Hop
Industrial Hip Hop, Pop Rap Country: USA Last.FM Scrobbles 21
King of hip hop, to be honest. 'Yeezus' has better songs, I mean, "I'm In It" and "Blood on the Leaves". But damn. This is amazing. Sad about the **** video, but... he's Kanye, I forgive him.
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#39. Charli XCX "Take My Hand"
from the Album 'True Romance' Genre:
Electropop, Dance-Pop, Synth Pop
Electro House, Nu-Disco Country: UK Last.FM Scrobbles: 41
Yeah, this may be Charli's most "mainstream"-friendly song - or, at least, it was until "SuperLove" came out, but, this is... like... her own interpretation of a dance-pop song. And it may not be darkwave or witch house or whatever, but... this is crazy-awesome.
If you like Pop music and you ignore her/don't like her, just because she hadn't hit it on the States, then I'mma all up on ya.
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#38. Kendrick Lamar ft. Lady Gaga "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe"
from the Album 'Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City' Genre:
Conscious Hip Hop, Pop Rap
Trap Rap Country: USA Last.FM Scrobbles: 7
I like the official version of this song, and Kendrick's verses are great... but the version with Gaga is better. Because, I mean, Kendrick Lamar is not really a good singer... at all. And the video is really good.
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#37. iamamiwhoami "y (Moby Remix)"
from the Album 'Bounty' Genre:
Electropop, House, Art Pop
Synth Pop, Dream Pop, Electro House, Nu-Disco Country: Sweden/UK Last.FM Scrobbles: 22 (Original + Remix )
The original is better. I know. But this was released as a single, and I would not include a 2010 single in my 2013 countdown, right? But this remix is probably the best of the 3 that came out. And Jonna's voice sounds like an angel on both the original and the remix, as usual. And the video, well, I'm not the biggest fan of her initial videos, but it's not bad at all.
By the way, don't forget to buy the single of our century, "Fountain", on iTunes.
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#36. Kate Boy "Northern Lights"
from the Album 'Northern Lights EP' Genre:
Synth Pop, Dance-Pop
Alternative Dance, Electropop, Downtempo Country: Sweden/Australia Last.FM Scrobbles: 25
This chick, Kate Akhurst, used to write tracks for Ashley Tisdale, and other pop artists, but failed at making her own name. She teamed with Swedish-team Rocket Boy, who had already worked for Icona Pop before, and they gained a lot of critical acclaim and recognition. This song is just... epic. That synth-melody at the end. Damn. The video is pretty amazing, too.
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#35. MØ feat. Diplo "XXX 88"
from the Album 'Bikini Daze EP'/'No Mythologies to Follow' Genre:
Synth Pop, Electropop
Contemporary R&B, Dancehall, Trap Country: Denmark/USA Last.FM Scrobbles: 37
Despite the song's kinda-funny title, being produced by Diplo, and, well, almost EVERYTHING about this song, the song's lyrics are kind of... regretful. Sad. Talking about "where the sky is blue forever" is not something that people usually sing on Electropop/Dancehall-esque instrumental, I mean... But, yeah, the song and the video are amazing.
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#34. Drake feat. Majid Jordan "Hold On We're Going Home"
from the Album 'Nothing Was the Same' Genre:
Alternative R&B, Synth Pop
Synth Funk, Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop Country: Canada Last.FM Scrobbles: 13
That song is pretty much the best the Canadian Kanye West has ever done. Or will ever do. Because, to be honest, I don't really think he'll ever top this. Oh well.
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#33. M.I.A. "Bring the Noize"
from the Album 'Matangi' Genre:
Experimental Hip Hop
Dancehall, Industrial Hip Hop, Electropop Country: Sri Lanka Last.FM Scrobbles: 65 ()
Quite ****ing amazing noise-rap song. I love the little-to-no structure this song has. Death Grips, Kanye, they WISH they could blem experimental, industrial, lo-fi-ish noise, with hip hop so easily and ***flawlessly as she does. And that song is not even close to being the best on the album... maybe because I like the first version more than the album version, and maybe that's the reason the song is out of the top 20... but whatever. When she played this song live in Argentina, everyone went crazy, I loved her, it was amazing.
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#32. F**k Buttons "The Red Wing"
from the Album 'Slow Focus' Genre:
Electronic, Neo-Psychedelia, Synthwave
Progressive Electronic, Indietronica, Drone Country: UK Last.FM Scrobbles: 22
The song? It is probably one of the best singles of the year. I mean, that minimal riff, and how it builds up, higher and higher, until those synths come in, and then everything goes OWFFF, just AMAZING. The video? Well... at least the girl looks hot.
#31. Calvin Harris feat. Ayah Marar "Thinking About You"
from the Album '18 Months' Genre:
Electropop Dance-Pop, Nu-Disco
Progressive House, Electro House, Synth Funk Country: UK/Jordan Last.FM Scrobblings: 7
I remember back in 2011 when nobody even knew (outside the UK) who the **** was Calvin Harris. Now everybody probably knows him. And, "looooves" him, too. But this song is probably one of the best songs he's done as a producer (since 2012, at least). This song is catchy, funky, not really pretentious, yet, very epic. BUT, the video, tho. It is seriously amazing. I mean, yeah, there are all those naked girls, and he barely even appears in it, but, the cinematography, and how, compared to "Blurred Lines" and his previous video "Drinking from the Bottle", the naked girls, and everything featured in the video, actually leads to a story, or at least, a concept. Probably the best EDM video I've seen this year.
Couldn't made 30-26, but, oh, well, the next update is 30-21. Here are some "hints" for the new set:
- One of the most succesful duets of the year, song nominated for a Grammy.
- One of my favorite new acts of 2013, with it's 2nd single.
- Two of the UK's most hyped acts of the year in a single song.
- An R&B singer whose career was "dead"... until an indie-pop producer came by and gave her one of the most critically acclaimed R&B songs of all time.
Totally agree that Hold On We're Going Home is the best Drake song. I personally think he is a much better singer than rapper and should just stick with that.
By popular demand, I gotta squeeze some time to comment on the Best ofs again starting with this one.
I miss so much so I got to start somewhere. How about with the New Artists top 20? Good to see Bastille, MS MR, Haim, Lorde, & CHVRCHES on here esp. that the latter two are THE top 2.
Top 50: Where Are We Now? is good, depressing, but it's all about getting down with the heart in this song. Q.U.E.E.N. is such a fun song that also can be served into your face and you don't even know it, but that's the point I guess. Janelle is free! I liked the album tho. I do like Lost In My Bedroom so good, Hard Out Here is good and the video is interesting and the parodies are justified. I do like BL tho. The power of having a dick-I don’t go overboard. I’m just being a guy and that is really it. Nothing more. Elephant is amazing all-around. Surprised with its success. I’m glad for it. Wait! You don’t like fun or Imagine Dragons!? Umm…Uh. Well, I like other stuff too so it’s not all bad. Bitter Rivals is alright.
Albums-I heard some of these artists like London Grammar & Rhye, but never ever listened to their music. I should tho.
Comebacks: I really should listen to Bowie’s album. Like the singles and videos I see from him. Kicking it in his 60s and still sound decent is astounding. Goldfrapp is another band I should try to listen to more of. Nice to see My Bloody Valentine are still making music. I should listen to their new and way older records. Arcade Fire have one of the best comebacks in 2013. Their music was so great to get lost into.
Albums: Like I said, I should listen to Bowie’s album. Oh and Disclosure too.
Songs: Black Skinhead really goes in especially the pounding sound of this song takes damn charge. Really feels good to let it out. I need to hear the version with Gaga. As for the original, it’s great that It’s alright to have a good time without any negative bring the vibe down. The video shows it well this example. Hold On We're Going Home is great and such a smoothing song. Bring the Noize is the epitome of epic sound join together to create an epic time. Thinking About You is amazing and the vocals are wonderful to get into more of the song. Such nice music. It rivals I Need Your Love. You got some interesting stuff going on that I should check out.
You have such an interesting mix of music and it’s really different. I like it. Let’s see if we get to finish our Best ofs on time.
OMG, la masterpiece del #37 Aunque como lo dijiste, la original es mejor. (Podemos debatir acerca de mi opinion de la era Bounty? Flawless videos pero Kin le da mil patadas en el culo en cuanto a canciones. )
Boards Of Canada and M B V, their iconic comebacks
Never heard Gesaffelstein, kinda hard-hitting, nice! Might have to give it a listen... maybe
Drake, Disclosure, Maya
You can keep bothering me with wall posts if you'd like