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JakeKills Music Awards
Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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 | All About You |
The second of Hilary Duff's two comeback singles is, perhaps, a speck better than its predecessor "Chasing The Sun." Duff blends pop, rock, and folk elements on "All About You," providing an excellent backdrop to her suggestive lyrics of being hooked on someone. This is undoubtedly the best "All About..." song of 2014.
 | Sleeping With A Friend |
The pop group Neon Trees released "Sleeping With A Friend" as the lead single off of their album Pop Psychology at the start of 2014, and it stuck around long enough that there was some speculation that the song was destined to cross over to pop and become a song of the summer contender. Unfortunately, it was not to be— "Sleeping With A Friend," with all its dreamy pop synths and soaring chorus, was only a moderate hit no matter what chart you're looking at.
 | Desire |
I recently discovered British electro-pop group Years & Years after Sam Smith shared an Instagram post mentioning that the group had been on the road with him. I looked them up and subsequently discovered "Desire," one of a few quite good songs that the group released this year.
 | Glory & Gore |
"Glory & Gore" was one of Lorde's first songs to capture my attention (around this time last year, as a matter of fact). The electro-pop mid-tempo song addresses violence and celebrity culture, weaving a relationship by comparing celebrities to gladiators. It's always interesting hearing a new voice (especially one as young as hers) tackling topics such as this, and she seems to have a unique approach. As dark and ominous as "Glory & Gore" may be, there's an element of empowerment to be found as she begs to be put into the ring so she can prove to others "what that big word" free really means.
 | Riptide |
Vance Joy first came on to my radar a few months before Taylor Swift recorded a stunning cover of this song. I was searching the iTunes charts for unfamiliar and interesting music, and happened across "Riptide." It took all of five minutes for me to realize that Vance is an attractive Aussie and former athlete. His music isn't that bad, either. "Riptide," an indie folk-pop song, has been smashing various formats since late 2013, and looks to finally be on its way to top 40 greatness.
 | ***Flawless (Remix) |
Out of what feels like an over-abundance of Beyoncé singles this year, the "***Flawless" remix is an easy candidate for the lowest spot on the totem pole. Remixing the song with Nicki Minaj feels like a slap in the face to the superior original track, where the feminist speech of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie gave the song a powerful and unique composition. Deprived of Adichie's part, "***Flawless" falters. Sure, the new remix is fun and exciting, but that doesn't change the fact that it feels like the poor imitation of something that was once great—like a pop up Halloween store in the skeleton of an old Blockbuster.
 | I'm Not The Only One |
It came as a bit of a surprise to me when "I'm Not The Only One" was announced as the follow up to smash hit "Stay With Me," and it was even more of a surprise when the song actually managed to reach the top 10 of the Hot 100. Then again, Sam Smith is a successful artist signed to Capitol, so it's hardly a surprise that they're willing to pull all the stops—a music video featuring actress Diana Agron, and a remix featuring A$AP Rockey (no discounts necessary though). I've never connected to "I'm Not The Only One" as I have with most of Sam's other songs, and I feel that a number of the album's other tracks overshadow it.
 | Chains |
"Chains" was the first song released from the new solo project of former teen boybander Nick Jonas, and it's superior to follow up hit single "Jealous." "Chains" is a moody midtempo R&B song about feeling trapped in a relationship, and it was our first hint that Mr. Jonas was going in a sexier, poppier, more mature direction.
 | Anaconda |
It's great, okay. It'd be even better if it didn't take to putting down skinny people towards the end. But still great.
 | Really Don't Care |
Don't tell Beyoncé, but Demi Lovato kinda sorta might have released the best female collaboration of 2014. On break up single "Really Don't Care," Demi teams up with Cher Lloyd to deliver a fun pop hit that perfectly captures the feel of a teen break up. For some reason that made no sense, the music video was filmed at Pride—as if randomly supporting the LGBT community on a completely irrelevant pop song might make it a gay anthem or its singer a gay icon. Nevertheless, "Really Don't Care" is teen pop greatness, and Cher the Lesser's presence only heightens the experience as she laughingly tells Demi, "You picked the wrong lover."
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it!
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Proud of you for loving Anaconda! Yeah it does skinny shame at the end which is lame but she sounds like a crazy person so I kinda love it anyway.
The Y&Y song sounds interesting...
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Member Since: 5/14/2011
Posts: 14,089
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omg the Flawleess drag  
Can't wait for the rest to be revealed!
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Member Since: 7/15/2005
Posts: 27,703
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7/10. Flawless, I'm Not The Only One, Anaconda 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/2/2011
Posts: 21,728
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Glory And Gore  I love all of the songs from Lorde's album.
I liked Riptide too! Super fun. And I definitely agree with you about that painful ***Flawless remix. The original is one of the best songs of all time and to throw in Nicki and get rid of the best part? 
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Member Since: 5/22/2011
Posts: 21,227
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All About You, Anaconda, Glory and Gore and ***Flawless are all great tracks, I enjoy Riptide a lot too. Great collection. 
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Member Since: 10/3/2009
Posts: 35,844
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Flawless and Sleeping With A Friend are my favorites.
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 3/18/2009
Posts: 35,164
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Yes at "All About You"! Did not expect to love a Hilary Duff comeback single like that.
I always think "Riptide" is a different song when it comes on the radio, but I really enjoy it.
I still can't decide how much I actually like "***Flawless (Remix)"—which, as you point out, is so inferior to the perfect original—and "Anaconda." Some days, I really enjoy them, but I'm not sure I would call either one a great song.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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8/10
Hilary Sleeping With a Friend is good! 
Glory and Gore and ***Flawless 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2009
Posts: 70,975
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Riptide, Glory and Gore, All About You, Sleeping With A Friend 
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Member Since: 10/13/2003
Posts: 48,022
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Really Don't Care,Riptide & INTOO all great songs
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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7/10 
Desire  I love that song, but I think "Real" is a little bit better 
Sleeping With a Friend, Riptide  Glore and Gore was my favorite non-single from Pure Heroine 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Sleeping With A Friend
Flawless
Riptide
Anaconda 
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Member Since: 4/18/2009
Posts: 30,340
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Chaaaains!  INTOO, Riptide and All About You too
Comment on mine, too! Link in the signature. Thanks 
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 61,634
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All About You and ***Flawless
Anaconda
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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Oh, hey, you're sleeping with a friend, too!
...wait, that came out wrong.
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Member Since: 11/5/2005
Posts: 29,791
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"All About You", "Flawless", "Chains" & "Anaconda" & "Really Don't Care"
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/3/2014
Posts: 34,134
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All About You, Sleeping With a Friend, Riptide, I'm Not The Only One, Chains, Anaconda and Really Don't Care
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Member Since: 11/5/2007
Posts: 19,997
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Glory & Gore
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Member Since: 6/2/2011
Posts: 9,459
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All About You
RDC
Flawless
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