Applause and Holy Grail! Glad to see Solange there and I need to check out more of Jesse Ware. I only know her for doing that "Aaliyah" song with Katy B.
Release Date: February 18, 2013 Genre: AlternativeR&B
080.
inc. – No World
1. The Place
2. Black Wings
3. Lifetime
4. 5 days
5. Trust (Hell Below)
6. Your Tears
7. Angel
8. Seventeen
9. Desert Rose (War Prayer)
10. Careful
11. Nariah’s Song
Standout Tracks: The Place, Lifetime, 5 days, Seventeen
Quick Review: This duo is made up of two brothers that are pretty much tagged as PBR&B. This record is really relaxing and sultry with the sound of the early 1980s R&B. Their smooth vocals remind me of Maxwell. I don't think this is for everyone though, it's not an album I would listen to all the time because it only has one mood/tempo.
Release Date: April 16, 2013 Genre: Folk Rock
079.
Iron & Wine – Ghost on Ghost
1. Caught in the Briars
2. The Desert Babbler
3. Joy
4. Low Light Buddy of Mine
5. Graces for Saints and Ramblers
6. Grass Windows
7. Singers and the Endless Song
8. Sundown (Back in the Briars)
9. Winter Prayers
10. New Mexico's No Breeze
11. Lovers' Revolution
12. Baby Center Stage
Standout Tracks: Caught in the Briars, The Desert Babbler, Joy, Graces for Saints and Ramblers
Release Date: January 14, 2013 Genre: Indie Pop
078.
Everything Everything – Arc
1. Cough Cough
2. Kemosabe
3. Torso Of The Week
4. Duet
5. Choice Mountain
6. Feet For Hands
7. Undrowned
8. _Arc_
9. Armourland
10. The House Is Dust
11. Radiant
12. The Peaks
13. Don't Try
Standout Tracks: Cough Cough, Kemosabe, Torso Of The Week, Radiant, Don't Try
Release Date: November 16, 2012 Genre: Pop
077.
Little Mix – DNA
1. Wings
2. DNA
3. Change Your Life
4. Always Be Together
5. Stereo Soldier
6. Pretend It's Ok
7. Turn Your Face
8. We Are Who We Are
9. How Ya Doin'?
10. Red Planet (feat. T-Boz)
11. Going Nowhere
12. Madhouse
13. Love Drunk
14. Make You Believe
15. Case Closed
Standout Tracks: Wings, DNA, Always Be Together, Stereo Soldier, We Are Who We Are
Release Date: September 20, 2013 Genre: Dance
076.
Krewella – Get Wet
1. Live For The Night
2. We Go Down
3. Come & Get It
4. Enjoy the Ride
5. We Are One
6. Dancing with the Devil (feat. Patrick Stump & Travis Barker)
7. Alive
8. Pass the Love Around
9. Ring of Fire
10. Human
11. Killin’ It
12. This Is Not the End (feat. PegboardNerds)
Standout Tracks: Live For The Night, We Are One, Alive, Pass the Love Around Ring of Fire
Quick Review: This is dance music with nothing innovating, nothing extraordinarily meaningful and nothing really that special but I can't deny that this is unbelievably catchy. Some of these songs were such guilty pleasures.
Release Date: September 17, 2013 Genre: R&B/Pop
075.
Zendaya – Zendaya
1. Replay
2. Fireflies
3. Butterflies
4. Put'cha Body Down
5. Heavan Lost an Angel
6. Cry for Love
7. Only When You're Close
8. Bottle You Up
9. Scared
10. Love You Forever
11. My Baby
Standout Tracks: Replay, Fireflies, Heaven Lost an Angel, Cry for Love, Only When You're Close
Quick Review: The second Disney/Nike girl to make an appearance. This girl was so basic to me, just a carbon copy of Cassie with better vocals is what I thought, so I had to check this out. Not to mention she was getting a lot of buzz on ATRL. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed my listen.
Release Date: October 22, 2013 Genre: Electronic
074.
Active Child – Rapor
1. She Cut Me
2. Subtle (feat. Mikky Ekko)
3. Feeling is Gone
4. Silhouette (feat. Ellie Goulding)
5. Calling in the Name of Love
6. Evening Ceremony
1. Burn
2. Goodness Gracious
3. You My Everything
4. Hearts Without Chains
5. Stay Awake (feat. Madeon)
6. Under Control
7. How Long Will I Love You
8. Tessellate
Standout Tracks: Goodness Gracious, Stay Awake, Under Control
Quick Review: Already listened to 'Halcyon; last year which I loved so this only includes the re-release portion. "Burn" may be a grower but I think it's misleading, I like everything pretty much more than the lead single. The production influenced by EDM, folk, pop, you name it, it's all full of fun with some nice ballads and songwriting.
Release Date: January 21, 2013 Genre: Alternative rock
072.
The Joy Formidable – Wolfs Law
1. This Ladder Is Ours
2. Cholla
3. Tendons
4. Little Blimp
5. Bats
6. Silent Treatment
7. Maw Maw Song
8. Forest Serenade
9. The Leopard and the Lung
10. The Hurdle
11. The Turnaround
12. Wolf's Law
Standout Tracks: This Ladder Is Ours, Little Blimp, Silent Treatment, Maw Maw Song, The Hurdle
Release Date: 2013 Genre: Punk Rock
071.
California X – California X
1. Sucker
2. Curse Of The Nightmare
3. Pond Rot
4. Hot Hed
5. Spider X
6. Lemmy's World
7. Spirit World
8. Mummy
Standout Tracks: Pond Rot, Hot Hed, Spider X, Spirit World
Quick Review: I'm by no means the biggest punk rock fan but if you can get me to sit down and listen to it, you've done something right. It's loud, it's fun, great riffs and instrumentation. Still, it's going to take some time for me to get into other bands. This one just got lucky, I honestly couldn't tell you how I discovered them.
Like What Now, Ways To Go, & Counting Stars from the previous set. Holy Grails could’ve been better, but it is what it is. JT is the highlight of the song while Jay-Z’s rap verses are just average and nothing special . Just rapping whatever. Nosetalgia is a good song the two did together. Cash In is such a harmonious song that her vocals shines so amazing. Sweet Talk is nice, Ceilings is a good, slow and mid-tepid song. Fantasy brings such a charge that this duo can only do so well. Evil Eye is one of my favs from their album. Tongues is a nice catchy song, but also a nuisance. Gaga lives for the applause and M.I.A. brings the noize down and back up hard with her killer rap verses. and one of the highlights in the album.
Good to know that Iron & Wine has released a new album this year, Like Duet and Cough Cough from their album, Halcyon Days has some nice mix of music and like Burn, Tessellate, & How Long Will I Love You. Like This Ladder Is Ours & Cholla from their album.
You got some amazing and outstanding mix of music in this Best of so far. Keep it coming!
Previous set:
092. Jay-Z – Holy Grail (feat. Justin Timberlake)
091. Pusha T – Nosetalgia (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
090. Solange – Cash In
089. Jessie Ware – Sweet Talk
088. Local Natives – Ceilings
087. MS MR – Fantasy
086. Franz Ferdinand – Evil Eye
085. Joywave – Tongues (feat. KOPPS)
084. Lady Gaga – Applause
083. M.I.A. – Bring The Noize
082.
Natalia Kills – Problem
"Controversy" made an impact on my list last year and now "Problem" is having no trouble following suit. Miley, this is how you pull of bad girl persona. Love the garage rock influence throughout the track and sort of urban breakdown in the hook. This is a dope song.
081.
Ciara – I'm Out (feat. Nicki Minaj)
When Ciara was announced to be a collaboration on The Re-Up, others weren't too fond of the idea, but I said to myself: "It's about damn time". Ci and Nicki vibe off of each other so well whether its an urban song or a pop song like "Livin' It Up". "I'm Out" is "I'm Legit" on steroids. The production is killer, Ciara's swag is on a 100 and Nicki murders her verses.
080.
A$AP Rocky – Wild for the Night (feat. Shrillex)
After his achievement with his debut LP, A$AP calls for celebration by going Wild for the Night. Skrillex and Bam Bam really put their foot in this beat; pure fire. It goes very well with A$AP's flow and chopped vocals. Can't say anymore, this is just a head banger made for the clubs and the radio.
079.
James Blake – Retrograde
Not to say he's overexposed or anything but I finally got into JB after all the 'hype' from critics was down and give him a listen on my own terms. There's so much going on in "Retrograde" sonically and vocally. From the emotion, his falsetto, backings and the build up in the instrumentation with that hard-hitting synth. Such an interesting track that feels so short.
078.
inc. – the place
First discovered them with a single called "5 Days" and although it's a slight bit more upbeat, "the place" is even better. So soothing and the repetition is so reminiscent of 90's R&B. I was sold as soon as the intro came in, too bad their album isn't up to par or tops this.
077.
Charli XCX – You (Ha Ha Ha)
Calm down, this is not the last of Charli XCX you'll be seeing on the countdown. Who would have thought the Gold Panda sample would be so pop-oriented. While the sample is good, Charli's not reliant on it, her style of singing, delivery and the chorus help make it the tune it is.
076.
Kanye West – Bound 2
The closest to College Dropout Kanye we had in such a long time, that alone is so nostalgic, how can you not appreciate 'Bound 2'? The sample is so clunky but that's what makes this song have some more edge and makes its odd enough to fit on 'Yeezus'.
075.
Tamar Braxton – Love and War
One of the best vocal performances from a female artist this year, "Love & War" is brilliantly written and sang. I thought she would be nothing more than a reality personality, but boy was I wrong. It's still one of the only tracks from her where I'm sold.
How did you manage to listen to so many albums this year
Lots of great songs: Love & War, Wild For The Night, Bound 2, I'm Out...
But one is absolutely godly: Retrograde. My love for that track is endless. It raised my expectations for the album so much, but sadly nothing came even close
inc. – No World
Thankfully, you have a recap post, which is always welcome.
