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Subby's SUPER 2015 | Thank yew
Member Since: 10/3/2009
Posts: 35,844
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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It makes me so happy to not only see a legend like Janet return to the scene, but to do it in such an impressive style. Someone who has been written off as a has-been with terrible music as of late (though I personally feel 2000snet gets a bad rap) returns not only with a #1 album (which is difficult to get, not everyone has one of those) and a critically acclaimed one at that. Welcome back Janet.
I think this is technically her longest one yet, no? The others look massive with all the interludes but only end up with like 12 or 14 but this has like 18 separate tracks. A risky move for someone often criticised for going over with length, but it's ok as most of them are good. Janet knows what she's good at by this point and doesn't really leave her comfort zone, but that's the thing: she doesn't need to. She works across ~18 tracks and does it with such skill and experience that there are none of the awkward messes that plagued some of her past works. It is all tried and tested.
I love the little details on here. Even for someone who hasn't known Janet and her career as long as her die-hard fans, her thank-you at the end of Unbreakable is still very touching and sounds straight from the heart. This feels like a legacy record at points, you can here sound effects and references from her past albums, just look at the cute RN1814-esque part introducing BURNITUP! (unfortunately that's the peak of the song). I sincerely hope that doesn't mean this is a goodbye for real record. We need more Janet, these kids need to learn!
I said the tracks were mostly good above but with any long album, there's bound to be some filler. Nothing offensively bad here, but the Side 2 section has a few boring, skippable tracks that don't really add much and the earlier mentioned BURNITUP! is a disappointing collaboration between two legends that did better this year. The Japan bonus tracks are even some of the strongest on here! Still, I might prefer this to 27 tracks with like 15 being 8 second interludes. IJS.
It's lovely to have Janet back and I hope she continues to inspire as she shows she still has a lot left in her with this record. Never count her down and out. If only Kylie would look to her for more inspiration.
Stand-outs: Unbreakable, The Great Forever & Night.
Admittedly, I was a Tame Impala virgin before this year. I saw a lot of ATRLers I respect raving over this and decided to give it a go. Wow, it was like a revelation, like a musical equivalent to a trip. This record perplexes, interests and excites me at the same time. It's in a class of its own.
This thing is a journey. I already talked about the epic opening that really just suits you up and pushes you into the void of this album but it isn't something that peaks in its first 10 minutes and then drags on, this album grows and evolves and mutates over an hour and takes you to many places. This production is impeccable, every song carries the psychedelic sound in its own way, with no real overlap here. Nothing blends together but they all carry on cohesively. I can't talk about the lyrics really, I don't know a single one. It's a psychedelic record, give me a break! The spoken parts of Past Life are really cool though.
Most of the time the vocals on here go along with the song, but sometimes they can come across... whiny. 'Cause I'm a Man is my personal least favourite on here, come at me if you want. There are no like real bad obvious weak links here though, everything is decent at worst. Nitpicking some complaints on here is difficult, but as we reach the Top 5 it's all a bit too competitive so as much as I love this album, I love 5 others more than it. Still, it's an accessible yet impressive album that shouldn't be slept on.
Stand-outs: Let It Happen, The Less I Know The Better & Reality in Motion.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Unbreakable is a bit high but still good.
Currents slays. That's my trinity too.
Let me c/p that write up for my best of because I agree with most of it. Cause I'm a Man is definitely vocally grating at points, Eventually too.
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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I guess. #15 through #7 were all "good but here's how it could be amazing" while #6 onwards is all already amazing.
Also Unbreakable is a little unbalanced comparing Side 1 to the weaker Side 2.
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 5,766
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Both are amazing, I love all your standout picks too
Quote:
Originally posted by Subomie
Also Unbreakable is a little unbalanced comparing Side 1 to the weaker Side 2.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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currents is great, but it didn't have as much replay value for me as some of my other favourites (maybe because i burned it out within the first week)
it really is a gorgeous album though. kevin parker is so talented
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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At this point, pop legends like Janet should just stick to what they're good at if they're gonna release, unless they do something ******* crazy (Madonna is the exception because she's Madonna). Currents is good too!
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Member Since: 5/6/2011
Posts: 26,891
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Lemme listen to Unbreakable right now!
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 12,948
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Both are amazing albums. Your descriptions are mostly on point too.
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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as im stuck to bed rest in a sick fever (buy on itunes) I'll do another 2 albums soon. get eggsited
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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5. Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon
4. Selena Gomez - Revival
Get well soon!
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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mess, honestly once I post them it will be the most obvious top 3, everyone can probably guess it already
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Emotion, Ten Love Songs, and...?Kylie's EP?
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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thats honestly more insulting than suggesting selener
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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If you know me, my first rule for albums is that ten solid tracks is better than a mishmash of 25 tracks (hello Rebel Heart), but what if its' 10 amazing tracks? I first heard of Susanne on this year's BOTB. It was love at first listen tbh, I listened to her album and there was no turning back. Concise, put-together and polished. This album is a package you need to try.
Susanne helms the workload by herself on this, getting a little assist on the production at times, which just adds to the album's character if anything. Not only is it a feat to write and produce a whole album by yourself, but to have it be an actual great album as well. Bow down bitches. Like a talented, less ugly Robyn. People rave about ****** Sweden, but Norway gave us Annie and now Susanne. Poor Swedish tarts.
Impressively, the production by Susanne on her own actually matches up to her work with Royskopp and others. Kamikaze especially shines, but then it leads into the pinnacle of the album: the 10 minute titan Memorial, the slow-starting epic (though lbr it could've been like 6 or 8 minutes and had the same effect). The melodies and production are all rather excellent. The tracks are very polished.
The biggest problem with the album is that there's a bit too much blank space. Just little instrumental moments. The production is nice, but I could admire it during the singing too, and it doesn't really get much more intense during these sections. The melodies are so good too, so I want more of them. It feels like she was a bit lazy at times and just said "Oh yeah, just do a little instrumental break here". Especially on Memorial as I mentioned.
That said, it is a package of 10 well-done songs made with love. Her voice is very clear and well adjusted to the songs, and I mentioned how nice the vocal melodies are. It's an absolute marvel of an album for sure, even with my nitpicking. Any fan missing a super-solid non-Carly pop album this year should give it a listen.
Stand-outs: Accelerate, Kamikaze & Slowly.
Miguel, he's pretty hot. He sings about sex a lot and does it over some R&B beats. That's his thing. What separates this album from his others is a single factor: production. It's the central thing about Wildheart, the beats and tracks are all so different from his past ones. My love for Miguelegend hasn't faded through this though, and at least he got his album out this year hihi.
That production. It's interesting for sure. I can't really decide my stance on it, some of the songs sound much more interesting and groundbreaking because of it, others already sound dated and ugly. At first I thought it was so cool and all the songs benefitted, but on revisits some of them could do with a more ordinary sound. Except what's normal anyway, that one is legit garbage and the worst song he's ever done. Burn it please.
The other positives: the vocals are stellar as ever. He sings the lyrics so smoothly, but gets frantic when he needs and sound sounds perfect through all of it. The melodies remain as strong as ever and the lyrics are very... Miguel. You know, all about ****ing bitches and getting the puss etc.
Though the production isn't always perfect and it is a bit of a gimmick at times, it does sound pretty decent for the most part. Miguel totally commits to it too, he rides that wave for the whole album and does it with conviction. It definitely set itself apart from other R&B albums this year in a positive way. The whole thing was an experiment and whether you think it worked or not, it's really interesting to see where Miguel will go next. He keeps it real.
Stand-outs: waves, ...goingtohell & face the sun.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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i'll try and get into susanne's album, but kamikaze wasn't doing it for me
miguel's album is interesting, but sometimes it feels too obvious about what he's trying to be if ygm
top three: salvation, tpab and... confident
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Miguel has SUPER low replay value for me but Wildheart was good. Especially The Valley and Coffee.
Ten Love Songs Memorial is hilarious tbh, but that's why I love it.
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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see half of migay's album is like that for me, but half is just bliss.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Eh.. I thought that 10 Love Songs was kind boring when I listened, but I'll give it another go.
As I mentioned in my best of, I have kind of a love-hate relationship with Miguel his album, but those songs you highlighted are all good.
And you better DRAG whats normal anyway.
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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timeline for the rest: 5 songs tomorrow, last 3 albums the day after and last 10 songs on Tuesday, maybe spilling into Wednesday.
nice and done in time for xmas, cus I'm not updating this bitch afterwards.
Quote:
Originally posted by Eeveelution
And you better DRAG whats normal anyway.
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these homos praising it on here and letting it get so far on that album survivor
I wasn't having it.
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