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JakeKills Presents: Finale! (4 Post Update)
Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 33,490
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5/10
Reflektor 
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Member Since: 12/8/2011
Posts: 9,050
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9/10
I love almost all of these albums, especially Paramore and Save Rock and Roll
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Member Since: 10/5/2009
Posts: 137,162
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Quote:
20. Stars Dance
19. Save Rock & Roll
17. Paramore
13. The Blessed Unrest
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Amazing, amazing, amazing 
Especially PARAMORE + SARA 
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Member Since: 8/10/2012
Posts: 11,988
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Flawless taste  . Paramore, Reflektor, ARTPOP, Days Are Gone, Stars Dance, BEYONCE and more. All albums that I thoroughly enjoyed this year.
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Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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| 10. Union JI love them, and wanted to give them some top 10 recognition, so here they are. Union J's
self-titled debut album is generic boy band pop at its best, and the album only really falters
with "Head In The Clouds." The remaining songs are all decent, with "Where Are You Now"
and "Amaze Me" amongst its standouts. The group also did a nice job tackling a cover
of Demi Lovato's "Skyscraper." | | 9. Pure HeroineAt this point, I'm only really familiar with three tracks from Pure Heroine, but I'm sure I'll be
listening to the others more in the future because this is an album that gets better with every
listen. | | 8. The Electric LadyI've noticed that Janelle Monae is rather underrated, which is a shame because The Electric
Lady is a rather remarkable album. I myself haven't listened to her much, but once this
album finds its way onto my iPod, I know I'll listen to it quite a bit. | | 7. ARTPOPFrankly, ARTPOP is a mess. The quality of Gaga's lyrics has declined since Born This Way,
and the production team behind ARTPOP left quite a bit to be desired. None of the album's
tracks reach the epic, anthemic proportions of Gaga's best work. There are several tracks
that nearly manage to be truly great, including "MANiCURE" and "Applause." The album's
finest moment is delivered in the title track, which finds Gaga returning to Fame Monster
levels of musical perfection, if only for a few minutes. | | 6. Like A RoseI would love to put Like A Rose in the top five, but it simply cannot be done. Ashley Monroe
has been around the country scene for a while, she's one third of The Pistol Annies, but this
album is her major label debut as a solo artist. Her songs feature compelling lyrics set
against a traditional country production. In "Two Weeks Late" she cleverly addresses a
premarital pregnancy, while she seeks to spice up her sex life on "Weed Instead of Roses."
The title track is a beautifully autobiographical song, and Blake Shelton duet "You Ain't Dolly"
takes a fun approach to tackling the differences between the present generation and those
who came before. | | 5. HeartthrobTaylor Swift turned me on to Tegan & Sara's Heartthrob, a brilliant love-themed dance-pop
record. Singles "Closer" and "I Was A Fool" were both met with wide acclaim, and for good
reason. "Drove Me Wild" is an especially great reminiscence on a past relationship, while
"I'm Not Your Hero" easily reads as a song about not wanting to disappoint those who
look up to you. | | 4. The Next DayDavid Bowie stunned the world with his comeback album The Next Day, and I'm glad he
returned because this album got me into his music. "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" was an
instant favorite, but the album is full of great songs, from "The Next Day" to "I'd Rather Be
High." Contemplative lead single "Where Are We Now?" certainly grows on you, and the
misleadingly named "Valentine's Day" addresses a school shooting. Ultimately, The Next
Day is another fine album from one of rock music's greatest icons. | | 3. TROUBLENatalia Kills' debut Perfectionist was my #1 album of 2011, and its followup Trouble very
nearly ended up in this year's #2 spot. Trouble is a lyrically and sonically cohesive project
that details the many challenges Natalia has faced in her life. The album has its fair share
of raunchiness ("Problem," "Rabbit Hole"), but its shining moments come when Natalia
focuses on her dysfunctional upbringing in songs such as "Television" or "Saturday Night."
As great as Trouble is, the album was never in contention for the top spot. | | 2. BEYONCÉGOD DAMN, MRS CARTER. 2013 began with a variety of websites listing which stars might
"save pop music in 2013." Many tried, and slowly but surely, each attempt was futile. And so
it was something of a miracle when Beyoncé dropped this self-titled masterpiece on iTunes
just two short weeks ago. Beyoncé tackles our perceptions of perfection on "Pretty Hurts"
and flawlessly incorporates a speech on feminism "***Flawless." Yoncé also brings some
of the year's most risqué sex songs, including "Rocket" and "Partition." Beyoncé is a pop
behemoth standing tall over its crippled competition and casting all of pop culture in its
shadow. While 2013 may have been the Year of Beyoncé, Beyoncé is
not quite the Album of the Year. | | 1. Same Trailer Different ParkKacey Musgraves was introduced to me in early 2013, when my mother asked me if I knew
who sang the "Merry Go Round" song. I looked it up, and later bought the album. I
immediately appreciated Same Trailer Different Park for the brilliantly written country record
that it was, but it took awhile before Kacey's songs really started climbing the ranks of my
most played songs. I'll be damned if "Merry Go Round" isn't one of the finest songs of the
century. Opening track "Silver Lining" sets a nice tone for the album, as Kacey reminds us
that "If you're ever gonna find a four leaf clover, you've got to get a little dirt on your hands."
She condemns people with superiority complexes on "Step Off" and calls humanity out on
their hypocrisies on "Follow Your Arrow." There are, of course, a few love songs here, but
they're not necessarily your typical love songs. The stark closing track "It Is What It Is" deals
with a one night stand, and "Keep It To Yourself" finds Kacey telling an ex that she doesn't
care if he's missing her. It's hard to imagine Kacey outdoing Same Trailer Different Park
with her follow up album, but I'm certain that she will. Same Trailer Different Park is by far
my favorite album released in 2013, and I would love to force everyone I know to worship
this album. Unfortunately, most won't even bother listening to it "because it's country."
I encourage you to give it a chance, because it may be awhile before a country album
as great as this breaches mainstream country music. |
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Member Since: 9/16/2011
Posts: 50,981
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It's been a long and busy week, but I've finally got the top 10 up! I've hardly been on ATRL at all, but I'll be around to comment on what I've missed. 
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Member Since: 10/29/2011
Posts: 17,952
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BEYONCE
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Member Since: 8/27/2012
Posts: 8,678
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STDP would have topped my list too 
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Member Since: 5/9/2012
Posts: 38,050
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Union J, Same Trailer, Different Park, Like A Rose, and BEYONCÉ
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Member Since: 10/13/2003
Posts: 48,022
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Member Since: 10/29/2011
Posts: 17,952
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Sorry but i cannot finish ARTPOP 
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Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 33,490
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Beyoncé and Natalia in the top 3  I love Bey's album so much. Nice position for Heartthrob, too.
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Member Since: 10/3/2009
Posts: 35,844
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Heartthrob 
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Member Since: 11/5/2005
Posts: 29,791
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'ARTPOP', 'BEYONCE' & 'The Electrick Lady' 
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/24/2009
Posts: 70,975
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Heartthrob is my favorite here! 
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Member Since: 5/22/2011
Posts: 21,227
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9/10 for your albums Jake. 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/2/2011
Posts: 21,728
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That top 2 literally perfect!
Amazing albums list!
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Member Since: 8/27/2010
Posts: 3,636
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Heartthob is a incredible album 
Pure Heroine, The Next Day & The Electric Lady
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Member Since: 7/15/2005
Posts: 27,703
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Beyoncé + Artpop
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Member Since: 2/23/2012
Posts: 7,699
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We have the same #1
Nice to see Like A Rose in someone's top 10
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