It’s odd how one of Austra’s poppiest singles is one of their most political. But they’re not stranger to politics in pop, and specially this year I feel like stuff such as “Utopia” is much needed.
Genre: Alternative R&B, Pop Rap, Footwork
I love how Mykki at their poppiest is when they're at their best, because this 90's R&B-meets-mainstream rap-meets-footwork is sweet as hell, Jean Deaux's vocals really fit the song, both of them deliver a lot of emotion in the lyrics (despite being quite tongue-and-cheek), and this is one of the best videos of the year.
#48. Roly Porter – ‘Third Law’
Genre: Dark Ambient, Post-Industrial, Electronic, Noise, Drone
Label: Tri Angle || Country: UK
'Third Law’ is Roly Porter’s third album, his first since his 2013 release, 'Life Cycle of a Massive Star’, as well as his first under the Tri Angle label. So, yes, as you may have guessed, the music is indeed dark, and perhaps a bit cold, but if there’s any indication of what the music on the album sounds like, it would be the cover, since it’s a good way to represent both the desolation and the complexity of the record. Maybe his music is a bit too abstract for fans of typical Electronic music, since it’s probably too abstract or dense, but those who appreciate (myself included!), might be very interested in this stuff, since it’s worth it.
Highlights: “4101”, “In Flight”, “Mass”, “In Flight”, “High Places”
You’ll like it if you like: The Haxan Cloak, Raime, Tim Hecker, Oneohtrix Point Never
This is probably Moderat’s most pop single as well, as well as the one that has the most similarities to typical commercial dance music. But for that very same reason is why it’s one of my favorite songs of theirs!
Genre: Art Rock, Funk Rock, Progressive Pop
I love this song’s lyrics so much! They address how brown people, immigrants and specially Latin American people are the ones that are building modern America, as well as the oppression this people suffer – but she delivers them with so much confidence and humor, it’s fantastic.
Ash Koosha’s debut album, ‘GUUD’ was one of the most exciting projects of 2015 – in which he mixed glitchy, extremely detailed beats with weird melodies, and influences from hip-hop and even folk music from his home country. But shortly after he’s released another one – his first via Ninja Tune – and in it, he takes even further the themes of technology and futurism, but he also includes the concept of virtual reality into his works and sonically, it feels more… liquid and rubbery instead of having sharp, clean beats. Sure, in the span of less than a year, you can’t really notice the growth of an artist, but Kooshanejad is slowly getting there with each release.
Highlights: “Ote”, “Feather”, “Eluded”, “In Line”, “Mudafossil”, “Biutiful”, “Make It Fast”, “Shah”
You’ll like it if you like: Arca, Oneohtrix Point Never, Autechre
I must admit I was slightly disappointed with Bon Iver’s latest album. Like, it’s good, but you’d expect slightly more from Bon Iver going all Electronic, right? Still though, it’s good, and this is one of the best from it. I hope next time around he does more weird glitch-industrial-noise ****ery like this.
Genre: Electropop, Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B
I just wish this song would have taken off properly in the States, but otherwise this is one of the best pop songs of 2016 (technically 2015 but who cares). Shame most of her songs are kinda bad, but this makes up for all of that. Björk also stans, which is great!
#46. Tegan and Sara – ‘Love You to Death’
Genre: Electropop, Synthpop, Dance-Pop, Synthwave
Label: Warner || Country: Canada
Canadian indie-pop duo Tegan and Sara’s transition from a kinda-lo-fi-but-not-really-folk-rock style to a pure, unadultured pop one was divisive, to say the least, but their 2013 album, ‘Heartthrob’, did have some of their greatest singles. However, on their latest album 'Love You to Death’, they finally decided to make the best, most pure pop album they can, and the results show that they were always meant to do that in the first place, and it’s probably their best album since either 2009’s 'Sainthood’ or 2007’s 'The Con’.
Highlights: “That Girl”, “Boyfriend”, “Dying to Know”, “Stop Desire”, “U-turn”, “Hang On to the Night”
You’ll like it if you like: CHVRCHES, Carly Rae Jepsen, Robyn, Sia, Kylie Minogue, The Blue Nile
I liked what I heard of Baauer's album. But I didn't listen because I've been in a anti producer ft random artists album kinda mood.
Lush Life is good. Rih singing it would have made a bomb 2015 single.
I'm disappointed in Mykki the album but I respect ha for always trying to do new things.
otherwise i have no issue with tlop, honey, aim and pools being here. although i liked konnichiwa, and i totally forgot about the moderat album! i was going to listen to it when it first came out. oops.
I agree that Skin Companion EP contains some of Flume's best material
I wasn't a huge fan of Cheetah, sadly
This FLANCH EP looks really interesting
Infrared was really good also!
Top 25 EPs 15-6
serpentwithfeet should be HIGHER. WAY HIGHER. your choice of highlights is on point
I liked Wriggle more than S&M too but my problem with clipping. is that I didn't start listening to them until after I got into Hamilton and now I really can only picture Daveed as Lafayette
Nemesis is great but the Melanie Martinez shade is not cute
I'll check out Abra soon!
A NEW FAMILY yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. Sad that Track 6 (felicita's own favourite) got snubbed from your highlights though
Top 25 EPs 5-1
Vroom Vroom it's really perfect.
AS is fantastic
E MO TION Side B is absolutely wonderful. Can't believe Cry is in your bottom 2 from the album though!
What an amazing top 3
Best Album Covers
ANTI, Bonito Generation, Jeffery, Skin Companion
I'll have to check Successor out
Best Singles 150-136
Love that Julianna track!
Side to Side is my least favourite DW single as well but it's a bop
Forgot Roisin Murphy had a new record out!
Money is actually my least favourite track from Bubblebath, it feels kinda unsettling and doesn't sit with me but at the same time I'm always listening to it.
Say It is better than 3/4 of Lady Wood, exactly
You don't like Wannabe? really? I'll have to send you Lipgloss Twins' song from PC's Dead or Alive to see if you like that because it's the perfect bridge between Wannabe and Doodle. I was sadly not a huge fan of Doodle at first because I'm such a huge Wannabe stan and they sound nothing alike but it's definitely grown on me too.
Cheap Thrills is so much fun!
I tried to get into Olga Bell at Diarrhoea's recommendation but I just didn't like the music at all
Best Singles 135-121
Kaytranda is good!
AS Crust is amazing. Your write-up made me laugh
Sleigh Bells
Crisis is excellent, as is the majority of Hopelessness. The production is SHARP.
Glory was NOT mediocre Slumber Party is her best video further back than HIAM tbh. it's lowkey her best since... the scrapped 'Gimme More' video
Babyfather & Arca!!! legends
Best Singles 120-101
Juicy Coochie is kinda cupcakKe's magnum opus still, I wish it was higher!
Giving Bad People Good Ideas was one of my favourite songs from Bottomless Pit
Somebody Else is a highlight from I like it when you sleep but at the same time, I've heard friends of mine go on about it so much so
Hold Up is top three on LEMONADE and the FMJ shade
TIWYCF is really generic and it's really only a bop at home. They played it at my prom earlier this year () and when everyone heard it come on, we were excited but that drop is such a non-event that it wasn't exciting at all.
Castrati Stack is an amazing closer
Man Skepta is my dream guy
your Mean What I Mean write-up cackling
Starboy is so brilliant. I really wanted to have the album in my top fifty so that I could talk about how each album since the mixtapes has been better than the last one. But oh well
omg I literally forgot that Where The Lights Get In happened
heads will roll/I will devour you was definitely more of a "hi I'm felicita, this is me at my most accessible, love me PC Music fans!" transitional release. I definitely don't think it would have worked on A New Family (which is officially his third EP btw), mainly because if you listen closely, heads will roll/I will devour you actually samples A New Family
Cool Girl is kinda mediocre and kinda a bop
Temple - you say "G-Dragon actually delivers a very pleasant verse" as if G-Dragon doesn't usually deliver pleasant music This song is fire. Such a good combo.
Honourable Album Mentions
A lot of great picks here!
Sad that BBF, The Life of Pablo, You Want It Darker and Konnichiwa missed your albums list!
been meaning to listen to Black Terry Cat for a while
Best Singles 100-91
Sorry but I still think Drum is an awful song. Possibly MØ's worst ever. It's like they tried to recreate Final Song's success by making a song that sounded accessible but in a so much more basic way.
Lush Life is the definition of a bop. but Zara stealing Chad in the video
Top Albums 50-46
'Aa’ is, in a way, like the 'E·MO·TION’ of EDM. - I don't get this
Great album!
That Crying description makes me wanna check out that album.
Of what I know & enjoy here, it'd be the Mexican Chef, Love You To Death, & Aa - though I didn't like GoGo! from that album (your other picks are my faves from it).
I liked what I heard of Baauer's album. But I didn't listen because I've been in a anti producer ft random artists album kinda mood.
Lush Life is good. Rih singing it would have made a bomb 2015 single.
I'm disappointed in Mykki the album but I respect ha for always trying to do new things.
The Mykki album wasn't as good as I wanted it to be either but they always can get better!
(and tbh I still don't know what their pronouns are )
Quote:
Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan
Drum was a grower! and I absolutely love Lush Life! One of my favorite songs of 2016
Deja de hablar en inglés OSH.
Quote:
Originally posted by TheWayWeWere
Drum is kinda her most meh-single, but it's still good
omg, agree with you on Zara. Lush Life > her career
this tea.
Quote:
Originally posted by MP2K
Drum and YDGMH could have been a little higher.
Aa was quite fun.
Yeah, idk I didn't listen to both of them as much as I would've wished
Quote:
Originally posted by bluth
tribe only on the hms?
otherwise i have no issue with tlop, honey, aim and pools being here. although i liked konnichiwa, and i totally forgot about the moderat album! i was going to listen to it when it first came out. oops.
Listen to it! It's good. Not as good their first two but still full of IDM-pop bangers!
Quote:
Originally posted by Changes
The Baauer album is great. Randomly started listening to it one day and was surprised how much I liked it.
Me too! All the tracks there bang in some way or anotehr.
Quote:
Originally posted by mxtthewdelrey
Top 25 EPs 25-16
Haven't heard a lot of these
I agree that Skin Companion EP contains some of Flume's best material
I wasn't a huge fan of Cheetah, sadly
This FLANCH EP looks really interesting
Infrared was really good also!
Top 25 EPs 15-6
serpentwithfeet should be HIGHER. WAY HIGHER. your choice of highlights is on point
I liked Wriggle more than S&M too but my problem with clipping. is that I didn't start listening to them until after I got into Hamilton and now I really can only picture Daveed as Lafayette
Nemesis is great but the Melanie Martinez shade is not cute
I'll check out Abra soon!
A NEW FAMILY yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas. Sad that Track 6 (felicita's own favourite) got snubbed from your highlights though
Top 25 EPs 5-1
Vroom Vroom it's really perfect.
AS is fantastic
E MO TION Side B is absolutely wonderful. Can't believe Cry is in your bottom 2 from the album though!
What an amazing top 3
Best Album Covers
ANTI, Bonito Generation, Jeffery, Skin Companion
I'll have to check Successor out
Best Singles 150-136
Love that Julianna track!
Side to Side is my least favourite DW single as well but it's a bop
Forgot Roisin Murphy had a new record out!
Money is actually my least favourite track from Bubblebath, it feels kinda unsettling and doesn't sit with me but at the same time I'm always listening to it.
Say It is better than 3/4 of Lady Wood, exactly
You don't like Wannabe? really? I'll have to send you Lipgloss Twins' song from PC's Dead or Alive to see if you like that because it's the perfect bridge between Wannabe and Doodle. I was sadly not a huge fan of Doodle at first because I'm such a huge Wannabe stan and they sound nothing alike but it's definitely grown on me too.
Cheap Thrills is so much fun!
I tried to get into Olga Bell at Diarrhoea's recommendation but I just didn't like the music at all
Best Singles 135-121
Kaytranda is good!
AS Crust is amazing. Your write-up made me laugh
Sleigh Bells
Crisis is excellent, as is the majority of Hopelessness. The production is SHARP.
Glory was NOT mediocre Slumber Party is her best video further back than HIAM tbh. it's lowkey her best since... the scrapped 'Gimme More' video
Babyfather & Arca!!! legends
Best Singles 120-101
Juicy Coochie is kinda cupcakKe's magnum opus still, I wish it was higher!
Giving Bad People Good Ideas was one of my favourite songs from Bottomless Pit
Somebody Else is a highlight from I like it when you sleep but at the same time, I've heard friends of mine go on about it so much so
Hold Up is top three on LEMONADE and the FMJ shade
TIWYCF is really generic and it's really only a bop at home. They played it at my prom earlier this year () and when everyone heard it come on, we were excited but that drop is such a non-event that it wasn't exciting at all.
Castrati Stack is an amazing closer
Man Skepta is my dream guy
your Mean What I Mean write-up cackling
Starboy is so brilliant. I really wanted to have the album in my top fifty so that I could talk about how each album since the mixtapes has been better than the last one. But oh well
omg I literally forgot that Where The Lights Get In happened
heads will roll/I will devour you was definitely more of a "hi I'm felicita, this is me at my most accessible, love me PC Music fans!" transitional release. I definitely don't think it would have worked on A New Family (which is officially his third EP btw), mainly because if you listen closely, heads will roll/I will devour you actually samples A New Family
Cool Girl is kinda mediocre and kinda a bop
Temple - you say "G-Dragon actually delivers a very pleasant verse" as if G-Dragon doesn't usually deliver pleasant music This song is fire. Such a good combo.
Honourable Album Mentions
A lot of great picks here!
Sad that BBF, The Life of Pablo, You Want It Darker and Konnichiwa missed your albums list!
been meaning to listen to Black Terry Cat for a while
Best Singles 100-91
Sorry but I still think Drum is an awful song. Possibly MØ's worst ever. It's like they tried to recreate Final Song's success by making a song that sounded accessible but in a so much more basic way.
Lush Life is the definition of a bop. but Zara stealing Chad in the video
Top Albums 50-46
'Aa’ is, in a way, like the 'E·MO·TION’ of EDM. - I don't get this
Great album!
Love You To Death is such a fun album!
this comment you are everything, please don't stop
Oh btw I will make a huge update tomorrow but I guess I'm just so busy and **** like I promised myself finishing this before xmas but it's just not realistic oh well whatever at least I'll try my best.