#80. Mr. Twin Sister - "Out of the Dark" from the album 'Mr. Twin Sister' Genre: Alternative Dance, Indietronica
Synthpop, Nu-Disco, Deep House Country: USA - Label: Infinite Best
"I am a woman, but inside I'm a man and I want to be as gay as I can!"
Think about The Knife or Planningtorock (ew) doing a Chromeo or a Disclosure song. That's the closest description of the song I could give you. The spoken-word lyrics, the beat, the melody, everything it's made for the dancefloor, but it's also kind of creepy, specially on the cold, distant vocals. But SO GOOD.
#79. Thom Yorke - "A Brain in a Bottle" from the album 'Tomorrow's Modern Boxes' Genre: Glitch Pop
Ambient Pop, IDM Country: UK - Label: self-released
"Oh, what's that seeking us?, steel hands have come to talk to us..."
The main criticism of Thom's second solo album is that it's, apparently, not melodic enough. In my opinion, it doesn't have to be melodic to be good, the atmosphere he's creating in this song makes up for it - since 'Kid A', Radiohead have always been focused on Electronic music, and this song proves that he's still able to do good stuff.
#40. Black Monolith - 'Passenger' Highlights: "Intro/Void", "Adhere", "Eris" Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal, Crust Punk
D-Beat, Post-Rock Country: USA - Label: All Black You'll like it if you like: Deafheaven, Alcest
It's not surprising that the best tracks from Black Monolith's debut album are the most influenced by Post-Rock. Heavily influenced by Deafheaven's 'Sunbather' album (in fact, this album was released on Dfhvn's George Clarke's label), this is probably one of the most diverse Metal albums you'll hear this record, and while I'm not a really big fan of the genre, this is so good!
as it doesn't have a BIG, OBVIOUS single like "Bulletproof"
Now, see, that's why I like it even more. I think that if it DID have a song as huge as "Bulletproof", it would have suffered because of it. It exists in its own little world, which makes it all the better.
#78. Ben Frost - "Venter" from the album 'A U R O R A' Genre: Electro-Industrial
Industrial Techno, Dark Ambient, Drone Country: Australia - Label: Mute
I love how the way this track builds up, it's so tense and aggressive, and it goes for like 3 minutes, but it's still interesting enough to keep you into it. The climax, though, it's explosive, it goes for about a minute and a half but it's full of melody, probably the most colorful moment in the piece of darkness and desperation that an album like 'A U R O R A' is. We love you Ben Frost.
#77. Elliphant feat. MØ - "One More" from the album 'One More EP' Genre: Synth Pop, Alternative R&B
Electropop, Art Pop Country: Sweden/Denmark - Label: Kemosabe
"Stay with me tonight, we can count the street lights..."
If Lorde decided to make a party anthem, it would probably sound like this. And I'm not joking, because literally, this was produced by Joel Little, a.k.a. the one who basically produced Lorde's entire discography. And this is great! Elliphant brings her usual Dancehall flavor, and after the 2 minute mark the song becomes something pretty intense. ONE MORE! C'MON! IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL!
#39. Millie and Andrea - 'Drop the Vowels' Highlights: "Corrosive", "Drop the Vowels", "Temper Tantrum", "Spectral Source" Genre: Jungle, Techno
Ambient Techno, Hardcore Breaks, Trap, Industrial Techno Country: UK - Label: Modern Love You'll like it if you like: TNGHT, Zomby, Machinedrum
Millie & Andrea is the project from Miles Whittaker a.k.a. Demdike Stare (Millie) and electronic musician Andy Stott (Andrea). They released a lot of EPs and 12”s in between 2008 and 2010 - but it wasn’t until this year where they would release their debut album as a group. This work is titled 'Drop the Vowels' - and it takes a lot of the jungle influences from their early releases, and maximizes them, this could as well be one of the craziest Dance music releases of the latest times - rejecting all the colorful textures of typical EDM for something darker, less accessible, but still fun… in it’s very own, extremely odd way.
#76. ∆ - "Every Other Freckle" from the album 'This Is All Yours' Genre: Art Pop, Indietronica
Progressive Pop, Indie Pop Country: UK - Label: Infectious
" I want to do all the things your lungs do so well..."
The fact that there are a lot of things going on in this song, and it still sounds cohesive and coherent as a whole it's probably why I like this song as a whole. It is a really sexual song, and also kind of creepy as well, but not on an aggressive way, more like in an... intensely descriptive way. Don't know if that sentence really makes sense, but that's what I feel. Also I think that having a boy/girl version of the video is great!
#75. East India Youth - "Dripping Down" from the album 'Total Strife Forever' Genre: Synthpop, Art Pop
Indietronica, Electropop, Ambient Pop Country: UK - Label: Stolen
"You may be moving at glacial paces, but you're not melting"
East India Youth's music is, at least, diverse. Seriously. When he's not making complex Ambient music, full of build-ups and samples, he's doing some of the best Synthpop out there. And this song would be the midpoint between this two worlds. The climax after the first chorus is brilliant, and so is the last minute of the track. He needs more recognition IMO.
#38. Tove Lo - 'Queen of the Clouds' Highlights: "Thousand Miles", "Habits (Stay High)", "Moments", "Timebomb", "Talking Body" Genre: Electropop
Synthpop, Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B Country: Sweden - Label: Universal You'll like it if you like: Sia, Robyn, Kesha, Charli XCX
Swedish singer/songwriter Tove Lo released her debut album, called 'Queen of the Clouds' in 2014. Most of the songs here follow the epic-emotional-chorus rule found in its lead single. This is a strong debut album, and while she’s not reaching the level of pop geniuses like Robyn, Sia or Rihanna, she might get there soon!
#74. iamamiwhoami - "Tap Your Glass" from the album 'BLUE' Genre: Electropop, Art Pop
Synthpop, Dance-Pop, Dream Pop, Balearic Beat Country: Sweden - Label: To whom it may concern.
"We are creating new islands..."
The fact that this might be the worst song on their third album, 'BLUE', can say a lot about the quality of the album. It's a perfectly arranged Electropop song, that, finds the midpoint between accessible Dance music and a dreamy atmosphere. Also, the last 30 or 40 seconds are totally lovely.
#73. Ought - "The Weather Song" from the album 'More Than Any Other Day' Genre: Post-Punk, Indie Rock
Noise Rock, Art Punk Country: Canada - Label: Constellation
"I just want to rebel in your lies!"
As I previously said in the description of the album this song is featured in, Ought were the sound of Rock music in 2014. Seriously. I can't think of any other band that encapsulates all the sounds of this kind of music right now. Mixing Post-Punk with some Noise Rock, Indie and Post-Rock, they make something this great! And "The Weather Song" is probably the most accessible song in the album, and it has some really deep lyrics, and you know... I can't help loving this!
#37. Tim Hecker - 'Virgins' Highlights: “Prism”, “Virginal I”, “Arms, Drugs, Harmonium”, “Live Room Out” Genre: Ambient, Drone
Glitch, Progressive Electronic, Noise Country: Canada - Label: Kranky You'll like it if you like: his previous works, Fennesz, Aphex Twin's ambient moments, Ben Frost
If you don’t like this kind of experimental, electronic music, don’t even try with this - that would be probably the biggest criticism I have for the album. It is quite “accessible”, but it’s definitely not his most accessible work. But 'Virgins' is overall a really beautiful (and slightly disturbing) work that, if you like this kind of music, then you MUST check it out.
#72. Jessy Lanza - "Kathy Lee" from the album 'Pull My Hair Back' Genre: Alternative R&B, Indietronica
Synthpop, UK Bass, Pop Soul, Dubstep Country: - Label: Hyperdub
If we forget about "Go", I think that this is how a collaboration between Rihanna and Grimes would truly sound like. You get Grimes' typical atmospheric synthpop/indietronica, mixed with Rihanna's catchy R&B/pop, this also has some Hyperdub-friendly bass thrown in which makes it even more delicious. Jessy Lanza I you!
#71. Ariana Grande - "Problem" from the album 'My Everything' Genre: Dance-Pop, Contemporary R&B
Pop Rap, Electropop Country: USA - Label: Universal Republic
"Head in the clouds, got no weight on my shoulders!"
I didn't even pay attention to Ariana Grande before this song. But I listened to this and I was kind of... slayed? How could an ARIANA GRANDE SONG slay me? Well, Pitchfork gave this a 'Best New Music' tag, so it wasn't that wrong to like this I guess. It's a great, GREAT pop song, the saxophone and Ari's vocals are totally lovely. And let's just forget about the feature here, can we?
#36. Makthaverskan - 'Makthaverskan II' Highlights: “Asleep”, "Antabus", "No Mercy", "Something More" Genre: Indie Rock, Post-Punk, Noise Pop
Jangle Pop, Twee Pop, Noise Rock, Shoegaze Country: Sweden - Label: Run for Cover You'll like it if you like: The Sugarcubes, Perfect P*ssy, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
I heard somebody comparing this album to The Sugarcubes (for those who don't know, that was Björk's first band), and I can see where that comparison comes from! This album is full of catchy, sweet but direct nois-y Indie Rock tunes that are irresistible for those who like that kind of music.
OMFG! Virgins, recuerdo que dijiste que lo pasarías para este año, qué bueno verlo! <3
También genial ver a "Drop the Vowels", discazo rompe cráneos.
No conocía Black Monolith, escucharé algo a ver qué tal, de Makthaverskan sí había escuchado Asleep y no me gustó mucho, por eso no llegue a escuchar el álbum.
Sobre los temas bien por Ought, EIY, alt-j y Ben Frost.
Well, Pitchfork gave this a 'Best New Music' tag, so it wasn't that wrong to like this I guess. It's a great, GREAT pop song, the saxophone and Ari's vocals are totally lovely. And let's just forget about the feature here, can we?
But true
I don't remember that Jessy Lanza song from Pull My Hair Back but 5785021, As If and F**k Diamond