@TRF: Hahaha yeah I get that! I'll give AoT that it's much more consistent than Anxiety. I guess it's all a matter of taste but I just miss those ethereal songs like Ego Free..., Counting, and Play by Play. But those were all singles I think so maybe I made your point more valid
@lurvsong: I'd check it out! It's not AMAZING imo but I felt obligated to check it out since it's a part of music history now. Alabama Shakes are p good too. Their first album was like... 2 good songs so this new album is much better
@madonnas: Yeah honestly the As were kinda disappointing this year. Glad to see you like Allie though! And with Bitch I just find it so annoying I'm your bitch boom boom aight... Cool... And that loud noise after that line UGH I can see why people are into it cause it's got that experimental edge but it just annoys me so much
@Eevee: Yeah I like her album too! She also had some one off single this year. I wonder if she's got an album planned for next year.
As for Allie I think those two songs are either love or hate with the fandom hahaha it's really Prime that I cannot stop listening to still from the EP
@Vilppu: Do it! Which 2 Adele songs do you prefer over WWWY just wondering. Or will that be in your own best of? adeleWWWYpointingdance.gif
Active Child - 1999
Alabama Shakes - Give Me All Your Love
Allie X - Hello
Autre Ne Veut - Age of Transparency
I know I'ma love this cd this year.
And I agree with you about Autre, he had a tough act to follow but at least we got Age of Transparency (song) out of it.
Why: I honestly don't know how I found these peeps but they're Scottish so I gotta give them some props! Also I could only find a live version or the Adele song so sorry. Adele's power.
This is another CHVRCHES case where I love that you can hear their accents when they sing, but I also really appreciate the diverse use of instruments and the fact that they really seem like a duo.
Check Out: Haven't heard their other songs actually hope to see some greatness from them soon though!
Avoid: Same as above.
Big Grams
“Talk about a vitamin D overdose... and I do mean D...”
Song: Fell in the Sun by Big Grams
Why: God I love this song. It's a perfect combo of the two (it's a collab EP/mini-album with Big Boi and Phantogram if you didn't know) and the obvious highlight from the album. The horns are so great in the chorus and and Sarah sounds so great.
Big Boi does what he does best and doesn't go too intense with a rap or anything, and the vitamin D line just gets me everytime... I ****ing love it.
Check Out: Put it on Her is a similar song that fits so well with the two of them, but is more modern hip-hop produced. A definite #2 for me. Born to Shine is another great one and throws in Run the Jewels for more excellence.
Avoid: I don't like the opening song much, but I really don't like Goldmine Junkie at all. It just doesn't fit either artist at all.
Big Data
“Cause I know that you want me clean.”
Song: Clean (feat. Jamie Lidell) by Big Data
Why: It was tough choosing my favorite, but I had to choose this one. It's my favorite production on the album and I absolutely love the vocal distortion on Jamie's voice in the last line of the chorus. It's an interesting concept too about being "clean" and "perfect" on the Internet and pressure to be that way.
Check Out: The Glow with Kimbra is why I checked out the album. It's so glitchy and almost a sort of mellow-chaos. The opener, The Business of Emotion, is also killer.
Avoid: The only song I don't care for is Snowed In because it sounds like a random EDM song from a different artist just thrown into the album.
“We could lay down by the sea and listen to the ocean's symphony.”
Song: I Really Don't Care by Bilal
Why: Mess at Bilal stealing a song title from Demi.
I started checking Bilal out after he was the lone collab on Kimbra's album last year and I'm really impressed! His album this year was great. I Really Don't Care is my favorite because it's just so mellow, breezy, jazzy, great instruments (that subtle horn section about halfway through), lovely lyrics.
Check Out: Open Up the Door is another breezy and jazzy track, but it's more upbeat and I love it. Money Over Love featuring Kendrick Lamar was also a great one; it sounds like the theme song to a movie based on a bank robbery. Kimbra's feature was pretty good too.
Avoid: Pleasure Toy with Big KRIT was meh. It may have been the feature that ruined it but I never listen to the song.
Bleachers
“Why don't you come a little closer...”
Song: Rollercoaster (feat. Charli XCX) by Bleachers
Why: FINALLY the studio version of her version of this song thank GOD. And before you ask... yes this counts!
Check Out: The Carly cover of Shadow is perfect esp in the wake of her releasing such an 80's inspired album. I also really like MO's rendition of You're Still a Mystery
Avoid: Unpopular opinion, but I didn't like Tinashe's version of I Wanna Get Better. That chorus is meant to be SCREAMED not whispered and then start to fall asleep that you forget the other half of the lyrics as you sing. Idk I guess it might be cause I don't like Tinashe that much. Also Take Me Away is a NO. Why on earth would you trade Grimes for... THAT??? Cmon Jack.
Why: Well come on, it's obvious that this is still his best song. Even now that it's in a car commercial. The well-placed guitar riffs, the electric-tinged lyrics, the general feel-good of the album... so good. I particularly love the way he sings the last "baby you're my electric LAHAAAAVE!"
Check Out: I actually liked the album a lot! All the songs from the EP earlier in the year (of course) are all great (I kinda wish Seeing Stars was still included I LOVE that song). I also love The Emotion because of the way he sings the chorus and the title track is a fun, upbeat one.
Avoid: I hate American Money in all honesty. It sounds like a lame attempt to sound like Lana. And it doesn't work. Clouds is pretty lame too.
Brandon Flowers
“I still want you, even more than I did before.”
Song: Still Want You by Brandon Flowers
Why: I was so torn between this and I Can Change that I wrote and erased sentences for both but it's time to commit. THE COWBELL I haven't heard a song with such a cowbell in so long. He sounds like ****ing Paul Williams in this song which I weirdly love, and the additional backing vocal in the chorus makes it even more lively. I really love everything about this song.
Check Out: Like I said I Can Change is fantastic. It has the best build-up and progression in the album and lots of aspects of the song remind me of songs from my youth. Dreams Come True is such a lovely opener and makes me want to have fun and go on an adventure and accomplish all I've ever wanted to accomplish. Can't Deny My Love is great too.
Avoid: Lonely Town is the most I guess "modern" sounding on the album, but I don't think it's that great.