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JamieZolanski's Best of 2012 | Album #18
Member Since: 4/16/2007
Posts: 30,963
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Member Since: 10/1/2011
Posts: 53,790
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I LOVE your reviews Jamie, and I'm glad to see MDNA is on your list! Very underrated!
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Member Since: 9/10/2012
Posts: 373
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Will be posting album 23 very soon! Xoxoxo
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Member Since: 9/10/2012
Posts: 373
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23 | Chiddy Bang
Breakfast
Released: February 21, 2012
Billboard 200 Peak: #8 (debut)
Genre: Alternative Hip-Hop, Pop Rap, Electronica
Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Breakfast
3. Handclaps & Guitars
4. Mind Your Manners (feat. Icona Pop)
5. Ray Charles
6. Does She Love Me?
7. Run It Back (feat. Shirazi)
8. Out 2 Space (feat. Gordon Voidwell)
9. Whatever We Want
10. Interlude
11. Talking to Myself
12. Happening (feat. VV Brown)
13. Baby Roulette
14. 4th Quarter
Bold indicates a single | |
Chiddy Bang was one of my greatest finds in 2012. I first heard their masterpiece "Opposite of Adults," and my interest was piqued. I then spotted their banner on iTunes for their new album. I decided that what I heard from "Opposite of Adults" and their lead single, "Mind Your Manners," that this album was worth a listen. I wanted to hear more from Chiddy, the rapper, and the producer of the duo, Xaphoon Jones. The set starts off with a mellow intro, which segues into a complete banger of a title track. Blaring horns and a funky piano riff highlight this catchy beat, and Chiddy delivers his verses well. The next track is one of the highlights of the album with its pop beat and great verses. The production sets this track apart and the fun lyrics make this a track that can be on repeat for hours. The lead single is next, and features an extremely catchy sample of an Icona Pop song for the chorus. Everything about this song is catchy, from the beat to the exceptional delivery of Chiddy. Another standout track. "Ray Charles" uses another, more soulful interpolation. Slightly reminiscent of Macklemore's "Thrift Shop," this song showcases Chiddy's whimsical wordplay and delivery. The piano bits on the beat are ingenious. The next song uses subtle production and a short, chipmunk sample to try to tell about a girl who doesn't share the feelings Chiddy has for her. However, Chiddy's abrasive lyrics and delivery contradict the meaning of the song, making it one of the weaker tracks on the album. The next track more than makes up for it. The chill chorus with acoustic guitars and smooth vocals transition into fierce synth bleeps during the verses. Xaphoon is definitely showcasing his producing power on this one, and Chiddy's vengeful verses make this one of the best on the album. Next up is the psychedelic space-jam, "Out 2 Space," which features backing vocals from Ellie Goulding. Synth wubs provided by Xaphoon make this a very enjoyable song, and Chiddy shines with great wordplay. This is the first track where Chiddy truly establishes himself as a great rapper. The catchy, bass-heavy beat of "Whatever We Want" signals the most mainstream hip-hop track of the album. Chiddy's autotuned chorus is great and his verses lyrically mimic the production style. The interlude provides a nice string intro to the next track, "Talking to Myself." This introspective mid-tempo utilizes another genius interpolation and fantastic production, and Chiddy shines with his verses, giving the realist lyrics of the album. This soulful kiss-off is another highlight of the album. Easily the most danceable song on the album is next, and VV Brown steals the show with an amazing chorus, sounding very similar to Miley Cyrus. The production sounds like something super producer Dr. Luke would concoct, further proving Xaphoon's diversity and talent as a producer. Chiddy's verses are average, but the bridge is great. The main thought going through your head while listening to this song is to dance, and it fits perfectly. The next song features an uncredited chorus from Patrick Monahan of Train, and the filtered drums and video game beat set this track apart. The verses from Chiddy are some of his weaker ones, but this song is in no way skippable. The beat is too good. "4th Quarter," is a straight up hip-hop song that features a shoutout of Lady Gaga. The beat is absolute fire and Chiddy shows that he can rap on both hip-hop and pop songs. Xaphoon seems to just be having fun at this point and gives another memorable piece of ear candy. Breakfast is a perfect blend of pop, funk and hip-hop that would be pleasing to most music fans. There is hardly a skippable track on here. The production on this album is absolutely amazing, and Xaphoon Jones needs to be a name that needs to be watched out for. His use of interpolation rivals that of Kanye West, yet his pop productions are equally as masterful. This man has incredible talent, and can become a hit maker very soon. Chiddy Bang has established themselves well with their first studio album, and we should expect great things to come from this dynamic duo.
Favorite Tracks: "Handclaps & Guitars," "Mind Your Manners," "Run It Back" and "Talking to Myself"
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Member Since: 2/11/2008
Posts: 10,964
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I heard Mind Your Manners (cause of Icona Pop) and it's kinda good.
Your reviews are impressive.
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Member Since: 9/16/2004
Posts: 34,379
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MDNA
I love how a number of members here are incorporating my layout.
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Member Since: 9/10/2012
Posts: 373
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Thanks everyone! I will be posting the next album in my countdown this afternoon, so expect 2 or 3 albums to be revealed today! Xoxo -Jamie
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2008
Posts: 87,284
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Chiddy Bang is quite good, I must check this out!
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Member Since: 9/10/2012
Posts: 373
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22 | Azealia Banks
1991
Released: May 29, 2012
Billboard 200 Peak: #133
Genre: Hip-House, Electronica, Dance
Tracklist
1. 1991
2. Van Vogue
3. 212 (feat. Lazy Jay)
4. Liquorice
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Love her or hate her, Azealia Banks' star power skyrocketed in 2012. Before this year, I hadn't even heard of her, so she definitely was a pleasant discovery for me. 1991 proved to be the breakout material that Banks needed. The EP starts off with a beat that sounds like it was forged in a bustling Paris. Banks starts off right away by showcasing her impressive wordplay. As the beat increases, her flow becomes more and more interesting. The one thing about this girl is that she can straight up flow. The production sort of smothers her raps, but as the beat calms down, Azealia's delivery becomes even more catchy. Then, in the middle of the song, her raspy, impressive vocals give the song a 90s feel. The track sets the table for what's to come in the set. Next up, "Van Vogue" starts of with dog barks and handclaps, and Azealia bursts in with her amazing rhyming ability. The dark production perfectly compliments Azealia's tone, and when she starts singing, the beat changes accordingly. Then a slew of slide whistles transition into the second verse, where Banks provides one of the most catchy raps on the EP. The track then transitions into a grimy, tuned-down banger, which is my favorite part of the song. One more chorus and a continuation of the beat follows, then, after 20 seconds of silence, a tuned-down version of Banks commences with an unnecessary 2-minute shittalking rant. The standout track of the EP is next, and boy is this one memorable. The banging beat comes on and Banks goes on a profanity-laced tirade of rapping. Banks uses an implied metaphor throughout the track, and is dragging the subject of this song for filth. Lines like, "I guess that **** gettin' eaten" and "Imma ruin you, ****" prove this girl's sassiness. The beat is fire as well, with instantly recognizable drums and siren-like sounds from the second verse on. The bridge features amazing and catchy vocals from Banks and a great muted-synth lead in the background. Azealia truly steals the show, though, with the chorus. Her vengeful chanting of "Whatchu gone do when I appear/When I premiere/Bitch the end of your lives are near/This **** been mine," is chilling and further establishes this song as one of the best in 2012. The song closes out brilliantly with another verse, which Banks seems extra angry and sharp, and another rousing rendition of the chorus packed with an extra crazy beat. The EP's closer would be more attention drawing had it not been preceded by "212." Banks fools around with her wordplay and flow a little more, and delivers a beautiful hook with great vocal layering. Her next verse is just more of Banks making her lightning fast flow seem easy, and she closes out the track, which has been operating on a house keyboard beat since the first hook, in dazzling fashion, as she samples a Nicki Minaj flow from "Kill Da DJ" and uses the line "cherry-melange bitch verbatim" in the closing verse. The hook closes this song out, and as the song fades, wolf howls make this track complete. Azealia Banks did an exemplary job with this EP, from the production she picked to the top-notch wordplay and flow. It's very clear that this girl had talent, and her singing voice is not to be underestimated either. The reason why this is so low on my countdown is solely because of the lack of tracks, but the four on here re absolutely outstanding. Now, after securing collaborations with music giants Kanye West and Lady Gaga, she can only watch as her stardom increases. If she keeps her sometimes disrespectful attitude in check, I see her rising to fame in a similar path as Lana Del Rey, with all the potential to being a full blown superstar.
Favorite Tracks: "212" and "Liquorice"
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Chiddy Bang
I'm just getting into Azealia Banks lately, she's really good
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Member Since: 2/11/2008
Posts: 10,964
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Liquorice was my jam.
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Member Since: 9/10/2012
Posts: 373
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21 | 2 Chainz
Based on a T.R.U. Story
Released: August 14, 2012
Billboard 200 Peak: #1 (debut)
Genre: Rap, Southern Hip-Hop, R&B
Tracklist
1. Yuck! (feat. Lil Wayne)
2. Crack
3. Dope Peddler
4. No Lie (feat. Drake) BB Hot 100 Peak: 24
5. Birthday Song (feat. Kanye West)
BB Hot 100 Peak: 47 6. I'm Different BB Hot 100 Peak: 42
7. Extremely Blessed (feat. The-Dream)
8. I Luv Dem Strippers (feat. Nicki Minaj)
9. Stop Me Now (feat. Dolla Boy)
10. Money Machine
11. In Town (feat. Mike Posner)
12. Ghetto Dreams (feat. Scarface & John Legend)
13. Wut We Doin? (feat. Cap1)
Bold indicates a single | |
2 Chainz is probably hip-hop's rookie of the year. You may argue that he's an awful rapper, but he has done enough to make it in this business. His debut album provides anything a banging hip-hop fan would ever want. The first track has a dark feeling to it, accentuated by light horns and strings. The beat drops and 2 Chainz goes into his signature wordplay rap. His random similes and metaphors make you chuckle (especially a Hot Potato segment at the end of the second verse). The beat is simple and effective and Lil Wayne (mercifully) only has a chorus. The lyrics are a bit ridiculous, but this is one of the better cuts on the album. Next up is one of the few solo tracks, "Crack." 2 Chainz once again rhymes the silliest words, but the beat is interesting enough that it may not be skippable all of the time, but most of the time. The next song is probably the most interesting. A signature Bangladesh beat, it features a chipmunk sounding repetition of "dope peddler." It's just a crazy song. The best part of this song is when an old-fashioned man singing about a dope peddler as if he were an ice cream man. The next track was one of the biggest hip-hop smashes of the year. The beat is produced by the arguable MVP of hip-hop producers of 2012: Mike WiLL. The beat is fire and 2 Chainz delivers some of his stronger raps. The real star of this show is Drake, however, and his smoth vocals grace the chorus. His verse is fantastic and truly makes this song a standout on the album, and one of the best songs of the year. The video to this song is very good too. Next up is the Yeezy assisted "Birthday Song." This dominated the urban airwaves as well, and boasts production that is top-notch. Heavy bass and and a vocoder-based sample make this club-ready. 2 Chainz delivers a great rap and a catchy-as-hell chorus. Kanye sounds a bit disinterested on his verse, but still does a good job here. The bridge declaring "Bad bitch contest, you in first place" is one of the better moments of the song. This track is another highlight of the album. The next track is based on a repeating piano riff and catchy elements to the beat. 2 Chainz delivers some weak verses and doesn't really impress with the chorus either. The second verse has good flow, but not much about this song is that special. The memorizingly smooth vocals of The-Dream drench the next track, which has a slight R&B feel. 2 Chainz decides to go with a strange tone on this song, and it seems awkward. It may as well be The-Dream's song, as it is mainly him. This track is weak lyrically, but the ambience of the beat and the vocals make this listenable. One of my favorites is next. "I Luv Dem Strippers" provides a freakishly catchy chorus and verse from 2 Chainz, and the fantastic beat is just inviting one to twerk. "Hair Weave Killer's" humor and ad libs make his part of the song, but Nicki Minaj comes in to steal the show. Trying a mock-ratchet tone for this one, Minaj delivers some of her best metaphors yet, including one of the lines of the year: "Bitches stay pressed, I call 'em a spacebar." The epilogue to her verse, however, is unnecessary and somewhat obnoxious, but it doesn't take away from the absolute quality of this song. The next track opens with a soul sample, which is probably the best part of the song. 2 Chainz' wordplay is pretty lackluster here. The chorus is just as weak, name dropping Orville Redenbacher and Cyndi Lauper in not-so-flattering ways. Dolla Boy is marginally better than his former Playaz Circle partner, but nothing special. My suggestion: listen to the first 30 seconds and skip. I like the next track. It's probably the best solo track on here, with a very good beat and a catchy chorus. Tity Boi's flow works here, resulting in a pretty good bop here. The bedroom burner "In Town" is next, featuring incredibly sexy vocals from the sex master himself, Mike Posner. Posner makes this track, plain and simple, but 2 Chainz does a good job with his verses. The beat here is simple piano chords and intricate drums, and is very good. Definitely one of the ones to listen to if you aren't planning on listening to the whole thing. "Ghetto Dreams" comes up next, and is just some old-school hip-hop that 2 Chainz sounds the most comfortable on than most of the songs on the album. This track is impressive lyrically, and John Legend kills the chorus. Hip-hop icon Scarface completes this track, and, combined with the exceptional beat, makes this another standout track. The closer is incredibly basic, from the beat to the chorus. The track absolutely makes you want to yell at 2 Chainz here. It's just an atrocious song. Another song to check out on the deluxe version is "Countdown," which features Chris Brown. The beat on this song is a trippy, dubstep influenced masterpiece, and may be the better than anything on the standard. Chris sounds great and 2 Chainz flows great on the verses. The beat is absolutely fire, though, and is a must-listen. 2 Chainz gives the hip-hop community a great album here, and is actually nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. The reason why his seemingly poor lyrical abilities should be respected is because he is unbelievably funny, and the pre-recorded ad libs that are signature of every 2 Chainz' song are genius. As long as he delivers some absolute bangers of hip-hop songs, 2 Chainz can stay on a "Best of" list as long as he wants.
Favorite Tracks: "No Lie," "Birthday Song," "I Luv Dem Strippers," "Ghetto Dreams" and "Countdown" (On the deluxe)
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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2 Chainz nice, "Birthday Song" is my jam
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 12/7/2008
Posts: 87,284
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Member Since: 2/13/2012
Posts: 62,082
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MDNA and 1991
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Member Since: 2/20/2012
Posts: 24,225
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Holy ****, you seriously go over every album.
The only mention I like so far is Ne-Yo, though.
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Member Since: 11/28/2011
Posts: 10,662
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2 CHAINZ! YES! Idc what anyone says, that is a damn good album!
One of my favorite verses from Nicki this year is on ILDS!
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Member Since: 9/10/2012
Posts: 373
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20 | Justin Bieber
Believe
Released: June 19, 2012
Billboard 200 Peak: #1 (debut)
Genre: Pop, Dance, Electronica, R&B, Dubstep
Tracklist
1. All Around the World (feat. Ludacris)
2. Boyfriend BB Hot 100 Peak: 2
3. As Long as You Love Me (feat. Big Sean)
BB Hot 100 Peak: 6 4. Catching Feelings
5. Take You
6. Right Here (feat. Drake)
7. Fall
8. Die in Your Arms
9. Thought of You
10. Beauty and a Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj)
BB Hot 100 Peak: 7 11. One Love
12. Be Alright
13. Believe
Bold indicates a single | |
Justin Bieber is the teen heartthrob responsible for the craze called "Bieber Fever." But this year, there was a different kind of Bieber Fever. This disease drew everyone in, not just teenage girls. His music had, changed. Bieber's 3rd studio album starts off with a dance track. The lyrics are basic, yes, and the rap verse provided by Ludacris may not be as memorable as the one he delivered on "Baby," but the dance break is fresh, and it's a very danceable track that you would definitely hear in a club. Yes, Justin Bieber in a club. This is one of the things that signal Bieber's maturation as an artist. The lead single is next, and however weak it may be in the verse department, Bieber's smooth vocals and rapping complement the absolutely exemplary beat concocted by the master of smooth, Mike Posner. It's catchy enough and is, once again, a more mature sounding Bieber. The bridge and final chorus are beautiful, saving this song and actually making it memorable. The next track is what completely turned Justin's career around. "As Long as You Love Me" has one of those subtle, dark beats that producer Darkchild is so good at it. The dubstep influence here is aparent, and instead of being one breakdown during the bridge, the bass wubs are constant throughout the song. It really is a nice piece of production. But the main emphasis is not the beat, or the incredibly real rap verse from Big Sean. It is Justin Bieber's vocals. They are so smooth and proficient, they would make Justin Timberlake clap. Justin really breaks out vocally on this track, and for this reason the track garners best on the album as well as one of the best of the year. Purely masterful, and something that I never thought Justin Bieber would pull off. Justin gets a pass on the next song, even though he seems to regress back into his slightly whiny vocals and childish lyrics. The simple handclap beat over an acoustic lead is nice, but the singing is not. Bieber's buttery vocals drench the next song, whose production is EDM candy. Justin's laid back approach to this dance track is very nice and the breakdowns are awesome. One of the better dance cuts on here. Next is the R&B duet with Drake. Justin seems to try too hard to copy his collaborator, and Drizzy overshadows his compatriot with his unmatchable vocals. Hit-Boy does a nice job with the beat, which is a departure from his signature sample-based hip-hop bangers. Drake makes this song listenable, but nothing special. "Fall" accomplishes what "Catching Feelings" fails to do. This heartfelt ode to his special girl is executed perfectly, with lyrics that aren't too cheesy, vocals that are filled with emotion and simple guitar and drums production. This is a slice of pop (not the dance music that people call pop nowadays) heaven. This is almost a tear-jerker, it's that beautiful, and that's why it's one of the best songs on the album. The next song features a Michael Jackson sample, and Justin really does this song justice with some great vocals. I can tell this is a fan-favorite, and the chorus is just really catchy. His ad libs make this song really fun, and the high energy of the whole track put it in the upper tier of the album. The verses of the next song sound a little awkward for Justin, but he handles them nicely. The chorus of this song is just magnificent, though, and, with a little help of autotune, Justin hits some insanely high notes that are very pleasing to the ear. The subtle, but somewhat trippy beat is pretty ingenious. "Beauty and a Beat" is up next, and after a superfluous intro from Nicki Minaj, Justin bursts in with some mature sounding vocals. The lyrics may seem a bit substanceless, but the prehook and chorus are radio-killing (to say the least). This song was destined to be a hit. The arguable king of electropop production, Max Martin, uses a little bit of piano, a little bit of funk bass and a little bit of synth strings to create one of the best beats he made the entire year. Up-and-coming EDM DJ, Zedd, provides a fiery post chorus breakdown, which makes this one club-ready as well as radio-ready. Minaj storms in after the second chorus and delivers the best rap feature on the album, and giving us one of the best lines of 2012: "Buns out, wiener/ But I gotta keep an eye out for Selener." This track is another highlight of the album and showcases Justin's maturing sound. The next song is a bit hollow; whatever the Biebz' purpose here was, it wasn't accomplished. The horrendous repetition of a digitally-altered Justin singing "oh way" is not flattering, and the mumbling of the chorus isn't appreciated either. It's not a terrible song, but certainly not one of the better ones on this album. Justin sounds really nice on the acoustic "Be Alright," but I feel his vocals were too loud. The chorus -- hell, the whole song -- is really pretty, and I like Bieber's voice on here, though a little less melisma would be appreciated and would add more to the unplugged sound. Overall, a nice late-album track. The album's closer and title track is rather anthemic, and details Justin's determination to reach where he is today. This is a perfect close to the album, and Justin's vocals sound maturer than ever. The songs grows, and then reaches a point where a gospel choir joins in on the chorus. The fresh production and overall good feeling one obtains from this are even more reasons why this is one of the best songs on the entire album. Believe as a whole served as a conglomeration of everything that makes Justin Bieber talented. This is a great pop album, but an even better signal to the music world that Bieber is here to stay as a powerhouse in this industry. This album cracks my top 20, and I expect more amazing music from Justin in the coming years.
Favorite Tracks: "As Long as You Love Me," "Fall," "Beauty and a Beat" and "Believe"
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Member Since: 10/1/2011
Posts: 53,790
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2 Chainz's album is great and underrated.
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Haven't heard Bieber's album, but I like As Long as you love me + Beauty and a beat
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