#18. Oneohtrix Point Never - "Sticky Drama" from 'Garden of Delete' Genre: Electro-Industrial, IDM
Glitch, Glitch Pop, UK Bass Country: USA - Label: Warp
"Sticky drama, is the girl for me..."
This song, and Garden of Delete in general, feels like something I’ve never seen/heard before, but it's oddly familiar. The music is IDM-meets-PC Music-meets-noise-meets-industrial metal-meets-synthpop — and as weird as it is, it actually sounds good. And loud. There is also its main theme: being a teenager. I don’t think there’s enough music about that, let alone experimental music, and that’s why I feel a connection with Daniel Lopatin and what he’s doing. <3
#17. Susanne Sundfør - "Accelerate" from 'Ten Love Songs' Genre: Synthpop, Art Pop
Synthwave, Electropop, EBM Country: Norway - Label: Warner
"Many people will get hurt..."
If Fever Ray and Abba got together to make a Pop song it would probably sound like this. It's equal parts agressive, noisy and catchy and melodic. Probably one of the best songs Susanne has ever made.
#09. Florence + the Machine - 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful' Genre: Art Pop, Indie Pop
Chamber Pop, Indie Rock, Pop Soul Country: UK - Label: Highlights: “Ship to Wreck”, “What Kind of Man?”, “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful”, “Various Storms & Saints”, “Delilah”, “Queen of Peace”, “Mother” You'll like it if you like: 'Lungs’, Kate Bush, Arcade Fire, Julia Holter
'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful’ is probably Florence + The Machine’s most mature work to date. It’s diverse, but it’s still cohesive. And while their huge, stadium-sized sound is not fully gone, they proved that can do so much more than that, and also, that their position as one of the most important bands of the decade, still belongs to them.
#16. Kendrick Lamar - "Alright" from 'To Pimp a Butterfly' Genre: Conscious Hip Hop
Jazz Rap, Pop Rap Country: USA - Label: TDE
"We gon' be alright!..."
This song truly feels like a revolution. It has one of the most powerful, uplifting hooks of all year, and the message is as important as always Kendrick does. And the video is really really amazing.
#15. Tinashe - "All Hands on Deck" from 'Aquarius' Genre: Contemporary R&B
Pop Rap, Alternative R&B, Trap Rap Country: USA - Label: RCA
"Kiss the old me goodbye, she's dead and gone..."
This song is probably the closest to another potential pop hit that Tinashe made after "2 On". It kind of flopped. Which is sad, because the production on this track is amazing, and her vocal performance is heavenly. Also, RATCHET PANFLUTES! Also, no AUSTRALIAN IGLOOS!
#08. The band formerly known as Viet Cong - 'Viet Cong' Genre: Post-Punk
Noise Rock, Art Punk Country: Canada - Label: Jagjagwuar Highlights: “Newspaper Spoons”, “March of Progress”, “Continental Shelf”, “Silhouettes”, “Death” You'll like it if you like: Swans, Interpol, Women
Is the hype worth it? I think yes, it is. Viet Cong haven’t invented anything new - Women, the band that two members were part of some time ago, sounded similar to this, but it didn’t sound as… huge, as aggressive and catchy as this does. And while the mixing of these influences, all of these styles can be something slightly odd, its result is more than impressive. And, yes, that band name was stupid af, but the music was great, so I'm glad they changed it.
Whoops I went in here earlier but totally ignored the list above
Quote:
SINGLES:
49 Carly Rae Jepsen – Your Type
44 Charli XCX feat. Rita Ora – Doing It
37 Tove Lo – Talking Body
34 Azealia Banks – Ice Princess
30 Sia – Elastic Heart
15 Tinashe – All Hands On Deck
Doing It is cute Ice Princess is as well, from what I remember.
Elastic Heart Your Type + All Hands On Deck Talking Body
Quote:
ALBUMS:
25 Charli XCX – Sucker
Sucker is good. I didn't really listen to it much, but I enjoyed it. My favorite track is Famous.
#14. Major Lazer & DJ Snake feat. MØ - "Lean On" from 'Peace is the Mission' Genre: Electropop, Moombahton
Dancehall, Tropical House, Contemporary R&B Country: USA/Jamaica/France/Denmark - Label: Atlantic
"Blow a kiss, fire a gun..."
First, I'm glad MØ broke out to the mainstream (well... sort of) thanks to this song, and not to that awful "Beg for It" thing, also, well, this song is pretty much the best mainstream hit of 2015. Don't lie to yourself, you know that's the truth. The hook, as simplistic as it is, is way too catchy, and the beat is insane for a pop song.
#13. Rihanna - "Bitch Better Have My Money" Genre: Trap Rap
Contemporary R&B, Industrial Hip Hop Country: Barbados - Label: Westbury Road
"Moo la la..."
I'm kinda sad this didn't actually end up on 'Anti', even though it wouldn't have fit into the concept of the album, it's a great song. Oh, well, I don't know if it's actually that great, but the lines she delivers are insane and it's super fun to listen to. And the beat goes so hard it's almost similar to Death Grips.
#07. Susanne Sundfør - ‘Ten Love Songs’ Genre: Art Pop, Synthpop
Electropop, Chamber Pop, Classical Crossover, Synthwave Country: Norway - Label: Warner Highlights: “Darlings”, “Accelerate”, “Kamikaze”, “Memorial”, “Slowly”, “Delirious”, “Insects” You'll like it if you like: Björk, iamamiwhoami, Kate Bush, TR/ST, Florence and the Machine
While her previous album were really good, none of them felt as… powerful as this one. It is, obviously, a pop record, but it has really diverse styles, and despite those differences, like a guitar-driven pop song being next to a hard-hitting synthwave one, it still feels really… conceptual. And that is what I’m looking for in an “art-pop” release. And Susanne did an amazing job in this.
#12. Marina and the Diamonds - "Blue" from 'Froot' Genre: Dance-Pop, Synthpop
Electropop, Electro-Disco Country: UK - Label: Atlantic
"Give me love, give me dreams, give me a good self-esteem..."
Marina really knows her way around a pop song, the vocal harmonies on the "one more time" part of the hook are heavenly. It's a really fun song, definitely one of my favorites from Froot.
#11. Holly Herndon - "Interference" from 'Platform' Genre: IDM
Glitch Pop, Glitch, Minimal Techno Country: USA - Label: 4AD/Rvng Intl
"In the seed, where we live..."
There are vocals (!) and even lyrics (!!!) to this, which I'm pretty sure talk about technology and how we relate to it, but they are so buried within the mix that they're almost impossible to hear. The track itself, the beats are insane, too. Which is great.
#06. Oneohtrix Point Never - 'Garden of Delete’ Genre: Progressive Electronic, IDM
Glitch, Plunderphonics, Electro-Industrial Country: USA - Label: Warp Highlights: “Ezra”, “Sticky Drama”, “Mutant Standard”, “I Bite Through It”, “Freaky Eyes”, “Lift” You'll like it if you like: Nine Inch Nails, Arca, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Tim Hecker
'Garden of Delete’, is, in some way, about his experiences with adolescence, puberty.That being said, I wasn’t entirely sure if I could… relate? to the message he was trying to transmit. Mainly because, Daniel and I come from two entirely different worlds, almost literally, but I don’t exactly remember when an album, as a whole has made feel this kind of way, except for Lorde’s 'Pure Heroine’, for some reason. This is also, his most accessible work to date (at least under this moniker) – which is something that I wasn’t expecting at all, and I love that as well.
#10. LIZ - "When I Rule the World" Genre: Bubblegum Bass, Dance-Pop, Electropop
Electro House, Hip House Country: USA - Label: Columbia
"Things are gonna be my way..."
The PC Music/SOPHIE crew have always been Pop, as in, for real, but they never were poppier than this. It is probably why Britney was actually interested in this track, but it's a powerful-yet-kinda-kinky track with colorful vocal performance... and let's admit it, it's pure, unadultered fun. This should have smashed, United States. You've dissapointed me.
#09. HEALTH - "New Coke" from 'Death Magic' Genre: Synth Punk, Indietronica
Trap, Shoegaze, Experimental Rock, Witch House Country: USA - Label: Loma Vista
"Life is good..."
Witch house revival is a good idea. A very, very, very good idea. At least when it's done this way. Also, video is kinda disgusting but Alice Glass is in it, so, like, I forgive them.
#05. Kendrick Lamar - 'To Pimp a Butterfly’ Genre: Jazz Rap, Conscious Hip Hop
Political Hip Hop, Neo-Soul, Funk, Experimental Hip Hop Country: USA - Label: TDE Highlights: “Wesley’s Theory”, “For Free”, “King Kunta”, “These Walls”, “u”, “Hood Politics”, “The Blacker The Berry”, “Complexion (A Zulu Love)”, “Mortal Man” You'll like it if you like: D’Angelo, Kanye West, Flying Lotus, Shabazz Palaces
I don’t know if this is the modern masterpiece many people (and many critics, let’s be honest) have been claiming this is. Or one of the best hip-hop albums of all time. Maybe it is… maybe it’s not. Time will tell. But one thing is sure: while this album might not be perfect, Kendrick put all of his love and energy on making an album like this, a response to all the modern trends in Hip-Hop music, those who help rap music and its original roots to move forward… and those who do not. It’s an album about what it feels to be a young black man in 2015, an album about oppression, but also about feeling powerful enough to fight for everything you are. For everything you and your family and your friends are. Fighting for unity. Fighting for love.
Lean On Wasn't really into it at first but it definitely grew on me. Great bop.
Bitch Better Have My Money Obviously a jam, not much more to say about it.
#08. Björk - "Black Lake" from 'Vulnicura' Genre: Art Pop, Electronic, Progressive Pop
Glitch Pop, Chamber Pop, Ambient Pop, IDM Country: Iceland - Label: One Little Indian
"I am a glowing shiny rocket, returning home, as I enter the atmosphere, I burn off layer by layer..."
This song is essentially the centerpiece of the 'Vulnicura' album. I don't know if it's exactly the best song in it, but damn, if every minute of this song wasn't amazing, and heartbreaking. The production is amazing (thanks Arca btw! And Björk too obvs), and her vocals killed me.
#07. Natalia Lafourcade - "Hasta La Raíz" from 'Hasta La Raíz' Genre: Folk Pop, Nueva Canción Latinoamerica, Chamber Pop
Twee Pop, Latin Alternative Country: Mexico - Label: Sony
"Yo te llevo dentro, hasta la raíz..."
The first time I heard this song... it was like instant magic. You know, for some reason, I am reaaaaally picky with music in Spanish, my first language. But the lyrics are so magical, and the melodies and the instrumental is just so... perfect.
#04. Jamie xx - 'In Colour’ Genre: UK Bass, Future Garage
Deep House, Downtempo, Indietronica Country: UK - Label: Young Turks Highlights: “Gosh”, “Sleep Sound”, “SeeSaw” (feat. Romy Madley-Croft & Four Tet), “Obvs”, “Hold Tight”, “Loud Places” (feat. Romy Madley-Croft), “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” (feat. Young Thug & Popcaan”, “Girl” You'll like it if you like: Caribou, Four Tet, Burial, Disclosure
There’s not a single bad track here, it’s a fantastic debut album, probably one of, if not the best, electronic album of the year. Each song has its own vibe, but it all sounds really cohesive. I think that this album would be ideal to get some people into more adventurous kinds of electronic music. And, well, that’s kinda obvious, but I’m really anticipating a new The xx album in the future!
#06. Julia Holter - "Feel You" from 'Have You in My Wilderness' Genre: Art Pop
Chamber Pop, Baroque Pop Country: USA - Label: Domino
"It's impossible to see, who I'm waiting for, in my raincoat..."
Just by listening to this song, you can realise how accessible the whole album is – it’s probably her most straightforward “pop” song to date, but the songwriting in it is as fantastic as it’s always expected from her, and it’s beautiful regardless. Probably the track that made me fall in love with her music definitely.
#05. Jamie xx feat. Romy Madley-Croft - "Loud Places" from 'In Colour' Genre: UK Bass, Deep House
Dance-Pop, Future Garage, Alternative R&B, Indietronica Country: UK - Label: Young Turks
"I have never reached such heights, I feel music in your eyes..."
This is the album’s lead single, and probably most obvious highlight, which features Romy again, makes me think of like… some kind of red hue, as it is really personal, but also intimate, almost sexual, as it’s somehow implied by the lyrics “I go to loud places / To search for someone / To be quiet with / Who will take me home”. Also, that hook is probably one of the best things I’ve heard this year.
#03. Holly Herndon - 'Platform’ Genre: Glitch, Glitch Pop
IDM, Musique Concréte, Electroacoustic, Art Pop Country: USA - Label: 4AD Highlights: “Interference”, “Chorus”, “Unequal (feat. Colin Self)”, “Locker Leak”, “An Exit (feat. Amnesia Scanner)”, “Home”, “New Ways to Love” You'll like it if you like: Oneohtrix Point Never, Björk, Aphex Twin, The Knife, Vektroid, Autechre
As a whole, ‘Platform’ is probably one of the most interesting music experiences of the year so far, specially for what it represents. Despite taking clear influences (ranging from Aphex Twin and Stockhausen, to Björk and The Knife), I don’t think I’ve heard an album that sounds so innovative and bold in a while. With every listen, new fascinating details that were not heard before are revealed - this album a perfect representation of the influence computers have in our life. This is what I think of when people say “computer music”, and it could not be better. I’m sure that in a few years, Holly will be recognized as one of the most important electronic musicians of our time, next to people like Daniel Lopatin, Nicolas Jaar, Arca, and many others - this record proves that she deserves it.
#04. Florence + the Machine - "What Kind of Man" from 'How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful' Genre: Indie Rock
Art Pop, Art Rock Country: UK - Label: Island
"You do such damage, how do you manage, trying back for more?..."
This is a huge, anthemic, indie-rock tune with a heavy The White Stripes influence. And, oh, there are gospel choirs and horns too. If you know how much I loved Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Sacrilege”, you’ll know how much I loved this. Also if this doesn't win the Grammy for Best Rock Song of the Year, I will be ****ing DONE.
#03. Carly Rae Jepsen - "Run Away With Me" from 'E·MO·TION' Genre: Electropop, Synthpop
Dance-Pop Country: Canada - Label: Interscope
"Over the weekend we can turn the world to gold... OOOOOOOOOOOOH OOOOOOOOOOOH"
This song truly feels bigger than life. And the fact that I'm not really sure if it's even the best on her album, kinda tells you how much I love this lady. In the following years, this will probably be one of those songs that everyone knows, but it wasn't actually a smash, like Robyn's classic "Dancing on My Own". But, yeah, US of A YOU DISSAPOINTED ME YOU SHOULD HAVE MADE THIS A HUGE HIT WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY.
#02. Carly Rae Jepsen - 'E·MO·TION' Genre: Synthpop, Dance-Pop
Electropop, Sophisti-Pop Country: Canada - Label: Interscope Highlights: “Run Away With Me”, “E·MO·TION”, “Boy Problems”, “Making the Most of the Night”, “Your Type”, “Let’s Get Lost”, “Warm Blood”, “When I Needed You” You'll like it if you like: Haim, CHVRCHES, Kylie Minogue, early Madonna
‘Kiss’, while having a few other songs, it was kinda average as a whole, but her second (third, if you count 'Tug of War’) album, ‘E·MO·TION’, proves that she’s much more than a catchy hook you hear in the radio. It might have to do with her collaborators, Dev Hynes a.k.a. Blood Orange, who produced with moody “All That”, Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend, Ariel Rechtshaid, Tegan & Sara, and with her influences, who range from Cindy Lauper and Madonna, to James Blake and The xx – but there’s something about CRJ’s personality that makes it irresistible. This is a surprisingly mature album, with interesting themes, detailed instrumentations, and the typical catchy hooks she brings. Her personality is likeable enough, and she’s talented enough to pull it off. Maybe she won’t have the success that some of her peers, like Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande, in the charts. But I expect Carly’s music to only get better and better from now on.
#02. FKA twigs - "In Time" from 'M3LL155X' Genre: Art Pop, Alternative R&B, UK Bass
Glitch Pop, Experimental Hip Hop, Trip Hop Country: UK - Label: Young Turks
"I BEEN FEELING THE SAME IN THE CLUB IN THE RAVE..."
There's just so much going on on this song, it's so dense, and the production is entirely out of this world, but the same time, it's one of her most accessible tracks, the hook is sooooo catchy and... liquid? I mean, this is how you use vocal effects. It's a bit over-the-top? Sure, but isn't that the whole point of it?
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AND THE NUMBER ONE IS...
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IT'S A BIT SURPRISING RIGHT? BUT IT'S WORTH IT!
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or maybe it wasn't idk
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"Oh baby, every morning there are mountains to climb...
To be honest, this song, was as a whole, probably my most listened-to songs of the year. The demo version? You wish your demos sounded as good as this. It was so good, so atmospheric and classy, but at the same time catchy. And the album version? Is colorful, upbeat, with pitched-up vocals and clear production, they're both two different beasts, but both are great the way they are, I still can't decide which version I truly like the best. But, you know, whatever, it's still the song of the year anyways.
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AND THE NUMBER ONE IS...
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IN CASE IT WASN'T JUST OBVIOUS ENOUGH
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#01. Björk - 'Vulnicura' Genre: Art Pop, Electronic
Glitch Pop, Chamber Pop, Ambient Pop, Downtempo Country: Iceland - Label: One Little Indian Highlights: “Lionsong”, “History of Touches”, “Black Lake”, “Family”, “NotGet”, “Mouth Mantra”, “Quicksand” You'll like it if you like: Björk’s 'Homogenic’, 'Vespertine’ and 'Biophilia’, The Knife’s 'Shaking the Habitual’, FKA twigs’ collaborations with Arca
Björk’s eighth album, ‘Vulnicura’ is about the healing of the wounds – literally! Vulnus means “wound” and cura means “healing” in Latin. After breaking up with Matthew Barney, her partner for over a decade, the album is obviously about the loss of love and the sadness and desperation that comes after it. She’s always reinvented herself, every album is different than the other. And while this is no exception, I feel like she tried to mix the sounds of previous albums like 'Homogenic’ (my personal favorite of hers), 'Vespertine’, and even her previous album 'Biophilia’, into something really personal. And this is a way of reinventing yourself too. That’s why I always believed that she’s is a modern-day genius, she brings together many concepts and she pulls it off on a really original way.
Thank y'all for posting and caring! Love you, see you next year hopefully... for my 6th (!?!?!?!!) best-of over here.