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Rihlana's Best Of 2016 | THANK YOU PAGE 34
Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Angelina slaying ![clap3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/67d90ee8.gif)
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 19,167
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Joanne.
I surprisingly like that album much more than I thought. ![clap3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/67d90ee8.gif)
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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Thank you all for your comments! I will now reveal my top 3 albums of 2016. This year has been a fantastic year for music but three albums rose above the herd in such a spectacular way and I'm exciting to share them with you! So here they are, my top 3 albums of 2016 ![:D](http://www.atrl.net/forums/images/smilies/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
Remember, please keep in mind which album (other than my AOTY) that you'd like to see me rank!
Rihplies to comments (#4 - #5 Albums)
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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#3: Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
"I'm locked and loaded. Completely focused, my mind is open."
Metamorphosing from a playful, young girl into a self-assured, sexy woman seems like a step that most pop stars will make throughout their careers. We had Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad" era, we had Miley's transition from child star to unashamed sex-positive activist. However, few have done it as gracefully and as naturally as Ariana Grande.
Dangerous Woman drips with desire as Ariana asserts her independence and maturity. She sounds devilishly coy and sultry on the record, flirting with various genres such as pop, R&B and reggae. She effortlessly takes on the form of both the confident lover and the vulnerable heartbroken. Tracks such as "Thinking Bout You" sound devastatingly unguarded as she croons over a soulful and smooth instrumental that she, at the very least, still has the memories. This demure sound can be contrasted to tracks such as "Side To Side" that do away with subtlety all together. Usually, subtlety in music is appreciated because it is not as aggressive or it gives a clever insight into a subject matter that has never been approached in such a way. However, the relative forwardness of the reggae-infused track makes for a delightfully naughty and danceable song that should be appreciated as the sex jam that it is.
The production on this album is absolutely incredible with Max Martin producing some of his best work. The magnum opus of this record, "Into You", features some of the most technically fascinating production of 2016 (for example, by using his own vocals and distorting them to sound like synth guitars). Every track has a unique sound and personality which is thanks to the incredible production value.
The features on this album are all quite excellent. Future's contribution to "Everyday" and Lil Wayne's contribution to "Let Me Love You" maintains the respective songs' sexiness. Macy Gray's vocals on "Leave Me Lonely" are raspy and emotional and Nicki Minaj is dominant on "Side To Side". However, nobody overshadows Ariana who showcases a superb vocal range across this record.
Despite some tracks feeling slightly underwhelming, Dangerous Woman is Ariana's best work to date. She sounds in command and completely owns the new persona that she has invested herself in. Congratulations, Ariana. You have my #3 album of 2016 ![3rd place](images/smilies/images/smilies/3rdplace.gif)
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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#2: Tove Lo - Lady Wood
“Yeah, you give me wood. Give me lady wood.”
After releasing sleeper hit “Habits” and unleashing her debut album “Queen Of The Clouds”, Tove moved away from solo music and instead lent her vocal to tracks for artists including Nick Jonas, Flume and Broods. However, she has returned and released her sophomore album “Lady Wood”, a succinct and powerful electropop experience.
This 12-track LP (including two interludes) is broken up into two chapters: Fairy Dust and Fire Fade. Fairy Dust is somewhat poppier and lighter than the dark and brooding Fire Fade. Tove has previously broken up an album into segments (on QOTC, there was The Sex, The Love and The Pain) and it makes for an ultra-cohesive listen. The tracks seem to effortlessly flow as a tapestry of electronica without ever amalgamating too much and sounding too similar. Each track is clearly defined as a distinct entity, yet all help to portray the same winding narrative. Tove also has an uncanny ability to leap from subject matter to subject matter without the album seeming clunky and unorganised. Songs such as album highlight and titular track “Lady Wood” see Tove begging her lover to be with her, whereas “Keep It Simple” sees Tove wanting to only keep things physical to avoid such feelings of love.
Perhaps the biggest triumph on “Lady Wood” is the production. It is hard-hitting, moody and pulsating. It adds an extra layer of storytelling to each of the songs (for example, on the explosive outro on the track “Flashes”). The production bounces around from slyly cool on the aptly titled “Cool Girl” to brooding and foreshadowing on “Don’t Talk About It” and everything in between.
Overall, Lady Wood is unapologetic in its veracity, coherent in its narrative and perhaps most poignantly, raw in its stories. Tove has managed to upstage the fabulous “Queen Of The Clouds” with this cool, sleek, yet explosive record and she should be immensely proud of herself. Congratulations, Tove. You have my #2 album of 2016 ![2nd place](images/smilies/images/smilies/2ndplace.gif)
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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To quickly recap:
#2: Tove Lo - Lady Wood
#3: Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
#4: Lady Gaga - Joanne
#5: The Weeknd - Starboy
#6: Troye Sivan - Blue Neighbourhood
#7: Josef Salvat - Night Swim
#8: Broods - Conscious
#9: BANKS - The Altar
#10: Foxes - All I Need
And now, the moment is here, my AOTY is...
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 1,577
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the top 5 albums are great ![clap3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/67d90ee8.gif) I think I know already the AOTY ![eli's_rhythm](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/eli_zps0932edf9.gif)
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 14,672
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Abel top 5 yes
The Ariana praise ![JonnyϟLightning](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/jonny_zpsc73391c5.png) So on point
Queen Tove snatching a place in the top 3
and the #1... well obviously ![Alexz](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ec20fb7f.gif)
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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#1: Rihanna - ANTI
"I got to do things my own way, darling"
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/32/Rihanna_-_Anti.png/220px-Rihanna_-_Anti.png)
After an insanely difficult wait between albums where it seemed as though Rihanna was fashionista first, vacationer second and singer third, on the day of January 28, 2016, Rihanna gifted the world with her eighth album, ANTI. Nobody had any idea what to expect since the 2015 singles were nowhere to be found on the track list and the lead single "Work" had only been released a day prior. Was this unknown entity worth the wait? Was this body of art enough to make up for the three year drought? Obviously, the answer is a resounding yes, with ANTI arguably being her best album in her 10+ year career.
The genre-hopping and experimental nature of ANTI make it seem as though Rihanna has finally taken complete control of her musical journey. There is not one EDM-dancefloor anthem or bubblegum pop song to be found on this record. By excluding these traditionally radio-friendly sounds, Rihanna has produced her most cohesive and sonically captivating bodies of work to date. She dabbles in doowop on the beautifully soulful "Love On The Brain" that showcases Rihanna's ever improving vocal range and she goes alternative with "Same Ol' Mistakes", and even though this is a cover of Tame Impala's "Brand New Person, Same Old Mistakes", it seems to fit the narrative that ANTI is trying to paint; one of both doubt and assurance. She still knows how to enrapture an audience even without straight pop sounds like on the dancehall anthem "Work" which features some gorgeous Patois.
Rihanna has an unparalleled ability to seamlessly jump from intensely vulnerable like on album highlight "Kiss It Better" which utilises a splendid guitar-based instrumental to the baddest bitch that you will ever meet like on streaming juggernaut "Needed Me". Her vocals truly shine and she perfectly tailors her vocals to sound full and emotional, or distant and cold whenever the need arises. The production on this album is hard hitting like on the intensely energising "Woo" and there is never a dull moment on this record.
It finally seems as though Rihanna has found her lane. This does not mean in the global music sphere, but more so in the sonic sense. What makes this record extra special is the emotional liberation that surrounds it, with Rihanna finally feeling contentment with a body of work as a whole. From start to end, ANTI is a wild ride through unfamiliar terrain. From the surprisingly insightful SZA collaboration "Consideration" or the beautiful closing ballad "Close To You", Rihanna is in full control and it translates into an epic record. Congratulations, Rihanna. You released my AOTY for 2016 ![1st place](images/smilies/images/smilies/1stplace.gif)
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 14,672
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ICON did THAT ![Alexz](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ec20fb7f.gif)
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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NOW STARTING: MY OFFICIAL RANKING OF ANTI
#16: Pose
Favourite lyric: "All you lame ass bitches is a no go"
#15: Sex With Me
Favourite lyric: "Ooh na na na na, five fingers on it, FIIIHHVVVEEE FIIINNGGGUUUHHS"
#14: Yeah, I Said It
Favourite lyric: "I want you to homicide it"
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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#13: James Joint
Favourite lyric: "How you live and love like **** rules?"
#12: Close To You
Favourite lyric: "But I'm in love, can't blame me for checking"
#11: Never Ending
Favourite lyric: "I knew your face once, but now it's unclear"
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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#10: Woo
Favourite lyric: "Too bad she's just eating off your dreams"
#9: Goodnight Gotham
Favourite lyric: "Only if for a night" ![skull](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/faces/skull_zpsksni5fmm.gif)
#8: Higher
Favourite lyric: "I hope I ain't calling you too late, too late"
#7: Desperado
Favourite lyric: "If you want, we could be runaways running from any sign of love"
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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#6: Needed Me
Favourite lyric: "Didn't they tell you that I was a savage?"
#5: Work
Favourite lyric: "You mistaken my love I bought to you for foundation"
#4: Love On The Brain
Favourite lyric: "It beats me black and blue, but it ****s me so good and I can't get enough"
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 5,091
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And with that ends my official Top 10 albums countdown! Thank you so much for following along and all comments are extremely appreciated. I now ask that viewers of this thread select two out of the nine remaining albums for me to rank. The album with the highest number of votes will be ranked in around 24hrs time!
The albums to choose from are (Please choose 2):
Lady Wood
Dangerous Woman
Joanne
Starboy
Blue Neighbourhood
Night Swim
Conscious
The Altar
All I Need
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 14,672
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Wait GG slaying the ANTI countdown I'm shook
SWM should be higher imo but the list overall is on point
btw I want DW and Starboy ![Duca](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/duca_zps480ab501.gif)
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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Close To You and Higher should switch places and it will be perfect
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 17,319
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#1: Rihanna - ANTI
#2: Tove Lo - Lady Wood
#3: Ariana Grande - Dangerous Woman
#4: Lady Gaga - Joanne
#5: The Weeknd - Starboy
Amazing top 4 ![eli's_rhythm](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/eli_zps0932edf9.gif)
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 21,462
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