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The Holy Ground: 2015 In Review ♬♬♬ Later, guys!
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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A Head Full of Dreams
Coldplay
#34 most listened album released in 2015
2014: Kiss Me Once - Kylie Minogue
2013: Don't Look Down - Skylar Grey
Best: Birds, Hymn For the Weekend, Everglow, Amazing Day
After the somber Ghost Stories, Coldplay decides to turn 180 degrees and release this relentlessly happy, poppy record. It's sound is blissful, hopeful and a whole lot of beautiful. The strength of this record is that slight tinge of bittersweet, just like A Sky Full of Stars. Despite this record being the least Coldplay-ish in style, it's still packed with E•MO•TION (albeit a more happy one). | |
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Confident
Demi Lovato
#12 most listened album released in 2015
2014: In the Lonely Hour - Sam Smith
2013: Reflektor - Arcade Fire
Best: Cool For the Summer, For You, Old Ways
Worst: I Do What I Love
Demi was a disappointment for me, as I thought it was too childish, compared to the genre-pushing Unbroken. Confident, is Demi's full awakening, or at least what she believes is her true form. More often that not, she's screaming every note, thinking that she's emoting and expressing and that she deserves a Grammy. Some may also say, that she's trying too hard with her urban-influenced gangsta style and faux rock tracks. But all in all, this is still one entertaining record. You can take it seriously, or ironically (especially since her image has descended into a joke), and it would still be a huge banger that fulfills whatever purpose you give it. | |
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Currents
Tame Impala
#17 most listened album released in 2015
2014: Sorry, I'm Late - Cher Lloyd
2013: Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die - Panic! at the Disco
Best: Let It Happen, 'Cause I'm a Man, Yes I'm Changing, The Less I Know the Better
I remember trying to listen to them during their previous era and I couldn't get into them. This album however is a lot more accessible, as they tone down the rock vibes and throw in a lot of pop melodies. The end product is a potent mix of pop and psychedelia that is appealing to the masses. If you couldn't get into them before, this would definitely draw you in and deliver you the same woozy results. | |
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Blurryface
twenty | one | pilots
#16 most listened album released in 2015
2014: Hozier - Hozier
2013: BEYONCÉ - Beyoncé
Best: Lane Boy, Ride, Tear In My Heart, Message Man, Goner
Seems like the trend for most musicians is to progress to pop. Maybe they're just allured by the wealth of popular music, but I believe pop music is designed to be loved by everyone, so it all depends on the quality of it after all. Blurryface tones down the indie and strong hip-hop vibes of its predecessor, but they do not blunt their aggressiveness. The entire album is bursting with bouncing energy, and the lyrics are relatable, though it can also be construed that they're trying too hard to make themselves look like the outcasts and anti-mainstream. It reminds me of 2000s pop punk with all the emo messages, but this one is a lot more confident and is less on self-victimization. | |
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25
Adele
#9 most listened album released in 2015
2014: St. Vincent - St. Vincent
2013: Days Are Gone - HAIM
Best: When We Were Young, Water Under the Bridge, I Miss You, Sweetest Devotion
Worst: Million Years Ago
Adele's long-awaited follow up to 21 is a step in the right direction, though it's not a big one. She tiptoes towards pop too, expanding her sound by a bit, including bigger drums and bigger sweeps and bigger vocals. It sounds like she has finally come into herself and is a whole lot more confident. It's a very satisfying listen, though it achieves almost the same results as 21.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 14,461
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I agree with Confident and 25, great list love
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Member Since: 10/13/2003
Posts: 48,022
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Coldplay + Demi
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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hg I was listening to the Coldplay album earlier and it hit me hard. Fun, Amazing Day, and Everglow especially
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Demi was a disappointment for me
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The jokes just write themselves
I do love Demi's album though! I never really paid attention to her before, but Confident had me hooked. I choose to take her as a joke, I may have a type though
but she really won me over.
I like the poppy elements of the new Tame Impala album. I got into them this era also
And I really do think 25 is a great album also. 21 or 25?
The pilots didn't really take off for me and I feel like the only one
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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And I didn't see the hints somehow, let me see if I can guess
10: is this softserve ice cream? ?
9: Is that eye grey? Eye honestly don't know...
8: A Rainbow? Did you let the light in and retroactively put Prism here? or is it EMOTION because emotions come in a spectrum of colors.
7: Puzzle Pieces? I feel like this isn't Piece By Piece but it might be...
6: That guy needs reviving. He must have been pretty untalented to get in that position though.
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Member Since: 2/4/2014
Posts: 14,672
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A Head Full Of Dreams and 25
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Currents is amazing! and I love Blurryface! One of my favorite albums of 2015, I love every single track
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Member Since: 12/1/2011
Posts: 24,324
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i like blurryface and have to listen to currents! I didnt like 25
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Replies #25 - #21
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Originally posted by umich
This solid selection though
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Originally posted by Ghostlysnaker
Communion is amazing !
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Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan
I need to check out What Went Down! love Foals' music! and Communion is one of my favorite albums of 2015
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You should! It's good
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Originally posted by Legend E
Communion
The 21st
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What's wrong with the queen of girl groups
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Originally posted by Ivan_brit
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:clap2"
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Originally posted by jose168
Carly #23 so far on albums
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I had to pause for a while cuz I thought you were referring to Emotion
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Originally posted by Tom Vercetti
I really need to get into Foals because I've been seeing it quite often.
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You should!
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Originally posted by sumthintoxic82
BBTM was just great imo, love it and it was a surprise for me
I agree with Communion considering the singles were amazing, but overall I still love it
Reflection was great at first, but tiresome now
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It's quite a bop tho
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Originally posted by Oxygen
Years and Years
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Originally posted by Bloomers
Palm tree head was for The Weeknd, his head looks like one.
I still need to listen to communion
The Bleachers album is the better cover album of the year, that's for sure. I love Wild Heart and I normally don't really like Sara Bartender.
Honeybear is beautiful I love it.
Reflection is just
To be honest, I liked What Went Down a lot, I'd suggest Holyground Fire, I liked that one a little more, but they're pretty similar albums.
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It's kinda messier than a palm tree tho, it just looks like... idk... foam?
How could you not like Ms. Brave Bartender?
Aw you honeybear
Not sure if you like 5H or not
Hmmmmm, okay maybe one day
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Originally posted by Mark Rih
Communion and Reflection, great albums
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Quote:
Originally posted by Topmaster 2
Great albums
Y&Y, Foals, FH, Father John Misty
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Replies #20 - #16
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Originally posted by Mark Rih
Delirium Such an amazing album! And as you said, it's impossible to dismiss the whole album, some tracks are just irresistible.
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Originally posted by Razzle
4/5
Great set of albums
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Originally posted by borntodie
What Went Down is fantastic I wasn't into the singles at first, but when I heard the album as a whole it was like a puzzle being completed. Fantastic energy and dynamics, loud and quiet, and Yannis's voice is amazing and so full of yearning. Their best guitar work up to date maybe, with all those layers and riffs and melodies. They were criticised for playing it safe with this album but I don't think they did. If you ever check out their previous work, be prepared that their debut is very, very different. Like a whole other band.
King put the bar really high for the album, so it's kinda natural that it couldn't live up to it (yet still kinda disappointing). But there are a few more bops, so it's at least sort of even, about 50% great and 50% underwhelming.
My Love Is Cool was refreshing, a female-fronted rock band that isn't limited to just one genre and has a 90s influence, what more could you ask for. I would agree that the album falls flat towards the end, but they're still young and finding their style so I'm not bothered. They have a bright future ahead of them.
AB/AB was definitely a disappointment, it doesn't even really feel like FOB to me. They just wanted to capitalise on the success of their comeback and Save Rock n Roll, so they chucked out another album sounding just like it. That's really unlike FOB and Idk what motivated them to do this, because I'm sure their loyal fanbase would have been more than happy for them to take out time to properly work on another album.
Blue Neighborhood is cute, I took some time to warm to it because the songs all sound so similar and bland. I'm also not a fan of things like children's choirs etc which he uses. Now I can enjoy some of the songs, most importantly Talk Me Down, the highlight of the album. But I think he need to turn up a bit more to be seen as an artist or else he's just gonna remain a YouTuber who made an album.
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Ooo I do love his voice! And yeah the melodies make the album so listenable, I thought cuz it's rock I wouldn't like it that much or it would be hard to get into.
Communion was still acceptable, and it was their first anyway.
Could they be the next Paramore
I understand the frustration
Oh I'm glad you gave Blue Neighbourhood a listen! True that they sound similar, but I think they're still pretty beautiful and mature. Glad you like Talk Me Down too.
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Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan
Delirium is good! I like most of the tracks. Ellie Goulding always releases quality material and I need to check out Blue Neighbourhood in full!
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You should
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Originally posted by Bloomers
Get into Devotion! It's the best on Delirium!
I kind of agree with Borntodie on Fall Out Boy, the album wasn't too much of a disappointment for me, but it did feel a little too poppy. I would have liked some rockier songs. I mean, they saved rock and rolled on the last album, why make a move toward pop on this one?
It did have some great highlights though which you mentioned.
I love how you got into Sufjan though It's great to see him here King
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I don't like Devotion that much
As if SRAR was a lot rockier They're both pretty pop.
I saw him getting praise and acclaim everywhere went it got released, so I gave it a listen.
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Originally posted by Brandon
FOB & Ellie
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Originally posted by lhdang2000
Delirium is the album that represents the best for "Long but not boring"
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I disagree, it's too long and she could definitely chuck a lot of tracks
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Originally posted by Samuel
Blue Neighbourhood Delirium's pretty decent too.
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Originally posted by Staryu
Troye and Ellie
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Originally posted by Jorge
American Beauty / American Psycho and Delirium
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Originally posted by Legend E
Delirium & AB/AP are amazing
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Originally posted by Tom Vercetti
King Sufjan charting is all that matters
Troye's great too~
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Originally posted by feelslikeadream
I like how you do the previous years. But why was I Never Learn so low? That was in my top 3 last year!
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It's a beautiful album but I liked others more
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Originally posted by Pedro
Ellie's album is good! I have not heard it in full but it sounds very Pop and modern!
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Yup, pop and modern.
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Originally posted by MP2K
Carrie & Lowell great summ.
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Originally posted by sumthintoxic82
AB/AP was good at first, but I bit whatever for me now
Favorite Record though LOVE that song
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Yes!
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Originally posted by prezli
I don't want to say that I don't know these, but I don't know these.
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Sorry prezzy
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 24,463
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I love currents.
Wish the Coldplay album could've turned out a bit more satisfying. Though it did have Everglow so that counts for smething.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Replies #15 - #11
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Originally posted by moonlight.
I agree with Confident and 25, great list love
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Thanks
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Originally posted by Brandon
Coldplay + Demi
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
hg I was listening to the Coldplay album earlier and it hit me hard. Fun, Amazing Day, and Everglow especially
The jokes just write themselves
I do love Demi's album though! I never really paid attention to her before, but Confident had me hooked. I choose to take her as a joke, I may have a type though
but she really won me over.
I like the poppy elements of the new Tame Impala album. I got into them this era also
And I really do think 25 is a great album also. 21 or 25?
The pilots didn't really take off for me and I feel like the only one
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Amazing Day really makes my day amazing.
What type? Tell me what you want, what you like, it's okay
Uhrm, 25 by a slight inch maybe They're both quite similar albums tbh
Blurry face aha geddit geddit aha
Quote:
Originally posted by Bloomers
And I didn't see the hints somehow, let me see if I can guess
10: is this softserve ice cream? ?
9: Is that eye grey? Eye honestly don't know...
8: A Rainbow? Did you let the light in and retroactively put Prism here? or is it EMOTION because emotions come in a spectrum of colors.
7: Puzzle Pieces? I feel like this isn't Piece By Piece but it might be...
6: That guy needs reviving. He must have been pretty untalented to get in that position though.
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Honey Boo Boo what?
I would retroactively put Prism in the worst album list
Oh Bloomers, you ain't slick
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Originally posted by Mark Rih
A Head Full Of Dreams and 25
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Originally posted by Legend E
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What are you talking about you dreaming sis
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Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan
Currents is amazing! and I love Blurryface! One of my favorite albums of 2015, I love every single track
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Quote:
Originally posted by jose168
i like blurryface and have to listen to currents! I didnt like 25
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That's a first
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Honeymoon
Lana Del Rey
#13 most listened album released in 2015
2014: The Pinkprint - Nicki Minaj
2013: The Bones Of What You Believe - CHVRCHES
Best: Terrence Loves You, Freak, Art Deco, The Blackest Day
Worst: Honeymoon, God Knows I Tried
Born to Die and Ultraviolence finished at #2 in 2012 and 2014 respectively (both blocked by Taylor hehe) in my top albums countdown, so clearly I think this is Lana's worst effort so far. I just didn't get into this the way I wanted to. It didn't help that the first few tracks are so sleepy, only in the middle when she brings back the hip-hop influences did things pick up, but then it got sleepy again. Lana albums have never been easy to get into, but this was the hardest. But given time, each song will start to show its highlights and then you will be able to piece them all together to form this lush landscape that is so Lana. | |
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Every Open Eye
CHVRCHES
#6 most listened album released in 2015
2014: Goddess - BANKS
2013: The 1975 - The 1975
Best: Leave a Trace, Clearest Blue, High Enough to Carry You Over, Bury It, Down Side of Me
Worst: Afterglow
Leave a Trace signified that Every Open Eye was gonna be a cleaner, simpler and poppier album. And it was, which disappointed me a bit initially. Bones was a lot heavier and grittier, which makes it seem more appealing, whereas Eye sounded like it was made for children. But eventually, this lightness showed its beauty in its optimism and joy. Despite the simplicity and straightfowardness in some songs, the album is still quality. | |
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In Colour
Jamie xx
#11 most listened album released in 2015
2014: LP1 - FKA twigs
2013: Save Rock and Roll - Fall Out Boy
Best: Gosh, I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times), Sleep Sound, Loud Places
This album is such an expansive sonic experience. I never thought that I would get into an instrumental album, but I did. It shows how pure sound is able to elicit a myriad of emotions. From dancefloor-ready numbers to moody tunes, this album is able to make you feel them just with Jamie's deft production. And best of all, the music sets you like you're in outer space, making this album that much greater than it already is. | |
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Piece By Piece
Kelly Clarkson
#4 most listened album released in 2015
2014: Trouble In Paradise - La Roux
2013: The Civil Wars - The Civil Wars
Best: Invincible, Take You High, Piece By Piece, Run Run Run, Good Goes the Bye
Worst: Heartbeat Song, War Paint
Many say that Kelly is playing it too safe and she's too boring here. And I disagree with everything. This album is clearer poppier and glossier than her previous albums but despite that she makes it work by giving a mature and euphoric twist to it, probably brought about due to her motherhood. The songs have a beautiful sense of nostalgia (NOT exemplified by the song Nostalgic) within the hushed synth landscape. Kelly may be restraining here, but the music is full of more positive emotions. | |
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Revival
Selena Gomez
#5 most listened album released in 2015
2014: Night Time, My Time - Sky Ferreira
2013: Modern Vampires of the City - Vampire Weekend
Best: Revival, Kill Em With Kindness, Hands to Myself, Sober, Good For You
Worst: Body Heat
Finally, Selena Gomez finds music that suits her. She's a lot more Confident, and the music is engineered to flip her weaknesses into strengths. She puts her soft and delicate whispering to good use by expressing her sexuality and also exposing her vulnerabilities. This album is sleek, pristine and fresh, vaulting her to the same level of regular pop stars, demanding to be taken seriously as a performer.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/11/2007
Posts: 63,796
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coldplay, demi, selena
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Quote:
Originally posted by holyground
[collapse=Replies #15 - #11]
What type? Tell me what you want, what you like, it's okay
Uhrm, 25 by a slight inch maybe They're both quite similar albums tbh
Blurry face aha geddit geddit aha
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I clearly have a thing for meme artists like Poot and Drake
Good answer on Adele albums. I approve
Quote:
Originally posted by holyground
Honey Boo Boo what?
I would retroactively put Prism in the worst album list
Oh Bloomers, you ain't slick
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My guess to your clue was a pic of honey and a moon. I say I got it
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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To answer your replies, I like Fifth Harmony and I clearly like meme artists like Drake and Demi.
I guessed Honeymoon My pictures that I posted as the answer to your clue were of honey and a moon
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It didn't help that the first few tracks are so sleepy
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I like the Honeymoon title track, but I completely agree otherwise. Nice write-up for Honeymoon also, it was a very art deco read
Ugh. you're making me want to listen to the CHVRCHES album I'm gonna have to stop being lazy and do it now after holding out for so long.
Piece By Piece Legend E will be kappy to see Legend K.
I like Heartbeat song also, but am ok with you calling it the worst because you listened to you high as a highlight
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The songs have a beautiful sense of nostalgia (NOT exemplified by the song Nostalgic)
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I don't know why but I legit laughed out loud
Jamie's album was good to and your write-ups are doing these albums justice. 4/4 for the albums. Nice stuff
Oh and my guesses:
5: The ocean. The ocean is blue and has algae. Algae feeds killer whales. Whales are big and blue. Florence sounds like a whale sometimes. Is it Florence?
4: David's Tea? I don't know
3:Is this Miss Universe? Someone who was robbed. Is it Carly?
2: The legendary Hot Fuss cover, this must be Brandon
1: An angel??? I'm curious to see what this is. I'm going to say it's 1989 and the second coming of the Lord.
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Member Since: 6/3/2006
Posts: 51,724
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Revival is so amazing! I love it!
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