My promotion is done (I spent so much time commenting on everyone's best of, God!) and my banners are semi-ready. Last year, I decided to kick things off with less important categories, this year, I will kick things off with
...
As I said previously,
I feel like 2015 was a very solid year for Pop music and there is no way I will be biased beause my two main faves - Britney Spears & Shakira - did not release any album
so the #1 spot is free! Just like last year, I took in consideration
the entire amount of work, not only if I like this track more than that one, I feel like the album needs to be cohesive, needs to make sense and entertain you throughout the entire session and I feel like I put a good list of albums over here,
let's see if you agree!
10. Conchita Wurst - Conchita
I know the majority only knows
Conchita - the image, not Conchita - the artist. I have had the pleasure to dig into this album, to find more about her and to even
see her live last summer. She is so
classy, so elegant and so talented. I don't feel like this album really mirrors her because she is more classy
than gay-disco songs (Firestorm, Colours Of Your Love) but she shows her colours in some of the songs and manages to put her personality in the entire work, her tone is very distinct. This album is a very solid pop CD and actually one of the most
versatile albums of the year, you can find anything here, from sad ballads, to empowering ones, to club bangers, to Broadway... It is a mix of cultures! It was one of those albums I ignored at first and after a few months
I fell in love with it. There are one or two fillers but the majority of the songs are flawfree!
9. Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece
It has been a while ever since Kelly Clarkson has put a great and amazing album out.
To be more specific, it has been six years. 'Stronger' was good but it didn't blow me away the way
'All I Ever Wanted' did. 'Piece By Piece' is very faithful to her and to her sound but it ends up being a bit
boring at times. Nonetheless, everytime she pulls out those rockish songs I get slayed and that's why 'War Paint' is my favorite off this album. I would dismiss songs like 'Run Run Run' or 'Good Goes The Bye' or, of course (her worst single to date),
'Invincible'. I want Kelly to be riskier, to be more rock, to leave her sad side behind and
serve us with those pop rock songs only her can pull out. The album is, nonetheless, enjoyable!
8. Adele - 25
The woman who owned 2015 within a month gets the 8th place in my album chart.
I love Adele, she is extremely talented and '25' may be my favorite album from her. I feel like
she went a little bit further and she left space in the album for upbeat songs which was lacking in the previous
'21'. As you can see,
'River Lea' or 'Water Under The Brige' are two of my favorite songs from the album and they are two of the
most upbeat songs on this album. Lyric-wise and vocally, the album is flawless but I do admit some songs sound familiar ('River Lea' sounds like Miley's 'Fweaky' and 'Water Under The Bridge' like Leona's 'Fire Under My Feet') but that does not really matter. Adele managed to put a
great piece of work together and I can not wait to be one of those millions who own the album!
7. Dumblonde - dumblonde
Danity Kane's last album charted really high on my Best Of 2014 and, of course, I would support
Dumblonde, I mean, Aubrey was always my favorite! This album is very cohesive and shows a lot of
personality. They printed their entire mind, body and soul into this album and you can feel it. They gave their all and the
final result was quite awesome! I feel like it allows me to open my horizons ('Eyes On Horizon'). There is only one song I feel like could be out but I feel like the album without it could lose a lot which is 'Yellow Canary'. I like how
electro and
alternative it sounds and their midtempos such as
'Take Away' or 'Remember Me' are better than sex. Hopefully they'll have their breakthrough!
6. Katharine McPhee - Hysteria
The year of the comebacks!
Katharine also released her third studio album and she came in full force with a
perfect pop album that only ranks outside of the top 5 due to the lack of effort on the promotion and the lack of tracks! We waited so long and we only got
12 little tracks! This album goes by so fast but it is yet so good.
Its sound is extremely pop and it features everything a Pop album should have. The catchy choruses, the powerful ballads, the production, the beats, the commercial lyrics and the radio friendly tunes... They are all in there but there is lack of input... Can we blame her? Not really. I just hope a lot of people will give it a listen sooner or later 'cause it is worth it. Also,
Katharine has an advantage to her... Her tone!
She is so smooth and precious! I love it!
Mariah Carey - #1 To Infinity
The Queen. I still can not believe I am seeing her live in a few months! This is something I would never expect. I love Mariah Carey to death and I could never leave the opportunity pass without praising her.
'#1 For Infinity' was obviously only released for the residency and it makes total sense. This is a
must-have Mariah album... Well in case you don't own her "#1's", of course, because the other tracks are not that many! I also love the opening single, 'Infinity,
it is SO Mariah and there is really nothing to not love on it. I wish she would get more recognition and hopefully she gets another opportunity!
Come through, Queen!
5. Selena Gomez - Revival
I would be lying if I said I prefer this to
'Stars Dance' but they're so different. I feel like Selena only wanted to have fun and have secure hits with the previous album...
With 'Revival' she obviously wanted to be taken seriously and take more risks. This album is really risky because it features big songs that I would never expect her to be able to sing and pull off... Take a look at
'Perfect'! This is what 'Perfume' by Britney Spears should've been! The emotion, the raw
emotion gives me goosebumps... The lyrics... Gosh! Perfect! The other thing I love here is the
dance tracks such as 'Hands To Myself or 'Outta My Hands', they are so addictive and good! Selena does deserve all the success she is achieving and I predict a good future for her! This is the difference between her and Lovato: she takes bigger risks that are worth, Demi does not. It is not only about the voice.
It is about being complete and delivering a versatile album. Selena has done it.
4. Madonna - Rebel Heart
This damn album! I feel bad that all the momentum was ruined by the leaks and all that but I still only heard it in full when it was officially out! I am a survivor! I loved it so much.
After 'MDNA' I was expecting an ok album but she delivered a perfect and very varied Pop album!
You can find classic and new Madonna on this one, new genres she has never tried before, new sounds... A bit of everything and that's what I look forward the most in an album. Being entertained! I am usually not a big lover of big-ass long albums (this has like 25!) but this one goes
smoothly, I don't even notice it. I am still shocked she included
'Auto-Tune Baby' on this but at least we were reawarded with 'Addicted' or 'Joan Of Arc' or even 'Hold Tight'. Madonna came back in full force and I am really proud of this amazing piece of work. Hopefully her next work will be as good as 'Rebel Heart'.
For me that will be hard, since this may be my favorite album from her (you can shoot me).
3. Hilary Duff - Breathe In. Breathe Out.
After 'Chasing The Sun' and 'All About You', I will be honest: my hope was gone. But at the end of the tunel I had 'Dignity' slayage on my mind yet. I could not give a chance to Hilary and I am glad I did. I knew things would get better after
'Sparks' but not this better. This album surpassed every expectation I had set up. Just like Katharine, Hilary served a beautiful and super
complete pop album, a fresh album with some new cool producers, nice beats, smooth beats, nice lyrics, smooth vocals (not like she can make them more than that #noshade). When I heard
'My Kind', I knew this album was going to be good and when I kept on going and songs like
'Tattoo', 'Lies', 'Stay In Love', 'A Night Like This' or 'Rebel Hearts' came on, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite albums of the year and probably my favorite from her. Hilary redeemed herself sonically and musically but I am still waiting for the full input and slayage...
The real comeback!
2. Fifth Harmony - Reflection
They ruled my year. They became my elite. They became my Queens. They became my everything but SADLY they released this masterpiece in the same year as the #1 album on this list. Nonetheless, second place is something to brag about!
Fifth Harmony SLAYED this year. They went from nothing to everything as 'Worth It' became one of the most successful songs of the year. They had everything to have an amazing run but sadly they stopped releasing singles from it and it ended the era very soon.
'Reflection' or 'Going Nowhere' were here to slay but well 'Worth It' slayed for them, I guess? I remember the first time I heard this album I thought they were trying too hard to evidence the
Destiny's Child impact on them and I thought Simon was trying too hard to make them sound like
Little Mix. With time I started falling in love with it and up until today there is ONLY one song, I still can't take:
'Them Girls Be Like'. They know that song is not good as it was the only song not performed on tour. I feel like it is a very complete album and I love how they can pull
Pop, R&B and Electro like this. My babies slayed and I am super proud.
I can't wait for #5H2!
1. Carly Rae Jepsen - E•MO•TION
Sorry to be this predictable but sometimes you need to accept that quality speaks for itself. That's why I don't even feel like I need to talk about this album. It is just a masterpiece that did have an impact on Pop music despite its low sales. Carly Rae Jepsen
delivered one of the best pop albums I ever heard and believe me I was not even a fan since 'KISS' sucks but, as I said, quality speaks for itself. There is literally nothing wrong with this album. Everything is on point. The production is flawless, the lyrics are untouchable and the variety inside of it is fascinating. You can not get sick of it. Every song has a story and portrays a different EMOTION! This is Pop music at its best.
This is the album we use when GP trashes pop music as being trashy. This is quality.
Carly Rae Jepsen deserves the #1 spot without a doubt and it's not even close. Thank You.
TOMORROW: The Choreographies.