Ooh, haven't thought about Bilal since his duet with Solange (on Sol-angel and the Hadley Street Dreams lol). It was called Cosmic Journey and I remember being obsessed with it back whenever that album came out... '08?
Carly!
Chairlift! I am so excited for Moth, what do you think of Romeo? Ch-Ching is way better for me, but I still like Romeo.
Courtney! Hmm, I thought Courtney was the best new indie rock lady of this year. Natalie was nice, and Julia, I ****ing love Sea Calls Me Home, that saxophone solo! Whew! Regretfully I still haven't peeped that album though.
Also I love Kim's Caravan, but maybe it's just because I got excited people are finally singing about environmental issues.
Oh yeah I forgot about that! I was late on the Solange train. I remember liking that song a lot. I guess he also did stuff with Beyoncé too maybe just one song. His solo stuff is great too!
As for Romeo I definitely like it! I like Ch-Ching better as you do but I've only listened to it like twice to save it for the album, so we'll see. Julia you'll be seeing on here for sure :Eli:
I don't know too many of the artists in this update. Courtney has been on my to listen to list since her album dropped, I'll get to her eventually.
I like how Carly showed how talented she is by releasing a quality Sia song, and Chet is cool. I'm going to have to look into the others though, but they sound right up my alley
Song: Hey Mama (feat. Nicki, Bebe, and Afrojack) by David Guetta
Why: It's not about David or Nicki at all it's just the song I like. Normally I don't like the two very much. I love that this song is so epic and Bebe in the chorus sounds cray. Just a fun song I enjoyed this year! Plus I always sing the "yes I am a kitchen, yes I am a cookie!" part wrong which is fun.
In particular I was on a friend's boat this summer and we were going out deeper in the water to go water skiing and the song came on and it was... SO EPIC. That must've been what made me love the song honestly.
Check Out: Didn't listen to his album.
Avoid: N/A
Demi Lovato
“Fat.”
Song: Delete It Fat by Demi Lovato
Why: Demi was the queen of memes this year, but I particularly liked the original of delete it fat the most. Just the entire story when it gets to her saying "fat" is just great. I love it. I tell myself whenever I'm contemplating being lazy and going to McDonald's instead of making food and I think "not today Fatty not today"
Check Out: I like mugs is a good one too esp her #confident smile at the end of her saying how much she likes them. And then the jean/gene thing when she was driving.
Avoid: Poot Lovato got so old so fast I only liked the picture and the picture does still make me laugh but my GOD everyone ran that joke into the ground fast.
Destroyer
“The writing on the wall wasn't writing at all...”
Song: Times Square by Destroyer
Why: It feels weird going from THAT to Destroyer. I think the Poison Season I version of this song is the one I like the most but meh I'm posting this one instead. I think they're all great. I just think Destroyer's music is more poetry-like and I really enjoy his voice.
Check Out: Dream Lover is a typical upbeat and fun song that I enjoy, Bangkok is a highlight, and Midnight Meet the Rain, particularly in the production.
Avoid: There was one song that I didn't like cause of the lyrics but I can't remember it so I'll say none!
“Not going out tonight, stay home until daylight, I'm hanging on for my life!”
Song: Moving Mountains (feat. Brendan Reilly)
Why: It's 100% Brendan that I love this song. I've been a huge fan of Brendan since like 2012 (and he's supposed to be releasing his own album soon PLEASE hurry up), so when I found out that this collaboration came about I went ape-****. Brendan's vocals sound so fresh on this track, and I love that the instrumental takes a backseat. The whole 3 minutes is basically a build up and once that beat hits at 3:45 it's nothing but DRUMS BABY and it sounds amazing! I'm actually annoyed at them for putting this on the deluxe.
Caracal, as a whole, was kinda disappointing, I'd agree with the majority in that. But less of a disappointment as CHVRCHES's second album imo, and I found Caracal to have good moments! I revisit it a good amount.
Check Out: Jaded (the F for You of the album) is still a huge favorite of mine. I like Superego as well, probably just for Nao though. Magnets is pretty great as well, and Holding On. OH and Bang That is good, but I don't think my version of the album has that song.
Avoid: Good Intentions was the biggest let-down of a collab. Willing & Able is so boring (I do like KWABS btw). Masterpiece is really bad too, which is a shame cause I checked out Jordan and he has a killer voice.
DNCE
“God damn! See you licking frosting from your own hands...”
Song: Cake By the Ocean by DNCE
Why: Poor Nick.
Such a damn good and fun song! My friend showed me this around when it came out and it just stuck on my brain for ages. You'll find with the songs like this that are hits I don't have much to say about... they're just jams that I like!
Check Out: Their EP was okay. Toothbrush was a funky one that I particularly enjoyed.
Avoid: Jinx I think was a song on their EP that was kinda bad I don't remember.
Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment
“You better come on in this house, cause it's gonna rain.”
Song: Sunday Candy by Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment
Why: I really think this came out last year but I am led to believe that it was this year? Whatever, even if you prove to me that it came out last year I don't CAAAARE.
I did like the whole album, but honestly this song is THE standout. The steel drums at the end of the chorus, the proper placement of the horns, Chance's rapping, Jamila's extremely sweet voice, the piano (especially at the end). It just all comes together.
Check Out: Idk if other people liked it but I actually found Wanna-Be Cool to be cheesy goodness. Rememory with Erykah was great, and Just Wait was another one I really enjoyed.
Avoid: There were actually no songs on the album I disliked!
“I joke and call you my girl, then you smile and you laugh and call me your boyfriend.”
Song: Stand in Your Line by Dornik
Why: A little background on this guy, he actually played drums in Jessie Ware's live band for her first album campaign and went on to do a solo career! He even sang Sampha's part when she did Valentine live.
Lyrically, this song is a beautiful telling of a man's devotion to a woman. Dornik sings it really well and doesn't go in/out of vocal ranges that he can't reach, which is really important. In the production, the song is so retro (80s I guess?) R&B and it's so groovy. Seriously, check out his album!
Check Out: Chain Smoke is another great one. I also really enjoy Something About You, Strong, and Shadow.
Avoid: Again, nothing from this album I didn't enjoy!
Drake
“Ever since I left the city, YOU!”
Song: Hotline Bling by Drake
Why: Yeah of course I had to include him for this song alone. I enjoy the groove of the song and fun and a great song to boogie too. Lyrically, it's right up Drake's alley to be all whiney about his girl or ex-girl or whatever she is at that point. Love it! The video is priceless too.
The only thing is like Drake just get OVER IT let the girl live her damn life for christ's sakes.
*Fun fact I bought my best friend (a Drake stan) a Hotline Bling "ugly Chirstmas sweater" it's SO GOOD
Check Out: I actually still haven't listened to his """"mixtapes"""" yet sorry not sorry.
Avoid: See above.
Du Blonde
“You slay me with what you're saying, what you do.”
Song: Black Flag by Du Blonde
Why: This song/album was a new find for me. She's kind of like Brody Dalle/Shirley Manson, but a bit more interesting than what they've been putting out recently (sorry Shirley I love you!!!!).
Even though I just compared her to two other people, musically, it's reminiscent of Karen O or PJ Harvey with that type of rock-lite music. Diggable.
Check Out: Honestly I need to listen to the album more to get a better feel for the tracks, but Raw Honey and Chips to Go are great.
Hey Mama is a guilty pleasure bop actually. I generally agree with the Disclosure description, Jaded is definitely a highlight and Masterpiece is kinda the worst song on the album. And I'm mad Bang That was left as a bonus track only
Quote:
I actually still haven't listened to his """"mixtapes"""" yet sorry not sorry.
The one with reading in its title is quite good, the one with Future not so much.
I think you'd like Christine the most out of the people you don't know... I think.
I checked out the song. It was pretty good! A cool electro-song. I also took a listen to Vroom Vroom, which I hadn't heard before. That was a banger.
Quote:
Song: Delete It Fat by Demi Lovato
Why?
And the mugs video
That was a good one. My personal favorite was Poot for the Summer though
A great letter overall though. Destroyer, Disclosure (the Jaded shout out ) Donnie, Dornik, and you know I love me some Drake (his mixtapes are good, and both are growers! From a biased point of view, I say give them a listen!)
I do have to say though, I was just a little disappointed with Caracal, too polished and not as much fun as Settle. It does have it's highlights though, which you mentioned in your write-up.
Not gonna lie part of the reason I wanted to do that Demi thing (I have a few more of these in my Best Of) was to see the people be like YES DEMI and not look at what I wrote I did love the Demi stuff this year I just never actually listened to her music (CFTS is nice)
@madonnas: I KNEW you would know her! I'm excited to really get into her album as we get into next year.
@Amaloner: If I'm being honest you only really need to check out Cake By the Ocean but god damn is it a jam!
@Vilppu: Look at us agreeing on almost everything And I heard the same about Drakes two mixtapes for my friend! I'm more interested to listen to his solo mixtape anyway.
@MP2K: Knowing your taste, Dornik is absolutely up your alley! I think you'll love him
@Bloomers: Poot for the Summer Glad to see you enjoying those two songs! I pretty much agree with you as well on Caracal yeah. At least Settle is still a great record!
And I'm so glad you liked Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, they were one of my favourite releases this year. Great choices for fave songs too, you're right there is no track to avoid!