ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 10/1/2002
Posts: 14,726
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Thanks for all the posts guys! If you missed it, the #1 song is already posted on the page prior. And here we are, time for the years top albums. Again it will have to be bare bones, but its better than nothing.
Also - when I first made the list, I forgot two very important albums. Hence the 5b and 5c designations lol
5c. Childish Gambino - Because The Internet
5b. Imagine Dragons - Night Visions
5. Kanye West - Yeezus
4. Kings of Leon - Mechanical Bull
3. City and Colour - The Hurry and he Harm
2. The Arcade Fire - Reflektor
1. Arctic Monkeys - AM
So I have enjoyed the music of Childish Gambino before, and I had no god damn idea that he was the actor who plays Troy on Community - amongst a resume of other impressive feats. His album struck a chord with me, with sounds awfully similar to Frank Ocean , and an ode to quick wit songwriting a la Drake. Very contemporary sounding album
If Kanye had released the first four songs off Yeezus as a mini EP, he may have scored the #1 album of the year for the fourth time in his career. The initial four tear apart the musical landscape like a no holds barred black vulture, vicious, ferocious, and absolutely demented. I'm not sure I've had my musical psyche blown up in quite the same way like these four songs do (god, new slaves, on sight, skinhead). Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn't do it for me - and that filtered unevenness leads to this ranking. Still, so pissed I missed the Kane / Kendrick tour
The next two albums were one recognized and one undervalued to add to the list for modern rock this year. Imagine Dragons released likely one of the most singles-ready albums in some time. Beyond the tracks that already infiltrated radio, at least another handful are ready to be serviced and are exceptional diverse. The tribal ready On Top of the World, emo- centric Hear Me, or classic pop rock like Tiptoe and Amsterdam - the whole album is a no brainer. Maybe not so obvious is the Kings of Leon album - who are likely suffering from a huge loss of good will from the disastrous Come Back Sundown era, which I also thought was a great album. The Followill bros sound so on point here - vintage Tennessee Rock City, Supersoaker, and Temple - and an accomplished sense of slowing the tempo - Comeback Story, Wait for Me, and Beautiful War. How will they win their fans back? Hopefully their 2014 tour shows a much needed sense of urgency and appreciation for the stadiums they will be filling
The next two albums are from artists who, along with Metric, are the very best Canada has to offer. I have already sang the praises of Dallas Green, who continues to blow me away in his transition from Alexisonfire patriarch to Bonafide solo rock star. Not to mention his assimilation of brooding bass lines and heavier riffs provide a necessary contrast on an album that sounds so gloriously complete. Please check this guy out if you haven't already. And then - how about he Arcade Fire? A two disc, six song a piece set, that couldn't sound any more different from one another. The first half is all new to me - they sound electric. And while they have heralded this sense of urgency in the past with songs like neighbourhood #3 or ready to start, it was never this consistent. You Already Know is infectious, Normal Person sounds like Zeppelin, Reflektor is ultra funky, and Here Comes the Night Time is stadium ready. It's all brilliant. These 6 would challenge the four from Yeezus as best EP if they were released as such. The back half will please all the old school TAF admirers, with the cathedral filling Awful Sound (Oh Eurydeice) - an album highlight for me - and the new single Afterlife, which I hope becomes a deserved hit in early 2014. I am goin to see these guys in March.", and I am so incredibly pumped
Number 1 - the Monkeys are back baby! I was such an enormous fan of their first two albums, they had an incredible sense of urgency, were rambunctious, and had a no holds barred approach to witty songwriting with clever hooks.
Then came the third and fourth album. And while some die hards will sing the records praises, and I will always hold Crying Lightning as one of my favourite Monkeys tracks ever - these albums just didn't do it for me. The fun was gone. The life sucked out of them. But as the toured with Black Keys, they unleashed R U MIne, my belief was restored, and then this year we got AM
While AM may not have the same electric jolt as the first two albums - it did do one thing just as effectively; excite people. R U MIne is probably their best since Brianstorm, Do I Wanna Know and One for the Road herald two of my favourite mid tempo Monkeys tracks Do me a Favor and previously mentioned Crying Lightning. Snap Out of It gives me Fluorescent Adolescent vibes. Arabella is grimey just like Teddy Picker. And then they went and hit me with the Oooh La La of Mad Sounds and No 1 Party Anthem. And their trademark tongue in cheek humour? Look no further than Why'd you Only Call me when your high.
Any doubt as to why these guys headline Glastonbury and why they are the most important band in Europe should be eased with this album . Critically acclaimed and fan adoration, it's no wonder they finally scored a huge hit single in the US!! Well done guys. Glad to have you back.
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