“I just want to be around you, is that too much to ask?”
Song: Around U by Ellie Goulding
Why: We're getting the trash of the E's out of the way first. Eh that's kinda harsh I don't hate her or anything but I just think everything outside of half of the Halcyon album is so meh.
I think the fandom is pretty split on this song? I just really like that it's so careless and fun and that type of music suits Ellie's voice more than her trying to be all "tough" and "edgy." The production makes me really happy too. Lyrically... it's a bit of a mess, but I dunno it just makes me happy!
Check Out: I actually quite like On My Mind. Codes is okay too. Lost & Found is nice, but it's honestly just a carbon copy of Heart by HAERTS so... meh. And I forget Love Me Like You Do is on the album, so maybe I should have used that instead...
Avoid: Uh honestly the rest of the album it's not great.
“You run out of your charms by the time we get home...”
Song: The Switch by Emily King
Why: If I had to have some sort of ranking of my top albums, Emily King's album this year would be AT LEAST #3 on my list. I have loved it ever since it came out back in July and I love her so much. I also plan on seeing her live in February!
It was hard to choose one top pick, but this one stood out for being a mix of playful, scorning, funky, and mellow goodness. Emily telling off her man that he is "all that" out in public and then loses all his charms when it's just then makes for an entertaining little story told through lyrics. The production is so precise and well-done, with the backing vocals blending with Emily's so well, the light drum kick, the maracas?, and the funky little bass riff at the end. It's amazing.
Check Out: Distance was on my list last year and is probably my next favorite track. The Animals is a strangely lovely track about crappy ex-friends. Already There is a coffee shop jam about being content with your life. And Out of the Cloud is another one I can't stop replaying. Believer too.
Avoid: If it's an indicator of how much I love the album there isn't anything I don't like. If I had to choose one song though, I listen to For Them much less than the other tracks.
“All my dreams take shape when you whisper my name.”
Song: How Do You Do It by Empress Of
Why: This might be a bit of a boring pick since it's such an accessible track, but I felt the need to pick it because it was the one that I first listened to from her that I was like HOLY CRAP! What could be considered a lyrically simple chorus is saved by interesting lyrics in the verses and when the beat drops in the chorus the song is just... AHHH you wanna get the hell out of your chair and start jumping up and down. And it's only little warbling beats! How DOES SHE DO IT?
Check Out: Water Water is amazing as well and kept me hooked in the album until How Do You Do It. I especially like the line about water being a privilege like kids who go to college. To Get By reminds me of another song I can't place, and I LOVE IT. Kitty Kat goes the **** OFF with the let me walk awaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!! Standard is good too.
Avoid: I'd say Icon is the only song from the album I don't like.
“So you think there's no meaning in anything that we do?”
Song: To the Blade by Everything Everything
Why: Even if I just said it, this album is another that would absolutely be at least #3 in my list of top albums of the year. There's a lot to this album that I don't lyrically fully understand myself, but has a lot of meaning with things that the band have found unbelievable politically. The dude's voice is so interesting (particularly you discover this on the title track) and the production is ace.
This song in particular starts off rather desolate, lyrically. The song is a bit slow and then right before the 1-minute mark the chorus just EXPLODES into the song and gives life to the entire album. So ****ing good.
Check Out: Best lyric of the year "It's alright to feel like a fat child in a push-chair" from must-listen No Reptiles. Title track Get to Heaven is nice and breezy. Regret is a fun one and I also like Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread. Even the deluxe edition has tons of songs I love: Brainchild, President Heartbeat, Hapsburg Lipp.
Avoid: The only song I don't like in the entire album is Blast Doors because the dude's voice grates on me.
Icon is good! But I suppose if I had to pick a weakest track.... Empress of is so underrated. Do you like the masterpieces kitty kat and standard?
"Kitty Kat goes the **** OFF with the let me walk awaaaaaaayyyyy!!!!! Standard is good too."
Kitty Kat I like in particular. I almost wish it was longer but if it was longer I would probably not be able to handle it, so I suppose it's for the best.
Sorry for not updating last night, I was getting drunk with co-workers. I'm probably gonna do two updates either today or tomorrow (most likely tomorrow) rather than just one. I'm gonna spend most of today commenting on people's Best Ofs before posting an update.
By the way thanks everyone for posting in here and such! I really appreciate it. I'm definitely happy with my Best of this year especially in comparison to last year. So much fun!
Love seeing the love for Everything Everything, but stop sleeping on Emily King! Get into her!
I'm kind of glad there was no update. This means I was able to catch up on what I've missed
Alright, I've been meaning to get into Everything ^2 so I took a listen to To The Blade and it cuts hard I love it. My favorite discovery yet.
Ellie and Empress Of are nice also. Emily is pretty great. I need to spend time with her album.
Yeah check out their whole album! The deluxe even has some crazy good tracks. Emily's album is nice because it's pretty mellow and it's only like 35 minutes, so it's a super easy listen.
Update 1 coming this morning and another update will follow later tonight!