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Red's Best of 2013: The YECA (Singles: 70-61/Hints #4 up!)
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/2/2011
Posts: 21,728
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Interesting list, I remember hearing about your #1, but I hadn't seen it until now.
I'm not very in-tune with viral videos, but I do recall one that you might be interested in. It was called Evolution of Beyonce or something and its five (or six?) people with a black background singing a medley of various Beyonce songs. You might like it.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to your other lists, you seem to have a great taste!
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Member Since: 11/17/2008
Posts: 28,694
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Rebecca Black
Friday is not that bad
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Member Since: 11/4/2006
Posts: 37,808
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What does the fox say?! When I first saw that I was like WTF?
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sunderland 4ever
I have seen so many fanmade videos and adaptations of Get Lucky this year I have lost count of them. I think the one you've posted is one of my favorites.
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Have you seen the Mario Paint version? That's my second favorite. It's just GREAT.
Quote:
Originally posted by Mr.Link
Why did I expect some random Harlem Shake parody to be #1?
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I'm not sure. I mean, the Harlem Shake was enjoyable, but not THAT enjoyable.
Quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Spaceman
Really enjoyed your YouTube list! I wasn't familiar with some, so I watched a couple of them just now. First, that Daft Punk video is so cool! I agree with you that the ‘80s version is the best. Such a great idea for a video. Also watched Dr. Bees, which is a lot of fun. I’ll catch up with the others I haven’t seen very soon!
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I KNEW you'd love that "Get Lucky" clip. Then again, who doesn't that has seen it? Oh, by the way...son, congratulations on your third clean year.
Quote:
Originally posted by lovesong
I'm not very in-tune with viral videos, but I do recall one that you might be interested in. It was called Evolution of Beyonce or something and its five (or six?) people with a black background singing a medley of various Beyonce songs. You might like it.
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I have not! I'll have to keep that one in mind when I have free time in the next two weeks.
Still not ready for the start of the album list yet, as I still have to listen to AT LEAST one more album. After that, though, there's a good chance you'll get the first update soon after! Until then, a huge thanks to everyone who has commented so far, and I hope you stick around for the big lists!
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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The Fox snatching and the folks seething. I live
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 5/9/2003
Posts: 3,779
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Ah here we go. I knew your thread was up, but I couldn't find it at all.
I am very satisfied with your top 3 video games! Hard to really argue against any of them. They sent the current gen consoles out on a very high note.
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Member Since: 7/14/2009
Posts: 22,692
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I've seen 8 out of the 10 videos and love your choices for your list.
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Member Since: 12/25/2008
Posts: 14,110
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Rebecca
The Fox is epic tho
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Member Since: 4/11/2012
Posts: 19,069
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Looking forward to your music lists more than anything, Red.
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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The YECA: Top 10 Albums (Honorable Mentions)
Quote:
Originally posted by Jack.
Looking forward to your music lists more than anything, Red.
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Well...you're going to have to look forward for just a bit longer. I haven't started on the blurbs for the top ten yet, but I am itching to. Not only that, I have another album that I have to listen to. Thankfully, I'm halfway through it, so I should be able to start the actual top 10 later tonight. Until then, how about some albums that DIDN'T make my top 10? Here are two albums whose exclusion may surprise you...
Paramore - Paramore
Favorite Songs: Ain't It Fun, Anklebiters, Fast In My Car
I feel incredibly dirty for leaving this off of my top ten. There were just SO many great albums this year, however. You'll find out soon that this is the case when you see my #10. Paramore's latest album is, objectively, their best. It's their most mature album, their most musically advanced album, and it features perhaps the best overall vocal performance from Hayley Williams, though that's an incredibly tough choice. So, why is this an honorable mention and not a top ten album? Honestly, because its competition was brutal. This was the most competitive albums list I have ever done, with some HEAVY hitters coming out of the woodwork to release new material. This takes nothing away from Paramore, because they released a great album in a year full of them.
Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks
Favorite Songs: Copy of A, All Time Low, Find My Way
How did this happen?! How did one of my all-time favorite artists and, historically, one of the YECA's staples fall hard enough to not make the top ten when a new album suddenly appeared? It's not like the music is any worse than normal. Maybe it's that the music itself doesn't really differentiate itself all that much from Trent's past work, with a few notable exceptions (Ahem..."EVERYTHING"!). As good as songs like "Copy of A" and "Find My Way" are, they would not be too out of place on a previous NIN album. That can be a big part of its charm for many people, but I was hoping for Trent to continue to evolve off of the sound of The Slip. But the biggest thing I must stress is this: As I said in the Paramore blurb, this may have been the most competitive year for any album list I have ever done. As much as I do like this album, and I really do, I just liked ten albums more. Such is life.
When Nine Inch Nails can't make a year-end top 10 albums list of mine, you know that the top 10 is going to be really freaking good. I hope to finalize the top 10 and start working on the blurbs for those albums soon. Until then, discuss how I'm an idiot for leaving Paramore off of the top 10.
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Member Since: 10/3/2009
Posts: 35,844
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Paramore being here? Two thumbs up!
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Banned
Member Since: 12/29/2002
Posts: 19,803
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Paramore is a freakin rollercoaster ride! From punkish songs, to power ballads, to country interludes, to straight up pop. It deserves every bit of the recognition it had
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Member Since: 10/18/2007
Posts: 28,980
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Shame on me to haven;t heard that NIN newest album
and really excited who are going to be in top 10
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Member Since: 7/22/2009
Posts: 13,429
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Paramore! Love them and the album!
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Member Since: 11/4/2006
Posts: 37,808
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Member Since: 8/27/2010
Posts: 3,636
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It's my favorite album of Paramore, good work
Good for NIN
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Member Since: 10/13/2003
Posts: 48,022
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Paramore
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ATRL Senior Member
Member Since: 9/26/2001
Posts: 22,475
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The YECA: Top 10 Albums (10-7)
Quote:
Originally posted by Adr
and really excited who are going to be in top 10
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Well...WAIT NO LONGER!
Oh, by the way...I have a LOT to say about these albums. You have been warned.
| Arcade Fire
Reflektor
Favorite Songs: Reflektor, Here Comes the Night Time, Afterlife
I never like to label something as "most disappointing". The general idea behind that term is a feeling of being let down and underwhelmed by someone or something that has brought you great joy in the past. So I'm going to refrain from using that term for Arcade Fire's latest, Reflektor, because I wasn't underwhelmed by it or even let down, really. The songs here, for the most part, are extravagant songs that are meant to be taken as "epics". The problem is that so many of the songs fail to reach that lofty goal. The songs here tend to simply exist in and of themselves, instead of coming alive like so many Arcade Fire songs have in the past. It's when the songs that do feel alive appear that you can't help but love it.
The best tracks on this LP are among the best tracks of the entire year. The title track is one of the most striking and memorable tracks of the year, a seven minute tour de force that showcases the best aspects of Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem's maestro, James Murphy, coming together. "Here Comes the Night Time" is another highlight, a pulsating and pounding rollercoaster of a tune that soars into the stratosphere. "We Exist", meanwhile, has one of the sexiest bass lines you will hear all year. There's just not quite enough songs like these here. I wasn't disappointed really, though. It's an admirable and INCREDIBLY risky effort by one of the world's finest alternative acts, and it's still a top 10 album despite facing INCREDIBLY stiff competition. I just hope we get future collaborative efforts between Arcade Fire and Murphy, because once they figure this thing out, we're going to get one HELL of an album. |
| CHVRCHES
The Bones of What You Believe
Favorite Songs: We Sink, The Mother We Share, Recover
Easily the most pleasant surprise of 2013 was CHVRCHES, the Scottish act that has taken music publication Best of lists by storm! Okay, this will be the last time I mention music publications, even in this manner, in this thread. Deal? Deal. Anywho, CHVRCHES. I kept hearing a bunch of people rave about this album and particularly the single "The Mother We Share". I was hesitant, because this story has ended badly for my ears many times. But one day, I thought to myself, "Screw it, what's the worst that could happen", and checked the album out, including that beloved single.
And hey, what do you know? I loved it all! I loved how the sound was driven almost entirely by synthesizers. I loved the tiny and incredibly cute voice of Lauren Mayberry. And most importantly, I loved the songs! "The Mother We Share" is the perfect first single and first song on the album, an incredible piece of synthpop. "We Sink" and "Gun" are two great upbeat and poppy tunes. "Science/Visions" has an awesome thumping beat that sounds like it was ripped straight out of the 80's. And "Recover"...man, "Recover" is just hypnotic and entrancing. If you have been like I was and are hesitant to check this out, don't. Trust me. |
| David Bowie
The Next Day
Favorite Songs: The Stars (Are Out Tonight), If You Can See Me, Valentine's Day
To say that this blew me away would be an understatement. At 66 years old, David Bowie is doing things that would make those half his age blush in embarrassment...embarrassment out of being made to look like an absolute fool by one of the true masters. The Next Day is not just one of the best albums of the year, it's a necessity. Many were wondering why David Bowie, after ten years, would suddenly come out of semi-retirement and unleash a new album on an unsuspecting crowd. Others were even against the entire idea of the album, not wanting to hear their idol sully himself with a terrible idea, so as not to stain his legacy...to which Bowie said, "Bitch, I'm David Bowie. Now sit down and listen to a master."
The Next Day is also Bowie at his most personal, Bowie as himself. Such a thought may scare some, but, if anything, it helps to make the music more relatable, and it's very easy to relate to Bowie here as he deals head on with his own mortality. It also does not hurt that many of the songs rock and rock HARD. The title track is so loud and boisterous that, if it wasn't for Bowie's voice, you'd wonder if this song was made twenty years before. "If You Can See Me" surprises you with a very quick tempo and an awesome piece of drumming by by Zachary Alford. "Valentine's Day" is vintage Bowie performed by the modern Bowie at a level that only Bowie can reach. And there's just so much more greatness to look forward to without me rambling on about it. I never, ever expected 66 year old David Bowie to make me gush like a schoolgirl, but really, I should have known better. It's DAVID BOWIE. |
| Kanye West
Yeezus
Favorite Songs: Blood on the Leaves, Black Skinhead, On Sight, New Slaves
One of the biggest event releases of the entire year was the release of Kanye West's Yeezus, perhaps the most polarizing album of the entire year. Those who have listened to it either love it or detest it, with very little middle ground. It's not hard to see why. Yeezus is Kanye West at his least accessible and his least marketable, a stark contrast from the Kanye that everyone fell in love with on The College Dropout and Late Registration. And yet, this album, full of songs that could not possibly EVER be mainstream when performed by anyone else, has become the definition of mainstream because Kanye West is performing the songs. I have heard "Black Skinhead" seemingly EVERYWHERE since this album's release, which is amazing, given that "Black Skinhead" is an incredibly powerful and very ANGRY song dealing with many subjects not normally found in a mainstream song.
This album's primary strength, beyond the obvious strength of Kanye West himself, is the unbelievable production quality. The songs are incredibly loud and forceful, either through volume or through thought, pushing themselves into your psyche from the get go. "On Sight" has one of the most distinctive openings of ANY song this year, and it is followed by perhaps the song with THE most distinctive opening in "Black Skinhead". But all of this should not be a surprise. I mean, just look at some of the producers on this album: Kanye West, of course, but also Daft Punk, Lupe Fiasco, No ID, and executive producer Rick freaking Rubin, among many others. And the most amazing part of all is how Kanye West was able to accomplish THIS kind of production on record in three weeks. Hell, Rubin said that Kanye recorded half of the vocals in TWO HOURS. I bow down at the altar of Yeezus, and I hope that he gets this angry again to give me another version of the Lord's work. |
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Phew. Okay, that took a while. Albums 6 through 4 are next, and this set will be much more of your typical YECA set, featuring the return of an old YECA staple, a recent favorite (and I'm talking in the last couple of years kind of recent) that continues to chug along, and one of my favorite bands churning out my favorite album of theirs in years. See you then!
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/11/2007
Posts: 63,796
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Paramore
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 722
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The Next Day is an excellent and completely unexpected album from Bowie. I was so glad to hear that he was going to release new material. My personal favorites are Valentine's Day, Where Are We Now?, Dancing Out In Space & Born In A UFO.
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