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bluth's decade so far | songs #10-1 wooo lord
Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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I love ur worst list
cheryls song has an ok prechorus but it really is a phone-in, tesco version of ari's song. lets hope nadine's album will save british pop from the hole cheryl dug it into
black widows chorus makes me bop sometimes but the verses are so so bad the other 3 are pretty bad too.
1989 almost made me a taylor stan this year so yay
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 33,490
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stay mad over Jason!
I didn't like Flicker that much, still prefer the original. Kanye's version is cool in a way but it sucked out all the energy I love so much in Lorde's version.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH
but first lettuce remind ourselves of the rest
| 10 Turn Blue
The Black Keys |
| 9 My Everything
Ariana Grande |
| 8 Gone Girl (soundtrack)
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross |
| 7 Goddess (EP)
Chrome Sparks |
| 6 Blue Blue
iamamiwhoami |
| 5 1989
Taylor Swift |
| 4 Wonder Where We Land
SBTRKT |
...
3 Aquarius
Tinashe
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this is an album which instantly hit me as soon as i listened. i think there are a few inconsistencies here, hands on deck (apologies to atrl) and pretend aren't that great, and tbh i couldn't really get into thug cry either. HOWEVER, there are some absolute bangers on this album. aside from 2 on and feels like vegas which i adored prerelease, aquarius, bet and cold sweat is the best triple punch ever with which to open up the album, and there are some later highlights with indigo child, bated breath, wildfire.
what works the best about this album is that it takes the synthetic, club-ready sounds which are so popular in r&b right now but they're presented with such an organic edge. the structures are interesting, tinashe's vocals are sensual, fragile or apologetic whenever they need to be, and it's ambitious for her first LP but it's all the more better for it. there's definitely bright things ahead for this girl.
read my atrlcritic review for aquarius here
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2 Syro
Aphex Twin
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despite the critical acclaim this album received, i've seen and heard people both within and outside of atrl express ever-so-slight disappointment with this album and that it doesn't necessarily match up to what they wanted or expected from a new aphex twin album.
and to be honest, as someone who's not that familiar with aphex twin beyond blame game and a few absent-minded listens of their earlier albums, taking this for what it is, i liked it. it's electronic music which is as precise and finely tuned as a piece of classical music. it's something which isn't too overbearing nor is it too forgettable. in general, it's a wonderful electronic soundscape into which you can casually get lost in on a quiet day.
if there's one thing that's going for this album, it's precision and a meticulous attention to detail. it's wonderfully crafted, within or outside of context in the aphex twin narrative.
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drum roll
1 Broke With Expensive Taste
Azealia Banks
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YAS
the sheer fact alone that azealia released her album this year had me shaking with excitement, and broke with expensive taste didn't disappoint at all.
what goes for this album the most is how wonderfully eclectic it is, and it's a beautiful tribute to azealia's new york home and the wonderful, diverse art culture therein. you have idle delilah which sees her crafting her own soundtrack to a crash bandicoot game but it slays nonetheless, gimme a chance which sees her rapping in fluent spanish, hm&r which is like osaka underground acid from the future, ice princess which is azealia's own take on contemporary sparse r&b/trap trend BUT WITH A TRANSCENDENT HOUSE CHORUS, the classic azealia rap-house hybrids, the pop-ier sounds of soda and wallace, even the fact that past gems like luxury and 212 don't sound like they're here just for hit-factor, because they really work and 212 sounds as fresh as ****ing ever.
looking back and listening again, there are some places where the production sounds a little dare i say cheap, but that's the beauty of her being broke and ambitious/high society. i think what solidifies this as my favourite album of 2014 is the memory of listening to this and reading everyone else's reactions on atrl: bopping away to miss camaraderie and failing to repress a smile.
i have an atrlcritic review for this too: http://atrl.net/forums/showthread.ph...0#post25071130 |
thus ends my fave 2014 albums. might finish singles tomorrow xoxo
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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aquarius still hasnt hit me, i just find it boring
azealia's album was great tho, worth the wait (maybe)
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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Quote:
Originally posted by Subomie
I love ur worst list
cheryls song has an ok prechorus but it really is a phone-in, tesco version of ari's song. lets hope nadine's album will save british pop from the hole cheryl dug it into
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nadine's next tesco-exclusive is definitely coming to put cheryl in her place!
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Originally posted by dwuw
Blank Space, 2 On
1989 The New Romantics acclaim
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it's the best song on the album + i won't hear any different
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Originally posted by madonnas
Pfff, Kin >>> Blue!
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i'll try and get into it again some day!
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Originally posted by borntodie
stay mad over Jason!
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fuming!
Quote:
Originally posted by Subomie
aquarius still hasnt hit me, i just find it boring
azealia's album was great tho, worth the wait (maybe)
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tbh i went in and out of liking aquarius. i often found the latter half to drag a bit but the highs are so good
mmm yeah. i need azealia to have a hand in the direction of the beats next time when she releases in 2019 or whenever
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Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 33,490
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great #1, I really didn't expect the album to slay me but she deserves all the praise. I enjoyed Ariana's as well!
Might have to check out the Gone Girl OST, I didn't know Trent Reznor was involved but he usually delivers.
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Great top 3! And tbh the people disappointed by Syro are dumb, it's his best in YEARS.
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Member Since: 9/15/2008
Posts: 19,501
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Your taste is ***flawless
Great album list, i placed too Aquarius at #3 too
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 27,248
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I prefer the original YFB though, it's like it basically took away the best part of the song.
Yaaaaaaaaaas Blank Space stan bluth
2 On Such a bop indeed.
1989 :alexz; Omg the 3 songs you mentioned are my exact trinity New Romantics does need more praise indeed.
Aquarius is pretty good.
I don't use Azealia.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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YAS. decided to switch up my top 10. this one is better. LEGGGO
10 Jealous (I Ain't With It)
Chromeo
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i was relatively indifferent to the whole 'white women' album, but jealous definitely stands out as one of the highlights. it's fast paced, buoyant, fun and hella catchy. it's one of those songs i ruined by overplaying it in june, but i still come crawling back every now and then |
9 Flicker (Kanye West rework)
Lorde
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i was relatively ambivalent to the original yellow flicker beat. i loved the lyrics, the melodies were nice, but overall as a track something didn't quite hit me.
second of all i'll just say that i think it's amazing how lorde is like, what, 17 still and she's really doing well for herself, curating a soundtrack, associating herself with artists like kanye and hanging out with the likes of david bowie and tilda swinton (there's like a picture of the three together i think). i think she's a really intelligent young woman and she'll go far in her career, artistically if not so much commercially (but she's kinda already proved herself anyway)
i probably love this rework more because it's probably the most vivid taste of kanye we received all year. i've yet to see mockingjay and see how well flicker beat fits into the whole motif, but i the rework is so haunting, and there's a sense of luscious-ness and beautiful minimalism in the rework.
it carries the sparse nature of yeezus' production but it's a lot less abrasive, and it nails exactly what direction i want kanye to pursue with his next album
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8 West Coast
Lana Del Rey
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lemme begin this by saying: i'm really not a fan of lana del rey
i think the problem with lana del rey is that her moments of brilliants - flitting by as quickly as the images on a video game - have caused her to be placed on a slightly misinformed artistic pedestal by her most diehard fans. born to die, in particular, is constantly praised to the heavens on atrl when, really, it's a very overbearing album to listen to from a production perspective. she relies on cliches as lyrical crutches and the structures of her songs (for the most part) are very one-trick
west coast was one of those moments, however, where i slightly believed in lana del rey: the artist. the centrepiece of the song is the stark tempo changes between verse and chorus, and i think it beautifully illustrates the juxtaposition between her persona's idyllic relationship and the morally bankrupt, alcohol-driven society in which she lives. there's this constant push and pull and it's really enthralling to hear
the 'down on the wesshtt cooasssht' narrative is enchanting, and invites you into the microcosm of 'ultraviolence'. but, as soon as this all begins, it ends, sad girl begins to play and i regress away from my belief in this artist
alas |
7 Let Me Down Gently
La Roux
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la roux's 'trouble in paradise' may not be as ostensibly pop as her eponymous debut, but i still think it works. the whole motif of 'trouble in paradise' is a perfect symbol. the tropical and island sounds heighten the idea of desolation and as a whole it beautifully conveys the juxtaposition between elly's fame and success against her internal struggles.
let me down gently, the first promo song from this album, is probably, for me, the real standout (although tropical chancer and sexotheque are bops as well), and it's beautifully paced, moving from this hollow-sounding ballad to a tropical feast. the melodies are absolute killers, and i would dare to say that her vocals sound a lot more natural/less-strained on this album.
kind of wish i included it on my best albums list now |
6 Blank Space
Taylor Swift
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for me, taylor really hit 'it' on the head with this song whatever 'it' is. i think part of what makes 1989 so enjoyable is that it's max martin except with better-than-usual lyrics and a massively non-contrived facade.
i think part of what makes taylor so successful right now is that she understands what people want in pop music, much like how lady gaga and katy perry captured the zeitgeist with the fame and teenage dream respectively.
her brand of pop is subdued and organic in style like a wintery landscape with a sepia filter, but lyrically carries all the hopeless romantic mantras of the current social media/blogging/tumblr generation. i think she interprets the whole shake it off/too many dates motif a lot better in this song, and i probably think my favourite part is the casual click - like a pen click - 'and i'll write your name'.
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5 Love Me Harder
Ariana Grande ft. The Weeknd
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it's no secret that ariana full-on DELIVERED with her singles this year. the whole problem/break free/love me harder triple punch gives me ever-so-slight promiscuous/maneater/say it right-levels of amazing, except ariana seems on a non-stop crusade to broaden her fanbase and back catalogue of hits, which i doubt she'll stop for later this year when she most probably releases a third album.
i've always thought it kinda ironic how she originated as an actress and yet she seems like the most aloof and expressionless face in pop music. in the context of love me harder, i think it works well and it creates a sort of sexual vaccuum which heightens the overall tension. in general it's an irresistible slow burning sex banger, almost flawless if you ignore the often-uneasy hip-pressuring moments from the feature artist.
atrlcritic review: http://atrl.net/forums/showthread.ph...0#post24973310
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4 2 On
Tinashe
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yeah it's predictable having this on my year end list, but the song is also a banger
for me, the rivalry between my favourite tinashe release (as a single/promo single) this year was a case of the hare and tortoise. i liked 2 on, but feels like vegas also hit me in the right place too. as the year went on and i began to experience 2 on in all its wonderful mustard-scented glory in the context of drinking and dancing, it caught up and took over feels like vegas.
i feel like the whole mustard trend is getting old in hip hop/r&b, but 2 on gets it right and it has tinashe carry the song as much as the production.
i'll probs discuss my other aquarius highlights later
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top three coming later tonight. let'z finish this
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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I'm the only one who had Bet and How Many Times as my faves I guess.
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Wonder Where We Land + My Everything
7/7 flawless set!
Jealous (I Ain't With It) is amazing! Yellow Flicker Beat was a grower! Blank Space my 2nd favorite song from TS! and I love 2 On too, another grower
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Banned
Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 20,327
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7/11 and Only
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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Quote:
Originally posted by borntodie
Might have to check out the Gone Girl OST, I didn't know Trent Reznor was involved but he usually delivers.
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ah, if you're a trend fan then it's def well-worth checking out
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Originally posted by popstar
Your taste is ***flawless
Great album list, i placed too Aquarius at #3 too
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reminds me that i need to check your update
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Originally posted by holyground
1989 :alexz; Omg the 3 songs you mentioned are my exact trinity New Romantics does need more praise indeed.
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it kinda needs to be a single doesn't it?
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Originally posted by madonnas
I'm the only one who had Bet and How Many Times as my faves I guess.
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just doing singles/promo singles/anything which was vaguely acknowledged by the artist
bet is great! if i had bothered to include album tracks then aquarius and cold sweat would have been up there too
Quote:
Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan
Wonder Where We Land + My Everything
7/7 flawless set!
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aaahhh really? see if i can keep it up with the top three hihihi
Quote:
Originally posted by ezra
7/11 and Only
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idk if i'm doubting myself with 7/11 or not
but yas only is trash
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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LET'S FINISH THIS
3 Break Free
Ariana Grande ft. Zedd
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she made zedd sound good!
okay, aura is like the best song on artpop but it's basically all infected mushroom lbr. i think break free is grossly underrated and above all it's an incredibly effective 'breaking free'/defiant track. the simplicity of the lyrics heightens the sense of defiance by the way in which it's so explicit and direct.
the song really thrives on the engine beneath the whole track, which has this push and pull reaction between verse and chorus, where the whole song is driving forward into the ultimate climax: the final chorus, which is almost monolithic in the stakes of breaking free. YAS. this is a world where ariana is NO LONGER the disney girl we once knew, she CAN make zedd sound tolerable and she WILL avoid pronouncing hard consonants at all costs. YOU GO GIRL. |
2 Good Kisser (Disclosure Remix)
Usher
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the original good kisser was okay, but disclosure turnt it up a whole 'nother level. it perfectly matches their club-ready deep house with their penchant for mixing it with an element of soul. as was with break free, the adrenaline channelled through the song is created from the sparse and simple opening which eventually escalates into the full on banger it evolves into by the end. disclosure did some good work with mary j blige this year - yes - and people may only now just be catching onto the amazing-ness of latch, but this remix was disclosure at their finest in 2014
i just noticed how similar this artwork is to break free's. weird
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SOOOO this next song and my official song of the year was affected by my last minute changes to my top ten
*drum roll*
1 Turn Down For What
DJ Snake and Lil Jon
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YAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSS
so that concludes my 2014 music countdowns. here's a full summary for your convenience:
summary
RANK | BEST SINGLES | BEST ALBUMS | WORST SINGLES | 1 | TURN DOWN FOR WHAT DJ SNAKE AND LIL JON | BROKE WITH EXPENSIVE TASTE AZEALIA BANKS | TRUMPETS JASON DERULO | 2 | GOOD KISSER (DISCLOSURE REMIX) USHER | SYRO APHEX TWIN | RUDE MAGIC! | 3 | BREAK FREE ARIANA GRANDE FT. ZEDD | AQUARIUS TINASHE | NOBODY TO LOVE SIGMA | 4 | 2 ON TINASHE FT. SCHOOLBOY Q | WONDER WHERE WE LAND SBTRKT | BLACK WIDOW IGGY AZALEA FT. RITA ORA | 5 | LOVE ME HARDER ARIANA GRANDE FT. THE WEEKND | 1989 TAYLOR SWIFT | CRAZY STUPID LOVE CHERYL | 6 | BLANK SPACE TAYLOR SWIFT | BLUE IAMAMIWHOAMI | WIGGLE JASON DERULO | 7 | LET ME DOWN GENTLY LA ROUX | GODDESS (EP) CHROME SPARKS | 7/11 BEYONCE | 8 | WEST COAST LANA DEL REY | GONE GIRL (SOUNDTRACK) TRENT REZNOR AND ATTICUS ROSS | BREAK THE RULES CHARLI XCX | 9 | FLICKER (KANYE WEST REWORK) LORDE | MY EVERYTHING ARIANA GRANDE | ONLY NICKI MINAJ | 10 | JEALOUS (I AIN'T WITH IT) CHROMEO | TURN BLUE THE BLACK KEYS | SUMMER CALVIN HARRIS | 11 | PARTITION BEYONCE | 12 | CRYING FOR NO REASON KATY B | 13 | GUST OF WIND PHARRELL WILLIAMS | 14 | MONUMENT ROYKSOPP AND ROBYN | 15 | STAY HIGH (HIPPIE SABOTAGE REMIX) TOVE LO | 16 | i KENDRICK LAMAR | 17 | UPTOWN FUNK MARK RONSON FT. BRUNO MARS | 18 | MY LOVE ROUTE 94 FT. JESS GLYNNE | 19 | RIGHT HERE JESS GLYNNE | 20 | MIDNIGHT COLDPLAY |
thanks a BUNCH to y'all who followed along and commented. i'll be sure to keep up with the remainder of all your countdowns. have a wonderful 2015 + peace out
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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I can't see your write up for #1! Change the "drum roll" to something else
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Break Free is good! I don't really like Good Kisser but... wait, I love Disclosure! need to check out that remix and I love Turn Down For What the music video is crazy, I love it! Amazing final set
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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Quote:
Originally posted by madonnas
I can't see your write up for #1! Change the "drum roll" to something else
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hmmmm not sure why that was messing up. you weren't missing much anyway
Quote:
Originally posted by AshleeSimpsonFan
Break Free is good! I don't really like Good Kisser but... wait, I love Disclosure! need to check out that remix and I love Turn Down For What the music video is crazy, I love it! Amazing final set
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aaaahhh thanks! if you stan for my love etc. i think you'll like the remix
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Member Since: 9/15/2008
Posts: 19,501
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10/10
That Disclosure Remix made my best of too. You're the only one that i've seen (besides me) to show it sum love.
Break Free is an anthem, i don't understand why everyone call it generic.
Love your taste.
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