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Subby's SUPER 2015 | Thank yew
Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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Joanna Newsom was an artist that I had wanted to get into for a while, but this year was the year. It was an interesting journey for sure, but it was definitely worth the effort and to top it all off she released a new album to celebrate my strides. Thanks JNew! The album was obviously good and a very 'Joanna Newsom' album.
Joanna has always been good with melodies and this album is no different on that front. Loads of memorable melodies can be found on here, which are complemented perfectly with her signature storytelling in her lyrics. The instrumentation is as great as you'd expect from her, she spent a lot of time on them and it really does shows, her craftsmanship is always A+ and they really give the album it's character. I would say this album separates itself from the other Joanna albums because of this instrumentation. It's bliss.
This is her most accessible album easily. This is a bit of a double-edged sword. On one hand, I doubt it will continue unravelling itself for months to come like her past works, but I also doubt I would've had enough time to let it marinate for this list if it was like her past works. There are some duds too. If you don't like Joanna Newsom already then you probably won't like this, but if you are interested in her then this would be a good starting place. Like I said, it is a very 'Joanna Newsom' album.
Stand-outs: Sapokanikan, Waltz of the 101st Lightborne & Divers.
Continuing her awesome transformation from "QuiRky indIe tumBlr gal xD  ))" to an interesting, if somewhat pretentious at times, alt-pop diva that she started back in 2013, it's V V (VV? Last name or no? Girl...). Yeah, not sure what she wants to go by anymore, but I guess just V V saves a few bytes of memory. Girl you aren't big enough to be mononymous.
Anyway, Glitch is the follow-up to 2013's Samson and Delilah, which was one of my absolute favourite releases of that year. V V takes her sound and image (girl that haircut...) in a new direction, but keeps the basis of the electro sound that made me fall in love with her 2 years ago. The album is a really cool electronic romp with a very alien feel to it. The title is fitting, the production here is very videogame-y at points and has a lot of stuttering and industrial sounds. Her vocals are just like the operatic stylings that she explored on the last album, which is nice as I thought they were a good fit for her and this kind of music.
For the most part, the sound is very consistent and interesting, but some of the tracks are just not... good. Money Sex Power is the techno bastard child that Lana never wanted. Not to mention there are some tracks which act as just short continuations of the previous track, like Instincts and Violet, and while they sound fine I just have to wonder what the point is? Extending the tracklist? It is pretty short so perhaps.
Does it match up to its predecessor? Not really, but I was never really expecting it to. It makes fine follow-up and keeps me interested in V V's future exploits, though she may need a new PledgeMusic judging by the charting for this.
Stand-outs: Lazarus, Fractured & Ultraviolet.
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 5,766
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Didn't really expect to see Joanna here so slay  Definitely one of my favourite releases this year.
I need to get more into Glitch. It sounded pretty interesting but didn't have song as outstanding as The Apple or Igneous so I kinda paid it dust.
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Member Since: 1/6/2014
Posts: 21,185
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I have heard so much about Joana's album this year but I have yet to listen it, oh well! And  for one of the Emotion top tracks making the list, also Grimes and Natalie 
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Member Since: 2/17/2012
Posts: 33,611
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Divers???? Girl you know better than that. 
I thought Glitch was underrated, it was a dancier version of Samson & Delilah, the melodrama! I loved it so much 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 13,761
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yes! i started compiling a list of potential best-of's ages ago, and i saw i put glitch pretty high on my albums and i had to go back to see if i really liked it that much (spoiler: i did)
i think it's a fun album, has some really nice unexpected quirks (d&b on space to breathe, the outro to talk about this)
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 29,531
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I'm always here for some Charli and Carly Rae.
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Member Since: 11/18/2011
Posts: 5,396
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I actually agree with what you had to say about Joanna's album. It's currently my favorite of hers but I doubt it'll stay that way once it's run its course.
V V Brown ugh I love her so much. I mostly agree with what you said except I actually like the half-songs, Indstincts in particular. It makes me feel like I can be a CEO in one year if I GET MY **** and FIGHT FOR IT
Sometimes I wish she was charting better and such because she's so sweet, but she seems to be happy where she's at.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 12,760
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Bitch, not you suddenly stanning for Joanna after paying her DUST in TW2k10! 
But anyway, both really good albums. I agree with your write-ups too, especially about Divers not being as rewarding in the long term as her others.
Money Sex Power scalps though. Let's not!
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Member Since: 5/23/2007
Posts: 65,087
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Drake, Charli and Carly! Great set 
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Your songs are perfect so far. Got to express my happiness for Legend and Vince though 
I haven't taken a listen to Joanna's newest yet. I'm still letting Have One On Me sink in, but I'm sure it's great. I really need to get into Glitch though 
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Member Since: 4/16/2007
Posts: 30,963
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Carly & Charli
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 12,948
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I've just listened to some songs from both albums and they were good so.
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Member Since: 6/19/2012
Posts: 29,579
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I forgot VV released an album this year  I made a note to listen to it and all, too
And it's good to hear that Divers is a good starting point as I've never before listened to Joanna.
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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This is cute! Never really got into her album outside of the first two tracks, but I do like this one. I don't wanna be rude but was anyone else disappointed that she wasn't very... pretty?
No shade or anything, just being honest.
Anyway she's getting all that acclaim alone anyway, so go girl.
A very poppy, commercial Beck track. And what's wrong with that? As long as the music ends up good then I don't give a **** about the making. I feel like this was used in an ad cus it was very familiar to me at first listen.
Definitely catchier and more instant than some of his past work, I love the little slower part at the bridge too. Curious about whatever Beck has planned next, whenever he leaves witness protection from Hive attacks.
I mean, Shamir's style, especially on his debut track last year, called obvious comparisons to Azealia Banks. You know, except it's not coming from a clearly disturbed individual in great need of therapy and possibly sanctioning. Anyway he's better so...
What I love about the record is the personality he displays, such as on here. Through his writing and delivery he makes a really cute colourful record, seen in full effect on this track. He's actually pretty cute too, I think I have a crush on ha.
Definitely a PopJanet influenced track, who else but the modern Janet? Honestly, Ciara dropped the ball this year. Hint: she will not be appearing on my albums list because Jackie is awful. So disappointed in you girl, I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you!
This is one of the few salvageable tracks though, the video is nice but I'm not sure where she got that budget.
Demi Lovato was the best popstar of 2015, without a single doubt. Literally everything she did was meme status, like poor boring-ass basic bitch Selena, not sure how anyone is stanning for that. Ugh, I kind of love her so much, last year I would never have believed you if you said she'd make my year-end list.
Demi being fake lesbian is unsurprisingly believable, to the point I don't doubt we'll be getting a confession from her in a few years time. This track is a fast burner, so while I don't like it as much as I did when it came out it's still a cutey bop.
Remember when Demi said mugs were her favourite dish? 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/3/2014
Posts: 34,134
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Quote:
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like poor boring-ass basic bitch Selena, not sure how anyone is stanning for that.
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 NSFW!
I am really living with all the lashings and draggings that the talentless Disney girl with mouse vocals is getting from these Best of 2015 threads. Ofc, also all the praises Demi is getting. 
Dance Like We're Making Love and Dreams being here as well 
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 5,766
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Quote:
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Demi Lovato was the best popstar of 2015, without a single doubt. Literally everything she did was meme status, like poor boring-ass basic bitch Selena, not sure how anyone is stanning for that. Ugh, I kind of love her so much, last year I would never have believed you if you said she'd make my year-end list.
Demi being fake lesbian is unsurprisingly believable, to the point I don't doubt we'll be getting a confession from her in a few years time. This track is a fast burner, so while I don't like it as much as I did when it came out it's still a cutey bop.
Remember when Demi said mugs were her favourite dish?
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All of this I don't like her music but who cares when she's such a kii herself.
Dreams is pretty cool but I totally forgot about it and yeah, DLWML was one of the two or three tracks I liked off Jackie. Everyone's praising Pedestrian at Best but I've never heard it, will listen in a minute.
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Member Since: 6/19/2012
Posts: 29,579
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Call It Off is so On the Regular reductive. The bridges are basically the same
and yasss @ cool ranch for the summer. max's best production this year.
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Member Since: 8/31/2013
Posts: 12,948
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Only 1 out of those 6 lines for CFTS are referring to the song itself. 
Also, you won't come for queen Barnett like that. 
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Member Since: 9/4/2012
Posts: 23,263
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 20,947
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OMG yas Joanna! I really enjoyed her album, and it was basically my first encounter with her (I mean I listened to Ys once, but lets just say it didn't go very well). The instrumentation is really cute like you said, it was the highlight for me. Wish I spent more time on it though. I don't remember you ever talking about her though. 
And omg, you're such a Demi stan.
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