15. Fireworks - Oh, Common Life
Ughhh why weren’t all these emo-leaning albums in my life when I was 14. And melodies for days. His vocal style doesn’t vary enough though; some of the songs blend together. Each song sounds better in isolation than when listened to as a whole.
14. Ed Sheeran - X
Of course there’s some clunky lyrics (“smoking illegal weed”) and his personality remains generally embarrassing and a hinderance despite his great voice. But this is a massive pop album. The production is so sharp. The songs are crystallised dramatic intensity, with epic and sweeping build-ups and climaxes. Like, the ways “Bloodstream”, “I’m A Mess” and “Afire Love” end are just TOO much. And “Tenerife Sea” is light and beautiful, “Don’t” is a soulful, singlongable JAM, “Runaway” is sooooo groovy and addictive, and “Thinking Out Loud” is one part nauseating but three parts instant classic (kind of the story of the album). The only not great song is “The Man” which is unbelievably embarrassing yet almost adorably stupid (the bit where he’s wondering if he’s gonna end up dead because of a spliff).
13. Against Me! - Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Albums with song titles like ‘****mylife666’ and lyrics like ‘I wanna piss on the walls of your house’ <3 Each song is classic, could be even higher up if the production wasn’t kind of off-puttingly muddy at times; the instrumentation doesn’t always pop like it should.
12. D'Angelo and the Vanguard - Black Messiah
So enveloping. Need more time with it, but it takes me to CHURCH. Music to groove to whilst cooking.
11. Tinashe - Aquarius
We’re now at the stage where every album on the list is life-changing. Every song on this is distinctive and works on its own, but also really well-sequenced and well-paced. Thank God she didn’t just do a bunch of sad nothingy r&b vibes like certain others. Amazing moody gothic epics like “Far Side Of The Moon” and straight up bangers like “All Hands On Deck”. <3 Album kind of reminds me of Dawn Richard’s Goldenheart in both sound and vision.
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at its mention.
