Oh no! My lampshades and twigs are on fire!! And a bunch of albums I didn't listen to in 2014! But those are not on fire. I am, for not listening to those albums.
A perplexing song. I feel like I should be offended by someone putting Katy Perry and Kate Bush together, but I can’t help but love it. Maybe I just wanted an excuse to put something with Kate Bush on my year end list? Either way, it strangely melds well together at certain parts, and by the end I find it quite a bit moving. I've never really thought much about this whole genre of mash up music before, but this might be a gateway into discovering more of it!
Best lyrical moment: You’re like my yo-yo (SEX ON THE BEACH) that glowed in the dark
Best musical moment: 3:00, when everything goes insane . It’ll sound more coherent after the 20th listen.
Fun fact(s): This is the guy who made the iconic Mysterious Ticking Noise video! Also, check out his creepy as hell mashup between the music of Pyscho and the B-52's Love Shack.
149. Early- Run the Jewels (feat. Boots)
Very relevant song, sadly. Yet it’s no surprise that this was written before the events of this year. Killer Mike’s verse especially is chilling, telling the story of a family pulled over which ends in a mother and wife being killed. I love the parallels between his and El-P's verses, with EL-P's last line connecting it to Killer Mikes. Racially based police brutality is out of control nowadays, and I hope we can get a change, even though right now it feels pretty impossible. (random note: Doing a presentation on Ferguson this week in front of my conservative, republican, catholic, mostly white class! Wish me luck)
Best Lyrical moment: Heard a kid plus pops watched, cop make girl bleed. Go to home, go to sleep, up again, early
Best musical moment: Boots’ chilling hook.
148. You’re Mine (Eternal)- Mariah Carey
I feel like I’ve heard it before? Who cares. This song was love at first sight for me, just a classic Mariah-esque ballad.
Best lyrical moment: Springtime eyes that getchuu every timee
Best musical moment: That last note! I give props to whoever/whatever made that happen.
147. Check Out- Cibo Matto
(33:50)
Incredibly pretty, haunting ballad. Perfect way to end the album. There are kinda 3 different parts to it, and the middle parts changes the tempo a bit, but by the end it’s back to the ballad part of it.
Best musical moment: The beginning/end
Best lyrical moment: you said you wanted to seeee thee ocean
146. Boys Latin- Panda Bear
Very Animal Collective-esque. Bubbly, trippy happy song. I love whatever effect he uses on his vocals.
Best lyrical moment: Dark clouds (the only words I understood, so yeah)
Best musical moment: His vocals throughout the whole thing!
145. Two Rings Shy- Miranda Lambert
One of the many brilliant offerings on her new album! I picked this one because a certain Brandy Clark wrote it and I love her too much, plus all the circus imagery and literal circus sounds are pretty funny. Miranda just oozes personality and confidence.
Best musical moment: All the instruments and background noises implanted in the song, specifically at the beginning.
Best lyrical moment: Take this diamond back and you'll be two rings shy of the big top tent The double meaning (I think?)! Love it.
144. Carolina- Kimbra
THE road trip song of the year! I love the opening of it, with the “mu muh muh’s” and Kimbra’s processed vocals. The most joyful thing Kimbra has put out and all the harmonies, melodies and what not combine to make a perfect summery pop confection.
Best lyrical moment: But in my heart I know it's time to come back, I'm always travelling fast to nowhere, mmm
Best musical moment: The opening! Yas!
143. Lost on the Way Home - Chromeo (feat. Solange)
Solange is greaaat on this. Can’t think of anything else to say.
Best lyrical moment: The stuff Solange says, specifically “and i know its gonna take somee time"
Best musical moment: Solange's singing.
142. Good Kisser- Usher
Can’t say I’m the biggest Usher fan. But every now and then he releases some greaaat songs. This one in particular (it’s no Climax obviously, but yeah)! It’s a pretty bare, R&B bassy (Prince-ish?) track. His falsetto sounds great on here. Underrated song!
Best musical moment: DA DA DA DUM DUM
Best lyrical moment: You do it so good you **** my mind
Bonus:
Numbers- FKA Twigs
Kicks was actually supposed to be here, and Numbers was supposed to be the HM! But oh well. I’ll put this here as an interlude between sets! I've been trying to post this update for like 5 days, but between injured dogs and school I haven't had a chance until now!
Numbers! I love everything on that album so its my obligatory mention.
I liked Check Out & Carolina a lot too. You're Mine was good as well but I ended up getting tired of it before the album even came out. Her timing this era was all over the place.
I don't know most of these songs, but I am just so impressed by the amount of thought and effort to put it all together. Write-ups and best musical moments and best lyrical moments? You're killing it!
I don't know most of these songs, but I am just so impressed by the amount of thought and effort to put it all together. Write-ups and best musical moments and best lyrical moments? You're killing it!
Wow thanks! Yeah I feel like I've bitten off a bit more than I can chew, but we'll see.
Best musical moment: everything going on in the chorus!
best lyrical moment: The only thing I found were worlds unknown
My heart was floating (floating floating)
139. 7/11- Beyonce
If any song was a grower this year, it was this one. Only the King could get me to love this song.
Best musical moment: the beautiful outro
Best lyrical moment: Ooh wee be-be freaky deaky
Think me see she pink bikini
Rock that groovy dye dashiki
Nefertiti, edges kinky, fresher than uuuuu
138. Madhouse- Kimbra
Catchy Kimbra-ey goodness. She wears her influences on her sleeves, but I don’t mind, this is just way too enjoyable.
Best musical moment: The beginning when it’s quiet and then the bass kicks in! Gets me every time. Plus that chorus is PERFECT.
Best lyrical moment: Chaos and Disorder! I’m a mess, then I’m a messiah
137. You Don’t Know What To Do- Mariah Carey
The disco revivalism continues, and I’m in love! I don’t care what people say, Mariah has still got it, and she’s better than ever.
Best lyrical moment: you dunno what you dunno what you dunno what too dooo
best musical moment: Ooh that opening. Just pianos and Mariah’s vocals (and a bit of Wale). I almost wish the rest of the song continued like it. But that chorus makes up for it.
136. Completement fou- Yelle
A perfectly crafted, meticulousy produced, classy electro pop gem. Also known as “Completely Crazy” in English, if you were wondering.
best lyrical moment: Je ne te ferais pas la bise quoi qu'il arrive, Ce n'est pas un vent c'est la brise OR No matter what, I wouldn't kiss you on the cheek, It's not a fart, it's the breeze (everything sounds better in french, doesn't it?)
best musical moment: The vocal warping at the end!
135. Where does this disco?- YACHT
Let’s keep the disco going! Just a fun tune with relentless synths.
Best musical moment: the slightly robotic chorus
Best lyrical moment: Where does this disco? Ain't rock roll, ain't disco