When 'Aquarius' first came out, woo, was I DISAPPOINTED! That doesn't matter though because now I ****ing love it. Idk if I was expecting more legendary bops like "2 On" or something, but whatever I was thinking I was wrong. 'Aquarius' is, first of all, produced immaculately as an album on the whole. Every single song is sonically interesting. I didn't know Tinashe had a voice either, But it's more than evident that she is slaying the vocal game, especially on songs like "Bated Breath" and probably others I don't remember. But yes, everything I originally found slow and boring grew on me soooo much and I literally like every song. Obviously some slay more than others, such as "Wildfire", Far Side of the Moon", and "Feels Like Vegas" (which is SCREAMINGGGG to be a single pls GOD!). "How Many Times" is ruined by Flopture though, I don't know what they were thinking with that one. But yes, henny, get into one of the best R&B albums of the year, fit with a stunning album cover. If this is her at the beginning of her mainstream career, I can only imagine the type of salvage we got coming up, lawd.
The Essential Tracks: "2 On", "All Hands On Deck", "Feels Like Vegas", "Bated Breath", "Wildfire"
Iggy Azalea - ‘The New Classic’ (Including the accompanying re-issue, ‘Reclassified’)
After "Work" topped my Best Of... 2013 singles countdown, obviously 'The New Classic' was going to be one of my most anticipated releases of 2014. Although a few album cuts are definitely boring and uninteresting, my gyal mostly delivered. However, 'Reclassified' definitely adds to the album overall, whereas without the re-release the original album is kind of bland. A major detriment to the album is that much of its best songs were released before the album was out ("Work", "Change Your Life", "Fancy") so when the full package finally came it was a little disappointing since we already had a few great songs. That said, songs like "Walk the Line", "Don't Need Y'all", and "**** Love" slay DOWNNNNN and are amazing songs. A lot of people say Iggy is untalented or whatever but I really think songs like "Walk the Line" especially show her abilities and disprove that. If anything, however, we know Iggy has an ear for hits, which is also super important, and makes me even more excited for I2 in 2015. 'Reclassified' is obviously a mess being a separate album and all but it houses some of her best songs ("Beg For It", "Iggy SZN", "Heavy Crown") and adds a lot to the overall experience. Iggy definitely had a tumultuous 2014, which I stuck by her through and through, and I can only hope that with all of the attention she got, she can channel it into a brilliant piece of work and deliver a great and inspired second album. I love this album but she beta step it up and show these girls OWT!
The Essential Tracks: "Walk the Line", "Don't Need Y'all", "Work", "**** Love", "Beg For It"
I've been following The Weeknd for a few years now, and I've always been kind of hit or miss with him. "Often", however, is a HUGE hit. The production is just... GODLY. So, so, flawless. He keeps talking about ***** popping in the song and henny I'm dewing it to this beat like... whatever. It's also so catchy like what kind of urban SMASH? But As far as I know it's probably hated cuz its one of his most mainstream releases or something. I'll keep this gospel for MYSELF then, thanks.
Oh hey summer smash! I like Maroon 5 well enough but out of their recent music (last 5 years) this is EASILY their best. I mean, sure it's the same formulaic big-name-producer made-to-be-a-hit pop music, but it's of the highest degree. The song is structured perfectly and is ohhhhhh so catchy. The melody shreds lessor's lives and the chorus is phenomenal. Pop perfection without being generic. Good job M5.
I'm unsure if anyone has heard of this guy, but if you haven't PLEASE LISTEN! Such a good, vibey, chill, laid-back pop song that deserves to be huge. His lyrics are picturesque against the beat which makes for such an enjoyable listen. Like... "I'd rather be alone... but you've fermented in my bones " snags my wig every time. The starkness of the song actually makes me sad but I love it so much. A real moody get-in-your-feelings song and I'm here for it 24/7. Get your life sistrens.
2014 wasn't really the year of the mid-tempo, and this song not OBLITERATING the charts like it should have is the ultimate proof of that. What kind of show stopping vocals and emotion is she serving in this? Its heart wrenching. By the time she gets to that last chorus its like tears for mercy! And tears because she whipped my wig clean off so fast! The video is a slay as well. Cher please kill it in 2015 henny I need you.
The other flawless summer smash! Serious pop perfection. The only thing about this song is that I got over it and if I didn't have to listen to it for the next year I probably wouldn't care. But it's on her flawless new album so that won't be the case. Said album is coming up soon, btw.
I really was bound to dislike this album. 'True Romance', Charli's debut alberm, was so uninteresting to me, and I do NOT like pop-rock or generally anything rock influenced, as this album is. However, 'Sucker' obviously became one of my favorite releases of 2014. Something just WORKS about everything. The campy punk-rock jams like "London Queen" and "Breaking Up", the made-for-radio but still edgy cuts like "Famous" and "Die Tonight", and the gooey pop anthems "Doing It" and "Boom Clap" all flow and ebb wondrously on one album. The album has it's lows, like the mistakenly-made 2nd single "Break the Rules", which is monumentally boring and drab, and while not nearly as bad, "Hanging Around" is plain and unremarkable. Nearly every other track is essential and sonically pleasing. My personal favorite of the album is "Caught in the Middle" which I absolutely have no words for short of best mid tempo song of 2014. I know many fans didn't appreciate her move into more commercial territory, but honestly at least she took something and really made it her own and made a special piece of work. If anyone is on the fence on checking this out, I would just say to let it grow on you because once it does, gerl... I originally had this placed at like #9 or something but it's only gotten better with every passing day and I had to move it up. Also I put "SuperLove" at the end of the album and it fits perfectly, do it sistrens.
The Essential Tracks: "Breaking Up", "Gold Coins", "Doing It", "Die Tonight", "Caught in the Middle"
I made a prediction last year when I ranked Ari's first album in my Best Of...2013, that she would definitely be able to carve a place in pop for herself if she kept her cute R&B-pop sound, and what do you know, she's one of the biggest pop stars on the planet only a year later. 'My Everything' isn't as unique as her debut, 'Yours Truly', but it's certainly more polished and delivers more on almost every front. The album is packed to the brim with hit singles (four of them already making a heavy impact on the charts, consecutive top 10's) and Ariana sounds amazing throughout the entire album. There is a ballad or so too many, and the deluxe songs were dredged from the bottom of the barrel, but highlights such as "Love Me Harder", "Best Mistake", and "One Last Time" help to look past these shortcomings. Almost every song has immaculate production as well, with interesting albeit safe instrumentals littering the album. With this release, Ariana reminds me even more of a Rihanna-lite, and I think that potentially she could be on her level some day. It's rumored that Ari is already back in the studio recording A3 and I hope this is true, because while the album still has amazing tracks left that could be released, it seems like the era is kind of at a standstill and I'm always down for more new music to help solidify her into an even bigger force in the pop world.
The Essential Tracks: "Break Free", "Best Mistake", "Be My Baby", "Love Me Harder", "Hands On Me"
Can't wait for more updates!
" snags my wig every time. The starkness of the song actually makes me sad but I love it so much. A real moody get-in-your-feelings song and I'm here for it 24/7. Get your life sistrens.
