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Pink Matter's 2017 Best Of | Update: Albums 10-1 | FINISHED!


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Posted
14 hours ago, Kiss It Better said:

Freudian is so good

I don't really like dvsn's album idk why 

I need to get into Thundercat's album

Yess I'm just now getting hooked on it :jonny: 

dvsn's album was nice. Maybe it was the change in production?

And Thundercat's album was nice. It looks long but many of the tracks are short.

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Posted

The Thundercat, Oxbow and Charlotte albums were nice :thing:

 

Quote

 (no song should EVER be 13 minutes long).

:biblio:

Posted
3 minutes ago, theblackestday said:

The Thundercat, Oxbow and Charlotte albums were nice :thing:

 

:biblio:

Did I lie? :thing: 

Posted

Freudian >>>>

 

I... Didn't listen to dvsn's album because everything after The Line is one big disappointment. Like... I can't. 

Posted

only one i really got into was Freudian. It's amazing

 

I need to check out Thundercat. And Charlotte. Deadly Valentine was one of my favorites songs last year 

Posted
2 hours ago, Pink Matter said:

Did I lie? :thing: 

The entire genre of post rock disagrees with you :duck: 

Posted
5 hours ago, Wicked said:

Freudian >>>>

 

I... Didn't listen to dvsn's album because everything after The Line is one big disappointment. Like... I can't. 

I'd say the singles (Think About Me, Don't Choose, Mood, P.O.V.) are worth a listen. If you like those, then you might like the album. As a whole, Morning After is not like Sept 5th so if that stopped you at all, then you have nothing to worry about :celestial5: 

 

4 hours ago, montrealxo said:

only one i really got into was Freudian. It's amazing

 

I need to check out Thundercat. And Charlotte. Deadly Valentine was one of my favorites songs last year 

Yes it is! Thundercat and Charlotte both merit a listen too :celestial4: 

 

3 hours ago, Lucas32 said:

The entire genre of post rock disagrees with you :duck: 

I assume the majority of the songs you're referring to make sure to switch up the pace at least once. LLA, sadly, is stagnant all throughout :duck:

 

OT: Next set coming in like 5 minutes. Stay tuned. :celestial3:

 

 

Posted

Top 50 Best Albums of 2017

 

Albums 35-31

 

35) Terrace Martin Presents The Pollyseeds|Sounds of Crenshaw Vol. 1

Genre: R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop

 

Image result for terrace martin presents the pollyseeds review

 

 

This is one of the simplest records in my list. Not because it lacks depth, but because it's very straightforward. As soon as you press play on Tapestry, you already know what you're walking into. For me, Sounds of Crenshaw Vol. 1 is everything I like about Thundercat's Drunk, without the psychedelic vibes or the wacky lyrics and production/instrumentation. Although The Pollyseeds, a group of rappers and singers curated by Terrace Martin himself, put on fine performances throughout the album, the instrumentation is the star of the show here. Sounds of Crenshaw Vol. 1 is a sweet fusion of R&B, jazz, and Neo-Soul that's perfect for relaxing, lounging, and just plain taking it easy. 

 

Listen to: Intentions, Mama D/Leiment Park

 

34) Sabrina Claudio|About Time

Genre: Alt. R&B

 

Image result for sabrina claudio about time

 

The flowers will be blooming
The leaves will be turning
And snow will be falling
While we're making love

 

I feel many people are tired of all of the new "alt. R&B" acts that seem to pop up year after year, because it seems that very few of them are working to put out anything that's worthwhile, exciting, and new. Or at the very least, not like their contemporaries. Being honest, it does get quite exhausting seeing new artists pop up and having to wonder if they're worth the effort to get into. Which is why I was pretty hesitant to get into Sabrina, because I feared she would be like what I described. Hitting play and coming to the "first" song Natural and I could feel my worries wash away. What separates Sabrina from many of her contemporaries is neither the production she chooses to sing over nor the lyrics she sings; both are pretty standard, but of a good quality. What makes her standout from the pack is her gorgeous voice. It's not necessarily the strongest voice out there (she ain't no Whitney or Mimi) but it's so calm  and irresistible. Whenever she moans, croons, or sighs, I'm filled with bliss :alexz3: She uses it like an instrument, layering it on top of each other in many of the songs on the album to enhance her already wonderful voice and the experience for the listener. Above all else, her voice is one of the sexiest voices I've listened to all year. For a mixtape, this was a wonderful project and I'm very much looking forward to her debut album, whenever that may come out.

 

Listen to: Belong To You, Frozen

 

33) Mali Music|The Transition of Mali

Genre: R&B, Soul

 

Image result for mali music the transition of mali

 

Father I see the light is on
The grim reaper is asleep
Got his hands on all your people
It don't feel right, know I know something's wrong

 

See what I said about Daniel Caesar's Freudian, and apply it to Mali Music. Much like Daniel Caesar, Mali Music, also known as Kortney Pollard, was a breath of fresh air for R&B music for me this year. Except here, almost everything is more pronounced. The production switches from acoustic, to modern, to something more gospel-tinged, all while Mali makes use of the strongest instrument he has at his disposal. On The Transition of Mali, we have a stronger and a more varied vocal performance from Pollard, with him mixing cooing, scat-singing, a sort of spoken-word, sing-talking, as well as rapping throughout the album. With great, vocals, great production, and song-writing to match, what more could you ask for? 

 

Listen to: Still, Worth It

 

32) Priests|Nothing Feels Natural

Genre: Post-Punk

 

Image result for priests nothing feels natural

 

Magical psychology, deceptive anthropology
All the wing nuts got a haircut, bred and had babies

 

Fiery. Feisty. Spunky. Aggressive. *insert similar adjective here*. You guys get the idea. This was one of my favorite records from earlier in 2017 because it gave me exactly what I wanted to hear. High energy, in-your-face rock music. Starting from Appropriate and ending at Suck, this project doesn't let up the gas for a second (okay it kinda of let's up for Interlude and Suck). Simply put, it's quite thrilling. The instrumentation is top-notch and the vocal performance from Katie is just as dynamic. However, I do think it can be a bit too much. Not counting the interlude, there's only 9 tracks and sits at a whopping 33 minutes or so and yet I feel exhausted every time I listen to it :deadbanana4: Nonetheless, this album is always a treat to go back to :heart2: 

 

Listen to: Jj, Nothing Feels Natural

 

Beck|Colors

Genre: Alt. Dance, Pop Rock

 

Image result for beck colors

 

You sang your swan song to the dogs
’Cause they made mincemeat of the dreams you hung your hopes on
So you counted out what your sins cost
While money talks to your conscience, looking like a fool for love

 

 

I've seen a lot of general criticisms for this album with this just not being an album people wanted from him. As someone who is just now getting into Beck, I can't start to imagine the disappointment people may have felt because I went in to this with an open mind and zero expectations. And what I got was one of the funnest, catchiest, and infectious albums I've had the pleasure of listening to in 2017. Tons of earworms and feel-good anthems on this album to sink your teeth into. Our pop girls could neva! With the release of Colors, I realized that when it comes to listening to music, it's important to take the album/mixtape/EP/project for what it is and not what it's not. Sometimes it makes sense to compare a project to the work that preceded it to see if the artist is regressing back into territory they've already crossed or are experimenting with new sounds or themes, but often times people just complain about not getting what they wanted and that helps no one. Drag the overall quality of the project if you want, but considering this album is filled with quirky lyrics (yeah I know I kinda dragged Thundercat for it but I like how it's done here :thing: ), catchy hooks and melodies, an engaging performance from Beck, and energizing production, I'd say that's hard to do.

 

Listen to: I'm So Free, No Distraction

  • ATRL Moderator
Posted

omg i haven't listened to any of these :deadbanana:

listened to the singles from colors but meeeeh

Posted

Album recap (35-31)

 

Spoiler

 

31) Beck|Colors

32) Priests|Nothing Feels Natural

33) Mali Music|The Transition of Mali

34) Sabrina Claudio|About Time

35) Terrace Martin Presents The Pollyseeds|Sounds of Crenshaw Vol. 1

36) Snoh Aalegra|FEELS

37) Charlotte Gainsbourg|Rest

38) Foxygen|Hang

39) Father John Misty|Pure Comedy

40) Ronika|Lose My Cool

41) Daniel Caesar|Freudian

42) dvsn|Morning After

43) Oxbow|Thin Black Duke

44) Thundercat|Drunk

45) Why?|Moh Lhean

46) Lil' Uzi Vert|Luv Is Rage 2

47) Aminé|Good For You

48) Mura Masa|s/t

49) Susanne Sundfør|Music For People In Trouble

50) Gorillaz|Humanz

 

 

Posted
4 minutes ago, Unoriginal said:

omg i haven't listened to any of these :deadbanana:

listened to the singles from colors but meeeeh

Check out the Priests and Sabrina rec's :celestial3:And I'd say the singles are among the weaker tracks (minus Up All Night).

Posted

Nothing Feels Natural :clap3: I agree with that you said. I also don't think it's very memorable but it's fun to actively listen to. I don't really go back to it anymore though.

Posted

Wasn't expecting Beck but good for him :-*

Nothing Feels Naturally didn't leave much for me but I like the highlights.

I'm not sure whether I liked Sabrina's EP or Album more. 

Posted
3 hours ago, theblackestday said:

Nothing Feels Natural :clap3: I agree with that you said. I also don't think it's very memorable but it's fun to actively listen to. I don't really go back to it anymore though.

Saem unfortunately :'( But Jj gets me going every time :jamming: 

 

1 hour ago, Tom Vercetti said:

Wasn't expecting Beck but good for him :-*

Nothing Feels Naturally didn't leave much for me but I like the highlights.

I'm not sure whether I liked Sabrina's EP or Album more. 

Had to show him so love :flower: Lord knows everyone else wasn't going to :rip:

NFN was good for what it was and gave me what I needed. And speaking of, I do need to listen her EP when I have the chance :celestial5:

Posted

Hmmm Beck's album was ok I guess! 

Posted

I agree abt Sabrina's voice :smitten: So smooth

 

Priests and Beck :clap3: 

Posted

I'm so free being you pick from Colors :alexz:

Priests too :clap3: 

Posted
10 hours ago, Lazuli said:

Hmmm Beck's album was ok I guess! 

I thot it was quite fun but I can see why others may feel differently

 

2 hours ago, Maddox said:

I agree abt Sabrina's voice :smitten: So smooth

 

Priests and Beck :clap3: 

So buttery :smitten: I need to get into her Confidently Lost EP soon!

 

32 minutes ago, Lucas32 said:

I'm so free being you pick from Colors :alexz:

Priests too :clap3: 

It's a major bop so I had to do it justice :alexz: 

 

OT: Since my classes start around the time I usually do my sets, I'm getting to work on the comments for 30-26 now. If you haven't seen the earlier set, make sure to do so :flower: 

 

 

Posted

loooove Priests :worship2: one of the best debuts of 2017.

Posted (edited)

Top 50 Best Albums

 

Albums 30-26

 

30) Cherry Glazerr|Apocalipstick

Genre: Indie Rock

 

Cherry Glazerr - Apocalipstick

 

I feel my blood is boiling
I'm crawling up the wall
I smell the fear around us
Of when I was, eighty feet tall

 

The way I feel about this album as a whole is very similar to how I feel about Nuclear Bomb. In my write up for Nuclear Bomb, I stated that it's more or less your standard indie rock record. And for me, that works just fine. Apocalipstick doesn't really push any boundaries, or do anything that's new or different. But does every record have to? Not really. I do think it's important for artists to challenge themselves so they can grow, but at the end of the day, the most important thing an artist should do is put out the best piece of music they can. And for me, Cherry Glazerr did just that. With great instrumentation and composition, not to mention one of the best outro's I've heard all year (it always makes me feel like my soul is being dragged down to hell :heart2:), this album held up for me quite well for a good period of time throughout 2017.

 

Listen to: I Told You I'd Be With The Guys, Lucid Dreams

 

29) Yellow Days|Is Everything Okay In Your World?

Genre: Indie Rock, Jazz, Blues

 

Yellow Days - Is Everything Okay In Your World?

 

So I jus' stay laid back
'Cause I know in love
I know I could never fake that
None of you could take that
Away from me

 

For some reason, I was drawing a blank with this album. It took me a much longer time to formulate what I wanted to say in order to describe the way this album made me feel. Which is funny because it's pretty similar to how George van den Broek, also known as Yellow Days, felt all throughout his debut album. Confusion, bewilderment, and uncertainty, towards himself and the world around him. At the age of 18, George has already crafted a soundscape that perfectly illustrate the situations he's been dealing with. His voice, which is about as powerful as the instruments that were utilized in making these songs, is his greatest weapon here. His voice is gritty, husky, and full, with an essence of melancholy and sadness that helps to add power to the already melancholic and sad lyrics he's written. With that being said, there are still a few bright spots on the album to show that despite the unfortunate events he may deal with, he tries to push through them in order to reach a happier state of mind. Although I like the idea of this album, there were some songs that were weak and bring the overall quality of the album down. But with something like a debut or first project, you sort of get a showcase of his talents instead of the best possible result, so I'm okay with the few duds on here. Even with the duds, he's shown that he has talent and vision beyond his years and with his debut LP looming on the horizon, he's certainly someone to be on the lookout for.

 

 

Listen to: Lately I (feat. Rejjie Snow), Hurt In Love

 

28) Blanck Mass|World Eater

Genre: Post-Industrial, Electronic

 

Blanck Mass - World Eater

 

I don't think there's a way for me to accurately describe how this album made/makes me feel honestly. I was caught off guard so hard on my first listen because I just felt I was being attacked by so many sounds at once. Yet it all sounded like it fit the way it was meant to. I think the best way to describe it is as "organized chaos". However, there are moments where this loud, noisy industrial sound isn't prevalent throughout the entirety of the album. I was quite surprised to hear Please after being subjected to John Doe's Carnival of Error and Rhesus Negative (and Naked after listening to Minnesota and Eas Fors) and I think what I liked about it was that it acted like a sort of "comedown" from the high that were those two tracks. That moment made me appreciate the wonderful melodies Please and Naked provided even more. Exhilarating and oddly hypnotic, this made for one of the best surprises throughout 2017. 

 

Listen to: Minnesota/Eas Fors/Naked

 

27) Ibeyi|Ash

Genre: Art Pop, R&B/Soul, Jazz

 

Ibeyi - Ash

 

I've been thinking lately
How seasons fall apart
Back to the start
Should I share how I feel
Or bury it inside?
(Or bury it inside?)

 

I know I may have used the words "interesting" and "unique" to describe the albums that have preceded this in my countdown already, but hey it fits this one just as well. And it's true! Given the duo sang about a myriad of topics ranging from racism, to feminism, to the expression of one's self, and even yearning for a sense of longing plus other things that I couldn't understand as they transitioned from English, to Spanish to Yoruba (:heart2:) and back to English and mixed in elements of jazz, R&B and Soul, and electronic and ambient influences to create this amalgamation of sounds, Ash made for one of the most dynamic listens of 2017. With Ash, I think the main take away they were trying to get across the most was that in spite of adversity, we all will overcome it. In spite of our suffering, we will come back stronger than ever before. Personally, I think it's because the problems we deal with cause us to be more empathetic and connect with others more easily, allowing us to treat each other with love and kindness. Deathless, one of the singles released from this album, explains this the best. In an interview by Fader with the duo, Lisa, one half of the duo, stated the following: “And I desperately needed a song that would remind us that we are… deathless. This want we have of humans being together and loving each other, no matter what. This is what we have to carry.” Overall, I found this to be a beautiful piece of work.

 

Listen to: Away Away, Ash

 

26) Alex Cameron|Forced Witness

Genre: Synthpop

 

Alex Cameron - Forced Witness

 

The worst part about being homeless
Is waking up from a dirty wet dream
With a lap full of c*m and a head full of steam

 

This is... quite the colorful album. Not just in the catchy synthpop production that it is utilized all throughout the album, but also in terms of the story-telling/lyrics by Alex Cameron. There's so many interesting stories being told here that you don't initially catch because one can get so engrossed in the catchy production at play. In one song, he's singing about trying to keep a failing relationship with a stripper going. In another song, he's singing about being unfaithful to his lover because he's lusting after women on the internet. In another, he's more or less stalking this girl he's infatuated with. I think you guys get the idea. Throughout the entire album, he portrays these characters (which may or may not retain qualities he possesses) as nothing but assholes that do and say some pretty ****ed up things. But I think that's what adds to the albums charm. With the juxtaposition of light and catchy synthpop production mixed with the dark, yet eccentric and even humorous lyrics, this made for one of the most interesting albums I've listened to throughout 2017. At the very least, if you want something catchy to listen to, there's no better album to listen to than this one.

 

Listen to: True Lies, The Chihuahua

Edited by Pink Matter
Posted (edited)

I have to run but I'll do other updates/recaps and post lyrics later :beatfreak: 

Edit: Album recap (30-26):

 

Spoiler

26) Alex Cameron|Forced Witness

27) Ibeyi|Ash

28) Blanck Mass|World Eater

29) Yellow Days|Is Everything Okay In Your World?

30) Cherry Glazerr|Apocalipstick

31) Beck|Colors

32) Priests|Nothing Feels Natural

33) Mali Music|The Transition of Mali

34) Sabrina Claudio|About Time

35) Terrace Martin Presents The Pollyseeds|Sounds of Crenshaw Vol. 1

36) Snoh Aalegra|FEELS

37) Charlotte Gainsbourg|Rest

38) Foxygen|Hang

39) Father John Misty|Pure Comedy

40) Ronika|Lose My Cool

41) Daniel Caesar|Freudian

42) dvsn|Morning After

43) Oxbow|Thin Black Duke

44) Thundercat|Drunk

45) Why?|Moh Lhean

46) Lil' Uzi Vert|Luv Is Rage 2

47) Aminé|Good For You

48) Mura Masa|s/t

49) Susanne Sundfør|Music For People In Trouble

50) Gorillaz|Humanz

 

 

 

 

Edited by Pink Matter
  • ATRL Moderator
Posted

Is Everything Okay :clap3:

There was a song on the Ibeyi album on my Ones That Got Away Spotify playlist and I liked it so I should probably listen to the whole thing 

Posted

Yellow Days not in the top 20 :eek: shock of the year

Apocalipstick, World Snatcher and Ash :clap3:

Posted

i haven’t heard any of these :eek: this list will be good to help me discover what i missed!

Posted

I haven't been in here since forever :rip: Love the list so far though :duca: Drunk, Hang, Rest, Nothing Feels Natural, Apocalipstick, World Eater and Forced Witness :clap3:

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