best of madonnas' best of 2018 - SOTY ANNOUNCED TODAY

[thecptz]

i need to check some of these out

[Wicked]

Key is cool but... Yeah. Didn't know Priest dropped though. 

[World Eater]

I lowkey like your HM list better than the actual list so far  Miss Jesus really snapped with those outtakes though

[madonnas]

16 minutes ago, World Eater said:

I lowkey like your HM list better than the actual list so far  Miss Jesus really snapped with those outtakes though

She snapped!!  But the top 20 is way better than any of the HMs lol.

10 hours ago, Wicked said:

Key is cool but... Yeah. Didn't know Priest dropped though. 

but.... what?

10 hours ago, thecptz said:

i need to check some of these out

You do! 

10 hours ago, TRF. said:

That Pom-Poms EP is... not good.  I'm glad she's doing something she's happy with though, I guess.

 

The Anda EP is v nice! Her song Touch is lowkey a classique, that EP is basically a 180° from that lol

Touch and Taxi are classics but she's all over the place artistically.  Who is the rEAL anda?

23 hours ago, pearlmercury said:

Negative Gemini is good, the whole ep is decent but baby boy is clearly a stand out

I can't decide if I like bad baby more or the remix I guess its the same.

23 hours ago, Vilppu said:

wednesday and ravyn snapped yes they did

 

momoland was ofc hard carried by baam and ig berybery was above average for a kpop bside but the other two trax are hideous... love them lots though so i'm glad they're here

I don't mind the pop rock one.

23 hours ago, pearlmercury said:

i thank baam and bingo game are the two songs i like on that ep

I like veryvery more than bingo game   

23 hours ago, Tom Vercetti said:

Reasonable HMs. One great song can't carry an entire ep @ Jenny Hvals. 

True !  That 10 min song  

22 hours ago, TRF. said:

Negative Gemini, Le1f, Ravyn, Jenny, Sudan Archives, Wednesday Campanella

 

The Okovi additions were v nice! I really dig the WITTR remix and Bound ?

Bound is one of miss Jesus' best songs.

22 hours ago, Pink Matter said:

Poor Wednesday and Ravyn. 

MorMor was a nice little surprise that I only got into recently so that's great it made your list!

I hope he releases an album next year

21 hours ago, Body Electrician said:

Don't know any of these  lemme give some a listen

Listen to Priest.

20 hours ago, Eeveelution said:

I don't remember it to be honest.  

Remember it, please.

19 hours ago, Navyofbadgals said:

Ravyn most absolutely snapped.. deserved more than a HM tbh  

Nope!  Only one good song!

18 hours ago, Weed said:

The taste jumped out! ... I think. I don't know very many of these records 

Listen to the Pom Poms.

18 hours ago, mokitsu said:

enjoyed some songs on little boot's ep.

okovi addictions slayed.

currently writing the description for the calling  

don't know the rest 

Listen to Bbymutha

18 hours ago, Vilppu said:

i expected do worry be happy to be a complete waste of time but it was one of the few kpop releases worth listening to in full this year, a pleasant surprise

I know right the album cover/title/everything made it seem like a waste of time.

14 hours ago, Vxspertine said:

I forgot about the Sevdaliza EP, we do stan though! drag human nature 

The monologue at the end.  It's a NO from me.

10 hours ago, MP2K said:

Crush is better than most albums!

I dunno abt that.

10 hours ago, theblackestday said:

Loved the Sudan, Ravyn, Zola, Wednesday and Jenny EPs I wish the latter two made it

 

I was disappointed by Sevda's EP, and I loved all her previous efforts.

 

Kinda surprised that I'm not familiar with most of the other ones at all

You will be familiar with the next ones!!

 

[madonnas]

 

 

 

 

 



 
 

 

 

 

Sunmi definitely more than made up for the horrible singles she released earlier with this.  She gives us sassy synthpop, sexy R&B lite, jazzy vocals, etc.  Then she tacks on Heroine and Gashina   Oh well.  If I spent more time with this it would have been higher to be honest but oh well nobody's perfect.

Standouts: Siren, Curve

Weakness: Gashina, Heroine
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Aphex delivered another solid EP.  There's not much else to say about it.  Again, woulda been higher if I spent more time with it.

Standouts: T69 Collapse

Weakness: Pthex
 

 

 

 

 

 



 
 

 

 

 

This psyechedelic Ep totally reminds me of Tom Tom Club in today's day and age.  It's kinda just jam music so you don't need to pay that much attention but there's a lot of gr8 stuff going on musically. 

Standouts: Honestly the remixes at the end are superior.

Weakness: Laying in the Sun
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Ah, those few Cibo Matto stans left were very distraught when they broke up but we got this nice surprise this year!  Miho Hatori's new stage name is New Optimism.  It's basically the first 5 tracks on Hotel Valentine but less batshit crazy and definitely more reeled in.

Standouts: Dr. My-Ho, Jet Setters

Weakness: King of Monsters
 

 

 

 

 

 



 
 

 

 

 

AHH QUEENS!!!  The reigning queens of symphonic metal slash kpop win again.  Well, they're the only ones in that niche so it's nice for them to deliver so many songs.  Mayday is more of the same but the lead single You and I offers a more sophisticated and melancholy take on the chorus which is a nice switch up.

Standouts: Mayday, You and I

Weakness: Which a Star
 

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by madonnas

[Tom Vercetti]

Sunmi, New Optimism

 

Aphex's ep is also the same situation I have w/ Jenny's. 

[theblackestday]

Collapse did what it had to do

[Eeveelution]

Sunmi's EP was really nice, the spotify version comes without the singles at least so there's that.

[madonnas]

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

I honestly have no idea who this person is but she came out of nowhere and slayed me.  It's Dance-Pop music with an erratic and paranoid twist.  I guess that's pretty normal but what makes it stand out are her powerhouse punk (kinda lol) vocals.  Seriously she's so unique but the accessibility isn't sacrificed for the sake of originality.

Standouts: Sleeve, Fraud

Weaknesses: Get What U Got
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I kinda feel like western music publications have already decided that they are going to give Neon Bunny all their time for non k-pop Korean artists who have an indie twist and decided to ignore Aseul who released several amazing songs this year.  Lame that we can only have one!  Well, there are definitely some wack songs on this EP and before it was released I was expecting it to be higher, but the good songs are so ****ing good.  It's the best 80s synthpop/dreampop throwback.

Standouts: Always With you, Sandcastles, Fill Me Up

Weaknesses: Seoul Girl, Room
 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

This is so underrated.  The lead single is literally a mix of all that's right and gay in the world and THEY ARE GOING TO BE HUGE IN LIKE TWO YEARS.  MARK MY WORDS!!! Listen if you like gay punk stuff I guess.  One of the songs was cowritten by Justin Trantner and it seems to be polarizing but I like it.

Standouts: Proxy Love, Proxy Love - Soft Cell Remix

Weaknesses: Apple of my Eye
 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

KKB's new transformation is exciting, as nobody was expecting it.  I'm honestly not the biggest fan of Twee but the fact that they incorporated it and got to #12 with this EP is a testament to their talent and creativity.  Also one of the songs is like really really really really really really high on my songs list. 

Standouts: The One True Path, Only Acting

Weaknesses: You Know How It Is
 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

I guess Future Funk is the cool-kid microgenre nowadays as Disclosure are doing it.  Well, this EP had great vocals with it too I'm sure it's all sampled and stolen from other people though, oh well.  I enjoyed it!!

Standouts: Baby Pink

Weaknesses: ???
 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by madonnas

[theblackestday]

second time i'm seeing this lyzza girl here, maybe i'll check it out

totep is good, but as some have said, it kinda became useless once Time 'n' Place came out, especially since it has Only Acting

future funk makes me cackle a bit but I love its aesthetic

[Wicked]

Future Funk is amazing and Tenay In Tokyo is one of the albums of the decade. 

[madonnas]

 

This is an EP where all 4 songs are great.  Her releases last year showed potential but the songs felt like they had 30 seconds of greatness surrounded by boring ****.  Well this is basically the modern equivalent of Sade kinda like Devotion Jessie Ware was, she even throws us a cover of them!

 

Standouts: All the Work, Love is Stronger than Pride, Love Me Right

Weaknesses: None, but Conexao is the weakest song but still good.

 

 

The title track of this is CONTROVERSIAL, but I love it.  I felt like Power Up was a conventional Kpop melody/structure with an innovative instrumental while RBB is an innovative song structure/melody with conventional instrumentals.  I also love all the other songs.  People are saying this has their best non-singles in it of all their minis.  I disagree but still think its top 10 worthy.

Standouts: RBB, Sassy Me

Weaknesses: Taste

 

 

Yes mama, this is her best release so far.  I can FEEL the PRODUCTION VALUE in my bones.  The songs don't meander around, they all have clear ideas that they convey.  This is a pretty big artistic step forward for miss Kish.  Thanks Vince?

Standouts: Like Honey, Elegance

Weaknesses: Prayer

 

 

Bedroom Synthpop is one of my weaknesses and Lou Rebecca gets the intimate feeling and the sad-girl lyrics perfectly without being too self indulgent or literal.

Standouts: Neverending, Tonight

Weaknesses: Fantome

 

 

Queen! This music is super chic and sophisticated, and sounds like it costs  a million bucks.  I love the vocals in the tracks too as they are the perfect mix of apathetic and on rhythm.

Standouts: Han Jan, Itgehane

Weaknesses: n/a

 

[madonnas]

 

UNIIQU3 IS COMING GUYS.  SHE WILL BE THE NEXT BIGGEST THING TO THE GAYS.  YOU BETTER LISTEN HERE AND PREPARE WHILE YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!!!!!!  Seriously this is full of bangers and if you like music that sounds like underwater sound effects mixed with Hip-Hop listen please.

Standouts: Bubblegum, Phase 3

Weaknesses: Afterparty

 

 

Disclosure released five songs randomly during the summer, and luckily for ME, they released it as a vinyl EP like a week ago, so it all counts.  This is such a return to form for them, I'm actually excited for what they do next.  Don't pander to the GP, pander to holier than thou hipsters please!

Standouts: Funky Sensation, Love Can Be So Hard

Weaknesses: Where Angels Fear to Tread

 

KPOP MINI OF THE YEAR.  Honestly, the single is great, the album cuts are great, we even get an f(x) tribute and an English version that makes Bad Boy sound better.  Something for everybody here.

Standouts: Power up, Hit that Drum, Mosquito

Weaknesses: With You

 

I don't know who she is but she raps over crazy noisy instrumentals and somehow her I really don't care do u vocals manage to be the star.  She's both completely disinterested in what men have to say, but she cares just enough to carry your attention all the way through this EP.  I think this is supposed to be someone's alter ego where they tell off men and vent all their frustrations.  Please, we need more girl.

Standouts: O, Gush, Rude

Weaknesses: Asher Wolfe

 

 

This is the best dream pop release of the decade so far.  I feel like I'm in a magical dreamscape listening to this album, it's sonically pleasing with equally cutting and gorgeous melodies to match.

Standouts: Sugar & Spice, Sleep, Try

Weaknesses: Bad Guy

[Kingie]

CTFU had no clue Little Boots had done anything since that Afterhours single/EP thing. 

 

Sunmi's mini was def a shock considering she not only put out her first listenable song since 2014 but she came up with 4 genuinely excellent ones.

 

Dreamcatcher are kinda consistently decent at b-sides for a K-Pop group, I thought Which A Star was a nice Chvrches rip off though. 

 

Only heard Always With You by Aseul and I found it to be pleasant, didn't know there was an EP so I'll have to give it a listen.

 

Power Up is one of the few Red Velvet songs I actually enjoy but the album tracks...not feeling her. 

 

Just checked out UNIIQU3 because of your description, and I'm kinda LOVING Bubble Gum and Afterparty so thank you! 

[Navyofbadgals]

Kilo Kish really snapped huh

[Blue Rose]

Collapse was a cute girl but glad it’s low. 

Disclosure really did their thing this year  

[Eeveelution]

Quote

Weaknesses: You Know How It Is

First Time Today, now this?  

 

Need to revisit Aseul.

 

Conexao is great, can't wait for album etc. Mothe is nice and Peggy has potential.

 

I didn't really like Summer Magic so I never bothered to check out RBB. Their releases usually have 1-2 great songs and then a bunch of others I don't care for..

 

I'm an obsessed Disclosure hater but I've seen lots of praise for their EP so maybe I'll listen sometime.  

[MP2K]

surprised by Amber entry, I'll ahve to catch Hatchie besides sugar & spice (song) as I've stated on multiple cds lol

 

Hey, where do you discover your music btw?

[potent]

Your #1 sounds fascinating, I'm playing Sugar and Spice right now and I love how easygoing it sounds.

The #2 doesn't really sound like it will fit my taste but I'll for sure stay tuned for songs.

[Vilppu]

hatchie snatching those mentions left and right, love that

 

warning would be so much better without the **** teddy singles, the new four tracks are good. dreamcatcher in general didn't grab me as much as last year but it's great to see them still do their thing, it's refreshing

[Dom]

yasss at hatchie, snap a bit, miss boo, thang. loves it. my dream pop legend.

disclosure slaying, we love it.

[TRF.]

Ughhhhh so many good EPs  Aphex, Hatchie, Shygirl, Lyzza, New Optimism, Peggy, Kilo 

 

The Aseul EP I thought was like, just fine but Always With You is ****ing fantastic!

[Tsareena]

conexao a great ep 
mothe as well.. the production was amazing
hatchie stomping

listening to shygirl rn and oh wow oh wow
 

[Pink Matter]

Another list Hatchie has topped. I got check her out. Glad to see miss Kilo snatching another spot  

Your Amber Mark description really piqued my interest so I can't wait to check that one out!

[pearlmercury]

love UNIIQU3, HATCHIE, SHYGIRL and HMLTD