best of madonnas' best of 2018 - SOTY ANNOUNCED TODAY

[Eeveelution]

Honey, I'm All Ears and Isolation are all albums that really exceeded my expectations!

 

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and its a shame that a lot of the people who connected with her debut didn't connect with this so it seems like she lost her fanbase.

Aw I feel bad. I payola'd her debut all across this forum, but I just didn't connect to this one in the same way. Still good but it's hard not to think of it as a disappointment. 

[Beyonnaise]

Isolation and Little Dark Age are sooo good.

 

Baylor Swift sounds intriguing and I will definitely give it a try.

 

Not a fan of Honey as a whole but I thought the last couple songs were more appealing than the first half (which was an instant turn off for me).

[volition]

you always update so many albums at once

a few of these are merely alright to me, but kali, LEG, and robyn really delivered, and they managed to gain a lot of popularity too which is impressive and deserving

[botnus]

7 hours ago, madonnas said:

 

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d same.  She lucked out that I even put her on the list let alone that high, it was based on ambition and creativity.  

 

 

 

I guess a lot of people felt that waay  

I'm a firm believer that less is more.  My time is valuable too, so I get upset when artists unnecessarily waste mine!

d, I'm not the biggest fan of house and don't listen to it all the time (most of the time its just pop music influenced by it or indie music influenced  it) but even I could tell its beginniers lever, still liked it tho.

Do you like X and Play Destroy?

why didnt you like it? i saw some backlash to it and didn't rly understand.

and ahhh, here come the beach house stans fuming!!

The only huge album that I love all of is Rebel Heart

it's all a matter of taste level and self-awareness.  He knows how to play to his strengths.  

WHATS WRONG WITH J BALVIN!!!

You don't like Run the Bands??   The Hype is the one song from the album I returned to a lot outside of listening to it as a whole.

To be honest I loved her previous album way more than the EP/Money lol.  I know I'm in the minority.  SHe's super tacky with her persona but you know she just knows what I want in pop music sometimes!  I just wish she gave us that without all the negative baggage.

Taste!  KKB is a grower, though it's not as good as Bonito Generation which is one of the best albums of all time. 

You are very patient then.  SEETHE BEACH HOUSE STAN!

Are your faves Twice and Fall in Line?  I understand what they were trying to do with Reborn but it felt like sloppily written and the main hook went o too long.

queen.  I'm kinda surprised you loved Liberation.

If you like Smack a Bitch you'll like a good chunk of her album.  Listen to Rage, Pressing Me, and Countin Up!!  I'm kinda pressed Smack a Bitch isn't on the album tbh... it deserves to be.

Tops and Bottoms is def my fave.  Love that you think its gonna be about gays but then its about clothes.

Have you heard their other album under "mr twin sister"?  

Beach House definitly have a signature sound that people looo0ove but I only stan the highlights/singles.  I mean, 7 is good tho.  It's definitely their best besides Bloom.  Poor Pusha, he prob woulda been higher but I kept forgetting about him.

Listen to all of them, then report back to me (or just listen to Mai Lan and Rico Nasty)

OMG HOW COULD U FORGET MAI LAN!  Listen to Dial My Number its even better than Nail Polish.

 

Poke It Out is so good, ugh why does Nicki have to suck at being a person bc her features are so great.

 

 
 

 

It’s in the backlog! 

[Pink Matter]

Come through with the one-two-three punch of Isolation (mess at Just a Stranger being a weakness ), I'm All Ears, and Honey  

+ Little Dark Age (wish I played it more throughout the year) and The Future and the Past  While I think it's weaker than her debut, I still found the direction she went in very enjoyable.

[potent]

I need to catch up with MGMT and Robyn this year. I loved Robyn's two singles though so if Missing U is a weakness then that's definitely a good sign.

[Navyofbadgals]

Natalie, Anna Calvi, MGMT, LEG and Kali  

[Lazuli]

Anna, Kali, Grandma, MGMT and Natalie are great  

[World Eater]

That 1-2-3 punch with Iso, I'm All Ears and Henny

[Blue Rose]

So many amazing albums just left

Lets Eat Grandma, Anna Calvi, Kali, Robyn (deserves higher), Confidence Man etc...

My fave update. Perched for what’s next.

[madonnas]

 

 

21 hours ago, mokitsu said:

little dark age  don't use the others, bali baby was kinda tragic imo  just not here for rap/rock fusions

I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I did but it must have hit me when I was in the right mood.  Can you believe that Rebirth influenced a generation of rappers? 

21 hours ago, Vilppu said:

natalie's album was an upgrade over debut but ehh. the songs you mentioned as standouts are the only i felt like coming back to

 

robyn's missing u was kinda garbaj, glad everything else is better

 

anna, kali, LEG slay

I liked a handful of others but yeah those 3 are by far the best ones.  Missing U does sound better in the context of the album cause it knda tells a story but yeah, its far from the best.

20 hours ago, Tom Vercetti said:

You're correct on the 2nd half being better than the first for Honey.

The vocals from Let's Eat Grandma are a turnoff for me.

Solid debut indeed for ms. uchis.

LDA's title track is still the best on the album. 

LDA's title track is amazing.  It reminds me of a Visage song but then I go and listen to Visage and realize its better than most Visage songs.

20 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said:

Let's Eat Grandma  

Honey is so good, but BT remains untouched  

BT > self titled > honey

but she has some EPs that are better than all those 3

20 hours ago, Remmy said:

Honey  It's good but I only enjoy 5 songs while the other 4 are definitely underwhelming. Missing U + Honey both disappointed me when they dropped but they grew on me when hearing them within the tracklist. I actually agree that the second half is better (if you start from track 6.)

 

Like I Do/Right Moves/Deserve would be my top 3. Yeah, I definitely agree with that.

Well, I like Like I Do and Right Moves a lot!  Yeah 6-9 are the best tracks but the first half is a grower, we are in complete agreement there.

20 hours ago, Sbbmsve said:

So many great albums Agreed on Isolation’s versatility, there are many genres on one album. LEG drag I-, they kinda sound like that . It was an unexpected album for me, amazing stuff. Honey was a great album, kinda worth the wait. Missing as a dud... agreed  LDA was too 80s at times but it is a solid effort. Wig at this update.

For me, there's no such thing as "too 80s" cause that's my bread and earth balance.  

18 hours ago, Eeveelution said:

Honey, I'm All Ears and Isolation are all albums that really exceeded my expectations!

 

Aw I feel bad. I payola'd her debut all across this forum, but I just didn't connect to this one in the same way. Still good but it's hard not to think of it as a disappointment. 

I think Robyn purposefully gave us the weakest songs as singles so we wouldnt expect to be slain!

I mean they are completely different styles.  I only really used Bird of Prey and My Baby Don't Understand Me, tho   Maybe she can find the sweet spot in between for her next record?  Do you at least like ship go down?

17 hours ago, Beyonnaise said:

Isolation and Little Dark Age are sooo good.

 

Baylor Swift sounds intriguing and I will definitely give it a try.

 

Not a fan of Honey as a whole but I thought the last couple songs were more appealing than the first half (which was an instant turn off for me).

Baylor Swift is a love-it-or-hate-it kinda thing, just warning you!  

17 hours ago, volition said:

you always update so many albums at once

a few of these are merely alright to me, but kali, LEG, and robyn really delivered, and they managed to gain a lot of popularity too which is impressive and deserving

I really don't like long drawn out albums lists so 15/15/10/10/10 is prefect for ME, also I really wanna show yall my songs list (still incomplete lmao) because I feel like I have a lot more substantial things to say about specific songs.

15 hours ago, botnus said:

It’s in the backlog! 

OMg girl good for you for having one.  I tired then just like, forgot all about it.

13 hours ago, Pink Matter said:

Come through with the one-two-three punch of Isolation (mess at Just a Stranger being a weakness ), I'm All Ears, and Honey  

+ Little Dark Age (wish I played it more throughout the year) and The Future and the Past  While I think it's weaker than her debut, I still found the direction she went in very enjoyable.

Glad you liked it, hopefully you'll enjoy 20-11.  Just a Stranger never stuck with me while all the other songs did.  Not horrible tho.

13 hours ago, potent said:

I need to catch up with MGMT and Robyn this year. I loved Robyn's two singles though so if Missing U is a weakness then that's definitely a good sign.

lol, you might like the first half better than the second half then.  Listen to it though!

2 hours ago, Navyofbadgals said:

Natalie, Anna Calvi, MGMT, LEG and Kali  

Love ur taste.

1 hour ago, Lazuli said:

Anna, Kali, Grandma, MGMT and Natalie are great  

Love ur taste [2]

1 hour ago, World Eater said:

That 1-2-3 punch with Iso, I'm All Ears and Henny

You should wait until the 123 punch of my #3 #2 and #1 album! 

15 minutes ago, Superpower said:

So many amazing albums just left

Lets Eat Grandma, Anna Calvi, Kali, Robyn (deserves higher), Confidence Man etc...

My fave update. Perched for what’s next.

Be prepared..... 

 

[madonnas]

 

It's so strange that of all of Janelle's albums THIS is the one with the most critical success.  It's difficult to describe my relationship with this album.  It's one of those I always think is weaker than it actually is, but then I listen to it and really enjoy it.  It has great pacing, themes, and hooks.  The main reason why it's not in the top 10 is that it doesn't stay in my mind after it ends.  Maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy or a snobby person who needs things to be experimental but like, whatever.  It's good and deserves top 20.  If she doesn't go back on her archandroid route though .  It's an extremely polished album which is sort of both its strength and its weakness.

Standouts: I Got the Juice, Make Me Feel, Dirty Computer (Intro)

Weaknesses: I Like That, Pynk, Django Jane

 

I don't even know how to describe this album.  It's sorta like The Avalanches meets Third Eye Blind meets Actress?  It seriously has a lot going on yet everything works on it.  It's surprisingly cohesive too, as certain key musical indicators stay in songs that are different genres so you feel like you're listening to one album and not a random collection of songs.

Standouts: Noid, All The Love We Have Now

Weaknesses: Economy of Freedom

 

 

Courtney Barnett found dead  in a ditch.  This has that sarcastic self-hating energy on her first album.  But let's move on past that comparison.  Caroline gives us a wide variety of Indie Rock and New Wave songs and they all are confessional and honest.  I recommend this to anybody who likes female rock singer-songwriters with a little poppy edge.

Standouts: Money, Bikini, More of the Same

Weaknesses: Talk

 

 

This album is full of trashy bangers, and they truly live up to their stage name.  JT is the true star here (I think yung miami only has 2 writing credits lmfao) but both do a great job giving us the full fantasy.  There are hardly no boring midtempo fillers here.  All the songs are what you WANT, SOUTHERN TRAP BANGERS.  Thanks ladies.

Standouts: Sweet Tooth, Period (We Live), I'll Take Your Man

Weaknesses: Movie

 

 

I just love it when Punk and Dance marries.  This got that sorta kooky 80s vibe but also tons of lcd soundsystem/!!! type influences as well.  The vocal delivery is very unique and it's fun to sing along to the songs.  What I like is that a lot of their hooks stop in the middle right before it sounds like they're gonna explode leaving you wanting more (in the good way).

Standouts: Freak 4 The Kick, Substitutes, Friends

Weaknesses: Control

 

[Wicked]

Leikeli & Bali are good but they're on the lower end of female rappers rn along with Rico (sorry but her being influenced by 69's screaming knocks her down knotches instead of up)

 

Honey is kinda low for me but this is the best set so far.

 

[Remmy]

Yeah I've seen you saying you're not the biggest fan of Dirty Computer so I'm not surprised this is low Top 20 is good enough, I suppose. Oh wow, oh wow @ Pynk + Django Jane in your bottom 3 though!

[madonnas]

Everyone was worried when we found out Ariana was working with Pharrell for her 4th album because we all thought she was going to give us something like Happy.  Turns out we all kinda forgot how amazing Pharrell is.  The album's strongest tracks are produced by him, however there are great moments otherwise like the anthem No Tears Left to Cry and...  Yeah!  This is the sound of Ariana realizing what suits her voice and her talents best.  It's a little bit kooky, a little relaxed, and very fluffy.

Standouts: Successful, Sweetener, No Tears Left To Cry, Blazed

Weaknesses: Breathin, God is a Woman

 

Christine grows leaps and bounds with her second album.  The double album that's really just one album in two languages has all of her strongest tracks on it so far.  The lesser moments are still well written piano pop songs and the strongest moments are the strongest Synth-Pop that's being released nowadays.  There's ONE song that doesn't have an English version and it's very good, why isn't it in English tho? lmao.  I'd just listen to the French version since its her native tongue and it is probably how the songs were originally created.  The funky synths is what make this album so great!

Standouts: Girlfriend / Damn, dis-moi, Damn (What must a Woman Do) / Follarse, Goya! Soda!

Weaknesses: Make Some Sense / Les yeux mouillés

 

 

Mariah's 10s career might be (actually, not might be, IS) better than her 00s career.  Who would have thought?  She plays to her strenghts just enough and takes risks just enough so that the balance of 'new' and 'familiar' is perfect.  The lyrics are personal and heartfelt while also having their occasional Mariah-isms that make us appreciate her personality so much.  Considering all the bad press she's been getting its nice to know that she still cares about the quality of her music, and maybe even channels that into her music? 

Standouts: Giving Me Life, GTFO, The Distance, 8th Grade

Weaknesses: With You

 

I love PC Music but its great to have a futuristic bubblegum pop album that doesn't just simply copy from them.  The producer to this (max tundra? who apparently is a big deal?) made points all the way through this album and D&C give us those chipmunk vocals we all love.  This album has a lot of lightning paced synths and songs with high bpms.  It also has a nice blend of sorta obscure pointless references mixed with pop culture references (taking notes mentions the long wait for R8 lol).  It's good listen to it please if you haven't.

Standouts: You & I Alone, Paint Can, Taking Notes

Weaknesses: Whatever Happened to Yazz

 

This album is very cinematic and scary.  I got into her this year because of her previous releases but then she came and released this.  It's a very bitter but realistic look at western work-related culture with personal stories and experiences from being a traveling music artist weaved into it.  The highlight is obviously the vogue track, Work It.

Standouts: Work It, Workaholic Paranoid Bitch, Lara

Weaknesses: Burn Me 

 

[madonnas]

7 minutes ago, Wicked said:

Leikeli & Bali are good but they're on the lower end of female rappers rn along with Rico (sorry but her being influenced by 69's screaming knocks her down knotches instead of up)

 

Honey is kinda low for me but this is the best set so far.

 

I honestly don't think there are any I consider lower tier besides like.. Asian Doll.... lol.  Does anybody actually like her?

I like Leikeli cuz she's eclectic.  Bali's album is probably a fluke cause I didn't like her more traditional hip hop stuff as much.  I'm just gonna ignore your Rico comments.

5 minutes ago, Remmy said:

Yeah I've seen you saying you're not the biggest fan of Dirty Computer so I'm not surprised this is low Top 20 is good enough, I suppose. Oh wow, oh wow @ Pynk + Django Jane in your bottom 3 though!

I mean it's very good, but its not fun to stan for if that makes sense. 

[Vilppu]

Quote

 

Standouts: Successful, Sweetener

Weaknesses: Breathin, God is a Woman

 

the woman you are today is inspirational

 

yves ofc my favourite this set but moo is lovely too and janelle has some moments ig. i'll try to check marie out

[Wicked]

30 minutes ago, madonnas said:

Weaknesses: I Like That, Pynk, Django Jane

The way y'all don't get Django Jane Probably the most panned song from DC on here.

 

Don't really have a comment on Yves album for now. City Girls got annoying when they blew up. I'm never listening to Sweetener but Pharrell >>> Max Martin and the fact P gets all this slander is....

 

I actually have an opposite opinion on Caution re: it being personal. Pretty disconnected album minus like 2 songs. But hey, she has an actual personality unlike the other pop girls out! Chris wasn't bad but idk, it didn't make an impression on me and felt like Kidz Bop Funk pop.

 

11 minutes ago, madonnas said:

I honestly don't think there are any I consider lower tier besides like.. Asian Doll.... lol.  Does anybody actually like her?

I like Leikeli cuz she's eclectic.  Bali's album is probably a fluke cause I didn't like her more traditional hip hop stuff as much.  I'm just gonna ignore your Rico comments.

Saweetie & Cupcakke are low tier (sorry) Asian Doll is just the bully of the rap game her music sucks, Cuban Doll has occasional god songs. Kodie Shane is on the lower end for me until her album drops. Rico is so influenced by 69 for the entire Nasty era it CAN'T be denied

[madonnas]

9 minutes ago, Vilppu said:

the woman you are today is inspirational

 

yves ofc my favourite this set but moo is lovely too and janelle has some moments ig. i'll try to check marie out

I hope that's a compliment.  

3 minutes ago, Wicked said:

The way y'all don't get Django Jane Probably the most panned song from DC on here.

 

Don't really have a comment on Yves album for now. City Girls got annoying when they blew up. I'm never listening to Sweetener but Pharrell >>> Max Martin and the fact P gets all this slander is....

 

I actually have an opposite opinion on Caution re: it being personal. Pretty disconnected album minus like 2 songs. But hey, she has an actual personality unlike the other pop girls out! Chris wasn't bad but idk, it didn't make an impression on me and felt like Kidz Bop Funk pop.

 

Saweetie & Cupcakke are low tier (sorry) Asian Doll is just the bully of the rap game her music sucks, Cuban Doll has occasional god songs. Kodie Shane is on the lower end for me until her album drops. Rico is so influenced by 69 for the entire Nasty era it CAN'T be denied

I'm not the biggest fan of Kodie Shane/Cuban but also I haven't heard much about them.  I was disappointed by the one Saweetie release I heard but maybe it was on a bad day.  I don't deny her being influenced but she's not him and she has better lyrics/A WAY BETTER PRODUCER!!  69 isn't the worst thing musically, its just he has a repulsive personality and lifestyle.

 

I meant that she channeled her focus into music to prove that she wasn't letting her bad press 'get' to her.  I mean that's speculation but yeah, basically what I meant is that the music is good.

 

Django Jane would work better as 2 interludes somewhere between the album, as a full song its not strong enough musically (its strong lyrically tho). 

[Bxtch]

Yesss Sweetener  totally agree with Successful! such a sassy bop  GIAW is one of my faves tho nnnn 

[Blue Rose]

Janelle and Christine barely missing the top10

I didn’t care for Sweetner. 

Caution is good. A No No and GTFO >>>

[Vilppu]

7 minutes ago, madonnas said:

I hope that's a compliment.  

of course sweetener and successful were experimental records that will surpass time

[botnus]

Yves Tumor and KEN Mode have some of the creepiest album cover this year. That alone made their albums stood out! 

[Dom]

Yass at Sweetener making it, you know pop girl did ha thang fine, when you have her in the list. it's such a good body of work, and i fricking adore song sweetener, i don't care that everyone hates it, it's my bop. and i will get get get it, and flex flex it. Breathing in my fave on that album tho ? 

 

Janelle's album is so great. i enjoy many songs on there, and she served great visuals with tessa thompson, that lesbian power.

[Lazuli]

Dirty Computer  

I don't get Yves Tumor and that album cover makes it hard for me to listen to them more than twice  Noid is really good tho! 

Sweetener  blazed as your standout tho...

Chris and Caution