Tom Vercetti Posted December 13, 2018 Posted December 13, 2018 The 1975.... Gonna wish them better luck for the 2019 album.
ATRL Moderator Tsareena Posted December 13, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 13, 2018 my first time listening to 1975 and I enjoyed it. Be my mistake was my least favorite track
Ewan Chaos Posted December 14, 2018 Author Posted December 14, 2018 (edited) I PROMISE I will reply to yalls best ofs I have been so damn busy & want to make sure I get my **** out at a decent time of the year aka not the last possible week in January - so I'll reply to yall tomorrow on another update. Letter: A Top Artist: Ariana Grande I mean best year for her career and worst year for her personal life is super sad but part of what makes the music so good. Really hoping that things look up for her, definitely. I still really don't understand why stans aren't the biggest fan of this (I guess the pop songs aren't as accessible as stuff on My Everything but still). There's only a few of those Pharrell songs I wasn't into (the Nicki one, the Missy one). I guess I'll break this down in terms of his songs first. "R.E.M." is definitely my favorite from the record. It's so lowkey with just enough added touches to really keep it going (the breathing, the backing vocals, the switch from speak-singing to SANGing). I think my favorite part is the pause about 2 mins in for the "Before you speak..." Lovely. "Successful" is WAY underrated and feels great and breezy. Everyone likes to drag it, but "Get Well Soon" is also awesome. Exactly the type of reflective song I wanted from Ariana after all the **** of the past few years. P4K did that when they talked about it actually. As for the Max / pop songs, my favorite from that set would be "Breathin". Probably for the lyrical content of anxiety and dealing with that, and she sounds great (plus it's fun, that chorus DROP in the last two choruses). The chorus of "No Tears Left to Cry" sounds kinda like a water level in a Mario 64 game (in the background) so how can you not love it. I also will shout-out "Thank U, Next" here because **** that is a good song. A truly deserved #1 for her & really makes me excited for another year of Ariana. Runner-Up: The Aces LADIES! ALL LADIES! A good band. "Fake Nice" is the obvious highlight. It's a total bop and the melody in the chorus is soooo catchy. The production is super groovy and the bridge is pretty captivating too. I've been bumping this track basically all year long. Other highlights include "Stay" (the lyric "I don't need a reason to be feeling what I'm feeling, I just do!" I know is more about a boy, but I think it's so ****ing apt and applicable to many scenarios), "Lovin is Bible", "Last One", & "Bad Love" (this reminds me of another song and I CANNOT put my finger on it). If I HAD to pick a least favorite maybe... "Volcanic Love"? It's still good tho. Others Under this Letter: *note bolded artists are other top choices* Artist Top Song Choice Good Songs Meh Songs Random Notes A R I Z O N A What She Wants Freaking Out Alex Isley On II U Lifeboat, Smoke & Mirrors If you like Amber Mark, check her EP out! Alex Winston Tourist Allie X Girl of the Year Little Things, Science Can't Stop Now, Not So Bad in LA AlunaGeorge Shallow Water Faulty, Superior Emotion Cold Blooded Creatures Amber Mark Conexao Love Me Right, All the Work Super lush EP Amen Dunes Calling Paul the Suffering Blue Rose Anderson East King For A Day This Too Shall Last, Surrender, Girlfriend Fun album! Andreas Moss Perfect Stuck in My Feelings Arc Iris Everybody's Counting on Her Beautiful Mind, Suzy, If You Can See VERY UNDERRATED they opened for Kimbra & are awesome Arctic Monkeys One Point Perspective Kinda boring album looool Armin van Buuren Sex, Love & Water A bop Ashe Wrong Side of Myself Ashley Monroe Wild Love The Academic Bite My Tongue Permanent Vacation, Bear Claws, Different, Fake ID Girlfriends Anderson .Paak Cheers (feat. Q-Tip) Tints, Trippy, Saviers Road Edited December 27, 2018 by Ewan Chaos
Wicked Posted December 14, 2018 Posted December 14, 2018 If Ariana had a personality I wouldn't find listening to her an unrewarding chore.
Vilppu Posted December 14, 2018 Posted December 14, 2018 ariana is precious, we have to protect her. the album was a mixed bag for me, imo would be better as a pharrell only ep but your top picks (minus breathin) + the title track are rly rly good
TheWayWeWere Posted December 14, 2018 Posted December 14, 2018 Ariana she was kinda annoying this year, but her music was flawless
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted December 14, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 14, 2018 The Aces had a cute album! Definitely a more top 40 friendly version of HAIM but after HAIM's last album that's a compliment. LOVE the chart. Shoulda stanned for Science the most from Allie though. Your Ariana choices
World Eater Posted December 14, 2018 Posted December 14, 2018 I couldn't finish that The Aces album, guess it's just not my thing. Ariana snapped tho! Also, I love that table thing, now that's a great idea
Tom Vercetti Posted December 14, 2018 Posted December 14, 2018 r.e.m is a definite sweetener standout. Seeing some other good things on the chart that I recognize like anderson, amber, amen & allie.
Remmy Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 The 1975: Can't get into them, even after hearing maybe 5 of their songs They're not bad though Ariana: Sweetener is meh, only like around half of it (which is a pretty popular opinion) Allie: Yes at her making an appearance No mention for Focus though We have the same SS bottom 2, but I definitely don't think either of them are meh.
Ewan Chaos Posted December 15, 2018 Author Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) UPDATE INCOMING and then I will reply to yall and then I will check out other Best Ofs weeeee Letter: B Top Artist: Bahamas The best way to explain this album is that it's what Justin Timberlake tried to do with Man of the Woods done successfully - rugged, fun, amazing production (lots of live instruments, aka all of D'angelo's live band helped make the record), etc. etc. Earthtones came out back in January and it's been one of my favorite records the ENTIRE year. My friends love hearing the songs from this record when I put it on too, so let me elaborate on my favorite picks. "Everything to Everyone" is my top highlight - at least the version that came out with the album originally, not the new one that's on Spotify. The backing vocalists, the groove staying mellow but also going up and down with the bass playing, the LYRICS going up and down and up and down. I kinda imagine someone coming home from work, pouring a whiskey, and listening/relating to this song. "Way With Words" is second in line, being a bit brighter than "Everything..." I think it may be my favorite chorus due to the melody/harmonies/whatever. "No Wrong" is another beautiful, slower track in a similar vein to the previous two tracks, lyrically. The lyrical content of the songs can get super interesting. "Opening Act (The Shooby Dooby Song)" is incredibly fun, but also self-aware in the way that Bahamas is aware and happy of being the opening act for all these years (and probably will continue to be), looking at it in a much more positive light. Weirdly, "Bad Boys Need Love Too" was my introduction to Bahamas, and that song is almost R&B/rap in production and speak-sing tones. It sings about absentee fathers AND climate change in the same track, with an electric guitar solo, that ALL works! It's impressive. I can't recommend this album enough if you haven't given it a try yet. Runner-Up: The Beths My favorite girl-fronted band of the year, for sure. Love the album cover too. This is a record I'm still hooked on with every song. I believe that "Great No One" remains my favorite song because it captivated me so well as an opener. I love the slight contrast between the chorus and the rest of the song. "You Wouldn't Like Me" is a very close runner-up. Super catchy chorus "you wouldn't like me... at all!" This track also flawlessly goes up and down from sassy handclaps to big-band production and fun. I also enjoy "Uptown Girl" ("I'm gonna drink the whole town dry!"), "Little Death", "Happy Unhappy", and "Whatever." Others Under this Letter: *note bolded artists are other top choices* Artist Top Song Choice Good Songs Meh Songs Random Notes Backstreet Boys Don't Go Breaking My Heart Barney Artist Breakdown Cover Rose Thorn (feat. Dornik), Something True Beacon Don't Go Looking Be My Organ, Fields, Marion, The War You're After Benny Blanco I Found You (feat. Calvin Harris) Break My Heart (feat. Ryan Beatty) Eastside (feat. two of the most iyoindie voices) Betty Who Just Thought You Should Know Ignore Me, Taste Look Back Bishop Briggs Tempt My Trouble Dream (a top pick from last year), River (a pick from 2 years ago), The Fire Blood Orange Charcoal Baby Holy Will, Hope, Dagenham Dream Cupid Deluxe outsold Bob Schneider Making It Up Still need to get more into this album to have faves but it's great! Borns Supernatural Second Night of Summer, Faded Heart (pick last year), We Don't Care, I Don't Want You Back Blue Madonna boygenius Me & My Dog Stay Down, Ketchum ID Brandi Carlile The Joke Sugartooth, Everytime I Hear That Song Broods Peach Everybody Goes (Wow) Bruno Mars Finesse (Remix) [feat. Cardi B] Edited December 27, 2018 by Ewan Chaos
theblackestday Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) THE BETHS I've loved their album since its release, but I've been listening to it a lot these past two days for some reason Edited December 15, 2018 by theblackestday
Ewan Chaos Posted December 15, 2018 Author Posted December 15, 2018 On 12/12/2018 at 11:12 PM, Wicked said: This album was... a choice. The concept is great, but the execution didn't do it for me. Plus some of those lyrics were idek. I liked one song tho. Eh yeah I understand that opinion! On 12/13/2018 at 12:32 AM, theblackestday said: wish I had something nice to say, but I dislike The 1975 / their album, and INL(ITNWY) is like, the worst song on it L M F A O drag me babes! On 12/13/2018 at 4:00 AM, Eeveelution said: The 1975 album was OK. I think it was so unnecessarily polarizing for what is basically a 6/10. Matty Healy is likable tho I wanna root for him. Yeah I kinda agree with all that! Even tho I like it more than a 6 (maybe a 7), people either ****ing LOVE or HATE that album and idk why. Matty's gone thru a lot, so I'm glad he's doing better. On 12/13/2018 at 6:38 AM, madonnas said: I like the 1975 but I just really don't wanna listen to the album IDK WHY idk how much you'd like it On 12/13/2018 at 9:36 AM, World Eater said: I loved A Brief Inquiry, haters can choke Drag them!!!! On 12/13/2018 at 10:27 AM, TRF. said: I like It's Not Living I think. You know what I'll take it. On 12/13/2018 at 10:33 AM, Vilppu said: the one song that had a slash (backslash?) in its title and sounded like a moderat demo was cute ! nnnn well idk moderat so it's either a song I kinda like or the one I hated. On 12/13/2018 at 12:55 PM, Tom Vercetti said: The 1975.... Gonna wish them better luck for the 2019 album. They're releasing another album next year? Okay........ a bit unneeded. On 12/13/2018 at 1:05 PM, Tsareena said: my first time listening to 1975 and I enjoyed it. Be my mistake was my least favorite track It's their best record! So if you listen to the previous stuff just listen to the top picks instead of the full albums lmao. On 12/13/2018 at 10:32 PM, Wicked said: If Ariana had a personality I wouldn't find listening to her an unrewarding chore. WOW haha okay fair enough I guess I don't really follow along her on twitter or anything so I wouldn't really know. On 12/13/2018 at 10:35 PM, Vilppu said: ariana is precious, we have to protect her. the album was a mixed bag for me, imo would be better as a pharrell only ep but your top picks (minus breathin) + the title track are rly rly good breathin SO UNDERRATED. Surprised you are more into the Pharrell tracks since it's kinda rare, but glad you appreciate talent. 23 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said: Ariana she was kinda annoying this year, but her music was flawless Music > personality I guess as long as you're not a horrible person. 15 hours ago, madonnas said: The Aces had a cute album! Definitely a more top 40 friendly version of HAIM but after HAIM's last album that's a compliment. LOVE the chart. Shoulda stanned for Science the most from Allie though. Your Ariana choices Yes that's a good way to put it! Tho tbh I really liked half of HAIM's album last year but probs cuz I saw them live. THANKS FOR STANNING THE CHART I'm actually really happy about it. Science IS good! 11 hours ago, World Eater said: I couldn't finish that The Aces album, guess it's just not my thing. Ariana snapped tho! Also, I love that table thing, now that's a great idea Love you stanning the chart, thanks boo 10 hours ago, Tom Vercetti said: r.e.m is a definite sweetener standout. Seeing some other good things on the chart that I recognize like anderson, amber, amen & allie. Yesssss glad you like R.E.M. too (I refuse to participate in the lower case thing musicians love these days). 3 hours ago, Remmy said: The 1975: Can't get into them, even after hearing maybe 5 of their songs They're not bad though Ariana: Sweetener is meh, only like around half of it (which is a pretty popular opinion) Allie: Yes at her making an appearance No mention for Focus though We have the same SS bottom 2, but I definitely don't think either of them are meh. Focus is okay! I just can't say I super LOOOVE it or anything like that.
Remmy Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 Backstreet Boys: I love their biggest hits but Don't Go Breaking My Heart doesn't do it for me Betty Who: Yes, career highlight JTYSK is definitely her best song of the year Look Back is overhated BORNS: Discovered him this year (sans Electric Love), love both of his albums. Supernatural isn't a fave of mine Broods: They really snapped with Peach ugh! EG(W) is also great. So ready for February 1st Bruno Mars: Finesse (Original) goes off!
Wicked Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Ewan Chaos said: WOW haha okay fair enough I guess I don't really follow along her on twitter or anything so I wouldn't really know. I mean like, if Demi or Selena sang her songs there wouldn't be a difference to me. She's only as good as the beat she's on imo. (which is similar to my opinion of Selena & Demi) Good to see Bruno, King of enjoyable basic music here. Backstreet Boys unfortunately get too much hate but they kind of had the best singles/music of the bubblegum era. Good to see they still making enjoyable tracks. Edited December 15, 2018 by Wicked
Sunderland 4ever Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 The Aces and Bahamas! I'm digging your list so far.
Eeveelution Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 (edited) Ariana grew on me a lot in 2018, sweetener really stood out in a year with such boring pop music. Edited December 15, 2018 by Eeveelution
ATRL Moderator Tsareena Posted December 15, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 15, 2018 omg the aces... really loved their debut and of course Ari Aluna George , Allie x, Amber mark, Ashe The beths seem interesting might try them out Bishop Briggs.. a cute debut, blood orange was just okay, broods, brandi carlile.. love the joke, borns
ATRL Moderator madonnas Posted December 15, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted December 15, 2018 Broods finally released two good songs this year.
TRF. Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 47 minutes ago, madonnas said: Broods finally released two good songs this year. this tea though Love seeing Blood Orange and boygenius in the B list tho!
Vilppu Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 10 hours ago, Ewan Chaos said: nnnn well idk moderat so it's either a song I kinda like or the one I hated how to draw / petrichor ! heard of a couple of "others under the latter" and i agree they shouldn't be the main B representation ^-^
TheWayWeWere Posted December 15, 2018 Posted December 15, 2018 Idk Bahamas, but nice to see Betty Who and Blood Orange here nnn @ Eastside shade
MP2K Posted December 16, 2018 Posted December 16, 2018 Good Ari write up. I stanned the Aces first quarter, they filled the void for HAIM being absent a bit. But then they were just forgotten. Amber Mark did her thing this year. Lemme check out The Bahamas then.. I felt like I've listened to them before.
World Eater Posted December 16, 2018 Posted December 16, 2018 boygenius may be three talentless putas, but they have made some points with Ketchum, ID. And speaking of making points Quote Cupid Deluxe outsold
Ewan Chaos Posted December 16, 2018 Author Posted December 16, 2018 (edited) DISREGARD sry Edited December 16, 2018 by Ewan Chaos
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