Ewan Chaos Posted December 18, 2020 Author Posted December 18, 2020 Me: Maybe I'll listen to a new album this week or check out some older albums I haven't listened to... FROOT by Marina and the Diamonds:
Ewan Chaos Posted December 18, 2020 Author Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) ANYWAY let's see who just barely missed the top 10 and then I'll take a little weekend break! FYI I think I will do a sort of Honorable Mentions thing on Monday (which will include some top 10 artists to keep it exciting), do 10-6 on Tuesday, and finish up with 5-1 on Wednesday! Then I'll post my full ranked list, and do one final return in early January to talk about the albums/songs that came out this month that I didn't include in my ranking. Here we go! "It's not as if we cry a river, call it rain..." 15.) Waxahatchee - Saint Cloud (Alt-Country/Singer-Songwriter) Some of you are gonna be PISSED that I have this woman so high up here. I really don't know why! Sure she is getting a lot of Year End list critical acclaim in the vein of HAIM but that can't be why people seem to dislike this. Some writing is a bit off, but overall I really enjoy this album, and Saint Cloud is the highest ranking alt-country album I have on here. Lilacs is the song I first listened to before the album came out, but I adore Fire so much that it's hard to pick which is my true favorite song... but I went with Fire (the ****ing MELODIES man!!!!). It's a really cute record and Fire/Lilacs would definitely be somewhere on my top 20 songs of the year, probably both even in the top 10 if I'm honest. Listen to: Fire, Lilacs, Hell, War, Oxbow "So baby stay with me, never know what we could be, and you do it so marvelously..." 14.) Sam Sparro - Boombox Eternal (Synth Funk/Dance-Pop) For a while I kept, incorrectly, calling this the first disco album that came out this year lol oops. But it does deserve credit for being one of the first fun and funky records that came out this year. I quite liked Sam's first album in college and his second album was... fine. Then he fell off and I generally wrote him off. Until he released THIS! Wow what a fun album. Janet fans, check this album out. It's basically a big mix of new-Jack swing and 80s(?) R&B topped with FUNK. I generally like both genres equally (Marvelous Lover & Eye 2 Eye are basically right neck and neck for the top spot). This is the highest ranking album by a gay man on here, but I believe I have one member of the LGBTQ+ community ranking in my top 10. Listen to: Marvelous Lover, Eye 2 Eye, Pressure, Everything, Love Like That "So what you waiting for, get up on the floor..." 13.) Kylie Minogue - Disco (Dance-Pop/Disco) I'm embarrassed to admit that it took me until this year to check out classic Kylie albums. That's why I get excited when legends release: if I haven't heard their classics I'll hear them before/after the album comes out. Fever forever bitches. ANYWAY, I really think this would have popped into the top 10 if it had come out earlier in the year. It's still really, really, REALLY hard to pick one absolute favorite song, or even a top 5, so please know that if I didn't list your fave song below there are like 5 other songs RIGHT below WDTDG. Dance Floor Darling is my favorite probably for the outro alone and all the "outdated" disco callouts (Studio 54, electric slide). Celebrate You makes me emotional every time I give it a spin. Real Groove slaps, as does I Love It and Supernova and Magic. Say Something is such an INTERESTING song. Where Does the DJ Go and Monday Blues are so silly and fun. Hell I even like the deluxe songs Fine Wine and Spotlight. In the words of Ms. Lipa on her virtual concert: QUEEN KYLIE! Listen to: Dance Floor Darling, Celebrate You, Real Groove, Say Something, Where Does the DJ Go? "Bittersweet summer rain, I'm born again..." 12.) Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas (Neo-Soul/Singer-Songwriter) I get a little nervous to outright say that an album is a musician's best when I liked their previous album so much, unless it's just a HUGE standout album. For Lianne, I really enjoyed Blood and played the standout tracks from it all the time for the past 5 years. Outside of Bittersweet, Lianne's self-titled was a bit of a slow burn. It was always going to be in my top 20, but I kept listening and REALLY listening to the album as the year went on to see how I felt about it compared to Blood. Finally I was just like "yup... this is her best album." So, here we are! Obviously I don't need to go on about how flawless Bittersweet is of a song. Actually... it's almost a disservice to the whole album to talk about standouts? I'll let the music speak for itself here. Listen to: Bittersweet, Green Papaya, Sour Flower, Paper Thin, Read My Mind "Baby you've got more poison than sugar..." 11.) Tennis - Swimmer (Indie Pop/Soft Rock) THIS is probably my biggest surprise to myself: having a Tennis album so high. Before Tennis switched genres a little bit to something a bit more funky and fun instead of twee and... boring, I used to shade the **** out of them. I heard In The Morning I'll Be Better in Iceland 3 years ago and was SHOOK to find it was Tennis, though the rest of that album I found to generally be OKAY. Then this album came out and, reader, I was floored. The tempo switch-up in Need Your Love, which is only the SECOND song on the album, is one of the best music moments of the year. Idk what she be saying in Runner, but girl I be living for it (I would have had Runner as my #1 song actually if it came out this year). Her lilting voice on How to Forgive is gorgeous. Tender as a Tomb is the Vampire Weekend song that they wish they could have made before Rostam left. Yeah, admittedly I think this album actually is perfect to be just outside of the top 10, but I'm really really happy to have them so high and to start stanning them. AND this came out on Valentine's Day. Perfection! Listen to: Need Your Love, Runner, How to Forgive, Tender as a Tomb, Swimmer Edited December 18, 2020 by Ewan Chaos
Ewan Chaos Posted December 18, 2020 Author Posted December 18, 2020 Comments under the spoiler~ Spoiler On 12/17/2020 at 11:17 AM, BlackoutZone said: Yukika of course mega serve you know already WIMPIII is not my cup of tea however I appreciate 3AM, Los Angeles and the bonus tracks which are so ahead of the album for me like I dont get it, the rollout was rally good and the album was ready to drop with 3 amazing singles and they pushed it all and just made them the bonus tracks? KII!! YUP A QUEEN. Okay literally same nksdnskldjs they clearly were nervous about placing those "bonus" songs on the album but like... if you take off "bonus track" from the name then all those 3 songs fit on the album? I don't get it either. Honestly I don't get how it's getting so much acclaim either nnn Gasoline sucks, I've Been Down sucks, All That Matters sucks, etc.... On 12/17/2020 at 11:25 AM, KasioKas said: WIM wasn't one I enjoyed too much, but I didn't regret giving it a chance either. Yeah I think it's a good listen but generally overrated! On 12/17/2020 at 11:30 AM, KasioKas said: I know it I just don't listen to Gaga Oooooooooo gotcha :eyesemoji: On 12/17/2020 at 11:32 AM, Post Malone said: Idk any of these [12] You may be saying this for the rest of the rate. Or you may not. Who knows. 23 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said: Women In Music is great, I'm okay with the praise it got tbh your top picks are basically my top picks as well I'm just mad it got the praise that Jessie SHOULD have gotten when both albums came out on the same day nnn. But SLAY at us having the same faves! 23 hours ago, Sunderland 4ever said: I saw this artist in someone else's countdown and gave her album a try. I liked it. City Pop is a genre I approve of. I completely snubbed that Pinegold album. I think I only heard it once. Shore is a good album, but for some reason I find it too long for what it has to offer. Shoutout to Women In Music Pt. III. Well, that means the only album I don't know is None. Not bad, not bad... So far, Top 20 is looking good. AHHH give Pinegrove another chance! I looooove it. Fair re: Shore's length. I was worried it was gonna be longer when it came out nnn. I'd recommend None if you're into bleep bloop music, but I feel you lean a bit more on the acoustic side of music. 23 hours ago, Sunderland 4ever said: There are some RYM genre/style categorizations I don't tend to agree with either, haha, so quite often I need to do my genre research elsewhere. I think I only heard that record twice, just like Yves Tumor's. UGH RYM letting me down. Also feel free to add me if you're active on there! I'm, unsurprisingly, ewanchaos 23 hours ago, minho said: YES YOU ARE OFFICIALLY THE BEST for having Soul Lady on. Absolutely one of my favourite albums of the year Fleet foxes was good but I didn't return to it! I should now though, I'm really feeling that kind of music rn HAIM.. yeah, I think I was kind of shady to it at first but upon revisiting I like it more than I thought. It's a solid album but it has some weak spots I guess, maybe a bit overrated? But good anyway IT'S SO GOOD I have SOMEONE to thank for talking about that album but idk who nnn Yeah tis the season for Fleet Foxes! Funny we have the same general view of the HAIM album but lowkey in reverse order (I think I stanned it more upon release than now). 23 hours ago, Kevin2803 said: Good for HAIM, i guess, but i am not the biggest fan of their music I mean I will agree that those hoes are overrated with this album! 23 hours ago, TalkThatRihanna said: Nnn another indie update I can't help being a #indieheaux! 22 hours ago, Blue Rose said: Haim’s album is so uneventful for me Lowkey same I really liked it upon release but why so much love for it on Year Ends? WEIRD. 22 hours ago, Pink Matter said: Love the Haim album. No idea why the girls have been dragging it lately You know... I honestly don't either and I was worried other people were influencing my thoughts on the album but it's def me listening to the album now and being like "MMMMM don't like it as much" 19 hours ago, Remmy said: Yeah drop some HMs why not Kiii at nearly everyone on this page having negative/mixed thoughts on the HAIM album. I never paid much attention to them before this year but WIM3 was cute, there's a good 5-6 tracks I had on rotation for a bit. Another Try, I Know Alone, Summer Girl but where is Now I'm In It aka the best song in their discography?!? I'm gonna do it! Thx for encouragement Now I'm In It... honestly is a little overrated! I really like it, but... yeah. 16 hours ago, Green said: I liked some songs from Women in Music Pt. III. SLAAAAAAAAAY 14 hours ago, Insanity said: I tried out Haim but not really into it Fleet Foxes was ok but wasn't really into it either lol Yeah they're much slower albums if you're more of a pop stan. HAIM does have more pop-leaning stuff on their older albums (Want You Back/Forever/The Wire/You Never Knew, etc) 13 hours ago, pinknblue said: I'm down with gupi's new sound. lots of potential there. kudos to soul lady for making that high on your list then deserved Never listened to Gupi before this album, gonna be following him for a while now! YAS Soul Lady. Giving it some extra spins today actually. 9 hours ago, geodancefreak said: Not really familiar with the albums in this update, but def looking forward to your top15. It may take the top 10 for more familiar albums, but thank you for following along anyway! 6 hours ago, Lazuli said: people pan fun tonight cuz it's kinda basic, so i guess i'm just a basic bitch 1000 doves tho, it's so uplifting and whatnot wimpiii it is better than their debut tho good on ya for highlighting another try, i love the beat (i guess it's kinda R&B according to you?) and the final portion is just splendid shore is definitely better than their previous album too, that one was a bit of a chore to get thru. a long way past the past is definitely the highlight too. i'd rather taylor work with someone more ambitious tho sksksksk I mean the "IIIIIII, FEELIN THE WAY THAT I FEELIN WITH UUUU' bit of Fun Tonight is fun. Idk is Another Try R&B? nnn I guess it's the closest thing to it outside of 3AM is maybe what I mean... Ugh yes now that Shore is out and good I can finally say that previous album was a ****ing SLOG. Ignoring the shade though from you! 3 hours ago, ikiru said: The Yukika praise Truly such a wonderful album, I am happy you enjoyed her album that much! Still haven't listened to HAIM's latest album, I remember not liking their latest album and one of the singles from Women in Music Pt. III Their debut was phenomenal ugh! Me too! She's a queen! Hmm well the general consensus is that it's better than their last album and that the new album is nothing like the singles (assuming you mean the 2019 singles) so you may like it! 3 hours ago, Madame X said: yukika theres actually another city pop kpop album that you might like if you like her its by bronze, and it actually has a song ft yukika. cherries jubilies is SO good. people got into her cuz of neon, but cherries is what sold me. no thos moser in best songs well, yeah tony hawk's son did do that. 3am IS an r&b jam, pretty good song. a lot of the rest of the haim album tho you already saw my scores on the rate lolz I've just added them to my list to check out, thank you! I can see why people got into Ms. Yukika thru Neon but Cherries is THAT BITCH. Thos Moser is def #6 for me! Ya I knew you'd drag a BIT for HAIM in the top 20 nnn. 1 hour ago, Mark Rih said: Checking out None and it feels like I'm in a videogame, kinda here for it Wait this is a great description, lemme delete everything I wrote and place this comment there instead 39 minutes ago, ARTPØP said: HAIM My sister sister sisters!
TheWayWeWere Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 not you living without listening Kylie classics I'll pretend I didn't see it Disco is full of anthems! Probably among the strongest pop records of the last years Lianne It's her most acceptable and best album tbh I hate that she stays so underrated Tennis Need Your Love alone
TalkThatRihanna Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 From what I heard from Disco it’s great! I need to listen to the full. Magic should’ve been listed as a standout tho 1 hour ago, Ewan Chaos said: Lemme post a bit to get to page 13 and then I'll start working on the next update~ Also this clip still sends me
BlackoutZone Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Need Your Love is amazing so I will definitely get into Swimmer, I only know them from that old MV with her dancing in the living room and it's so funny to me still Serving that HIAM dance DISCO a comeback to form and great picks tbh
Pink Matter Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Waxahatchee and Tennis I only listened to the Waxa album once but I remember enjoying it more than I expected to, especially since it's considered alt-Country lol Might have to give Tennis' album another spin but I remember loving the **** out of their pre album singles and felt the album didn't live up their standard
smholiv Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Ooh very interesting set... because its albums I haven't heard yet I will get to Kylie eventually, and reading your description of Lianne means I'll be adding her to my list as well! Waxahatchee... odd. I should like her album, I seem to be one of the only ones in this section that is into the indie folky whatever albums, yet when I heard it I couldn't get into it at all. Gave it another listen too - i'm wondering if its the vocals. However I don't dislike it either, I will give it another try I think.
Mark Rih Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Omg Sam Can’t believe I was forgetting about him, I used his album a lot during quarantine. 80s perfection. Let me fix my album list right away
ikiru Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Besides queen Kylie I don't know any of these releases I've decided to check out Waxahatchee and listened to "Fire". It's def not what I would usually listen to, but I really enjoyed it. Love the instrumentation of the song! Added the album to my list!
Kevin2803 Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Disco Still have to listen to Lianne's album, but her voice is beautiful.
Sunderland 4ever Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 Oh yes Waxahatchee getting some love. Lianne La Havas was an album that I heard too late to add it on my lists. It would have probably made it to the Top 100 at least. Shoutout for placing Disco and Swimmer so high. That might be the best work they may have released to date. Cape Dory falls to second place. Only album I haven't heard was Boombox Eternal, but taking into account the genres, I should like it. Let's hear it.
Remmy Posted December 18, 2020 Posted December 18, 2020 I feel like I peeped a few Tennis songs months ago but nothing grabbed me. Might have to do the same for Waxahatchee. Ooh I've seen that Sam Sparro album on a few non-ATRL Best of 2020 lists & I remember him on Adam Lambert's best release (Trespassing), let me give him a try as well.
Ghostlysnaker Posted December 19, 2020 Posted December 19, 2020 "Disco" is amazing, she did one of her best works in years
ATRL Moderator Legend E Posted December 19, 2020 ATRL Moderator Posted December 19, 2020 disco deserved to be higher tbh i still have a lot of kylie albums to get into, including fever lianne
prézli Posted December 19, 2020 Posted December 19, 2020 22 hours ago, Ewan Chaos said: Listen to: Dance Floor Darling, Celebrate You, Real Groove, Say Something, Where Does the DJ Go? These are... the worst songs on the album (sans Real Groove).
K$Ellie Posted December 19, 2020 Posted December 19, 2020 Chromatica so high, especially when you panned folklore a bit Yves' album was cute but underwhelming for me, I liked the singles tho Moses was meh x Haim album was nice love all your standouts as well Fleet Foxes was fine for me LOVE to see Yukika so high not you liking a Moo album from 2016 nnn, maybe check out Reboot if you haven't haven't hurd Waxahatchee but I apparently she's getting payola'd hard fffff Disco was a great album i should get into her older stuff cause it's literally my first Kylie album
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