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FIN - volition's Best of 2017 - TOP 10 ALBUMS


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Posted

OOH love your top 2!  I'm gonna be honest and say that Undercover is far from my fave MFPIT song but it's a good single choice! 

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Posted

This top 10 is full of TALENT. :jonny4:

Posted

Desafío, DNA., Truth, Jenny GoGo and Undercover :jonny:Incredible song list :clap3:

Posted

A Top 10 :jonny2: 

DNA, Top Of The World, Undercover are my favs of your top 10 :heart2: 

Posted
Spoiler

 

On 04/01/2018 at 10:27 AM, Eeveelution said:

Dusty Eyes, a song, ahh my ****ing fave!

 

Ed doesn't have the range.

she's really an excellent artist, ed could and would never

 

On 04/01/2018 at 0:03 PM, Pink Matter said:

This top 10 is definitely a different from the ones I've seen here :eek: Some great picks nonetheless

Drew Barrymore, Undercover, Truth, DNA., and Chanel are my faves here :clap3: I don't really remember the Arca song well and I figured I'd wait to listen to Kimbra's new album instead of listening to the new single. Might have to check it out. Overall, a great top 10 and singles list :clap3: 

i think i would wait for kimbra's album given how close it is. thanks for checking out my list though :heart2:

 

22 hours ago, Tom Vercetti said:

Haven't heard a couple of these :eli: 

DNA & Chanel are my favorite pair, but I like the others too. 

A Respectable top 10 nonetheless and the writeups are really detailed. Enjoyed following this. 

thank you so much :heart2: i hope you stay for the albums list

 

17 hours ago, Vxspertine said:

Amazing top 10 :clap3:

Desafío :clap3: Really is a beauty :clap3:

Chanel :alexz: He really came thru with this one and it's true that he comes thru with basically everything he releases

SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE FADS IN THE BACK 

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Ugh, Black Fly, a hym :alexz:

Truth :worship2: If a Jazz single should make anyone's top 5 it's a Kamasi single :worship2:

Jenny GoGo honestly is mindblowing :alexz:

:alexz: Undercover :alexz: 

Drew Barrymore is a great choice for #1, It's definitely SZA's best song and one of the best R&B singles of the year for sure :clap3:

I'll definitely give a listen to the ones I haven't heard, loved your list! :clap3:

WHEW the emoticons :alexz: i hoped you'd like some of these songs :alexz: thank you so much for following my list :heart2: :johnald:

 

16 hours ago, madonnas said:

:eek:  Surprised its this high placement.  It's a very good song though, it won't make my list though cuz I deleted it to put it in another placement and then forgot what I deleted until just now :rip: 

OOH love your top 2!  I'm gonna be honest and say that Undercover is far from my fave MFPIT song but it's a good single choice! 

oh rip. hopefully her album appears on your 2018 list then :eek: and i think undercover is the perfect centerpiece of MFPIT, although perhaps some other songs are more creative. definitely the best choice of single on the album

 

10 hours ago, theblackestday said:

This top 10 is full of TALENT. :jonny4:

these artists all ELIMINATED my wig :jonny4:

 

10 hours ago, AlexisNeiers said:

Desafío, DNA., Truth, Jenny GoGo and Undercover :jonny:Incredible song list :clap3:

thank you for checking it out :heart2: hope you stay for the albums

 

7 hours ago, Navyofbadgals said:

A Top 10 :jonny2: 

DNA, Top Of The World, Undercover are my favs of your top 10 :heart2: 

whew excellence only :heart2:  can't wait for kimbra's album

 

 

Posted

Nice top 10! Top of the World made me so hyped for Primal Heart and Drew Barrymore is one of (my) many favs on CTRL, a good choice for #1. :heart2: 

Posted

Album Honourable Mentions:

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Spoiler

from left to right:

Exile in the Outer Ring - EMA

New Energy - Four Tet

Ison - Sevdaliza

The Underside of Power - Algiers

No One Ever Really Dies - N*E*R*D

Ti Amo - Phoenix

Pleasure - Feist

Turn Out the Lights - Julien Baker

 

東方不敗 - Tzusing

The Ooz - King Krule

Dedicated to Bobby Jameson - Ariel Pink

Capacity - Big Thief

Nothing Feels Natural - Preists

Painted Ruins - Grizzly Bear

Party - Aldous Huxley (so close to making it ugh)

Peasant - Richard Dawson

 

Bedouine - Bedouine

Murder of the Universe - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Kin Sonic - Jupiter & Okwess

Rainbow - Kesha

Planetarium - Sufjan Stevens, James McAlister, Bryce Desser, Nico Muhly

Trifle - Lone Taxidermist

I See You - The xx

RINA - Rina Sawayama

 

Honourable honourable mention:

POP2 - Charli XCX

 

I will do 50-41 and 40-31 in one post groups of 10, and then the rest of the groupings in 5 albums a day, each in their own post.

Posted

Wish some of these had made the top 50 :chick1:

Posted

Love a lot of these, some made my HMs too and others made my actual list but I can see why one would leave them out (except for Capacity which deserved way better fatty)

Posted

Capacity out?? 

 

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Posted

A Few of them r main list material to me but overall reasonable. 

Posted
Spoiler

Exile in the Outer Ring - EMA

New Energy - Four Tet

Ison - Sevdaliza

The Underside of Power - Algiers

No One Ever Really Dies - N*E*R*D

Ti Amo - Phoenix

Pleasure - Feist

Turn Out the Lights - Julien Baker

 

東方不敗 - Tzusing

The Ooz - King Krule

Dedicated to Bobby Jameson - Ariel Pink

Capacity - Big Thief

Nothing Feels Natural - Preists

Painted Ruins - Grizzly Bear

Party - Aldous Huxley (so close to making it ugh)

Peasant - Richard Dawson

 

Bedouine - Bedouine

Rainbow - Kesha

Planetarium - Sufjan Stevens, James McAlister, Bryce Desser, Nico Muhly

I See You - The xx

RINA - Rina Sawayama

 

Honourable honourable mention:

POP2 - Charli XCX

 

like/love all of these! if the HMs are so good the main list will leave me quaking omg :duca:

Posted

let's breeze through the first of the two sets of ten, that i won't go into as much detail for as i will for later albums. i will differentiate 50-41 from 40-31 as they won't have a 'highlights' section.

 

Top Albums of 2017: 50 - 41:

 

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50. Polygondwanaland - King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

KG&TLW released a hell of a lot of albums this year, though Polygondwanaland takes the cake as my favourite. While it may lack the high concepts of their other material, whether that's compositionally (Flying Microtonal Banana) or by narrative (Murder of the Universe), Polygondwanaland is an engaging and consistently interesting psych-rock album that sticks to what these guys do best. There's a lot more to like here than just the colossal opening epic 'Crumbling Castle' though. Overall, it's another solid album in a discography full of them.

GENRE: PSYCHEDELIC ROCK

 

 

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49. The Kid - Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

The Kid on the other hand, is very conceptual in its design, as you can immediately discern from the tracklist. With a wide palette of electronic textures, Kaitlyn experiments with the psychedelic in order to create a truly celestial art pop album. It feels futuristic in the most organic way possible, like it was written by an alien observing an individual's life on Earth, beginning to end. The variety of sounds on show here make The Kid a very captivating listen, and I love the effects on the vocals and how the electronics enhance these effects, such as in 'To Follow & Lead'. I also really like the cover.

GENRE: ART POP, FOLKTRONICA

 

 

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48. Crack-Up - Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes have always been puzzling to me; I could respect and appreciate, even enjoy their music, but it never was particularly compelling to me, to the point where I would join their collective of adoring fans. They're playing here tomorrow and I think it was a mistake of mine not going, because Crack-Up took me somewhere they hadn't taken me to before. A lot of that is to do with 'Third of May / Odaigahara', a track which simply cannot get enough praise, it is so well-constructed and full of ideas, while being a joyous listen. Crack-Up is an accomplished album and it will continue to get many listens from me in the future.

GENRE: CHAMBER FOLK

 

 

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47. Quantum Gate - Tangerine Dream

These guys made the mistake of being so prolific (basically they pull a King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard every year) that no single modern release of theirs ever gets enough attention, despite their undeniable legendary status and their game-changing records of the past, such as the incredible Phaedra. While I'm sure there are some people who listen to their every album, a lot of people simply overlook their albums, which is also a mistake. They are such an influential electronic group and their role in music history can't be forgotten. But onto Quantum Gate, I did listen to it, and I was very pleased to hear that over 140 albums later, they've still got it. Well 'they' may not be completely accurate. See, the reason this album in particular merited attention is because it is the first album they released after the death of legendary member Edgar Froese, using the ideas and notes that he left behind, the aim of communicating the ideas of quantum physics in musical form. Well, this album definitely sounds like that, so I'd call it a success. In fact, it stands on its own as a great and accomplished electronic album. It's good to see it's not the end for this iconic electronic group.

GENRE: PROGRESSIVE ELECTRONIC, BERLIN SCHOOL

 

 

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46. Okovi - Zola Jesus

Zola Jesus's latest album offers an especially gothic take on art pop. I have some gripes with her vocal performance at times, but the production and lyrics are at a discography high-point across this album and it really feels like she has improved greatly. The dark, swooping strings and pattering percussion on 'Exhumed' and the lyrical themes of 'Siphon' contribute greatly to two of the album's standout tracks. There's a bit of a post-industrial feel across here too, in some moments of Exhumed for example. A uniquely powerful album.

GENRE: ART POP, DARKWAVE

 

 

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45. Aromanticism - Moses Sumney

First off lets talk about his fantastic voice. The way he articulates those high notes is so beautiful and special to hear. He has a pretty unique sense of melody, showcased on the fantastic 'Quarrel', a track with understated but fantastically nuanced production. The overall production on Aromanticism is immaculate, and the songs themselves are rich and expressive. A wonderful discovery this year for me.

GENRE: ART POP, NOT R&B

 

 

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44. Love What Survives - Mount Kimbie

This electronic album is nocturnal and distant, and not in the way I'd usually attribute those terms, but in a kind of 'back alley in a major city' way. There's a lot of interesting stuff going on here, it feels influenced by indie rock music, especially post-punk, overall resulting in a particularly unique listen (it feels especially British too). 

GENRE: INDIETRONICA, POST-DUBSTEP

 

 

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43. Arca - Arca

The king of yoga shorts and, more recently, Bjork's partner in crime, is back with a new full-length of his own. It's apparent in Arca's work that he knows exactly what he's doing and the feelings and textures he's trying to communicate, and this self-titled album feels like the most realised expression of his musical ideas so far. The crown jewel of this collection for me is clearly the lovely 'Desafio', but there's plenty of other touches of experimentalism on here, both beautiful and deformed. 

GENRE: ART POP, GLITCH POP

 

 

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42. War & Leisure - Miguel

Miguel returns with his most breezy and tropical album yet. It's summer here, so the album definitely felt right in place with my current mood when it came out. Every song is anchored by Miguel's fantastic voice, which is always filled with soul and expression. War & Leisure is such a fun listen too, and it doesn't always require your full attention, which I like. Now Miguel has released some excellent albums and this one isn't necessarily at that level, but it's still a highlight of the R&B scene this year, and is really enjoyable to put on when you're just relaxing, and at the beach, songs like 'Pineapple Skies' and 'Caramelo Duro' are perfect.

GENRE: CONTEMPORARY R&B

 

 

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41. Apocalipstick - Cherry Glazerr

While we're on the theme of fun albums, this one is a pretty great example. It's a very clean, polished indie rock album. It doesn't feel particularly innovative; it's not that introspective and it doesn't introduce a wealth of new ideas onto the scene. Despite that, it's very energetic and really enjoyable, which makes it perfect for what it's aiming to do. The fact that there's female vocals gave it some initial appeal on its own, but it's the assured and snappy production and confident delivery that make me stay with this album.

GENRE: INDIE ROCK

Posted

Crack-Up, Arca, Romanticism :clap3: 

Posted

Is Poly the only King Gizz album to chart? Interesting pick if so.

Crack Up, War & Leisure, Arca and Aromanticism :clap3: 

I liked The Kid but didn't spend as much time with it as Ears.

Posted

Trying getting into The Kid multiple times but it was pretty boring to me.
Love all the other albums :heart2: Some too low :'(

Posted

Polygondwanaland :clap3: Loved it on first listen but tbh it kind of got overplayed quickly for me

I've heard of Tangerine Dream but I don't think I actually gave them a listen ever, I'll definitely check them out

Okovi :alexz: Too low imo :chick3:

Aromanticism & Arca :clap3:

Posted

Eek I thought I commented on this already. Great list so far :clap3: 

I haven't listened to that King Gizzard album in particular but I've liked their 2017 output so I'm going to make sure to listen to that.

Zola, Moses, Miguel, and CG were all great too :clap3: 

Posted

 

On 08/01/2018 at 8:44 PM, Tom Vercetti said:

Is Poly the only King Gizz album to chart? Interesting pick if so.

Crack Up, War & Leisure, Arca and Aromanticism :clap3: 

I liked The Kid but didn't spend as much time with it as Ears.

yup it is. i think overall it's the most concrete statement, but they have been pretty consistent in quality so i don't think you can go wrong imo. ears is great too :kitty:

 

On 09/01/2018 at 0:24 AM, theblackestday said:

Trying getting into The Kid multiple times but it was pretty boring to me.
Love all the other albums :heart2: Some too low :'(

maybe you'd prefer some of her previous work. ultimately, it is pretty low in my list, but i still enjoyed it.

 

On 09/01/2018 at 1:06 AM, Vxspertine said:

Polygondwanaland :clap3: Loved it on first listen but tbh it kind of got overplayed quickly for me

I've heard of Tangerine Dream but I don't think I actually gave them a listen ever, I'll definitely check them out

Okovi :alexz: Too low imo :chick3:

Aromanticism & Arca :clap3:

okovi wore off me kinda quickly :chick3: and definitely check out tangerine dream's earlier iconic albums

 

21 hours ago, Pink Matter said:

Eek I thought I commented on this already. Great list so far :clap3: 

I haven't listened to that King Gizzard album in particular but I've liked their 2017 output so I'm going to make sure to listen to that.

Zola, Moses, Miguel, and CG were all great too :clap3: 

thanks :heart2: and make sure you do, if you liked their other albums no way you'll not like this one

 

i have to rush i am such a mess my bad anyway next set is coming 

Posted
1 minute ago, volition said:

and definitely check out tangerine dream's earlier iconic albums

anything in particular? :cupid:

Posted
5 minutes ago, Vxspertine said:

anything in particular? :cupid:

their most highly regarded albums are Phaedra, Zeit, and Rubycon. Zeit came first so perhaps it's a good starting point although Phaedra is probably their most famous. Stratosfear and Force Majeure are just some of the many other great albums they have. Overall those 5 would be their best in my opinion.

Posted

I really couldn't get into King Gizzard unfortunately :'( LOVE to see Zola, Moses, Kaitlyn and Mount Kimbie though! Also Arca... even if he deserved better imo. :eli:

 

comment on my best of if possible too :') lmao sorry

Posted

Top Albums of 2017: 40 - 31:

 

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40. Everything is Forgotten - Methyl Ethel

This doesn't place that highly on my list because it's really just a fun little indie pop record. It's got a few quirks here and there, but it's mainly notable for its pop hooks, some of which strike gold, such as on the effortlessly catchy Ubu. Opening track Drink Wine is another good example of the pop appeal of Everything is Forgotten. I was drawn to this initially because the track list looked especially interesting, and that's usually a good sign, although I do think that this band has the potential for much greater records in them. What I like though, is that there's little hooks hidden all throughout, often in the back ends of songs, that get stuck in your brain very easily. I want to see what these guys do next.

GENRE: INDIE POP, PSYCHEDELIC POP

HIGHLIGHTS: UBU, DRINK WINE

 

 

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39. Ash - Ibeyi

French-Cuban twin duo Ibeyi return with an album that greatly exceeds their previous effort. These girls sound incredible when they sing together, so calm and pleasant, and they really draw a lot from their various influences on this album. Ash is a political album, and the lyrical stories here are meaningful and substantial. But it's the music here that elevates these statements, whether it's through clever melodies, tasteful use of vocal effects, or the greatly interesting instrumentals which are influenced by the cultural experiences of the girls. It's also a gorgeous listen.

GENRE: ART POP, YORUBA

HIGHLIGHTS: AWAY AWAY, DEATHLESS, NO MAN IS BIG ENOUGH FOR MY ARMS

 

 

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38. Hiss Spun - Chelsea Wolfe

Absolutely loving the stylistic shift here. This album is passionate, and the incorporation of metal conventions allows Chelsea's sentiments to be communicated incredibly effectively. 16 Psyche is such an incredible highlight that it deserves to be be mentioned everywhere, the chorus is incredible and that moment that just follows the chorus somehow makes it even better. The vocals are haunting and alluring, and the production is ethereal but still heavy in places. Love it.

GENRE: DOOM METAL, GOTHIC ROCK

HIGHLIGHTS: 16 PSYCHE, THE CULLING, VEX

 

 

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37. Process - Sampha

After some great work on the music of many high-profile artists, Sampha comes out with an album of his own, and damn, it's impressive. I think this one suffers a little bit from 'released too early in the year' syndrome, which is unfortunately showing here, but it's still overall a really great album. What I think makes this stand out from some of the other similar electronically influenced R&B-ish albums is the passionate vocal performances on many of the tracks, which elevate Process to another level. Even a track with less of the impressive production techniques, like (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano, is notable for its lyrics and sentiment. But the ones that do have more interesting production are absolute standouts.

GENRE: 'ALTERNATIVE R&B'

HIGHLIGHTS: UNDER, PLASTIC 100 C, BLOOD ON ME

 

 

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36. Not Even Happiness - Julie Byrne

This is so subdued, it could easily send you to sleep, though that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a very subtle album, but it's also deeply affecting, party because of her great voice, which is very touching, and the melodies she has written, which are consistently beautiful. Some folkier singers can sound cold and distant, but Julie's voice is very warm and soothing. This album is quite accessible, and it isn't groundbreaking or anything, but it's a lovely calming listen that borders on greatness if you're in the right mood.

GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FOLK

HIGHLIGHTS: I LIVE NOW AS A SINGER, NATURAL BLUE

 

 

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35. No Shape - Perfume Genius

This placement feels a little low. I do love the album (admittedly it grew off me throughout the year), but it doesn't stick out to me as much as some of the albums I had to place above it. The production is excellent and has stood up to repeated listens, although the songs overall, less so, especially towards the second half. I adore Slip Away, it's a fantastic song that's perfect in all different aspects, vocal performance, lyrics, production you name it. I really do love the production throughout the whole thing, the instrumentation choices are pretty excellent, and there's all sorts of little things throughout that amplify the album. I do feel like this was a growth and a personal best album, but at the same time I think his magnum opus is still in him.

GENRE: ART POP

HIGHLIGHTS: SLIP AWAY, JUST LIKE LOVE, WREATH

 

 

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34. Hang - Foxygen

Knew this one would be exciting from the sound of that string in the first few seconds. This album is just so showy, and gaudy, and erratic and I love it. It's like a Broadway show meets a circus, except the music takes many left turns throughout each song, always surprising you, never going the way that is expected. It recalls a lot of music styles from the 50s and 60s especially, all incorporated well, in fact the production overall is very accomplished, full of interesting moments and ideas. The vocals are also very expressive, even if not technically brilliant, they feel like they're coming from someone who wholeheartedly believes everything they are saying. I love the range of influences on this album and how they all come together to make a wildly engaging listen.

GENRE: PROGRESSIVE POP, GLAM ROCK

HIGHLIGHTS: 

 

 

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33. Soft Sounds from Another Planet - Japanese Breakfast

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first listened to this, but wow, truly one of the best surprises of the year. I wasn't familiar with this artist before this album release, so I was going in on nothing, but I am so pleased I listened to it because it really is a sensational album. I'm always a sucker for female lead indie rock, especially in the dreamy gazey way like this album achieved. Boyish was a favourite of mine because it incorporated the sounds of 60s doo wop, adding some tasteful diversity to the album's collection of songs, while still being a lush dreamy tune in the same vein as the rest of the album. A great album and a new discovery for me.

GENRE: INDIE ROCK, DREAM POP

HIGHLIGHTS: BOYISH, DIVING WOMAN

 

 

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32. Masseduction - St. Vincent

So, this album wasn't a disappointment for me. I think it's obvious that it isn't at the same level as some of her previous albums, but it's more like going sideways than going backwards. It's a good album, and while it's her most accessible effort yet, that's not a bad thing. If you look at all the lyrical themes you can see that she still has her characteristic charm, and there's definitely plenty of interesting stories being told here. Also, the production may be less original, but there's still heaps of cool moments throughout the whole thing. Even the piano ballads feel necessary, and there's plenty of energetic tracks too. I think this album will be looked back on more fondly in the future.

GENRE: ART POP, MAINSTREAM POP STAR

HIGHLIGHTS: PILLS, SAVIOR, SMOKING SECTION, POWER CORRUPTS

 

 

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31. 4.44 - Jay-Z

I gotta say, I pretty much didn't think he'd ever release a good album again. While you can never rule out someone with legendary albums in the past (and some of his older 'worse' albums have been growing on me lately), it seemed, after the atrocious Magna Carta... Holy Grail that he was done. Well, I'm surprised but absolutely pleased that 4.44 turned out to be such an incredible success. It really is excellent and it doesn't get its fair share of praise around here in general (outside of Best Of, in like Base and SYG) and I'm definitely really happy that it got nominated for AOTY; I'd be perfectly happy with it winning too. This record is full of introspection and political commentary, and it addresses those subjects very poignantly. I was particularly moved and impressed by the track 'Smile', which I've talked about already. I'm glad he was able to find his feet and release an album as great as this after so many people had ruled him out.

GENRE: EAST COAST HIP HOP, CONSCIOUS HIP HOP

HIGHLIGHTS: SMILE, THE STORY OF O.J., 4.44

Posted

Some of these are great! Makes me wonder what you got in store for your top 10 :eek: 

Ibeyi, Sampha, PG, Fox, and St. V :clap3: all excellent.

Posted

Process, No Shape, Soft Sounds, MESSEDUCTION :alexz: 

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