Admiral Bobbery Posted December 28, 2017 Author Posted December 28, 2017 (edited) 27 Beautiful Trauma - P!nk Favorite Lyric: I haven’t changed just replaced all the chains with pearls. Top Tracks: Where We Go, Whatever You Want, and Secrets I’ve always liked Pink’s music, but she lost me a bit with her last album. I found it to be a bit stagnant and boring. This album is a step back in the right direction. Here she takes on a more folksy approach with her sound and it gives it a bit of needed life and color. In places it does kinda sound like a more poppy version of a Of Monster and Men album, and that’s not a slam against her at all. The lyrics are as solid as ever on a Pink record. Thematically they are dealing with the ups and downs of a relationship. It seems like she was probably going through a rocky time with her husband when writing this album. There’s very much an emphasis on losing the spark here but also remembering the beauty of the relationship in spite of that. Vocally, this is probably one of her more impressive showcases. I feel like this record is one of her best for showing off what her voice can do. This is especially true on You Get My Love. That song really shows off how beautiful of a tone she has. Overall, its a very solid record thats a nice edition to her discography. 26 CTRL - SZA Favorite Lyric: I get so lonely, I forget what I'm worth. We get so lonely, we pretend that this works. Top Tracks: Drew Barrymore, Prom, and The Weekend This is a very modern/contemporary R&B album. It’s filled with interesting melodies, especially in the verses. She has a tendency for harmonizing with herself to interesting results. Her voice is used to great effect with the production complementing it perfectly. I love her voice, it reminds me a bit of Amy Winehouse. The subject matter of the album is fairly interesting too, usually people aren’t that open about being the side chick. Raw and honest lyricism, interesting vocals, and good production make for a very solid debut. That's it for today! I just noticed that today's list was heavy with the women but tomorrow the men will get some shout outs. Similar time tomorrow! Thank you all for following. Edited December 28, 2017 by Admiral Bobbery
TheWayWeWere Posted December 29, 2017 Posted December 29, 2017 TMYLM her best yet, really excited about her next step
Admiral Bobbery Posted December 29, 2017 Author Posted December 29, 2017 25-21! 25 The Chief - Jidena Favorite Lyric: They lower him in the ground, I shovel dirt into the mound. Darkness falling, I, I can’t stick around. No time to grieve, one hour the flight leaves. I feel thieves and witches in the trees. Top Tracks: A Bulls Tale, Long Live The Chief, and Safari After two years of dropping song after song, Jidena finally released his debut album. I was really looking forward to it as I liked a lot of his pre-album material. The album didn’t quite live up to the expectations I had for it, honestly most of his pre-album material was better than what was on the album. However, this is a solid debut. One charge I’ve seen leveled towards him is that his corny and doesn’t have that good of a skill. He is a bit corny, this album does have it’s moments, but tracks like A Bulls Tale prove he can spit fire when he wants too. Some songs deal with love and lust, while other’s he gets political. He calls out police brutality as well as critiquing certain aspects of modern culture. He does it well without going too far into preachy territory. The production on this album is also really good. Hopefully he improves his craft more with the next one. 24 American Teen - Khalid Favorite Lyric: Moving on seems harder to do when the one that you love moves faster than you. Top Tracks: Location, Let’s Go, and Hopeless American Teen is the debut album of R&B singer Khalid. It has a very chill, laid back vibe to the music, with a couple of bops here and there. The music itself has a contemporary vibe but manages not to feel too trend chasing. It’s very rooted in R&B and soul. Lyrically this album goes over the experiences of the everyday teen, from partying, relationships, and casual materialism. He does this while giving some subtle commentary about society. In a way it reminds me of Pure Herione in that respect. His voice is very smooth too. In a few places on this album his voice is a bit on the monotone side with the production on the songs doing more of the work. Overall, this is a very solid debut record from a promising talent. 23 Sacred Hearts Club - Foster The People Favorite Lyric: Well it’s a silicon rush and I’m addicted. I don’t understand. When it starts I can’t switch off. Top Tracks: Sit Next To Me, SHC, and Harden The Paint I honestly wasn’t looking forward to this album, mostly because of how disappointing and mediocre their sophomore album turned out to be. This is certainly a bounce back in terms of quality for them. With this recorded we see the band go down a very 60’s era rock inspired route. Particularly they were inspired by 60’s psychedelic rock combined with electronic elements. They finally remember how to write good melodies again for more than two songs. Most songs off the album have strong, interesting melodies. This is combined with pretty good lyricism. If you were a fan of their first record but was disappointed by their second, give this one a try. It’s not as good as Torches, but is easily their second-best album. 22 Waves - Rachel Platten Favorite Lyric: You soldiered storms that you never spoke of. Build up a world that was all about us. If I close my eyes I can still feel your touch. The warm steady shake of two hands that love me too much. Top Tracks: Keep Up, Shivers, and Collide If you had told me that Rachel Platten’s new album this year would actually be pretty good, I’d have called you a liar. Now, I’ve not been a blind Rachel hater. In fact, I’ve had a bit of a soft spot for her since I heard 1000 Ships on my local HAC station a couple years back. However, her major label debut Wildfire was a disappointment. I had 2/3 good songs and that was it, the rest bland HAC fodder of the most mediocre degree. This year, she came back with a good pop record. This album is very contemporary pop sounding considering her status as a HAC act. Not only that, but she comes up with some interesting song structures and melodies, especially with Keep Up. Her lyrics are very solid throughout as well. She cuts back on the Disney cheese that weighed down her previous album. My main complaint is that the 2nd half is a bit of a drag as all the really strong songs are within the albums 1st half. It’s also the 2nd half she drifts back to writing blander melodies again, but the production and nice lyrics save it from being a wash. Overall, one of the better pop efforts this year and an underrated gem that did not deserve to flop near as hard. 21 Big Fish Theory - Vince Staples Favorite Lyric: Play too rough might break your heart, and them glass shoes ain’t made to walk these lonely streets unpaved, unscathed. Top Tracks: Yeah Right, Love Can Be, and Crabs In a Bucket This was my first experience with Vince Staples. To be honest I only really listened to it because the album cover stood out to me on spotify . It also was what got me into his other music as well. It’s a listen I haven’t regretted. It’s a hip hop album with heavy electronic and dance influences. It’s an album full of aggressive beats and even darker lyrics. Lyrically, this is a bleak album, with subject matter ranging from racism to dealing with fame to drug use. I will say the lyrics aren’t as generic to me here as typical rap fare dealing with similar subjects. Vince is also a very competent rapper, though a critique some might have for him is his monotone done. If you’re in the mood for something hip hop and Avant Garde (cause the melodies on this album are not poppy at all) then give this one a try.
Admiral Bobbery Posted December 29, 2017 Author Posted December 29, 2017 19 hours ago, Lazuli said: P!nk lost me with this album instead Ctrl lol 13 hours ago, Brandon said: Demi & P!nk Thanks! 4 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said: TMYLM her best yet, really excited about her next step I am too. I know she can get even better.
grandewhispers Posted December 30, 2017 Posted December 30, 2017 American Teen It was a great debut album!
Lazuli Posted December 30, 2017 Posted December 30, 2017 I didn't bother checking out FTP's album I thought that their second album was a disappointment too, and I wasn't very into the 3 songs they released before the album release
ATRL Moderator Legend E Posted December 30, 2017 ATRL Moderator Posted December 30, 2017 Meaning of Life In my top 3 on the album for sure. Glad you included SZA. I have a strange relationship with her cause I find some of her songs truly amazing and some others very eh. And yes, she reminds me a bit of Amy too
Admiral Bobbery Posted December 31, 2017 Author Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) 20-16! 20 You Never Walk Alone/Wings - BTS Favorite Lyric: That light, that light, please illuminate my sins. Where I can’t turn back the red blood is flowing down. Top Tracks: Blood Sweat & Tears, Not Today, and First Love A bit cheap to count a reissue as a new album, but I’m doing it because I really do like this album. It’s the first Kpop album that I’ve really gotten into as a whole (not that I’ve listened to many) besides 4 Walls. Usually with Kpop I like a handful of songs (if that) and that’s it, but I like the majority of the material here. Its surprisingly varied musically. A lot of songs have a slower, more jazz inspired feel to them, others have more of an urban/hip-hop feel to them (Not Today), and other have more of an electronic vibe (Blood Sweat & Tears, Outro:Wings). Lyrically, there’s also more depth here than what I find in typical K-pop, reflecting on societal pressure and coping with trauma and healing. The production on this album is good, if a bit loud in places (Not Today is particularly guilty of this but I don’t mind it). There’s a lot of talent on this album, the rapping sounds good and the vocal performances are also really good too. 19 Colors - Beck Favorite Lyric: “All the colors, see the colors, make the colors, feel the colors. Tell me, do you feel alive.” Top Tracks: Dreams, Up All Night, and No Distraction After two years of teasing this album and releasing singles, Beck finally dropped Colors this year. This is probably his most straight forward and mainstream friendly effort to date. It’s filled with pop hooks and melodies, but still has that Beck strangeness and rockiness to it. The production elements are more colorful that past records, which make sense given the albums name. This is not a bad album by any means, in fact I like it more than his last one, but this is one of his weaker efforts. Dreams and No Distraction and discography highs for him, but the rest of the album just doesn’t really have that kind of a punch. The music is still really nice though and has some interesting elements to it with certain cord structures and changes. It’s still good but it’s just that he’s set the bar really high with some of his other albums. This is a nice addition to his discography overall though. 18 Evolution - Anastacia Favorite Lyric: “String of lights, lonely street, a cold rain under my feet. It’s all a blur me and you, everywhere I took a reflection of blue”. Top Tracks: Higher Livin’, Pain, and Boomerang Anastaica came back with the follow up to her 2014 album Resurrection. Evolution sees Anastacia go in a more contemporary pop/electronica direction compared to previous material. There’s still a bit of her “sprock” sound on here, especially with songs like Boxer. The change of sound isn’t really something I’m critical on. The more contemporary pop sound works here. Plus, unlike her previous record, she finally remembered that you can put more than one up-tempo on an album. I’m probably in the minority but I like this album more than Resurrection. One, she did correct the aforementioned lack of up-tempo songs. Two, I just find this to be a stronger collection of songs. About a third of her previous album felt sleepy to me, where there’s only one or two songs here I don’t care for. I will admit Resurrection’s higher are a bit higher. This is an album full of catchy hooks and melodies, coupled with solid lyricism. Ana’s vocal tone is as great as ever. However, I would be neglectful if I didn’t address the lack of high notes and belting here compared to previous albums. It does seem like she’s not really going for the notes as much anymore. That’s understandable as she is in her late 40’s now and her voice honestly hasn’t been the same since 2010 anyway. It’s a bit disappointing as a fan though as I love her big vocal moments. Overall, I’d say that despite the lack of high notes, this album is a solid edition to her discography. 17 From A Room Vol 2 - Chris Stapleton Favorite Lyric: I’ve been sitting here all morning I was sitting here all night, There’s a bible in my left hand, and a pistol in my right. Top Tracks: Scarecrow In The Garden, Hard Livin’, and Drunkard’s Prayer Chris Stapleton blessed us with not one but two albums this year. This one is the second. To me this is the weaker of the two albums this year, but it’s still a good effort. This album continues to prove that Stapleton is one of the best storytellers in country music nowadays. Scarecrow in The Garden has to be one of the most interesting country songs put out this year from a story perspective. That wham line at the end (which is the lyric excerpt above). There aren’t quite as many bombastic vocal moments here as there were in Vol 1, but that doesn’t really matter in his case. His rough yet buttery tone is just golden no matter what he sings. Filled with great lyrics, tight melodies, and great vocal performances, this is yet another great country album to add to this man’s discography. 16 War & Leisure - Miguel Favorite Lyric: “Cause it’s plain to see a man’s integrity by the way he treats those when he don’t need them” Top Tracks: Banana Clip, Wolf, and Caramalo Duro Miguel released his fourth album this year. After an underwhelming lead single the album turned out much better than I was hoping for. Not quite as good as Wildheart and Kaleidoscope Dream, but this is still miles above his debut. A couple of dud tracks here and there, but the good material off of this album is GOOD. It’s also a very summery album. I kinda feel like this probably should’ve been released during the summer. Musically, he continues his R&B sound but goes in a more urban/hip-hop oriented direction. It’s gives this album a distinct flavor. Lyrically, it basically the same content as his previous albums for the most part. There are some songs on this record, like the closing track, where he does get more political and manages to not be cringe about it. Not everyone has that. Edited December 31, 2017 by Admiral Bobbery
Admiral Bobbery Posted December 31, 2017 Author Posted December 31, 2017 On 12/29/2017 at 7:12 PM, grandewhispers said: American Teen It was a great debut album! 18 hours ago, Lazuli said: I didn't bother checking out FTP's album I thought that their second album was a disappointment too, and I wasn't very into the 3 songs they released before the album release The three pre-release songs were some of the weakest ones It's a better album than those songs would lead one to believe. 14 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said: Waves has some great pop tunes It does. 14 hours ago, Nikko said: CTRL The Drew lyric is truly a standout. Thanks! 11 hours ago, Legend E said: Meaning of Life In my top 3 on the album for sure. Glad you included SZA. I have a strange relationship with her cause I find some of her songs truly amazing and some others very eh. And yes, she reminds me a bit of Amy too That was my first impression of her album half of it was great and half was meh. The meh half began growing on me eventually though.
Lazuli Posted December 31, 2017 Posted December 31, 2017 Colors was kind of a cute bop, but nothing more than that
ATRL Moderator Legend E Posted December 31, 2017 ATRL Moderator Posted December 31, 2017 I forgot Anastacia released this year. I didn't even listen to the singles.
Admiral Bobbery Posted December 31, 2017 Author Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) 15-11! 15 Ivy to Roses - Mabel Favorite Lyric: Oh, you got it in your head that I’m using you, but I really enjoy the other things we do (and you can use me back). Top Tracks: Finders Keepers, Low Key, and Ivy Up coming UK R&B artist Mabel finally released a full body of work this year with her Ivy to Roses mixtape. With this body of work she really shows that she has a lot of potential. Not every song is amazing here, but it’s a solid collection overall. She strips back the more modern production that her songs tend to have for a more old-school feel. This change in production really allows her voice to be highlighted. She has a very interesting tone and a decent amount of power and resonance (at least in the studio). Elements of her voice that can sometimes be missed in other songs. Ivy is probably her best vocal showcase to date. Her lyricism is as solid as ever here. Mostly dealing with love and woe, she has a more “youthful” flavor with her lyrics. Especially with the songs that portray her as being more of a casual lover than something more serious. In all, this is a very good appetizer to what her first album will offer. 14 Humanz - Gorillaz Favorite Lyric: “With the holograms beside me I’ll dance alone tonight. In a mirrored world, are you beside me” Top Tracks: Stroblite, Saturn Barz, and Andromeda After a 6-year wait, virtual band Gorillaz came back with their fifth studio album, the follow-up to 2011’s The Fall. That album title was accurate at The Fall was easily the weakest of their discography. This was a bounce back from that. This record saw them go into a more Hip-Hop/Rap oriented direction than their previous work. They’ve done rap influenced songs before but never quite this many on a project. However, it’s not all hip-hop oriented stuff. There’s still a heavy electronic and dance element to quite a few of these songs. If you’re a fan of them because of their twisted take on pop songs like Plastic Beach, there are still moments on this album for you, such as Andromeda. Another noteworthy thing about this record is that it’s heavier on the features than compared to past work. While other albums were generous with the features, usually about a third of those albums were just the band by themselves. Here, there’s only one track that does not feature anyone else, and that is Bused and Blue, which is one of the most emotional songs on the record. This isn’t a criticism of the record, in face most of the features are used very well and do contribute to the record. The main weakness of this album is the fact that it’s clogged down with filler. Mainly this comes from the interludes that don’t all much of anything to the record at all. Also, there are more songs that are just mediocre compared to previous works. The strong tracks are great, but there are some meh material dragging down this album overall. I would rank it a strong showing from The Fall which was just not a good album at all, but I would still put it below their first three albums. 13 Damn. - Kendrick Lamar Favorite Lyric: “Most of ya’ll just envy, but jealousy get you killed. Most of y’all throw rocks and try to hide your hand.” Top Tracks DNA, Love, and Loyalty Kendrick dropped the follow up to his much lauded 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly. With this album, we see the rapper take his sound in a more mainstream direction compared to previous efforts. The result is a really great rap album that is his most easily accessible work to date. Despite this, he manages to not lose the essence that makes albums such as To Pimp A Butterfly and G.O.O.D Kid M.A.D City such great records. This record contains some real career highlights for him. DNA might just be his most fire performance on record to date. Humble is also probably his most instantly catchy song as well. The production on this album is just top notch and his lyrics are just as sharp and smart as ever. However, overall, I’d rank this as his 2nd weakest album. If anything, that just shows how strong his discography is so far if this is a low point. 12 Glasshouse - Jessie Ware Favorite Lyric: “Baby now it feels like we’re dancing, dodging bullets now ain’t that romantic.” Top Tracks: Selfish Love, Your Domino, Alone Glasshouse is the third album by UK singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. With this album we see the singer go in a more pop direction compared to previous efforts. There’s more of an emphasis on big radio-friendly hooks compared to previous albums. I’m not saying that as a negative though. It gives the album quite a bit of replay value. I applaud her for not loosing too much of the Jessie Ware essence in the mix either. The soulful and R&B base of her music is still quite present. Lyrically it’s on par with her other records. Vocally, I think this record has some of her strongest performances. We see some of her power on songs like Alone and songs like Selfish Love show off the beauty of her tone. Overall, this is a very tight record and I would honestly rate it as her 2nd best one after her ethereal masterpiece Devotion. 11 I See You - The xx Favorite Lyric: “When you saw me leaving, did you think I had a place to go? Since you stopped believing, I’ve had to put on my own show.” Top Tracks: Dangerous, Say Something Loving, Lips UK electronic band The XX came back with their third studio album. Honestly, I’ve never been that into them. I liked a couple of their past songs but never really have been able to get into them as a whole. This is honestly the first album of theirs I can say that I enjoy almost every song. Though the 2nd half of the album did have to grow on me a lot over the year so maybe I should give their older stuff a chance again since I've heard a decent amount of fans say this is the weakest of their three albums. What I really love about this record is how they branched out in sound and incorporated new influences. Their music feels so vibrant, colorful, and lively to me now compared to their previous material. Easily my favorite electronica album this year for me. That's it for today. Tomorrow's update will more than likely come at around the same time. Edited December 31, 2017 by Admiral Bobbery
TheWayWeWere Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 War & Leisure and Glasshouse are my faves from this set both slayed me this year again Ivy to Roses has some great jams, but overall it's kinda fillerish Evolution sounds kinda dated, I'll prefer her rock sound tbh
Admiral Bobbery Posted January 1, 2018 Author Posted January 1, 2018 (edited) Today we'll be doing the 1st half of the top 10! 10 Bedroom - Mabel Favorite Lyric: “Tension in my body, a light reflecting off of me, don't we look beautiful? It's a hell of a way to fall” Ep Highlights: Bedroom and Finders Keepers Probably a bit high on the list for an Ep but eh. After putting out a couple of promising songs in 2015/16 UK singer-songwriter Mabel finally got to put out her first body of work the Bedroom Ep. It was the first of two works she’d drop this year, but overall I’d say this was my favorite of the two. It’s a very tightly written group of songs that are steeped in 90’s R&B goodness with modern twists to them. The title track is the crowing jewel of her discography for me so far. Finders Keepers, her first hit song, is also in her top 4 for me. The other two songs are also really good. This Ep shows the potential this girl has, more so than the mixtape which was a bit fillerish in places. 9 The Architect - Paloma Faith Favorite Lyric: “The one thing I'm good at is messing up somebody else” Top Tracks: Till I’m Done, WW3, The Architect Paloma, after a year of teasing, decided to release her anticipated 4th album, The Architect. Leading up to the album she said that she was going to go in a more psychedelic rock direction with this album. I can hear it on some songs like WW3 and Tonight’s Not the Only Night. This album continues her soul/r&B/baroque pop fusion she’s perfected over the years with a few songs leaning heavily on disco. As always, her vocals on this record are great. She continues to cement herself as one of the better singers in today’s pop landscape. Her vocal tone is also one of the most dramatic and engaging. That really shines here as it seems like she ups the bombast and drama with this record. However, there are some nice, slower moments too like the lead single Crybaby and Lost and Lonely. Subject wise, she branches out a bit from her usual tales of love and woe. She sings more about political subjects this time. Crybaby is a feminist critique on certain aspects of society’s expectations on masculinity. Power to the Peaceful praises peace keepers and makers. I’ll be Gentle also contains similar feminist critiques like Crybaby does. According to her Guilty is about Brexit (I’m still unconvinced on that one). It’s nice to see her branch out more even if she does overblow some of her insights (once again how is Guilty about Brexit?). In all, this is a very strong album. I’d label it an improvement over 2014’s A Perfect Contradiction, and maybe even better than her sophomore album, but not quite my favorite from her. 8 Dua Lipa – Dua Lipa Favorite Lyric: “But tonight I'm so self-conscious isn't it so clear to see? Nothing's ever perfect in paradise. Don't know what it's worth 'til you pay the price” Top Tracks: Lost In Your Light, Hotter Than Hell, New Rules After a few months delay the debut album of UK pop starlet Dua Lipa arrived this summer. It was well worth the wait. It’s an album that filled with bops and even a few nice slower songs. It’s contemporary but still manages to carve out a unique identity for her. The album has hook after hook. Even the slower songs have shimmering melodies. Her vocals are also amazing. She has such a unique tone and I’m glad that songs like Garden, Thinking About You, and Homesick really show it off. She also has quite a bit of power behind that voice as songs such as Hotter Than Hell and IDGAF show. The lyricism is also surprisingly solid. Usually debut pop albums lack a bit in this department but Dua avoids that. That, combined with the stellar melody work and vocals mentioned earlier, makes this a very good pop debut and one of the best pop albums of the year. 7 From A Room Vol 1 - Chris Stapleton Favorite Lyric: “Today dealt me another hand of heartaches that I'll play what we said and what we meant. Two different things, just some words and rings and time keeps raising the stakes.” Top Tracks: Either Way, I Was Wrong, and Without Your Love From A Room Vol 1 is the follow up album to Stapleton’s 2015 breakthrough Traveler, an album that has gone on to be one of the biggest country records of the entire decade. That’s a tall order to follow up. However, I believe he succeeded pretty well with this record. It’s short and sweet, but that just makes it a very tight record with no room for filler. He continues the more traditional/rootsy sound he carved out with Traveler, though I think this record has a bit less polish to it production wise than his previous record. That serves the ballads of this record very well. His lyricism remains as straight-forward yet emotionally evocative as his previous one. He even manages to diversify his lyricism a bit by interjecting some humor on this record (see These Stems). He remains one of the stronger storytellers in country nowadays. He also remains very good at crafting memorable melodies, something that I feel country music can sometimes lack. His vocals are truly a highlight of this record too. I’d say this record shows off just what he can do with his vocals even more than his debut did. Either Way is just a vocal beast of a song the way he sings it in the chorus and shows just how well he can sell emotion. In all this record cements him as being my favorite male vocalist in modern country music. This album is a strong follow up to Traveler and leaves me excited for From A Room Vol 2. 6 CollXion II – Allie X Favorite Lyric: “Toss and we turn with a fist full of ashes and a heart that I don't even use, I'll just keep telling myself, over and over and over till I don't need you” Top Tracks: Downtown, Need You, Casanova CollXion II is the anticipated follow up to CollXion I. After a drawn out and messy release schedule she finally dropped it over the summer. Was it worth the wait? Yes it was. A bit of a step down for me compared to her stellar debut, this album is still a very strong collection of songs. Her lyricism remains sharp and dark like her debut. However, it’s not quite as consistent as a few bum lines appear but those are easily overlooked. Especially when coupled with her melodies. None a single weak melody on this record. Musically she goes in a more contemporary direction compared to her debut. It’s still synthpop but it sounds more in tune with current trends compared to CollXion I. It kinda loses a bit of the personality she carved out with her debut but it still has that twisted feeling to feel like Allie X. She managed to balance expanding her sound while still keeping her identity. Edited January 1, 2018 by Admiral Bobbery
Admiral Bobbery Posted January 1, 2018 Author Posted January 1, 2018 On 12/31/2017 at 3:00 AM, Lazuli said: Colors was kind of a cute bop, but nothing more than that Yeah, he has better albums. On 12/31/2017 at 8:26 AM, Legend E said: I forgot Anastacia released this year. I didn't even listen to the singles. Well the lead single wasn't her best one anyway but the album is better, if a bit dated. Though when has Ana ever been at the forefront of any trends. 4 hours ago, TheWayWeWere said: War & Leisure and Glasshouse are my faves from this set both slayed me this year again Ivy to Roses has some great jams, but overall it's kinda fillerish Evolution sounds kinda dated, I'll prefer her rock sound tbh Miguel and Jessie are very consistent tbh. I prefer her rock sound too but don't mind her switching it up once in a while. 1 hour ago, Legend E said: Mabel + Jessie Thanks!
ATRL Moderator Legend E Posted January 2, 2018 ATRL Moderator Posted January 2, 2018 Nice to see Mabel twice here I need to get more into Paloma's album because I loved the two singles. I also stan for Dua.
Admiral Bobbery Posted January 2, 2018 Author Posted January 2, 2018 (edited) Time for the finale for the albums list! 5-1! 5 After Laughter - Paramore Favorite Lyric: “Survival will not be the hardest part it's keeping all your hopes alive when all the rest of you has died” Top Tracks: Told You So, 26, Rose-Colored Boy Paramore’s fifth album is a bit of a departure in sound from them. They’ve stripped back the punk rock for a more 80’s power pop sound. It’s an expansion on a sound they played around with on their previous album Paramore but more polished. They’ve dived head first into a sonic reinvention this time around. While some might not like it, for me this reinvention works out wonderfully. I’ve always liked their music but for me they’ve just gotten better overtime. I’ve liked them as they get more mature with their lyricism. For me this is their best album yet. It’s such a great splash of 80’s power pop nostalgia coupled with songs dealing with adjusting to adulthood. It’s kind of a theme that I relate to a lot right now so it’s an album that came out at just the right time for me. Beyond just relatability, they’ve tackled this theme with great lyrics. While one critique I do have about this album is that there are sections that they repeat lyrics too much (see the bridge of Told You So), the lyricism of this album is great. You can tell these are grownups writing about more adult feelings with more nuance than they did in the past. They’ve dropped the angst that riddled previous work. I didn’t mind the angst back them because, one I was angsty myself being younger and all, but also because it fit them because they too, were younger and not as mature. The melodies off is this album are, for the most part, tight and done very well. Even on the softer songs, like Forgiveness, the hook on the chorus really does sink into you. As always, Hayley Williams provides a great vocal performance throughout the record, her evocative vocals really help lift up the already good material into something truly great. 4 The Nashville Sound - Jason Isbel and The Nashville Sound Favorite Lyric: “A crowded room is a burning battlefield, If I don't move, I'll come undone. My heart beats harder, a hammer striking steel. Will I walk now or be a "Wait and Run"?” Top Tracks: If We Were Vampires, Anxiety, and Cumberland Gap I had heard of Jason Isbell discussed in country circles before and I had always heard good things when he was brought up. When I saw that he was releasing a new album this year I decided to see what his hype was all about. I’m glad I did. This album has quickly grown to be one of my favorite country albums ever. One thing I heard him praised for was his songwriting. He definitely earns that praise here. The songwriting is sharp and cutting. Oftentimes he writes about subjects in an interesting way. It’s rare to hear a love song talk about the fact that their time together being finite is what makes it so special in the first place. His ode to anxiety also writes about that subject in interesting and relatable ways too. He even manages to write a song about acknowledging white privilege without being preachy and accusatory. A fine line to walk if there ever was one. If it’s one thing he’s very open about is his inner psyche. He lays out all of his insecurities and anxieties in detail on this record. He manages to not come across winy either while doing it. It’s refreshing seeing a male in country music be this open about his emotions on record. He also write about how grateful he is to his loved ones who put up with him. He has a very balanced approach to his writing. This coupled with good melodies makes for some amazing songwriting. Musically this is a quieter record, having a more acoustic vibe. Though he can turn up the volume and instrumentation on songs such as Cumberland Gap and Anxiety. It’s a really nice album to listen to if you’re in the mood for something more contemplative and quiet. Even if you’re not a big fan of country I would still recommend this album as he avoids all the clichés most people who hate country talk go on about. 3 Rainbow - Kesha (no dolla sign) Favorite Lyric: “I watch my life, backwards and forwards and I feel free. Nothing is real, love is everything, and I know nothing”. Top Tracks: Praying, Spaceship, and Boots After a five-year hiatus, Kesha was finally able to return with her third album. Luckily for her it’s a very triumphant return. Combining rock, pop, country, and even a bit of hip-hop (mainly just Hymn), it’s an eclectic mix of genres that are meshed together very cohesively. Combined with her classical knack for writing catchy hooks and trademark witty lyricism, you get a recipe for an amazing record. Her lyricism is still her same witty and brash writing like it used to be but more mature. You can see this very clearly on Woman, Boots, and Let Em Talk. She also goes deeper with her writing than she’s done on record before with Praying, Spaceship, and Emotional. There’s always been glimpses of a more emotional Kesha on record before, like The Harold Song, and Dancing with Tears In My Eyes, but she more “organic” production allows that sincerity to shine through in a way it hadn’t really been allowed to before. She also finally gets to show off that voice of hers. I’ve always liked her tone and thought she could sell emotion better than most mainstream females nowadays, but it’s always been hidden behind tons of vocal effects. With this album her voice is unleashed and allowed to do its thing. She shows an impressive range on this record compared to previous ones. This record cements that Kesha is not a mediocre singer who needs the autotune. This record got the feels, it’s got the bops, and it’s got everything that makes Kesha, Kesha. It’s a great record that really shows Kesha growing into her potential. 2 Melodrama - Lorde Favorite Lyric: “The truth is I am a toy that people enjoy until all of the tricks don’t work anymore” Top Tracks: Sober, Perfect Places, Hard Feelings This year Lorde finally decided to end her four-year long drought between albums. What an album she chose to come back with too. I didn’t think she would top Pure Heroine, but she really did for me. I just adore this album, it’s easily in my top 5 for this decade. For this record she decides to forgo the minimalism that was the signature of her debut album and went in a much more vibrant and colorful direction with the music. It’s an album that’s rich in instrumentation. The more dance and pop oriented direction is probably alienating to some fans, but for me it’s pretty much perfect. It’s a great blend of pop and more alternative elements. It’s a refreshing mix. Combined with her knack for interesting and memorable melodies and you get a knockout. Her lyricism on this album is, for the most part (glares at Green Light), more refined than her debut. She keeps the intelligence of her first record but brings a much more human and personal element on this one. There were moments like that on Pure Heroine too, but the whole of Melodrama is like that. Songs like Hard Feelings, Liability, and Writer in The Dark, bring out such an emotionality in Lorde’s writing that hasn’t really been touched on before. It’s also interesting how this album is both a literal telling of her breakup and an Aesop on trying to party away your pain. This is a girl who’s been very hurt but is trying to heal. If the cathartic feeling on Perfect Places is anything to go by she might be on her way there. 1 Meaning of Life - Kelly Clarkson Favorite Lyric: “I feel freedom where I stand now, and I feel proud of who I am now, yeah, I learned a lot along the way. I love the woman that I became.” Top Tracks: Meaning of Life, Medicine, Slow Dance Very predictable winner for me but, eh. Where to even begin with this album. It’s the more soulful and R&B inspired direction that she’s been wanting to go in for a while now. I say inspired because at it’s core this is still very much a pop album. A very different flavor of pop coming from her though. I have to say it’s an incredibly refreshing change. I had kinda been losing interest in her pop rock material for a while now. The more pop/rock songs on Piece by Piece were, by far, my least favorites. With this direction she’s feels much fresher now and much more lively. With this album she wanted to make a contemporary album with influences from some of her favorite artists, such as Aretha, Mariah, En Vogue, etc. She’s succeeded. You can hear the Aretha, Mariah, and Whitney influences all over the album, especially in the vocals. However, she’s not a pale imitation of these three artists. She takes their influence and makes it something all of her own. This album is just filled with big melodies from the beat drops for Love So Soft and Didn’t I to the melodic runs of I Don’t Think About You. Each song off of this album is just dripping with hooks and memorable moments. This is melded with, mostly, solid lyricism making for a great album from a compositional standpoint. The major asset of this album however, are the vocals. Wow at the vocals on this record. Besides Wrapped In Red there really isn’t another album in her discography that shows off all the facets of her voice. Her trademark belting is here, but it’s taken up to eleven, especially on songs like Medicine and Whole Lotta Woman. We also get to hear just how glorious her head voice can be, special shout out to I don’t Think About You as a representation for this. We even get to hear her explore her lower register, a facet of her voice that’s been underutilized up until now. Though to be fair she didn’t really have much in the way of one until recent years. We even get to hear a sultry side to her voice that’s never really been on record before besides Don’t Rush and even that pales compared to the sex jam that is Slow Dance. Special shout out to her background vocalists too. They bring out a lot of texture to this record that wouldn’t be there without them. They really help bring out the old school influence Kelly was talking about this record having. The feeling that this album exudes the most is happiness. This is easily her happiest and most confident record. This is a woman coming into her own after a decade and a half of soul searching who’s finally getting the chance to show that personal growth in her music. This record is just a stunning knockout and she has finally managed to create another album that could rival Breakaway for me as my favorite from her. That's it for the albums! Tomorrow I'll begin the videos list! Thanks for following! Edited January 2, 2018 by Admiral Bobbery
Admiral Bobbery Posted January 2, 2018 Author Posted January 2, 2018 17 hours ago, Brandon said: Dua Lipa Thanks! 9 hours ago, Legend E said: Nice to see Mabel twice here I need to get more into Paloma's album because I loved the two singles. I also stan for Dua. You really should if you loved those. I found the two singles to be in the middle of the album in terms of quality.
K$Ellie Posted January 3, 2018 Posted January 3, 2018 Meaning Of Life is great, my favorite on the album and a cute #1 Strangers is overrated but still amazing Sober and Told You So The Red Summer was nice, I'm starting to get into them Tell Me You Love Me is Demi's best American Teen was meh I should have checked out Mabel but Finders Keepers was kinda trash Dua Lipa is my favorite album in the top 10 After Laughter is kinda trash CollXtion and Melodrama have some since sings Rainbow slaying
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