best of vilppu's 2k17 in review xo | CLOSED, RIP Kim Jonghyun

[Pedro]

I truly like Tove Lo's record and single. Such a great song!

[Vilppu]

Getting to top 20 later today, for now 4 Asian songs to complete yesterday's update.

Will try to speed up a little as I really want to finish this before Thursday (going on a mini holiday yay.)

 

 

#28 9Muses - Remember

By far the greatest flop but with great music group - and definitely up there overall as well - came back twice this year extending what is probably the strongest title tracks run ever. Initially, I placed Love City here, mostly for its soulless, inhumane melodeclamation, but in the end Remember turned out to be the more exciting, full experience. Unlike many of girls' previous songs, this is almost dramatic, starting out pretty slow, building up with the repeated love me/lonely and exploding in its most intense chorus. I love how rich and detailed it is production-wise, it's certainly a climax worth waiting for, but even then the highlight here is, just as in Love City's case, Sojin. She doesn't have many lines but when she starts her whisper-rap in the second verse, she steals the spotlight and gives the perhaps more vocally-talented members a run for their money. Overall, it's a great addition to 9Muses' discography and further proof that regardless of how many line-up changes they make, they still churn out top notch music.

I also liked: Love City

 

#27 Wednesday Campanella - Kamehameha the Great

I've just found out that this is actually from December 2016 but 1) by that time I had already started my 2016 list so it didn't have a chance to chart, 2) the full album is from this year so we can pretend this is from 2017 as well. It's esentially Wednesday Campanella in a nutshell, a plethora of different sounds and unexpected musical directions, on top of that, it's absolutely masterful from a production stand point. Despite being entirely synthetic - you'd have to dig deep into this to find a real instrument - it truly comes alive and becomes so wonderfully colorful and complex. The breakdown here is a treasure and while it might not be the absolute production highlight on Superman, I've always considered this the most exciting track, due to its slight tribal feel I get especially from the looped vocal samples in the song's second half. A must listen unless you're scared of music in language other than English.

I also liked: Onyankopon

 

#26 One - Heyahe

The only YG song on my list, sorry Blinks, As If It's Your Last could maybe get a HM as a Jisoo solo but alas. Anyway, if a few months ago someone had told I'd fall in love with a YG rapper's track, I would've died of laughter and yet here we are. The key to One's success, however, is how he's pretty much an anti-tesis of that company's rappers. Unlike CL, Lisa who is esentially CL 2.0, whoever raps in Bigbang etc., he doesn't try to hard to come off as hip, cool and more aggressive than he really is and he also thankfully ran away from those generic, ugly dated urban-meets-EDM beats Teddy keeps throwing out. All that + a genuinely nice piano melody + refreshing, sensual climate + One's appealing vocal performance which becomes even somewhat warm during the (pre-)chorus = Heyahe. Apparently it's a bit of a sex sing but he honestly sells it really well making for a pleasant listening (and watching, he's quite a visual) experience.

I also liked: Gettin' By

 

#25 IU - Last Night Story

Following the tradition of my faves starting sucking almost instantly after I decide I love them, IU did just that with Palette. It wasn't completely devoid of good songs, in fact, a few of them smashed in my playlists a bit but overall it was definitely her most boring and uninspired release in quite a while. Thankfully, she made up for it just a few months later with a cover EP where she somehow managed to sound more engaded and lively than in her own material. But if she could totally own these songs, then why not? The original Last Night Story was deeply rooted in the 1980s but that's not to say it was a bad track, it's always been so much fun. IU's main sonic change was making it sound more fresh while actually making it sound more traditional. The band arrangement here is much more on the timeless side, thanks to it Last Night Story truly feels like a classic that's always been somewhere there, more so than the original version. I'd recommend the entire A Flower Bookmark release by the way, this just stood out as the most energetic and I was totally here for that.

I also liked: dlwlrma, Sleepless Rainy Night

[Vilppu]

18 hours ago, AlexisNeiers said:

Ja tam wolałem Susanne z albumem pełnym bopów  MFPIT było ładne, ale jakoś specjalnie na mnie nie zadziałało.

Mam dokładnie to samo z Tove, ale przyznaję się bez bicia, że od czasu do czasu jej coś wyjdzie. Disko Cycki może nie są na poziomie True Disaster, ale to nadal bardzo dobra piosenka. W ogóle fakt, że nie dałeś przy niej "I also liked" 

Jeszcze ktoś, kto nie przeczyta opisu, pomyślałby, że ze mnie jakiś fan, ew.

Ale shemadeastupidtitlehere i może Shivering Gold były w miarę w porządku, czyli to też jej najlepszy album.

 

 

17 hours ago, theblackestday said:

Hard Times is the worst song on After Laughter but I'm glad Paralegends made the list.

 

 

Cute writeup except the TLS slander which I will not comment on.
 

Why can I relate to this? Screamed at the entire paragraph but you didn't lie (except for when you placed it higher than NOBILA)

Only listened to the album once so can't say much but it definitely wasn't the weakest fat xo.

Still liked it though, Insects saved my life and all that.

 

15 hours ago, volition said:

tea. she has 3 better albums & TLS has some unfortunate lows

 

No One Believes in Love Anymore is a SONG

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks that!

 

15 hours ago, Vxspertine said:

NOBILA I agree with what you said about MFPIT but NOT with what you said about Ten Love Songs, most of it still bops  

Hard Times was one of the better songs on After Laughter.

Disco TTs was awful tbh

The immense power in this gif, Moo was clearly inspired by Tove's hymn here.

 

 

16 hours ago, jose168 said:

Offt at disco i'm like TT (ooh) being basically the same spot here. Taste! Hard times was iight

 

Taemin mention  

 

 

13 hours ago, Lazuli said:

Hard Times  

Disco Boobs  

 

3 hours ago, Pedro said:

I truly like Tove Lo's record and single. Such a great song!

[Eeveelution]

No Tove no best of 

[Tom Vercetti]

Bit late but;

 

Hard Times never grew on me but I tolerate it. 

Belong has the slight edge over Unravel for me but both are great.

I been seeing a lot of disco ****s lately  

 

For the nonenglish;

There's is a lot going on in Kamehameha, especially in the 2nd half.

 

Quote

I've just found out that this is actually from December 2016 but 1) by that time I had already started my 2016 list so it didn't have a chance to chart, 2) the full album is from this year so we can pretend this is from 2017 as well. 

Can relate. I was mad at finding Wednesday's Aladdin so late when it was released last year. 

[bluth]

i'm kinda surprised @ how many lists disco **** is making poor my taste. LUVed wednesday campanella's album, glad u chose onyankopon as a hm <3

[Navyofbadgals]

Kamesomething sounds cute, me likey

[Vilppu]

 

#24 Slowdive - Sugar for the Pill

For the longest I had the monumental Slomo in its place but in the end something slightly simpler but far more emotive won. So anyway, a little bit of history, Slowdive were formed in the 1980s, went on a hiatus a couple of years later and waited pretty much an enternity, considering how quickly the music business currently moves, for a comeback but it paid off. The entire album shows they still know damn well how to create magic. What makes Sugar for the Pill stand out is how pure it is. Its melody is easily one of the nicest things to happen in 2017, if it were a human, I'd want to hug it and never let go. Rachel Goswell's voice is a godsent as well, so calming and soothing. Every single time she repeats 'Sugar for the pill, you know it's just the way things are Cannot buy the sun, this jealousy will break the whole', it just becomes more and more glorious.

I also liked: Slomo

 

#23 Lil Uzi Vert - XO Tour Llif3

As noteworthy as this song's dark, reflective nature is, I honestly and shamelessly don't care, to me it's just a ****ing banger.

 

#22 Tennis - My Emotions Are Blinding

'I'm just a vehicle, oh oh / For the material' declares Alaina Moore which, according to her own self, is a metaphor of how "women are cursed to be in and of their bodies" or, according to a reviewer whose name I don't remember, is a cheeky comment on how rock frontwomen are often considered puppets in the hands of men and their creativity. My Emotions Are Blinding provides more of that and despite its title, it's not at all emotionally-driven. Quite the contrary, it rolls its eyes at the idea of women being stereotypically overly emotional. The satirical and sarcastic nature of the track is its biggest advantage and Alaina provided a perfect performance for it. She sounds detached, at points maybe even mildly bored but she just makes you want to listen to her. Paired with a really chilling and pleasant melody, it was an instant highlight on Yours Conditionally and made me come back to the album so much that I eventually fell in love with it.

I also liked: Modern Woman, Island Music

 

#21 Selena Gomez - Bad Liar

A true icon of many faces, from inventing dubstep with her 2013 single Come & Get It to transcending race and sexuality by appealing to all people confident in their appearance on Good for You, Selena pretty much had it all. Or maybe rather, her heart wants what it wants and what it wants, it gets. The love of masses must have become slightly boring for the talented chanteuse as her next step this year was placing her foot on the necks of critics. What she wanted, she did, by building an entire song on a Talking Heads' sample and referencing Battle of Troy, she won every single indie heaux she could ever dream of over. But even when the novelty of those wore off, it still remained the voice of the nationed who shined here the brightest, her a tad off-key sleeptalking on the verses and what just might be the most mellow hook of the year draw everyone's attention like nothing else and added a complete new layer which, dare I say, not even the original track had. An all around legend, what more can I say.

I also liked: Fetish

 

 

#24 Laboum - Hwi Hwi

 

Just bring it on

Let's get a little wicked

 

*something in Korean*

 

I miss this kiiiiss

 

*blessed whistles sent straight from heaven*

 

I also liked: Only U

 

#23 Ai Otsuka - Honey

Fourteen years and several into her career, Ai Otsuka might no longer be the star she used to be but quality-wise she keeps going strong as Love Honey is a real delight to listen to. It's pretty much a something for anyone kind of deal but unlike many other albums falling into such category it remains consistent and cohesive. And while the more orchestral songs or the true banger QueeN caught my attention initially, it was Honey which left the longest-lasting impression. It felt the most organic, natural and relaxed and it's exactly how it affects the listener. Ai's sweet, subtle voice meandering through the soft, slightly oriental sounds is therapeutic, as of lately it's been genuinely the only thing I really needed to clear my mind and calm myself even a little bit. A beautiful song through and through and a fantastic start to an equally impressive album.

I also liked: QueeN, FrogFlag

 

#22 Japanese Breakfast - Diving Woman

It's only recently appeared to me how she's esentially more of a Western artist but after all, she's still very much of a Korean (and Jewish) descent and messing up the list is a no go so! Anywho, last year's Psychopomp was a decent, dreamy album but it's Soft Sounds from Another Planet that elevated her to another level. There's plenty to enjoy here, from the beautifully evolving title track to the outright bop Machinist, but from my first listen nothing's managed to wow me quite as much as the grandiose opener. It's ethereal, spacious, the guitar riffs are absolutely killer here and it makes good use of all of its nearly 7-minute running time, in spite of there not being much change throughout, Michelle makes every part valuable, be it because of the superb instrumental or her soft voice which, what's worth noting, appears rather seldom, only at points where it's necessary and enhances the composition. It's a true growth of the artist, a perfect transition between Psychopomp, which seemed a bit sonically immature in comparison, to this album, where Zauner knows all her strengths perfectly well.

I also liked: Machinist, Soft Sounds from Another Planet

 

#21 Stellar - Archangels of the Sephiroth

Ever since the ultra adorable Study, Stellar have cemented their similar to 9Muses earlier today position, flops with excellent music, except they got an shorter end of the stick, as the most exciting point of their career was apparently the banning of their sexy Marionette music video. But to focus on the positives, with Archangels of the Sephiroth Stellar managed not only to outdo both of their 2016 title tracks - and therefore delivering what's at least their third-best song overall - but also churn out by far their most surprising release. It's no longer carefree fun, apart from the relatively standard build-up in the pre-chorus, it stays pretty far from a typical pop track. There's something about it, the chorus and bridge in particular, that's in a way mystical and almost sinister, in case of the chorus' chanting. For once, it relies more on the mood than melody but it works and makes for easily the most distinctive kpop song of the year.

[theblackestday]

Glad you chose Sugar for the Pill over the worst song on Slowdive eventually. The bass on that song is a slay in particular.

Yes at the Whispering Björk Bad Liar deserves all the praise it gets.

 

Listening to Diving Woman and it's kind of a slay

[World Eater]

Celowo zignorowałem album Slowdive kiedy zobaczyłem, że ceny biletów na ich koncert przekraczają mój skromny studencki budżet, a nie chciałem się też specjalnie napalać nn  Ale koniec końców byłem, widziałem, albumu też posłuchałem (w bardzo późnym wrześniu ) i to serio było jedno wielkie wow, bo takich powrotów jest naprawdę mało  Sugar for the Pill to zdecydowanie highlight, chociaż ze Slowmo na miejscu tego też bym jakoś przeżył.

 

XO Tour Llif3 to taki niespodziewany bop roku, a i Bad Liar też bardzo lubię. Dobrze, że w ogóle zerknąłem na listę azjatyckich piosenek, bo bym nie zauważył Japanese Breakfast  Chociaż właśnie to oprócz Diving Woman i Machinist jakoś mnie zbytnio nie porwało to całe SSFAP

[Tom Vercetti]

XO is slaying these lists. Sugar & Diving are my ecstasy. 

 

[Eeveelution]

13 minutes ago, theblackestday said:

Glad you chose Sugar for the Pill over the worst song on Slowdive eventually. The bass on that song is a slay in particular.

Yes at the Whispering Björk Bad Liar deserves all the praise it gets.

 

Listening to Diving Woman and it's kind of a slay

CTRL + F "go get it"

 

Zero results found.

 

Anyway, wow Diving Woman is great, I love my kpop <3. I actually had that same debate with Slowdive, we'll see if it had the same outcome.   

 

And yes, crazy how Selegend invented avant-pop like that. What can't she do?

[theblackestday]

1 minute ago, Eeveelution said:

CTRL + F "go get it"

 

Zero results found.

Probably because I didn't say best song of the year. x

[Hug]

Archangels of the Sephiroth deserves an award. Like...most extra K-Pop title 2017 or something. The song itself feels very...cinematic, I guess? That's what it reminds me of, anyway!

[Lazuli]

Slomo >>> Sugar For the Pill but I'll take it  

Cackling at the writeup for Bad Liar dsfdsf

nnn @ Japanese Breakfast being listed under the asian section but yas SLAY! 

[Vilppu]

I really wanted to finish this before I go on my holiday but with this happening right at the peak of my emotional exhaustion, I just cannot commit myself to finish this properly. I genuinely only felt like this when my grandfather died, I'm both incredibly sad and angry at myself now, he helped me countless and I just feel like I should have done the same, even if I couldn't. Might be taking a break from the forum as well. Sorry for those who for some reason wanted to read what I had to say and thank you all so much for the warm comments, I really appreciate them. See you next year maybe.

 

Top 20 Western

 

Spoiler

20. Perfume Genius - Braid

19. Julie Byrne - I Live Now as a Singer

18. Grizzly Bear - Mourning Sound

17. Chelsea Wolfe - Twin Fawn

16. CupcakKe - 33rd

15. Charli XCX - Lipgloss

14. the xx - I Dare You

13. Kimbra - Top of the World

12. SZA - Drew Barrymore

11. Miguel - Wolf

10. The Horrors - Machine

9. Goldfrapp - Ocean

8. Lorde - Supercut

7. Sampha - (No One Knows Me) Like the Piano

6. St. Vincent - Smoking Section

5. LCD Soundsystem - How Do You Sleep?

4. The National - The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness

3. Kelela - LMK

2. Vince Staples - Yeah Right

1. Kendrick Lamar - Humble

 

Top 20 Asian

 

Spoiler

20. Dreamcatcher - Fly High

19. DIA - Will You Go Out with Me

18. Girls' Generation - All Night

17. NCT 127 - Limitless

16. Ten - Dream in a Dream

15. Lovelyz - WoW!

14. GFriend - Love Whisper

13. AOA - Can't Sleep

12. EXO - Chill

11. Mondo Grosso - Labirynth

10. SHINee - Get the Treasure

9. April - April Story

8. Vixx - Shangri La

7. Chara - Herbie

6. A.C.E. - Cactus

5. Day6 - I Need Somebody

4. Junho - Ice Cream

3. Twice - Knock Knock

2. Snuper - The Star of Stars

1. Jonghyun - Fireplace

 

It's been the #1 since it dropped in April but now it hits more than ever.

 

RIP my little angel.

 

[Wicked]

RIP :(

 

I'll check out the Asian songs, surprised Yeah Right is your favorite from BFT

[World Eater]

[madonnas]

Yeah Right was my fave from BFT for a long time but I had a switch a few months ago.

Stay strong babe. 

[Tom Vercetti]

I'm sorry for your troubles. We appreciated your participation here and I hope things go along well. 

[Eeveelution]

I'm really sorry.  I never really listened to any of his songs but his death is really tragic and I totally understand how you feel.

 

I really like your western list anyways, some songs are on my list even. 

[theblackestday]

I'm really sorry love. stay strong  

 

I'll check out the asian list and the western list is fantastic.

[bluth]

sending the strongest, positive vibes sis <3 

[jose168]

Was honestly such a tragedy. Take care of your self, let yourself feel and always talk to someone  we are here

 

[clue]

God I am so sorry. Love you hun.