Posted December 22, 201114 yr My Fizzy Pop. Best of 2011 ~ My top ten (ish) albums... greetings my fine festive friends. Christmas is nearly upon me (ooer) and the end of the year (not days as I accidentally texted my mom sending her into a mass panic) is nigh! The lovely people at vouchercodes.co.uk asked me to put together a list of my favourite albums of the year. They did ask me to limit it to ten, but you know how waffly I am so I couldn't pin it down to just ten. So here are my top ten-ish albums that delighted me consistently in 2011... Let me know yours!! NINE TO TWO... 07 ~ WILLIAM YOUNG, ECHOES In the 10 years since Will took to the stage of Pop Idol to audition, he’s managed to blossom into a fine, credible artist with a sustainable career. His latest collection of tunes infuses his established signature sound and vocals with elements of dance floor eleganza added to the songs. The single Jealousy is an excellent example of this and rewarded Will with his biggest hit for several years. There are teardrops on the disco floor as he embraces the influence of producer Richard X, but of course his ballads are appropriately devastating and heartbreaking both lyrically and in the way he delivers each crushing word. A beautiful, heartfelt, nuanced and sincere collection from Britain’s still premiere Pop Idol…http://myfizzypop.blogspot.com/2011/12/bes...ish-albums.html Best of 2011-Top singles of the year William Young ~ Jealousy: Ten years into his career, William has become that rare popstar that continually evolves but with a firm grasp on what elements of his career have determined his success and an eye on a quality output. His latest return single Jealousy was a charmer from start to finish... http://myfizzypop.blogspot.com/2011/12/bes...-year-part.html From Australia 2. Will Young "Echoes" With the rumour that Richard X would be producing Will Young's fifth studio album the internet was a complete buzz. The legend had worked with Goldfrapp, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Róisín Murphy in recent years producing some of the hottest tunes; so with those thoughts in mind excitement built and sent fans, critics and bloggers into a somewhat pop frenzy. Then Jealousy emerged. The lead single from the release, co-written by Young and Kish Mauve, was a mid-tempo ballad that spoke of the oh-so-familiar feeling of wanting something that's not yours. It instantly struck a chord with many and gave Will yet another UK top ten hit, peaking at #5. Shortly after the release of the single we were treated to the full masterpiece that is Echoes. With Richard X overseeing the production, Young worked with a range of writers to deliver one of this years best pop albums - Fred Falke, Biffco, Stefan Storm (from The Sound of Arrows) to name a few. Young released Come On, a cover of the 2009 single by Kish Mauve, as the albums second single. Was it the best choice? Maybe. In fact, Young could have chosen one of a few for the second single and still had a safe choice. A number of the album tracks are standouts, and we mean standouts. Runaway, I Just Want A Lover and Losing Myself are exceptional examples and should no way be overlooked for the third single. Will, you listening? Echoes, delivering Young his third #1 album in the UK, is something the Pop Idol alumni should be proud of. It's a very solid piece of pop music history that gets stronger and stronger the more you listen to it.http://www.isitbushweek.com/2011/12/year-i...-albums-of.html 8. Will Young – Echoes Male pop stars are indeed are dying breed. Against all odds, Original Pop Idol winner Will Young has managed to stand the test of time. On his his fifth studio album “Echoes,” Will joined forces with producer Richard X to craft what has easily become his best effort yet. “Echoes” is simply impressive and a overall fantastic listen from beginning to end. The man is one class act.http://jonalisblog.com/2011/12/20/jon-ali-...albums-of-2011/ Digital Spy's top 25 albums of 2011 2. Will Young: 'Echoes', released August 22 After ten years in the biz, Will Young took the bold but carefully considered step into dance for his fifth LP. Produced by Richard X, his Eurythmics-inspired lounge-pop sound was met with critical praise, securing his position as a credible artiste rather than a reality show has-been.http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/i381138-...ung-echoes.html The Fab Four of 2011 22 DECEMBER 2011 | My selection of the best albums of 2011 – and one to look out for next year (which will now doubtless prove a flop). Rock Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi With the voice of a banshee, guitar skills of Jeff Buckley and looks of a supermodel, Anna Calvi was 2011’s most arresting solo artist. The tunes didn’t always match the talent on her self-titled debut. But when they did, as on the strutting Desire and Latin-infused No More Words, the result was something singular, sexy and spine tingling. Urban Katy B – On A Mission A year that saw the end of Mike Skinner’s The Streets welcomed a new chronicler of urban nightlife: Katy B. Whether berating boyfriends on Why You Always Here or curfew flouting on Moving with the Lights On, B’s narratives on clubbing in the capital were honest and convincing: here was a girl who sounded like she’d experienced the rugged joys of the night bus home. On another year, this could have bagged the Mercury Prize. Folk John T. Pearson – Last of the Country Gentlemen Like John Grant before him, Josh T. Pearson came back from the bridge with this melancholic masterpiece. The former frontman Lift To Experience – psych-rockers beloved of John Peel – re-emerged as an acoustic troubadour armed with sprawling songs full of religious questioning and romantic upheaval. It’s not an easy listen, but it’s well worth the investment. Pop Will Young – Echoes In which the original and best Pop Idol moved away from the saccharine balladry to a series of swooning electro-poppers. Young’s voice retains its delicate quality, but this time he’s singing over pounding beats and synths. And if there’s been a better pop single this year than Jealousy, my name’s Simon Cowell.http://www.rickpearson.co.uk/blog/the-fab-four-of-2011/ Popjustice Top 33 best album Echoes #2http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option...02&Itemid=9 Popjustice top 45 singles of 2011 Jealousy #10 Will Young - 'Jealousy' Sad momentum. That is what this song has got. A triumph.Read more: http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option...9#ixzz1hIH37u5J http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option...01&Itemid=9 8. Echoes Will Young-Echoes-RCA Male pop was lacking this year (as it seems to almost every year). Yes, Bruno Mars was there, but he was there a tad too much. Will Young, though ten years young in the business, seemed to come out of nowhere with this (should I say it?) pop gem. And the fact that he worked with one (just one) producer on the entire album shows how great the guy really is. Classy minimalist pop. That's all you need.(Recommended Track:Losing Myself)http://www.whatsthatmusicguy.net/p/best-of...-and-songs.html Digital spy 25 best singles of 2011 http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y208/sunday20/th_cdacdfcf.jpg 11. Will Young: 'Jealousy' - Chart peak #5. Young's trailer for his fifth album was a sad-pop disco number in which he wore an all-in-one lycra bodysuit in the accompanying video. What's not to like? http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/i381789-...g-jealousy.html Edited December 22, 201114 yr by truly talented
December 22, 201114 yr Author Top 20 Albums of 2011: 14-13 14. Will Young - Echoes The 2011 version of a George Michael album. It took awhile for this to stick with me, but once it did, I was really enchanted. I've never completely enjoyed a Will Young album before. His music has always been too... well... boring for me. With Echoes, though, he struck the perfect balance between ballad and uptempo, organic and electronic. The best "grown up" pop album of the year.http://alienhits.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-...2011-14-13.html 16. Echoes Will Young (Released in August on RCA) While the early promise of a “dance album” might have been a slight over-exaggeration on Will’s part, Echoes sees Young take the confessional foundations of Let it Go and infuse an electro-pop edge, making his sound more contemporary than it has been for years without losing his nostalgic charm. ‘Jealousy’ throbs out of the speakers, building to a gorgeous crescendo over a pulsing beat – one of the best songs of his career. Meanwhile, centrepiece ‘Outsider’ shows that Will still gives good ballad and ‘Come On’ is his most invigorating track since ‘Switch it On’. When it comes to TV talent shows, Young is proof, if any was needed, that talent will out. Download: ‘Jealousy’ http://bas1clee.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/b...-albums-part-1/ The Middle Eight has some Will Mentions today Here they are..but the whole Blog makes for some interesting reading as always QUOTE Pretend I am giving out these awards in a posh hotel in London, surrounded by drunken popstrels... Artists of the Year: Will Young and Florrie. He finally reaches his sublime peak with Echoes ten years into his career. And Florrie, after a period of finding her musical voice, releases Experiments, the most listenable, concise pop music collection this year. Singing Voice(s) Of The Year: Ed MacFarlane from Friendly Fires, Will Young, and Wild Beasts' Hayden Thorpe, whose voice finally tipped from weird to so right in 2012. And lippy Lana Del Rey (aka Lizzie Grant) for some fearless "monotonic" trilling. And Adele, of course. Producer Of The Year: Richard X for his work on Will Young's perfectly realized Electro Pop Moment, Echoes. Total eleganza. Careening emotion without breaking a sweat. Live Show Of The Year: Without a doubt, for sheer (gay) spectacle and audience love, Kylie Minogue slayed them (in Fairfax, VA of all places). Also loved Will Young at Shepherd's Bush Empire in West London. He owned the stage... "totes" imperial/totes adorbs. Both had excellent tour programmes too. http://xolondon.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-...han-grammy.html Jon ALi Presents: The Top 50 Singles of 2011 Let me start off by saying that ranking singles from an amazing year in music is no easy task. I’ve literally spent hours going back and forth with the positioning these songs. The truth is, I love every single one of these songs and no ranking should question that fact. Since there were so many songs released this year I’ve included two sub-categories to make things a little easier for myself. There is obviously many more songs that I would have loved to add but I’m happy with what I’ve come up with. Check out my Top Singles lists below and comment with your faves of the year. Thank You! 8. Will Young – Jealousy This Richard X-produced pop gem is simply just stunning. Will Young is the definition of class.http://jonalisblog.com/2011/12/23/jon-ali-...ingles-of-2011/ 5. Will Young – Echoes (iTunes UK) (Spotify) Produced by Richard X (responsible for another one of the year’s best releases, The Sound of Arrows’ Voyage)–along with some help by Richard “Biff” Stannard (Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue), Kish Mauve‘s Jim Eliot and frequent Richard X collaborator Pete Hofmann, original Pop Idol winner Will Young‘s sixth studio effort, Echoes, is nothing short of an absolute pop triumph. From the surging heartbreak of lead single “Jealousy,” to the warm, ’70′s-encrusted disco stomp of “I Just Want A Lover,” to the icy electronica chill of “Losing Myself,” Young’s velvety coos and Richard X’s lush, dreamy electronic production come together effortlessly to form something truly magical. The result is Echoes: Easily the year’s finest work by a male pop artist, and one of the best releases of the year, period. http://www.muumuse.com/2011/12/muumuse-pre...s-of-2011.html/ Top 50 Singles 8.) Will Young – Jealousy (MuuMuse Review) Unrequited love isn’t exactly the most lush of emotions, but Will Young sure makes it feel that way. With “Jealousy,” the original UK Idol delivers a stunning torch track set to the sound of a dozen warm, throbbing disco pulsations provided by pop maestro Richard X. The result is a beautiful bout of soul-baring honesty, even if it still hurts in the end. Chills guaranteed.http://www.muumuse.com/2011/12/muumuse-pre...s-of-2011.html/ Top 50 Singles of 2011: 5-1 It’s been emotional, but the time has come for the best of the best. We’ve had some Beyonce, some Coldplay and, f*** it, even some Matt Cardle. Along the way, there has been applause and there has been uproar. But above all, there has been no Dappy. There’s always 2012, eh. 5. Will Young – ‘Jealousy’ August, Peak #3 In career terms, apparently life begins at 10. Will Young marked the landmark anniversary of his first Pop Idol audition with one of the best tracks of his entire career. Richard X twiddled the knobs on ‘Jealousy’, a spine-tingling electro-ballad with a vocal performance tinged with a restrained heartache we haven’t heard Will properly ace since ‘Leave Right Now’. The trailer single from the brilliant Echoes album, this was a career highlight for Young and an annual highlight for pop in general.http://trashlounge.co.uk/2011/12/24/top-50...es-of-2011-5-1/ 11. Will Young – Echoes August, chart peak #1 If Will Young could literally never stop making music, that would be great. Echoes is top-notch from start to finish, opening with the incredible ‘Jealousy’ and continuing onwards via the brilliant ‘Come On’, ‘Happy Now’ and ‘Silent Valentine’ to name but a few. Beautifully under-stated and marvellously produced by the likes of Richard X, it shows that even after a decade in the business there is absolutely no sign of the quality dipping or the willingness to take risks fading. WHERE THERE’S A WILL THERE’S A WAY, ISN’T THAT RIGHT LADIES AND GENTS.http://trashlounge.co.uk/2011/12/26/top-25...albums-of-2011/ auspOp 'Pop Single of the year' No 5 The original Pop Idol winner over in the UK and in our humble opinion, still the very best. Will Young always seems to come up with the goods when it comes to producing quality pop records and his 2011 album 'Echoes' was most certainly no exception, brimming with polished dance/pop treasures with interesting, honest and raw lyrics. Lead single 'Jealousy' was a corker. Combining slick production and beefy beats with Will's extraordinarily tender vocals about a tale of - you guessed it - jealousy; all topped with a clip revolving around trapeze. But who's Will jealous of? The guy or the girl? He leaves us guessing, of course. 'Cause that's just how he rolls. Emotional, forthright and artistic, 'Jealousy' is pure class from an artist who can do no wrong. Ladies and gents, it's our No.05 Pop Single Of The Year; Will Young's 'Jealousy'.http://auspop.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-of-2011-no05.html Will Young – Echoes Working with Richard X proved to be a wise decision for Young. An album full of songs with subtle dance elements about the darker side of love made echoes a pretty amazing pop album and one of the best of the year. Best track: Probably still jealousy http://www.neiljrook.com/ennsense/2011/12/...est-11-of-2011/ Edited December 28, 201114 yr by truly talented
December 28, 201114 yr Author 52. WILL YOUNG – ‘JEALOUSY’ Such beautiful, grown up electropop from Will Young. I’m like a half and half fan of Will (teenage loyalty to Gareth Gates still now leads me to be overly critical of him) but there is absolutely nothing to fault with ‘Jealousy’. Wonderous. BEST LYRIC: And it feels like jealousy, and it feels like I can’t breathe. http://oneofthoseipods.com/2011/12/27/the-...-of-2011-75-51/ The washed up bit is crap ( what are they on about?) but the rest is good. The Top 50 Tracks of the Year : 40 – 31 Another English pop star thought past his prime, 2011 saw former UK Pop Idol Young come back with one of the best songs of his career. Ditching the straight forward balladry of previous efforts for a more electronic sound (clearly this is the in thing this season with washed up UK pop stars. See also – Melanie C) he relaunched himself with this beautifully sung trip-pop number. Bonus points for coupling it with the most gloriously homoerotic video clip this side of Adam Rickett..http://glennyfromtheblock.com/2011/12/28/t...the-year-40-31/ It's Pop's top 50 singles of 2011 It's that time of the year again! You know, that moment when every person on the internet feels the need to tell the world about the songs/movies/books/whatever they liked during the year and list them. Well I'm one of them. #7 Will Young - Jealousy The definition of classy pop by an artist at the top of his game. Breathtaking! Other tracks worthy of your attention: Hearts On Fire, I Just Want A Lover, Silent Valentine, The Way I Seehttp://itspop.blogspot.com/2011/12/its-pop...es-of-2011.html Exclusive: The Best Music Videos Of 2011 13. “Come On” by Will Young http://www.musicallstars.com/?p=6494 03. Will Young | Echoes This is one of the most straight-forward, cohesive, dreamy adult pop albums since Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite was released last year. Minogue’s collection was the dance party, whereas Echoes is the lonely drive home afterwards. Richard X reigns in his visionary production skills to create a subtle and sophisticated synthesized soundscape for Will to croon and belt over. This is easily Will's most focused and personal album, and therefore his best.http://www.omg-nyc.com/2011/12/omg-nycs-gu...st-of-2011.html #1 Jealousy http://www.whatsthatmusicguy.net/p/best-of...-and-songs.html Will Young – Echoes: A very late entry in the race (mid-December). Britain’s Will Young is not well-known in the U.S. I remember him from Mrs. Henderson Presents. Thanks to my friend Drew, I now have a fourth album I am obsessed with this year. Echoes is sexy, soulful, fall in love kind of music. Will’s voice begs to be heard over and over again. Best track from Echoes: I Just Want a Lover.http://thereelcharlie.wordpress.com/2011/1...s-best-of-2011/ 6. Will Young – Echoes Will Young has come so far from his Pop Idol days that he is barely recognisable from his early recordings. Having taken time to return to tread the boards, Will Young’s “Echoes” is an understated Richard X soulful dance influenced effort that easily walks over his past efforts. Will Young is back and better than ever. http://the-kaje.com/2011/12/31/the-kajes-top-20-album-2011/ Popjustice Right then. Thousands of you voted. We did some adding up which took even longer than usual for some reason. We put our addings-up in order. And here is what we came up with. BEST SINGLE 2. Will Young - Jealousy BEST ALBUM 3. Will Young - Echoes BEST COMEBACK 1. Will Young BEST COVER VERSION 10. Will Young - Running Up That Hill LEAST CONTROVERSIAL POPSTAR 10. Will Young BEST POPSTAR TWITTER USER 3. Will Young BEST POP VIDEO 7. Will Young - Come On THE END OF THE WORLD We told you that the world was about to explode and that the one escape pod only had two seats. We told you that a man had to go in one seat and a woman had to go in the other, and that between them they would be responsible for the future of the human race. Here's who you picked 5. Will Younghttp://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option...28&Itemid=9 The Middle Eight. Best 2011: Top Songs Will Young Come On UK Will did much of Echoes with the songwriters also known as Kish Mauve. This track was actually released by them, but he wisely chose to re-record it with Richard X. It's a truly perfect single. For those who know it, the rarer Beatless Version is actually my favorite because if amplifies the flawless vocal. http://xolondon.blogspot.com/2011/12/best-...-top-songs.html Edited January 1, 201214 yr by truly talented
January 1, 201214 yr Author These are for real the top 11 of '11 It's New Years Eve and in a few short hours no one will care about 2011 anymore, and instead will be looking ahead to the gloriousness/apocalypse that is sure to come in 2012. So we'll save you the big into and instead get right to the good stuff. Here are the best singles from 2011: 3. Will Young - Jealousy 2011 was the year that Will Young reminded everyone why he is amazing. The "Kelly Clarkson of the UK" (he won the first ever Pop Idol tv show, even before American Idol existed...so really Kelly is the US Will Young but whatever) has really been going pretty strong since his first single back in 2002, but to be quite honest it could have gone either way for him after his greatest hits package. His first few singles were guaranteed success thanks to winning Idol, and then the flurry of press coverage when he came out cemented his status as a bona-fide media darling. Right about that time he proved he had the songwriting and vocal chops to be the real deal, and then...well, he just got kinda quiet for a while after releasing his retrospective. Diminishing chart returns on each of his tracks meant 'Jealousy' was released at a time when Young hadn't even appeared in the top 20 of the singles countdown in 3 years (though, to be fair, his albums consistently have been top 10 smashes). As the lead single of Will's fifth studio record, hopes were high. But they were all exceeded when this glittering synth gem gave us all a taste of Young's new, electro-chill direction. The Guardian said it best when it described the track as "stately." 'Jealousy' is a respectable, honorable, mature earworm of a song. And it's got some killer remixes to boot. Chart peak: UK - #5http://scopitonesaturday.blogspot.com/2011...p-11-of-11.html THE YEAR IN REVIEW: THE TOP 50 SINGLES OF 2011 On the back of publishing our Best Pop Albums of 2011, it's now time to deliver our annual Top 50 Singles of 2011. We have to admit that it has taken weeks, if not months of deliberation. 5. Will Young "Jealousy" No surprise that after featuring at #2 on the Best Pop Albums of 2011 that you find Jealousy, the lead single from Will Young's Echoes, in our top ten singles of the year. The up-tempo track, written by Young and Kish Mauve, produced by Richard X, gave the UK super star yet another top ten hit. Young's tale of unrequited love is beautiful and heart-breaking as he delivers an outstanding vocal performance alongside Mr X's talented production work. A perfect lead single which paved the way for a great album. http://www.isitbushweek.com/2011/12/year-i...es-of-2011.html #4 Echoes by Will Young Ladies and gentlemen, we are in the presence of the most important Will Young album to date. Am I right or am I just f***ing right? Echoes is the evolution I’ve been waiting for from the serial beige balladeer. This is the future. Album producer Richard X really was the only man capable of achieving this sophisticated combination of ethereal electro pop with a bittersweet tinge and I’m so glad he did the whole damn thing. Echoes is beautifully consistent from start to finish with this slow burning pace required of introspective albums like this. Tracks like the stunning lead single ‘Jealousy’ and ‘Hearts On Fire’ are all good places to turn to for “walking pace” standards but no one passing by should go without experiencing the seductive ‘I Just Want A Lover’. Bitches, this is Will Young shedding his trademark cardigan-totting pop for some dark, 70s Castro disco realness. It is properly defining. Having said that, Echoes is not some demure exhibition of Will Young the closet disco diva. Every track here is rendered with some level of melancholy that I find so appealing. Will really is a master of writing songs from an outsider’s perspective. He has a way of capturing that complicated combination of detachment and attachment in relationships – especially in songs like ’Silent Valentine’. “People comment around us on what a pair we make. It’s been three years or maybe more, feels like a day. Still you make my heart ache… walking away is the hardest thing to do but I must leave. It’s why I’m feeling, you’ll always be my silent valentine,” he sings. Then there ‘s ‘Lie Next To Me’, which I’m gonna call out as the “sequel” to ‘Leave Right Now’ no one was counting on. “I see you got all that you wanted. You seem so happy this time around… since you went I can get lonely. I’ll spare you all the details. Took something from me, that’s the way it goes. It sent me slightly off the rails,” he confesses. Moody, introspective yet so quietly stylish - Echoes really is the “glass of wine” kinda companion for your lonely Saturday nights. Key tracks: ‘Jealousy’, ‘I Just Want A Lover’, ‘Good Things’ and ‘Runaway’.http://feedlimmy.com/2012/01/02/feed-limmy...s-of-2011-10-1/ #9 Will Young Echoes Although this is his fifth studio release, I wasn’t all that familiar with Will Young until recently. I knew that he won the first season of the British music competition Pop Idol back in 2002, but that was about it. After I saw the totally endearing music video for Come On (posted below) I had to investigate what all the fuss was about and now Echoes (which unfortunately was not released here in the states) ended up with a spot on this list (one of only two males). Besides being beyond adorable, he has an amazing voice and this album really showcases just how talented he is, I’d like to see him break out here soon! Essential Tracks: Runaway, Come On, Jealousy http://www.ezine.es/gossip/2012/01/popbyte...albums-of-2011/ Edited January 2, 201214 yr by truly talented
Create an account or sign in to comment