'Nothing Was the Same' :wub: Didn't expect to love that, but there's a few good tracks! :o

 

'Hold On, We're Going Home' :wub:

he owns it.

 

 

(sorry nothing else of interest to say xox)

I hung myself, I didn't die. I'm omnipotent, I'm alive. Not real, I'm alive

 

 

04. SZA - S [2-1-1-1-2-2-2-1-1-3-7-9-10-11-3-2]

 

01. AFTERMATH

02. TERROR.DOME

03. CASTLES

04. PRAY

05. ICE.MOON

 

The second of SZA's entries in this countdown, and quite simply the most gorgeous collection of music i've heard this year. When i first heard ICE.MOON many months ago i knew i wanted to follow her there and since then she's grown on me with each delicate listen. S combines the most painful of lyrics, with the most euphoric of sounds and even pays homage to some of my favourite ever films and so it's no surprise that she managed to completely capture me and trance me with her music. A true visionary talent all squeezed into such a pint-sized diva. Now signed to Kendrick Lamar's record label and so set to only grow, it's any wonder how she will follow this EP in the coming year, but if the songs we've heard from it already tell us anything, she's more than capable of doing it.

 

The EP opens up with glittery synths that make way for her heavenly voice as she pines that she's not beautiful enough, before descending into a clip from 'Rosemary's Baby' which expertly ties together some of the key themes of the EP. So much happens in the first two songs alone it's difficult to keep up and only then does she make way for the highlight, AFTERMATH a devastatingly haunting masterpiece where nothing is as it seems. I know very little about the artist apart from the fact she was raised in a strict muslim family, spending a lot of her childhood inside a burqa, some of which feeds into the first EP especially, but it seems here she is trying to completely let go of all of her inhibitions (she is now made of bacon) and come to terms with who she is. Not sure how such a personal EP can speak to me on so many levels, but it's testament to how on point she is with the lyrics of the EP. One of the most accomplished collections i've perhaps ever heard and i can't help but feel this is just the beginning. Maybe she can burn even brighter now??

You're gonna be my baby

 

 

03. Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety [2-1-2-1-2-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-3-2-4-3-3-4-4-4-5-8-7-8-8-10-12-12-12-15-20-20-19-18-17-19-xx-15-6-4-4]

 

01. Counting

02. Play By Play

03. Ego Free Sex Free

04. World War

05. Gonna Die

 

Perhaps the biggest album of the year going on its chart run alone, but very very narrowly pipped to the top spot by two slightly bigger LPs. The discovery of the year, born out of a random encounter in my debut BJSC. It was pretty much adoration at first sight. The first single from the album as i've mentioned to death now stunningly sums up my year for me but away from that, the album is a damning report into pain and Anxiety as the title suggests. I've always been one for the GLEE but when suffering is made out to be as beautiful as this i just can't resist it. As the titles suggest, the album is a deathly experience made all the more cutting because of Ashin's illustrious tones and heartfelt warbling. A real roller-coaster of a journey into one man's darkest and weirdly sexy world, so over-the-top and yet so understated at the same time.

 

A lot of these will get their own individual recognition in the song countdown, but from the orgasmic Ego Free Sex Free down to the haunting Gonna Die, this really is a masterpiece and the finest new discovery of the year for me. And while the devilish collection peaks ad-infinitum the glorious last track leaves me reeling everytime too; just when you think you've escaped the nightmare he comes scowling back with the climax to end all climaxes. Good god, away to listen through again and just shiver. The visuals that accompanied the album also made it as special as it is, with the pre-censored album cover being my favourite of the year as well as the videos for the three singles completely capturing me. With new songs dropping every so often, despite what this album says he has a lot of life left in him. But even if he never sings another word, this is enough to last me. And away from the music i was even lucky enough to interact with the man himself on several occasions and became his very own "fake Gaga"! WIN.

 

TWO remain. Will reveal them tonight.

Free my mind ARTPOP. You make my heart stop.

 

 

02. Lady Gaga - ARTPOP [1-1-1-1-1-1-1]

 

01. Do What U Want (feat. R Kelly)

02. Gypsy

03. G.U.Y.

04. Sexxx Dreams

05. MANiCURE

 

Most anticipated release of 2013. Favourite artist ALIVE. Only #2 :o

 

It all began for ARTPOP around 3AM one morning when a demo of a crazed Gaga tune leaked online. The demo was enough to shoot to #1 on my chart and any excitement i previously had catapulted to new highs. 'Aura' is the insane Gaga we've come to love and the album follows on from that with a whole host of manic dance tunes, deranged vocals and INTENSE beats. When the lead single 'Applause' dropped despite me loving it, it withered in comparison to the singles I was used to but luckily she brought it all home again with what became the second official single 'Do What U Want'. The other promo singles 'Venus' and 'Dope' didn't exactly capture me at first but i've grown to quite love them both. The same has happened for other songs on the album, namely 'Jewels N Drugs' while others haven't faired as favourably.

 

The album initially hit me like a glorious brick. I was astounded by the sheer effort that she put into every aspect of it, the visuals, the sounds, the lyrics, the concept. It was all too much as she tried to squeeze every last ounce of creativity and style she knew into it, but i basked in it all. Since then, a few of the tracks have wilted a slight bit but the album remains one of the most inventive ones to come from the big pop divas and it constantly reminds me why she's #1 (well almost here) for me. The highs are some of her best. 'Gypsy' is as touching as 'The Edge of Glory', 'G.U.Y.' and 'Sexxx Dreams' show a return to the orgagasmic sounds of 2009 and the tender moments of 'Artpop' and 'Dope' show that even with it all stripped back there is a beauty behind the beast. It's something i wish she learns from in the future; sometimes less is more. I say that but here she gives it her ALL and it's glorious to experience. A fair bit of experimentation away from what she's used to doesn't always pay off for me but as it stands there's only two tracks that i'd skip on one of my daily listens ('Swine' and 'Fashion!') and so for someone that has dominated my life for the past 5 years, that's pretty good going. I'll have time, love and affection for her always because she's practically defined me and who i've become today right from the very first play of 'Just Dance' and so wherever she goes in the future i'll be there waving my disco stick like a manic monster. The album isn't my favourite of the year, being such a dedicated fan i was always going to be more critical towards her work, but it came incredibly close and i'm sure it will go down as defining yet another chapter in my life just like The Fame, Monster, and Born This Way did before it.

 

Insanely fun, incredibly zany and downright Gaga. Do i get it all? No. But don't ever change because i need yoü <3

 

CURED. But she's the girl under who?

FLOP

 

Kanye to be #1 I guess?

Its Eminem isn't it?(eurgh)

You really just know the old me

 

 

01. Kanye West - Yeezus [1-1-1-1-1-2-2-3-3-3-3-3-4-4-7-9-9-8-9-10-12-14-14-13-13-6-3]

 

01. New Slaves (feat. Frank Ocean)

02. Blood On The Leaves

03. Black Skinhead

04. I Am A God (feat. God)

05. Bound 2 (feat. Charlie Wilson)

 

Oops.

 

There was a weird aura just before details of Kanye's latest album surfaced. Rumours pointed towards potential collaborators and producers but there was still no sign of what he was going to come up with. As more details emerged it all turned much, much darker and realer until eventually the first sounds of new song 'New Slaves' were projected across the world. As it happens, it turned into the album highlight for me. A track so intensely personal and powerful that it goes down as one of Kanye's all time greats. Following on from that 'Blood On The Leaves' perhaps his most EXPLOSIVE song to date? proves that the album means business. With the weirdly demented 'Black Skinhead', 'I Am A God' and 'I'm In It' he proves that he's very much the most crazed artist around right now but capable of much more solemn moments as revealed in 'Guilt Trip' and 'Bound 2'. The album is industrial, metallic, futuristic but at the same time manages to pay homage to early hip-hop, through Kanye, in true Kanye fashion, channelling his own works but giving them demented twists as he brings his music into a new age. The album cover suggests so little and so much at the same time, and while i can't quite remember/be bothered to trace back through the intricacies of exactly why he went with the decision it has since become one of the most iconic images of the year for me so i think it achieved what it set out to do.

 

Every track starts, ends and climaxes completely differently, it's effectively multiple sets of albums merged together, twisted around and churned out with fist-pumping beats and Kanye's egotistical voice chanting over it all. HOW it works so well i'll never know. Following on from 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' was always going to be an impossible ask, but here he somehow manages to remind us exactly who he has always been, while transforming into a deity of sorts above all else. And in all the pretentious mania there is a delightfully rabid collection of songs bursting with artistry and most of all personality. It's sometimes hard to separate the man from his work, but when the work is this damn good, it's no wonder the man is pedastalled to such heavenly heights. It's a cliché but i still get goosebumps with every listen and i'm transported to those dark nights trying to piece together the puzzle of Yeezus as it all began to delicately fall into place. I never would have quite envisaged what the end product would be, and i'm still not entirely sure i can envisage it even now as i listen to it for the hundredth time, because with every repeated listen he offers another twisted stance on the familiar. He believes the hype and so do I. A true gem.

 

Agree? Disagree? HATE HIM!??!1? He is a God *.*

http://i.imgur.com/cptwZ3J.jpg

 

01. Kanye West - Yeezus

02. Lady Gaga - ARTPOP

03. Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety

04. SZA - S

05. Drake – Nothing Was The Same

06. Jai Paul - Jai Paul

07. Postiljonen – Skyer

08. A$AP Rocky - LONG.LIVE.A$AP

09. Disclosure – Settle

10. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream

11. Kid Cudi – Indicud

12. London Grammar - If You Wait

13. M.I.A. – Matangi

14. SZA – See.SZA.Run

15. James Blake – Overgrown

16. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience 1/2

17. V V Brown - Samson & Delilah

18. The Weeknd - Kiss Land

19. Katy Perry – Prism

20. Arctic Monkeys – AM

21. Hurts – Exile

22. Lorde - Pure Heroine

23. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2

24. Ciara – Ciara

25. Zedd – Clarity

26. J. Cole - Born Sinner

27. Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady

28. Cody Simpson - Surfers Paradise

29. Rhye – Woman

30. Demi Lovato - Demi

 

http://i.imgur.com/vU2WXWS.jpg

Ew.

ARTPOP is definetly a huge return to form for GaGa. I really hope she gets the rest of the single choices right ... Gypsy could be huge!

01. Kanye West - Yeezus KING - not even close to MBDTF (my 2010 #1), but still on for my top ten

02. Lady Gaga - ARTPOP

03. Autre Ne Veut - Anxiety

04. SZA - S You know how much I love her. That full album will be one to beat for next year!

05. Drake – Nothing Was The Same Didn't like this, such a shame after the GLORIOUS single (which I expect to see high on your list fyi)

06. Jai Paul - Jai Paul

07. Postiljonen – Skyer

08. A$AP Rocky - LONG.LIVE.A$AP

09. Disclosure – Settle *insert hands in the air emoji* Such a rave

10. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream Think I have to leave this in 2012 even though I didn't hear it until this year. WHY MUST I BE SUCH A GEEK

11. Kid Cudi – Indicud

12. London Grammar - If You Wait Gorgeousness :wub:

13. M.I.A. – Matangi Never really got into this, sadly, but I shall try harder

14. SZA – See.SZA.Run

15. James Blake – Overgrown Pleasantly surprised to see this, somehow doesn't seem like your sort of thing! A much tighter package than his first though

16. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience 1/2 I'll be charting this separately. Or rather, part of it. #shade

17. V V Brown - Samson & Delilah

18. The Weeknd - Kiss Land

19. Katy Perry – Prism

20. Arctic Monkeys – AM

21. Hurts – Exile Never got around to this, even though I loved their first. It's almost like, I expect depression and don't want to face it?

22. Lorde - Pure Heroine

23. Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 2

24. Ciara – Ciara

25. Zedd – Clarity

26. J. Cole - Born Sinner

27. Janelle Monáe - The Electric Lady

28. Cody Simpson - Surfers Paradise

29. Rhye – Woman

30. Demi Lovato - Demi

Ew.

http://imageshack.us/a/img41/8978/pe88.gif

 

ARTPOP is definetly a huge return to form for GaGa. I really hope she gets the rest of the single choices right ... Gypsy could be huge!

You just know we'll have 'Swine' or something next and 'Gypsy' will go down as the one that got away though :/ (although REALLY hope she's clever this era)

 

01. Kanye West - Yeezus KING - not even close to MBDTF (my 2010 #1), but still on for my top ten

04. SZA - S You know how much I love her. That full album will be one to beat for next year!

05. Drake – Nothing Was The Same Didn't like this, such a shame after the GLORIOUS single (which I expect to see high on your list fyi)

10. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream Think I have to leave this in 2012 even though I didn't hear it until this year. WHY MUST I BE SUCH A GEEK

13. M.I.A. – Matangi Never really got into this, sadly, but I shall try harder

15. James Blake – Overgrown Pleasantly surprised to see this, somehow doesn't seem like your sort of thing! A much tighter package than his first though

16. Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience 1/2 I'll be charting this separately. Or rather, part of it. #shade

21. Hurts – Exile Never got around to this, even though I loved their first. It's almost like, I expect depression and don't want to face it?

01. It's a completely different ball park to MBDTF but i agree. That was something special and probably in my top 5 of all-time (maybe?)

04. EXCITED

05. Maybe! Keep checking back x

10. Don't be a geek :(

13. Do.

15. Can't think of many like him i adore but i got so swept up with this album. Definitely prefer it to the debut now.

16. Wot

21. Hmm. There are some slightly uplifting moments but i get that. Still so solid though.

 

Woop singles soon :heart:

Not here for Kanye.

Kanye at #1! :cheer: Amazing how 10 years on he continues to deliver the goods, I can't see him not being remembered as a rap legend.

Loving the ARTPOP, Demi, Ciara, Clarity and Settle love especially, but there's a lot of good stuff in that list <3

KANYE *.*

 

Saviour of music and life.

Yeezus has felt more ridiculous the more I listen to it but it's still GOOD. The only three albums from this year that I've listened to substantially are in the top 10 so it's a fab list from my point of view!

Not here for Kanye.

Booo. He's not out of the way just yet either :(

 

Kanye at #1! :cheer: Amazing how 10 years on he continues to deliver the goods, I can't see him not being remembered as a rap legend.

:wub: most definitely. Even if he's long peaked he has life in him yet.

 

Loving the ARTPOP, Demi, Ciara, Clarity and Settle love especially, but there's a lot of good stuff in that list <3

Woop. Thanks Liam :D

 

KANYE *.*

 

Saviour of music and life.

v.

 

I bow daily.

 

Yeezus has felt more ridiculous the more I listen to it but it's still GOOD. The only three albums from this year that I've listened to substantially are in the top 10 so it's a fab list from my point of view!

Yay that's good to hear. Harve approval feels special <3

 

 

Thanks for the comments! Singles starting soon (for real now) but i'm worried i have BIG omissions so i may just freestyle it if anything else comes up...

Gangsters, bangers, we're putting 'em in a trance

 

 

 

191. M.I.A. - Warriors

192. Calvin Harris ft. Ayah Marar - Thinking About You

193. San Fermin - Sonsick

194. Union J - Carry You

195. Antonia - Marabou

196. Tideup - A Dance in the Dark

197. Drake - Started From The Bottom

198. Mmm - Dark Motion

199. Jai Paul - Track #15

200. Shlohmo ft. Jeremih - Bo Peep (Do U Right)

 

WOOP. We're off. A varied bunch to start off with, pretty much anticipating the countdown as a whole; this year was full of an assortment of wonderful sounds from a whole heap of different genres and styles. Pav, Randy, Lee and Iz certified BJSC gems kick off proceedings with the downright swag, sexy, camp and euphoric (respectively). Elsewhere Jai Paul gets his first Track appearance - yes i'm sticking to the obscure names for those, and Drake starts as he means to go on with what turned out to be a slightly disappointing return for him. Union J unfortunately slump into the lower regions here too, despite the hype i held for them this time last year. Calvin's best in a while storms through and M.I.A. leaves us TRANCED with her spectacularly zany warrior's dance. Haus potential from Tideup that never saw the light finishes off this tensome, a stunningly beautiful vocal so check it out.