http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm90/Eyes330/losgigantes_zps491a09d4.jpg

 

Will arrive at a leisurely pace. While there have been more bad songs in the charts than I remember from other years this time round, all the songs that are in here (even number 200 and a few songs that missed out too) I love to pieces and am quite ready to play to death.

 

Albums first.

TARJA to slay I hope

http://i.imgur.com/rsPPXtT.gif

oo-er.

 

Albums: 34-21

 

31. Muse - The 2nd Law

 

28. Avril Lavigne - Avril Lavigne

27. Caro Emerald - The Shocking Miss Emerald

26. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2

 

25. Rihanna - Unapologetic

24. Gabrielle Aplin - English Rain

23. Tarja - Colours In The Dark

 

So let's get rid of all the 'deadweight' first as many of these I haven't had the time to listen to with clarity and so would be saying the same thing about all of them and we don't want repetitive. This is all the albums I got this year and decided were eligible. However, I wouldn't say I got any bad albums this year, Kodaline was a little dull, but it was a present I also kept through Amazon Rip so I'll let it off.

 

Unapologetic just about makes it for a second year, while it was top 10 last year I didn't feel it defined my year as much as Rihanna albums normally do in the second year of their life. So it's down here, despite now containing some of Rihanna's career highlights as far as album tracks go.

 

Amaranthe is the oldest album in here, 2 years old in fact, but I have allowed it in as they are without a doubt my best band discovery of 2013 and that includes their first album, although it's not quite as good as their 2013 effort. On a similar note, the other metal album is indeed Tarja's newest work (sorry Regina, had too many good albums in the top 20). It's a tad inaccessible with so many long tracks but it's great to see she's still got it and enough of the tracks are inventive enough to hold my interest.

 

Below par efforts from Muse, Mumfords and Avril Lavigne also appear (below par as in their previous albums were very very good and from the bits I've heard of these it's not as good), along with albums from Fall Out Boy, Hurts and Biffy Clyro that I've been barely motivated to listen to besides the singles. hashtaguseless

 

Caro Emerald and Janelle Monae also have followup albums that haven't yet grabbed me as much as their previous masterpieces, despite holding on them some good songs (see, told you this would get repetitive if I dragged it on any longer), while Gabrielle Aplin releases an entirely decent first album that is very... pleasant listening. Oh, and Eminem turns up, with only the second album of his I've listened to, the other being the first part of the Marshall Mathers EP. This is good and I'm sure it'll grow on me in time. I am trying my best to keep with the album format, but it is getting harder year on year and yet my iTunes continues to fill up with albums it takes me months to listen to fully.

 

GOOD. I've also linked a non-single highlight in each of these.

Albums: 20-16

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/70/MIA_Matangi_Cover.png/220px-MIA_Matangi_Cover.png

 

Highlights: Bad Girls, Exodus, Double Bubble Trouble, Come Walk with Me

 

Having not yet listened to Maya but considering Kala one of my favourite albums ever, I would say this was one of the the most anticipated albums of the year for me, especially considering I was all over Bad Girls 18 months ago. Its late release has probably contributed to it being so comparatively low, I shouldn't really compare it to Kala as I doubt she can ever match it now, but there are enough highlights for me to like, particularly the sultry sounds of Exodus and the fun of DBT. And as far as her sound goes, there's no one doing it QUITE like her so it's been a welcome addition to my 2013.

 

19. Arctic Monkeys - AM

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/04/Arctic_Monkeys_-_AM.png/220px-Arctic_Monkeys_-_AM.png

 

Highlights: Arabella, Snap Out Of It, Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, Do I Wanna Know?

 

This is actually the first Arctic Monkeys album I've invested in, partly because I, against all odds and the normally very reliable law of diminishing returns, really enjoyed their comeback this time round. More on the main singles in my EOY, but the sooner they realise they need to release Arabella the better. It's not as energetic on the whole as their highs in singles from back in ancient times but nevertheless I'm very much enjoying the mature sounds and therefore the direction this has gone in.

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fb/Break-the-Border-album-by-Yohio.JPG

 

Highlights: Timescape, rain ~A scene drenched in rain~, Sakura falling, Our Story

 

The only album by a Melodifestivalen act I've so far actually tried, mainly because I was wowed enough by Heartbreak Hotel in the competition. I had expected to like him anyway if slightly ironically because of his unique image, but when I heard that and then this subsequent album, what followed was not ironic at all. It's really right up my street, by managing to capture his apparent love of Japanese culture matched with some great rock + Scandinavian sensibilities, if not the most polished attempt it certainly has some personality. Sakura, falling is incredible for his genre, lovely and tender, although he's not afraid to rock out either as he shows on My Murderous Urge amongst others (Innocence is a little too heavy even for me I must say). The non-Heartbreak Hotel highlight though and one I keep coming back to is the piano instrumental Timescape, while the rest of this no one who isn't a fan of rock will like, this will appeal to many I'm sure, at only 2 minutes it is completely different from everything else and evokes some really powerful feelings.

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/43/Ifyouwaitlg.jpg/220px-Ifyouwaitlg.jpg

 

Highlights: Strong, Nightcall, Metal & Dust, Help

 

London Grammar's beautiful debut is next up. If at times a little minimalist, it's actually a pretty good album from a very promising band. It is possibly a little too cohesive in that it's all very much of a similar sound to each other but that sound is a nice one. I designate this my official chillout album of 2013, from the apt opening hook of Hey Now to the slow beautiful lilts in Nightcall and throughout, there is no word other than lovely.

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/LIGHTS_-_Siberia_Acoustic.jpg/220px-LIGHTS_-_Siberia_Acoustic.jpg

 

Highlights: Banner, Heavy Rope, Cactus In The Valley, Where The Fence Is Low, Siberia

 

Rule #1 of an Iz countdown: I will find a way to sneak Lights in there somewhere. This time it's her new acoustic album, which is essentially exactly what it says, most of the tracks you already know and love on Siberia given the acoustic treatment. This improves some of them and doesn't work so well with others, it's a mixed bag. Flux And Flow works quite a bit better in its original form, but Cactus In The Valley, Siberia and Where The Fence Is Low are remarkably stunning on acoustic. It is getting to the point where I'd really love new material from her but this is enough to tide me over until such eventuality is reached.

Godbrielle <3 Stunning album, she's got such a brilliant voice.

Albums: 15-11

 

15. Taylor Swift - Red

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e8/Taylor_Swift_-_Red.png/220px-Taylor_Swift_-_Red.png

 

Highlights: I Knew You Were Trouble, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Almost Do, Red, Everything Has Changed

 

At this point this almost reads like a list of Taylor Swift hits, it's taken quite a while to grow on me which is why it's survived the cull from 2012 to 2013 but I'm probably ready to declare this her best album now. Aside from 22, which got boring really quite fast, all the rest feel really fresh still, even after a whole year. The meld of country and pop is very much appreciated over here. The altrock-esque State Of Grace deserves special mention, as while it's not quite among my highlights that I've listed up there, it's lovely hearing the album open with a slightly different genre, one I adore very much and not one I'd expect from Taylor.

 

14. Katy Perry - Prism

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/12/Prism_cover.png/220px-Prism_cover.png

 

Highlights: Dark Horse, This Is How We Do, Ghost, International Smile

 

It may seem like I'm not supporting Katy that much this era, particularly after I was on board for nearly every attempt from Teenage Dream. And it is true that Roar and Unconditionally didn't make my top 200 songs, Roar was just a bit plain and I couldn't quite get round to Unconditionally in time, this is pretty strong album them aside. Most of it is very strong pop, and most of it manages to be interesting enough for me to like it. That's all I want from a pop album, so while it's one of the newest albums here it can still get pretty high.

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e1/Ellie_Goulding_-_Halcyon.png/220px-Ellie_Goulding_-_Halcyon.png

 

Highlights: Under Control, Burn, Joy, My Blood, Figure 8, Stay Awake, Atlantis

 

This year I've become far more obsessed with Ellie Goulding than I was in 2013, so Halcyon gets to rechart, along with the tracks off the Halcyon Days bit that I've gotten round to listening to. It's almost all perfect. Her voice is so delicate, which just makes it better for carrying emotion and meaning, add that to the slightly darker themes of Halcyon compared to Bright Lights and you have the perfect indie-pop album. Only not higher because there are a few Halcyon Days tracks I haven't gotten round to listening to yet, as much as I'm sure they are amazing, that's a music problem that only Schrodinger can explain. EE EE EE EE.

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3f/Night_Visions_Album_Cover.jpeg/220px-Night_Visions_Album_Cover.jpeg

 

Highlights: Radioactive, Demons, Selene, Underdog

 

Another alt-rock album to lay by the wayside, this is obviously Imagine Dragon's very good debut. The good singles will show up later, but the non-single highlight is the very rhythmic and lovely Selene from off the deluxe edition. Their lead singer's voice is very easy to listen to, there's an edge to it where you can find that happy middle ground between too dull and plain, and too irritating (or the 'Fray-alt-J' spectrum). One of the nicest alt-rock allbums I've gotten in a while.

 

11. Selena Gomez - Stars Dance

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f1/Stars_Dance.png/220px-Stars_Dance.png

 

Highlights: Undercover, Slow Down, Forget Forever, Save The Day

 

I've said it before and no doubt I'll say it many more times in the future, Undercover is the absolute dancefloor tune that needs to be released if Selena's label have any sense. It's incredible AND sounds like a smash. That aside, this is a good effort from Selena sans the Scene, the best Disney album this year, and of course I should follow that up by saying it's the only one I've listened to, but like that actually matters when Ms Gomez is around. This didn't quite go in my top 10 as it isn't strong enough on its own to be anything more than a great pop album and in that instance I'd probably be only doing it for Selena rather than the actual music, but it's a very lovely listen and if she continues to put out albums like this while continuing to be the most grounded of her generation as well as being my dream girl, that's completely fine by me. :wub:

Godbrielle so low :snif:

 

YAY for 'Red', 'Prism' and 'Stars Dance' tho <3 Been listening to 'Red' more lately, and it has so many gems. :wub: The latter is magnificent too ('Like A Champion' *.*) :cool:

This is already very very good, looking forward to the rest of your countdowns!

Godbrielle so low :snif:

 

YAY for 'Red', 'Prism' and 'Stars Dance' tho :wub: The latter is magnificent too ('Like A Champion' *.*) :cool:

 

Yeah, for you and Joseph... it's not that it's a bad album more just very laidback, chilled and ends up being a little anonymous. Things like Panic Cord are great though.

 

Your great support of Selena is appreciated.

 

This is already very very good, looking forward to the rest of your countdowns!

 

Excellent to hear Tom, do stick around. :D

*HYPED*

 

:hi:

 

Of the ones i've heard

 

30. Hurts - Exile

26. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 King *bow* SO good. My favourite album from him in years and years <3

25. Rihanna - Unapologetic gets too much hate :( i want her to release LWT/MM as a single :)

22. Amaranthe - Amaranthe :o

21. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

20. M.I.A - Matangi YES to this. And brill highlights from you too. '(S)Exodus' is a beast

19. Arctic Monkeys - AM

17. London Grammar - If You Wait :wub:

14. Katy Perry - Prism Had a Katy session earlier. Not a patch on TD but like it nonetheless

13. Ellie Goulding - Halcyon Days the 'Days' bit let me down a lot, but the original album is still a masterpiece <3

12. Imagine Dragons - Night Visions

11. Selena Gomez - Stars Dance Haven't listened to this much after i first downloaded it, but 'Come & Get It' i return to ALL THE TIME. One of the songs of the year (hopefully super high here too)

 

v good. Looking forward to the top 10 :D

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/52/LIGHTS_-_Siberia_Acoustic.jpg/220px-LIGHTS_-_Siberia_Acoustic.jpg

UGH. I'm so far behind with Lights. I previewed Siberia on iTunes and haven't come back to it, because none of the songs grabbed me right away. Her acoustic stuff is usually great so hopefully that's an incentive...so thanks for including her here, just so you know it was worth it :D

15. Taylor Swift - Red

The altrock-esque State Of Grace deserves special mention, as while it's not quite among my highlights that I've listed up there, it's lovely hearing the album open with a slightly different genre, one I adore very much and not one I'd expect from Taylor.

This, completely! State Of Grace is incredible. A full album of her going in this direction would be super interesting, and potentially beautiful.

 

*HYPED*

 

*.*

 

:hi:

 

Of the ones i've heard

 

30. Hurts - Exile

26. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 2 King *bow* SO good. My favourite album from him in years and years

25. Rihanna - Unapologetic gets too much hate :( i want her to release LWT/MM as a single :)

22. Amaranthe - Amaranthe :o

21. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

20. M.I.A - Matangi YES to this. And brill highlights from you too. '(S)Exodus' is a beast

19. Arctic Monkeys - AM

17. London Grammar - If You Wait :wub:

14. Katy Perry - Prism Had a Katy session earlier. Not a patch on TD but like it nonetheless

13. Ellie Goulding - Halcyon Days the 'Days' bit let me down a lot, but the original album is still a masterpiece

12. Imagine Dragons - Night Visions

11. Selena Gomez - Stars Dance Haven't listened to this much after i first downloaded it, but 'Come & Get It' i return to ALL THE TIME. One of the songs of the year (hopefully super high here too)

 

v good. Looking forward to the top 10 :D

 

 

26. It certainly has that potential. Recovery was very good (forgot I had that one) though.

25. Oh I agree with you (only LWT plz) completely. It being so low is not an indication of its quality so much as it was top 10 last year in a stronger field of albums but more that I didn't give it much attention and couldn't justify putting it in the top 20 again. Given she's taken a break this year I think we should have better quality in 2014.

22. Is that a :o for it being so low? Their 2013 effort is still to come (and I prefer that as a whole).

20. I only remembered M.I.A existed this year relatively recently, I think it's the newest one to me in here so it's done well to get that high, would probably want to have put it higher in a few months time.

11. Mmm, we'll see. Selena has a headstart on most others anyway. :kink:

 

 

UGH. I'm so far behind with Lights. I previewed Siberia on iTunes and haven't come back to it, because none of the songs grabbed me right away. Her acoustic stuff is usually great so hopefully that's an incentive...so thanks for including her here, just so you know it was worth it :D

This, completely! State Of Grace is incredible. A full album of her going in this direction would be super interesting, and potentially beautiful.

 

You should check it out definitely! Both acoustic and normal, like I said it either could be the better one. Siberia did take a while to grow on me but I love it almost as much as The Listening now, so many tracks came up from behind to become true beauties.

 

I would LOVE a rock-influenced Taylor Swift. I can dream.

 

Anyway... stalled for long enough.

#10

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/BadBloodBastillealbum.jpg/220px-BadBloodBastillealbum.jpg

 

Pompeii: 11/10

Things We Lost In The Fire: 8/10

Bad Blood: 9/10

Overjoyed: 9/10

These Streets: 9/10

Weight Of Living Pt II: 8/10

Icarus: 7/10

Oblivion: 7/10

Flaws: 10/10

Daniel In The Den: 9/10

Laura Palmer: 9/10

Get Home: 7/10

Weight Of Living Pt 1: 8/10

 

The very consistent debut album from Bastille leaves me very satisfied as far as the future of alt rock goes. Most of the melodies are very interesting, there are some very strong album tracks among them and despite a slightly weaker middle section (given 7/10 on my four point scale) this is a lovely debut from a band that have been uncharacteristically big this year. Even though Pompeii is by far the standout, Flaws isn't that far behind, Bad Blood and These Streets make for very good listening and former BJSC entries Overjoyed and Laura Palmer add a great degree of familiarity to help me ease into it. I used to think Bastille were the sort of band I'd never really love anything from, this album following on from Pompeii and giving a great structure for all the tracks to fit together has done much to change that.

#9

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/eb/ParamoreParamore.png/220px-ParamoreParamore.png

 

Fast In My Car: 8/10

Now: 9/10

Grow Up: 9/10

Daydreaming: 8/10

Interlude: Moving On: 7/10

Ain't It Fun: 9/10

Part II: 8/10

Last Hope: 8/10

Still Into You: 11/10

Anklebiters: 9/10

Interlude: Holiday: 7/10

Proof: 9/10

Hate To See Your Heart Break: 7/10

(One Of Those Crazy) Girls: 8/10

Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore: 6/10

Be Alone: 9/10

Future: 8/10

 

So... the new Paramore album. Ahhh... not as good as previous Paramore attempts, it is incredibly long which makes it harder to get into than Riot or Brand New Eyes and the interludes don't help that perception. However, Anklebiters is a whirlwind of an enjoyable track, Proof and Be Alone deliver what I want quite well, the first 4 tracks on the album are very lovely and of course Still Into You towers majestically above the rest. There's something to like here definitely, but it's not their best, however that is almost impossible to achieve when the aforementioned two albums exist, so that doesn't mean it's not good, just a bit of a comedown. However as per my Paramore stanning going up by quite a factor this year any album of theirs would easily make it to my top 10.

#8

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/df/Chvrches_-_The_Bones_of_What_You_Believe.png/220px-Chvrches_-_The_Bones_of_What_You_Believe.png

 

The Mother We Share: 10/10

We Sink: 8/10

Gun: 10/10

Tether: 8/10

Lies: 7/10

Under The Tide: 7/10

Recover: 9/10

Night Sky: 8/10

Science, Visions: 9/10

Lungs: 8/10

By The Throat: 10/10

You Caught The Light: 8/10

Strong Hand: 9/10

 

Again, I came in from last year not really loving CHVRCHES especially much, instead marking them down as a band I should really like but for whatever reason don't. And then this changed a lot. I came round to The Mother We Share a lot more after it refused to grow on me back in 2012, and that opened the floodgates. Gun and By The Throat are similarly amazing. Recover and Strong Hand are almost there too. Lies is still the weakest thing they've put out but thankfully most of the rest of the album isn't like this and is instead a 40-odd minute tribute to spreading electropop bliss. Very pleasant surprise of an album.

#7

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/Haim_-_Days_Are_Gone.png/220px-Haim_-_Days_Are_Gone.png

 

Falling: 11/10

Forever: 9/10

The Wire: 10/10

If I Could Change Your Mind: 8/10

Honey & I: 9/10

Don't Save Me: 9/10

Days Are Gone: 9/10

My Song 5: 9/10

Go Slow: 7/10

Let Me Go: 7/10

Running If You Call My Name: 9/10

 

The Sound Of.. queens make it as far as #7. I had some expectations for this, as their singles did keep getting better and better and for the most part it didn't disappoint. The first listen through was lovely and awesome but I didn't find myself going back as much as I thought I would. The singles are still the highlights but as those ratings show, there's a lot of 9/10s and 'almost perfect' songs on there to drive it up my rankings. I love their styling, there's nothing QUITE like it on the market right now and they are very easy to love as a group.

#6

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/10/Tegan_and_Sara_-_Heartthrob_cover.jpg/220px-Tegan_and_Sara_-_Heartthrob_cover.jpg

 

Closer: 9/10

Goodbye, Goodbye: 9/10

I Was A Fool: 11/10

I'm Not Your Hero: 10/10

Drove You Wild: 9/10

How Come You Don't Want Me: 9/10

I Couldn't Be Your Friend: 9/10

Love They Say: 8/10

Now I'm All Messed Up: 9/10

Shock To Your System: 9/10

Guilty As Charged: 7.5/10

I Run Empty: 7/10

 

So this is a product of me paying attention to Tegan & Sara this year and really really loving them a lot. While this is obviously their most pop work so far it works as well as I'd expect any indie-rock band dabbling in synthpop to do, wondrously. The melodies and little quirks in each of the songs are so heart-warming and lovely, Heartthrob is definitely the right title for this. It could perhaps use a few more themes over and above heartbreak but at least we have Closer for that, which is the main service the lead single plays to the album as it's nowhere near the strongest on there, that going to Iz-approved gems I Was A Fool and I'm Not Your Hero. I Couldn't Be Your Friend deserves mention for getting me a little bit obsessed with the unique way their voices meld on it. I will definitely go and visit their earlier stuff sometime.

Love Bad Blood, The Bones of What You Believe and Days Are Gone although my ratings for Bad Blood would differ slightly! Have yet to hear the other two yet though in the Top 10.