'Bad Blood' :wub: Such a good album, especially 'Laura Palmer' and 'The Weight of Living, Pt. II' :wub:

#5

 

Disclosure - Settle

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/dd/Disclosure_Settle.jpg/220px-Disclosure_Settle.jpg

 

Intro: INTRO/10

When A Fire Starts To Burn: 9/10

Latch: 11/10

F For You: 10/10

White Noise: 10/10

Defeated No More: 9/10

Stimulation: 7/10

Voices: 8/10

Second Chance: 7/10

Grab Her!: 8/10

You & Me: 9/10

January: 9.5/10

Confess To Me: 9/10

Help Me Lose My Mind: 9/10

Boiling: 8/10

What's In Your Head: 7/10

Tenderly: 7/10

Running (Disclosure Remix): 8/10

 

I suppose I did expect this one to be rather awesome as Disclosure are one of the freshest and most interesting chart acts in business at the moment. And I also suppose my main criticism of this album is the same as many others... it's very long (even without my deluxe edition) and a lot of the tracks do feel anonymous, particularly the ones without a featuring artist. However when the highs hit this album shows the genius production skills of the duo off with great flare. The singles of course are high in my rankings through greater familiarity, but all of them are pretty great results of a song. January in particular is a standout from the centre of the album, helped in no small part by Jamie Woon's lovely vocals. And that's the other theme that buoys this album up, the familiarity coupled with credibility of the featuring stars. Along with Woon, we have London Grammar, Jessie Ware and Ed MacFarlane and they're not even the on the ones released to radio. This is excellent when I'm in the mood for.. anything.

#4

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Zedd_Clarity.jpg/220px-Zedd_Clarity.jpg

 

Hourglass: 8/10

Shave It: 9/10

Spectrum: 9.5/10

Lost At Sea: 10/10

Clarity: 11/10

Codec: 8/10

Stache: 8.5/10

Fall Into The Sky: 8/10

Follow You Down: 9/10

Epos: 8/10

 

A very very solid effort is up next with the other dance album in the top 5. In contrast to Disclosure who are all about the subtlety, Zedd specialises in making very loud and cool house instrumentals that build very noisily, and then blow up in your face at just the right moment. I often prefer the loud and brazen. And after a whole album of this it's almost impossible not to have been left in awe at least once. Follow You Down, Lost At Sea and Spectrum do try their best to compete for the best vocals laid against one of Zedd's instrumentals but naturally the big one here is the title track, while Shave It, Codec, Stache and Epos are engaged in a different kind of competition, as they're mostly Zedd solo and therefore there is an entirely different feel among them. Shave It just wins out for some cracking drops or whatever dance terms are appropriate. There's a reason I don't often put one, let alone two complicated dance albums this high, I am very unused to listening to a full album of the genre and am therefore a little shaky on all the terminology (and Guetta's albums shouldn't really count because that's BASIC stuff), but when the output is this good I'm not going to stay away.

Love Arctic Monkeys, London Grammar, Bastille, CHVRCHES, Disclosure, :wub: and Zedd. :heart:

#3

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1a/AlunaGeorge_-_Body_Music.png/220px-AlunaGeorge_-_Body_Music.png

 

Outlines: 9/10

You Know You Like It: 8/10

Attracting Flies: 11/10

Your Drums, Your Love: 10/10

Kaleidoscope Love: 9/10

Bad Idea: 9/10

Diver: 9/10

Lost And Found: 10/10

Best Be Believing: 9/10

Superstar: 9/10

Just A Touch: 9.5/10

Body Music: 9/10

Friends To Lovers: 8.5/10

This Is How We Dot It: 8.5/10

We Are Chosen: 8/10

Indestructible: 9/10

Watching Over You: 8.5/10

Put Up Your Hands: 8/10

B Ur Boo: 8/10

 

My top 3 albums are so close together; which means this stunning (underrated :() album was so nearly at the top. It is however the highest debut album in here as the top 2 are both sophomore efforts, and shows that AlunaGeorge should have a bright future among the electronic scene if they continue making stuff like this. Aside from the 'just a little too near irritating earworm territory' You Know You Like It the entire standard album is nearly flawless. Aluna's voice is absolutely the main selling point, it manages to convey exactly the right sort of sultry tones while remaining slightly vulnerable too. Not to slight George's production skills either, it's almost as good as Disclosure's. It is very hard to pick tracks that standout from the crowd here but of course we have last year's brilliant Your Drums Your Love which continues to be one of the best things about them, the energetic Lost And Found, and the very positive duo of Best Be Believing and Superstar in the latter half of the album. A very consistent album that was everything I had expected of it following a killer set of songs available before the album, from YD, YL to Attracting Flies, Diver and Just A Touch.

#2

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fc/Little_Mix_Salute_(Official_Album_Cover).png/220px-Little_Mix_Salute_(Official_Album_Cover).png

 

Salute: 9/10

Move: 11/10

Little Me: 10/10

Nothing Feels Like You: 9.5/10

Towers: 9/10

Competition: 10/10

These Four Walls: 9/10

About The Boy: 9.5/10

Boy: 9/10

Good Enough: 8.5/10

Mr Loverboy: 9/10

A Different Beat: 9.5/10

See Me Now: 8.5/10

They Just Don't Know You: 8/10

Stand Down: 10/10

 

WELL. If you thought I was getting ridiculous with my scores before, brace yourselves. A massive step-up from their debut, Little Mix have come into their own so much with this followup I will be proud to say I like them to almost anyone, because with harmonies this tight and songs this polished, there is very little to be embarrassed about. For once we have an absolute gem of a track saved until last to close the deluxe edition (the unplugged edition of Little Me notwithstanding) as Stand Down never stops for 3 minutes and 39 seconds, and every one of those is bliss. Coming inbetween two very popular ballads I often feel as though Competition gets overlooked but it is a very powerful track in its own right and my favourite after the two singles and the aforementioned Stand Down. About The Boy and A Different Beat are similarly fierce, and while Salute only really works in the context of the album, leading into two of the best tracks of the year it is SOLID as an opener. This album should really revolutionize RnB-influenced girlband pop, and in years to come it will. Mark my words. Before this I was semi-agnostic about their music despite loving them as people. Now I'm fully converted.

#1

 

Amaranthe - The Nexus

 

http://hasitleaked.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/amaranthenexusalbum-300x300.jpg

 

Afterlife: 10/10

Invincible: 8/10

The Nexus: 10/10

Theory Of Everything: 9/10

Stardust: 8.5/10

Burn With Me: 9.5/10

Mechanical Illusion: 9.5/10

Razorblade: 11/10

Future On Hold: 10/10

Electroheart: 9.5/10

Transhuman: 8/10

Infinity: 9/10

 

So yes, my #1 album of 2013 goes to the pop-melded-with-metal band I've been raving about ever since... April. This did take its time to grow on me, after discovering Amaranthine I sampled the album on iTunes and it didn't sound that impressive so I left it for a bit. Then I got it and from there on it has been ever upwards for this soaring and rollercoaster ride of an album like no other. Afterlife opens up the album with a rip-roaring tide of energy, followed by single The Nexus, tender ballad Burn With Me, ultimate highlight Razorblade, the power chorus on Future On Hold, etc etc. It filled with strong pop hooks on great rock songs and I really can't recommend it more.

 

Admittedly, yes, like on Amaranthine there is a harsh metal vocalist, and he does appear more frequently here than on that song, but his appearances only serve to heighten the energy of the track before Elize Ryd's great voice (or her clean vocalled male bandmember) hits on the chorus or wherever, and I know her voice appeals to many people here. As someone who hated all harsh vocals before this, I even look forward to his now, they work in the context of this album. If you aren't a fan of rock you may not like it anyway but the pop hooks are too good to be ignored. If nothing else at least listen to Burn With Me as that one is harsh-free (and none are dominated by him).

 

I'll just leave this sampler here as an example of all the wonderful choruses:

 

Well, that's enough selling it to you. For me it's just a euphoric masterpiece, it was very hard deciding between Body Music, Salute and this for the top album, and ultimately I went with this because every track feels exciting, fresh and unique, each song is a new adventure. Amaranthe are a band I'd have never believed existed. I'm so very glad they do.

 

Phew. Albums finished.

 

I will start singles very soon~

Ooh a wonderful top 5 from what i've heard. 'Settle' and 'Clarity' especially. Still haven't heard 'Body Music' but it's *on the list* and 'Salute' was a big shock for me in the best way possible.

 

Only really know 'Bad Blood' out of the rest of the top 10 and it died for me eventually. Still love a few of the tracks though, then they released 'Of The Night' :/

Really tempted to give Amaranthe another go. I am learning to appreciate the growls etc. and Elize has a superb voice.

Thanks everyone for commenting so far, it's very appreciated.

 

Ooh a wonderful top 5 from what i've heard. 'Settle' and 'Clarity' especially. Still haven't heard 'Body Music' but it's *on the list* and 'Salute' was a big shock for me in the best way possible.

 

Only really know 'Bad Blood' out of the rest of the top 10 and it died for me eventually. Still love a few of the tracks though, then they released 'Of The Night' :/

 

Get on Body Music FAST. I'm sure you'd love it. Or at least a lot of it.

 

I actually LIKE Of The Night. It's growing on me, I am a huge fan of Snap! but not so much of Corona so I guess with the limited role the former has I don't really see it as a butchering and more making that one relevant. Plus I like their style if they're inspired enough to mix two dance classics. Bastille up forever.

 

Really tempted to give Amaranthe another go. I am learning to appreciate the growls etc. and Elize has a superb voice.

 

Do so, yes. This new one does venture into electropop a little even along with the metal so it is at least interesting, the first one is more straight pop-metal (if there is such a thing), and really if you can learn to appreciate the growls you should be set.

Well I've stalled with this for long enough, so now I'm going to move onto my favourite songs of the year.

 

Eligible songs are any that have entered my chart over the year no matter their original release date, ordered by my opinion as of about a week ago with various changes to the parts I haven't reached as I count down should I feel that way. Also I have allowed in a few wildcards that I didn't chart at all but they were significant enough to make them necessary to include here.

 

As I love every song in my top 200 and I entered 434 mostly good songs into my chart this year there were always going to be plenty of songs I love not making the cut so here are a few of those before I really get started:

Alida - Some Of Us

Amaranthe - Burn With Me

Arcade Fire - Afterlife

Arlissa - Sticks N Stones

Bastille - Of The Night

Braendt Barn - Bror

Lolo - Weapon For Saturday

Luciana - U B The Bass

Magic Man - Texas

Marcel Woods (feat. Vanbot) - Bring It Back

Michael Feiner och Caisa - We're Still Kids

Mons Montis - Swept

Nicole Scherzinger - Boomerang

Nodi & Sophie - Waterfall

P!nk (feat. Lily Allen) - True Love

Pitbull (feat. Christina Aguilera) - Feel This Moment

Samanta Tina - I Need A Hero

Sharon Doorson - Killer

Skylar Grey (feat. Eminem) - C'Mon Let Me Ride

Until The Ribbon Breaks - 2025

 

Largely BJSC entries that couldn't quite go that far (there are still PLENTY of those left in the top 200, hehe), the ones that aren't from there are a real mix of songs that couldn't quite stand out enough to make it in. Anyway, no more dwelling on that, on to the next lot.

Songs: 191-200

 

 

The 200th placed song is Eurovision's runner-up. I thought it was a very well-polished song if not as exciting as some previous Azeri entries. I did 'cover' this for a competition on Moopy which resulted in more listening than I'd normally give it. I think I've deleted that now though before anyone asks, which is good, it was very embarrassing.

 

 

Only song of Iggy's to make it this far. She had potential based on this but it quickly seemed to go away as Bounce got boring fast. Work however remains catchy.

 

 

Similarly, the only song of THEIRS to even come close. Kiss You is a bit of revelation, it's upbeat, extremely likeable and well, after their continued presence for nigh on 3 years, getting me to like even one 1D song is a bit of a miracle. I think it's even my highest boyband song unless there is something I've forgotten, beating out anything my previous favourites The Wanted have released this year (holy crap their quality jumped off a bridge this time)

 

 

The only song on this list I have seen being performed live, which shot it up from high to very high in my estimations. Mausi really gave a great show (including intermittent shouts of 'Mausi' that came across as very endearing). That aside the energy in this is so enjoyable and happy, there is no reason for me to dislike this.

 

 

Plenty of Melodifestivalen entries will be making their appearances down low. The first of these is a great reminder why one should never judge a band by its name. Cookies N Beans actually turned out to be a decent girlband with a lovely song in Burning Flags, although they were lucky to go as far as they did.

 

195. Kissy Sell Out (feat. Saint Saviour) - Gimme Sin

 

Well it seems Saint Saviour helped lift up another incredibly excellent song. While I had heard it last year I had passed over it until it was entered to BJSC, where I fell in love with not only SS's voice but also the well-done instrumental. I can give songs a second chance.

 

 

The only BC song to sneak in this time is the suitably anthemic Biblical. Beyond providing one of the best videos of the year and being a little bit epic I ended up forgetting about it a lot so it doesn't end up higher. Still love the band though, just need to give them more time.

 

 

The first of my 10 BJSC entries to appear in here is probably the biggest misstep I made since my first entry back in 2011. I was a little stuck at the time and this was an entry meant to replace another that I didn't even love at all, meaning this was one I could just about sorta get behind, so that it failed was no real surprise to me. It's a little bit basic. It's still in here because I do love the very warm voices from the band and the climax of it. I can still criticise the songs I like.

 

 

It hasn't been a vintage year for K-Pop unfortunately. However despite that, this is one of the best girlband songs to come out of the genre in a long time, perhaps even since Volume Up. The harmonies are fantastic, the chorus frantic and exciting, all without ever stopping to catch for breath. The title of Wild is very appropriate in this case, and it's a very good thing.

 

 

From one whirlwind of a song to another, the second Eurovision entry in this 200 is the Greek ska ode to alcohol. It's very catchy and just a little bit iconic. Those are my reasons and I stand by them.

Songs: 181-190

 

 

Alida's debut song makes it in ahead of Some Of Us, largely for being less of a straight Ellie Goulding ripoff as well as promising a bit more of intriguing imagery in her lyrics. The dive into the chorus is great, with her 'we won't let gravity win' hook, along with her being Scandi, I like thinking she was being prophetic about Eurovision.

 

 

The best song I've heard from Foals, upbeat and very much a great stadium anthem, I was cheering when it got even the little bit of success it did in the UK charts. It'll probably serve as a gateway into Foals, as I also listened to Spanish Sahara and Inhaler following this, after ignoring them before.

 

 

This kept growing and growing, as I do like Derulo despite myself, this has at least been a better year than when he spent two weeks at #1 with the poor Don't Wanna Go Home. It's too catchy for it's own good, I can get swept up in it far too easily, etc. I'm slightly embarrassed now.

 

 

One of the highlights of BJFestivalen, this is a very perfect.. pop song. Hafdis's delicate tones are very lovely to listen to.

 

 

The first song I properly fell in love with from Arlissa after Hard to Love Somebody and Sticks N Stones showed promise, Ghosts was very interesting and showed off her vocal ability like no song of hers so far. It was also great for being an underrated song I could constantly call underrated. It would remain my favourite song of hers for a long while.

 

 

One of the year's big hits, it took me quite a while to come round to Timberlake's return; he had never been my favourite popstar back in the day and I was put off a little by the great love abounding across this forum. Mirrors was good enough, even in its long form to stick with for quite a while, so I did, now it's one of the best Timberlake songs.

 

 

That vocal remix is so worth it. I mouth the spoken word bits every time. Unique song alert, which always means good things.

 

 

One of the best obscure dance songs hanging around this year. The buildup and what follows is great, and the lyrics sound like it could be a reference to the mythological creature which trumps any imagery gained from making it a 'modern siren'. I choose to believe.

 

 

This took a little while to get my head around, but eventually I fell in love with it, M.I.A's best effort since Bad Girls, it was getting into this that reminded me I needed to get Matangi. The song getting faster and the what I assume are Hindi instrumental sounds improve it tenfold. So lovely.

 

 

Closing this section is Ed Sheeran's soundtrack for the best film of the year, it's a little minimalist and I was apprehensive about how it'd work with the film, however that closing scene allayed all my fears. It fitted perfectly, and by that time it had grown on me to become a great track for me to fit with Ed Sheeran's few songs that haven't completely tired on me from +. Like another certain soundtrack song further up, it's the quiet reflective nature of the song that increases its power. In this case the huge ending manages to fit with that brilliantly, the build is coming throughout all the song.

Songs: 171-180

 

 

Paramore's comeback single to lead off their first full-length since Brand New Eyes was not the best they'd ever been. Despite a rousing chorus it felt a little weak and didn't make me excited for their 4th album at all. However it is a Paramore disappointment which still makes it better than most songs so it gets a modest position here.

 

 

I thought she was supposed to be big. :unsure: Glowing is a very lovely piece of pop that came across as far more likeable and cool than her debut Kill Fuck Marry. It may just be dancepop but there is a lot to like here, she even feels slightly credible, and for the genre, that's an achievement.

 

 

A lovely song from Unknown Pleasures here, things like this are why I keep entering over there, it's a lovely synthpop song with a fab marching beat that I never actually charted but made a point of putting in here because it's so divine.

 

 

Back to Melodifestivalen, and we have the year's 'joke' entry, being sung by a load of old men. However, underneath the novelty, what it is is an EXCELLENT song under the guise of a load of middle-aged former singers having a bit of fun (seriously, if those Swedish House Wives had sung this instead of whatever they had I'm sure it'd be more popular among fans), and that makes it very enjoyable. The MF final would not have been the same without it. I still enjoy coming back to it even now.

 

 

From one novelty song to another, the followup to Gangnam Style couldn't match that in its ability to connect or quality but countered this with having an even more ridiculous video and staying with PSY's style of Asian hip hop that worked so well on Gangnam, leading to something that is enjoyable if forever in the shadow of its more well-known predecessor.

 

 

Marina hasn't been that active this year aside from chucking out the odd late addition to Electra Heart. However the one thing I really loved from one of my favourite singers of last year was this duo with Charli XCX, which also managed to be the first thing in a long while that the latter had sounded incredible on. It works as well as you'd expect even if I only loved it for a short while in the middle of the year somewhere.

 

 

Drake's biggest hit yet also happens to be his best yet, less of his awful rap abilities and more of his singing voice which tends to be where he's best. While it's not quite as good as Take Care and I'm currently going through the overplay stage with this, I was quite happy to see this take off in a big way when it first did.

 

 

This C&S era has been a bit of a comedown from the almost perfect No More Idols lot, and Lost And Not Found feels typical C&S on autopilot, but it's cool enough to be a competent return and fortunately wasn't the highlight of the era.

 

 

Ever I since started to watch Eurovision, I've never enjoyed the French entry this much. It manages to ooze utter class and still feel very darkly upbeat, and I was disappointed it flopped as predicted. I don't want to use the 'too good for Eurovision' cliche but this feels like the perfect song to use it on. France should be sending a lot more of this every time.

 

 

Another of the big dance hits, took me a while to actively come round to this but it's Ellie's breathy vocals and that would win me round eventually. Still a little too forgettable to be her best and while it's not far off Calvin's best from the last couple of years it's not quite there.

Great choices so far, hoping that Move is #1!

Judging by this, Sending more left field dance/garage to BJSC seems to be the key to you liking my entries, I will take note of that for next year ~

 

Mainly pretty good so far, Out of the Blue especially, one of my favourite UP discoveries :heart:

Edited December 26, 201311 yr by Father Walrus

Singles: 161-170

 

170. He Is We - Lead The Fight On (Acoustic)

 

A track put online by He Is We as they lost a couple of members with only Rachel Taylor from the original lineup continuing hasn't YET led to a new album despite rumours of one. Lead The Fight On seems to be an acoustic teaser, and it's a typically great offering from them, so if that's the direction she's taking the band in I'll be on board.

 

 

Not quite HAIM's strongest but managed to be good enough to keep me following their releases as they came off winning Sound Of, a decent tune from the beginning of the year.

 

168. Christina Perri - Human

 

One of the newest hits on my chart (and hopefully a bit of a hit in the UK in 2014), Christina Perri's comeback shows she can still produce a lovely slow ballad. This one isn't even depressing. Not that depressing.

 

167. Amaranthe - Afterlife

 

Amaranthe's stormy opener to my #1 album is one of their best tracks, showing off the synergy between the band remarkably well as harsh vocal-guy and Elize come together very skillfully to produce one of the most joyful choruses in a metal song I've ever heard. Despite my preference for Razorblade back there, this gets in ahead of it as I never actually charted the latter.

 

 

It HAS been a while since Romanian dance-pop was actually a thing, wasn't it? Marabou is a bit of a throwback to a couple of years ago in that case but it's more sexy and seductive than any of those big hits ever were. Very addictive.

 

 

I am surprised at how high I put this, for a big hit it's very easy to pass by and yet it never loses the shine that originally made it pretty good. It never got that high in my chart for this reason but it's still among the essentials from 2013. I've probably never said I love this song and that'd be true, but it should be this high because... dance tune that sounds very nice.

 

 

Another song I never actually charted and that was quite the mistake. From the same UP as Prides even, this one managed to go one better and win. With Swept winning following this I've now voted for that contest's winner 5 consecutive times, and 2 consecutive 20s (which means I am incredibly on the ball there, surprisingly). This is the best winner from at least this year though, the hooky synths are too addictive.

 

 

A late summer tune from St. Lucia, building on the goodwill I held towards him for September. Elevate did feel a little lacklustre at first but then I just realised I wasn't paying as much attention to the final minute as I should, and of course the final minute is incredible, the song definitely ~elevates~.

 

 

Something very good from a Melodifestivalen no-hoper, it's a beautiful ballad that feels very crystal clear. One of the best songs there that didn't make it to the final.

 

 

A new single from one of Finland's loveliest bands of the moment at the beginning of the year showed off a fabulous new rocky direction for Haloo Helsinki that I fell in love with very quickly, of course. Finnish-language pop-rock should be more of a thing. I was quite devastated when it failed to qualify in BJSC. I haven't gotten round to listening to any of their further songs though. :(

 

Judging by this, Sending more left field dance/garage to BJSC seems to be the key to you liking my entries, I will take note of that for next year ~

 

Mainly pretty good so far, Out of the Blue especially, one of my favourite UP discoveries :heart:

 

Ha! That is actually a good point, if it stands out like Dreamtrak and Kissy Sell Out did I'll keep coming back to it (and therefore more likely to vote) and garage is pretty solid as a genre.

Nice to see Zedd and Disclosure in the top five albums, both SUCH good dance albums! :wub:

Hey Iz :D Albums! Glad to see Selena just outside the top ten, really underrated album and she's definitely my fave of the Disney alumni. You've got some strong albums in the top ten that were muscled out of my 25 - CHVRCHES, Bastille, AlunaGeorge - and delighted to see Settle so high!

 

Singles: lovely to see 'Gimme Sin', 'Mirrors' (though so low! :cry: ), 'Siren', 'Glowing', 'Hold On...' and 'Elevate' in particular. Looking forward to more!