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Well it's that jolly time of year again, time to count down my favourite albums and singles of the past year. Funtimes.
As ever expect a lot of flop artists, irrelevant gifs of random men and some really odd taste choices.
I'll be starting with my 20 favourite albums and then 40 favourite singles.

Before I kick off, here's a list of all my #1's up until chart #278 (3/12/15)

01/01/15 = Meryl Streep – Last Midnight
08/01/15 = Madonna – Ghosttown (4 Weeks)
05/02/15 = Lifehouse – Hurricane (2 Weeks)
19/02/15 = Nightwish – Élan (2 Weeks)
05/03/15 = Jennifer Lopez – Feel The Light
12/03/15 = Lawson – Roads (2 Weeks)
26/03/15 = Brandon Flowers – Can't Deny My Love (4 Weeks)
23/04/15 = High Dive Heart – Vintage (3 Weeks)
14/05/15 = Stereophonics – C'est La Vie
21/05/15 = Brandon Flowers – Can't Deny My Love
28/05/15 = Lifehouse – Firing Squad (5 Weeks)
02/07/15 = Hilary Duff – One In A Million
09/07/15 = Maroon 5 – This Summers Gonna Hurt Like A Motherf***er (3 Weeks)
30/07/15 = NERVO – The Other Boys (2 Weeks)
13/08/15 = Alvaro Soler & J-Lo - El Mismo Sol (4 Weeks)
10/09/15 = Tina Arena – Overload (3 Weeks)
01/10/15 = Anastacia – Take This Chance (4 Weeks)
29/10/15 = Anastacia – Army Of Me
05/11/15 = Alanis Morissette – No Avalon (2 Weeks)
19/11/15 = Tina Arena – Heaven
26/11/15 = Ben Haenow – Lions
03/12/15 = Ben Haenow – Second Hand Heart

And some fun stats because stats are fun:

Most weeks at #1

Brandon Flowers - Can't Deny My Love (5 Weeks)
Lifehouse - Firing Squad (5 Weeks)
Alvaro Soler & J-Lo - El Mismo Sol (4 Weeks)
Anastacia - Take This Chance (4 Weeks)
Madonna - Ghosttown (4 Weeks)

Artist with most #1's

Anastacia (2)
Ben Haenow (2)
Jennifer Lopez (2)
Lifehouse (2)
Tina Arena (2)

Artists With Most Weeks at #1

Lifehouse (7 Weeks)
Anastacia (5 Weeks)
Jennifer Lopez (5 Weeks)

Longest runs in top 40 (2015 Songs)

Lawson – Roads [1-1-2-2-2-4-6-4-5-3-4-5-2-3-6-7-7-9-10-10-12-11-13-12-15-17-19-20-20-24-27-29-30-32-36-37-37-39-xx] 38 Weeks
Madonna – Ghosttown [2-2-1-1-1-1-2-4-5-6-7-5-3-6-5-7-9-10-10-12-14-13-15-19-23-24-27-29-30-31-33-36-38-xx] 33 Weeks
Lifehouse – Hurricane [1-1-2-2-3-4-5-8-8-10-11-11-14-15-16-16-13-13-17-18-19-22-23-25-26-28-28-28-29-32-36-38-xx] 32 Weeks
Natalie Imbruglia – Instant Crush [11-4-4-6-7-7-6-8-12-12-16-16-15-9-10-9-11-12-12-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-24-28-34-36-40-xx] 31 Weeks
High Dive Heart – Vintage [10-1-1-1-2-3-4-4-5-5-6-8-10-11-13-18-19-20-19-22-25-24-26-30-35-38-38-40-xx] 28 Weeks
Lifehouse – Firing Squad [1-1-1-1-1-2-3-3-3-4-5-7-6-6-8-8-9-11-13-16-19-21-23-26-28-31-35-38-] 28 Weeks *Still Charting*

Also, before we kick off...

 

The Regina Award for "Most Spectacular 180 of the Year" - Ben Haenow

http://i.imgur.com/3t5Jm8e.jpg

 

Ever since Dannii left X-factor I've only really dippe din every now and again and not really enjoyed it. Last year I caught a few episodes and alas, they happened to be some of this

guys weaker moments (I Will Always Love You and Jealous Guy) but I did also see some potential (I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing) but on the whole, I was not impressed. I voiced my

hatred, but tbh I hammed it up to annoy torresgirl, cause that's fun. Fast forward to him winning and I didn't like Something I Need much to begin with, but it grew on me like a rash and has become one of my fave winneer's singles, only beaten by That's My Goal by Shayne Ward.

Now I class myself as a Ben loon, yes really. Although I didn't like him, I thought he was hot, so I invested a listen to the album and found myself loving it, like, really loving it. With the right material, some top notch production and some catchy tunes he's come out as a really strong musician IMO, better than many other winners. Dare I say he is better than Matt? Well, no, but Ben Haenow is right up there with Letters for me in terms of quality. Second Hand Heart has grown to be a firm fave of mine and he continues to be rather dishy, just not on the album cover, much better promo shots of him about. All I need now is an Attitude/GT cover like Shayne and Matty. All in all, don't instantly dismiss someone, they could surprise you and I can see Ben ending up as my joint fave X-factor winner with my dear Mattypoo.

Looking forward to this Regina! Some fantastic number 1's this year; especially Feel The Light, Ghosttown and Second Hand Heart :heart:

God Ben Haenow looks hot in that Pic Regina *.* Such a good vocalist too :kink:

He is still pretty much the worst "singer" to ever have made the final in the X Factor to my ears, which is no mean feat. Truly insufferable voice, sounds like he needs a good cough more than anything.

Looking forward to this Regina! Some fantastic number 1's this year; especially Feel The Light, Ghosttown and Second Hand Heart :heart:

 

YASS Celine *.*

 

 

God Ben Haenow looks hot in that Pic Regina *.* Such a good vocalist too :kink:

 

Stay away from my man.

 

He is still pretty much the worst "singer" to ever have made the final in the X Factor to my ears, which is no mean feat. Truly insufferable voice, sounds like he needs a good cough more than anything.

He is a good singer, just because you don't like his voice doesn't mean he can't sing :smoke:

Albums

 

http://i.imgur.com/Xoms9N6.jpg

20 | Ryan Adams - 1989

Album of the Week? Yes (2 Weeks)

 

Top 5

 

1) Out Of The Woods

2) Wildest Dreams

3) Blank Space

4) I Wish You Would

5) This Love

 

http://i.imgur.com/tu0twbf.jpg

19 | Brandon Flowers - The Desired Effect

Album of the Week? Yes (1 Week)

 

Top 5

 

1) Can't Deny My Love

2) I Can Change

3) The Desired Effect

4) Dreams Come True

4) Between Me And You

 

 

First up is Ryan Adams' superior version of TayTay's 1989. Honestly, take away all that overdone pop production and there are some lovely songs on that album, which Ryan proved here with his take on it. He makes a large amount of the sons better than their originals, although not even he can save some of the crapper ones, looking at you Clean. His take on Out Of The Woods is stunning. It's a shame that some defensive Taylor stans refuse to give this a go and instead judged this before actually giving it a go, but what can you expect?

 

Brandon Flowers' last studio album Flamingo is up there as one of my all time faves. His second solo effort, The Desired Effect, falls short of this mark, quite a bit. All looked good with Can't Deny My Love but the following album is all a bit lackluster, that being said, the high points can easily match those of Flamingo, but there is no Crossfire pt.2, opening song Dreams Come True doesn't quite match up with the epic opener Welcome To Las Vegas and there's no stand out ballad like Playing With Fire. In time I think I can get to love this more, but it's taken longer than Flamingo did.

Edited December 6, 20159 yr by Regina

First up is Ryan Adams' superior version of TayTay's 1989

He makes a large amount of the sons better than their originals

some of the crapper ones, looking at you Clean.

No. :P

 

Though I do really like his version of the album, he did some really great covers :heart:

Brand and Ryan Adams two great albums there :heart:

Edited December 6, 20159 yr by MerryFlynnmas

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18 | Stereophonics - Keep The Village Alive

Album of the Week? Yes (1 Week)

 

Top 5

 

1) White Lies

2) Let Me In

3) Mr & Mrs Smith

4) I Wanna Get Lost With You

5) Into The World

 

http://i.imgur.com/Q8chhi3.jpg

17 | Shania Twain - Still The One: Live FromVegas

Album of the Week? Yes (2 Weeks)

 

Top 5

 

1) Man! I Feel Like A Woman!

2) I'm Gonna Getcha Good!

3) You're Still The One

4) Today Is Your Day

5) That Don't Impress Me Much

 

Graffiti On The Train was one of my fave albums of 2013 and, much like Brandon, the Phonics delivered a follow-up that does not quite match the peaks of the last album. Howver, this album is a much stronger album and worthy follower than The Desired Effect was. No real change in sound and not quite as big, even though it was a #1, there is no epic ballad like the title track from the last one, but it comes close with White Lies and Let Me In, the way the latter just explodes in the second half is truely amazing. On the whole a solid album but with less stand outs.

Shania left Vegas to embark on her final tour, so she says, and a new album is on the way soon. To tide us over she released her Vegas show on CD and DVD/Blue Ray and what a show. It had it all, cowboys, sweaty shirtless dancers, an actual horse, a flying motorbike and obviously Shania herself in all her legendary glory. A killer show and she sounds amazing right the way through. It covers her career wonderfully, although it does lack the wonderful Forever & For Always, which I can overlook I guess. One of the best live shows I've seen and heard tbh.

Ryan's voice is really boring, and I did give it a chance! </3

http://i.imgur.com/ajjBE3c.jpg

16 | Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Album of the Week? Yes (2 Weeks)

 

Top 5

 

1) Weak Fantasy

2) Endless Forms Most Beautiful

3) Elan

4) Shudder Before The Beautiful

5) Edema Ruh

 

http://i.imgur.com/lqsDG5S.jpg

15 | Jon McLaughlin - Like Us

Album of the Week? (3 Weeks)

 

Top 5

 

1) Let Go

2) Before You

3) I Want You Anyway

4) Walk Away

5) You & I

 

Nightwish are now on their third lead singer, Floor has something that manages to combine Tarja and Anette and TBH is the best of the 3. The first proper album with their new singer is easily one of the bands best too. The songs are not totally different from typical NW stuff, but it is taylored to Floor's amazing voice. The alternate versions of some of the songs released as singles are even better and this is an album I go back to often, but just not as often as some of the other albums in this list.

Jon McLaughlin's last album was in my top 2 of 2013, but tbh, it was a slower year. His new one only came out a few weeks ago and so had less time for me to get used to it. A slight dip in quality, but Holding My Breath is almost perfect. Like Us is more similar in sound to his second album OK Now, which was a fab album. Some great songs here, all brilliantly produced, I just wish it was a bit longer.

http://i.imgur.com/hyl3fUU.jpg

14 | Natalie Imbruglia - Male

Album of the Week? Yes (3 Weeks)

 

Top 5:

 

1) Instant Crush

2) Cannonball

3) Friday, I'm In Love

4) I Will Follow You Into The Dark

5) The Summer

 

http://i.imgur.com/hb0R9Vq.jpg

13 | Josh Groban - Stages

Album of the Week? Yes (2 Weeks)

 

Top 5

 

1) All I Ask Of You (feat. Kelly Clarkson)

2) What I Did For Love

3) Empty Chairs At Empty Tables

4) Pure Imagination

5) Gold Can Turn To Sand

 

Two albums based off cover versions, lovely.

Natalie Imbruglia released her first album in 6 years, one that follows in the same footsteps as Anastacia's It's A Man's World and is made up of covers of songs by male artists. Unlike Ana's, most of these songs were mainly unknown to me, with a few exceptions, so in some ways it was like a whole new album. Some of the songs are gorgeous, but there aren't enough uptempos on it for me, that being said, her voice sounds better than ever. Hopefully she hurries up with new original material.

Josh Groban is famous for having a stunning voice and gorgeous hair. His newest album, a UK #1, features famous songs from musicals and movies. Most of these songs have been covered time and time again but Josh mamages to make them his own. Not a genre I am totally wowed with, but this album made me a bigger fan, maybe one or two songs from more modern productions woulda been nice, but nothing majorly wrong with this album.

Edited December 13, 20159 yr by Regina

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

12 | Shayne Ward - Closer

Album of the Week? Yes (1 Week)

 

Top 5

 

1) The Way You Were

2) My Heart Would Take You Back

3) I Never Said

4) Fake

5) I Let You Get Away

 

http://i.imgur.com/klIQ5zh.jpg

11 | Kelly Clarkson - Piece By Piece

Album of the Week? No

 

Top 5

 

1) Run Run Run (feat. John Legend)

2) Take You HIguhuhioiuiuioooooghhhh

3) Piece By Piece

4) Dance With Me

5) Someone

 

Two albums that also have a connection, dire album art.

Shayne Ward is stupidly handsome with a killer bod, but he looks like he is advertising jumpers in a Christmas magazine on the cover of Closer. The album itself is a step back from Obsession and Breathless, more in line with his debut, full of ballads and a bit MOR on the whole, but still enjoyable. He spends less time doing that annoying falsetto thing he has a habit of doing and uses parts of his voice that he didn't often use, which I liked. His days of success are long over, but he is still a damn fine musician.

Kelly Clarkson returned to music after having her little baba, and alas, she also slipped backwards with the quality. A mismatch of different sounds and songs that sound like demos for other artists. That being said, when it's good, this album is GOOD. Some killer ballads and some really powerful songs make this a decent album that grown on you with continued listens.

Natalie and especially Kelly's albums :heart: Though the cover art is horrific!

Kelly's album was good although ha album last era was Outstanding :heart:

 

Shayne Ward *.* Corries fittest man

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

10 | Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill (Collector's Edition)

Album of the Week? Yes (1 Week)/ Album Chart peak: #4

 

Top 5:

 

1) No Avalon

2) You Oughta Know

3) Ironic

4) Death Of Cinderella

5) These Are The Thoughts

 

It's been 20 years since this album first came out and slayed the charts, selling over 30 million copies. It has been re-released once before as an acoustic version and now it gets the treatment once again. Coming with the original album is the acoustic disc, a never before heard concert and even more amazingly, a disc of unreleased demos. Most of these have been heard before either in studio or live versions but they are now in super quality and a few unheard songs too. All of them are amazing and some feature Alanis at her most delicate and beautiful, a side not seen on the original album.

http://i.imgur.com/1ejHf1K.jpg

09 | Carrie Underwood - Storyteller

Album of the Week? Yes (1 Week)/ Album Chart peak: #5

 

Top 5:

 

1) Chaser

2) Little Girl Don't Grow Up Too Fast

3) Renegade Runaway

4) Dirty Laundry

5) Clock Don't Stop

 

Carrie Underwood is the new queen of country tbh, third greatest country female after Shania and Faith tbh. End.

As with many of her fellow country gals, she experimented with a more pop sound on her last album, not to great success I feel, but has now returned to a mainly country sound,

unlike a fellow blonde country gal who has abandoned her roots and become just another facless pop bimbo. Anyway, a strong album full of rockin' country stompers and some delightfully lovely ballads, it's classic Carrie with a nice little bit of development. Gorgeous artwork too.

Carrie and Alanis *.*

http://i.imgur.com/1zSc4EK.jpg

08 | Kylie Minogue - Kylie Christmas

Album Chart Peak: #2

 

Top 5:

 

1) Everyday's Like Christmas

2) 2,000 Miles

3) It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

4) Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

5) Oh Santa

 

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

07 | The Corrs - White Light

Album Chart Peak: #3

 

Top 5

 

1) Kiss Of Life

2) Harmony

3) Gerry's Reel

4) Bring On The Night

5) Unconditional

 

Two very new, very lovely albums.

Kylie released her first proper Christmas album this year and it's pretty damn good. Aside from one or two very obvious duds, the song choices were pretty fitting. Some new ones, some classics and a few not so well known ones. She sounds great on almost all the tracks and the new tracks could easily become classics in years to come. Adding in Santa Baby and Let It Snow was an odd move but I guess it makes sense. Not a huge success chartwise, but who cares, it's nice to have her doing something like this. Also, my copy came wrapped in Kylie wrapping paper, which is too adorable.

The Corrs were huge in the 90's and early 00's, everyone loves Breathless and Runaway, if they don't then they are dead inside. After many many years on hiatus they returned with a new album that is work of genius. Classic Corrs sound with a modern twist, but just enough to not make them seem desperate to keep up with the trends. The vocals are on point, the production is fabulous and the lyrics are gorgeous. Can easily rise in my estimations with continued listens.