Quite a lot of great albums, especially Blood, My Love Is Cool and Froot :wub:

Bought Blood in HMV a few months ago and was a fantastic listen with What You Don't Do being my favourite.

My Love Is Cool is one of the best debut albums of the past few years and despite not loving Marina too much before, Froot was an incredible album :wub:

 

09 Charli XCX "Sucker"

 

Key Tracks: Breaking Up, Boom Clap, Doing It, Famous, Need Ur Luv

 

Charli took on a more accessible pop sound for 3rd album "Sucker", with the kinda carefree vibe making this an enjoyable listen! From the riotous, upbeat energy of Break The Rules, Breaking Up and Famous to pure pop killers like Boom Clap & Doing It. And there's also the infectious "Need Ur Luv", which i'm pretty sure is BØRNS' "Electric Love" in disguise (or vice versa...?)

 

 

08 Django Django "Born Under Saturn"

 

Key Tracks: Giant, Shake And Tremble, First Light, Beginning To Fade

 

At #8 we have Django Django, who scored the double on my 2012 EOY- #1 album plus #1 single with the still-excellent "Default". "Born Under Saturn" may not have a moment as life-changing as that but they still provided a very consistent psych-pop record, i'm still loving their Beach Boys-like harmonies, and this album was probably one of my summer soundtracks (but there's more of those to come later on~)

 

 

07 Clarence Clarity "NO NOW"

 

Key Tracks: Will To Believe, Buck-Toothed Particle Smashers, Those Who Can't Cheat, Bloodbarf, Meadow Hopping Traffic Stopping Death Splash

 

When this "Clarence Clarity" project caught my attention in 2013 it all seemed very cryptical (in my eyes, no bad thing at all). This year we finally got "NO NOW", an hour-long plus concoction of tracks that take influence from 2000s R&B and Pop, melded with glitchy electronics and a unique vocal (has HINTS of How To Dress Well I suppose?). There are a number of immensely catchy tracks on here but also many a bizarre twist and turn to keep you on your feet. Definitely not for everyone, but if it sounds like your thing then why not take a bite ~

 

 

06 SOPHIE "PRODUCT"

 

Key Tracks: BIPP, LEMONADE, HARD, VYZEE, JUST LIKE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE

 

Well okay, this is more a compilation than a proper album but that doesn't make it any less an essential collection of tunes. Mr Samuel Long caught the ears of many with some sugar-sweet bubblegum bass tracks "BIPP" and "LEMONADE" (the latter even got picked up for a McDonalds ad !!). Newer track "VYZEE" follows a very similar path, and these three are definite highlights. But we also have steel hard bangers in the shape of the aptly-named "HARD" and the trap-leaning "MSMSMSM", not to mention a soaring pop ballad "JUST LIKE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE", and also the track "L.O.V.E." which.....sure is something... :unsure:

 

omg I knew Electric Love reminded me of something!!! :lol: Yay for SUCKER, it's a top notch pop album, had the pleasure of seeing Charli live twice this year too (once for free *_*), she's excellent :wub:

omg I knew Electric Love reminded me of something!!! :lol: Yay for SUCKER, it's a top notch pop album, had the pleasure of seeing Charli live twice this year too (once for free *_*), she's excellent :wub:

Glad to hear those live shows are great, I do need to get out and catch more artists live whenever the chance arises ~

 

-x-

 

#5 -> #1 coming tomorrow :D

 

~ Carly Rae Jepsen

~ Everything Everything

~ Grimes

~ Sufjan Stevens

~ Thee Oh Sees

 

predict away if you wish :3

05 Everything Everything

04 Carly Rae Jepsen

03 Thee Oh Sees

02 Grimes

01 Sufjan Stevens

Hi Seven

 

Need Ur Luve is very very infectious, not a clue why she didn't push it as a single. The whole album is fantastic though, just fun pop throughout :D

 

Good picks on Every Open Eye there too, would love for Clearest Blue to be the next single for me but the album is full of gems.

 

05 Sufjan Stevens "Carrie & Lowell"

 

Key Tracks: Death With Dignity, Should Have Known Better, All Of Me Wants All Of You, Drawn To The Blood, Fourth Of July

 

Kicking off the Top 5 is Sufjan's very personal latest record "Carrie & Lowell". A lot of the record focuses on the passing away of his mother (Carrie), and the somewhat lacklustre and distant relationship he had with her. Musically there's a very beautiful and intimate atmosphere, driven by some light acoustic guitar strums and a very gentle vocal delivery that just melts in your ears :wub:

 

 

04 Thee Oh Sees "Mutilator Defeated At Last"

 

Key Tracks: Web, Withered Hand, Turned Out Light, Sticky Hulks

 

(if you wondered where the "SevenSees" username came from, here it is x) I did go into this without a ton of experience of past Oh Sees records, of which there are plenty as they've been tossing out new albums every year since about 2008 :o in that case I look forward to the next album from Thee Oh Sees in 2016 as I was very impressed with this! I do have memories of early summer where I was giving this album various listens, allowing it to slowly grab me in. You've got a number of loud, energetic tracks like "Web", "Turned Out Light" etc. with the album taking a softer turn during the second half. If you're into your rock/garage rock, and you want some NOISY and IMPACTFUL rock/garage rock in your life, give a listen to the entire album down below:

 

 

03 Carly Rae Jepsen "E•MO•TION"

 

Key Tracks: Run Away With Me, E•MO•TION, All That, Boy Problems, Let's Get Lost

 

Carly seemed to pull off the out-of-nowhere gem of the year, delivering a series of rather mature and consistently strong pop tracks. So many things to like from here; the 80s influences on euphoric synthpop tracks Run Away With Me and When I Needed You, and also the Dev Hynes-produced slow jam All That. The disco groove of Boy Problems, and a number of more straightforward yet very infectious tracks.

 

 

 

02 Grimes "Art Angels"

 

Key Tracks: California, Flesh Without Blood, Kill V Maim, Artangels, REALiTi, Venus Fly, Butterfly

 

Finally that new Grimes album landed in November (Visions' long anticipated follow-up that was scrapped somewhere down the line), and booooy was it worth the wait *.* here she creates numerous pop tracks that manage to be quirky and standout without skimping on great melodies. For instance the bright and bouncy California with its 'Pon de Replay' sample, the relentless energy of Kill V. Maim and Venus Fly, that immensely catchy instrumental refrain on Artangels. Much like the Carly Rae album, an ESSENTIAL listen for any pop fan out there

 

 

 

01 Everything Everything "Get To Heaven"

 

Key Tracks: To The Blade, Distant Past, Get To Heaven, Regret, Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread, Blast Doors, No Reptiles..... basically everything

 

Gaaahhhhh HOW GREAT IS THIS. Of course i'd already been won over by Everything Everything but this is just something else. Indie Rock music with very immediate pop sensibilities, and not to mention that trademark falsetto which i still adore <3 the album kicks off on a dramatic note with To The Blade, love how the chorus just storms in after the quiet start, in the cold arena where you're-TRAAAAAAAPEEDDDDD!!!!! Aside from all the (amazing) singles on here, you've also got the title track with a hugely uplifting chorus, the sombre but pulsing Fortune 500, the in-your-face Blast Doors with its almost rapped/spoken word verses, the brilliant instrumental on Zero Pharaoh i mean honestly I could go on all day.

 

just get this album. now.

 

Interesting album chart there! Great to see Charli XCX this high up was a very solid pop album.

 

SOPHIE has garnered my interest recently too, I'm adoring Just Like We Never, very zany sound but that's fine by me!

CARLY :heart: I am so glad you appreciated it as much as you did. It's an incredible album full of so many gems <3 Hope she doesn't wait too long before releasing the follow-up :(

 

I like a fair few from the album chart away from her and will need to check out Oh Wonder's album i think ~

That Top 3 - Really good I love EE the most Brilliant Album :heart:

Well, all of your top 3 albums are albums I'm... vaguely interested in, just a shame I haven't listened to them to offer any critiques, I never actually remember you're a fan of the likes of Carly or Charli actually.

 

Highest album I own is actually Every Open Eye (which is too low, naturally). More synergy in the singles chart I hope.

Well, all of your top 3 albums are albums I'm... vaguely interested in, just a shame I haven't listened to them to offer any critiques, I never actually remember you're a fan of the likes of Carly or Charli actually.

 

Highest album I own is actually Every Open Eye (which is too low, naturally). More synergy in the singles chart I hope.

Omg you've got to hear those 3 albums iz, you're missing out in a BIG way :o (I would even recommend hearing a bit of Thee Oh Sees' album since I know you like a bit of rock music, mind I couldn't guarantee you'd like it but you never know)

 

Those top 3 albums are absolutely incredible :heart:

Really like the Everything Everything album and they were fantastic live, Distant Past + Regret are my favourites from the album :heart:

The Grimes album is also fantastic and need to buy it at some point!

E.MO.TION is easily one of the best pop albums this year and nearly every track is a masterpiece :heart: