December 22, 20159 yr Author 10 Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit & Think, Sometimes I Just Sit UK peak: #16 My peak: #1 (3wks) Highlights: 01 Pedestrian At Best 02 Depreston 03 Dead Fox 04 Elevator Operator 05 Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party Kicking off the top 10 is easily the most alternative album on this whole countdown, from Aussie newcomer Courtney Barnett. This album’s real strength is Courtney’s incredibly witty songwriting, which tells stories which range from incredibly relatable to bizarre to relatable and right through to saddening. Another real talent from Courtney is her knack for adjusting her delivery perfectly to match the songs, with her deadpan delivery often bringing unique magic. There’s nobody quite like her in music today, and I very much doubt there’ll be anybody like her anytime soon! 09 Kelly Clarkson – Piece By Piece UK peak: #6 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Piece By Piece 02 Run Run Run (ft. John Legend) 03 Invincible 04 Heartbeat Song 05 Take Me High The woman behind my favourite album of all time finally returned after 4 years (and a Christmas album in between) with this, her fourth album. Whilst it isn’t as good as her previous ones, not much is, so we’ll focus on what IS good here. More than ever, Kelly strikes a balance between different sounds, even going dance-pop with a breakdown on Take Me High, whilst still remaining true to her powerful and emotional roots, especially on the incredibly personal title track. The variance makes it a bit of a mish-mash, but there isn’t much filler and Kelly’s voice is as great as ever, which always makes for a strong album.
December 22, 20159 yr Madonna too low! Really happy to see Halsey, Florence, Justin and ESPECIALLY Janet here :wub: Agree with Regina that 'Shoulda Known Better' is a highlight and in my top few tracks but the ones you chose are fabulous anyway. It's such a strong record, her at her best! Love your comment for the album <3
December 23, 20159 yr Courtney Barnett :heart: :heart: :heart: Kelly's album is good too but Courtneys is stronger :heart:
December 23, 20159 yr Shocked Kelly is so low actually :o YASSSS at Years & Years, Meghan and especially Justin :wub: Tori's album was pretty solid also, her voice is insane. She must be due a breakthrough soon :(
December 25, 20159 yr Author 08 Adele – 25 UK peak: #1 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Hello 02 When We Were Young 03 Sweetest Devotion 04 Send My Love (To Your New Lover) 05 Water Under The Bridge Undeniably the biggest album of 2015 in just one month – Adele is unstoppable! This was highly anticipated after 21 slayed all records, and she didn’t disappoint when Hello decimated the charts and internet back in October *.* As if that wasn't enough, 25 became the fastest selling album with 3.4 million and 800k in the US and UK respectively in its first week! As usual with Adele, you can’t say this is anything ground breaking, it’s usual heartbreak and love Adele fare, although she does draft in Max Martin for some breezy Taylor Swift esque pop on Send My Love (To Your New Lover). But Adele doesn’t need to set trends or innovate, her magic is that her voice speaks volumes and she doesn't need anything else! I’d have liked the album to have the versatility I expected from the info we had beforehand, but what we got was just fine!
December 26, 20159 yr 'Water Under The Bridge' is probably my favourite on '25' so good to see it as a highlight. Agree with your commentary on it too, would have liked some diversity, but you can't really complain when it all sounds as good as it does!
December 26, 20159 yr Author 07 Fleur East – Love, Sax & Flashbacks UK peak: #14 My peak: #1 (1wk) Highlights: 01 Sax 02 Baby Don’t Dance 03 Tears Will Dry 04 Breakfast 05 Kitchen The rightful winner of X Factor 2014 redefined what a contestant could/should be. A confident, sassy, triple threat, Fleur can be likened to 2015’s Janet Jackson, showing (along with Little Mix in 2011, for example) that isn’t just “hot” bland white men or safe female balladeers who can succeed on X Factor. Her debut Sax is the epitome of perfect pop, and has become a huge hit, and the album triumphs in much the same way. Blending funk, hip-hop, R&B and pop, Fleur is effortlessly commercial and sassy, and is possibly the most easily ready popstar the X Factor has ever produced.
December 26, 20159 yr 08 Adele – 25 UK peak: #1 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Hello 02 When We Were Young 03 Sweetest Devotion 04 Send My Love (To Your New Lover) 05 Water Under The Bridge Undeniably the biggest album of 2015 in just one month – Adele is unstoppable! This was highly anticipated after 21 slayed all records, and she didn’t disappoint when Hello decimated the charts and internet back in October *.* As if that wasn't enough, 25 became the fastest selling album with 3.4 million and 800k in the US and UK respectively in its first week! As usual with Adele, you can’t say this is anything ground breaking, it’s usual heartbreak and love Adele fare, although she does draft in Max Martin for some breezy Taylor Swift esque pop on Send My Love (To Your New Lover). But Adele doesn’t need to set trends or innovate, her magic is that her voice speaks volumes and she doesn't need anything else! I’d have liked the album to have the versatility I expected from the info we had beforehand, but what we got was just fine! Where's the River Lea love at?
December 26, 20159 yr Author 06 Marina & The Diamonds – Froot UK peak: #10 My peak: #1 Highlights: 01 Blue 02 Happy 03 I’m A Ruin 04 Savages 05 Froot Just missing out on the top 5 is Marina, who I recently saw in concert *.* It was an incredible experience, and most definitely propelled it up a few places in my affections with repeated listens throughout November and December. In a move back more towards The Family Jewel’s sound, Froot is as eccentric, heartbreaking and clever as Marina always is. Lyrically, Marina is always on point, and if the intriguing production doesn’t carry a track then the lyrics do (case in point – Happy, the most heartbreaking song on the album).
December 26, 20159 yr Author 05 Melanie Martinez – Cry Baby VdwaWp59qz8 UK peak: #32 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Pity Party 02 Soap 03 Sippy Cup 04 Dollhouse 05 Training Wheels Kicking off the top 5 is the highest debut album of this countdown! Melanie was a contestant on The Voice in 2012, and wowed with her quirky vocals and unique interpretations, as well as her style. Fast forward 3 years and Melanie has emerged as one of the most intriguing, unique and exciting popstars of 2015. Her aesthetic is as one of a kind as her unique tone, and her angsty lyrics are sadly all too relatable for anyone who’s been an insecure teenager. In short, Cry Baby is the depressingly relatable album you didn’t even know you needed.
December 26, 20159 yr 05 Melanie Martinez – Cry Baby VdwaWp59qz8 UK peak: #32 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Pity Party 02 Soap 03 Sippy Cup 04 Dollhouse 05 Training Wheels Kicking off the top 5 is the highest debut album of this countdown! Melanie was a contestant on The Voice in 2012, and wowed with her quirky vocals and unique interpretations, as well as her style. Fast forward 3 years and Melanie has emerged as one of the most intriguing, unique and exciting popstars of 2015. Her aesthetic is as one of a kind as her unique tone, and her angsty lyrics are sadly all too relatable for anyone who’s been an insecure teenager. In short, Cry Baby is the depressingly relatable album you didn’t even know you needed. Really should listen to this album Pity Party, Soap, Sippy Cup :heart:
December 27, 20159 yr Author 04 Carrie Underwood – Storyteller UK peak: #13 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Dirty Laundry 02 Heartbeat 03 Smoke Break 04 Chaser 05 Relapse Carrie is always a highlight of the year, and this is no exception. Just as the title says, Carrie weaves many tales on this album; it’s very driven by characters. Some huge choruses make many of these songs very anthemic, and radio friendly. While this album lacks the huge highlights of most of Carrie’s other albums, it is incredibly consistent which is par for the course with Carrie. Her vocals run rings around many singers today, and lift up every song on this album. The massive Dirty Laundry is a must listen, arguably the song with the most crossover appeal on the album along with Chaser.
December 27, 20159 yr Author 03 Little Mix – Get Weird UK peak: #2 My peak: #1 (2wks) Highlights: 01 Black Magic 02 Secret Love Song/Secret Love Song Pt II 03 Love Me Like You 04 Hair 05 Love Me Or Leave Me The top 3 is kicked off by the only girlband in this countdown, which is symbolic as Little Mix are pretty much the only worthy active girlband :kink: This was a new level for the already incredible girlband, as they’ve perfectly mixed pop and R&B, ballads and uptempo, with incredible vocals (particularly ALL of Secret Love Song Pt II and Leigh-Anne in Love Me Or Leave Me). The pop perfecton that is Black Magic is of course a particular triumph and a rightful huge hit, but there’s also sass aplenty on Hair, plenty of emotion in Secret Love Song Pt II, and classic pop harmonies on Love Me Like You. Get Weird is a perfect example of a versatile but cohesive album, which is a combination that makes for a real winner.
December 28, 20159 yr Storyteller is a fantastic album and Get Weird is easily one of the best of the year, practically every song is perfect and fantastic :heart: Got both albums for Christmas and adore them both :heart:
December 28, 20159 yr Storyteller is really good for example Dirty Laundry and Heartbeat are highlights :heart: Get Weird is indeed a pop masterpiece :heart: Love all the songs you mentioned :heart:
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