randomfurlong

48 | 'Lost and Found' | Ellie Goulding | QxfJfZTEj_g Trust Max Martin to rescue Ellie’s bloated third album from the brink of uselessness; if we can’t get much by way of personality (and, in truth, this would still be superior with a singer who could actually be bothered to make the chorus come alive with the richness of pleasure it deserves), we at least get this joyous anthem that bounces along on a jolly little guitar baseline. The release of the chorus is bulletproof in how it allows Ellie to trill the end of her lines, becoming more another instrument than a slightly reedy vocalist. Like Martin’s best pop songs, it jangles with the delight of having discovered a really, really good beat, and thankfully doesn’t overload itself with synth except to pressurise for the explosion of the final chorus, a chorus of Ellie’s all crying out together. Like this? Try... , Jess Glynne - for more euphoric pop from a boring popstar.

oops, spoilers! better hide that... glad you liked what you saw though! I've always thought we had pretty similar taste :D

49 | 'Hourglass' | Disclosure feat. Lion Babe m2z8Caoww44 Perhaps you need to see this live, with the ambisexual sight of Lion Babe’s Jillian Hervy gyrating in a sparkling leotard, her arms swinging to the post-chorus cacophony of noise, for you to love this as much as I do. I had the honour at the iTunes Festival, and hell, it really makes the title lyric sing: all eyes were indeed on that hourglass shape. Disclosure’s sophomore album didn’t hit as big as their first, but they’re still effortless purveyors of great dance music, their bouncing, echoing synth beats connecting to the soles of any feet within earshot, and Hourglass is them in peak form meeting a beautiful vocalist on the rise; the bridge, almost whispers, is the sensual foreplay to the frenzy of the chorus and the euphoric instrumental that follows. Like this? Try... , Janelle Monáe feat. Jidenna - for more utterly groovy swagger.

50 | 'Bitch Better Have My Money' | Rihanna | B3eAMGXFw1o “Don’t act like you forgot / I call the shot shot shots,” trills Rihanna several times in her whirring, jittering comeback statement, the heralding of a return that immediately ceased action afterward. But *don’t* act like you forgot: Rihanna will do as she pleases. And so it is across this arrogantly casual trap-hop confection, her vocals spitting out her words in a wild variety of cadences, from the disdainful demand of the chorus to the pile up of words in the second verse. As ever, her chords sound strained sometimes, but this isn’t Rihanna reaching for the unachievable, it’s Rihanna not giving a f*** that she can’t reach it, because she has the money, and she’s gonna get more whether you willingly give it up or not. That is to say: Rihanna is a precarious place in her musical career, but this statement of intent still rang loudly across the year. Like this? Try... 'Bettie', Violet Chachki - for more uncompromising female attitude and aggression in music and video form.

http://s13.postimg.org/yj69bpskn/top50.png Hi. I know I haven't been around these parts that much this year - all in aid of preserving the mystery for this year's countdown. (Not really.) Hopefully this thread can redress the balance ahead of a measured return to regular posting next year. Anyway, in this thread I will present a countdown of my top 50 songs from the year that has been 2015 - and each will be accompanied by a recommended listen, though these extra 50 are not to be taken as the rest of a top 100. They'd be in contention, sure, but I only nailed down a top 50 this year because I can only write so much, damn it! Anyway. First few coming up shortly, so stay tuned folks.

Did so badly. Wahhh. Also Ramrynia are my (joint) most-pointed? REALLY? I've changed. Or Ryan has. Or both.

YAY for Mura Masa, it was my only hope but delighted to see it get through despite the deduction! (simply no time atm, alas, but hopefully next round I can manage to vote)

quite happy with that, highest flag using the traditional cross design is quite a good distinction! and there's only a couple I'd quibble with being ranked higher than me (not telling). N DNTN a worthy champion!

Congrats Jake! 'Ghost' just missed out on points from me so I was a fan. DELIGHTED to see Terra and Cumulonimbia perform so well, glad I wasn't alone on those! And WOW, given how close I came to DNQing, we can call this an unqualified success! Reversing my usual trend of semi success = final failure, so bizarre. Thanks to all who voted for me in the final - especially to Singerpurear's top points in both rounds, literally wouldn't be here without you :D

003 - 006 are all WONDERFUL, especially glad to see Greenfroze and my 18 Cumulonimbia up there! me not quite living up to the hype, oop. still gonna be by far my best result of the year anyhow. late points spurt to get me a new PB points total?

This is really bad. The landscape animation is undeniably impressive but it's so photo-realistic it almost becomes redundant - what's the point in animation if it just looks the same as reality? The narrative is so pedestrian and unimaginative, and the concept itself provided so many avenues for an intriguing story so to see it go down the tired 'journey' route - as already discussed in the thread - is so disappointing. LOVED Sanjay's Super Team however - some gorgeous animation (the wide-eyed character design not withstanding) and great to see such a clearly personal project getting this platform. Could easily have been a full feature and OH, how I wish it had been. (I hated Lava and loved Inside Out, so apparently I'm only allowed to like either the short or the feature. :lol: )

Same. I was gonna post and chastise people for voting for Mama, but after Goodbye this is REALLY impossible. Things are gonna get vicious in here...

:lol: :o never gonna happen. but I am very glad to be in the hunt again!

SORRY :( (I much preferred Lovesick f*** but my taste has been all over the place lately)

omfg YASSSSS

Is there a deadline on this, and if we post them now, are we allowed to edit them before that deadline? This is a very tricky thing~ And reactions to Joy, Hateful 8 and Revenant are still pending which will hugely affect things rly.

Not in the UK, alas. I pressed the button to add it to the playlist so it might appear to those outside now, but I'm not sure. I had yours, oops - I must've copied the wrong one, Fljótavík ☹ Lao Ra - Jesus Made Me Bad is the absent song.

BJSC LXXX extra kisses Powers ~ Hot

helloooooo Spotify playlists for those inclined: Semi 1 | Semi 2 as usual, some songs are absent: SEMI I Utopia ☹ Ravyn Lanae ∞ Free Room Avalonia ☹ SVĒ ∞ BLKNBL Oslol ☹ Tamta ∞ Unloved Tartford ☹ Cigarettes After Sex ∞ Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby Skall ☹ Stephen Lopkin ∞ Farewell G41 Republic Of Adonia ☹ Lim Kim ∞ Awoo Mulgracia ☹ Rosette ∞ Sweetest Mistake Vülkyria ☹ Nhyx ∞ Machines Triangledonia ☹ LarsM ∞ Shivers Yehesi ☹ DJ Chuckie ∞ MSN Remix SEMI II Séyetana ☹ Eir Aoi - Ignite Florina ☹ Berhana - Janet Terra Avium ☹ Owsey, Jernalism & Resotone - I've Been Secretly Falling Apart Ajanaeda ☹ KLOË - Grip Fljótavík ☹ Lao Ra - Jesus Made Me Bad do ofc let me know if any of these ARE available and I've missed them. hopeful for Powers! would be nice to go out on a hit. don't know many of the songs at all - surprised Krista was allowed but it is a very good pop song. thought that was a new KLOË song, but seems like it's actually older!

now it's had a few days to get under my skin, this is stunning - one of her best yet! the video is gorgeous too

'World Princess part II' is the track that had me reeling on first listen, but the whole thing is SO good :wub:

YAY She's a nightly feature on my 'Night Music' playlist so I've been wondering when she was coming back. Gorgeous Instavid, music sounds promising!

congrats leww tho! it's like that Aquafina thing was all a weird dream

disgraced :(