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Jemal · 18-12-2013, 09:45 AM

Union J > your life

Shaun · 18-12-2013, 11:56 AM

If I'm honest, there haven't been many albums this year that have stood out in record stores or made me stroke my iPod with small fits of affection - out of their sheer appearance, at least. Here, I compile ten that're at least "quite pretty" and OH BOY ARE THEY.

#10 - "Nothing Was the Same" - Drake
I didn't go much on the album itself, with the exception of a few singles, but the way in which this double-whammy was parodied on t'internet was mildly amusing:

Spoiler:

#9 - "Old" - Danny Brown
Is it a dig at Macklemore's Heist record? Is it a Napoleon reference? Either way, it's pretty bold ha ha ha ha hahaha hahaha ha.

#8 - "Paracosm" - Washed Out
It's a matter of time before this pattern is on a T-shirt I buy, I suppose.

#7 - "Long.Live.A$AP" - A$AP Rocky
Don't really consider myself a fan of him after how drawn out his breakthrough was and how 'meh' this album left me, but at least it stands out visually.

#6 - "Obsidian" - Baths
If I'm honest, then yes it does look like the front of an informational leaflet on fire prevention. But it's a pretty eye-grabbing representation of the gemstone's ominous colour.

#5 - "Big TV" - White Lies
I have resigned myself to them never making another good album again following 2009's To Lose My Life... but hey. Nice brushstrokes. (Terrible album name though).

#4 - "The Electric Lady (Deluxe Edition)" - Janelle Monae
The standard edition was just a bit of the leftovers of the Q.U.E.E.N. video, really, but this carried on that stand-out image from 2010 in all its androidy, Egyptian goodness.

#3 - "New" - Paul McCartney
All the best album covers have neon lights in the form of a connect-the-dots.

#2 - "Static" - Cults
.GIF Artworks are the future, surely.

#1 - "Acid Rap" - Chance the Rapper
Whether it's the lovely purple sunset, the odd constellations or the stained vest, I'm not sure, but this one stood out miles above the other 9 this year.

The moral of the story? Stick to black or blue.

Jemal · 18-12-2013, 01:10 PM

ASAP rocky SLAYING.
He should be #1
Pls confirm?

Gstar · 18-12-2013, 03:06 PM

Janelle

Jords · 18-12-2013, 03:38 PM

A$AP Rocky's

Z · 18-12-2013, 08:04 PM

Some nice album covers there

Samuel. · 18-12-2013, 09:01 PM

Not the last time we'll be seeing Chance I presume

Shaun · 21-12-2013, 02:20 AM

I'm going to post these ten at a time, with YouTube videos of each song (fingers crossed they're all on there...) in spoilers, so as to save space for y'all. Here's hoping there's something featured you either already like, or will do soon

Spoiler:

#100 - "Sonnentanz" - Klangkarussell
A bit of a surprise hit around September, this German sundance isn't exactly the liveliest thing imaginable but it sure is gorgeous. I prefer this version to the vocal one that charted.

Spoiler:

#99 - "I Appear Missing" - Queens of the Stone Age
I found it difficult to pick a song from the album to feature on this list, but this one just about stands out as the most dramatic.

Spoiler:

#98 - "Flatline" - Mutya Keisha Siobhan
It was a little unfortunate releasing this in the wake of HAIM, I guess. Not Dev Hynes' finest contribution to pop, not even in the past 12 months, but still largely more enjoyable than anything by the Sugababes since 2007.

Spoiler:

#97 - "Move" - Little Mix
Yeah, I'm trying to make this first ten quite poppy in the hopes of getting your interests to follow this whole thing through

I've said many times that the build-up to the chorus is a touch disappointing, but the whole feel of the song is an awesome new direction for the girls. Very 90s, very fun.

Spoiler:

#96 - "Bipp" - Sophie
This whole project confuses me, if I'm honest. I've seen a handful of similar artworks with brightly-coloured random objects and I've no idea who the artist is/are. This track is intriguing, though, and could be one to watch out for.

Spoiler:

#95 - "Queenie Eye" - Paul McCartney
Mostly talked about for its music video (starring just about everyone, including Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Sean Penn, Kate Moss, James Corden, Gary Barlow, Jeremy Irons, Tom Ford, Lily Cole and Chris Pine), it's a pretty solid and enjoyable tune

Spoiler:

#94 - "Only Tomorrow" - My Bloody Valentine
At the start of the year of the surprise release, 2013 gave us a brand new MBV album. Now, I have to admit, I'd never bothered to listen to the band before, but this was lovely enough to make me delve back.

Spoiler:

#93 - "Falling" - HAIM
Not entirely sure why their other hits were hailed as their breakthroughs; this is by far their best. Listen to that bassline FOR GOODNESS' SAKE.

Spoiler:

#92 - "Double Bubble Trouble" - M.I.A.
Most rewarding drop of the year.

Spoiler:

#91 - "Girl Like Me" - Slava
Well I suppose with Game of Thrones going from strength to strength, a music video depicting brother-sisterly incest was inevitable. Very dark, quite bewitching too - and that's just the song.

Ammi · 21-12-2013, 04:57 AM

..oh I forgot that you were going to do these...My Bloody Valentine, HAIM..

...

Shaun · 21-12-2013, 12:41 PM

Spoiler:

#90 - "Alien Days" - MGMT
The only cut from their third album that wasn't appallingly bad happened to be rather lovely indeed. This is their potential. Youth Lagoon's entire discography is their potential. Instead they pissed on songsheets.

Spoiler:

#89 - "Ways to Go" - Grouplove
Because every list of songs needs a music video following the life of Kim Jong-Un, set to deliriously happy indiepop.

Spoiler:

#88 - "She Will" - Savages
I dread to think how many bands have been dubbed "the female Joy Division" but I can't really find a term that describes their stage presence and songwriting. This is my favourite from the record.

Spoiler:

#87 - "3AM Spiritual" - Smith Westerns
I kinda just want the spring of 2015 to come around so I can fall in love all over again with their soppy old nonsense. That sounded like a compliment in my head. Just really sweet, melodic glam-rock brought up to date.

Spoiler:

#86 - "Clay" - Goldfrapp
THIS IS ****ING LOVELY.

Spoiler:

#85 - "Bourgeois" - Phoenix
Right from the intro, I'm hooked. I blame the Drive soundtrack. It's going to be five years before REAL HUMAN BEING AND A REAL HERO is washed from my system. Stunningly pretty.

Spoiler:

#84 - "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" - Arcade Fire
The sound of the Smiths lamenting the loss of a Greek mythical heroine? Without Morrissey's voice? Yes please. (Sorry, Morrissey, I love you really but change is nice).

Spoiler:

#83 - "Airglow Fires" - Lone
Yes. More of this. Music to throw all sorts of stupid hand movements to.

Spoiler:

#82 - "Wedding Song" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Frontwoman Karen O wrote this song and performed it at her own wedding, hence the title. Imagine being there, listening to this. *swoons and swoons some more*

Spoiler:

#81 - "Middle Sea" - Yuck
And you thought John McEnroe was pissed off.

Me. I Am Salman · 21-12-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

still largely more enjoyable than anything by the Sugababes since 2007

Denial and No Can Do say hello

MeMyselfAndI · 21-12-2013, 02:21 PM

One More Sleep should be in the countdown

Z · 21-12-2013, 02:29 PM

Some great songs posted so far

Shaun · 23-12-2013, 02:59 AM

Spoiler:

#80 - "Sing to Me" - Anna Calvi
Her first album may have been a little too "in PJ Harvey's shadow" but this one was full of spellbinding loveliness like this.

Spoiler:

#79 - "C O O L" - Le Youth
It's about as subtle as a brick but still. Thank you Nathan. Tune tbh.

Spoiler:

#78 - "Wrecking Ball" - Miley Cyrus
Do I need to say anything about this? Big, big 80s ballad.

Spoiler:

#77 - "Doin' it Right (feat. Panda Bear)" - Daft Punk
Mmmmm. Yes.

Spoiler:

#76 - "How Does it Feel" - Yuck
Think of Blur's headlining moments and you're probably thinking of musical godliness like this. It makes me smile.

Spoiler:

#75 - "Headlights" - Eminem
Excuse the pitched video. Startling, headline-grabbing moment from his latest LP. Altogether now: aww.

Spoiler:

#74 - "All I Know" - Washed Out
If there are pills that can induce the same reaction as Washed Out's music, do let me know of their name.

Spoiler:

#73 - "All Night" - Icona Pop
Only just noticed this had a music video of drag queens having a dance battle. Marvellous.

Spoiler:

#72 - "Belong to the World" - The Weeknd
dat portishead sample. nnnf.

Spoiler:

#71 - "You're Not Good Enough" - Blood Orange
If this actually had a chorus, it could be lifechanging. As things stand, it's just a groovy buildup, but a very good one at that.

Shaun · 23-12-2013, 05:05 PM

Spoiler:

#70 - "I Am a God" - Kanye West
This made the list mostly for the screams. Everything else surrounding them is "quite good" too. I suppose I should reference the croissants line, too.

Spoiler:

#69 - "I Could be the One" - Avicii vs. Nicky Romero
It is a rule of the 2010s that there shall be one excellent Avicii single a year. This was 2013's (and if you think that Aloe Blacc crap was better you're mistaken).

Spoiler:

#68 - "Flick of the Finger" - Beady Eye
Excellent.

Spoiler:

#67 - "Oblivion (feat. Susanne Sundfør)" - M83
Apparently the movie was quite poor. Sundfør's work this year is not - this is wonderfully over-the-top and magnificent.

Spoiler:

#66 - "I Can Hardly Make You Mine" - Cults
The catchiest cut from album #2. Madeline Follin could quite easily sing me the news of the deaths of everyone I love and I'd be mildly enjoying it.

Spoiler:

#65 - "XO" - Beyoncé
Had this been released earlier, it may have made more of an impact. As it stands, it's just a new song I like very much.

Spoiler:

#64 - "Dip" - Danny Brown
He seems fun.

Spoiler:

#63 - "Let Me Show You Love" - Cut Copy
Sounds like Primal Scream soundtracking an Aztec temple ceremony.

Spoiler:

#62 - "Young Believers" - Vampire Weekend
One of the most cheerful songs about religious uncertainty there is going.

Spoiler:

#61 - "Electric Lady (feat. Solange)" - Janelle Monáe
The bassline has been controlling my legs for around 30% of the year.

Shaun · 24-12-2013, 05:48 PM

Spoiler:

#60 - "White Noise (feat. AlunaGeorge)" - Disclosure
How well it charted was a nice surprise.

Spoiler:

#59 - "Love in Stereo" - Sky Ferreira
The finest spiritual successor to mid-00s electro R&B. Pretty.

Spoiler:

#58 - "Subway" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Why has no one else thought of making a sample out of this noise before? Wonderfully relaxing track.

Spoiler:

#57 - "SuperLove" - Charli XCX
Stormed the charts at #62! Oh well. Undoubtedly better than everything that placed above it that week, I'm sure.

Spoiler:

#56 - "Given 'em What they Love" - Janelle Monáe & Prince
IT'S ****ING PRINCE, OK

Spoiler:

#55 - "Good Ass Intro" - Chance the Rapper
This reminds me of the early noughties, when rap seemed to be a lot more cheerful and summery. Lives up to its title, really.

Spoiler:

#54 - "Ulla" - Goldfrapp
My favourite from the record. Would place higher on days when I'm more in need of Goldfrapp, and Christmas Eve isn't one of those days.

Spoiler:

#53 - "Pale Green Ghosts" - John Grant
The most pleasant surprise to usher in 2013 was Grant's new knack for electronics. Brooding, theatrical but still putting focus on his formidable voice.

Spoiler:

#52 - "Weight" - Mikal Cronin
There was a week or so in June when this was all I wanted to listen to.

Spoiler:

#51 - "Miasma Sky" - Baths
Oh god I've placed this too low haven't I?

Shaun · 26-12-2013, 02:16 AM

Spoiler:

#50 - "Love Illumination" - Franz Ferdinand
Did anyone notice that they released an album? ANYONE?

Spoiler:

#49 - "New Slaves" - Kanye West
Probably the best verse on the album.

Spoiler:

#48 - "Something About You" - Dornik
2013's spiritual successor to Frank Ocean's Sweet Life. Smooth.

Spoiler:

#47 - "This Ladder is Ours" - The Joy Formidable
They're going to take at least 10 of these to make them as instantly loveable as, say, CHVRCHES, but in the mean time I'm happy to see them bash out jams like this.

Spoiler:

#46 - "Back Together" - Annie
HOUSE-POP HAS REACHED NORWAY. Wonderful.

Spoiler:

#45 - "5AM" - Katy B
I was kinda hoping for some more Diplo following 2012's Danger EP and its excellent Light as a Feather but, after a kind-of-OK first single, Katy dropped this dancefloor diamond.

Spoiler:

#44 - "See You" - The History of Apple Pie
The music video kinda screams "this would've soundtracked Skins quite nicely five years ago" (in fact, they remind me more than a little of Asobi Seksu). The song is stupidly pretty.

Spoiler:

#43 - "Little Love Caster" - Laura Marling
Just...striking.

Spoiler:

#42 - "The Mother We Share" - CHVRCHES
Every band hoping to 'make it' in the credible-electropop stakes needs a Midnight City moment. This was theirs. Not my favourite song off the record, but still marvellous.

Spoiler:

#41 - "Come Walk With Me" - M.I.A.
After all the daft noise of, uh, Bring the Noize, this dropped and made everyone fall back in love with Maya again. One part cute rock-n-roll ballad, 20 parts insane breakdown. Amazing.